THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

On our way, Farner buys a huge piece of meat for K'nor. It's a cow's leg.

"I don't think he likes those."

"Hmph! What would you know?" I never fed him those!!! Of course, I know!

"No, seriously. I don't think."

Farner extends a small part of the leg to K'nor who smells it then starts licking. K'nor!!!

"How stupid you look now. Fufu." That smug look on her face. Farner, I will make you pay for this!.

She then puts it back in her bracelet and we continue K'nor comes to me and start whining like he wants something Oh no, you don't get anything from me anymore, traitor! At least for today.

We arrive at Claire's house and I knock on the door.

"Where are we? A restaurant?"

"No, somebody's house."

"Somebody? You don't know who it is?"

"I do."

"Ah, it's a friend then."

"I…" Before I can answer, the door opens and the maid from last time appears. Seeing me, her eyebrow twitches a little but then when she opens the door completely and sees the heroes, she freezes in place for a moment then screams.

"KYAA!!"

Yeah, it seems bringing the heroes here wasn't a good idea.

***

"What's happening?!!"

As soon as the maid screamed, Claire and Anriette's voice resounds upstairs. Then they comes down the stairs in such a hurry the ground shook a bit. Claire and her husband are the first to appear in front of us, both are holding a sword.

When they see the heroes, their faces completely change and Claire even throws her sword away by the window, breaking it.

"Hm…"

"W-we welcome the almighty heroes, saviors, and lights of our world!"

Before anybody can say anything, Claire, her husband, and the maid who screamed are already kneeling. I can distinguish Anriette's figure, slightly hidden behind the door.

"H-hey guys."

"You can stand up, you know. We didn't come here as heroes."

"B-but."

"Please, stand up. It's embarrassing for us."

Roxcia pushes me and goes to Claire then takes her hand and lifts her up. They are both a bit red.

We all enter the house after that and when I glance at Anriette from the side, her angry face is the only answer I receive.

Claire herself gives a seat to the heroes while the maid is running around, doing god-knows-what. She removes this flower's pot then another one, a napkin on the table disappears in an instant.

Frank goes upstairs in a flash, followed by Anriette who glares at me one last time.

"Please, make yourselves as comfortable as possible. I will back in a minute."

"Take your time, please."

Why do you guys act so dignified right now? Claire goes upstairs together with the maid, leaving us five here. K'nor is already at the same place as before, licking his paw.

"Why do you guys act like this?"

"Act?"

"You aren't as usual. At least you two." I point at Excia and Farner who really don't act like their usual selves.

"Every woman has at least two faces, remember that." I never thought I would hear that from you, Roxcia. Though I can guess who told you that.

"In the first place, there is no need to act dignified with you. You are a barbarian who doesn't even respect us." Of course, Farner, of course.

"You are the weird one here. Even the other students wouldn't be able to talk to us if they were alone like this with us."

"And why is that, Excia?"

"Because we are HEROES. HE.ROES."

"Yeah, so?"

"See. That's what I am talking about."

"You don't realize what you have in front of you, boy."

"Hm...Two girls and a gnoll?"

"What did you say?!!!!" Farner punches me hard enough to make a sound.

You didn't have to hit me. You are really a gnoll.

***

Five minutes later, Claire and everyone upstairs are back. They all look…elegant. They are all dressed up like it is a big occasion. Even the maid isn't dressed as a maid.

Claire is wearing a flashy and shining red dress. The design is really good and there is a small cut to the right side of the dress. It sticks to her body perfectly. Anriette and the maid is wearing a less restrictive dress. Anriette has a yellow dress without sleeves while the maid is wearing a skimpy brown dress with short sleeves.

Frank has put a green costume on. It's really elegant and overcoated with decorations. There is a pair of feathers on the heart side of the chest as well.

"You guys…" Should I really say something?

"Thank you very much for coming to our humble abode."

They all lower their head one more time, then Frank advances and shows us the table. The heroes all stand up and go to sit. When I try to do the same, Claire comes to me and grabs my hand. Then she brings her mouth close to my ear and starts whispering.

"What's the big idea? Bringing the heroes here?!"

"Well, they said they were hungry?" Where is the problem?

"You could have said something! Now, how can we give them the simple food we have cooked!"

"Ah…Seriously?" I look at Farner and the other two then turn Claire towards them before she can react.

"Our host, Claire said she is not sure the food she has will be to your taste."

"There is no need to worry. Just receiving food from you will be a delight."

"Yes. You shouldn't feel burdened at all."

"We came unannounced so we should be the ones to accommodate you."

Even Farner speaks with a refined tongue. What a surprise!

"N-no. We just hope it won't be a-"

"Don't worry. I assure you that we don't mind at all."

"I-I see."

Claire fires a furious glance at me then goes to the kitchen, followed by Anriette and the maid. Frank sits in front of the heroes and I sit with him. The atmosphere is a bit awkward until Frank brings out a piece of paper and writes something on it.

"I can't speak because I lost the usage of my voice. I beg your forgiveness for not being able to entertain you."

"Oh, it's fine. We have another sample like you so we are somehow used to it."

They all look at me for a moment. Wait, I don't speak? I think I talk a lot, though.

The girls all come back, each holding something in hand. The maid and Anriette are holding a tray while Claire holds a pot. As they put everything on the table, the smell also reaches our nose.

The tray Anriette was holding has bread, the other one has rice and potatoes separated in the middle. Claire then places the pot between the two and opens it. the sweet odor comes, delicately stroking our nostrils.

"It's a soup with roasted cow meat. I-I really hope."

"Great, exactly what I wanted to eat."

"Yeah, they always cook the same weird rabbit's meat or chicken at the canteen. I wonder where they buy it."

"It smells really good. Can we taste it yet?"

"I…Thank you. Thank you very much."

Claire and the others cross their hands and lower their heads again. Why do they pay so much respect to them? It's almost frustrating.

"Then, please, would you say a prayer to bless us before we eat."

"Of course."

The heroes stand up and join hands, the others do the same as well until it reaches me. Excia extends her hand from the right while Frank does the same from the left.

"Shit." I grab both hands and look at all of them, closing their eyes to pray. What is there to pray to? To a god who doesn't care about us? I am the only safeguard of my fate. Why would pray to somebody else?

"Oh, MOTHER. Please grant your blessing and protection to those who from the bottom of their heart, love you and follow your teachings. Let them see your oh so merciful light and let it bless this food we were offered. In the hope that the darkness won't ever make us waver and that those who can't eat with us can at least not sleep with an empty stomach."

What's the point of all this really?