There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, So I Tried Confessing to Her (勇者パーティーにかわいい子がいたので、告白してみた。)

And there we go!

You're shining extra bright today, guardian deity!

Are you all right?

You don't need to come here every day, you know.

By the way, where's Yoki?

You didn't notice when he left earlier?

No, not at all.

He told us he was going to the castle.

The castle?

This is His Majesty Dartz Olta Clariness.

It goes without saying that I have summoned you here

with regard to what happened in the village of Dagaz.

I guess all kings in this world are pompous asses,

whether they're human or demon.

Nah, that was way too stuffy!

Okay if I just talk normally?

It is not, Your Majesty.

Aw, don't be such a stiff, Sylvia!

A king must present himself with dignity.

Wait, does he always act like this?

C'mon, what's the problem?

Oh, sorry about that. Let's get to the point.

You guys ran off the hero Miller and a bunch of bandits,

saving the village of Dagaz.

You'll be granted an honorarium for your meritorious deed.

In other words, you get a reward.

I do not desire anything in return.

I merely did what needed to be done.

I see. Well, that's why you're Our Lady Cecilia.

Well, then, Yoki, what about you?

My only desire, Your Majesty,

is one that you cannot grant me.

My wish is one that I must fulfill for myself!

A wish I can't grant?

What is it? Money?!

No.

A harem?

No!

The royal throne?!

None of these things!

What is it, then?! What is it you want?!

It is naught but the love of Cecilia!

The love of Cecilia!

Huh?!

Well, you're right! I definitely can't give you that!

Did I just say that?!

I'm so sorry!

That was not the place for you to declare your love for someone!

Have you no common sense at all?!

I'm sorry, seriously!

That one really was all on you.

I'm sorry!

Honestly...

You need to think about what you've done.

Starting today, you are prohibited from seeing Cecilia for one month.

What?!

That's so cruel...

Um... I think he already feels bad enough.

Is that really necessary?

What's this? Would you miss him for the whole month?

Well, um... the thing is...

Half a month, then.

Happiness.

Cecilia!

Captain, look.

Huh? Shiek?

I wondered why he wasn't back yet. So that's where he was.

He's been sad for a long time.

It must be because of Miller.

He really feels bad that he couldn't protect Teal and the gargoyle.

All done.

My guardian deity!

Now, don't cling so closely.

I'm back, Teal and Gar.

"Gar"?

Yeah, 'cause he's a gargoyle.

We need a name for him, don't we?

Oh, what a lovely name!

But he'll always be the guardian deity to me.

You're just ignoring the name I gave him?!

You should be going back now.

Teal, come home.

Yes, you're right.

I'll come again, guardian deity.

Don't push yourself too hard.

Well, all of my strength comes from you, after all!

Man, I blew it.

Has something happened?

I got carried away, and now I'm banned from seeing Cecilia.

I see.

Then you'll just have to do whatever you can to make up for it.

You do have plenty of time, after all.

And that's why you came to see me, huh?

I don't have any other choice!

Kramen, you gotta give me as much work as you can!

I want to become a man worthy of Cecilia!

Okay, okay.

What's wrong with me?

Oh, my.

Who is that other cup for?

I-It's yours, Mother.

Oh?

It's been just about half a month.

Whatever do you mean?

I wonder what Yoki is up to right now.

My husband told me that he seems to be putting in quite a lot of work.

I see...

I'm back!

What's this, boy? Were you working all night again?

Well, I get to see Cecilia again soon.

Of course I'm fired up.

I see.

Well, I have something I need to tell you, as well.

You do?

What the heck are you—

The wound was more serious than I thought.

You're falling apart.

If we don't do something...

I suppose I have but a few days left.

Why didn't you say anything sooner?!

Saying something would not have made any difference.

But...

So I would like you to take care of that little girl.

Teal?

She has not fully overcome her illness.

She could still collapse at any time.

But Shiek said her condition was stable...

As one who has been watching her since she was young, I can tell.

Something has been off recently.

If I fall apart now, she will be all alone.

Okay. Just leave Teal to me.

Really? Thank you.

Now I can move on with no regrets.

I'm still going to save you, though! I swear it!

There is no time. You know it isn't possible.

But this room would feel so lonely without you.

I need you to stick around as a work of art.

The gargoyle's body is cracking?

You can fix that by feeding him magicite.

What? It's that simple?

Everyone knows that.

What, seriously? That'll be a cakewalk!

Thanks, Duke!

Uh...

There's more to the explanation, though...

Wait, where can I get magicite, anyway?

Yoki!

Cecilia?

Yoki, there's trouble!

It's Teal!

Shiek, how's she doing?

It's bad.

What?

Her fever won't go down.

Magic can't get rid of the disease itself.

What can we do?

She's been burning through her strength too quickly.

The medicine we have will only buy her some time.

Is there anything I can do?

I'm short on herbs. I need some twilight grass.

Twilight grass?

It's a flowering plant that only grows in magic-rich places.

It doesn't grow in Minerva.

How can we...

Okay, leave it to me. I'll look for some.

In that case, I'll help you.

Thanks. I'd really appreciate the help.

There's still Gar, too.