Even a day after the battle in that cave, the burn scars still lingered vividly on Ryune's right arm. Standing before the Silver Wings Guild, Tatsuya looked up at the heavy stone doors. Coming here always weighed on him a little. Today, especially so. "[cold]What are you standing around for? Let's get inside." Ryune took the lead and pushed the doors open. Her posture was as perfect as ever, back straight and proud. But the inner voice his skill picked up was a little different today. *—I hope Doruf doesn't try anything like last time.* (...She's still worried about it, huh.) Tatsuya had been thinking the same thing. The vice-master, Doruf, had forcibly confiscated their records from the previous slime extermination. There was no way that was going to end as mere harassment. The guild interior was strangely quiet for morning. Only a few adventurers lingered in the tavern, and even the request forms posted on the wall seemed somehow faded. The receptionist Maris, seated at the counter, looked up as she noticed them. "[sad]Ah, good work out there." Her usual customer-service smile. But the voice his skill picked up beneath it was unmistakably different. *—Oh no, they came. The vice-master said, 'Send them up to the second floor when they arrive.' The atmosphere was pretty bad, but it's none of my business.* "[serious]The vice-master has something to discuss with you two. Please proceed to a private room on the second floor." Ryune drew a small, sharp breath. Her expression didn't change. But her clenched fist trembled ever so slightly. *—It's here.* "[cold]Understood. Let's go." The two climbed the old wooden stairs. Each step groaned with an unpleasant creak. At the end of the second-floor hallway, right before the door, Ryune's feet stopped for just a moment. *—I'm scared. But I can't let Tatsuya see it.* His skill painfully picked up her inner voice, and Tatsuya hesitated, unsure what to say. But Ryune immediately lifted her head and knocked on the door three times. "[serious]Ryune Valdeur. Vice-Master, I was told you wished to speak with us." "[sarcastic]Ooh, I've been waiting. Come in." The voice that came from beyond the door was cloyingly sweet, yet carried a chill that ran down the spine. The private room was dim. Thick curtains were drawn over the windows, and only a lamp on the desk illuminated the space. Doruf sat right beside that light. A greasy smile was plastered across his oily face. "[sarcastic]Well now, thank you for coming. First, congratulations on your successful slime extermination. A fine result for newcomers." His words were polite. But his eyes weren't smiling at all. Ryune stepped forward. "[cold]Please state your business." "[sarcastic]Now, now, don't be so hasty. ...By the way, Lady Ryune. I've heard that the head of House Valdeur, your father, has been in rather poor health lately?" The color drained from Ryune's face. *—Don't you dare mention my father's name...!* An explosive mix of rage and terror surged through the skill. Tatsuya pinched his own thigh hard under the desk. This was bad. His face was about to betray him. "[sarcastic]If rumors were to reach your bedridden father that his daughter is saddled with a deadweight... wouldn't that be just pitiable?" "[cold]...What exactly are you trying to say?" Doruf slid a single sheet of parchment across the desk. "[serious]The subjugation of the Demon Wolf Den. It's a C-rank difficulty, but I'm sure the two of you will have no problems? The reward is quite generous as well." Tatsuya peered at the parchment. The location was northwest of Karnack, beyond the Lamenting Catacombs. C-rank. For someone who had only just fought a slime for the first time the other day, this was clearly a mission beyond his level. (It's a trap. Definitely.) His head understood that. But he couldn't hear a man's inner voice. The fact that his skill was completely useless here sent a cold shiver down his back. "[serious]...And if we refuse?" Doruf smiled broadly. "[sarcastic]I would have to publicly post Tatsuya-kun's disqualification record at the guild. Regrettably, it's in the regulations. A measure for when newcomers refuse a mission. If that happens, it will also tarnish your own record, bound as you are by a patron contract. The rumor that House Valdeur is 'saddled with a deadweight' would cease to be a rumor and become fact." *—You utter scum.* Ryune's inner voice sharpened like a blade. At the same time, another voice could be heard. *—But I can't drag Tatsuya into a trap like this. What should I do?* "[gentle]...Could we have one week? To prepare." Tatsuya spoke up. If they could buy time, there might be something they could do. "[sarcastic]Unfortunately for you, the Guild Master returns in three days. If I don't have an answer by then, I won't be able to proceed with the paperwork on my end." A dead end. "[cold]...We accept." Ryune's voice was quiet. But the inner voice his skill picked up seemed to be crying out. *—Why does it always turn out like this?* Once out of the room, Ryune walked briskly down the hallway. Then she stopped abruptly, grabbed Tatsuya's arm, and pulled him against the wall. "[whispers]I know this isn't a situation where we can refuse. But... this is my family's problem. You stay at the inn tomorrow." *—I don't want to die alone. But I don't want to drag you into this.* The inner voice his skill picked up sent a sharp pang through Tatsuya's chest. Ryune's hand was still gripping Tatsuya's arm. In the dim hallway, the distance between them was unnervingly close. Ryune's blue eyes wavered with anxiety. Her breath brushed ever so slightly against Tatsuya's cheek. *—Too close. My heart is so loud. This is the worst.* Ryune's inner voice cried out such things. She gasped, released his arm, and stepped back. Her pale cheeks were faintly flushed. "[gentle]I'm going." Tatsuya said it simply. "[surprised]...What are you—" "[gentle]I'm going with you. You heard me, didn't you? When you told me to stay." "[angry]If you heard me, then why—" "[gentle]I heard you. But I'm going." Ryune was at a loss for words. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Was it just the lamplight that made her eyes look faintly glossy? *—Why is this person... why, for my sake...* Hidden deep within her confused inner voice was a tiny, truly tiny voice. *—Thank you.* Ryune said nothing. But Tatsuya heard it, clear as day. By the time they returned to the inn, it was already dark outside. The lights of the harbor could be seen flickering through the window. In the room, only a single lantern was lit. The two of them silently checked their respective equipment. It was when Tatsuya was trying to sheathe his short sword upside down. Without a word, Ryune reached out and corrected the sword's orientation. "[cold]...It's backwards." *—I knew it, I'm worried. But if we're together, just a little... no, I'm not thinking anything at all.* At the full-throttle *tsundere* inner voice his skill picked up, Tatsuya felt like collapsing internally. Is it okay to think she's cute? No, if I actually said that, she'd definitely kill me. Ryune tried to attach her armor's shoulder guard by herself, but her right hand wouldn't lift properly. The burn scars still restricted her movement. Tatsuya stood up and silently moved behind her. "[surprised]...What are you—" "[gentle]Please hold still." He unfastened the shoulder guard's clasp and set it in the correct position. The lantern light cast an orange glow on Ryune's pale nape and the delicate curve of her shoulders. Tatsuya's fingertips brushed ever so slightly against her skin. It was cool, yet faintly damp with sweat. His own breathing grew just a little unsteady. "[cold]...You're oddly practiced at this." "[gentle]Back in my corporate slave days, I was forced to help my boss's wife put on her kimono." "[surprised]...What on earth." *—That's kind of funny. Ah, no, I can't laugh.* Ryune turned away with a huff. But the tips of her ears were red. Once they finished checking their equipment, Ryune stood up and turned to face Tatsuya directly. "[serious]I'll say this one last time. Stay behind. This is my duty, and it has nothing to do with you." *—I don't want to take you to a place where you might die. But I can only say things like this. I really am a coward.* "[gentle]It does have something to do with me." "[angry]How?" "[gentle]The patron contract. I'm your partner, after all." Ryune said nothing. She just bit her lip tightly and looked up at Tatsuya. *—That's not fair.* That single inner thought flickered softly, like the light of the lantern. The next morning, before the sky had even begun to lighten, the two left the inn. Passing through the Sea Breeze Market, merchants were bustling about, preparing for the morning market. The smell of fish, the pungent scent of spices, and the briny aroma of the wharves mingled together. They overheard an elf merchant talking to a pair of companions. "[excited]I hear a princess is coming here from the Forest Continent! She's apparently interested in human men. A young princess named Lady Celia or something. This'll cause a huge stir in the city!" *—If a beautiful princess like that is coming, Karnack will be lively for a while. But it's none of my business.* The inner voice of the merchant's female companion caught on his skill. An elf princess, Celia. Tatsuya filed the name away in a corner of his mind. Once they left the market and reached the northwest highway, foot traffic dropped sharply. Ryune walked ahead in silence. Her pace was a little faster than yesterday. *—Finish this quickly. Get back quickly. Get Tatsuya back safely.* Her inner voice flowed in repeatedly, matching the rhythm of their march. "[gentle]Aren't we going a little fast?" "[cold]It's not a problem." *—The sooner we arrive, the better. But once we arrive, the battle begins. But still...* Ryune's heart was churning in turmoil. When they crossed the stepping stones over a small stream, Tatsuya crossed first, then stood on the bank and offered his hand. "[gentle]Here." "[cold]I'm fine." Ryune said that. But for just a moment, she stared intently at Tatsuya's outstretched hand. *—...I wanted to take it.* Her inner voice was small, but he heard it clearly. Tatsuya gave a small cough, trying to mask it in the babbling of the stream. He desperately tried to hide the heat rising to his own face. Eventually, as the surrounding trees grew twisted and the landscape changed to a wasteland of exposed rock, their destination came into view. The Demon Wolf Den. The rock at the entrance was discolored to a reddish-black, like rusted iron. The ground before the cave was a chaotic mess of overlapping beast tracks. Ryune knelt on one knee, checking the depth and size of the tracks. "[whispers]The numbers... there are too many." *—This is wrong. There are clearly more than the information we were given. Doruf set us up.* Tatsuya, examining the tracks beside her, had reached the same conclusion. This was far beyond a C-rank affair. It was a pack of at least ten or more. Ryune stood up and re-gripped the hilt of her sword. Her fingertips trembled ever so slightly. *—I'm scared. But I can't say I'm scared. But I don't want Tatsuya to die.* Her profile was expressionless. But inside, her heart was filled with screams. "[gentle]Let's go." Ryune closed her eyes for just one second. Then, she answered in a small voice. "[whispers]...Yes." Just before they stepped into the cave, Tatsuya noticed it. Ryune's hand was still trembling. Without even realizing it himself—he reached out and placed his hand over hers, the one gripping her sword, just for a moment. "[surprised]...Ah—" Ryune looked up in surprise. But Tatsuya was already facing forward, his hand withdrawn. *—His hand... was warm.* The inner voice his skill picked up was full of agitation and a desperate attempt to suppress it