"Huh?"

The girl's words, which had been pouring out like a storm until just now, have stopped.

As if she can't understand what I said, she only repeats it back with a blank expression.

"I said, won't you be the hero's companion?"

"Huh?"

The girl repeats the dumbfounded sound, and her voice is full of bewilderment.

Hmm. I thought she would know that the hero had some affection for her since they had been together. Ah! That's right, she lost her memories when she was revived! I forgot about that!

"Sister."

The hero grabs my shoulder as he looks at the girl as if telling me not to say unnecessary things.

Well... Since the girl has no memory, telling her that she and the hero had a good atmosphere and might have been in a relationship would be unbelievable.

But how can I connect her and the hero without telling that story? It would be fine to tell her about the forgotten memories, wouldn't it?

And how can I bring them together without telling that story?

So,

"Leave it to me."

"But..."

"It's necessary."

And if I don't mention this kind of thing, it will be very troublesome later when I get caught.

Although the hero still seems dissatisfied,

"Understood. Do as you wish."

He nods with a small sigh.

"You two, what are you talking about?"

"It's nothing. Just a story about you losing some of your memories when you died and came back to life."

At my words, the girl paused for a moment, then lightly slapped her palm, as if to say, "Ah, that's right, there was such a thing!"

"I didn't really care about the forgotten memories, so I didn't think about it. But what kind of memories are you talking about?"

"Among the memories you've forgotten, there are also memories about the hero."

"Huh? About the hero?"

"Yes."

"About me?"

"Yes."

"Me and the hero?"

"That's right."

I said, mildly annoyed. I know you don't believe it yourself, but it's true! It is true!

"Me and the hero? But my memories... Hmm... It's clear that the hero was the one who woke me up..."

"The resurrection must have made your memories hazy, so don't force yourself to remember. Anyway, let me summarize it briefly for you."

I slowly recounted to the girl the events that had occurred between her and the hero.

About the hero, who had run away and come to this village, and the time they spent together.

The hero, who had recovered from the exhaustion of the harsh training as a hero in this village, and the girl who had welcomed the hero.

And the subtle atmosphere that had developed between the two of them-

"No, sister. How do you know all the details?"

"Uh, well, that's..."

"Don't tell me you were watching everything?"

I slightly averted my gaze.

"Sister...?"

"But listen! If I hadn't been watching, would I have been able to save the people of this village in time? And since the hero ran away with the sword, I couldn't not know the location!"

If he was going to run away secretly, he should have just gone without the sword! Of course, I could still have tracked him down, but still!

"Anyway, let's move on from that. Didn't you benefit from me watching over you?"

"Well, that's true, but..."

"Right? So let's just say this was a necessary thing."

The hero still has a dissatisfied expression on his face. But I couldn't help but watch over, because I was actually needed!

"That's.... Okay. Let's just move on from that, since I did receive help."

Good. I solved it! Well, it's not like the hero continuing to be angry would change anything, but my conscience, you know!

Around the time the discussion with the hero ended,

"Wow..."

The girl was looking at me and the hero with sparkling eyes for some reason.

"So, I really had that kind of relationship with the hero? For real?"

"Yes, that's about the level of the atmosphere between you two."

Even in the hero's life, where he doesn't have much interest in women, this girl is one of the few women he might have some affection for.

Usually, the women who show interest in the hero are mostly interested only in his abilities as a hero.

Of course, I'm the exception to that.

"B-but, how can I... when there's the Dragon's Priestess?"

Hmm...? Wait a moment.

Could it be that the hero didn't have much luck with women because... perhaps it's because of me?

Since I've been sticking by his side, could that be the reason?

I'm not sure. It could be, or it couldn't be.

It seems highly likely, though!

"When you two were getting closer, this guy had come to this village while hiding his identity, after all. For a guy who had been receiving hero training, living in this rural village must have been quite enjoyable for him."

In fact, during the time the hero spent in this village, his expression was considerably cheerful.

He had the strength to easily move entire large trees after cutting them down, and the agility to defeat monsters and hunt animals.

While the hero was staying in this village, the food situation of this village must have greatly improved.

"Anyway, since you were the closest to the hero, you're the most promising candidate. You wouldn't remember, of course."

If your memories were still intact... things might have been a bit easier.

"M-me and the hero... the hero I admire..."

"But I have one question."

"Yes?"

I asked the girl while looking at her.

"You're not exactly young either, so why haven't you gotten married yet?"

At my words, the hero behind me also nodded slightly. Even in this era, she's at the age where she'd be called an old maid, though her physical body is still young.

"Th-that's... well... I wonder why?"

The girl tilted her head.

"I've been introduced to many people, but for some reason, with each person I meet, I just can't help but think, 'This person isn't the one.'"

Hmm?

"It's not that there was anything particularly wrong with the people I met. I just had this vague feeling that 'this person isn't the one,' so I kept declining. I can't explain it clearly, but..."

Hmm... Could it be that some faint memories remained, like memories of the hero?

But it's certain that all of those memories were erased when she was revived. I've confirmed that part.

Perhaps, even though the memories of the hero disappeared, the very existence of the hero has somehow been engraved in her soul?

Like a soulmate or something?

Well, I don't have a complete understanding of the soul, so I can't say for sure.

"Anyway, it's a good thing. Neither you nor the hero have gotten married yet, and you're around the same age. Your physical age... the hero looks a little older, but his physical condition is excellent."

Is there a more suitable companion for the hero than this girl? It almost feels like someone had prepared this for him.

"If you're willing, why don't you try dating the hero?"

"M-me, with the hero? The hero I admire...?"

The girl muttered in a dazed expression, and then...

Thud!

She fell backwards, like a tree collapsing from an axe strike.

"Hmm... Did she get that excited?"

The girl's eyes were spinning, as if her brain couldn't process the situation.

Ah, this classic manga-esque reaction.

"I'll have to wait for her to wake up to get her answer."

First, let me check if she's hurt.

"Even if you suddenly tell me to be with her, would there be someone who would accept that?"

"You still don't understand your own worth."

I looked at the hero with a pitying gaze.

It's as if a hero from a movie or an admired idol suddenly appeared and asked to be a partner, this kind of reaction is not normal, is it?

"So, what do you think of this girl?"

I asked the hero while healing the bump on the back of the girl's head.

"Huh?"

"Building a family is not something that can be done with just one person's goodwill. You need to consider both this girl's feelings towards you, and your feelings towards her. So, what do you think?"

Well, even without saying anything, I can more or less guess.

After all, if he didn't have any feelings for her, he wouldn't have cried out like that after she died, would he?

Though seeing a grown man wailing like that was a bit... unsettling.

"I..."

The hero spoke in a hesitant manner, and said in a small voice,

"It's not that I dislike it."

"Un."

"But someone like me, who knows only how to wield a sword and fight, can I really build a family? Can I have a family and children?"

"Why wouldn't you be able to? Do you think all parents in this world were born as parents? They all learned through various trials and errors, just like how you learned to become a hero. You can learn one by one. So don't worry about it."

At my words, the hero nodded his head slightly.

"I'm not confident, but I'll give it a try."

"Un. That's enough."

In this era where marriage just to increase the workforce is common, this would be a very good pair since they have feelings for each other.

So,

"Let's stay here for a while."

The youth business of the old bachelor and old maid was about to begin here.

Observing this right next to them is going to be so much fun!