I had tried my best. I had done everything I could to lessen the delay on our departure. Alicia's problem was done in 1 day. I helped my mother dealing with the paperwork with the help of Alicia and Karina. I took us a day and a half to finish the piles of documents thanks to my constitution that didn't need to sleep daily. 

With the documents finished, nothing could shackle my mother and Anastasia anymore. Eris and Nova were free since the beginning. They decided that only Nova would come with me as Eris wanted to avoid any possible danger befall their child. Seeing this, I kind of wanted to leave behind Lily in the village for her safety but she insisted to come. I wonder why I couldn't say no to her teary eyes when I tried to persuade her earlier. Could it be I had turned into a doting parent here?

And with that, I entrusted Lilliana's safety to Karina. I gave her last warning as she had failed to do the guarding duty several times already. I told her that if she failed once again, she would have to relieve her position as the dragon zodiac brave and got replaced by new personnel I was going to summon later. Afraid that she would get demoted, she quickly declared to the men who aimed for Alicia's stead that she swore to never be in relationship with anyone until she could regain her dignity of the holder of Zodiac Brave title.

The next problem was SHade's daily challenge. I listened to Anastasia's explanation that the men who challenged him were those who wanted to marry a maiden they loved. it seems like the maiden's parents put the defeat of Shade as the requirement to gain their consent. As for the girls, they challenged him due to the village's dueling custom. It seems like the proposal ceremony came in the form of duels here. Usually, the winner would declare their love to the loser and they became engaged afterward but in Shade's case, he had chosen to give a neutral answer which still giving those challengers hope to rechallenge him later.

In that matter, I decided to call him to have a talk directly. I had him talked to me in the pretense of having a drink with fellow men as a boss and subordinate. We were having the drink in the balcony as we watched the starry sky.

"Shade, what do you think about the daily challenges you had every day?"

I asked him.

"It was very educational in many things. Thanks to them, I had gradually learned how to overcome my weaknesses and cover the opening I had during the combat. The boys from the villages are quite hard workers that they gave me a clue on my weak spots precisely."

He said.

"The boys aside, what about the girls?"

I asked him. I poured myself a hot tea from the prepared teapot. I glanced at Shade's expression. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes in deep thought.

"They were good fighters. I kind of want to train them as my direct disciples and subordinates."

He said. He had some kind of proud look on his face when he said it. I sighed. It was within my expectations. This guy was so dense in this matter.

"Shade, let me ask you this, do you know the meaning of the duels between men and women in this village?"

I asked.

"The meaning, is it? I couldn't say I understand what Milord is asking me. Please enlighten me, Milord."

Shade asked.

"Listen, in this area, there's a custom regarding duels here. They were not a way to measure the strength or to gain victories. For the people here, they hold something 'special'."

I said.

"Is that true, Milord? I didn't know that the duels had such deep meaning behind it. Does this special thing means a secret move or a hidden strength, Milord?"

Shade asked. I was shocked. I wanted to slap my forehead when I heard this. I managed to keep my poker face for now but inside my mind I kind of wanting to send my fist to his head.

"It's not that. It holds different meanings and purpose."

I said.

"I couldn't imagine the secret behind this duel at all Milord. Please enlighten me!!"

Shade begged. He even took a sincere bow to me. I took a deep breath and sighed. This guy was even worse than Leo when I and Alicia acted as a cupid.

"Listen, the true meaning of the duels was a ceremony to prove your worth in front of the future spouse's family."

I said. Shade titled his head.

"This ceremony was held to motivate the youth to improve themselves to gain the approval of their beloved's family. In other words, these duels were indirectly pointed out their confession of love to each other and how serious their resolve to bring their relationship to a higher level."

I said.

"Then, those who asked duel with me like me and wished for us to be in a relationship?"

Shade asked.

"Well half of them is. The males asked you for a duel as the family of their beloved had put your defeat as the minimum requirement to gain their approval."

I explained.

"I see... No wonder they were so persistent to defeat me. Then, do the girls wished to get married too and their spouses' family asked them to defeat me too?"

Shade asked in confirmation.

"That's not it, Shade. If the challenger was a girl, these duels mean that they were showing their resolve to show their feeling to the person they liked. This also can mean that the girls wanted the man they liked to win over her and dominate them as his wife."

I said. Shade gave a deep thought about it.

"The meaning? My apologies, Milord. I'm lost at what you're talking about."

Shade said apologetically. 

"Well, in short, those girls who challenged you are head-over-the-heel to you and want you to take them as your wife."

I said. I was kind of tired to explain it in roundabout way anymore so I had to be direct. Shade had a dumbfounded look on his face.

"The girls?"

He asked. I nodded.

"To me?"

He asked pointing at himself. To that question, I just gave a nod twice.

"Then, Rin-chan challenged me despite keep losing is because..."

"I bet she likes you very much that she was doing her best to get you to recognize her as a worthy person to be with you."

I cut his words midway. Shade looked down at his own hand.

"But, am I really worthy of her affection? I hath no idea who I really am. I don't know the past self of mine before Milord summoned me along with the other zodiac braves."

Shade said.

"Then, just proudly say that you're Shade of the Zodiac Brave. It doesn't matter who you're in the past. All that matters is who you're right now and who you want to be in the future."

I said.

"But, I am a lizard kin. I am completely different from her."

He said.

"If you're talking about difference, that might insult me in a way you know. I mean, Alicia and I are both different in perspective of race. I might be used to be a human but now I am a full-fledged dragon who bears the title of a demon lord who is feared by humanity. Also, in terms of size, even we looked the same now, my actual size is several times larger than her that I might be able to crush her with my hand if I am not careful enough."

I said jokingly.

"M-My deepest apologies, Milord."

Shade apologized.

"Whether you're different or not, it's the bond between you two which will determine what will happen later on. And whether you should take her as your wife or not, it's the matter of your heart to follow."

I said.

"But, my occupation is an assassin. If she knew that I had a cold-blooded occupation that had committed murder and torture on even against children and might be still doing so in the future, will she still look at me in the same way as before?"

Shade asked.

"You see... When I was sealed, my soul wandered into the boundary of the living and the dead. There, I had met many people from the past. Among them, there was a man who worked in the shadow. He killed people, he committed many sins and many things he couldn't mention to anyone. However, it was done for the sake of his lord. He did it for the person he respected and loyal to as well as the person who had sworn to protect what he deemed precious. That was why he was able to hold his blade with his resolve. He told me, 'as a shinobi, you must not lose your heart while you hold your resolve on your blade. That was because, a shinobi is written as a blade within the heart'."

I said. Shade looked at me with admiring eyes.

"Blade within the heart huh?"

Shade murmured.

"Think about it and follow your heart. Deepen your resolve and find the answer you're looking for as you moved forward. As the lord who had summoned you, this is what I can say for now."

I said before leaving. I headed back to my room, leaving Shade who looking at the sea of stars while pondering about things he learned on that day.

Morning came without any incident. As usual, Shade came out to confront his challengers. He faced them with full of resolve and defeat them faster than usual. He was like an example of assassin, swift, precise, and hold a deep resolve on his blade. However, when the challenger he had been waiting for arrived, he didn't display the previous expression.

That dense guy, in front of the crowd, asked his challenger, Rin, whether if her challenges so far means that she was in love with him. The crowd was dumbfounded when they heard it. Rin was also the same. Silence filled the arena before the spectators broke into laughter.

"That's right."

Rin admitted. She said it with a loud voice that was audible to everyone spectating this moment. Shade closed his eyes and sheathed his dagger. He had the look of the warrior who had found the answer he was looking for.

"Now that you have heard my confession, are you going to push aside my feeling like how you always do?"

Rin asked with a serious face. Her face was red from embarrassment but her eyes were full of resolve to confront and accept whatever Shade will say as his reply.

"Then, come!! Show me your resolve."

Shade just said that while preparing his stance. His eyes were serious. Rin was lost. She didn't expect that answer from him. 

"You-"

She clenched her fist. Without bothering to prepare a stance beforehand, she leaped toward Shade with tears flowing from her eyes.

"-IDIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!'

She sent her punch along with that scream. It was just a simple punch and was easy to read. Anyone in the village should be able to avoid that easily but contrary to her expectation, Shade received it head-on without any intention to dodge it. 

SHade was sent flying from the full-powered attack. He fell to the ground and didn't rise up again. He was just lying there on the ground. Rin ran toward him.

"W-why you didn't dodge?!!"

She asked.

"Thine words hath moved this one's heart. The moment thou admitted that thou hold affection to this one, I have already lost."

Shade said.

"Then..."

Rin was lost of words.

"If you have no problem having this dense cold-blooded lizard kin assassin as your partner, then I have no more reason to not accept that hand reached toward me all this time."

Shade said as he raised his body.

"Mou, Baka!"

Rin said before hugging him tightly. The crowd broke into cheers and congratulate them. Afterward, it was decided that Rin was going to come with us. We let the new couple enjoyed themselves as we proceed with our preparation. With the main cause of our delay being resolved, the date of our departure was finally decided.

And with that, we resolved ourselves to face the army of the Demon Lord dwelling the land where my little sister was.