In a world of swords and magic, the trade-city of Averl stands above countless dungeons managed by the Adventurers' Guild. Jill, a slim young man who swings two steel blades, and Fina, a girl who wields a bow and enchantment magic, were forced into a partnership through an endless argument over splitting profits. Unable to be honest, they bicker constantly yet fight in perfect sync underground. Fina has fallen for Jill at first sight but hides it behind her sense of duty to her large family back
Each One's "Place to Return To - The only thing you'll regret is what you didn't choose ~Determination in Front of the Inn~
The summer sun was scorching the cobblestones.
The cries of cicadas poured down over the town of Avel. The calls of the marketplace and the sound of carriage wheels melted into the heat, faint and distant.
Jil was walking alone toward the headquarters of the Iron Road.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. His brownish-black hair clung damply to his brow. His sea-deep blue eyes narrowed against the glare.
It had been seven days since he'd last had a proper conversation with Fina.
Even though they were staying at the same inn, every time their eyes met, they looked away. In the guild, even when they passed each other, they didn't speak. They took requests separately. Jil hunted slimes alone, and Fina gathered herbs alone.
The three-story stone guild headquarters came into view. Above the entrance hung a crest shaped like a metal prosthetic hand. It was the symbol of the adventurer's guild "Iron Road," which had endured for a hundred and fifty years.
When he pushed open the heavy wooden door, a cool draft flowed out—the guild's distinctive air, mixed with the smells of sweat, liquor, and leather.
The reception hall on the first floor was, as always, crowded with adventurers. The walls were plastered with request notices. Beside them, the floor plan that Bardo of Bardo Real Estate had put up the other day—"Must-see for young couples! Single-family home with garden, outstanding environment for raising children!"—was still there.
Jil walked toward the reception counter, as if to avert his eyes from that floor plan.
Behind the counter, a woman with chestnut hair tied up in a bun raised her face. A golden hairpin caught the light of the magic stone lamp and glinted. Her amber eyes reflected Jil.
Mirene. The receptionist of the Iron Road, and the one in charge of Jil and Fina. Twenty-three years old. She had once been an adventurer, but retired after an injury and took up this work. On her left wrist was an old scar, a remnant of her adventuring days.
"Oh my, Jil. You're alone again today."
Mirene tilted her head slightly and looked behind Jil. The figure of the girl with gold hair tinged with vermilion—who should always be there—was absent again today.
"...Yeah. Well."
Jil cast his eyes down.
Mirene let out a small breath. Then she smiled mischievously.
"Oh my, oh my. Still fighting, are you? You two really aren't honest with yourselves."
"It's not that. It's not a fight... It's my fault."
Jil's voice grew quieter and quieter.
At those words, Mirene's smile faded. Her amber eyes took on a serious light.
"...Jil. Today it doesn't look like you're just here to report a request. Did something happen?"
Jil was silent for a while.
The hand he'd placed on the counter was trembling faintly.
The clamor of the reception hall sounded distant.
"...Mirene. Do you think I should... dissolve my partnership with Fina?"
The words sounded hoarse even to Jil's own ears.
Mirene's eyes widened in surprise.
Then she stopped her hands at the reception desk and looked straight into Jil's eyes.
"...Are you serious?"
"...Because someone like me is paired with her, Fina ends up in danger. Because I act recklessly, it's my fault. If I were stronger... I could have kept Fina from getting hurt like that."
Jil's voice was shaking.
The scene from that day came back to his mind.
The Spiral Labyrinth, tenth floor.
A crab-type humanoid monster with six arms and a total length of four meters—Grandoll.
A carapace that repelled steel swords. A water-pressure cannon that could shatter rock.
To protect Fina, he'd challenged it with reckless dual-wielding and broke his ribs.
And after they retreated, he'd said to Fina:
'You're better off not teaming up with me anymore.'
Those had been the best words he could muster to protect her.
But Fina had cried.
For the first time, she'd shown her emotions, shouted at him not to decide on his own, and ran out of the inn.
Fina's tears from that day remained deeply lodged in Jil's heart.
"If I weren't there... Fina should be able to handle requests more safely. I'm just dragging her down."
Jil said this with his head still lowered.
Mirene listened to his words without saying anything.
Then she quietly said this:
"That's for you to decide. But, Jil—will you listen to one thing I have to say?"
Jil raised his face.
Mirene gently stroked the old scar on her left wrist, resting it on the counter.
"I used to be an adventurer. You know that, right?"
Jil gave a small nod.
"I got this scar on my left arm trying to protect my party members. I could no longer grip a sword, so I retired as an adventurer."
Mirene's voice was quiet.
"Back then, I regretted it. I thought, if only I were stronger, I could have protected my comrades. I blamed myself. I cried every night. I thought that I, who could no longer hold a sword, had no value at all."
Jil held his breath.
It was a past he could never have imagined for the always-cheerful, caring Mirene.
"But you know, I was wrong. Because I could no longer hold a sword, I'm here. I chose to support adventurers as a receptionist. That's not because I gave up on continuing as an adventurer. I chose to support adventurers in a different form."
Mirene looked straight into Jil's eyes.
"The only thing you'll regret is what you didn't choose. Jil. What do you want to do? Do you want to part ways with Fina? Or do you want to stay with her?"
Jil couldn't answer.
He bit his lip, head still lowered.
(What do I want to do?)
(Do I want to part ways with Fina?)
(...No.)
(I don't want to part ways.)
(But someone like me has no right to be by her side.)
Within Jil's heart, two feelings spun round and round.
"...I don't know. I just don't know."
Jil said only that, and left the reception desk.
Mirene silently watched his retreating figure.
——
That night.
A deep darkness had descended on the town of Avel.
In front of the inn "The Silver Spoon."
Moonlight fell white upon the cobblestones.
Jil had finished a late dinner and was returning to the inn.
At that moment, there was a figure standing in front of the inn.
Gold hair tinged with vermilion, bathed in moonlight, shone silver.
Greenish-gray eyes were gazing fixedly at Jil.
It was Fina.
In her hand, she gripped her grandfather's keepsake—an elven composite bow.
Jil stopped in surprise.
"...Fina."
Fina said nothing, just stared at Jil.
Her eyes were moist.
Her lips trembled faintly.
"...Jil."
Fina called Jil's name without any honorific.
It was the first time.
She, who had always called him only "you," had called Jil by his name.
Jil's heart gave a leap.
"I... actually..."
Fina got that far and then choked on her words.
The words caught in the back of her throat.
(I... actually, about you...)
Fina looked away.
She gripped the bow tightly.
So tightly that her fingertips turned white.
(I can't say it.)
(At a time like this, there's no way I can say something like that.)
(I don't want to admit my weak self.)
(But if things stay like this, I'll end up separated from you.)
Fina bit her lip.
Then she raised her face and looked straight at Jil.
"Tomorrow, I'm going down to the tenth floor again. This time, I'll get through it."
Jil held his breath.
"The tenth floor... that's Grandoll's territory. And you're still injured—"
"It's none of your business! I'll earn money my own way. I don't need you to protect me!"
Fina's voice was shaking.
It was bravado.
A clumsy bravado that refused to acknowledge her own weakness.
And the frustration of not being able to convey her feelings for Jil.
The two mixed together into the most desperate words she could muster.
Jil looked at Fina's trembling lips.
(This girl intends to face that monster alone.)
(I have to protect her.)
(I want to protect her.)
For the first time, a strong emotion surged up within Jil's heart.
"...I'm going too."
Fina looked at Jil in surprise.
"...Huh?"
"I'm going to protect you too."
Jil said this, looking straight into Fina's eyes.
It was the first time since they'd formed their partnership that he'd declared, by his own will, that he would protect Fina.
Fina was dumbfounded for a moment.
Then she turned bright red, all the way to the tips of her ears.
"W-what are you saying! There's no way I'd be protected by you! Obviously!"
Fina rattled it off rapidly.
It was her habit—when embarrassed, her endings got stronger.
"...Yeah. Obviously. But I'm going too. I won't let you go alone."
Jil said this quietly.
Fina said nothing more.
She just stood there, head lowered, gripping her bow tightly.
The moonlight stretched their two shadows long across the cobblestones.
A lukewarm summer night wind blew through the space between them.
"...Then, tomorrow, in front of the guild. First thing in the morning."
Fina said only that, and ran into the inn.
Jil silently watched her retreating figure.
(I will protect Fina.)
(But my ribs haven't fully healed yet.)
(Fina's enchantment still has issues with endurance.)
(Even so, I'll go.)
(I won't run anymore.)
Jil stood alone in front of the inn.
His broken ribs still throbbed with pain.
Even so, Jil's heart was strangely calm.
Because for the first time, he had chosen to move forward by his own will.
The moon hid behind a cloud, then showed its face again.
Jil let out a small breath and went into the inn.
——
The room next door.
Fina sat on the bed, hugging her knees.
(I couldn't say it.)
(I really couldn't say it.)
(That I... actually like you.)
Fina placed her hand over her left chest.
Her heart was pounding violently.
(But he said he'd protect me.)
(By his own will.)
(For the first time.)
Fina's lips softened faintly.
(I'm happy.)
(But I can't honestly be glad.)
(Because tomorrow, we'll be facing that monster again.)
Fina looked out the window.
The moon quietly illuminated the town.
(This time, I'll get through it.)
(With my enchantment, I'll support him.)
(I absolutely won't lose.)
Fina clenched her fist tightly.
In her eyes dwelled a strong determination.
But deep within them, an unease that wouldn't fade still remained.
(His ribs.)
(They really haven't healed yet.)
(He might push himself too hard and get hurt again.)
(Even so, I'll go.)
(Together with him.)
Fina closed her eyes.
A long night was about to begin.
Unresolved difficulties lay coldly before the two of them.
Even so, they didn't run.
That was the best step forward the two of them could take right now.
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