It has already been 10 years since I traveled the world with the hero. After riding the beast god and examining various parts of the world, we were able to deal with the problematic monsters to a certain extent.

The huge monsters have all been defeated, and the newly appearing monsters are not that strong. They have reached a level where the human army can somehow defeat them.

Hmm. Is it time to wrap up the hero's work? The hero's adventure has taken a considerable amount of time, and the hero is now approaching his 30s.

In this era, people usually get married in their mid to late teens, so a man in his 30s who is not married is... considered almost an eunuch, a huge problem.

The hero is becoming an extremely late bachelor, and it's starting to be pitiful.

Shouldn't I relieve the hero of the burden of his duties and let him live freely?

Of course, the hero's own intention is the most important.

"Hero, don't you think it's time to get married?"

"Huh?! What?! M-marriage?! Who? Me?!"

"Then who else is here? Is this beast god going to get married?"

I picked up the cat curled up on my lap. It was the long, slender beast god.

But how long will this beast god keep following me around? The rumors about the beast god are starting to spread, and appropriate faith is starting to gather.

I've spread the rumor that the beast god's intelligence has been slightly enhanced, so it should have become a bit smarter, but the beast god doesn't seem to have any intention of leaving me.

Well, I do have a mount to ride with the hero, so that's good.

"B-but, that is, you see... I, um, the partner..."

"Hmm... The marriage partner..."

Certainly marriage is something that cannot be done alone.

One must have a suitable partner to build a family!

"And the hero's work may never end! I have to wander aimlessly around the world, so building a family is a bit... It would be difficult without someone to travel with..."

"That's right! Didn't you meet a girl when you ran away before? How is she doing?"

I think that girl was quite good! But, she must be quite old now too, I wonder if she's still not married?

"Sigh..."

But the hero just sighed after hearing my words.

"Well, you can't be a hero forever. It's time to start preparing to settle down and put down the burden of being a hero, isn't it?"

The human body is in its prime until the 20s, and from the 30s onwards, it becomes more and more difficult day by day.

Well, as a hero, even with that body, you can still defeat most monsters.

But compared to ordinary soldiers or hunters, you would be incomparably stronger.

"Yes, well, I had thought about it, but hearing it directly is a bit painful."

"Hmm?"

"No, it's nothing."

Hmm. Indeed, it would be a good idea to find it for him later. The position of the hero's companion is not something to be taken lightly. Considering the symbolism, we must carefully deliberate and decide.

First, let's start with the girl the hero met when he ran away... Well, she's not a girl anymore, but anyway, I need to collect information from various places to find a suitable partner for the hero.

The hero has dedicated decades to this difficult path, so I must ensure a proper future for him after that. I don't want to be seen as just using the hero's prime years and then abandoning him afterwards.

That's not what I want! If I've made use of him during the prime of his life, I must also guarantee his future.

While I was thinking about this, the beast god was staring intently at my face for some reason.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

The beast god just shook its head back and forth.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Finding a companion for the hero is a separate task. For now, we will continue the journey.

Thanks to the decrease in monster appearances, human territories are rapidly expanding. Hmm, the effort made with the hero has paid off.

As human villages are being established in various places,

"Hmm."

There was an area where no human villages existed at all.

It was a vast area. There were only traces of villages that once existed, but...

It was a desolate wasteland where not even a single weed grew. A silent wasteland with no birds or animals.

This place... Ah, I see. This was where that country I had once wronged existed.

It was now a barren wasteland with nothing left, making it an infinitely desolate place.

"What kind of monster ravaged this place?"

"It was not a monster, but the remnants of divine punishment."

"Divine punishment?"

I nodded slightly and said,

"Long ago, there was a kingdom here... No, it was more accurate to call it an empire. Anyway."

"An empire?"

"Yes, an empire. There was a country called Arcad."

At my words, the hero's expression changed as if he remembered something.

"Could it be..."

"Yes, it is the country that was cursed by the Goddess of Life."

It was a rash act back then, but... This is the first time I've seen this sight directly.

There was no reason to come to a place with no people or monsters. I only passed through it now.

"It's truly barren. Not even a single blade of grass grows."

The mountains were bare, and the ground was devoid of even a single weed.

Hmm. I acted without much thought, but the aftermath is quite terrifying.

"What happened to the people who lived in this land?"

"They must have moved to other places."

I had warned them and given them plenty of time.

"Then, isn't it time to lift the curse on this land?"

"But the one who has been cursed has not yet repented for his sins."

The second prince is still wandering the world, enduring all kinds of hardships. He is unable to eat properly, and various misfortunes continue to befall him, so he is being shunned and stoned by people, claiming he is cursed.

Apart from sneaking around at night to avoid the sunlight that torments him, he has no other options, and he is even mistaken for a thief, further ostracizing him.

I thought it was time for him to repent his wrongdoing and return to the temple to seek forgiveness, but...

"How can I undo what was said in the name of God? I cannot speak with a forked tongue."

"But... the people who lived in this land are pitiful."

Hmm... Indeed, the people who lived here had their land turned into a wasteland because of the mistake of a single royal.

Ugh. I feel sorry for the people who were harmed by my thoughtless actions.

"For now, the curse on this land cannot be lifted until the one responsible seeks forgiveness."

The one who blasphemed against the highest deity and destroyed the temple cannot be easily forgiven, as it is a matter directly related to the dignity of the divine.

Honestly, I thought he would come crawling back to the temple, whining for forgiveness in a few years, but... Hmm. I'm not sure if that stubborn fellow has completely forgotten the way to lift the curse.

Or perhaps... has he forgotten what he was cursed for and how to lift the curse?

Nah, impossible. I explained everything in detail - what he was cursed for and how to lift the curse. There's no way he's forgotten, right?

"Let's just pass through this place quickly."

The barren wasteland where no life is born was infinitely desolate, and I had no desire to linger.

Hmm... From now on, I should refrain from causing such incidents in the name of the divine. I must reflect on this.

Perhaps it would be better for the divine to not directly interfere with humans...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

As we were passing through the wasteland,

"Halt! Halt! Halt!"

Heavily armed cavalry appeared before us.

There were two human riders and one beastman with the lower body of a horse.

"You dare to trespass on this cursed land! Reveal your identities!"

Mmmm... Even the humans call this a cursed land.

"We are the hero and his companions, traveling the world and defeating powerful monsters."

I spoke on behalf of the hero, and the cavalry's expressions changed with surprise.

"Oh! You must be the hero! I've heard of your great reputation. You have defeated countless monsters, they say."

"Then this young lady must be the Dragon's Priestess, the hero's companion."

Hmm...? Companion...?

"Companion? What do you mean by that?"

"What, are you not?"

No, companion? What do you mean by that? Why would I be this person's companion?

I looked around at the cavalrymen with a puzzled expression, and then looked back at the hero.

Companion? Me, a human's companion? That can't be! I'm only wearing the mask of the Dragon's Priestess to help the hero, but why is there a rumor going around that I'm his companion?

My questions were not answered clearly.

The only thing was that the hero was embarrassed and lowering his head.