Gripping their weapons tightly, one of them—presumably the leader, who clutched a badly damaged spear—demanded, "Who are you people?!"
The twins stared at each other for a moment. Having spent so much time together, they shared an almost psychic connection, instantly understanding one another's intentions through a single glance.
Lumine gently raised her hands in a gesture of surrender and said, "We meant no harm."
Aether nodded. "We're not here to cause any trouble. In fact, we're here to help!"
Their gentle approach eased the tension somewhat, though the survivors still did not fully trust them.
Then Lumine retrieved a large assortment of food from her spatial storage. The savory aroma of freshly prepared dishes wafted through the air on the breeze, causing everyone to unconsciously swallow their saliva. After all, it had been weeks—perhaps even a month—since they had eaten a proper meal that wasn't bread.
If it had been soft bread, it might have been tolerable, but what they had been forced to survive on was hardtack: bland, dry, and tough. Yet it was the only practical choice, as it filled the stomach and took a long time to spoil.
Now, before them lay a wide selection of hearty dishes far superior to bread. After nearly a month of hardtack, their tongues desperately craved new stimulation.
"To show our sincerity, here's a feast for all of you," Lumine spoke gently. "It might not be much, but it should fill your stomachs."
The leader hesitated for a brief moment before the enticing aroma overwhelmed him. He stepped forward, grabbed a plate piled with food, and sank his teeth into a beef steak, using his hand in place of a fork. The moment the meat entered his mouth, a tear slid down his cheek.
It was delicious—the most flavorful beef steak he had ever tasted in his life, even though it was simply a well-prepared steak. He never imagined he would enjoy something like this again.
No words were needed. His reaction told the rest of the survivors everything they needed to know. It wasn't a trap, and even if it were, they would gladly accept it. Anything was a hundred times better than their current situation.
Without further reservation, the survivors rushed forward to take their fill, those with children grabbing extra portions. The gloomy atmosphere that had hung over them slowly dissolved as they ate. Many wept openly, overwhelmed by the taste of real food.
Lumine couldn't help but smile softly at the heartwarming scene. "This is why I love helping people. Seeing them smile like this fills my heart with joy."
"I suppose it is nice," Aether agreed with his sister.
They allowed the survivors to enjoy their meal undisturbed. It would have been rude to interrupt their first proper meal in nearly a month.
---
When they finally finished eating, their stomachs were full for the first time since the disaster struck. It truly felt like a blessing. The leader of the group finally lowered his guard. Compared to his initial hostility, he now regarded the twins with genuine goodwill and deep gratitude. After all, they had become benefactors to him and his people.
"Thank you, travelers, for your generosity," the leader said.
Hearing that familiar title, Aether couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Traveler… huh. It seems that even in a parallel world, this title still clings to me."
Lumine raised an eyebrow at that remark, curious about what her brother meant, but she decided to shelve the question for later. It wasn't important at the moment.
She hadn't forgotten her true purpose here: to find and save her brother. "Then I won't be polite."
She removed her cloak, revealing her silky smooth blonde hair and strikingly beautiful face. The leader of the survivors was momentarily stunned by his benefactor's appearance.
He had initially assumed she would be plain-looking, given how both twins had hidden their faces beneath tattered clothes. Reality, however, was vastly different. Not only did she resemble a goddess, but she also looked untouched by the hardships the world had endured. Her face and body were clean and pristine—she seemed entirely out of place in this ruined landscape.
It was as if she had come from another world entirely.
Which was perfectly accurate. Had the man voiced his thoughts, Lumine and Aether would have readily agreed—Lumine truly had come from another world.
"You…" He stuttered slightly. Though his resistance to beauty was generally high—he was a married man with a child—her face was breathtaking. Had he been a decade younger, he might have acted like a fool, but the heavy burdens of leadership and survival kept him composed.
"Yes…?" Lumine tilted her head slightly, unaware of the effect her appearance had on him.
"Cough. Nothing. Ask anything, miss… Oh, right—may I know your names? And the kind sir behind you as well."
"Lumine."
"Aether."
The man nodded. "Gerald. That's my name."
Lumine nodded in return. "Gerald, I want to know if you've seen someone who looks like me, but male. I'm searching for my brother. If you have any information about him, I'd be grateful to hear it."
Gerald paused, studying Lumine's face in silence as he searched his memory. He frowned, recalling a distant silhouette, but quickly shook his head. That person couldn't possibly be Miss Lumine's brother.
After all, that devil was the one who had started this nightmare. Though he had only seen him once, the man's face was seared into his mind. He had sworn that if the chance ever came, he would exact revenge against that demon.
If not for him, his life would never have become this miserable. The only reason Gerald continued to endure was because his family was still alive. Otherwise, he would have given up long ago.
With a look of sincere regret at being unable to help his benefactor, he answered, "I apologize, but I don't recall meeting anyone who resembles you…"
Lumine felt a pang of disappointment, though she had expected as much on their first attempt. Still, she would not stop until she found her twin.
"Sigh. Regardless, thank you for telling me," Lumine said with a bitter smile.
Gerald felt a wave of guilt. Then an idea occurred to him. "I can't just do nothing for you, Miss Lumine! If you draw us a portrait of the person you're looking for, perhaps the next time you return, we'll have information about him."
Hearing the suggestion, Lumine perked up. 'That's right! If I spread his portrait across the world, it would be much easier to find him!'
She didn't have a portrait on hand, but she had the perfect substitute.
"That's a great idea! But I have something even better than a portrait of my brother. Aether, show them your face so they can draw a portrait of you. You look exactly like him!" Lumine said.
Aether, however, felt a strong sense of unease. He sensed that showing his face was a bad idea—his instincts warned that something terrible would happen if he did.
Gerald and the nearby survivors looked at him with keen interest.
Before he could finish protesting, "Lumine, I don't think—"
It was too late. His sister pulled the cloak from his head, revealing his face to everyone.
At first, they were stunned. Then Gerald's expression twisted into pure rage, his eyes bloodshot as he screamed, "Prince of the Abyss!"
Lumine's eyes widened in horror as she realized she had made a catastrophic mistake.
"You monster! Today you'll die by my hands!" Without hesitation, Gerald lunged at Aether.
And so it was that the two twins, who had only tried to help, found themselves hunted by the very group of survivors they had aided. In their eyes, the twins had become devils.
—
A/N: I changed my mind. I don't want to bother writing more about this particular arc. I'll write some details about what happens here and there. I want to focus more on the shop.