I quickly dragged the goddess to a corner of the room, we both had complicated expressions. Estella tilted her head in confusion when she saw the two of us, but I ignored her.
"Oy, what should we do now? Didn't you say everything would be fine?" I whispered in a panicked voice.
"You idiot, I also wouldn't know if that Crysta was a hindrance in this village."
"Shit, you really are useless."
"You say that, but weren't you also very excited when you took that Crsyta!"
"W-Well, that..." I had a hard time coming up with an excuse.
In the end, it was both our fault for acting so thoughtlessly.
"Nee, Riku, what should we do from now on? Somehow I find it hard to look everyone in the face," Alicia said, her shoulders slumped with a gloomy look.
"D-Don't say that, I feel that way too!"
Damn, I can't believe that all this mess is our fault.
Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt so bad.
Geez, how am I supposed to pay for all of this? We really made a big mistake that can't be fixed.
While I was thinking about that, the door in this room was suddenly knocked, Alicia and I were shocked and quickly fixed our appearance to return to our original places.
"W-What's wrong?" I asked a little panicked.
"Riku-sama, Alicia-sama, sorry to disturb your time. However, the head of the village called," answered the person from behind the door.
Hearing that, Alicia and I exchanged glances.
I wonder, what did she call us for?
"I-Is that so? Alright, tell her we'll be right over," I said shaking.
"I understand," replied the man and after that he left this place.
Alicia and I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as we heard his footsteps that had gone away, we were really very panicked.
After all, who could stay calm after hearing all those stories. I now have no face to meet Elvy and the other Elf.
However, the reason why this village was destroyed was our fault.
Because we took the Crysta which is a barrier to protect this village from the monsters, Estella and the dragon were able to enter this village. If we hadn't done anything at the time, I don't think this would have happened.
Most likely the Crsyta I picked up back then was the barrier in question and the butterfly-winged toad that Alicia had mentioned before was probably a high level spirit guarding that place.
Maybe he thought that a goddess wouldn't do anything wrong, so he kindly allowed Alicia to see that Crystal.
"Haahh…" I sighed with a gloomy face. "What should we do from now on?"
"Riku, I think we should properly apologize. It was us who caused this mess, so at least we have some responsibility for it. Let's go to the village head's place and apologize. I don't know what they would say or do if they found out that we were the ones who caused all this trouble, but we have no right to complain with that," said Alicia giving her advice.
Hearing Alicia's words, I closed my eyes briefly and then took a deep breath to steady my resolve.
I nodded. "Well, I guess you're right. Let's go apologize… Estella, I'm sorry, but could you wait here for a moment?" I said when intending to leave this room with Alicia.
"I'm fine with that, but aren't you afraid I'll run away?" said Estella with a confused expression.
But I don't care at all, I've thought of countermeasures for that.
"Don't worry, Alicia will cast [Sanctuary] magic to keep you from getting out of this place, and conversely, no one else will be able to enter this place either, so you're safe."
"Seriously, where did you get all those ideas? For some reason I'm a little scared to make you my enemy," Estella grumbled in response.
I ignored it and left the place. However, before we went to the village head's place, I told Alicia to cast [Sanctuary] magic on Estella first.
[Sancturay] is actually a protective magic, which can protect the user from any physical and magical attacks while they are inside, and this magic will also last until the user's magic power runs out or they release it themselves.
But, now I'm using it to lock up the girl and make her an alternative prison.
By the way, this is also the same magic we used when we were still camping in the forest. This is quite useful because it can protect us from attacks by monsters and mosquitoes while sleeping.
"[Sanctuary]."
As soon as Alicia cast her spell, an invisible bluish-white light appeared and trapped Estella in a cocoon-like form where she was sitting cross-legged.
"Okay, let's go first, be a good girl," I said and immediately left the room with Alicia.
At that time Estella just waved her hand lazily and decided to sleep.
She was quite relaxed for a prisoner.
Well, not that I care. I'm sure she's also very tired after all that fighting.
Now what I have to think about more is how to apologize when I meet the village head later.
I thought about it really hard, and finally came to the only conclusion.
I nodded firmly. "Alright, it's decided... I'll bow down!"
"I sometimes wonder where that mindset of yours came from. How did you decide to prostrate so easily? Did all of society fail to become like you? I'll feel sorry for your future children."
Ignoring the goddess who started saying something incomprehensible, I walked over with determination ready to kowtow in apology.
After all, this is the only pride I have.
***************
Alicia and I went to the village head's place following the directions of the Elf who had called us earlier. Arriving in front of the village head's room, I immediately knocked on the door.
"It's me, Riku. I heard you call us, Tia-san" I called at the door.
Tia is the name of the village head.
She's really a really great person if you put her loli some looks aside, though I think that's the best part about her.
Of course, I'm not a lolicon, what I mean is her amazing accomplishments.
I heard that she used all of hers strength to create a barrier in this place and save everyone during the chaos, regardless of the condition of hers own body.
I really admire her.
Because of that too, I used her name honorific, despite her loli-like appearance.
By the way, that was also the reason why someone as strong as her had not participated in the previous battle, because she had to single-handedly protect this hideout from the monsters when all their warriors were dispatched to participate in the battle.
That loli is really amazing.
"Come in you two, it's unlocked," replied the loli— I mean, Tia replied in a low and gentle voice.
This also makes me curious, despite her loli-like appearance, she strangely has speech like a granny in the countryside.
I don't know why that sounds a little weird.
"Excuse me."
After we were invited to enter, me and Alicia opened the door of the room and went inside while saying excuse me politely.
There, I saw the loli village head preparing a cup of tea for us on a white wooden table.
"Sit where you like," she muttered.
"Umm, thank you," I replied a little nervously, and I quickly took the seats that had been prepared for us.
Alicia also sat beside me, she even sat down before Tia invited us and happily drank the tea.
Can't this woman hold back?
"It's delicious!" she said.
I looked at Alicia with a flat gaze. She really has no shame.
But, Tia didn't seem to care much about it, she smiled gently when Alicia complimented her tea.
"Really? I'm glad you like it, Alicia-sama."
Hearing that, I also started to drink my tea, it was in an elegant looking cup, even though it was made only for the size of a child, but without thinking anything else, I drank it, and immediately, my eyes opened wide.
It's much tastier than I thought.
"Add more!" I exclaimed who had finished the tea. However, I soon realized my mistake. "Ah, no, I mean... Please add more tea, Tia-san." I hastily repeated it back in a more polite sentence.
But, Tia just chuckled and happily poured it for me.
"Fufu, you don't need to be so tense, Riku-sama. Drink slowly, I still have plenty, and if you guys want some snacks, I also have pastries here. I hope these suit your taste buds," she replied as she placed a plate of pastries on the table.
I ate the cake with my tea, and that made it even more delicious.
Truly the perfect combination.
Without realizing it I kept eating and drinking it, it really makes me very peaceful just by doing this, if I could I would like to continue to live like this forever.
However, while I was enjoying all the dishes, I realized something I was missing, and my expression immediately changed to surprise.
"Eh, wait a minute! 'Alicia-sama'? 'Riku-sama'?" I asked confused at the addition of the word '-sama' suddenly used by Tia.
In response to my question, Tia smiled gently.
"Oh, did I surprise you, Riku-sama? Actually, I already found out information about you two from the spirits I know. So I already know the identities of you two. I'm really sorry for doing this without your permission," Tia answered while lowering her head in apology.
"—?!" My eyes widened in surprise.
However, different from my reaction, Alicia didn't seem to care at all, she just silently listened while enjoying the tea and all the snacks that were served on the table.
She really was so easy going, couldn't she just be a little serious. I look stupid for being so surprised.
"Umm, Tia-san, about that, actually we didn't want to draw too much attention, so..."
"Of course, Riku-sama. I will keep your real identity a secret from others, so you don't need to worry, I swear on this behalf that I will not tell anyone," Tia said, it made me relieved.
"Thank you very much."
Well, not that we need to hide it either. However, I recalled what Estella had previously said, about the Demon King currently investigating the source of divine power in this place. I think it refers to Alicia, so I want our identities to be as secret as possible.
I don't want the Demon King to target us again.
"So, what did you want from us to call us here, Tia-san?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
I'm sure the reason we were summoned here wasn't just to inform about that, after all.
Tia sat right in front of us and drank her own tea in a very graceful manner. It fascinated me just for a moment.
"Well, actually it's nothing important. I just want to express my gratitude directly to you two, for saving this village from the monsters. I really really thank you for saving this village," she answered while bowing hers head sincerely.
When I heard that, my body immediately froze, as well as Alicia's.
"I-Is that so? N-No need to thank someone, it's only natural to help someone in trouble, right, Alicia?" I replied with a bitter smile that I forced.
"W-Well, this is… natural…" Alicia said, but she immediately averted her eyes and fell silent.
Oy, don't shrink at the end! Say it even more clearly! I know how you feel, because I feel guilty too, but try to hold on.
I don't want to break Tia's hopes for thanking us. I don't want to disappoint her.
Ugh, this hurts.
I tried to stay calm, but my hands shook as I lifted my teacup and drank it in one gulp.
Should I prostrate now?
At that time, I started to consider how to bow sincerely, should I take off all my clothes as well?
No, the opponent was a girl. It would make me a serious sex offender if I prostrated myself in front of this childish-looking woman.
But, what should I do besides bow down?
I feel that just that is still not enough to show my sincerity.
"Uuh..." I moaned in a low voice while massaging my head which hurt a lot.
Somehow the more I thought about it, it made my head even more dizzy.
My head feels very heavy.
At the same time—
'Thump!'
—My body suddenly fell.
I was lying on the table.
'Crash!'
My teacup also fell from my hand and shattered.
What's this?
My body can't move.
I suddenly felt like I really wanted to sleep.
My eyes are heavy sleep.
Did I drink too much?
—No, this is obviously very strange.
These are not symptoms that occur naturally.
What happened?
"Oh, looks like it's starting to react," someone said in a sweet voice.
When I saw who said that...
There—
"Tia… san."