Several days have passed since the fierce battle in the Labyrinth of Arcadia.

Freed from the soul-corroding demon sword, Anastasia's mind and body gradually recovered.

And then, a rumor about a certain healer was spreading throughout the Labyrinth City.

"Hey, did you hear? Apparently, a single healer completely cured the young lady of Rosenberg who was possessed by that cursed sword."

"Hey, come on, don't be ridiculous. She had her soul eaten by a demon sword, and on top of that, her body was completely wrecked, right? There's no way she could have been healed."

"No, no, it's true, I heard. Apparently, with that healer's touch, any curse or deep wound can be healed in an instant. It's like a miracle itself."

"That's impossible. If there were such a healer, they would have become famous as a hero long ago."

Among the gossiping adventurers, it was whispered about like a kind of urban legend, with some being skeptical, but it definitely etched itself into people's memories. For those who didn't yet know about his healing magic, it was dismissed with a laugh as a complete fabrication, impossible to believe.

However, those who had actually witnessed his healing, and those who had received treatment from him, spoke of it with fervor, almost as if in worship.

Once scorned as a useless person who couldn't be healed without being touched and misunderstood by everyone, Christophe continued his lonely training.

His years of effort and his pure desire to save someone, nothing more, although belatedly, were finally beginning to bear fruit.

However, Christophe himself was completely unaware of such rumors and was today, as always, swinging his wooden sword in the garden of Sylvia's mansion, taking a step toward his modest dream.

"Hah!"

With a sharp exhale, he swung his wooden sword down, and it clashed with Sylvia's wooden sword, which had blocked it, with a satisfying sound.

"...Hehe, your movements have become even better than before."

Sylvia smiled, but Christophe still felt like he had a long way to go. Their practice sessions were still one-sided, as always. If Sylvia were to get serious, she could easily defeat Christophe.

After hitting back and forth like that for a while, it was time for a break.

Sylvia offered a soft towel and a drink to Christophe, who was thrusting his wooden sword into the ground and breathing heavily.

"...Thank you, Sylvia. I really owe you a lot."

As he accepted what was offered, Christophe sincerely expressed his gratitude.

These days in Arcadia were something he could never have imagined in his former self.

The lively life he has now is all thanks to her.

He couldn't thank Sylvia enough for giving him a place to once again pursue the adventurer's life he had dreamed of in the past, when he thought he would be living alone from now on.

"Hehe, it's mutual, isn't it? I wouldn't be here now if Christophe-san had not been there for me back then."

As if she could see into Christophe's heart, Sylvia was smiling gently.

A gentle, warm silence fell between the two of them. Sylvia's cheeks flushed slightly, and she slowly opened her mouth.

"Christophe-san... um..."

Sylvia looked somewhat embarrassed, glancing down at the ground for a moment.

"What is it?"

When Christophe tilted his head in curiosity, Sylvia blushed even more and averted her gaze.

"...Um, well... you know... from now on... will you... stay by my side... as a member of my clan, and be with me...?"

Sylvia's face flushed red all at once as she said that.

At that question, Christophe hesitated for a moment, taken aback by her tense demeanor, but then, he looked back at Sylvia with his usual calm composure.

"Oh, of course. I'm the one who should be asking for your continued support."

"...Uh, yeah, okay… Thank you, Christophe-san."

At those words, Sylvia smiled back.

Just as the sweet, calm atmosphere between the two of them was about to be broken, a familiar, lively voice echoed from the mansion gates.

"Christophe-sama, Sylvia. I have come to visit."

Despite her polite language, it was Ester who arrived, accompanied by her firm yet somewhat spoiled voice.

Having finished her other work and safely returned to the Labyrinth City, she is still moving with careful grace today.

Next, a clear voice echoed from behind Ester.

"Master, how is your training going?"

And while calm and composed, her voice has a certain brightness to it.

Ester, who had returned from the expedition and completely settled back into her daily life, and Fana, who had come to observe Christophe and the others' training, taking time out from her duties as guild master.

In no time at all, the usual liveliness will return to the garden.

And then, a little later...

"I came to visit."

"I came to visit. Here's a box of sweets."

At Sylvia's mansion, Anastasia and Potpourri had also started visiting.

Surrounded by their smiles, Christophe smiles back in the same way.

The sky over Arcadia is endlessly blue and clear.

He thought he would live a leisurely life in the village and spend his remaining years there.

However, that has changed significantly.

(...My life has changed quite a bit, but...)

Christophe looked at everyone, then took a small breath.

(If it's working out, then it's fine, right?)

He started enjoying his new daily life.

Chapter 40