A/N.: Hello everyone! Sorry for the late update, I have been a bit busy recently. This time too the chapter isn't much different, the old readers would understand it so I don't mind if you skip it…

My personal thanks to merendinoemiliano and Maya Yoan for their constant reviews, I know that the story still seems to be the same until this chapter but hopefully to next chapter, it would be a bit different! Please watch over my story until then.

Even though the chapters aren't in the Arc of the Forest of White Dreams yet, they are a part of it, canon fact! Please forgive me, next chapter for sure! (-_-u)

For the new readers, I hope you will enjoy this chapter!


""An errand?""

"With Hawk?"

"With Elizabeth?"

Both the princess and the pig tilted their heads to the side after hearing the word of the blond-haired tavern master in front of them, all of them were currently in the hall of the Boar Hat.

Outside, the sun was still very high up in the sky but it wasn't morning anymore, it was near afternoon instead. A few hours have passed since the removal of the sword stuck in the plaza and blocking the village's water source.

Lill and Meliodas were cheerfully claimed as heroes by the villagers who were between crying of joy and screaming out of their lungs in ecstasy. All of them, mostly the men, promised to come visit the tavern in order to celebrate this blissful day, where they finally managed to reach the light after agonizing for the last few weeks in the darkness.

Meliodas nodded to the princess & pig's duo as he was facing them from his bar counter, he put a rather full pouch on the counter before settling his elbows on it, "Yep. We have some people from Bernia Village coming tonight! Get some herbs and fruits with these silver coins. A princess never goes on shopping trips, so it'll be a good experience for you, right?" So he said with a smile as he flicked the tip of the pouch.

Elizabeth opened the pouch lightly with her fingers before taking out a single silver coin between the fingers of her other hand and brought it closer to her, taking a better look at it as she murmured deep in thought: "So, this is a silver coin…"

This reaction made Meliodas raise an eyebrow at her reaction, "...Are you telling me that you've never seen any coins other than gold ones?"

Elizabeth didn't seem to have heard his words and instead raised the coin above her head, staring at it as if she was fascinated, "So you really trade for good with these things?"

Meliodas almost slipped at her words, but managed to hold himself up and only his head fell lightly on the side, his close blunder went unnoticed by everyone as he quickly hid that up with his usual nonchalant tone, making sure that his voice didn't end up in a stutter: "It goes down to that level, huh?"

Meliodas scratched his temple with his index finger as he raised his head and his gaze happened to meet Lill's. The two held a staring contest that lasted for close to 5 seconds, and then...

"Hawk, go with her for support!" Meliodas said as he broke his gaze away from hers, requesting help from the pig, ignoring how Lill's brow twitched a bit in response.

Hawk didn't notice the reaction either, instead just staring back at Meliodas with a disapproving look, "And you're just going to housesit?"

Meliodas shook his head and grinned, "Nope! I'm going to hunt for tonight's main dish, the Dusk Bison! I've been told that it's a pest that's been making a mess of the village's farms at around dusk. If I catch it, it's killing two birds with one stone!"

"Please be careful." Elizabeth begged him in a concerned manner and he nodded back, "Sure!"

Hawk was staring at him for a while, his two front legs leaning forward on the chair, his chin against it, he was almost in a sitting position. Then he opened his mouth in a slightly disinterested manner, his eyes droopy, "...Hey, Meliodas, I'm not a big fan of beef, though."

Meliodas, Elizabeth and Lill all looked at each other before turning back to Hawk curiously, Meliodas being the one who voiced the common question they all shared in their minds. "Huh? What do your preferences have to do with anything?"

Hawk answered without missing a bit, without the singlest hesitation, "You're going to cook it, right? It's all going to end up with me eventually."

"""...""

...

"Alrigh~t! Let's do our best and complete this important mission~!"

"Even though it's an important mission, don't focus too much on it!"

"Yes~!"

A few minutes later, Elizabeth was now happily strolling outside, a few meters away from the Boar Hat, carrying a basket. Hawk was running near her, with a few large bumps on his head. And in front of the Boar Hat, were Lill and Meliodas, watching them depart.

As he watched Elizabeth's back disappearing into the distance, Meliodas couldn't help but wonder, "...Are they going to be alright?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"You're the only one here besides me."

"Hawk Mama is there."

"She doesn't count as an actual voice of reason right now."

"Oh, because I do? After all, you don't seem to trust me despite what you said."

After hearing her words, Meliodas just silently turned his head to the side and stared at the girl who was standing next to him.

Well in truth, even though her attire was quite showy, the whole village already knew of her and taking account the fact he saved them from the Holy Knight apprentices and fixed their water problem, she too was considered as their savior, so…

Meliodas just faced forward once again, Elizabeth and Hawk were no longer in sight, he just closed his eyes and gave a small sigh, "So you ARE sulking."

"I am not…"

"You definitely are."

"I'm just a bit surprised that you prefer to trust a pig over me."

"And this is what we call sulking."

"Surprise and sulk are two different things though."

"Are we really going to play that over and again? It's starting to become a bit tiring." Meliodas complained with half-lidded eyes.

Lill was still standing on his right side, her expression unchanging and her words were as curt as ever, yet the repetition of this exchange over and again gave Meliodas the feeling that she was displeased over the situation.

It wasn't something he could blame her for, after what he said the night of the 1st day but despite his previous words, it wasn't something that he could allow so easily, at least not immediately.

The reason for why he refused her help previously was due to a slight selfish wish of his, after a decade he finally got reunited with the princess he left back in Liones, the little girl of the past has now turned into a beautiful young woman back at his side, his to protect, even if she has now a personal guard not much taller than him.

So he wished to bath into that privilege and feeling of monopoly just a bit more after that long awaited reunion, he knows that he may did something bad to Lill since she was here for her job and he was preventing her from working, but there was also an unsettling feeling inside him that he still can't decipher the meaning.

And unless he understands that, he can't entrust Elizabeth's safety to her, which was the most important to him to someone he has never met before. No matter her abilities, no matter how much she is trusted by Bartra, no matter how much Elizabeth enjoys her company as he thought previously.

He knew Hawk for 10 years, he was pretty sure that he had seen every single aspect of the pig that could be seen. However Lill was a mystery for him, he knew her for not even a few days so it couldn't be helped but because of that he didn't know where to place her exactly.

So until then, he would hope that she would stay patient. And if she can't take it, she can quit when she wants, he would just take care of Elizabeth's safety by himself, as he always did, he would rather trust his own abilities to keep her safe rather than someone else's.

"...Still, are they truly going to be alright?"

...Perhaps it was better to not just entrust her safety even over an errand to a pig whose only talent was to eat scraps and talk. No matter how welcoming the village is now, even if the Holy Knights are from here.

"It was YOUR decision, it's too late to regret it."

"Mmm… Yeah, say Lill, on afterthought do you mind going after them after all?"

"Are you going to make me follow them?" Lill turned to him, a disapproving look on her face.

'Well, yeah, I kinda expected it.' Meliodas took it in a resigned manner.

After all he repeatedly told her not to go with them and only after they are off he goes back on her decision at the last minute, it was no wonder that she started to get annoyed too. But he still nodded to say yes, much to his surprise or perhaps not…

"I refuse." So she said, refusing to look at him.

She who was so eager(?) now refuses to do her job so Meliodas has no choice but to think of an alternative here, "It can't be helped, I'll go follow them so can you go hunt the Dusk Bison and―"

*CLACK!*

"Guess you're not doing that either, huh?" Meliodas rubbed his head in a slightly troubled look as he stared at the Boar Hat's front door in front of him, now closed firmly right in front of his face.

'...To think that one day I would be shut outside of my own shop like this…' Feeling a bit astonished over what just happened in front of him before he could even realize it, Meliodas sent a look in the direction where Elizabeth and Hawk went.

In the end, he just sighed as he shook his head, opting to go in the opposite direction and do the task he set up for himself and has no other choice but to continue to accomplish now; defeating the Dusk Bison and taking it back as dinner.

...There is no need to tell that after Elizabeth and Hawk came back from their first errand, it was automatically declared as a failure.


HOLY KNIGHT SAGA,

FOREST OF WHITE DREAMS ARC:

WHAT ONE MUST DO.


About 7 miles North-West from the Bernia Village, there was a fortress with a single stone tower standing among the mountains. It was Fort Solgales.

A soldier covered with a metal helmet explained in a hasty, panicked and also frightened manner, "J-Just now, we received a report from the soldiers who were with Apprentice Holy Knight Twigo who were stationed at Bernia Village… An unidentified child… Um… pulled Lord Gilthunder's sword out! ...What do you think about this, sir?"

In front of him was a relatively tall and handsome young man with slightly curled, short pink-colored hair and blue eyes and wearing silver armor with a white cape. He was sitting on a chair behind a wooden desk inside the room. However, the man's expression was unchanging despite the shocking news he just received. Thinking carefully about the information he just received with a cold demeanor.

The soldier could only wait the verdict with sweat wetting his hands that had been clenched into fists, from the rumors and also from what he can actually see since he was under his service, but Gilthunder was known to be a strong Holy Knight.

Being Diamond-ranked, he was among the top and also the son of the previous and deceased Great Holy Knight Zaratras, who inherited the latter's powerful lightning magic. And that he was also a Holy Knight feared for his cruelty, serious and mercilessly attitude towards the people who dared to cause his wrath, what happened to the Bernia Village was an example of it.

And if he were to do anything that may displease him...! The soldier couldn't help but tremble at that thought, doing his best to be at a perfect behavior...

"Description...?"

"E-Eh?" The man could only repeat this word dumbly, his mind unable to comprehend the situation due to the single-word question that was asked to him and the panic slowed his process of thought and judgement, messing up the informations that was supposed to be imprinted in his memories.

"I am saying if you don't have a more detailed description about that child who apparently pulled out my sword."

"H-However, the possibility of it being a mistake is quite high and…"

"Just tell me, you received information about at least a physical description of the said child… didn't you?"

"Y-Yes, sir!" Even though he just answered by reflex out of panic, in truth the man didn't remember much about it (maybe there was one?), but also how the fact that he panicked made him forget most of it.

Gilthunder didn't seem to care as he kept on staring at the soldier while waiting for his response.

'I-It's bad! If I don't answer quickly, I'll be killed…?!' The soldier trembled like a newborn fawn and felt like crying upon seeing Gilthunder staring at him like a predator at his prey, and then he tried his hardest to say out what he seemed to remember.

"I-It seems to be a child that looks still in the early teens…"

"I see."

"With blonde hair, and green eye(s?)... and also defeated Apprentice Holy Knight Twigo with ease..."

"..."

'As expected, is it Meliodas?' Gilthunder thought back to the Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins who often trained him in swordsmanship during his childhood, the description seems to fit him perfectly, and he could perfectly believe him to be able to pull his sword out with ease. But just when he was about to dismiss the soldier, the latter brought another fatal news that would turn his whole world over…

"And moreover, it was a girl!"

'I see, a girl… Wait, what?!' The cold mask that Gilthunder had perfected over those last 10 years has almost broken with that single statement that he was close to losing his poker face in a really ridiculous manner.

The man of course, only said what he could barely remember (with him forgetting the most important details due to his panic) thus forgot to mention that there wasn't only one but technically two persons who dealt with the matter in the Bernia Village (though Lill was really the one who pulled out the sword, it seems that details about her and Meliodas were being mixed together by error).

And unfortunately, he didn't realize the impact his words would have on the Holy Knight.

Despite doing all he can to maintain a poker face, Gilthunder's mind was thrown in overpanic. 'Wait, wait, wait, wait! Could it be that I was mistaken? That it wasn't Meliodas? But for a "child" to be able to pull out the sword that I planted there, and the only one with a childish appearance yet possess the strength of a Holy Knight is Meliodas only! Then… could it be…'

Then the idea of the possible worst outcome appeared in Gilthunder's mind…

Could it be…

No, it couldn't be possible, right…?

But still…

Even if the Seven Deadly Sins had to go into hiding because they were labelled as criminals, there was no need to go that far, right…? Right?!

What if… what if Meliodas was forced to travesty himself in order to hide himself? His childhood hero… being forced to throw away his manly pride and dress up like a woman… and the one responsible for it was actually the Kingdom for which he was working for?!

'No, no! Calm yourself down immediately, me!' Gilthunder held back the sudden urge to punch himself in order to not make himself look suspicious.

There was indeed still a possibility that the person may not be Meliodas, but if it was so can he feel relieved about it? If it was someone else, there was no telling that they would be able to help him and Margaret.

But if it was indeed Meliodas…

Wait a second, just how can he confirm that it was Meliodas or not in the first place? Should he throw a spear towards Bernia Village filled with magic power? If the spear would come back to him, then it would surely be the doing of Meliodas' magic move, Full Counter…

But if it doesn't then he may have destroyed the whole village just because of some error… He already caused enough trouble to this village already just in order to keep up with appearances, and if possible he didn't want to do any more than this, but…

'H-However if it's truly Meliodas, and he were to throw me back the spear, and that he was truly dressed up as a woman then…'

Then how should he even face him?! Should he throw the spear, or not?! Should he even go face him, or not?! He somehow felt that it was a sight he was never going to recover from. And more than anything, for some reasons no other options were coming to his mind!

"Impossible… I can't believe it..."

'Lord Gilthunder... As expected, he doesn't seem to believe it either.' The soldier thought so as he watched Gilthunder suddenly putting his hand against his face in a shaky manner, feeling for the first time a faint sympathy towards the usually ruthless and merciless man in front of him. For some reason, it seems that the actual Gilthunder wasn't the cold-hearted knight who was willing to do anything to get his things done, but just an ordinary young man... or so he felt.

However what the soldier expected was that Gilthunder refused to admit that a child managed to pull the sword he planted due to a Holy Knight's pride, blissfully unaware of the latter's internal struggle.

It took the two next hours for Gilthunder to make his mind up and throw this spear, full of mixed feelings between hope and despair (or maybe fear) in a whole different way, praying for Meliodas to catch the spear but at the same time to not throw it back to him. No need to say that when he received the spear back, Gilthunder who was still under that unexplained misunderstanding, felt not only a bit relieved but also very frightened over what sight he may see upon meeting Meliodas again.


"To the Boar Hat's mini-bar owner Meliodas and his freeloader lazy-bum Lill who saved our village, cheers!"

"CHEEEEEEEEERS—!"

When evening arrived, the Bernia villagers came to celebrate the return of their underground spring and also to cheer at their saviors.

They all filled the wooden mugs with their pride, freshly-made Bernia ale as they raised their cups together as they cheered in unison before chugging the whole thing down and sighing in delight. A joyous atmosphere and noise were filling the hall of the Boar Hat. However...

"...Lill, what about this 'mini-bar owner'?"

"I should be the one who asks about this 'freeloader lazy-bum'."

"Is that so? I thought that it was perfectly fitting."

"So you were the one who gave them this idea? ...Well you aren't partially wrong."

"Then why were you unsatisfied?"

"I only approved the 'freeloader' part. The rest was unneeded."

"...You really focus on that of all things, huh?" Meliodas sighed at the antics of the girl in front of him, who seemed to always care for the most unexpected part of the talk,before turning to Elizabeth who was fidgeting behind him. "So, Elizabeth, you ready?"

Suddenly hearing her name being called, the princess jolted a bit in response before placing the tray in her hand while her other hand was cupping her reddening cheeks as she murmured in a flustered manner, "C-Can I really do this…? It's my first time doing something like this, so… my heart is pounding…"

"I see, I see… It's your first time. Say it one more time? Once more." Meliodas pressed as for some reason he was seriously intruding Elizabeth's private space and for some reason it seemed as if flowers could be seen flying around him even though his expression didn't change much.

Elizabeth could just stare downward with a more bashful expression for some reasons as she was still restless.

"What are you getting all for?" Hawk murmured as he sweatdropped, and Meliodas was even blowing air from his nose as if he was some kind of bull.

Lill then turned to Elizabeth while retorting, "Besides why are you using such confusing words just for waitressing?"

"Eh? Well…"

"Though, I do understand the reason for why she was anxious. Her first errand ended up in a disaster after all…"

"Well, you're not wrong."

"U-Uuh…" Elizabeth flinched at Lill's words and Meliodas's agreement to it.

What they are referring to is an event that just happened a few hours ago...

Indeed, right after the event of the sword pulling and just before the customers arrived to celebrate the long awaited return of their water source, Elizabeth was tasked to go buy some ingredients in order to prepare the food for tonight.

Since it was her very first attempt, Meliodas tasked Hawk to accompany her and both of them gave them a small bag of silver coins to pay for the groceries. However both of them ended up getting carried away and spent all the money to buy unnecessary things.

Thankfully they encountered a kind farmer of the village who gave them some vegetables from his farm for free as a thanks for freeing the flow of their underground spring (and also because he was a bit taken aback by the princess and pig's fountains of tears).

The two then came back in good mood but due to Fate's work (or Elizabeth's fatal clumsiness), she stumbled upon a small stone on the road (so small that makes one wonder how someone can even trip on it) when she was skipping while singing a tune and fell forward, knocking all the things in her basket apart on the ground.

In the end, they came back empty-handed with the exception of the useless items they previously bought; thus a plate with a pig drawing and a hairbrush. The two items were offered to Lill and Meliodas as peace offerings, there is no need to say that Meliodas didn't take it well (despite his straight expression) and gave threats and punishments to both…

"Still Lill, even though I told you to stay out today, I can't believe that you accepted that plate." Meliodas sent a raised eyebrow look at Lill, who held the plate into both hands before setting it in a drawer, "Though the drawing is curious, I don't mind the design. Besides now, I have my own plate."

"You're aware that unlike Elizabeth who bought the brush for me, Hawk definitely bought it for himself, you know?"

"Then shouldn't it be fine for me to borrow it? After all, your threats about making him roasted pig meat would lose effectiveness if you overuse it."

"This is MY plate!" Hawk, below them, retorted angrily but when both of them turned their disapproving gaze onto him, he could only shrink back slowly.

"And you're still punished, Piglet. Don't you already have your own personal plate?"

"Pugyaa?!"

"...I'm thinking that you're sulking because you didn't get your personal gift, right?"

"EH?! Is that so, Lill?! I'm so sorry!"

"No, it's not. Don't believe him Elizabeth. Besides Meliodas, I'm pretty sure that you just took the excuse of 'punishment' to touch Elizabeth again."

"Eh?! Is that true, Lord Meliodas?!"

"Well then, well then, well then… What makes you think so?"

Both blondes ignored Hawk's pitiful cry closer to that of a strangled chicken instead of the pig he is, even dragging the usually kindhearted and considerate silver-haired princess into this as she could only look in a flustered manner between the two of them.

"But well, being a waitress will be fine once you get used to it." Meliodas explained as he leaned his elbow on the bar counter, trying to encourage the princess out of her fear.

Elizabeth gasped in understanding as she nodded with determination, realizing the intention behind his words, "I understand! The most important thing is to gather information about the Seven Deadly Sins, after all."

"Info on the whereabouts of the Holy Knights would be fine, too. Even if they're not directly related, it could be a lead." Meliodas' serious expression then turned into one of his usual nonchalant smiles, "...That's it for the serious talk. Take it easy now."

"Y-Yes...! I will take it easy!" Elizabeth answered, maybe a little too loud in order to take it "easy" as she went to quickly answer the demands of the customers who had been calling for her.

The three others could only look at her blankly before turning their gazes to each other.

"...Say, do you think that THAT is 'taking it easy'."

"I don't think so."

"She's taking it too seriously for her own good…"

And the three nodded in unison when their opinions happened to match with each other. Then Meliodas turned to Lill and asked her, "But Lill, are you sure that you just want to wash the dishes?"

"Well, even if I am not lazy enough to try to skip work at such a time, I can at least do that, right?"

"Well I don't mind, but what I'm asking is why do you want to do the dishes? Wouldn't it be better for you to be a waitress like Elizabeth? Or at least try to follow her through the work since you don't seem to be as clumsy... Besides, the villagers are also here to come see you and thank you too, wouldn't it be better for you to at least interact with them for a bit?"

"They are a bit too overwhelming for me, besides shouldn't this apply for you too?"

"Hm... It isn't false."

"And besides, waitressing in those clothes would be difficult." Her words caused the two others to look at the clothes she was currently wearing.

Having taken off the dark cape she usually wore over her clothes, her attire was the same as the one she wore when she met Elizabeth in her library. It was a very expensive-looking doll-like attire or at least seemed to belong to a noble lady's dress, it didn't fit with the commoner atmosphere of the bar.

Besides, even if Lill wasn't clumsy like Elizabeth, it wouldn't be surprising for her to trip on herself due to her long skirt that literally reached the floor.

"If it's just that then I can lend you a waitress uniform you know?"

"The problem is unfortunately not about that."

"Then what is wrong with it?" Both Meliodas and Hawk asked but Lill just shook her head silently and only muttered a single answer: "The curse of the Devil."

"...What?"

"And what the heck is that supposed to mean?"

"I refuse to explain any further than this."

""..."" Both Hawk and Meliodas looked at each other in confusion, even if they were to press for an answer, it seemed that Lill was obstinate to not answer no matter what. Why on earth was she such a blockhead about that…?

*BOMP! PAM! CRASH! SPLASH!*

"K-Kyaaa...?! I-I am so sorry!"

"..."

"..."

"..." However their thoughts were quickly interrupted, and it was hard to concentrate onto something as insignifiant as Lill's attire when such an ear-catching sound caught their minds, which was after that loud crash along with the sound of wet splashes and plates breaking together, the frantic and panicked apologies of a certain clumsy princess that tried her hardest to work as a waitress was reasoning through the hall…

Well maybe that she was trying too hard, and this is why she was struggling. While watching this scene unfold right in front of their eyes, the three's reactions were...

"...Say Meliodas..." Lill asked absentmindedly, her eyes still glued on Elizabeth's form who kept on apologizing to the customers who were smiling wryly at her clumsiness, their faces covered with the things they had ordered earlier.

Meliodas answered in the same way, his eyes kept on staring forward without even turning to look at her. "...What is it, Lill?"

"During these last few years, was there a custom to serve the customers by throwing their food at their faces?"

"I don't think so, or at least, my bar isn't that type of sado-maso store..."

"I see..."

"Wait, wait! Just how on earth did you guys interpret this scene!" Hawk was tapping his hoof in a repetitive manner on the floor as he demanded that angrily.

All he could see, him, was the results of an unfortunate clumsiness that came from an innocent and hard-working princess who never had such dirty intentions, or whatever they are insinuating! And yet how dare they...!

In normal time, he would have immediately slammed his body into Meliodas for a heavy blow into the latter's body, but it would surely distract Elizabeth further and raise the number of broken plates... So he would save it for later on, yeah!

*Cransh!*

"Aaah! I am so sorry!"

...Oh, another broken plate today.

"...Say, Meliodas."

"What again?"

"...Do you want to try and bet on how many plates she would break today?"

"...Fine, if I lose I'll buy you something nice and sweet to eat."

"Deal, don't you dare to forget it."

"Sure, but for now let's decide about a number and..."

"Are you guys heartless?!"

Of course it was just a joke, but because of Hawk's over nagging, the bet was called off. There was no need to mention that they helped all together to clean after Elizabeth's mistakes.


'I know that as a princess who had been living a sheltered life up until now, it's understandable that she has a hard time adjusting so suddenly at work. But to think that she would possess the accuracy of perfectly slamming the full content of each plate into the customer's face… Though she surely isn't doing it on purpose, it's still impressive in a lot of ways. But since it's only due to her clumsiness, I guess it can't be controlled, huh…'

So were the current thoughts of the doll-like girl as she washed the few plates before cleaning them dry with a cloth and turning around. In the trashcan were the numerous broken shards of the plates Elizabeth had broken today…

So much that they stopped even to count how many there were in it. It seems that the first task tomorrow morning was to go buy more plates to replace all the ones that had been lost today.

'Rest in peace…' Lill put her hands together in a praying manner and directed it towards the trash can, where the 'deceased' are currently laying, hoping for them to have a better fate in their next life. It can be considered as a bit too dramatic but there was no one here to comment on that so it was fine.

In the end, it was just her and Hawk who worked at the bar. Despite being told that everything was alright by not only the customers but also Meliodas who was trying to reassure her, Elizabeth still felt ashamed over her mistakes today and decided to take a breather outside in order to calm down. It was not long after that Meliodas went after her even though he just said that she should have some time alone.

"Oi, Lill!"

Suddenly having her name called by the pig, Lill raised her head and asked, "What is it, Piglet?"

"Pugo! Didn't I tell you already a thousand times that my name was Hawk?!"

"I know, I just don't feel like calling you by your name yet, besides you still answered so it means that you are aware that I was talking about you, right? So there is no problem about it."

"Pugyaa! You are really annoying, you know?!" The pig puffed up with anger, his pink skin could almost be seen as turning red around his head as if he was boiling like a kettle.

"So, what did you want to do in the end?"

"Seriously… Well anyway, there's a visitor for you!"

"...A visitor?" Lill raised an eyebrow before seeing Hawk looking behind him, she followed the direction he was pointing towards and saw the one that it was a person, a very small person… well to be more precise, a child. Yes, the boy from this morning.

"If I remember well your name is…" Lill tried to remember among her earlier memories of the day, it took her a bit of time to remember a stranger properly, but then she remembered the fact that this boy's name was related to something easy to remember, like food or a drink… Ah, that's it!

"Your name is Mead, right?"

"Y-Yeah! So you remembered?"

"Yes."

'As expected of an ale-maker village, to even name one of their children after alcohol…' Lill was impressed and disturbed by the professionalism of this village and the passion they put in their work, but can't help but wonder if they didn't put their optimism in the wrong place.

"Say, lady…"

"Ah… Yes, what is it?" It seemed that she ended up being immersed in her own thoughts so she didn't hear what the boy just said, but it seems that she didn't miss much of the talk.

"Do you know where the blond guy and that silver-haired lady are...? I can't see them anywhere there." Mead asked as he looked around him, but unfortunately he didn't see the person he was looking for.

"Hm… If you are looking for those two, they just left earlier, you just missed them, quite a bad timing."

"I see…" Mead looked down with a slightly disappointed expression.

"However, if you have some business with them, I can inform them when they will return."

"Ah, but since you're here and all, well, that is…"

'...? Why is he fidgeting so much?'

For some reasons, it seems that Mead was struggling over what to say, he was always looking down and his cheeks seems to redden a bit, behind him there was an old lady who seemed to be one of the villager of Bernia Village, who kindly pushed his back with a kind smile (similar to how Meliodas pushed him forward to his adopted family earlier in the day).

Mead then looked back to her and when she nodded in an encouraging manner. ...It seems that an unknown message was passed between them when Mead nodded at his turn before taking a large step forward in front of Lill.

"What is it?" She asked one more time.

Mead then looked up to her before taking out what he seemed to be hiding behind his back and pushing it to her face at a really high speed, "Here!" He said.

"..." Lill then took one step back during the moment, not because she was wary of the child's attention, but rather because the thing almost hit her eye with the closeness he used to push it forward.

Taking a step back and then looking carefully at it, it seemed to be a quite large bottle. Of what, that was a mystery… but there was a faint smell of her favorite in it, that was for sure, there was no way she could mistake that smell alone.

'But still, I guess it would be better to still ask.' Even if she can recognize the content of that bottle, she can't recognize the intention behind the action that Mead was trying to do. "So, this is…?"

"Alcohol!"

"...Sure? But why such a thing, all of the sudden?"

"Well I tried my hardest with everyone in the village, okay the majority were all the children together so we couldn't make something like Bernia ale, so…!"

"I was asking you the reason, not the content."

"...!" Upon hearing her, Mead acted like an actor who forgot the lines he should say in the middle of his interpretation in front of an audience and started to panic again.

Seeing this, the old lady sighed before placing her hands on Mead's shoulders and then told Lill in a slightly apologetic voice despite the smile on her face, "I'm sorry. Even though this child tried to practice how to speak to you guys for one hour already, it seems that when he's facing the real thing, he ends up losing all his confidence."

"Heh…"

"Wha?! Wait, Granny, what the heck are you saying?!"

However the grandma just ignored Mead as she continued, "He tried his hardest in order to repay the three of you for helping the village. If it isn't too much to ask, would you accept it?"

"...I see, so that's how it is." Lill nodded in acknowledgement. "If so, then I would gladly accept, I am sure that the other two would say the same." Thus she extended her hands to take the bottle.

Mead brightened as he grinned at that before putting a proud hand on his chest, "Of course! It would originally be wasted on people like you guys, but since this Great Mead worked hard, accept it with gratitude!"

"Oh, is that so? If it is wasted on us then I don't think we should accept it as an afterthought." And thus the bottle was pushed back to Mead.

"No, no, no! I was joking, it's a lie! I'm sorry so please don't accept it and enjoy it together! C'mon!"

"You sure took back your words really quickly, didn't you?" Lill commented with dry humor as she looked at Mead, who was back at his panicked state and lost all of his earlier confidence. What on earth happened to this proud and spoiled child? For him to turn so shy and meek in less than half a day.

"Geez, and it was going so well, why are you ruining everything again with your bad habits?" The grandma shook her head in exasperation as she sighed, putting a hand on her head as if it was to prepare against an oncoming headache.

"However it can't be helped, though he has the will to change, unfortunately it isn't something that can happen in one evening, if you can just settle this aside and accept it…"

"Granny?!"

"Of course, besides it was just a joke."

"It didn't sound like one at all though?!"

"You are starting to sound like that Piglet… and talking about him, where is he?" Lill looked around her, noticing that she hadn't seen or heard of the pig for quite a while already. Did he leave when she wasn't looking? If it was so then that consideration was unneeded.

The kid then seemed to look at her in an expecting manner, waiting for her to say something. But…

'In such times… what should I say, again?' It was during such times that she wished that someone else could take her place in this situation.

Unfortunately both Meliodas and Elizabeth were absent, and Hawk surely left to rejoin them, so she had no choice but to take care of this matter herself. So if it were either of them in her situation, then they would probably react like this…?

"...Thank you, I will make sure that the three of us enjoy it carefully together."

Was it right? Did she do it right? She wondered so but soon got her answer when Mead grinned wider after and nodded with energy.

It was just right after that that the two left, apparently Mead had already crossed far beyond the hour when the children are supposed to sleep at, but for someone who was supposed to be sleepy at this hour, he sure waved back at her overflowing with energy as he left.

'...Well since the Piglet also decided to skip off work, I guess I have to do all the cleaning by myself, huh…?' Lill sighed as she took another cloth to wipe the tables now. The dishes were done with the clean plates put back into their respective places.

All the customers left earlier and even paid despite the fact that they could use some excuses to avoid doing so, such honest people they are…

…?!

"...!" Lill widened her eyes as she felt an oncoming magic power getting closer to Bernia Village, the feeling it gave was similar to the one in the sword, so something related to lightning.

The tables, chairs and grounds started to tremble in response, yet none of the bottles of ales were falling and crashing on the ground, it was kind of mysterious.

…!

Even though Lill remained calm and immobile, her shadow started to move on its own.

It expanded forward like some kind of puddle, distorting its previous image that matched the body above the ground.

Many glowing orbs appeared into the dark sea, changing shape as if they were blinking.

Then something started to rise upward from the ground, something dark was trying to come out from it while a certain bestial-like growl could be heard. The shadows started to rise from the ground and enveloped the legs of the nearby tables and chairs, slowly climbing them up and recovering them with its darkness.

*Tap!*

With a single sound and fluid motion, without even looking at the thing that was forming itself behind her, Lill raised her leg and tapped on the ground with her foot once, as if it was to step on the shadow and then said in a voice filled with authority, "Go back inside, nothing is wrong here."

The shadow stayed still for a moment, even though he could disobey her, even though he could attack her while she wasn't looking, it still obediently did as she said and return to his place in the ground, the shadow of the girl that was distorted return to one that fits her appearance.

The girl then resumed back to work, as if nothing just happened here, just sometimes glancing through the window, looking at what seemed to be a shooting star crossing the night sky, her heterochromia eyes glowing of a faint golden light...


"Yo, Lill, we're back!"

"Sorry for the wait, Lill!"

A little after, Meliodas, Elizabeth and Hawk (so he was truly with them, huh?) came back, Meliodas' sleeve was burnt and his hand was bleeding. Elizabeth and Hawk at his sides were unhurt, he probably covered for them.

"It's fine, but since I did everything alone here, I hope for permission to skip the next day's worth of work."

Meliodas frowned a bit upon seeing her indifference, "Oi, oi, oi. Is that all you're going to say? Not going to ask anything. And while I know that you aren't wrong but seriously, just how lazy can you be?"

"Since I worked non-stop all my life, I thought that I should take a break when I still can."

"Hm? What is that supposed to mean anyway?"

"Nothing that you should care about, but still leave me some breaks, okay?"

Meliodas sighed before ruffling his hair in a messy manner as a show of exasperation, "...You know that you aren't making any sense?"

"It's better in this way." Lill refused to explain herself further as she instead asked, "So, any news?"

"And now you're trying to avoid the subject?"

Seeing how Meliodas and Lill's conversation were going, Elizabeth started to look back and forth between the two in slight worry. Noticing this, Meliodas sighed before deciding to drop the subject for her sake, "But to answer your question, it's a 'yeah'. We're heading towards the Forest of White Dreams next. Apparently there is a possibility for one of the Sin to hide in there."

"The Forest of White Dreams, huh…? It's not that 'there is a possibility', but isn't one of the Sin really hiding in there?"

"Heh? For example, who?"

"Serpent's Sin of Envy, Diane."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...What?" All of them were suddenly silent and were looking at her weirdly, and it did make her slightly uncomfortable under those intense gazes.

Meliodas then asked, his expression still indifferent. "...And why do you know such a thing?"

"Well I did my own research on those 10 last years. Though I am not sure whether it is accurate or not, the most recent information was that Serpent's Sin Diane was at the Forest of the White Dreams."

"Ah! I remember!" Elizabeth suddenly exclaimed as she slammed her fist into her palm in realization, "Lill said that she had some knowledge over the possible location of the Seven Deadly Sins!"

"Ooh, isn't that great?" Hawk and Elizabeth then smiled at each other in relief, and so did Meliodas… though his smile couldn't be considered as a likeable one as he started to walk towards Lill and then while still smiling…

"Then? Why didn't you say that earlier?"

"Well you said that going to Bernia Village was an emergency so I thought that I could leave that to later…" And also the fact that she accidentally forgot it, it would probably be something she shouldn't say.

But it seems that Meliodas wasn't satisfied by such an answer despite the perpetual smile on his face…

"...Meliodas?"

"What is it, Lill?"

"Are you perhaps… angry?"

"No, I'm not, why should I be?"

"Well…"

It was as if their places were exchanged in comparison to earlier. Well, Meliodas felt he kinda deserved it, the pot called the kettle back after all.

Then he glanced at the bottle on the table and raised an eyebrow, he walked towards it before taking it in his hand, "Lill, this is…?"

"A gift from the little boy from the Bernia Village, as a thanks he said."

"Mmm…" Meliodas hummed as he opened the wooden lid in it and then glanced at the liquid stored inside as he sniffed it with a bit of a faint smell, honey-like scent.

"Ah, it's mead. Quite simple, huh? Did he make it or something?"

"So he says."

"...Heh…?"

"What?"

"Nope, nothing."

…For some reason, Meliodas was grinning. And so was Hawk and Elizabeth, who had her cheeks flushing slightly and her eyes shining with interest. Lill didn't understand the reason behind such reactions… and for some reason, she didn't feel like understanding either.

"Well, I guess that we're saving that for a better occasion." Meliodas said as he closed the bottle once again before bringing the bottle and storing it in a nearby shelf.

"...You aren't going to drink it?" Lill was a bit surprised, after all Meliodas often consumed the alcohol that was supposed to be for his customers without any hint or kind of shame.

Meliodas looked back at her, as if he was offended by her remark, "What? I can be moderate too."

"It doesn't sound convincing for someone who chugs down barrels instead of bottles… are you going to drink it in secret?"

"As if, I like stronger taste personally."

"Oh, so you don't drink it because you dislike it."

"That's not it and you know it." Meliodas retorted with half-lidded eyes.

Hawk and Elizabeth sent each other another gaze before each of them gave a different kind of reaction, the pig sighed and the princess laughed. It was going to be a really long night and it seems that this kind of interaction would become a new routine for them...


Lill pushed the door of the attic open before climbing up in it and closing the door behind her.

Now the moon along with some stars were completely up in the sky, enlightening the darkness with their own brightness. A beautiful starry sky was apparently in full view earlier from Elizabeth's words, but Lill saw none of that as she stayed inside during the whole time.

'The next time, I will too…' Lill almost blinked at her thoughts before shaking her head from right to left quickly as she instead focused her attention on what was in front of her.

The current state of the attic was exactly the same as she left it before leaving it this early morning, thus with books still present everywhere on the ground, with hardly any place to settle down.

Still, Lill didn't hesitate to step in it, being careful to avoid stepping on the books before eventually stopping at a certain spot, brushing the books surrounding her away and then sat down on the small free space she just created.

Hugging her knees to her chest, Lill sat there with a pensive expression on her face, the words of this morning repeating over and again in her mind.

—So, can I count on you for house-sitting this time?

—Besides, I'm here, so don't worry too much about it and relax.

The words that Meliodas said this morning were still repeating themselves in her mind even now, though she managed to not dwell too much on it, they were never forgotten even once.

He surely didn't mean anything bad by it, nor would he be aware of the effect of his words on her. Despite his previous words of giving her a chance, it was normal for him to not be able to do so immediately.

Probably none of the people here are aware of this, but this shows how much he treasures the silver-haired princess' well-being and her safety. And both aren't something that can easily be entrusted to another, especially someone he never met before, no matter if it was due to the recommendation of a longtime acquaintance or not.

Yes, it couldn't be helped that he was doubting her worth... And no, she definitely wasn't sulking about it, no matter how much Meliodas was repeating it over and again, after all did she even have such a right?

"..." Lill silently put her hand in the wide sleeve of her other one, searched in it for a bit before taking out an envelope, turning it and saw the seal on the wax used to seal the envelope closed.

It wasn't the royal seal usually used for formal, political letters but one more discreet, to the point that Lill was pretty sure that besides her, nobody else would actually believe that this actually came from the King of Liones himself.

'...As always, he always uses the same ways, huh?' While briefly thinking so, Lill took out the folded letter from inside the envelope, opened it with both hands before raising it at her eye-level, the envelope gently floating before landing on her lap.

Once again, she read the content of the letter that Bartra entrusted to Elizabeth in order to give it to Lill, and that Lill herself showed to Meliodas.

—Lill,

I apologize for making it short but there is hardly any time left.

Please help my daughter, Elizabeth, to escape from this Kingdom safely!

Bartra.

'...You are technically a king, so you shouldn't bow your head or plead so easily…' Lill scolded briefly the still imprisoned King in her mind. Well despite her words, she was kind of used to it, so even if she were to give him a scolding, it wouldn't come out as too serious but rather as unmotivated.

'...However, it's already done.'

Yes, Bartra's demand has already been completed since one day ago. Both Lill and Elizabeth managed to escape from Liones safely, they even managed to find and meet up with one of the Seven Deadly Sins they were looking for, their leader moreover!

...So as that same leader said, it should be fine even without her here. If it's him, he would definitely make sure that nothing befall Elizabeth. However no matter how powerful he is, there are even things he can't accomplish all alone.

But she can't impose her presence any further when they probably don't want it either…

"...?" However when the moonlight came through the window, the paper became transparent and Lill thought that she managed to see something written on the other side of the paper.

She turned the paper around and was surprised to find something that she didn't notice up until now.

—Tell me how it was when the two of you would be back.

Lill widened her eyes at that single sentence written at the back of the letter, it was a wonder of why she never noticed it up until now.

"...This isn't an outing or a picnic, you know…" Once again, despite her words, there were hardly any feelings behind this complaint.

On the contrary, she couldn't see the expression she was making right now, and neither could she feel it on her face, the slightly unsettling feeling inside her started to calm and settle down.

Despite all the confusion she felt inside her earlier, there was one thing that was clear to her right now, thanks to this one sentence…

'Now… no matter what anyone says, I have an excuse to continue walking with them, at least for now…'

It was an opportunity that she had never expected, it was also one that she should never miss, one that would probably never come again.

Even if none of them knew about it, Lill gently brought the paper to her chest, as if she was secretly sent her thanks to the King of Liones and wished for his safety, as he was the one who allowed her to act so... not that she would ever admit it though.