The guild's first-floor tavern was buzzing with a crowd. Every time the wall lanterns flickered, shadows writhed across the room. Cheap liquor and assorted dried meat sat on the long tables. Dorf had called everyone together, saying it was "a celebration for Ryune's recovery." About thirty adventurers stood around, cups in hand, talking. "I heard that lady knight was seriously injured." [A C-rank request ending in a mutual KO. Just glad she's okay.] "But that E-rank guy was with her too, right?" Whispered voices drifted from all around. Tatsuya sat at the far end of the table, next to Viola. She swayed her silver hair, staring down expressionlessly at her cup. —The drink is mead. Just the smell burns my throat. Viola's inner voice flowed in through the skill. She quietly set her cup back on the table. No sound, no change in expression. —Sweet. I hate sweet things. But don't let it show. I'm the Ice Queen, after all. "...Pfft." Tatsuya couldn't help but snort. "[cold] What do you find so amusing?" "[gentle] No, it's, uh... nothing." —He's definitely figured something out. I can see it on his face. Viola's ears turned just the slightest shade of red. The inner voices of the people around them, picked up by the skill, were restless too. —The vice-master's in an oddly good mood today. —Feels like he's scheming something. —I hate that fat old man. Tatsuya took a sip of water from his cup and glanced toward the head of the room. Dorf stood up, grinning broadly. "[excited] I'm so glad you all came! Today is a joyous occasion—we celebrate the safe recovery of our very own Lady Valdeur!" He clapped his hands, oozing charm. What lay in his heart, even the skill couldn't read. (Here it comes.) Tatsuya clenched his fist on his knee. "[serious] Now, I apologize for bringing this up at a celebration, but—" The atmosphere shifted. Several people exchanged glances. "[serious] I have a proposal to reconsider the patron contract between Ryune and the E-rank Tatsuya. His mission failure and Ryune's injury are not unrelated. To prevent similar incidents in the future, I move that the contract be voided here and now—" "[serious] Wait just a moment." It was a quiet voice. But it reached every corner of the tavern. Dorf's smile stiffened slightly. Tatsuya stood up. His heart was pounding. But his knees weren't shaking. "[serious] Let me confirm one thing." Beside him, Viola rose and handed the stack of documents she'd been holding to the adventurer next to her. The papers passed from hand to hand. "[cold] Three request ledgers show signs of tampering. Missing serial numbers and unnatural alterations to the order routes. These are copies of the testimonies and the genuine ledger records." A ripple of murmurs swept through the room. Adventurers peered at the documents, brows furrowing. "Wh-what the hell is this...? These are requests from three years ago." "The numbering skips one here." "[angry] Fabrication! How can this be considered evidence?!" Dorf's voice cracked. At that moment, the tavern door opened. White bandages. Golden hair. Ryune stood there. Her complexion was still pale. Bandages wrapped from her left shoulder across her chest, and her left arm hung in a cloth sling. But her eyes looked straight ahead. —I can't not be here. I want to stand beside Tatsuya. The skill picked up Ryune's inner voice. A sharp pang struck Tatsuya's chest. "[cold] Guildmaster, please look at these." Ryune spoke quietly. From the back of the counter, an elven woman with silver hair tied in a single tail—Mylène Sylphide, branch chief of the Silver Wing Society in Karnak—stepped forward. Her brows were sternly knit, her sharp eyes fixed on the documents. The tavern fell silent, as if doused with water. Mylène turned over one page, then another. With each one, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Sweat beaded on Dorf's forehead. "[cold] ...Vice-Master Gandor." She placed the documents on the desk. The sound echoed strangely loud. "[cold] I demand an explanation for this evidence." Dorf's face went deathly pale. His ingratiating smile remained plastered on, refusing to fade. "[scared] Th-this is... a fabrication! That brat! That E-rank!" "[serious] Two adventurers, secure the vice-master." In that instant, Dorf thrust his hand into his inner pocket. "Damn it!!" What he pulled out was a reddish-black stone the size of a thumb. A summoning stone. Dorf slammed the stone against the floor. BAAAANG!! Smoke exploded outward. Tables flipped over, cups scattering across the floor. "Whoa!" "What the—?!" A growl came from within the smoke. Two of them. Medium-sized demon wolves had appeared in the center of the tavern. Gray fur, yellow-glowing eyes. Saliva dripped from their mouths, sharp fangs bared. "[scared] Eeek...!" The adventurers all recoiled at once. Dorf seized the opening and bolted for the back exit. (Like hell I'm letting him go!) Tatsuya opened his skill to full throttle. The instincts of the female specimens flooded into his mind. —Don't know this territory. Where is this place? —Hate the smell of smoke. —That fat man stinks somehow. "[angry] Those things... they don't seem to like Dorf's smell!!" Every adventurer in the tavern went blank for a moment. —Of all the things to say... really? Beside him, Viola's inner voice reached him. "[serious] But it's effective!" At those words, movement resumed. "[serious] You, block that exit!" Ryune shouted through her bandages, drawing her sword with her right hand. The magic sword emitted a pale blue light. She struck at the demon wolf on the right, drawing one of them to her. "[cold] The left one is mine." From Viola's hands, three pillars of ice shot out in rapid succession. THUD! THUD! THUD! The pillars froze the left wolf's legs, pinning it against the wall. Tatsuya planted himself in front of the exit Dorf was trying to flee into. He spread both arms wide. "[sarcastic] Get out of my way!! You useless piece of trash!!" Dorf's face twisted, spittle flying. "[serious] You're not going anywhere. It's over." A quiet voice descended from behind. "[cold] Vice-Master Gandor, resign yourself." Dorf's shoulders slumped with a jolt. In that moment— Ryune's magic sword pierced the core of the right demon wolf. The ice spear Viola had launched shattered the core of the left one. Simultaneously, both demon wolves dissolved into particles of light and vanished. Silence fell over the tavern. Someone clapped. It spread in a chain, applause rippling outward. Whistles rang out too. "Incredible! They took them down in an instant!" "She can move with injuries like that, that lady knight...!" Ryune put a hand against the wall, staggering slightly. "Ngh..." A bead of sweat traced a line down her pale neck through a gap in the bandages. Tatsuya rushed over and supported her left arm. His hand touched her. Body heat through the bandages. Ryune's shoulder gave a tiny jolt. —This person's hands are warm. I don't want to let go. Ryune's inner voice reached the skill. She didn't shake off Tatsuya's hand. "[whispers] ...Thank you." Her voice was truly small. "[gentle] Don't push yourself too hard." He noticed his own voice was slightly hoarse. His heartbeat had quickened. A short distance away, Viola averted her gaze from the two of them and turned toward the guildmaster. —Must be nice. Only a single syllable reached the skill. Dorf was seized by the arms by two adventurers and dragged into the back of the guild. He had no strength left to resist. "[serious] Disciplinary action will follow guild regulations." Mylène declared, and the tavern finally settled back into calm. One after another, adventurers gathered around Tatsuya and the others. "Hey, sorry I underestimated you before. You're not half bad." "Teaming up with the Ice Queen to corner that potbelly—that's impressive." As Tatsuya gave a slight bow of his head, he glanced toward the other side of the counter. Marlis was standing there. Her brown ponytail swayed faintly. She stared intently at Tatsuya and the others, then lowered her eyes. —I kept looking the other way all this time. I'm sorry. An apology meant for no one in particular flowed into the skill. Tatsuya silently tucked it away in his heart. Once the crowd had settled down, Viola turned on her heel. "[cold] My role is done. I'll take my leave now." Her silver hair swayed. "[serious] Can you wait a moment?" At Tatsuya's voice, Viola's feet stopped. She didn't turn around. "[gentle] Thank you. Because you kept working on this alone, we were able to have today." Viola's shoulders trembled slightly. —I feel like crying. Why? For the first time in two years, someone said it to me. The words I wanted to say to Arte... this person is saying them. Tangled emotions transmitted through the skill. Tatsuya said nothing more. "[sarcastic] ...You should show your face at the guild from time to time too." From beside him, a voice carrying not a shred of gratitude flew out. "[sarcastic] For all the trouble you've caused, you'll be working it off properly." —She actually said that...? Viola's inner voice was mixed with exasperation and, for some reason, a small hint of laughter. Without turning around, the corner of her mouth moved slightly. "[cold] ...If I have useful information in the future, I'll share it." With just those words, Viola disappeared into the night city. The Seashell Inn, corner room on the third floor. The night breeze crossing the Lamenting Sea swayed the thin curtains through the window. The lantern's light dyed the room orange. Ryune sat down on the bed and let out a deep breath. Her bandages shifted faintly with her breathing. "[gentle] ...You must be tired." Tatsuya reached out to extinguish the lantern. "[whispers] Don't leave me alone tonight." A low voice. Ryune's hand grasped Tatsuya's wrist. Her slender fingers were trembling. —I don't want to act tough anymore. I want you to stay by my side. That's all. The skill picked up Ryune's inner voice. Tatsuya wrapped both hands around Ryune's hand. He knelt on the floor, bringing his eyes level with hers. The lantern's lingering glow illuminated Ryune's golden hair. The whiteness of her collarbone peeking from the edge of the bandages. Her glistening blue eyes looked up at Tatsuya. "[gentle] I'm not going anywhere." Tatsuya's fingers moved slowly over the back of Ryune's hand. With her free hand, Ryune touched Tatsuya's cheek. Her pale fingertips gently traced his jawline. "[whispers] ...You're warm." "[gentle] You only just noticed?" The air between them quietly shifted. Ryune pulled him closer. Tatsuya didn't resist, sitting down on the edge of the bed and holding her shoulders. Body heat through the bandages. Ryune's shallow breathing repeated right next to his ear. No armor, no sword, nothing. Just the weight of a single girl leaning against Tatsuya. (So this is the weight of the loneliness she's been carrying.) Tatsuya thought. Outside the window, the sound of waves could be heard in the distance. Ryune's hand grasped the chest of Tatsuya's shirt with her fingertips. Just like that, her breathing slowly deepened, and the tension drained from her shoulders. She had fallen asleep. After confirming that her breathing had steadied, Tatsuya quietly looked up at the ceiling. His own heart was still pounding loudly. (...No way I'm getting any sleep.) He gave a wry smile with just his mouth. Until morning came, neither of them moved. The light streaming through the window gradually turned the room white. Ryune woke first. She realized her head was resting on Tatsuya's shoulder. —How long have I been... he saw everything? The worst, the best, the worst. "Too loud." He'd spoken without thinking. The inner voice through the skill was deafeningly loud. "[scared] Wh-what do you mean, too loud?!" Ryune