"Hero, how have you been?"
Ludwig called me with a strange dialect and a strange title.
"What is this, 'Hero'?"
"I heard from Lily. You not only won the war against Manggot, but you also stopped the war against the devils?"
When I turned my gaze, Lily, who had arrived first, was making a V with her fingers.
Of course, it was a secret to others that Lily had come to obey me. And in fact, our relationship hadn't changed much since then.
I spoke to Lily formally, and Lily treated me comfortably. Of course, when we were alone, I spoke to Lily comfortably, but she didn't change much.
Perhaps somewhere in my heart, I hoped that my relationship with Lily wouldn't change much, and Lily knew that.
"You brought a cute guest again today."
"We met at the Tyburn. My name is Selena."
"...Oh. That's right. That child from back then."
Ludwig narrowed his eyes as if he was remembering.
I had never formally introduced Selena, but she had always been around me at the Tyburn.
From the time I met Ludwig at the Tyburn and greeted him.
"You've become more vigilant than before."
Ludwig seemed to have known Selena's role from the beginning. The knights at that time had harbored vulgar thoughts about Selena.
...Well, the knights at that time were not in their right minds, and Selena's attire was quite dangerous. Originally, her purpose was to seduce me.
"Come to think of it, your clothes have become neat."
Ludwig also said as if he remembered.
He grinned and asked Selena.
"Is there no need for that anymore?"
Selena blushed as if she didn't know what to say.
Soon she answered in a voice that was almost inaudible.
"Yes. There is no need for that anymore."
"Hahaha! That's right! That's a good thing, yes!"
I sighed as I watched Ludwig teasing Selena.
"Stop teasing her. Has Mr. Monty arrived?"
"Of course, I contacted him. He's the kind of guy who would come running at the mention of your name."
When Ludwig tilted his head slightly, Monty's figure, which had been hidden by his body, came into view. Monty was sitting at a table with Lily in the distance.
"Running, what do you mean by that!"
"He didn't run, he flew!"
"Right, that's right."
I greeted Monty, who was speaking very confidently.
"Mr. Monty. It's been a while."
"Yes, it has been a while! I thought I wouldn't see you again after you became Lily's knight."
Monty said that and laughed heartily.
Wahahaha, while the room was noisy, I thought.
That old man has a knack for passing off something that's not a joke as a joke.
"I know why you're looking for me."
Monty said after he had finished laughing.
"I'll say it first. I didn't spread the rumors that are going around. I apologize if you found it offensive. To you and the Roach family."
"...I know. That the rumors weren't spread by Mr. Monty."
Monty believed that I would keep my promise. It would be burdensome for him too if the content of the promise suddenly changed. In the first place, Monty wouldn't have thought that far.
"Right? You trust me too. Hahahaha!"
I smiled back as if responding to Monty's hearty laughter.
For some reason, when I smiled, Lily, who was next to Monty, pursed her lips as if she was nervous.
'Monty didn't spread the rumors. But.'
There was something bothering me.
"But those rumors, there's something suspicious about them."
"It's a rumor that couldn't possibly spread unless you knew about the promise between me and Mr. Monty."
At that time, it was only me, Ludwig, Lily, and Monty.
It had changed from disciple to adopted son, but there was definitely a promise.
"Mr. Monty, did you talk about that promise in many places?"
These rumors couldn't have come out unless Monty had been blabbing about it all over the place.
"That's a good answer, Mr. Monty."
"No! That's not it! I didn't do that with malice! I just wanted to brag!"
Monty shouted, looking flustered.
"Think about it! The hero of the war victory is becoming my disciple! Do you know how difficult it is to achieve such a feat after ascending to Zodiac! So I bragged a little! The promise will be kept soon anyway! Right! It could happen!"
He was getting angry at me as he spoke.
Then he calmed down again and said.
"Ah, anyway. I'm satisfied with you becoming my disciple. Lily's knight work is over, and I thought it was the right time."
At those words, Lily nodded next to him as if there was no problem. Uh-huh, she even agreed with Monty's words.
Rather, Monty looked at Lily's expression with a suspicious face.
"...I don't know why this woman's attitude suddenly changed . From now on, you are my disciple. Unlike Lily, there is no time limit or anything. You know that, right?"
"Yes. I will become Mr. Monty's disciple."
"...Of course, I also have the desire to adopt you as my son..."
"There is something I would like to ask you to commemorate becoming your disciple."
I cut off Monty's words and said.
Monty asked back with a somewhat sulky expression.
"All the weapon techniques that Mr. Monty uses."
Monty was a Weapon Master.
As Azier said, he was the person I needed the most right now.
"Please teach me all of them."