Prologue: Jimuna Village?

"Th-This is Jimna Village...?"

I, Ceres, had finally returned to my hometown of Jimna Village, but...

Something was wrong. The hometown I hadn't seen in so long was now completely surrounded by high brick walls... It looked like a proper city... no, a fortified city.

At the entrance, there were eight soldiers standing guard, and a massive gate had been constructed.

"Ceres-kun... are you sure we aren't mistaken?"

"No, there's no mistake. I was watching from the sky until we arrived, and the surrounding forest is the same. Plus, the path from where we landed to here is the one we know, right? Isn't that right, Ceres?"

"Yeah, there's no mistake."

I confirmed it for Shizuko-san and Nee-san.

Geographically, this was definitely Jimna Village.

We all walked toward the gate together.

"Welcome! To the birthplace of the Hero Ceres! To the City of Jimna... wait, aren't you the Hero Ceres-sama?"

"Hahaha, well, yeah."

I scratched my head as I answered. As we passed through the gate, the nostalgic faces of the villagers who spotted me began to gather.

"Ceres? Isn't that Ceres?!"

"It's definitely Ceres! Man, you've become so impressive. As expected of you!"

"This is the Hero Ceres-sama... I've always admired you~."

"Hey, my mom knows Ceres-sama, you know!"

It wasn't just the villagers I knew; a massive crowd began to swarm around us.

This is amazing. There must be nearly two hundred people gathered here already.

"Everyone, if you crowd him like that, you'll trouble the Hero-sama. And you gatekeepers, I need you to be more on top of things at times like this."

"We're sorry."

Village Chief Najim, who was among the crowd, admonished the male gatekeeper. I was glad to see he looked healthy. Even though not much time had passed since we parted, I felt strangely nostalgic.

"Village Chief Najim, it's been a long time."

When I greeted him, Village Chief Najim's expression softened.

"I get shy when Ceres says that to me... I'm not a Village Chief anymore, I'm the Town Mayor. Anyway, Ceres. I had a new house built just for when you came back. Do you want to go there? Or would you prefer to come to my house?"

He even prepared a new house so we could return whenever we wanted... I was incredibly grateful.

"Well, since it's been a while, may we disturb the Town Mayor's house first?"

"Ceres is like a grandson to me. Even if you have wives, I welcome you."

"""Please take care of us."""

All of us bowed our heads to Mayor Najim.

"Ooh! As expected of a Hero... you have eleven wives."

Looking at the situation where I was surrounded by this many women, well, anyone would be surprised.

"Mayor, naturally I wouldn't marry a mother and daughter together. Lida, Maria, and Mel are retainers. And one more, Sharon-san, is a servant."

"Is that so? But that means seven are wives... Huuhhhhhh?!"

Looking around at everyone, Mayor Najim let out a voice of shock.

"What are you so surprised about?"

"I completely forgot but... isn't Ceres's wife a princess?! Princess Marianne and Princess Frey... and the former Saintess Cecilia-sama!"

Saying that, Mayor Najim suddenly tried to kneel, so I panicked and stopped him.

"Mayor Najim, please don't do that!"

If Mayor Najim knelt, everyone here would feel compelled to do the same.

"But, Ceres... no, Ceres-sama. It's two royals and a candidate for the next Pope... my knees are about to give out."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Najim-sama. It is true that I am a princess, but since Najim-sama is like a grandfather to Ceres-sama, please speak to us freely outside of official functions."

Marianne-san thoughtfully said that. As expected of royalty. She was quick-witted in these situations.

"That's right. Unlike Marianne, I'm rough around the edges like this. You can just call me Frey, or Frey-chan."

"Indeed... If you are like a grandfather to Ceres-sama, then Cecilia is fine too!"

As Frey-san and Cecilia-san followed Marianne-san's lead, Mayor Najim began to stutter.

"Ce-Ce-Ce-Ceres..."

Mayor Najim was flustered.

"Um, Mayor Najim... have you forgotten? Ceres-chan is an Eiyū—a Hero. He outranks those three brides."

"Oh my, did Najim-sama forget?"

"That's right. Honestly, Najim-sama."

"Exactly."

When my four wives who were originally from this village—Shizuko-san and the others—said that, Mayor Najim's expression finally relaxed.

"I-Is that so? Wahahaha, I had completely forgotten. It's Ceres-sama, indeed..."

"Mayor Najim, I want you to stop calling me that. I secretly thought of you as my grandpa... Please don't take my grandpa away from me..."

"Ce-Ce-Ce-Ceres-sama!"

Mayor Najim panicked. Hmm, he's still stiff.

"It makes me feel lonely when Mayor Najim, who I think of as family, attaches '-sama' to my name."

"Is that so... It's true that adding '-sama' to Ceres makes you sound like a stranger, and I hate that too... I'll tell the people from the village's old days to speak to Ceres without reserve."

"Thank you, Najim-sama."

No matter how successful I become, Mayor Najim is like a grandpa to me. If anything, I'm the one who should attach '-sama.'

Mayor Najim pointed to nearby facilities and shops.

"So, this here is the Ceres Bridge. By the way, what they're selling over there are Ceres Buns."

"Ahahaha, that's somewhat embarrassing."

It was embarrassing to see things named after me everywhere.

"You think so? These are a sign of gratitude. By the way, the 'Hero's Fountain' is the most popular, and right next to it is a large statue of Ceres."

Looking where he indicated, there was indeed a large statue by the fountain. The size of the statue... was about ten meters tall. Making something this huge must have been incredibly difficult.

"You did a great job building this."

"""It really is amazing."""

"At first it was life-sized, but Shūto said we should make it bigger and we rebuilt it about four times... Now it's that size."

"Shūto-ojisan did..."

I'm happy they appreciate me, but it's a little embarrassing.

There were even people throwing coins backward into the fountain next to it.

"To Shūto, you're like a much younger friend... besides, this is his way of showing gratitude."

Incidentally, I heard Kaito attracted the Adventurer's Guild here for my sake.

It felt a little ticklish.

"Now then, we've arrived. This is my current house."

Amazing... this is about the size of a minor noble's mansion.

"This is amazing..."

"No, the amazing one is you."

I have absolutely no idea what happened in Jimna Village while I was gone.

◆◆◆

"He's doing quite a brisk business, isn't he?"

While Ceres and the others were talking to the Village Chief... no, Mayor Najim, I decided to take some time to go see my father.

I invited Misaki-mama, but... she firmly declined.

Well, it's more fun to be with her new husband, Ceres, than to see her ex-husband.

So, I, Maria, came to the general store and home run by Shūto-papa, but it had become incredibly magnificent.

"Hmm, Maria?! Long time no see. Did you get a little taller?"

Papa, who was stocking shelves in the store, called out to me.

"I don't grow that quickly."

"Who on earth are you? You seem quite friendly with my husband?"

While I was talking to Papa, a girl who looked like a shop assistant asked me in a bad mood.

"My husband?"

"Hahaha, Maria, Papa has remarried. This is Charlotte, my new wife."

Wife?! This girl?! Not an employee?!

"...Nice to meet you, my name is Maria."

"Oh, you were his daughter? It is a pleasure to meet you."

Is my Papa a lolicon?

Charlotte-san looks to be about the same age as me, no matter how you look at it.

If anything, she might be younger than me.

No wonder he let go of Mama so easily.

Papa made such a young girl his wife.

"The pleasure is mine."

I hid my distaste and finished the greeting.

"Well then, Papa will brew some tea, so please take your time."

"Papa, can you even brew tea?"

"Well, yeah. Charlotte said she wanted to drink it, so I learned desperately. I'll brew a delicious cup, so wait for me."

"Is that so?"

"He has become quite skilled at it."

That lazy slob of a Papa brewing tea... That Papa? I can't believe it.

The Papa who hated trouble and didn't even want to mind the store.

"Here, it's ready. Look, I baked cookies too. Eat them if you like."

Papa baked cookies? Why...

"Delicious..."

Not as good as Ceres, but truly delicious.

"I failed a bunch of times, but recently I've finally started baking them well."

"I see... but Papa, is work going okay?"

"Oh, that's fine. I built the convenience store Ceres-kun taught me about. At first, I was whining while working, but Charlotte taught me about 'management,' and now I'm hiring people. The current me just goes on inspections occasionally. We've increased the number of stores, and well, I'm doing my best."

"Is that so? Papa and Charlotte-san have worked quite hard."

"Well, yeah... it was a struggle, but we made it this far."

However, the more I look, the younger Charlotte-san seems.

I had reservations about Mama and Ceres becoming a couple, but why do I feel a chill seeing Papa and Charlotte-san as a couple?

There's a strange discomfort I can't identify looking at them.

That lazy Papa is working hard, and they seem happily married.

Well, he is a lolicon, but...

For some reason... I don't want to be here.

Even though I'm being welcomed... somehow, those feelings welled up.

Seeing me troubled, Charlotte-san spoke to me.

"Even though you are parent and child, you haven't spoken much since earlier."

"It's my first time back in my hometown in a long while, so I'm feeling deeply emotional..."

"Is that so? As someone who lost their hometown, I'm envious... To the current me, this town is like a hometown."

Charlotte-san is a good person. But what is it... this discomfort?

"It's a good town, isn't it?"

"I truly think so."

I see... I figured it out. Charlotte-san... looks exactly like me.

That's why it's gross...

"Well then, I should be returning to Ceres's place soon."

"You just got here after so long, you could stay a little longer."

"That's right. To Maria-san, this is your parents' home. I am technically your mother-in-law, after all. Please, stay the night if you like."

Papa and Charlotte-san say that, but I don't want to be in this place anymore.

"That's true, but right now I am Ceres's retainer, so I cannot stay too long."

"If that's the case, it can't be helped."

"Please come again."

The house is new, and I don't have a room... There is no place for me here anymore.

"I'll come again."

Saying that, I left the place that was once my home.

◆◆◆

According to the story I heard from Mayor Najim, my father has become the Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild.

That father? I've only ever seen him tilling fields or drinking alcohol.

Thinking that, I headed to the Adventurer's Guild.

"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild!"

At the Adventurer's Guild counter, there was my father and a young girl.

"Father... what are you doing?"

"Ooh, if it isn't Mel! Long time no see! How is it, have you been well?"

What is this?

Certainly, Father was a bit of a roughneck... but he wasn't this muscle-bound dharma doll.

He wasn't an adventurer or a mercenary, he was supposed to be a former farmer, but now he looks like nothing but an adventurer.

"You've changed a lot, haven't you? Father, what happened?"

"When Ceres comes back, I started the Adventurer's Guild so he could live comfortably. At that time, my wife told me to train my body. Now look at me. I'm even a D-rank adventurer. Well, I lose to an S-rank like you though."

"Wife?"

Don't tell me, this girl standing next to him who looks younger than me is...?

She has short brown tea-colored hair with part of it tied back. I feel like I've seen her somewhere before.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Eleanor. Well, I guess I'm your mother-in-law?"

"You are... my mother-in-law?"

"Well, we did a Guild Marriage, so I guess that's how it is."

No... what is this? Ceres and Mother are quite something, but... a girl younger than his daughter... no way. Seriously, it's disgusting.

I can forgive a lolicon, but... Eleanor-san. I see. I was thinking I'd seen that face somewhere, but her features are quite similar to mine. ...Enough that we could pass for sisters.

I feel like I'm getting goosebumps.

"Nice to meet you, I am Mel... pleasing to meet you."

"Nice to meet ya."

I killed my emotions and finished the greeting.

But this guild is quite a scale. There's a tavern attached, and it's pretty big.

"You built quite a large guild, didn't you?"

"I was fine with a small scale, but when I talked to Mayor Najim and we did some town revitalization, the population suddenly increased. At first, it was a small guild with not even thirty people, but now look at it."

"How did you make it this big?"

"I'll explain that part. Mayor Najim, thinking based on our case, introduced a new system: 'Limited to experts (veterans), if you promise to live in the village (town) for ten years, we will support you with three gold coins as funding to purchase a slave, on the premise of marrying her as a wife.'"

"Does that mean... if you're a veteran adventurer, in exchange for becoming a limited adventurer of this village, you get a slave to be your wife... is that it?"

"That's it. Of course, not just adventurers; craftsmen or whatever, if they are at the 'Expert' level, it applies to all. What's more, if they reside permanently in this village (town), they are gifted a newly built house. Amazing, right?"

"It's amazing, but doesn't doing something that stupid put you in the red?"

"About that, apparently a long time ago the Mayor consulted Ceres about this, and he heard, 'It'll be in the red at first, but the village will absolutely prosper.' That guy is amazing... since it actually turned out like this."

I didn't know... Even as a Sage, I've never heard of such a method of town revitalization.

"It certainly is amazing... yeah."

But... so that's the cause.

Regardless of gender, if you're a veteran, you can buy a slave for free... That's why.

That's why the couples in this town have such an extreme age difference.

"Right? Now young people have increased too, and it's grown this big."

"That's right, it really is amazing."

That violent father has become a decent human being.

Father, who would yell no matter what Mother or I said, who was stubborn and wouldn't accept people... has become a Guild Master and is talking cheerfully.

Father, whom even his own family couldn't change... is smiling so gently.

"I'll make today my day off, so you should take your time here too."

"I became a retainer of Ceres, so I have to return soon. I'm glad you look happy. Eleanor-san, please take care of Father."

"Ou, leave it to me."

And so, I left the guild.

This isn't really my parents' home anymore; it's a 'newlywed's house.'

Besides, Father has become a much better person, but... seeing him flirting after taking a wife who looks like me... is disgusting to watch.

I shouldn't think it but... I end up thinking, 'Was I being looked at with those kinds of eyes too?'

It definitely shouldn't be the case, but it just crosses my mind.

Jeez, I don't want to go there anymore.

On top of that... the whole town is full of lolicons and shotacons.

It's a little... creepy.

◆◆◆

"So this is the town where Ceres-sama was born."

"It's quite an open town, isn't it?"

"I didn't know such a town existed."

Marianne-san, Frey-san, and Cecilia-san were surprised seeing my hometown.

Even I don't know it, you know?

When I grew up here, it was still just a normal village you could find anywhere.

Moreover, apparently, people don't know whether to call the current Jimna a city or a town.

Currently, because it is developing as a commercial city, the commercial district is a 'City.'

On the other hand, although housing and residential areas are increasing, they haven't caught up to the development of the commercial district, so that area can be called a 'Town.'

Therefore, 'Jimna City' and 'Jimna Town' are both correct.

However, perhaps because it grew so rapidly, there seem to be people who still call it 'Jimna Village' and 'Village.'

Mayor Najim also occasionally says 'Jimna Village' or 'Village,' so it can't be helped.

"When I lived here, it was a normal village, but it seems to have opened up considerably."

Right now, Shizuko-san and the others are talking to Mayor Najim.

I was taking Marianne-san, Cecilia-san, and Frey-san for a walk.

"However, it is amazing... The Ceres Plaza, the Hero's Fountain. The Ceres Bridge, and the Ceres Statue... So many things have Ceres-sama's name attached! There isn't even a Hero (Yūsha) who has this many things named after them."

Marianne-san is speaking to the other two with sparkling eyes.

"It really is amazing... There's no one else with this many names attached to things."

"A person of this level is exceptional even among saints."

The two of them seem to have the same thoughts as Marianne-san.

I was just sending money back to the village, though.

Moreover, Mayor Najim told me,

'Naturally, the remittances are enough now. Everyone has grown sufficiently fat. We owe you nothing but gratitude, so much that we can't repay it in a lifetime.'

That's what I was told.

Furthermore, it seems the Lord, the Church, and even the Country are now supporting this city.

Because of that, there's nothing left for me to do for this village, no, this town.

That is incredibly lonely.

My name is everywhere, but this isn't the Jimna Village I know.

"I didn't really do anything big... I just worked a little hard and sent money back."

"That is not true."

Marianne-san, perhaps sensing my loneliness, spoke up.

Frey-san was nodding beside her.

"Ceres-sama, look, everyone is looking this way."

Pulled by the arm by Cecilia-san, I looked in that direction and saw nothing but people I recognized.

I see... even if the village has changed, the people living there haven't changed...

"Ceres-kun, naturally it's hard to call out to you when you're with Princesses, but won't you drink some alcohol with us tonight? Also, look, we brought a lot of the rice balls made from Ceres-kun's suggestion, so eat them later."

After briefly finishing the tour for Marianne-san and the others, we were resting on a bench in the plaza chatting with the three of them when Shūto-ojisan called out to me.

Then, handed a package by Shūto-ojisan, I was invited for drinks. Behind him were Kaito-san and Sector-ojisan.

"Hey hey, if we're drinking, come to my guild's tavern. I'll let you eat and drink as much as you like."

"It's hard for me to show my face, but, uh... thank you for everything."

"Kaito-san, Sector-ojisan. It's been a long time."

"Um, Ceres-sama, who are these people?"

"Who are these gentlemen?"

"Are they relatives?"

I should probably introduce the three of them properly.

"They are my wives' ex-husbands, and now they are like best friends... and above all, they are people who are like 'fathers' to me."

When I introduced the three of them—

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Marianne, who has become Ceres-sama's wife."

"Likewise, I am Frey... If you are from the Adventurer's Guild, you might know me."

"Likewise, my name is Cecilia. Please treat me well."

Being greeted by two princesses and a former saintess, the uncles were shrinking back in awe, but their own sons and daughters were also former holders of the Four Jobs (Hero, Saintess, Sword Saint, Sage). Had they forgotten?

The atmosphere of this village has completely changed, leaving no trace of its original self.

But there are many people I know.

That uncle, that auntie, I know everyone.

What is this... This is properly the Jimna Village 'that I know.'

Seeing the nostalgic people, the words just slipped out of my mouth.

"Everyone, I'm home!"

"""Welcome back, Ceres (-kun)."""

The reply came back properly. Yeah, this is definitely my hometown.