Danjon ni Deai wo Motomeru no ha Machigatteiru Darou ka - Familia Chronicle - Volume 1 - Chapter 2.2

2 
Rain was falling. 
It was a cold rain. It washed everything away. The specks of blood dropping to the stone pavement mixed with the drops, melted, and disappeared. 
“…” 
Lyu walked by herself, dragging her wounded body through the empty back alley. 
She did it. 
She had finished it. 
She had gotten her revenge. 
She had destroyed them all: the familia that had stolen her comrades and all those who supported it. 
However, that retribution would not bring back what she had lost. It only brought an empty feeling. 
“…Where am I…?” 
Her field of vision, which had been crimson tinted, now turned gray. 
Her friends’ smiles, their final pained ­expressions—­she could not remember any of it anymore. The tears that had poured from her eyes and the lamentations that had rushed from her lips had disappeared somewhere along the line. 
She knew she had become empty. 
The fury that had kept her moving had turned to a boundless darkness coiling around her heart. And in that ­never-­ending darkness, Lyu was no longer attached to life. 
As though condemning her, the cold rain from heaven stole her warmth. As though the gods had willed it. The foolish death of an elf who had strayed from her path. 
Her body was so covered in blood there was no longer any telling what was hers and what was her enemies’. Wheezing as massive pain racked her heavily injured body, Lyu tried to move limbs suffering from unprecedented fatigue, and she collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut. She fell into a puddle, dirtying her body with splashes of mud. She began to freeze. 
…Unsightly. 
It was a cold night. She lay in a circle of dim light born of a used-up ­magic-­stone lamp. This was where Lyu died. No one to care for her, in some dark, dirty back alley. A fitting end for a foolish fairy. 
Goddess Astrea…Alizé. 
The goddess’s sweet smile flashed in her mind. Her affectionate words rang in her ears. 
She wanted to hear the voice of her friend who was already gone and at peace one last time. Embracing those conflicting emotions, Lyu waited for her death, gradually closing her eyes. 
“—­You okay?” 
However. 
As Lyu’s consciousness slid into the dark abyss, someone reached out a hand. 
“…?” 
She could faintly see a girl in front of her as she opened her eyes. ­Bluish-­silver hair shifted under the poncho she was wearing. The girl’s voice resembled the gentle call of the chief goddess, and also her departed friend. The girl kneeled down and kindly grasped Lyu’s ­blood- and ­grime-­covered right hand. 
…aaah. 
My hand that refused the touch of other ­people—­accepted her hand. 
Soft. 
Warm. 
Kind. 
Wrapped in warmth, something spilled from Lyu’s dried up eyes. 
— “It’s not time for you to come yet.” 
She thought she could hear her old friend’s voice, and her consciousness completely faded. 
 
The instant she realized the dream had ended… 
Lyu’s eyes opened. 
“—!” 
Her eyelids opened wide. She was looking at a wooden ceiling. The feeling of sheets and a blanket wrapped around her body indicated she had slept in a bed. What she was seeing was not a memory but an actual wooden room. Morning sunlight shone through a window. 
“This ­is—­Gah!” 
As she sluggishly tried to sit up, her upper body immediately collapsed. 
Lyu was assaulted by a wave of pain and weariness. As she fell back into the blanket, she noticed the bandages wrapped around her arms. Someone had given her medical treatment. Perplexed by the unknown room, and the smell wafting through the air, she heard light footsteps as a girl opened the door and came in. 
“Ah, you woke up. Great.” 
“…You are…” 
“Don’t try to do too much, okay? You were really badly hurt.” 
The newcomer holding bandages and a washcloth was the same ­platinum-­haired girl Lyu had seen in the back alley. She was wearing some kind of shop’s uniform, just like in Lyu’s memories. It was clear she had carried Lyu to this room and cared for her. 
“You were asleep for three days. It’s good you were able to wake up.” 
“Three days…” 
Hearing that number, Lyu was not particularly surprised. Her only thought was: 
I’m still alive. That was all. 
“I’m Syr Flover.” 
As Lyu blankly looked ahead, the girl, Syr, introduced herself. She was cute. An affable smile floated across her face as if to put Lyu at ease, speaking to her kindness. She was the exact opposite of Lyu, who tended to be especially frank in her responses. 
Someone who could just naturally get people to smile; “girl next door” was a perfect descriptor. 
“This is a small building at the tavern that I work at. After I found you collapsed in the alley, I had you carried ­here—” 
“Why?” 
“Eh?” 
Interrupting the girl, Lyu asked. Thoughts of regret and despair mixed together. 
“Why did you help me?” 
She had lost everything. Having killed her bitter enemy, she had no more reason to cling to life. The only thing left for her was emptiness. She could not find another reason to live on. Knowing just how empty her eyes were, Lyu looked back at the girl. 
“Let’s see…” Syr looked as though she was concerned about Lyu, smiling as she lowered her eyebrows. “I couldn’t just leave someone so wounded in the rain.” 
“…” 
It was an incredibly straightforward response. If Lyu were in her position, she would definitely have done the same. 
Would she still be able to say that if she knew who I was? 
Lyu was the Gale Wind. The most wanted person in Orario, who had brought chaos to the city. 
“Were you not…suspicious of someone collapsed in a place like that?” 
“At the moment, Orario is dangerous no matter what. And also, I’m used to people with special circumstances.” 
…Used to? People with special circumstances? 
Doubtful, Lyu shifted her gaze back to Syr as she set the medical supplies on a shelf and knelt on the floor, looking up at her. 
“Miss Elf, what’s your name?” 
“…And once you know, what will you do?” 
“I’d like to call you by it.” 
When Syr responded so easily, Lyu’s voice caught in her throat. 
This is difficult. Her manner is strange. Who is this girl? 
She did not have the willpower to live; she should have had eyes as empty as someone already dead. Nevertheless, as Syr kindly approached her, Lyu was confused. 
She tried to turn away, attempting to reject the girl’s innocent, sunny goodwill. However… 
…She’s the second person… 
Lyu had not knocked her hand away. The first person had been the leader of Astrea Familia , her old friend Alizé Rovel, the one who invited her to join the familia. She had been the first and last person until this point. When people she had just met tried to shake her hand, Lyu instinctually batted them away. 
However, that rainy day, in a dark back alley, the girl had grasped Lyu’s hand. 
The elf’s hand that was so deeply stained in darkness had also not rejected Syr’s hand. 
She doesn’t resemble Alizé at all. So why…? 
She looked at Syr’s smile and her hand. Unsure and with nowhere else to look, Lyu finally opened her mouth. 
“Lyu…Lyu Leon.” 
“Lyu…That’s a nice name.” Hearing it, a smile bloomed on Syr’s face like a flower. 
Lyu’s gaze fled to the blanket covering her. Syr and her joyful expression were definitely hard to deal with. 

 

“ Cough! Aaaanyway…” Faking a cough, she began: 
“Lyuuuuu will…feeeeel…beeeeetter. Feeeeel better!” She started spinning her finger in front of Lyu’s eyes and nose. 
“…” 
“Lyuuuuuuu wiiiiiiiiiill smile!” 
Her finger kept moving. Lyu froze up like a statue. 
What is this? 
Some kind of ritual? 
Is this a psychological attack? 
“Yay!” 
“?” 
She pressed Lyu’s nose for the finishing blow. 
“It’s a ­good-­luck charm to make you feel better. I do it for the kids I know all the time, you know?” 
Saying that, Syr smiled as though she had finished a hard task. 
Unable to intercept it, Lyu again froze. 
“…H-huh? You didn’t start smiling? That’s strange…” 
Syr looked genuinely confused as she watched Lyu stay frozen. When Lyu’s head finally started moving, she glared with ­half-­closed eyes as if to say, What are you doing? That’s rude . 
Syr awkwardly forced a laugh. She did not notice Lyu’s sullen look. 
Lyu’s eyes, which had been empty just a minute ago, started to cloud with emotion after her ­back-­and-­forth with the girl. 
“That ­bed-­ridden elf up yet?” 
Just then, another person entered the room: a female dwarf with a good physique. She was tall for a dwarf, taller even than Lyu. The word giant fit her perfectly, and her ­earth-­colored ponytail made a strong impression. Without saying a word, one could tell she had a hearty disposition. 
“Yes, Mama. It seems her name is Lyu Leon. Lyu, this person is mistress of the place where I work. Her name is Mia.” 
Mia…? 
As Syr stood up, the word “Mia” triggered a reaction in Lyu. A certain piece of information crossed her mind, but she shook her head immediately, dismissing it. 
“Jeez, more hassles when I’m already short on staff. And it’s not a stray dog or a stray cat you go picking up, but a pain-in-­the-­ass elf.” 
“But, Mama Mia, you let me, didn’t you?” 
As Mia’s grumbles mixed with sighs, Syr smiled back. 
Lyu knit her eyebrows. Mia talked like a dwarf who naturally did not get along well with elves. The mistress looked down at her. 
“I saw the clothes and gear that she took off you…You’re Gale Wind, aren’t you?” 
At that, Lyu’s expression immediately changed. Her eyes sharpened to a piercing gaze. Hearing the name Gale Wind, Syr looked surprised. 
“And if I am, what will you do? Hand me over to the Guild?” 
Lyu knew that a wanted person like her was deemed dangerous. It was fair to say she had already abandoned herself. As Lyu confronted her, Mia snorted at the inanity of it all. 
“Why would I need to do something annoying like that, idiot?” 
“­Wh—” 
“When you can move again, then do whatever you want. You just have to pay a reasonable price for the three days you’ve stayed here.” 
Lyu looked stunned at her unthinkable response. 
“Lyu? If it’s convenient for you, why don’t you stay here for a little while? If you stay at this tavern, you’ll be safe. At least until the excitement has calmed down a bit.” 
What is this girl saying? It would be normal to be scared of a ­top-­tier wanted person, or at least be excited by the opportunity to turn them in for money. Even if this is a trap, it would be pointless to trick me like this, though, since I can’t resist anyway . 
Lyu was confused by the fact that these two were entirely unconcerned about her identity. Her heart was in disarray. 
“Mama Mia is reaaally strong. She can definitely protect you, Lyu. And I want to know more about you. ­So—” 
Don’t get any closer . 
And stop looking at me with that smile . 
Don’t stick out your hand with a smile that reminds me of Alizé. 
Lyu’s throat quivered, unable to endure the anguish oozing inside her heart. 
“­I—­I…!” 
Without realizing it, she shouted as though trying to shake off her confusion. 
“I…I already have nothing ­left—­comrades, a place to return to…I did something incredibly foolish, and I should have died then.” Her fingers dug into the blanket, and all the thoughts that were stored up in her heart spilled out in repentence. 
“Lyu…” Seeing Lyu’s distress, a sad, lonely expression appeared on Syr’s face. 
“Arrrgh! No way, no way. This is what you get from elves. High-­strung and ­obstinate—­it’s annoying.” Mia responded bluntly, paying no heed to Lyu’s pained expression. 
“Your life would have ended if she didn’t do anything. You should at least think of it as good luck. And what is that crap you’re saying? When did elves become so impolite they can’t even say thanks to the person who saved their life?” 
“Tch! Like a boorish dwarf could understand!” 
Lyu forgot her pain in her indignation. She had become more flexible after entering Astrea Familia , but the elf’s stubborn side was exposed here. 
“My reason for living is already gone!” 
As Lyu forcefully said ­that— ­gurgle . A cute sound rang out from her torso. 
“…” 
“…” 
“…” 
Lyu froze, Syr stared in puzzlement, and Mia was in shock. Recognizing that her stomach had growled while she was talking, the proud elf turned bright red as she flailed in embarrassment. 
“Looks like your body still wants to live, though.” 
“Gah…!” 
A huge disgrace. Thinking back on it, given her total exhaustion followed by three straight days of sleep, it was natural her body would want nutrients. Lyu had not felt this embarrassed in years. Spurred on by Syr’s stifled laughter, her slender ears got hotter. As she looked down, she resented her physiological response. 
“Mama Mia.” 
“Hm?” 
Syr winked at Mia as though plotting something. Lyu was too busy wallowing in shame to notice. 
Mia looked dubious, but Syr smiled suggestively in return. 
“No way around it. Ignoring a hungry person will hurt the tavern’s reputation. Come on, eat some food.” 
“W-wait a minute! I didn’t say anything about wanting to ­eat—!” Lyu did not know when to give up. Mia did not let her finish her refusal, glaring as she grabbed the elf’s head in a vise grip. 
“?!” 
“Your babbling is annoying. Listen to what people say, you stubborn elf.” 
“………?!” 
Mia’s large hand squeezed her head tightly, as if squashing a fruit. Still injured, Lyu could not evade it. She could not even react. More than anything, she could not escape the restraint at all. A trickle of sweat formed on the back of her head as the giant dwarf ­single-­handedly restrained her. In that instant, Lyu understood the difference in strength between the two of them. 
“Get changed and come get some food.” 
“­Guh—” 
Finally releasing Lyu, Mia turned around and lumbered out of the room. Breathing heavily, Lyu wiped away sweat as Syr whispered in her ear. 
“Mama Mia is reeeeally scary when she gets mad. I think it would be better to come,” Syr said with a cheerful smile. 
Lyu looked back with frustration. She belatedly began to realize that she had been dropped into an outrageous place. 
The reluctant elf was brought to the dining hall, a room not quite large enough to be called spacious. It was deserted; just the three of them were there. Mia disappeared for a little while into what was apparently the kitchen and returned carrying a plate with steam rising off it. It was a risotto with root vegetables of various colors and carefully boiled, finely cut chicken meat. 
“There. Eat it before it’s cold.” 
“Mama Mia’s food is ­super-­delicious.” 
“…” 
She did not have the option to say no. She could imagine that vise grip on her head if she imprudently refused again. With a slightly reproachful glare at being forced to sit at the dinner table, Lyu picked up the spoon in resignation. She scooped up a little bit of the rice and vegetables and brought it to her lips. 
“…” 
First, the pleasant flavor of the ­broth-­soaked rice spread through her mouth. Next was the flavor of the vegetables. They melted into the mellow rice and warmed the inside of her mouth. At the same time, the chicken meat split apart and seemed to melt on top of her tongue. The ingredients’ natural flavors mixed together and supported each other. Lyu looked down at the risotto as a rich scent wafted up from the plate. 
“…The flavor is strong. I prefer it simpler.” 
“That so?” 
“Dwarf cooking is too rough. Skillful elf cooking is more refined.” 
“That’s too bad.” 
Mia ignored Lyu’s disinterested complaints, as though she did not care. Standing to the side, Syr watched over the graceful elf. Lyu listed multiple broad complaints, but finally, her cheeks lightly flushed, she whispered in wonder. 
“But…it’s warm and delicious.” 
Mia’s mouth curved into a bold grin. Syr smiled broadly. Like a snowfield under the spring sun, Lyu’s stiff cheeks finally softened. The dwarf mistress suddenly spoke up. 
“ ‘ Eat delicious food.’ That’s a fine purpose to have in life, a reason to keep living.” 
The overly earnest Lyu, her body warmed by the food and the tranquil flavor still on her tongue, mistook what Mia said for a wise proverb. 
She’s right; the reason people go on living might just be something like that. 
Lyu picked up her spoon and ate another bite of risotto. And another. And another. Before long the plate was empty. 
“Ho-ho! You ate all of it.” 
“…Thank you…very much.” 
As Syr took care of the plate, Lyu thanked them awkwardly. She looked down at her bandaged hands with an embarrassed expression on her face, her lips loosened ever so slightly, and she felt like a little bit of happiness had spread through her empty shell. 
“­So— ­you ate it .” 
At that point… 
Watching over Lyu from the side, Mia’s tone of voice suddenly changed. 
“That’s the result of someone’s labor, you know. Lots of valuable ingredients were put into it, too.” 
“…What are you saying?” Lyu’s voice hardened again as she sensed a suspicious atmosphere. 
“You didn’t think that feast was free, did you? I let you eat some food, and I’ll be sure to charge a price. I’ll have you pay the bill in full.” Mia grinned as she answered. 
“The price…totals up to fifty million valis.” 
“Th-that’s absurd!” Lyu slammed her hand on the table as she stood up forcefully, doubting her ears the moment she heard the price. 
“Seems like you can’t pay. Guess I’ve got no choice. I’ll have you work here to pay off what you owe,” Mia continued, unconcerned. 
“Wh…!” 
“It’s perfect, since I’ve been low on staff.” 
She was lost for words as the dwarf mistress said that without any hesitation, as though she had planned it. Shocked, Lyu felt her voice rising. 
“That’s ­oppression—­fraud!! Like I’d let you get away with an excuse like that…!” 
Lyu would normally never lose her composure to this extent. Ordinarily, she would have instantly retaliated against an outrage like this, but she could not. Because Mia was stronger. 
Her clenched fists trembled at the unreasonable humiliation she was suffering. 
“This is Orario, you know? You never know what’ll happen, aboveground or in the Dungeon.” 
Like a towering boulder, Mia did not waver in her arrogant demand. Lyu turned to Syr. 
“In this tavern, whatever Mama Mia says is absolute~~.” 
This girl’s just crying crocodile tears…! 
As Lyu’s face gradually twitched, Mia delivered the finisher. 
“Syr is right. Here we go by my law. If I say black is white, then it’s white.” 
The giant dwarf smiled viciously. 
—­Looking back on this later, Lyu would recognize this series of events was a pretext to cheer her up. Syr and Mia were desperately conspiring to get her to keep going. However, there was no way Lyu would understand that at the time. 
— ­I’ve been had! 
The elf was screaming in her mind. 
“It’s decided. I’ll have you work as an employee at my tavern.” 
From that day forward, Lyu was forced to work at The Benevolent Mistress. 
 
Eight thousand valis rent. That was the cost of the apartment Runoa was leasing. 
“I took it in the end, but…should this be my last job?” 
The location was in the city’s northwest block, seventh district. It was a corner of Orario near the giant wall that encircled the city. The ­three-­story apartment building got no sunlight thanks to the wall, and it was cold at night because the building was made of stone. Runoa had taken a liking to this property. Because of the location, no one came by. People living in the building were all poor or had something to hide, like Runoa. 
And since the dwarf owner’s stated policy was “As long as you pay your rent, I don’t care,” Runoa was grateful to not have anyone prying into her business unnecessarily. And best of all, it was quiet. The occasional person talking to themselves and ominous laughter coming from the room next door were a bit of an annoyance, though… 
­Bounty ­hunting was a profession where it was easy to make enemies, so she had not told anyone this address. 
“If it’s going to be my last, then I’ll end with a win. Well…except this one is Gale Wind, though.” 
The single stone room had only a handful of furnishings, the bare minimum: crude wooden bed, ­magic-­stone lamp, etc. 
The only thing of note was her work ­outfit—­the black gauntlets and battle ­clothes—­and a handmade sandbag. 
The wooden chair creaked as Runoa sat down, after turning on the ­magic-­stone stove to make a pot of hot milk. She looked over the information sheet for her target. 
“Other than the place she’s hiding, there’s nothing. Even if she always wore a mask to hide her identity, it’s weird they don’t even know her full name. Adventurers are supposed to be registered with the Guild, aren’t they?” 
The paper she had received from the corporation that supposedly had the profile of Gale Wind did not even have a description of the person. 
Useless. Runoa grimaced. 
“Dammit, Guild, don’t publish worthless information…” 
The Guild was covering for Gale Wind. She was the last living member of Astrea Familia , who had worked with them to maintain the peace and order of the city. 
No, protecting her isn’t quite right. Maybe a final mercy is a bit closer. 
Gale Wind had lost herself in revenge, exacting retribution against all the merchants and adventurers who supported her ­enemies—­even the Guild members who had worked with ­them—­so they could not get away without punishing her. They had revoked her status as an adventurer and registered her on the blacklist. The organization had kept up appearances. 
“It doesn’t seem like there’s any more information, though…Guess I have to check it out myself.” 
Once she decided, she jumped into action. That was Runoa Faust, bounty hunter. Grabbing the scarf she always wore, she stood up. Her destination was the tavern The Benevolent Mistress, where Gale Wind had been taken. Quickly finishing her preparations, she opened the door and headed for that bar. 
“ Astrea Familia …That faction’s rank was B. Eleven members, all of them ­second-­tier adventurers. They reached the ­forty-­first floor, cleared ­twenty-­one floor bosses…Mrrow, the more I read, the more monstrous she looks.” 
Lying on a bed in her underwear, Chloe murmured. Her single stone room had an extravagantly plush carpet, a bed with a canopy on it, a ­chandelier-­style ­magic-­stone lamp, and ­magic-­stone fireplace, everything heavily customized in order to be more luxurious. It was without a doubt a palace for Chloe alone, the epitome of bad taste and wasteful spending. 
For the price, the room was perfect…other than that from time to time she could hear the dull sounds of something being struck in the room next door. 
This was the secret address of the one feared in the underworld as Black Cat. 
Propping her cheek up as she lay on the bed, her black cattail wriggling from her similarly colored lingerie, Chloe sighed as she looked down at the parchment. 
“You can tell how tough she is just from the Guild’s public information, meow. This familia caught a lot of the Evils.” 
The information sheet spread across her pillow was not about Gale Wind herself, but about the faction she belonged ­to—­the no-­longer-­extant Astrea Familia . 
“According to the Guild’s public information, Gale Wind was a Level Four. But if you add in that she destroyed the final ally of the Evils, Rudra Familia , by herself…then she is top class among Level Fours, no doubt, meow.” 
Ah, I don’t want to kill her , Chloe thought as she lay facedown on the pillow. 
Level Fours are hard to do, and if I’m not careful, I’ll get killed in the cross fire. 
Regret over jumping the gun welled up in her chest. 
“…Oh well, meow. This is my last job anyway, meow. I’m getting a lot of money for this, and after I run away from here, I can live easy with lots of cute boys to take care of me, meow.” 
Chloe giggled evilly to herself as wicked ideas ran through her mind. Losing herself in wild daydreams for a little while, the catgirl rolled on her back and held her slender hand up to the light. 
“Finishing off Gale Wind will be my crowning glory, meow.” 
She hopped to her feet and put on the tunic and robe that lay carelessly on the floor. 
Facing someone truly strong head-on was suicide. Therefore, ­assassination—­the ability to freely use poison, traps, and the like at the right time and right place to take someone out unaware. To do that, it was necessary to understand the target’s habits and area of activity. 
She was not going to be lazy about gathering information on her target. This was Chloe Lolo, assassin. Her target was the tavern The Benevolent Mistress, where Gale Wind had escaped. Wearing her hood for disguise, Chloe opened the door to her room. 
““Uhn?”” 
As the two doors thudded closed at the same time, Chloe and Runoa saw each other. Both were dressed up like they were going out. Neighbors who had not met before today. 
Who’s that ­sick-­looking human, meow? 
Who’s this degenerate catgirl? 
They kept their opinions to themselves. Chloe snickered at the human who did not care about her appearance, and Runoa made a dubious face at the mysterious catgirl hiding her eyes. 

 

“…” 
“…” 
Both silent, they locked their doors and proceeded down opposite hallways. They recognized each other as having guilty consciences and knew nothing good would come of interacting. Their backs to each other, they left the apartment building by different routes, but they were headed toward the exact same place. 
 
“No…” 
Lyu stood in front of the dresser murmuring in shock. A waitress was reflected in the mirror. 
She was wearing a light green dress that went below her knees with a white apron wrapped around her body. Feared as Leon of the Gale Wind, Lyu felt incredibly out of place in a cutesy uniform like this. If her comrades in the lost familia were here now, they would burst out laughing, no doubt. Goddess Astrea would definitely be trying to hide giggles. 
Her shining gold hair had even been dyed a light green color. 
“It looks good on you, Lyu! You’re super-cute! Just to be safe, I dyed your hair so that no one will recognize you as Miss Gale Wind.” 
While Lyu was shocked, Syr was enjoying herself, an affable tone in her voice. It was several days after that fateful day when they had decided she would work at the tavern. Lyu had finally gotten healthy again and was reborn as an employee of The Benevolent Mistress. Mostly because of Syr. By force. 
Lyu found Syr’s unreserved smile and praise unbearably detestable right now. She wanted to take off the white cap on her head and pummel it into the ground. 
“Allll right, let’s get right to work. Time to pay back that expensive meal, right?” 
“Kuh.” 
Smirking, Syr warned her that unapproved movements would not be allowed. As a ­duty-­bound elf, it was calamitous for Lyu. If she ran away without returning the favor to people who had made so much effort to heal her, not to mention fed her, the honor of her proud forest species would be sullied. 
Because of that, even if she had been treated badly, Lyu’s morals would not let her run away, no matter how much she wanted to do so. Even for the peculiar members of Astrea Familia , such a thing was unheard of. 
“I’ll introduce you to Ahnya and the others later, but first I’ll teach you the job.” 
“Hey, what do you say when someone teaches you something?” 
There was nowhere to run. 
Lyu was pinned on either side by the smiling Syr and Mia with her arms crossed. 
“Thank you…in advance…” Her voice quivered as she whispered, her cheeks turning bright red in embarrassment. 
Thus began Lyu’s daily struggle. 
Everyone’s first job at The Benevolent ­Mistress—­was peeling. 
“Newbie, can you peel vegetables, meow?” 
“…Where I was before, it was usually catered.” 
“People always think it doesn’t look that bad, meow. Here, if you just hold the knife like ­thi—” 
“—­Don’t touch me!” 
“Fugyah?!” 
“Kyaah! Lyu knocked Ahnya into the vegetables!” 
“What are you doing, you dumbass!!” 
“Kuh!” 
Thanks to her aversion toward being touched, she had knocked her coworker ­down—­failure. 
Her second job at The Benevolent Mistress involved going shopping. 
“Okay, Lyu? When you’re buying ingredients, give a cute smile. And it’s fine to beg a bit.” 
“Give a cute smile…beg…” 
“Yep, if you do that, they’ll give you lower prices. It’ll be okay; the old guys at the shop are nice! So good luck!” 
“Understood…Shopkeeper.” 
“Oh, that ­uniform—­The Benevolent Mistress, eh? What do you need today?” 

“Those fruits. Please give me a discount.” 
“Eh?” 
“I said discount, please.” 
“Um, that’s…” 
“Please do it quickly. Are you trying to insult me?” 
“Y-yikes?! Help ­me—!” 
“Lyu! That’s not pleading, that’s threatening! And cramping your face isn’t smiling; you look like a hit man!!” 
“Kuh!” 
Banned from the ­greengrocer—­failure. 
The third job at The Benevolent Mistress was serving customers. 
“…The menu.” 
“Oh, a new staff member? Quite the beauty, too! But kind of blunt.” 
“Kuh!” 
The guests did not like her ­expression—­failure. 
And the jobs after that, too: failure, failure, and failure. A storm of disappointments. 
“You’re more useless than I thought…” Mia sighed heavily. 
“Kuhhh…!” 
When Mia called her out, Lyu endured the humiliation. 
This is wrong. It’s because I only just started. I’m just nervous because it’s an unknown experience. Even refined adventurers make big mistakes in the face of the “Unknown.” 
Lyu was decidedly not useless, she reassured herself with a loud voice in her head. 
…No, it was like this when I was with Alizé, wasn’t it? 
When she had joined Astrea Familia , Lyu had constantly made mistakes. At the time, she had caused problems for the chief goddess Astrea and her friend Alizé. 
When I’m not used to things, I always make mistakes. 
“At this rate, instead of paying back the food, you’re just acquiring more debt.” 
“Kuhh…” 
Ashamed, Lyu continued her trials. 
 
Why is Gale Wind working as a waitress…? 
Outside the window, the sun was setting in the blue sky. Going undercover as a customer at The Benevolent Mistress to gather information, Runoa was confused at the spectacle she saw. The elf was wearing a waitress uniform, interacting with customers and taking away plates with a gloomy face. 
A wanted person who’s even on the Guild’s blacklist suddenly got a ­part-­time job at a bar…No way, I don’t understand at all… 
The elf matched the description and likeness she had received from the corporation. Her hair seemed to have been dyed, but it was unmistakably the same person. 
However, Gale ­Wind—­who once sent tremors down the spine of all the villains in the ­city—­had exchanged her bloodstained battle clothes and hood for a waitress uniform and white headpiece… 
What is that look? I want to laugh, but I can’t. 
“…Hey, hey, waitress, is that elf employee new?” 
“Yes, meow. So new that she needs to be watched constantly, meow. At the moment, I’m taking of her myself, meow!” 
But you’re messing up orders, too, you stupid cat. 
Annoyed at the waitress’s ­self-­satisfaction when she had brought coffee instead of the black tea she had ordered, Runoa peeked over at Gale Wind again. She was moving around the tavern with a distinct lack of familiarity, and even writing down the orders from the patrons was a struggle. She was somehow managing with the gallant help of a ­blue-­and-­silver-­haired girl. 
A ruse to throw off trackers, or a trap…? But this looks too stupid. 
While watching the ­ill-­tempered elf from the side, she sipped her coffee. Looking around at the smiling women guests, she struggled to figure out how to handle the situation. 
Why is Gale Wind doing chores at a bar, meow? 
Under the same setting sun… 
Chloe was pretending to be a messenger and sneaking glances through the back door of the store. The scene unfolding before her eyes shocked her. She watched as the elf was called to the back of the kitchen and scolded by the dwarf mistress. 
“It seems pretty busy, but what’s wrong with that elf girl?” She tried probing a bit while handing over a letter addressed to the tavern. 
“Ahh, sorry. She just started…She messed up a bit, so she’s getting some advice.” The ­blue-­and-­silver-­haired girl answered with a hint of a wry smile. 
Chloe was confident that the elf was Gale Wind when she heard “just started”…but just like a certain bounty hunter, she could not shake her confusion. 
Also, that dwarf…she’s ­super-­scary, meow. Don’t want to make that frumpy woman mad… 
Even from afar, she could recognize the dangerous potential of the mistress’s anger. 
Gale Wind was quietly nodding and putting up with the scolding, her expression like that of a monk in training who had endured several hours under a waterfall. 
“Miss Courier…are you new? Are you that interested in our tavern?” The girl smiled sweetly as Chloe quickly confirmed Gale Wind and the layout of the bar. 
“…Aaah, that was rude of me. As you guessed, I’m a provisional employee. Anyway, I’ve confirmed the letter has been delivered.” 
Acting normal, Chloe returned the smile and left via the back door. She jogged through a back alley where the sun did not reach. 
“Whew, that was dangerous,” she whispered to herself as she pulled down the brim of the hat she wore as a disguise. “I can’t let my guard down in there, meow…The footsteps of the chefs in the kitchen were awfully quiet, it seemed…“ 
From my perspective, that platinum haired girl is dangerous, too. 
This was Orario. People were trained to deal with wild hooligans, including adventurers, but… 
“A bar that puts Gale Wind to work…that place might be bad news, meow?” 
Making an odd face as she whispered, she wondered if she might have hit the bull’s-­eye — 
“Ha-ha, no way.” 
The skilled assassin couldn’t help but laugh away the absurd thought. 
Yes, she foolishly laughed it off. 
 
“Haaa, I’m tired, meow. Mama is rough with both people and cats, meow.” 
Ahnya complained as she and Lyu carried groceries. 
No comment on the cat part, but she does use people roughly , Lyu agreed silently. 
Several days had already passed since she had started working at The Benevolent Mistress. She had repeatedly messed up, but she was working as an obedient tavern employee. 
“Ah, Lyu. Hold the basket properly! If the vegetables fall, Mama will yell at you again, meow!” 
“…I think it’s fine.” 
“Letting your guard down like that will cost you your life, meow! I’ve slipped countless times! I’ve been doing this longer than you, so you should listen to what I say, meow! Fufun!” 
Falling down and holding a basket aren’t related, though. Plus, you’re awfully proud saying that. 
After Syr, this Ahnya girl was the next person Lyu had gotten to know. She seemed cheerful and simple. An idiot…or at least lacking in some way. The way she kept trying to touch Lyu’s hand, no matter how many times the elf countered by knocking her away, was good evidence. 
She tried to give off an air of seniority and experience, but no matter how Lyu looked at it, she was still better…on paper. Objectively, maybe. By a slim margin. 
”…At any rate…” 
“?” 
“You still look so gloomy, meow. Kind of…depressed, meow? It’s concerning, meow…” 
Lyu was at a loss for words as Ahnya spoke bluntly, placing the basket of vegetables on the table. 
For better or worse, the thoughtless catgirl had no restraint. Recognizing she was right, Lyu could not respond. She had been made to work plenty at this tavern, but there was still a gaping hole in her heart. It would unintentionally reveal itself, and her expression would darken. 
“…Sorry for making you worry.” 
Maybe Ahnya has been paying so much attention to me because she is worried about me. Thinking this, Lyu apologized. 
“Why should I worry about you?” 
But Ahnya made a ­stupid-­looking ­expression—­or rather a deeply confused one as she tilted her head. 
“N-no…but you said I was depressed.” 
“Depressing things are depressing, meow. But Mama definitely uses elves roughly, too, so you’ll forget about the things bothering you, meow.” 
Lyu went ­wide-­eyed at her words. 
“Look at Mei over there, meow. She also had a lot of things happen and looked ­suuuuper-­depressed at first, but now she doesn’t have the time for that, meow.” 
Ahnya pointed to one of the catgirl chefs. She was shorter than them, scampering around like a prum. She did not even have the time to adjust the chef’s hat slipping off her head, a busy whirlwind as she moved around the kitchen. 
“So feel free to feel down, as long as you get back up again, meow. Everyone at this tavern was like that, meow. And you’ll get there, too, meow.” 
She crudely and carelessly said this. She did not have any proof. However, her words made Lyu’s heart feel several times lighter, so much so that she was jealous, wondering how much easier it would be if she could be like that. 
“Ahnya…were you like that, too?” Lyu asked, suddenly curious. 
“­I—­I…” The catgirl all of a sudden started to get flustered. 
Her eyes darted to the left and right, making suspicious movements. The slender tail coming out of her back started quivering as though it could not stay still. 
“­I—­I just remembered a chore, meow! I need to go for a bit, meow!” Awkwardly excusing herself, she disappeared. 
Even that carefree girl had special circumstances. Lyu felt bad for bringing it up. 
“Lyu, if you are back from the storehouse, then hurry up and come here.” 
She was briefly glancing in the direction that Ahnya had fled when Mia stuck her head into the kitchen and called her over. 
“Next is washing the plates. Even a clumsy elf like you can do that, right?” 
“…Understood.” 
Lyu nodded and headed over to the washing area. Noting the stacked-up tableware, she started washing them with water. 
“…” 
She dunked them over and over in a bucket of water. Soap bubbled, and the grime on the plates fell off. As the other girls carried over more dishes, she accepted them and kept moving her hands. Quietly, like a puppet. 
Ahnya said all of that…But if the days continue like this, what should I do? 
Lyu pondered her situation amid the squeaks of the plates she was wiping and the rush of flowing water in the washing area. 
There is what Mia said. Eating delicious food is a good enough reason to live by itself. If that’s true, then there’s no reason for me to work here. Actually, I should probably get mad about this ridiculous maltreatment and leave. I could be free and do what I like. 
In truth, now that she thought about trying to run away, she would be able to do so. But she didn’t. It was not a sense of duty as a proud elf holding her back. It was because she did not have any goals to accomplish, and she had nowhere to go back to. 
I already…don’t have anything… 
The emptiness of her revenge. The sense of loss from losing all her comrades. A hodgepodge of feelings dominated her heart. In an instant, her mind fell into darkness. The final support for her heart, the goddess Astrea, was no longer in Orario. Lyu herself had been the one who encouraged her to leave the city. 
I cruelly forsook my own principles, and I’ve been stained and burned by the black flames. Why would she ever acknowledge me or let me live with her again? 
She no longer had a home to return to. 
And now I’m using this tavern in a vain attempt to avert my eyes… 
I’m spending peaceful days working hard at a job I’m not used to, forgetting my emptiness temporarily. I’m depending on this idle life and calling it unavoidable as an excuse. 
Acknowledging her feelings, Lyu recognized that much. She was not finding a goal. Not thinking about the future. Continuing to drag along her lost past. It was all just avoiding reality. 
If I could find some other reason to stay at this place ­after— 
“Lyu, can I help you?” 
“…” 
Lyu silently looked at Syr as she approached. 
I see. It’s because this girl is here. 
Here was the reason that she could not break away from this tavern. 
“…I’m okay. I’m not too busy, so you can do your own chores…” 
“I’ve finished over here, so I thought I’d help out a bit? And this many dishes is pretty rough for one person.” 
Easily dodging Lyu’s reservations, Syr lined up next to her. Lyu did not bother hiding her sigh. She had only known her for a little while, but she knew that it would be pointless to say more. They rinsed off the plates in the same wash area together. 
Syr Flover…a person who took my hand. 
Listening to another set of bubbles and water, Lyu glanced over at the girl. When she had collapsed in the back alley, Syr had grabbed Lyu’s ­blood- and ­mud-­covered hand. She had not rejected her, despite her elven tendency to prevent anyone she hadn’t accepted to touch her skin, a deeply ingrained habit. 
It’s not as if I had acknowledged her… 
There was no way she would be able to discern the character of someone she had only just met. That was obvious. She had just accepted the warmth of Syr’s hand without reservations. As though she had felt the girl’s kind spirit, or it was a fated meeting. 
Just like Alizé. 
That reality was what kept Lyu from trying to leave the tavern. She was the second special person to move her that way, and without realizing it, she could no longer do without her. 
“Are you getting used to the job here?” 
Lyu was stealing a glance at Syr when her heart jumped at the sudden question. Unusually flustered, she gave a long reply to cover it. 
“A-a bit…but I’m still messing up a lot. I’m not as good at dealing with things as you are…” 
“That’s not true.” 
Syr smiled wryly as she shook her head. “I made all sorts of mistakes when I first started…Hmmm, probably even worse ones than you.” 
“…You did?” 
“Yes. When the tavern employed me, back when I first started working.” 
Lyu was shocked. Syr stopped washing. 
“At the beginning, I thought I could at least do this…but I broke a lot of plates, scorched lots of pots, messed up the ingredients I was supposed to buy…Mama Mia got really mad.” 
“…That’s hard to believe.” 
Surprised, she was pulled into the girl’s story. As far as she could tell, Syr was better than anyone else at all of the jobs in the tavern now. 
“It would be nice to be able to say it was all a dream. But it’s true. I’m still not very good at cooking.” 
She covered the bottom half of her face with the plate she was polishing as her cheeks slightly reddened, as if she was really embarrassed. 
“When I got home, I’d dive into bed and whimper about how bad it was.” 
Hearing that, Lyu’s lips opened a bit, and a soft chuckle escaped. Syr had shared an unexpected side of herself. 
“—­You finally laughed.” 
“?” 
“Before that, you would never laugh. It seemed like you were always worried about something.” 
Lyu was surprised at the warmth in Syr’s ­metallic-­blue eyes. She looked back at the elf as she bashfully covered her mouth with one hand. Syr just innocently smiled. 
I was able to laugh… 
As Syr’s cheerful smile faded, Lyu thought back. 
It was like that before, too. 
From Lyu’s perspective, Syr had unnecessarily meddled countless times. Helping her with her work and even making it so she could work at the tavern in the first place. She had given the homeless Lyu shelter from the rain. 
Ever since she had collapsed in that back alley, Syr’s dedication had helped Lyu. 
“…I…” 
“?” 
“I don’t understand you.” 
As Syr tilted her head, Lyu turned to her. 
“Why do you trouble yourself for me like that…? Why go so far? Are you trying to poke your nose into my business?” 
She finally asked the questions that had been secretly lingering in her mind. 
The girl who had drawn the smile out of her matched the elf’s gaze. The clamor of the tavern continued: the footsteps of staff unhurriedly walking around, the bustle of food preparation from the kitchen, the conversations of customers eating with relish. Quietly watching Lyu, she finally smiled again. 
“Lyu, come with me for a bit?” 
Heading through The Benevolent Mistress’s back entrance, they walked a bit into the back alleys. Proceeding through countless winding streets, up dozens of stairways, through arches and tunnels, they reached a building. An abandoned church. One of dozens of forgotten churches in the city’s seventh district. 
She brought Lyu to the roof of the building. When she crossed the threshold, she was wrapped in a brilliant light, and the sights of a peaceful town spread before her. 
“Yep, it’s another beautiful day!” 
It was close to the blue sky. Syr raised a celebratory voice at the transparent blue canvas. 
“Is it okay to leave the tavern without permission? If I do this, that dwarf owner might yell at me again…” 
“You’re always trying hard, so you can get away with a little.” 
Syr smiled like a mischievous little child. Lyu had recently come to realize that Syr was talented but a bit lacking in diligence from time to time. Almost like a breeze that could not be contained. 
“…Then why did you bring me here?” 
“Because it’s my favorite spot. I wanted you to know about it, too.” 
The roof of the chapel was a bit higher than all the buildings around it, so it had a great view. Far off in the distance, Central Park was visible, and past that the ­still-­sleeping Shopping District. Lyu could understand why it was her favorite place. 
This reminds me of Alizé, also… 
Her old friend had also liked high places. They had often gone to the roof of a building, surrounded by the lovely blue sky as they talked about the future. 
However. 
In Lyu’s eyes now, that beautiful sky was ­also—. 
—­Gray. It all looks gray. 
Not just the ­sky—­everything looked colorless. That was what Lyu saw from her shroud of emptiness. As if everything she saw turned to gray. 
Lyu’s light ­green–­dyed hair shook as she looked down. 
“Higher than this is no good, and any lower wouldn’t work, either. This is the only place where you can see all of Orario and still feel the presence of the people in the streets.” 
Perhaps recognizing Lyu’s thoughts, or perhaps not, Syr continued talking as she looked out at the view. 
“When you’re here, you can understand what sorts of things the town is thinking.” 
“…Understand…the town’s thoughts?” 
“Yep. The people holding their head high as they walk, the carriage dashing through Main Street…the adventurers’ arguments, and the children’s laughter.” 
Lyu looked up at Syr’s back as she continued speaking. 
“For years, Orario was always sad, scared…” 
“…” 
Orario’s Dark Age. The rise of evil that had been the source of the Evils had brought fear and mayhem to the city. Blood flowed in the endless cycle of destruction. Many ­non-­adventurers were lost, too. Having stood on the front lines where chaos and order clashed, Lyu felt her heart hurt when she thought of the residents of the city still living in fear. She was filled with shame and a desire to apologize. 
“But, you know, lately it’s different.” 
“Eh?” 
“The town is gradually starting to be able to smile. They can celebrate and be happy.” 
As Lyu’s eyes went wide, Syr turned around, and said: 
“That’s thanks to you guys, isn’t it?” 
“—” 
Lyu was at a loss for words as Syr smiled. 
“ Ganesha Familia , Loki Familia , Freya Familia …and also Astrea Familia . You and lots of other adventurers fought, were hurt, and still kept trying…and you protected the people.” 
Several familias had been established in order to subdue the Evils. They all had their own intentions, but they had fought the followers of the evil gods in order to drive away the darkness covering Orario. Lyu’s Astrea Familia had also stood for justice and continued to fight to protect people’s smiles. They had tried to destroy evil. And Lyu’s own blade had brought an end to it. 
“The neighborhood is peaceful thanks to what you all did. That’s why I have to try to find some happiness for you, too.” 
“—” 
“If the person who worked the hardest isn’t happy………Well, I don’t like that.” 
“You’re wrong! Wrong!” Lyu shouted back. “When my friends were killed, I wasn’t fighting for peace! That wasn’t justice anymore! I just lost my temper for a personal grudge, to get revenge…!” 
And the result was this. In the end I got my name on the blacklist, and I’ve incurred the wrath and resentment of lots of people. 
Syr continued to smile at Lyu, who had acted as judge, jury, and executioner for the criminals throughout Orario who were suspected of a connection with the Evils. 
“Even so, the adventurers who come to the tavern say it…even the gods say it. ‘Orario was reborn.’ ” 
As if saying “Look,” she pointed to a street corner below where a performance was happening. On one corner of the main street, a band was playing a song honoring a valorous adventurer. It would have been impossible to imagine such a scene when evil was rampant and public order was crumbling. 
Lyu was speechless. 
She had missed it while consumed by the flames of revenge. Something she had not noticed as she grieved for her friend and the comrades who had lost their lives, moaning that there was nothing left. 
Something still remained of Alizé and the rest: the fruits of their labor. What Lyu had managed to accomplish was compensation for her friends’ lives. 
“I’ll say it for everyone else, okay?” 
As Lyu struggled for words, Syr gazed into her eyes and smiled. 
“You fought so hard for us…Thank you.” 
When she heard those words, a single tear silently spilled from Lyu’s eye. 
“Now, everyone is able to smile.” 
Syr looked out across the neighborhood one more time. 
The wind carried the voices of laughing children, just like an ordinary peaceful town. If she listened closely, she felt sure that she could sense the feelings of the town. 
The feelings of the people who lived here. 
I… 
In the midst of everyone’s feelings, Lyu thought she heard a certain voice. An imagined voice amid the others. 
She could sense the smiles of Alizé and her friends living on in the town. 
Their soft ­whispers— ­In our stead… 
I…I have to make sure of it myself, I think. 
She would have to watch over their legacy in their stead. That was what Lyu thought. 
She had decided on a future she wanted to set out for. 
The sky… 
As the world turned watery through her tears, the surrounding skies cleared up. Like a forest sprouting new leaves all at once, the gray disappeared, and the beautiful blue color returned. 
Lyu realized that the heart she had thought was empty now held something. Her tears fell again. 
…She’s a mysterious person. 
Wiping her eyes, she looked at Syr, who was gazing out over the town. She had unraveled Lyu’s feelings just like ­Astrea—­like a goddess of compassion. 
I acknowledge her. Her ­meddling—­her ­words—­brought me back on to my path. 
Just what is she? 
As Lyu stared at her, Syr turned around and broke into a smile. 
“Your eyes became really pretty.” 
“…If you think so, then it’s only thanks to you.” 
“Really? I’m glad. I like people like you…People who can become beautiful for someone else’s sake.” 
As if Lyu was too radiant to look at, Syr’s metallic-blue eyes squinted into a smile, her cheeks blushing in delight for an instant. 
“What will you do now? If you’ve found what you want to do, then you don’t need to force yourself to stay at the tavern, you know? I can talk to Mama Mia for you.” 
“I…” 
She paused for a second before straightforwardly acknowledging her answer. 
“I want to repay you.” 
I want to repay you for letting me notice what Alizé left behind. For letting me see this beautiful blue sky again. 
Those were Lyu’s true feelings. 
“…Is that okay?” 
“Yes. If not for you, my friends would have let me have it.” 
Without a doubt. 
Thinking that, Lyu’s face relaxed. As the girl gazed in surprise, a small, neat, ­flower-­like smile appeared on Lyu’s face. Syr grinned broadly. 
“Well then, I’m glad you’ll keep working with me at the tavern.” 
“Understood. It’s not like I have anywhere else to go. I’ll burden you for a bit longer.” 
“Yep. I look forward to it, Lyu.” 
Surrounded by the sky, they smiled like old friends, the blue sky warmly watching over them. 
“About time to head back?” 
“Yes.” 
At Syr’s prompt, Lyu nodded. Lyu looked back one last time in order to etch the scene of the beautiful sky and town into her memory as she left the roof, exiting the deserted church with Syr. She headed back, wrapped in a warm feeling that she did not have when she had arrived. Before long, she could see The Benevolent Mistress. 
Her eyes leaped to the people loitering in front of the tavern’s rear entrance. It was Ahnya and the rest of the employees. 
“Ahnya? Why are you here?” 
“Fufun. I saw that you guys were ditching work, so we wanted to congratulate you, meow!” 
“Aren’t you just procrastinating?” 
Ahnya responded to Syr’s question with an odd pride, but she yelped and turned red at Lyu’s observation. However, she stared at Lyu’s face and then smiled cheerfully. 
“I like that expression better, meow.” 
“…Yes. I stopped being so gloomy.” 
Lyu smiled slightly back. The other catgirls besides Ahnya looked on happily. The procrastination was just an excuse. Lyu understood that they were waiting for her to come back after Syr had taken her out. 
“No more going easy on you, meow! You’re a rival, not just a stray we took in, meow! You better be prepared to put your jaw into it, meow!” 
“Back, Ahnya?” 
Ignoring Syr’s gentle correction, Ahnya moved closer to Lyu. 
“Which is to say, let’s try shaking hands again, meow!” 
This is what she’s been after. 
The catgirl triumphantly put out her right hand, and Lyu’s hand made as if to grab it. Just as she was about to do ­that— ­slap! She knocked the hand away with all of her strength. The atmosphere froze. 
…Crap… 
Lyu’s hand had reflexively moved as she started to sweat. Even someone as insensitive to people’s feelings as Lyu could understand. The carefully constructed pleasantness had been wrecked. While time stopped for Syr and the other staff, she timidly peeked at Ahnya…and saw a savage cat with a blazing fire behind her eyes. 
“I’ll definitely touch you, meow…!” 
“­W—” 
Lyu was agitated as the stubborn catgirl started talking big. 
These catgirls are annoying in an entirely different way from Alizé and the ­rest—! 
Lyu was sure of that as Ahnya gradually slipped into a stance, staring daggers at her. 
“Haah!” 
“­Wha—­Syr?!” 
Syr had suddenly hugged her. 
“You let me touch you.” 
“L-let me go!” 
Syr did not seem to mind as Lyu turned red. Wrapping both arms around her neck, she put her cheek on Lyu’s. 
“Myaaaaaaa! Why am I bad and Syr’s okay, meow? That’s impossible! This is a matter of pride, meow!!” 
“—!” 
“Fugya!” 
Lyu countered, Ahnya was sent flying, and Syr laughed aloud. The rest of the staff all started clapping and laughing along, too. 
“…Hey, you stupid girls! Ain’t every last one of you skipping work?!” 
Watching from afar, Mia’s eyes narrowed, and finally she bellowed at them as their horseplay continued. 
 
Lyu thought. 
Syr and the other staff were not a replacement for Alizé and the rest. Believing something like that would be a disservice to these girls. And the grief and emptiness from losing irreplaceable comrades was not so easily healed. Even if it healed, unexpected twinges could bring back Lyu’s loneliness. 
However, I have to move forward. Even if I remember the past, I can only move forward. Together with Alizé’s legacy. 
She decided to write a letter. One addressed to the goddess she had been separated from. 
What I’m doing and what I’ve decided…If this ever gets delivered, she’ll know. She would definitely smile when she reads it. 
Returning to The Benevolent Mistress alongside Ahnya and the rest, she secretly whispered to the girl who had helped her, who had constantly meddled and led her to discover so many things. 
“Thank you, Syr…I’m grateful.”