The door creaked. Luna kept her hand on the sword's hilt as she slowly turned around. Riko still remembered the face Eldo made yesterday when he said, "Surveillance is necessary." That was absolutely him hiding his embarrassment. There was no basis for it. But somehow, she was certain. This morning too, in the kitchen of Atelier Momo, Riko had been thinking such things while touching her fingers to the embroidery on her apron. Whether she missed Louka's air or was curious about that clumsy knight, she didn't quite understand herself. She stepped through the gate of light. Philo's Hill. A silver grassland, sweet air, ancient stone monuments. Eldo was already there. Arms crossed, difficult expression on his face. "[serious]You're late," "[laughing]You're always here, Eldo. Did you stake this place out since morning?" "[cold]Patrol," He turned away. His ears looked a little red. Riko stifled her laughter while adjusting her backpack. "Where are we going today?" "[serious]……Follow me," He said only that and started walking. As always, no preamble. Riko jogged after him, calling out to his back. "How far are we going?" "[serious]Tinola Plateau. Forty-five kilometers east. There's a natural habitat of Prism Berries there," "Prism Berries!" Riko's eyes lit up. Prism Berries—fruit that changes through seven colors, and tastes different depending on the mood of the person eating it. She'd seen them at La Récolte before, but she'd heard that direct from the source was in a different league. "But that's not on Tilnard's patrol route, is it? I think it's only the west and north of the royal capital……" "[cold]……That's correct," His footsteps stopped for just a moment. Just one moment. "Then why——" "[serious]I recorded today's outing permit as food ingredient source safety verification and documentation. It's related to the investigation of the interdimensional travel ban. I judged that understanding Louka's food ingredient situation to break your curse is necessary research for a knight," He said it all at once. Like he'd memorized the lines. Riko was silent for several seconds. "[surprised]Um……does that mean you lied on the outing permit for me?" "[cold]It's not a lie. Within the context of investigating the interdimensional travel ban——" "Eldo," "……What?" "Thank you," Eldo said nothing, facing forward. But the area around his neck gradually turned red. "[cold]Shut up and walk," "I'm walking!" --- The road to Tinola Plateau turned out to be more enjoyable than expected. Eldo was taciturn, but he answered briefly when Riko spoke to him. When they passed through the wheat fields spreading at the edge of the royal capital, a farmer waved. Seeing Eldo return the greeting silently, Riko felt a little warmth in her chest. That guy really is conscientious about these things. "What's Tinola like?" "[serious]Gentle hills stretch out. Prism Berries grow in clusters, and the scenery is……well, not bad. However, there are small magical beasts called Épines," "Épines?" "[serious]Spiky hedgehog-type. About thirty centimeters in body length, but their spines have a mild paralysis poison. They protect the fruit, so harvesting requires a bit of technique," "Little hedgehogs……how cute," "[cold]I said they have poison," "Cute but poisonous, then," Eldo furrowed his brow. Riko laughed. --- They arrived at Tinola Plateau around midday. The moment they climbed the hill, Riko lost her voice. Color filled her entire field of vision. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Every time the wind swayed them, the colors changed, shimmering as if alive. Prism Berries. The entire slope of the hill was dyed in rainbow hues. "No way……" She stared at the sight with her mouth hanging open. Eldo walked beside her and said casually, "[serious]……Not bad, is it?" "Not bad?! It's incredibly beautiful!!" "Your voice is too loud. The Épines will run away," "Oh, right," Riko lowered her voice. Then she pulled a basket from her backpack and began slowly descending the slope of the hill. She carefully picked one berry at a time, watching her footing. When she touched a berry with her finger, it changed color the moment she touched it. Purple to blue. So this is how it changes through seven colors. Amazing. "Eldo, this——" Her feet stopped. At the edge of the hill. Right at the cliff's edge, there was the largest Prism Berry bush. Fruits clustered thickly on it, their color deep. The freshness was different. If she harvested that, she could make an incredible tart. Her patissière instincts made her take a step forward. One more step. Thirty centimeters to the cliff's edge. The grass swayed beneath her feet. If she reached out, she could touch it. Just a little more—— "[cold]Hey," Eldo's voice came from behind, and the soil beneath her feet crumbled, almost simultaneously. A sliding sensation. The cliff's edge collapsed. She was falling——or so she thought, when a strong force grabbed her wrist. She was yanked back. Her body floated through the air. The next moment, Riko was standing on the hill. Both feet were back on the grass. But her body wouldn't stop, and she nearly fell forward into Eldo's chest. Eldo caught her with his free arm. For a while, neither of them moved. Riko slowly looked up. Eldo's face was right there. Golden eyes, directly in front of her. The distance was less than ten centimeters. Eldo's breathing was slightly ragged. Thump. Something moved heavily deep in her chest. (What……what is this……) Riko's face gradually grew hot. Why. Why is my heart racing. It's Eldo. Always grumpy, foul-mouthed, creating loopholes in the rules and then acting smug about it—— "[serious]……Check the basket," Eldo spoke first. His voice was slightly lower. Riko reflexively looked at the basket. About half the Prism Berries remained inside. Some must have fallen when she nearly tumbled. "Oh! The berries——!" "[cold]…………" Something disappeared from Eldo's eyes. Exhaustion, maybe. Or exasperation. "[angry]You almost fell just now," "I know, but the best one is right at the cliff's edge——" "[cold]Careless," As he said it, Eldo turned his face away. That's when Riko noticed. Eldo was still holding her wrist. In the same grip from when he'd pulled her up, wrapping around her wrist. Whether he was trying to let go or not was unclear, so gently. But definitely. "[surprised]Um, Eldo," "[cold]……Walk," Finally, his hand released. Eldo immediately turned his back and began walking up the hill. His ears were red. His neck was red too. Riko watched his back and remembered that sensation. That thump deep in her chest. What was it? Because she was startled? Because she almost fell? (Probably……that's it, right?) Riko shouldered her backpack again and followed Eldo. --- After finishing the harvest, the two descended to the foot of the hill. It was already approaching evening. Orange light dyed the entire hill, and the Prism Berries' colors melted into it. Near the rest point for camping——a flat rocky area Eldo had scouted beforehand——Riko spread out her backpack. "Since we're here, let me bake something as thanks," "[cold]Unnecessary," "I'm already getting it out," Eldo turned around. By then, Riko had already lit the portable burner. A small one, convenient for bringing to Louka. Then from her backpack came locally sourced materials——butter, flour, and eggs she'd bought at Louka's market. And the Prism Berries they'd harvested today. "[serious]How are you……" "I keep supplies ready so I can make simple sweets anytime. I'm a patissière, after all," Eldo started to say something, then stopped. He sat down on the rock, crossing his arms. Riko quickly made the tart base while arranging the Prism Berries. Over the small frying pan above the burner, she heated them slowly. As the berries were heated, the color changes slowed. Eventually they settled into a deep purple hue. A sweet aroma began to drift. "Prism Berries taste different depending on the mood of the person eating them, right?" "[serious]……So I've heard," "So I'm curious what flavor it'll be when you eat it. It changes based on your mood right now, doesn't it?" Eldo furrowed his brow. "[cold]Why am I being used as a test subject?" "Not a test subject—a monitor. The first one," "…………" He seemed unable to counter that. Riko placed the tart on the rock and offered it to him. Eldo stared at it for a while. Then, as if resigned, he took a bite. Silence. Only the sound of the burner burning quietly. Evening wind crossing the hill. Eldo didn't move. No sound of chewing, no sign of swallowing for a while. "[whispers]……Sweet," He said it very quietly. Really very quietly. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Just slightly. But definitely, he was smiling. The moment Riko saw that expression——that thump came again from deep in her chest. Bigger than before. (Wait. Hold on.) "[excited]Sweet means you're in a good mood right now! Prism Berries are so honest, I can tell your mood, Eldo!" Eldo set down the plate. "[cold]……That's not what I meant," "Huh? But the person eating it determines the taste by their mood——" "[cold]Shut up," He turned away. But the plate was still on his lap. He reached for another bite, then stopped as if he'd realized something. Riko held back her laughter and bit into her own tart. It was sweet. But with a slightly different flavor. A little complex, somehow wistful. Was this her current mood? What kind of mood was that? Riko couldn't quite figure it out. The sunset dyed the hill crimson. --- Eldo spoke quietly some time after they'd finished eating. He was staring vaguely at Riko's apron. His eyes traced the embroidery pattern. "[serious]……That embroidery on your apron. I know it," Riko looked up. "The Portier apron? I bought it at an antique shop……" "[serious]I found the exact same design recorded in ancient documents from two hundred years ago. I saw it in the royal palace's document library. I've been curious about it all this time, but today I became certain," Eldo's voice became low and quiet. Not his usual stern knight's tone, but careful, as if remembering something. "[serious]The Apron Crossing Incident——two hundred years ago, there's a record of Louka and another world temporarily connecting. At that time, several artifacts from the other world were brought into Louka. Among them, this pattern was listed in the inventory," The smile faded from Riko's face. "So this apron……is from two hundred years ago?" "[serious]It's highly likely," For a while, neither spoke. Two hundred years ago. That meant this apron wasn't just an antique. It explained why Kazuki at the antique shop had recommended it, why he'd looked like he knew something—— "I wonder if we can find out more……" She said it almost to herself, and Eldo faced forward. "[serious]The royal palace's document library should have detailed records. The artifact inventory from that time, the circumstances of the crossing incident, the apron's origins——we can investigate all of it," There was a pause. Eldo tapped the edge of the rock with his finger. Then, pulling his chin back slightly, he spoke. "[serious]……I'll investigate it for you," There was a brief pause. "[cold]Not for you. Investigating matters related to the interdimensional travel ban is a knight's duty. That's the context," The added words were longer than the original statement. Riko felt genuinely happy. "Thank you, Eldo," This time, Eldo looked up. At the sky. At the sunset. Anywhere but at Riko. "[cold]……Thanks are unnecessary," "I want to say it anyway," "[cold]I'm not listening," "You can hear me," "……………" He answered with silence. But without taking his eyes from the sky, Eldo let out a short breath. Not angry, Riko could tell that much. Once more, warmth bloomed in her chest. That sensation, more settled than bef