Saki and Abigail made it to the forest and walked the dirt path straight back to Shigure. The walk was quiet and peaceful until Saki began to think of something halfway through and occasionally stole glances at Abigail. They were alone in the forest so Abigail quickly noticed her glances.
"What?" She timed it when Saki was glancing and quickly asked her. "W-well... You know... Whenever you open your mouth, that Saintsville prince seals his... Are you someone higher than him in Cassery?" She asked. She was slightly concerned that she had actually yet to know more about her close friend.
Cassery is the major nation in the West of Surabe. A very wealthy nation, many immigrate to their town to seek opportunities. They are considered the world leader, being the nation to contribute the most to the development of the world's civilization and the creator of the laws that the other nations now instate in their people to create a civilized society. The people of Cassery were also the inventors of the adventurer and its user interface system.
"You really want to know?" Abigail asked. "Well, yeah..." Saki nods, looking a bit timid. Abigail looks up, pretending to think. "Hm... Maybe some other time" She told her. Saki already knew she wasn't going to give her a chance. She had the feeling that she was being secretive about her background. "I'm only starting to realize that I befriended a mysterious person with a background that is probably higher than just a normal villager" She said in a low voice. "You think I'm mysterious?" Abigail asked. Saki knew she was going to annoy her again so she didn't bother replying and so the rest of their walk was in comfortable silence.
After returning home, the villagers were turning their heads to them as soon as they came in sight. The two already know what's going on. The words of the Saintsville prince and Saki standing up to him had already reached Shigure in such a short time. Their gazes were nothing but astonishment, they looked at them as if they were looking at very important people.
They reached Saki's house and stopped in front of it. Abigail turns to Saki. "Well... We're back home. I will see you later, alright? I'm going to rest up. Maybe I should ask Mister Takebe for an additional fee for all those troubles?" She asks, feigning to be thinking. "Don't be ridiculous. He just ordered your breads and nothing more" Saki shook her head. Abigail then hops away while humming. "Goodness..." Saki muttered as she headed to her house.
"I'm home!" She announced her arrival and her mother quickly walked to greet her. "Oh my! Welcome back! Are you tired? We were just about to serve lunch!" Her mother wears a gentle but with overwhelming excitement voice. "I'm... okay, but I will join in the lunch. I will just put these back in my room..." Saki then unstrapped her new sheath and headed upstairs. "My, my! You also got new equipment, huh?" Her mother sounded very happy.
As Saki heads upstairs, she notices the word 'also' from her mother earlier. She confirmed that the word of her interaction with the prince in Kire already reached Shigure in such a short time. Her mother was acting more caring than usual in her short appearance downstairs. In her room, she placed her new sheath on her bed with a smile on her face.
She reads the stats of her sword. 'Iron Sword (Custom)' 'Deals 10-15 as base damage'. Compared to the ordinary iron sword from the Kanna equipment shop, this sword is better. Though little, it provides slightly higher damage. Every improvement counts, that's what Saki thought. After she was satisfied, she went downstairs to join her parents for lunch.
Later as they finish their lunch, Saki's mother stays at the table and gives her a stare as she tidies up her plate. "What?" Saki asked her mother. "Are you going out there again? I'm sure you have a lot more to do out there, yes?" Her mother replied, her voice as motherly as ever. "What do you mean?" She replied. Her mother just let out a small chuckle. When silence took over between them, her father spoke up.
"Out there, the ability to help other people in their trouble is the most appreciated in the world" He said with a small smile on his face. "Such a thing would boost your-" "-Can you just say it?" Saki cuts off her father mid-sentence with a slightly higher voice. Her father and mother look at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Stop beating around the bush and just say you already know what I did in Kire this morning" Saki was slightly flustered as she spoke while looking down on her plate. Her parents chuckled at her words and her flustered state. Her father is the first to speak. "Standing up against the royalty takes a lot of courage" He paused. "Or stupidity. Were you on the right when you faced the prince of Saintsville, Saki?" He firmly asked, his voice tinged with strictness.
Her mother looks and waits for her answer, her smile remains, believing her daughter won't be as reckless as her father is trying to imply. Saki looked at her father and asked. "If you see a distressed young woman being forced to go with a man who is demanding a marriage, what would you do, father?". "Hm..." Her father hums in acknowledgment. Saki continued. "The prince was using his status to twist the law to his side. The way I see it, when the law is involved, no one is above it. When the law is cast on the ground, everyone becomes equal" She firmly stated.
"Abigail made it clear that the marriage law doesn't state anything about forcing anyone to marry, so the prince was in the wrong. That's how I think it was" She added. Her father hums and nods. "I see how it is" He smiles and clears his throat.
"Saki, you said the marriage law says nothing about forced arranged marriage, right? Then the prince was innocent" His words made Saki slam the table and she wore a surprised look. "Wh-what are you saying, father?!" She asked loudly, trying to comprehend her father's words.
Her father chuckles. "I'm joking. If the marriage law doesn't state anything about forced marriage, then the prince's trouble lands on other various laws such as the royalty privileges and the human rights law. As the Casserian ministers made it, any royal family cannot, in any way, harm the innocent commoners or involve them in agreements that would put the individuals at a disadvantage in terms of societal status and put them in an unfair and unjust outcome. Cassery is strict with this law as royal families hold incredible power in the current system"
"In the human rights law, well, it's pretty clear. Every individual has the legal right to defend oneself when oppressed. Should they be harmed, harassed, threatened, or taken advantage of, they are in the right to defend themselves against the oppressor... In other words, the Saintsville prince violated the very crucial rules of this society that prevented the barbarism that the world once had. In such a crucial development stage of the world, people like him are the parasites of our progression. Someone ought to set him straight" There was a hint of anger in his voice as he explained.
Saki was in deep thought as she listened to her father. "In any case, I'm glad you were able to drive him away and help the people there. I heard you were defeated in the duel he selfishly made. To accept a duel against the royalty without having a single experience of fighting is quite heroic in the eyes of the villagers, don't you think?" Her father chuckled.
"I... uh..." Saki was flustered once again, her entire head down to the neck turned red at the thought of being called heroic. Suddenly, her father raised his voice in amusement. "Now you share your mother's bashful nature!" As he exclaimed, Saki and her mother turned to him. "When we met, I was struck by her beauty, you know? She had her braided hair on her shoulder, her gaze as gentle as a loving mother, her voice as she spoke as hypnotizing as an angel's serenade-" "-Is this about your youthful memories again? No, I'm not interested" Saki rolled her eyes as she refused to listen further.
Her father ends with a burst of laughter, then sighs. "Anyway... Your mother and I were very young. We get flustered a lot at each other, but she was on another level. Just a small compliment from me and she's as red as a tomato and as silent as a mountaintop" As he said that, Saki glanced at him and then looked away. "The mountaintops are filled with goblins" She said in a monotone manner. "W-without them, of course. You know what I meant" Her father replied.
Her mother just giggled heartily at their back and forth. "Of course, your mother and I matured over time. She was somehow able to adapt to any compliments and get flustered less... So, Saki..." He stared at Saki's eyes and she did the same. "You were very strong, I'm proud of you" He said with a gentle tone. Saki's eyes went wide and she got red all over. "Sh-shut up, father!!!" Her voice rose, reflecting her intense fluster. His mock sincerity in his gaze and a very proud tone got into her, just as his father expected. He laughed and said. "Saki, are you going around the world looking like a tomato from this point on?"
"Of course not... I'll probably get used to it over time, like Mother..." Saki sighs sharply, slightly pouting. "I'm sure you do" Her father replied. Her mother begins to caress her hair. "Is your wrist okay?" She asked gently. Saki raised her wrist to look at it. "Yeah... It's healing quickly thanks to the herbs applied" Her mother nods with a smile as she continues to pat her. Her father also smiles as he sees her bandaged wrist, which reminds him of the first damage taken in his early years of adventuring.