"Mom Alfia! Uncle Zald! Welcome home!"
The young rabbit-like boy had spotted the wyvern in the distance long ago and impatiently rushed outside.
The first people he saw were his two family members, followed by the male god who had taken them out some time ago.
Finally...
The young Bell froze, because behind everyone stood a figure he had never seen before.
"Um, could you possibly be...?"
Golden hair gleaming beneath the sunlight, fair and delicate skin, and even larger breasts than Alfia's... Ahem!
There could be no mistake!
Bell had been reading stories about her constantly as of late. Although she had not been in Orario for very long, she had consistently overwhelmed veteran adventurers!
She was known as the guide of the new era, Elise Holiness, the Saintess of Scales!
"Are you... the Saintess of Scales?"
"You're so beautiful!"
Little stars sparkled in Bell's eyes. Perhaps to Bell as he was now, there was no such thing as carnal desire.
This was the pure praise of a young child, untainted by any ulterior motive!
Anyone would be delighted to receive such praise, and Elise was no exception.
"That's right, little brother!"
"I'm Elise. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Including Kamito Kazehaya from the world of the Elementalists, Elise had now met two anime protagonists. However, Kamito had been an adolescent when she met him, whereas Bell was still a child.
His white hair and red eyes truly were adorable. Unfortunately, he was a boy. Had he been a girl, his cuteness would undoubtedly have risen to an entirely new level!
"That's amazing! I finally get to meet you, Lady Saintess!"
"Mm-hmm!"
Perhaps it was merely his imagination, but Zald somehow sensed that these two regretted not meeting each other sooner.
Moreover, someone beside him seemed rather unhappy...
He glanced sideways at Alfia. Although her face remained as expressionless as ever, her fists were already clenched!
Bell!
If you continued ignoring your mother Alfia, you were definitely going to get punched!
—Thus spoke Zald, a man of extensive experience.
"Oh, my! Just look who's here!"
"This is truly incredible!"
"Who would have thought that Orario's renowned Saintess of Scales would visit our humble countryside home!"
"Could it be?!"
"Did you come all this way specifically for this old man?"
At that moment, a somewhat frivolous voice entered everyone's ears.
Several people immediately frowned upon hearing it.
As for Bell...
The instant he heard that voice, his expression changed dramatically.
He knew all too well what kind of person his grandfather was!
He was a lecherous old man who constantly rambled about beautiful girls and repeatedly harassed Mom Alfia without the slightest remorse!
Who knew what Grandpa would become after seeing Lady Elise?
This was bad!
What would he do if Lady Elise ended up hating them?
"Then this old man won't hold back!"
Just as Elise raised her head, a figure had already lunged toward her from the side. However, Elise had no need to dodge... someone else had already acted!
"How could she possibly be here for you, you damned old man?!"
A blur flashed past, and Alfia punched Zeus directly in the face at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
This was Alfia's signature technique...
The Gospel Fist!
Boom!
In a mere instant, Zeus' loathsome head was punched straight into the ground...
Zeus, defeated!
"Stay there and cool your head!"
"Come on! Let's go inside and talk!"
The domineering Alfia completely ignored Zeus, who had been planted in the soil, and strode away first.
"Yes!"
How could anyone else dare resist?
Bell immediately snapped to attention and marched after Alfia with rigid steps, while everyone else hurried to follow.
Only Zeus remained buried in the garden soil. Perhaps his love for this land simply ran too deep...
...
Several days later.
Elise spent some leisurely time at Bell's home. Although a troublesome god kept harassing her, it also allowed her relationship with Alfia to deepen further.
She offered numerous effective suggestions regarding the illnesses and corruption afflicting Alfia and Zald, and left them with an ample supply of medicine.
"That more or less covers your conditions. For quite a long time, neither of you will be able to use your full strength."
"However, protecting yourselves shouldn't be a problem."
Elise and Alfia sat together, while Zald, Zeus, and Bell sat off to one side and listened.
"Mm. This is one of the few pieces of good news we've received..."
"Thank you!"
This was already the second time Alfia had thanked her, so she was no longer as embarrassed as before.
"I'd also like to thank you sincerely!"
"This old man as well!"
In Zeus' opinion, the problems afflicting Alfia and Zald had been virtually incurable. All they could do in this rural village was wait for death.
Yet Elise had now overturned that impossibility, extending Alfia's and Zald's lives once more...
He truly did owe Elise his sincere gratitude!
"However... this old man has no suitable reward to offer, so why don't I repay you with my body instead?!"
The Gospel Fist!
A human figure... no, a divine figure flew out through the window at an unimaginable speed and once again embedded itself in the fields.
"My apologies. Our family's disgrace is becoming rather difficult to conceal..."
"It's fine. You all have it pretty rough too."
Still...
The most excited person at that moment was undoubtedly Bell.
In the past, he had hidden behind the crack of a door and secretly watched Mom Alfia cough up blood, powerless to do anything...
That was why he had wanted to become a hero!
He had hoped that Mom Alfia would feel completely fulfilled during the final moments of her life!
But now, everything had changed.
Mom Alfia could finally continue living a normal life. In that case, what about the promise he had once made to her...
"Bell!"
Seemingly seeing through Bell's thoughts, Alfia's expression softened with tenderness.
"Make your own choice. No matter what you decide, I will always support you!"
"Me too. Since you're a man, you should devote everything you have to pursuing your ideals! Keep moving forward, Bell!"
It was not only Alfia. Zald also burst into hearty laughter.
Receiving the approval of those closest to him made Bell's face blossom with joy.
"I've decided!"
"The promise I made to Mom Alfia will never change!"
"I'm going to become a hero!"
Bright light shimmered in his eyes as the white-haired boy reaffirmed his promise at that moment.
It also marked another step in his growth. However...
"Well said, Bell!"
"A hero needs a harem!"
"Bring the legendary saintess under your banner!"
Outside the window, Zeus gave him a thumbs-up.
"Grandpa! What are you saying?!"
Zeus had forcibly ruined what had been such a solemn moment.
What awaited the male god next, however, was that familiar sensation.
This time, though, Alfia was not the only one throwing a punch. Elise, who had learned a little from her, joined in as well.
"I told you not to teach Bell those strange things, you damned god!"
"Sorry, but I really couldn't help myself!"
The Gospel Fist!
Boom!
Zeus was buried once again.