Episode 25: I'm Being Feed

  A tragedy occurred in a certain village.

  A woman who lived in a village was kidnapped by orcs led by demons.

  By chance, the traveler succeeds in defeating the orcs and the demons... but this becomes the trigger for the next tragedy.

  The village was burned down by the three members of the "Hands of Flare," the temple's pursuers who target travelers, and most of the people who lived there lost their lives.

  The village was burned down and left in ruins.

  Lost inn's beef stew.

  The angry traveler... Hanakiru Uta defeats the "Hand of Flare" and successfully avenges Beef Stew.

  Having overcome this tragedy, Uta heads back to the magical city of Alden.

  "~~?"

  Uta walked along in high spirits, but he no longer had any memory of the burnt-down village.

  He also left the women he rescued from the orcs to their own devices, not even caring for them.

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  He no longer even cared about the "Hands of Flare" who had been trying to kill him.

  Except for one person...a girl who made me beef stew.

  "Um, well... is it really alright if I come along?"

  "Hmm? Is that no good?"

  "It's not that it's bad, but..."

  Following behind Uta with a confused look on her face was the sole survivor of the "Hands of Flare" that had tried to kill Uta... Stella, aka "White Fire."

  Stella made a beef stew that made Uta take a liking to her, and she survived without being turned to dust like in "Red Fire" and "Green Fire".

  "Well, you have nowhere to go, right? You said you'd be killed if you went back."

  "That's true, but..."

  Stella's expression darkened.

  Stella is sent by the Temple of Fire and tasked with killing Uta.

  The mission has already failed. No matter what I do, I can't imagine Stella being able to kill Uta on her own.

  Her superior, the Red Flame, was also killed in the line of duty. Even if she were to return to the temple, she would likely be held responsible for the defeat.

  "The Hand of Flare is the strongest unit, blessed by the goddess Flare. Defeat is not permitted. If we were to lose and flee, the defeat would surely be treated as if it never happened."

  I know of colleagues who died in this way, taking responsibility for the defeat.

  The previous "White Fire" had also been killed for failing a mission.

  "Then why don't you come with me? Just follow me to Alden."

  "…………"

  Stella hesitates after hearing Uta's words.

  That suggestion is much appreciated.

  I was grateful, but… since he had attempted to take my life, I felt guilty about nodding so honestly.

  "You can make a lot of things besides beef stew, right? I want to eat omurice today."

  "...Is that the reason?"

  Uta isn't taking Stella around out of some philosophical sentiment.

  It wasn't really out of sheer calculation, he just wanted to take her along to be in charge of cooking because the beef stew she made was delicious.

  "...If that's the case, I understand. If it's omurice, I have the ingredients, so that's fine."

  "Yay! Stella, I love you!"

  "...I see, you love me...I'm very happy."

  Stella gave a bitter smile as if she had given up, as Uta laughed innocently.

  The omelet rice that day was, as expected, delicious.

  Uta grew increasingly fond of Stella and unilaterally decided to let her accompany him on his journey until they returned to their original world