After slaying the Hydra, we dragged our battered bodies back to the surface.

By the time we arrived in the town of Ford, all of us were nearly out of magic power, barely managing to stay on our feet.

But then—

"—Welcome back, big brother!"

Seeing her radiant smile swept away all our exhaustion.

It made everything we endured worthwhile.
Because that smile was the reason we risked our lives to face the strongest foe.

I returned her smile in kind.

"We're home, Iris."

Upon returning to the Grace residence, Lene and Alto expressed their heartfelt gratitude after Lene finally woke up.

The Hydra's defeat had truly brought her back to consciousness.

There was so much to discuss.
But having just survived an intense battle, and with Lene only just waking up, both sides agreed that rest took priority over detailed conversations, which were postponed for another day.

And so, we returned to the inn to rest—

"Something’s... strange."

The words escaped my lips without thinking.
And honestly, anyone would have thought the same in this bizarre situation.

Typically, dolls revert to their smallest size to rest in the doll bed—a specialized container filled with magic, allowing for faster recovery.
I assumed they’d follow the usual practice, which was why I booked a room with only one bed.

Yet somehow, all three of them were next to me—on my left, my right, and even above me.

"Fufu, there's nothing strange about this. Isn’t this perfectly natural for us?"

Clinging to my left arm, Lycia declared this with pride.
She was dressed casually, having shed her usual nun’s attire.
The soft sensation against my arm was more noticeable than usual.

"Th-that’s right! Staying close to Ike will definitely help us recover faster. So, there’s a reason for this!"

On my right arm was Flare, nervously clinging to me.
Her long hair, usually tied in a ponytail, was left down, giving her a more mature air.
Her expression suggested she’d mustered a lot of courage for this.
Would we really be able to rest like this, though?

"Snooore... snooore..."

Lastly, Tetra lay sprawled on top of me, breathing softly in her sleep.
She looked so peaceful, like a small child.

"...Well, I guess it’s fine."

It was cramped, yes, but if this made them happy, so be it.
This time, they had truly given their all.

If there’s anything I could do to repay them, I’d gladly do it.
Even if it meant letting them sleep by my side, I considered it an honor.

"Mmm, Ikee~"
"Fufufu, Masterrr~"
"Snooore... snooore..."

Following Tetra’s lead, both Flare and Lycia had fallen asleep as well.
Even in their sleep, they called my name.

I wondered what kind of dreams they were having.

"I hope they’re happy ones."

From now on, the four of us would face countless challenges together.
But as long as we were together, I believed we could overcome anything.

And one day, I vowed we’d find happiness—not just for me, but for all of us.

We slept soundly that night.
To heal from the battle’s fatigue.
To greet a new dawn.

And to one day reach the pinnacle of strength.