Turning my eyes to the window, the sun had set long ago. To think I’d be tied up to this extent. Whether she was in front of my eyes or not, she was truly a woman who concerned me.

“Hah……”

Another dry sigh passed. At that moment, through the tranquil darkness, light footsteps were heard.

The footsteps gradually approached and stopped in front of my door. Soon, the one who entered after knocking on the wooden board was, as expected, Lily.

I can’t transmit depression to the child. Ian made an effort to remove his gloomy appearance to welcome her.

Seeing him like that, Lily beat her tiny chest with her small hand.

“Ahem, I knew you’d be like this since I heard from Uncle Sakin! But don’t worry! Because I’m here!”

“Where did you get those clothes, Lily? And those glasses look like Captain Gelda’s. Didn’t you get scolded?”

“Stop right there! I’m not Lily! I’m Rollin, the all-purpose problem solver who delivers anything!”

Lily, who pulled her arm out from between the cape folds, greeted while holding the edge of her bare fedora. It was a dazzling motion, like a circus show presenter.

She continued her movements fluidly while explaining what she was doing. Ian rested his fist on his temple and waited for Lily’s self-introduction to end before asking.

“So what do you have to deliver to me now, Miss Problem Solver?”

His lips had relaxed considerably. Facing him, Lily fiddled with the amber cloth pouch hanging at her waist. The bumpy texture of coins could be clearly felt.

It was what Helena had put in just a moment ago. Lily recalled in her mind the apology Helena had paid for and the words she had added at the end.

‘Oh, and also tell him that a grown man shouldn’t sulk over such a thing.’

How many more words would be needed to fill this pouch completely?

The conscience in a corner of her heart screamed, but Lily eventually added her own manipulation to the original lines.

“It’s a message from Miss Helena who lives in Section 1.”

“What did she say?”

Cutting off the first part and polishing the latter part.

Lily pretended to be sulky and crossed her arms. With that pose, she lowered her eyes and opened her mouth.

“She said to tell you: ‘Are you sulking over just that, you grown man? Truly the height of pettiness.'”

Ian’s circuits momentarily disconnected at the unexpected response. He tried to understand the sharp words that had pierced his ears, then ended up chuckling.

Lily wrinkled her nose while placing the constantly slipping glasses on top of her head.

“Why are you laughing? Wasn’t that a bad thing to say?”

“Just… I feel like I’ve become much more comfortable.”

“You’re a strange client, sir.”

“So, won’t you accept my request?”

“Five dillings, client.”

Lily quickly opened the cloth pouch.

Ian pulled out a large glass jar from the shelf on the desk. The jar labeled ‘Fig Jam’ was filled with coins.

Ian took out the largest one and handed it over with his words.

“Tell her to show some mercy considering the time we’ve spent together, even if I’m a bit petty.”

And from the crate that Sakin had left to keep for a while, he took out an apple. When he put it in the overturned fedora, Lily held out her tiny palm.

“Is this included too? Heavy items come with an additional charge.”

“I thought the first request was usually free as a service.”

“We don’t have that here.”

Lily shook her head firmly. With no choice, Ian took out three more coins from the glass jar.

“You little rascal.”

“I have to make a living too.”

The cute freckles on her nose wrinkled.

[This is the timeline separator]

I was in the middle of gathering well-dried laundry.

“Petty? She said, ‘What merciless witch, forgetting all the time we’ve spent together! Clean your mouth!'”

Lily’s voice, after clearing her throat for quite a while, was very low and pressed as if trying to imitate him.

And Helena would respond to such a voice while eating, training, or grooming her horse.

Of course, the same reply that came back was far from kind. But the accompanying items were saying something else, so Helena couldn’t help but smile.

A book on sword energy manipulation, which was hard to get due to the scarcity of manifested users, a fresh daisy bouquet with morning dew barely dried, a slice of cake from a famous dessert shop that required standing in line for a full hour.

As the reconciliation deliberation period between the two lengthened, Lily’s pocket grew heavier.

On the third day, Gelda also learned about Lily’s small business. She clicked her tongue every time she saw the exchange scene.

“Teaching the kid such good things.”

Of course, when Lily asked if she had forgotten who started the service because of whom, and began to introduce the story of Plam and Gelda’s past, Gelda immediately shut her mouth.

And the mouth of the mischievous little one was also promptly stopped. Along with coins that made her pocket even heavier.

After that, Gelda didn’t particularly interfere. Of course, even if she had, it would have been difficult for Helena to stop.

For her too, pondering what gift to give Ian had become a daily routine. It wasn’t a bad time. In fact, it was quite enjoyable.

Being able to care for someone without cutting oneself off was really a pleasant thing.

‘Unlike the sword that I can’t even get a grip on.’

It was the biggest problem giving Helena a headache lately. Despite practicing consistently since that day, her aura didn’t manifest again.

Today too, she swung her sword until her fingertips were calloused, but the feeling from that time didn’t return.

Helena glared at the motionless blade, standing like a stone statue. Then finally giving up, she left the training ground.

As soon as she loosened her hair that had been tied up for training, Lily scampered over.

“How was it today?”

“…Couldn’t do it.”

“Aw, don’t worry too much. Captain Gelda said that manifesting aura is like making a path in the forest. Even if it takes some time to tidy up, once the path is made, it won’t be overgrown again.”

“I hope that’s true.”

It had been a long time since she abandoned the practice of making absolute assertions, but this time she sincerely hoped it would be so.

Helena rubbed her skinned knuckles while gathering her thoughts. Then Lily, who had been hopping along beside her, suddenly burst into laughter.

She was somewhat sensitive due to the sword not working as she wished. Helena asked with a slight hint of complaint.

“What’s so funny?”

“No, it’s just that your face has become really diverse, sister.”

“…Me?”

Helena reflexively brought her hand to her face. The fumbling touch, as if something terrible had happened, came down after confirming that the muscles were moving normally.

⌜Do you have any other face besides that one? It’s sickening.⌟

‘Maybe it wasn’t that I was sickening… but that you made me that way.’

Yes, nothing was absolute.

Just as he seemed to welcome the self that Eugene had found tiresome.

When they were almost at the dormitory, Lily stopped for a moment. What came out of her hand that had been fidgeting in her pocket was a small note.

“This is from the gentleman in Section 2!”

Lily, who had returned to her all-purpose problem solver – Rollin persona, gave a thumbs up and disappeared.

Helena unfolded the neatly folded note while continuing her steps.

[{If you try to control the sword with anger, you might be able to use its power temporarily, but someday you’ll be devoured. Don’t try to dominate the sword, make it respond.}]

The handwriting, slightly tilted but perfectly aligned in a row, was elegant. She thought this too was very like that man.

Helena read the note over and over on her way back to the dormitory. She chewed and chewed on it as if enjoying a delicious meal. Upon arrival, she folded it carefully and put it in a box on the desk.

It was the dessert box that Ian had sent before. There was also a daisy bouquet inside. Although it had long since dried and shriveled, she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away.

Even knowing that she had already given her affection from the moment she started keeping it.

[This is the timeline separator]

No matter how much the guild considered evening rum barrel drumming a virtue, the holiday atmosphere was no different from an ordinary village.

After a gentle afternoon of dozing off under cool tree shade passed, night came where beer glasses were tilted using the twinkling starlight through wide-open windows as a side dish.

Ian looked around at that peaceful atmosphere while leaning his back against the door, then entered his room. And then he locked the door firmly. Sakin, who had arrived earlier, also drew the curtains to cover the windows.

On the table in the sealed room where neither moon nor stars could peek in, several communication devices were prepared.

Ian sat down, crossed his arms, and looked at the clock.

Tick, tick, tick. When the second hand moving one space at a time finally reached the hour, lights began to come on in the communication devices one by one.

Sakin, standing in a proper posture behind Ian, received the transmissions and displayed all the screens. Two men in neat uniforms despite the late hour and Heidi appeared in order.

However, one communication device showed no response. The three people didn’t mind and gave Ian a courteous greeting. After a brief salute, they shared their recent achievements.

The conversation continued for a while and then briefly pulled on the reins at the point of determining future direction.

“…So, the Central Army plans to resume the search along the Nahil and Euphrates rivers. Has the Southern Army not detected any circumstances yet?”

“It seems we should go up and join the Central Army. Unlike Rihart, they don’t need to spare themselves, so it appears they’ve made the inland their base.”

Ian intervened between the two.

“No. Come up to the North.”

“…?”

It was an order not easily understood. The faces of the two captains became puzzled. The captain who had been dispatched to Instantia from summer and scouted the south asked.

“…The North, you say?”

“Yes. I think you can start from Pirencia, a little below Evergale.”

Ian raised his eyes again after briefly checking the map. The Southern Army captain facing him hesitated a little before speaking up.

“If I may be so bold, to go from the North to Rihart, one must cross the Drake Strait. Even the most skilled navigator-”

“Would struggle to withstand the ever-changing currents and flow rates. Even using the seasonal currents, it would be insufficient to move those resources.”

“Then why are you so certain?”

Ian’s gaze moved to Heidi.

“So that’s why they staked their lives on it.”

Instead of being flustered, Heidi exhaled through her nose, dropping her shoulders in agreement. Ian folded the large map to show only the ocean including the Drake Strait and the two continents, and said,

“There was a reason why no traces remained in your barrier. We didn’t expect them to cross that deadly strait with bare hands, without even a spell, to procure supplies.”

Ian, who put down the map folded to the size of a book cover with a thud, burst into laughter.

“We’ve been caught off guard here.”

Then Heidi flicked her finger with a face that said ‘look here’, drawing Ian’s attention in protest.

“We don’t even think of such cruel methods. What’s so great about sacrificing everything as if it’s not their own life?”

“That guy would consider it more than enough.”

“…True.”

Heidi then muttered curses under her breath. The two captains pretended to ignore it with awkward coughs. Ian nodded his chin to signal the end of the meeting.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

“Then we’ll proceed up along the coastline. May you be safe, Your Majesty.”

“The Central Army will return to the imperial palace as soon as we find the wildcats’ nest. May both of you be well.”

The screens disappeared simultaneously. Heidi was still among them. Ian leaned back in his chair and casually opened the conversation.

“I heard there was an assassination attempt by poison. You’re quite alive for someone who went through that.”