When I woke up in the morning, there was a blonde girl sleeping in my bed. And no, it wasn't a post-factum situation. Whether it would be considered a crime is a gray area.
"Ah...!"
I yawned and tried not to look at my bed as I opened the curtains.
Of course, we didn't share the bed last night. I roughly tossed Lisha onto the bed and slept on the floor.
As a result, my body was stiff and aching in various places. Back in the day, I used to sleep on the ground without any problems, but I've gotten soft.
I should probably prepare a set of guest futons just in case.
"Mm... nn..."
I heard a seductive voice, and when I turned around, Lisha was in the process of sitting up. She had changed from her usual nun's attire into one of my shirts and shorts, which emphasized her well-defined figure.
"Why does she always act so seductive? Is that acceptable for a symbol of poverty and purity like a saint?" Well, as a grown man who has experienced various things as a Hero, it doesn't faze me.
"Oh, good morning, Yuusuke-san."
"Ah, good morning, Lisha."
Lisha noticed me, greeted me, and then tilted her head in curiosity.
"Hmm? Um, is your stomach hurting?"
"No, not at all."
"But you're bending over like that."
"This is my morning ritual to show gratitude to the sun. Don't worry about it."
Yeah, don't worry about it. By the way, I want to change into something more appropriate soon. It has nothing to do with my morning ritual, though.
Well, I have school today, so maybe I should make breakfast.
While I stood in the kitchen, making scrambled eggs and toast, I heard rustling sounds. Since I originally rented this house for living alone, it wasn't designed for cohabitation between a man and a woman. So, the sounds of changing clothes were quite audible.
I hadn't really thought about what would happen next, but if I were to let Lisha stay here, I would need to consider these things. We couldn't sleep in the same room forever.
As I pondered these matters, a golden head suddenly popped up from the side. It was Lisha, who had changed into the clothes I bought yesterday.
"Um, Yuusuke-san?"
"Whoa, what's up, Lisha?"
"I was wondering if there's anything I can help with."
"Help? Have you ever cooked or anything?"
"Well... I tried to help in the past, but they wouldn't let me in the kitchen."
"Right, I can't imagine making a saint do such mundane tasks."
So, of course, she never got the chance to help in the kitchen.
"Well then, sorry, but could you get some butter and jam from the fridge?"
"Yes, of course."
Lisha looked into the fridge with an excited smile. I was a bit worried about the effects of her magic depletion from yesterday, but she seemed lively enough.
After preparing a simple breakfast, I placed it on the table, and Lisha sat down across from me with a smile.
"Well, let's eat."
"Yes!"
While watching Lisha saying her prayers before the meal, I muttered, "Itadakimasu," and started spreading butter on my toast.
For a while, the two of us quietly enjoyed our breakfast.
"Um... Yuusuke-san?"
Lisha finally spoke up as we were sipping tea after the meal.
"Yes?"
"Why did you help me yesterday? You said you didn't want to get involved in the God-Demon War."
It's only natural that she would ask about that. After all, I vehemently refused to help, but I ended up changing my mind. It must seem suspicious.
"Well, it's... I don't know. After I got rid of all the troublesome thoughts, I arrived at the obvious conclusion. It seemed silly to keep hesitating. I'm sorry for going back on my word like that."
"No, please don't apologize! Just having you here was enough for me..."
Lisha blushed a little and lowered her head. She's so cute. When an ordinary girl does something like that, it's cute, but when a saint does it, it's adorable beyond belief.
Let's just keep quiet about the fact that the trigger for helping her was a little girl.
I scratched my head.
"So, I thought maybe we should discuss our future plans."
"Future plans?"
"Yeah, I want to confirm something. From what I've heard from you, Lisha, your side's victory condition in the God-Demon War is simply to survive for six months, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
I see.
"In that case, it's simple."
"Simple!?"
"All I have to do is defeat the demons coming after Lisha for the next six months. And besides, the demons coming after us are chosen individuals."
I may not be in my prime as a Hero, but I can handle that much. If the demons came at us with a full-fledged army or if the Demon Lord personally intervened, it would have been tough, but the Demon Lord is no longer around.
"So, I think I can probably handle it on my own. And if I can find someone to guard Lisha, you should be able to manage for about six months."
Lisha stared at me with a surprised expression. After all, I've been fighting demons and the Demon Lord for so long. Protecting a young girl like her is a piece of cake.
However, Lisha seemed somewhat uneasy as she stared at her tea in front of her. What's wrong?
"Is something bothering you, Lisha? Don't worry, I won't abandon you anymore."
"Well, is it really okay?"
Her words interrupted me, and I froze for a moment.
"What do you mean?"
I asked, and Lisha looked at me with emotionless eyes.
"Yuusuke-san, you have your own life. If our battle interferes with that, I can't bear the responsibility... I'm sorry, I shouldn't be saying this."
"Lisha..."
"I decided to use you the other day. But if something happens during this battle that you can't undo, I can't take responsibility for it."
Lisha said all of this with a blank expression.
No, she's suppressing various emotions, creating that expression.
The saint is kind. The girl in front of me is also too kind, to the point where it's suffocating to live in society. I feel pathetic and want to punch myself for not helping this young Lisha avoid making such a face if I had agreed to help her without hesitation.
"Lisha, I made this decision on my own. So, even if something happens to me, it's a result of my own choice. Don't worry about it, and don't regret it. That's why I need your help to make sure I don't die."
"Yuusuke-san..."
"Besides, if I just leave those demons alone, there's no guarantee that the people around me won't get involved eventually. If demons like the one from yesterday suddenly start using magic around here, people could easily die. And if that happens, I'll probably never forgive myself."
Lisha laughed at my words.
It was a relieved, almost like finding a place to call home, smile. And her big eyes glistened, with transparent tears streaming down her cheeks.
While shedding tears, Lisha still managed to smile and said.
"Thank you, Yuusuke-san."
"Don't mention it."
I didn't know what to say to a crying girl, so I turned away. Gradually, Lisha's sobbing became louder.
A 16 years old girl in an unfamiliar land, separated from someone she could rely on, and constantly being hunted down. I could understand some of the fear and burden she was carrying.
If I were more of an adult, maybe I could have hugged her. But I had already refused once, and I didn't feel I had the right now. Still, as an adult who had just barely crossed the starting line, I sat there silently until she stopped crying.
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