"...Understood. However, it wouldn't look good to give a single mansion to the hero of the nation. Let's do this. I will grant you three sisters the eastern border territory near the edge of the barrier as your new domain. I will give you not just a mansion, but the land itself."

(...Did they have subjects or something like that? If they don't have much of that, I don't need to worry about it.)

Aria hesitated a little at the proposal, but then knelt down and replied.

"I am deeply grateful for your kind words. I humbly accept them."

Of course, I couldn't refuse the king's proposal.

The king nodded with satisfaction and continued.

"Alright. Finally, regarding Darius..."

Aria raised her head and opened her mouth, meeting the questioning gaze of the King of Asteria.

"Yes. Regarding the reward for our father, we would like to go directly to Darius once and confirm his intentions."

(...Maybe Darius-sensei isn't asking for anything either.)

A significant reason the three sisters weren't that interested in power was that they grew up watching Darius.

When Aria made that suggestion, the king nodded with satisfaction.

"Yes, very well. I have indeed received the loyalty of the three of you, and your devotion to your father. You may retire today and rest well."

With the king's words, the gathering came to an end.

For several days after that, the royal capital was consumed by victory celebrations.

As heroes, Aria and her companions had to attend the banquets held by the nobles every night.

Words of praise, envious glances, and numerous marriage proposals.

They were cheerfully brushing all of that off. It was simply because they were participating out of obligation, and Aria and the others had little interest in it.

Having fulfilled all public duties and obligations, the morning of departure finally arrived.

Aria was smiling.

They left the royal capital together to give their father the best report.

It had been a really long time since the three of them had traveled together.

As the Grand Knight, as the Saint, and as the Director of the Magic Academy. Since each of them started walking their own paths, there hadn't been many opportunities for them to walk the same path side by side like this.

For Aria, being able to work together with the other two was more exciting than any of the rewards that had been offered.

Of course, it's wonderful to see Darius-sensei. But just as much, this time spent alone with her sisters like this was enjoyable for Aria.

As they left the royal capital and headed toward the path outside the barrier, Aria spoke to Luna and Sofia, who were walking beside her.

"Darius-sensei, is there anything he wants? Does he want to become a noble?"

"Hmm, I wonder. I don't think Darius-san would be interested in things like that... Leaving aside the workshops, I think he would find nobles troublesome."

"I think so too. If I had to pick one thing... He might want the material from the Tyranno Behemoth."

"That's possible. If we could get rare ores or materials, that might be what would make him happiest."

"...Yeah. And I think Darius would be happiest if we showed our faces."

Sofia said quietly, but with conviction. At those words, Aria and Luna reacted simultaneously.

"Oh, that's not right, Sofia. The best one is definitely me!"

"Both of you, can't you understand if you think logically?"

"I'm not going to think logically!"

"Think about it...! ...I'm the one who can report the most beneficial information and technological advancements, right? In other words, I should be the one Darius-san spends the most intellectually stimulating and meaningful time with, shouldn't I?"

"Darius-sensei would definitely enjoy sparring with me more than getting bogged down in such logical arguments!"

"...But I think I'm the one who can heal him the most."

They both refuse to budge, each claiming to be the best.

Soon, Aria grinned and said.

"Alright, now it's a competition! Whoever sees father first wins!"

Saying that, Aria suddenly ran off.

"Hey, wait up, Aria! It's not fair to go ahead alone! And Sofia, you're being unfair too!? Oh, come on! Wait for me!"

Luna hurriedly chased after, and Sofia also started running at full speed.

Aria and the others returned to their home outside the barrier without any particular problems.

From the workshop, they can hear the familiar and cheerful sound of a hammer.

The three of them looked at each other in front of the door and smiled softly.

Aria knocked on the door slowly, representing the group.

Knock, knock.

The sound echoed through the silence of the forest.

The sound of hammering that had been echoing inside suddenly stopped.

Soon, the door opened with a creak, and Darius peeked in, as if wiping away sweat.

When he recognized the three daughters standing in a line in front of the door, he widened his eyes slightly in surprise, and then his face broke into a broad smile.

"Oh, all three of you are back."

As always, Darius knows nothing of battles that stake the fate of a nation.

At that unchanging warmth, Luna, Sofia, and even Aria all burst into smiles as if a dam had broken.

"""We're home, Darius (sensei/san)."""

Chapter 59