"Aikrele, what brings you here?" Zhang Fan had grown accustomed to the Dog Mother's Guard Captain's branding of him as a "lecherous hero." After all, she was just a tsundere, and her words could often be taken with a grain of salt.
"Hmph, I just happened to pass by and saw you deceiving Legota," Aikrele huffed, her expression clearly disgruntled.
"Deceive Legota? How have I deceived her?" Zhang Fan was utterly confused.
"Dare to feign ignorance! I saw it all; you let Legota kiss... kiss you!" Aikrele's cheeks flushed a fiery red as she stuttered out the word "kiss," struggling to articulate her accusation.
"I'm truly wronged here. It was Legota who approached me," Zhang Fan couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated, realizing Aikrele's accusation made him sound like a villain to young girls.
"Still making excuses! I must report this to Princess Misiore!"
"Suit yourself. I've done nothing wrong. You'd better not regret it if Legota ends up resenting you," Zhang Fan shrugged, knowing full well Princess Misiore and he were on the same page.
"You!" Aikrele was at a loss for words, pondering whether Legota would indeed blame her. She had seen the entire scene and knew it was Legota who had initiated the contact, but witnessing it made Aikrele feel an inexplicable annoyance, wanting to reprimand this "lecherous hero." Why was she behaving so out of character?
"Come now, let's not sulk. The stage is nearly set, and the food stalls are ready. Shall we grab something to eat? You haven't had dinner yet, have you?" Seeing Aikrele's flustered state, Zhang Fan couldn't suppress a chuckle. Teasing a girl wasn't like him. He gently tapped Aikrele's head, pointing towards a nearby food stall.
"Alright then... I'll let it slide this time." Aikrele was secretly pleased by Zhang Fan's invitation but tried not to show it. After hesitating for a moment, she finally agreed.
"Great! I've heard the coconut-filled pastries here are delicious. Let's get some, my treat."
Despite the hurried setup, the food stall looked quite professional, bustling with activity. They bought two drinks and two coconut pastries, sitting on a wooden bench to enjoy the lively scene. Peace truly was paramount.
"By the way, hero, we owe you our gratitude. If not for you, Princess Misiore would have been in real danger. Thank you," Aikrele finally expressed her thanks after a long silence, her words coming just as Zhang Fan was finishing his pastry.
"It was nothing. Protecting the princess is not only your duty but mine as well," Zhang Fan said with a smile, pleased to hear a rare word of thanks from Aikrele.
"No matter what, I thank you. I couldn't have managed alone..."
Before Aikrele could continue, a familiar voice called out, "Hero, so this is where you are." Turning, they saw Prince Galu of Garette, followed by the bumbling trio from Genovaz.
"Greetings, Prince Galu. What brings you to us?" Zhang Fan greeted the familiar face warmly.
"Hero, I've heard about your remarkable feats in this war, how you single-handedly defeated that massive monster?" Before Galu could elaborate, his entourage rushed forward with questions, with Jonu leading the charge, looking up to Zhang Fan in admiration.
"Hero, was that monster really that terrifying? You're so amazing," Viel gazed at Zhang Fan with stars in her eyes, in awe of the hero's bravery.
"Hero, an autograph?" Novaru's request for a signature left Zhang Fan speechless, bemused by the cat girl's sudden fan-like behavior.
"Hey, don't ignore me," Galu protested, feeling sidelined by his own guards' sudden shift in loyalty.
"All right, let's save these discussions for later. So, Prince Galu, what did you want to say?" Zhang Fan gestured for Galu to proceed.
"Uh..." Overwhelmed by the attention, Galu struggled to find his words, amusing Zhang Fan with his awkwardness.
After a brief chat and sharing of experiences, the group enjoyed a simple meal together. Galu shared that Leon Misiure was in good spirits, bringing peace to his heart. The quick meal ended, and they strolled around the stalls, eventually joining Yu Jikazhe and Darkeion. As they gathered, the concert by Princess Misiore started, showcasing her as a dazzling star. Despite having heard her sing before, Misiore's voice remained enchantingly memorable, justifying her status as a world-class superstar.
During the concert, the small land god in Yu Jikazhe's arms woke up, possibly stirred by Misiore's singing. The concert ended on a high note, and as dawn broke, the soldiers began their journey home, receiving a warm welcome in Philiano City. Zhang Fan, in particular, became a heartthrob among the city's young women, rivaling even Princess Misiore in popularity. The air was filled with shimmering light, and the people celebrated their heroes' return, with young girls offering flower garlands, especially to Zhang Fan, whose neck was adorned with the most garlands of all.