The morning sun began to bleach the cobblestones of Mistoria white. On the third floor of Brave Hall, the door to the branch chief's office was flung open with force. "[excited]Branch Chief! Wake up, right now!" Her flaxen, fluffy bob swaying, Misha burst in. Her large green eyes sparkled with anger and resolve. Behind her, Elena followed in silence, her fiery red ponytail swinging. The dragon-slaying scars on her right hand stood out in the morning light. Deep in the room, on a simple cot, the blanket stirred with a rustle. "[sad]What the... so early in the morning..." It was Branch Chief Gald. Fifty-two years old, a former C-rank adventurer—gentle-natured but strict about the rules. The head that rose while rubbing sleepy eyes was a mess, like a bird's nest. Elena stepped forward. "[cold]Look at this." Thud. A thick ledger was slammed onto the branch chief's desk. The leather cover bore the brand of "Helgain Trading Company." It was the transaction ledger Elena had infiltrated the warehouse alone to seize the night before. "[surprised]Wh-what is this? Helgain Trading Company... you say?" Gald's sleepy eyes snapped wide awake in an instant. Misha leaned in aggressively. "[angry]Branch Chief! I've been keeping all of Leon's quest completion records at the guild reception desk. I cross-referenced them with this ledger!" She spread out the parchment in her hands. On it, the item numbers of the quest goods Leon had processed so far and a list of their return destinations were meticulously arranged. "[serious]Look. Eleven magic stones Leon was supposed to have delivered. Five of them are listed in Helgain Trading Company's ledger under 'purchase' with the exact same item numbers. But according to guild records, these were direct deliveries that can't possibly be diverted. Which means—" "[cold]Which means the stolen goods Zack planted in Leon's wallet and the diverted items in the ledger have perfectly matching item numbers. They also match the special engravings on the magic stones shown in the forged footage." Elena stated it flatly, without expression. Gald's face went pale. "[cold]Hold a public trial. In the central square, within the hour." "[surprised]A-a public trial!? That's so sudden—" "[angry]Please, Branch Chief!" Misha bowed her head deeply. Her flaxen hair swayed with a soft rustle. "[crying]Leon absolutely didn't do it. Ever since we were kids, he's never wanted other people's things, even when he was dirt poor. There's no way a guy like that would steal...!" Tears streamed down her freckled cheeks. Elena glanced at her profile, then immediately looked away. "[cold]I'll bring a witness under my name. A former low-level member of Helgain Trading Company. He'll testify to the fact that Zack ordered the trap." "[surprised]Wh-why would you go that far..." At Gald's question, Elena's lips twisted just slightly. "[cold]I don't like seeing someone I've taken a liking to end up falsely accused. That's all." At those words, Misha's shoulders trembled faintly. "...Elena, you feel that strongly about Leon..." Her softly murmured voice carried a complex shade. Wariness toward a romantic rival and gratitude for helping Leon anyway—all jumbled together in a mess. Elena didn't answer. Only her sharp amber eyes flickered for just a moment. Gald let out a sigh and gave a wry smile. "[gentle]...Fine. If you two have gone this far, I can't back down. In one hour, we'll hold a public trial in the central square. In the guild's name." Misha's face lit up instantly. "[excited]Thank you, Branch Chief!!" Elena nodded silently. But the way the corners of her mouth relaxed just a little—Misha alone did not miss it. (This woman really does, about Leon...) Misha bit her lip. The dazzling morning sun poured down onto Brave Hall's central square. Dozens of adventurers and curious townsfolk had gathered on the cobblestones. The buzz of whispered rumors rode the wind and drifted through the air. "Did you hear? That Leon guy—apparently it was a false accusation." "Zack set him up, they say. That guy always had a bad reputation anyway." At the center of the square stood Branch Chief Gald. Beside him, Misha clutched the ledger, and Elena stood with her sword at her hip. And across from them—Zack stood. "[angry]Hmph, I don't know anything. That footage says it all. Leon stole it." Zack crossed his arms, refusing to drop his defiant attitude. But a thin layer of sweat glistened on his forehead. The crowd's murmuring quieted, and Gald raised his hand. "[serious]We will now conduct a retrial regarding the false theft accusation against former D-rank adventurer Leon. Present the evidence." Misha stepped forward. "[serious]First, here is the guild's archived quest completion record. The item numbers of the five magic stones Leon delivered are DG-447, DG-448, DG-449, DG-450, and DG-451. All are direct deliveries, not the kind of goods an adventurer could divert." She held up the record, and next Elena spread open the ledger. "[cold]And this is the transaction ledger of Helgain Trading Company. All five of the same item numbers are listed as 'purchases.' For two gold coins each." "[surprised]The same item numbers...!?" "Does that mean guild goods were being funneled to the black market?!" The crowd began to stir. Zack's face grew paler by the second. "[angry]W-wait! That's forged! That woman fabricated it—" "[cold]There's more." Elena cut him off coldly. When she raised her hand, a single man was pushed forward from the crowd. A gaunt, middle-aged man in tattered clothes. A former low-level member of Helgain Trading Company. "[scared]I-I... was ordered by Zack. 'Plant this magic stone in Leon's wallet,' he said. I was given five gold coins... I was too scared to refuse..." "[angry]Lies!! He's just been paid off to say that!!" Zack shouted and made to stand—in that instant. Shing. Elena silently placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. The blade, peeking just slightly from its sheath, reflected the morning sun in a white gleam. That single sound froze the air around them. The bloodlust of an S-rank adventurer commanded "sit" more eloquently than words ever could. Zack's knees began to tremble violently. He slumped to the ground as if collapsing in on himself. In the corner of the square. Leon watched the scene intently. Still in his tattered clothes, his left eyelid still slightly swollen. Beside him, Tina pressed close, her silver-gray wolf ears lying flat. "...Is it over?" Her slender fingers gently grasped the sleeve of Leon's shirt. "[serious]Yeah. It's over." Leon answered shortly. For the first time, the tension drained from his shoulders. Gald declared solemnly. "[serious]Based on the evidence presented, the theft charges against Leon are hereby recognized as a complete false accusation. His reinstatement to the guild is approved, and his honor is restored. Furthermore, the cancellation of his debt is also formally decided." "Whoooaaaa!!" "Well done!!" Cheers erupted from the crowd. But Gald paused for just a moment, then added quietly. "[gentle]...However, the reissuance fee for the guild card will be five copper coins." "[surprised]Give me a break on that one!!" Leon's involuntary shout sent the square into an uproar of laughter. As the laughter subsided— "[angry]Damn iiiiiit!! If it weren't for him!! I had everything going perfectly!!" Zack screamed and began to thrash. Even as the guild guards restrained him, he glared at Leon with a face twisted in frustration and hatred. Not a shred of remorse. "[serious]B-rank qualification revoked. A forced investigation into Helgain Trading Company will also commence today." At Gald's cold pronouncement, Zack was dragged away, scraping along the ground. The crowd watched him go with cold eyes. (...It's really over, huh.) Leon looked up at the sky. The summer morning light was almost painfully bright. The square, as people began to disperse. Leon still stood there. Tina was beside him too. "[gentle]Elena." When he called out, she slowly turned around. Her fiery red ponytail swayed in the wind. "[serious]Why did you go that far for me? Breaking into a warehouse alone—that was dangerous." Elena was silent for a moment, averting her gaze. "[cold]I don't like seeing someone I've taken a liking to end up falsely accused. That's all." The same words as before. But this time, her voice was just a little quieter. The summer morning light illuminated her profile. Though she played it cool—the tips of her ears were faintly red. "...You're kind of amazing, you know." Leon murmured without thinking. "[cold]Obviously." Elena's brusque reply came with the slightest softening of her lips. Leon narrowed his eyes, gazing at that rare expression. Then— "[excited]Leon!! We proved it!!" Misha came running at full speed. She threw her arms around Leon's with momentum. Her soft, flaxen hair brushed against his shoulder. A gentle warmth and the sweet scent of soap drifted faintly around her. "[surprised]Whoa, Misha!?" "[crying]I'm so glad... really, so glad..." Misha's green eyes glistened with tears. Elena watched from the corner of her eye and muttered quietly. "...In the way." But she didn't move from the spot. That was when it happened. Tug. Something pressed against Leon's back. When he turned—Tina was silently pressing her head against his back. Her silver hair swayed softly. Her small frame fit perfectly against him. "Tina...?" Tina said nothing. But she stared intently at the tableau of Leon and Elena standing side by side with her icy blue eyes. Then, slowly, she pressed her head against his back. A wordless declaration of possessiveness. "[sarcastic]...What a noisy bunch." Lilia, appearing from who-knows-where, floated in the air and muttered in exasperation. But her crimson eyes—were just a little bit soft. Night. The first-floor dining hall of the Silver Moon Inn was more lively than ever before. "[excited]Just for today, everything's on the house!!" Razel, the former adventurer and innkeeper, declared an uncharacteristically generous treat. The aroma of wine poured from the barrel filled the room. "[excited]Leon, you did great!" "To think that bastard Zack was pulling something like that!" Several adventurer friends gathered, slapping Leon on the shoulders. At the edge of the counter, Lilia sat in a semi-corporeal form. Her jet-black long hair swayed as she held a cup of wine in one hand. "[sarcastic]What a noisy bunch." She took a sip and murmured. But her eyes were soft. Just as the victory celebration was heating up. "[excited]Hey, Leon...!" Misha's cheeks, after two cups of wine, had turned as red as apples. She pressed her body firmly against Leon's side. Her soft warmth clung tightly to his arm. "[surprised]M-Misha? Are you drunk?" "[whispers]I... I could never say it before, but..." Misha looked up at Leon with tearful green eyes. "[whispers]I've always, always liked you." Her slender arms wrapped around Leon's neck. Her sweet breath brushed against his cheek. His heart pounded loudly enough to be annoying. "[surprised]Huh, w-wait, your face is way too clos—" The moment Leon froze— "[cold]I had my eye on him first. There's an order to these things." From the side, Elena pulled Misha's shoulder. With a perfectly straight face. But her ears were faintly red. "[angry]First in what!?" Misha stood up, fueled by drunken momentum. "[cold]In order of discovering talent." "[angry]That makes no sense!!" A nonsensical argument began. In that opening—slip. Tina slipped between the two of them and perched lightly on Leon's lap. Her small frame fit perfectly against his chest. Her silver hair tickled the nape of his neck. "Wha—Tina too!?" Tina closed her eyes in silence. But the heartbeat audible through her back was just a little fast. At the edge of the counter, Lilia set down her cup. "[sarcastic]This