"Looks like… I'll have to go."
"Ha?"
Berling, the third of the Gulliver brothers, snorted. "Hey, hey, hey~ How can you just make decisions on your own? Have a little self-awareness, will you?"
Renjiro paused for a moment, caught off guard.
"Do you expect you to go?" Allen frowned, challenging him. "Four people who can't even accomplish anything together—how could they possibly protect the goddess's safety?"
Alfrigg, Dvalinn, and Grer: ???
Talk about getting hit while lying down.
"If we're talking about skill…"
Ottar suddenly cut in, "Then I should go as the bodyguard."
Originally, Allen and the Gulliver brothers had restrained some of the tension in the room, thanks to Lumine's presence.
But now, with Ottar's abrupt comment, the atmosphere in the meeting—once scorching like a blazing fire—instantly plummeted to freezing.
"What kind of joke is that?"
"Hmph~ hmhm~" This was Hogni.
The next moment…
Alfrigg: "If you go along, you big oaf, how is Freya-sama supposed to enjoy shopping? Use your brain a little, muscle-head."
Dvalinn: "She'll probably scare everyone off as soon as she steps outside, muscle-head."
Berling: "Never thought you could crack a joke too, muscle-head."
Ger: "And yet, it's not funny at all, muscle-head."
"Hmph~ hmhm~ hmhmhm… muscle-head." Again, Hogni.
Lumine instinctively lowered her head, brushing her face with one hand.
Though her expression was hidden, her shoulders trembled slightly.
"You really don't have to force yourself to speak, Hogni," Hedin said from nearby, sighing at the silver-haired dark elf who struggled to form words but insisted on joining the conversation.
Then…
He turned to Ottar, the burly warrior. "And you too. Don't just casually throw out useless opinions, muscle-brain."
Before Allen could respond…
"Pfft~"
Lumine couldn't hold it in and laughed.
At that instant…
Hearing "muscle-brain" repeated over and over, especially from the little princess of their own familia… Even the usually stoic warrior Ottar felt struck to the core.
He thought…
"These idiots."
A pig-man by race, Ottar normally didn't get angry.
Yet now, his rage meter had maxed out.
He'd somehow become the punchline for the little princess because of these six morons.
And being a warrior with no eloquence, he knew he couldn't argue against these scoundrels.
"Looks like the only way to shut them up is with my heavy fist…"
"By the way," Hedin interjected, "Freya-sama isn't sneaking out of the city this time. It's not that serious. Just wear the cloak and take proper measures to suppress her charm."
"And…" He glanced at Lumine, "we don't necessarily have to guard her stealthily either."
The words had barely left his mouth…
Ottar, Allen, Hogni, and the Gulliver brothers all instinctively turned their gaze toward the little sister who had been quietly smirking.
Finally…
"Lumine."
"Huh?"
Hedin looked at the gold-haired, golden-eyed girl who had been quietly laughing. "As expected… in this situation, it's better if you go."
"Uh~"
The suggestion caught Lumine completely off guard.
Yet…
"Agreed, no objections."
"Hmph~ hmhm~ just as expected from my rival," Hedin muttered.
"Tch~"
Allen clicked his tongue. "True, if the goddess is going shopping, it's not convenient for me to follow all the time."
"But that rabbit…"
"Is probably just responsible for carrying her bag."
Hedin pushed up the glasses on his nose, the lenses catching the light. "Too bad Freya-sama is going out tomorrow. There's not enough time, or I would've properly 'trained' that naive boy."
"In short…" Hedin looked at Lumine again. "Tomorrow's matter is up to you."
"At the very least… make sure that boy doesn't lose face in front of Freya-sama."
Lumine was speechless.
They had just made this decision on their own.
Looking around, not only did the four fake "young masters" nod, even Ottar crossed his arms and gave a slight nod.
This inexplicable sense of trust…
"Um… what about my opinion?"