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In the morning that was beginning to turn to noon, the living room of Twilight Manor was filled with the warm light streaming in through the large windows. However, this peaceful atmosphere contrasted with one peculiar sight—a red-haired young man had his face buried in a sofa cushion, his body slouched as if utterly drained of energy.
Shirou didn't move.
Only the sound of his long breaths could be heard occasionally, muffled by the cushion's fabric.
Ever since he had understood one crucial thing—that sentient monsters likely had faces more human than anyone would admit—his life had turned into a series of searches with no clear direction. He no longer just asked questions in the Dungeon; he began gathering information from any source within reach.
He eavesdropped on adventurers' conversations at the Hostess of Fertility, pretending to be busy with work while absorbing every rumor he heard. He visited the library, poring over old books filled with records of the Dungeon. He even slipped into darker information networks, seeking news from the underground markets that ordinary people rarely touched.
But the results were—
Nothing.
Not a single record.
Not a single credible rumor.
No adventurer had ever spoken of monsters that could talk, let alone ones with human-like faces. It was as if their existence had never been acknowledged by the world at all.
Shirou groaned quietly. His face was still buried in the cushion.
"This is... a real dead end..."
He turned his head slightly, staring blankly at the floor from the corner of the sofa. All that effort felt wasted, like chasing a shadow that left no trace behind.
Yet the more he found nothing—
The stronger his conviction grew that something was indeed being hidden.
Shirou finally sat up slowly, leaning his back against the sofa. He rubbed his face, trying to reorganize his increasingly jumbled thoughts.
"If there are no answers up here..." he murmured.
His eyes sharpened.
"...then the only way to find them is to dive straight down."
The Dungeon.
The only place where he could truly search for himself, without relying on others' stories.
Shirou let out a long sigh, then stood up from the sofa.
The choice felt clear now.
He had to go back there.
Shirou had just taken a step away from the sofa when his movement stopped. Something felt off, like a small piece missing from the arrangement of his thoughts.
He frowned, trying to remember.
What had he overlooked?
At the same moment, unbeknownst to him, the living room window was slightly ajar. A small figure with a compact build and nimble movements slipped out carefully—his steps nearly silent, like a shadow gliding through the morning light.
But Shirou's attention was entirely captured by his own thoughts.
Then—
a name surfaced.
"...Isama."
His eyes immediately sharpened.
All the memory fragments returned in an instant—the hidden room, the chains, the harpy's suspended body, and the signs of cruelty left behind. All this time, his focus on sentient monsters had made him... forget the main perpetrator behind it all.
Shirou's jaw tightened.
His fists clenched unconsciously.
"Bastard..."
His voice was low, restrained, yet brimming with emotion he could hardly hide.
If earlier he had been angry from witnessing suffering, now that feeling had transformed. He knew now that the girl wasn't just a monster. She had consciousness. Feelings. Dignity.
That meant—
What Isama had done wasn't merely violence against a monster.
It was... the torture of a girl.
Shirou's blood felt like it was boiling.
For a moment, various possibilities flashed through his mind—finding Isama, dragging him out, judging him in his own way.
But he took a deep breath.
"Calm down..."
He closed his eyes for a moment, forcing his emotions down. Anger wouldn't help if it weren't directed properly.
The first thing he had to do—
Tell Ryuu. Preferably tomorrow, before she starts work at the Hostess of Fertility.
He opened his eyes again; his expression was now far more composed.
"She needs to know," he murmured. "If there are any members of Rudra Familia who got away..."
He could already imagine Ryuu's reaction. It wouldn't be much different from his—cold anger, resolute, and merciless. Only, Ryuu's reasons would probably be simpler.
Revenge.
Justice.
Shirou lifted his head slightly.
"And..." he continued in his thoughts, "...maybe I can get other answers."
If Isama was still alive, then he wasn't just a target.
He was also a source of information.
About the harpy girl.
About sentient monsters.
About what was really happening behind the scenes in the Dungeon.
A faint smile appeared on Shirou's face.
However, it wasn't a warm smile.
"...this time, I won't let you get away."
Shirou stood for a moment in the living room, gazing toward the window that was slightly ajar. His mind was made up—the Dungeon could wait.
Isama couldn't.
"Find him first..." he murmured. "Then explore the dungeon."
He was just about to leave when the sound of quick footsteps came from the corridor. Tap! Tap! Tap! A dark-haired Amazoness girl appeared, her breath slightly ragged, her eyes immediately locking onto Shirou.
"Oi, Shirou!" she called without preamble. "Have you seen my beloved Captain Finn?"
Shirou blinked a few times, slightly startled by the sudden appearance. "I haven't seen him."
Tione narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced right away. She glanced left and right, then returned her gaze to Shirou with a suspicious expression.
"Weird..." she muttered. "I thought he came this way. Lately, the captain's been avoiding me..."
Her stare returned to Shirou, sharper this time.
Shirou instinctively straightened up, a little nervous under such scrutiny. "Seriously, I haven't seen him."
A few seconds of silence.
Then Tione sighed quietly. Her shoulders dropped slightly. "Fine... I trust you."
But that didn't stop her hunt.
She immediately turned around, pointing in another direction. "Then he must have gone that way!"
And without waiting any longer, she ran off again down the corridor.
Tap tap tap!
Shirou could only let out a small sigh watching her go.
At that same moment, from the opposite direction, Loki appeared, clutching a piece of parchment. Her face looked as relaxed as usual, though her eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing Tione almost bump into her.
"Oi, Tione," Loki called. "There's a new quest for you—"
"Not important!"
The answer came quickly, without even stopping.
"Chasing love is far more important!"
And just like that, Tione vanished out of the Manor, leaving fading footsteps behind.
Loki stood still in her spot, still holding the parchment.
"...hah?"
Her expression was blank for a few seconds.
Shirou, beside her, could only stifle a small chuckle, while Loki finally let out a long sigh, her shoulders dropping in resignation.
"That girl..." the goddess muttered.
Shirou shrugged lightly, trying to console Loki, who still looked annoyed at being left like that.
"Well then... let me take the quest instead," he said casually.
Loki immediately turned, looking him up and down with an expression that was... decidedly unfriendly.
"eww."
That single word came out, full of judgment.
"This is a quest for pure-hearted girls, you know," she continued, looking away, clearly not considering Shirou a suitable candidate.
Shirou blinked, clearly not understanding the direction of the conversation.
"...What do you mean?" he asked innocently.
What kind of quest required a "pure heart" as a condition?
Loki waved her hand dismissively, as if she couldn't be bothered to explain at length.
"Never mind, never mind. Just call the girls who are free," she said casually, then sat down on a chair, resting her chin on her hand, apparently enjoying the situation.
Shirou let out a small sigh but obeyed nonetheless. He walked out briefly, looking for members who weren't busy.
It didn't take long.
He returned with three people.
Lefiya walked somewhat hurriedly. Her eyes were curious. Aiz came with her usual quiet steps, while Tiona bounced lightly behind them, full of energy.
"We were called?" Lefiya asked.
Shirou nodded. "Apparently, there's a quest."
The three girls immediately turned to Loki.
"What quest?" Shirou asked again, now genuinely curious.
Lefiya also tilted her head. Aiz remained silent, waiting for an explanation, while Tiona already looked excited despite not knowing anything.
Loki grinned widely.
She leaned back casually; her eyes sparkled with mischievous intent.
"Fufufu..."
The Goddess seemed to be enjoying this moment.
Loki finally opened the parchment in her hand and began reading it aloud in a half-lazy voice, but clearly audible to everyone.
"The quest is simple," she said. "Obtain a unicorn horn. Lately, there's a rumor: a unicorn has been sighted in the western mountains."
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
Aiz was the first to respond.
"If that's the case... we just slash it down," she stated flatly, as if it were the most natural solution.
Shirou almost nodded reflexively—that was the most common way to deal with monsters. However, before he could say anything, Lefiya immediately panicked.
"Eh?! You can't!" she exclaimed, nearly jumping. "That's cruel! It's a unicorn, not an ordinary monster!"
Tiona also nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah! Just killing it like that? That's so mean!"
Shirou glanced at them one by one, clearly confused.
"...But isn't it also a monster?" he murmured.
The perception of unicorns was indeed different from that of ordinary dungeon monsters. Although technically they still counted as dangerous creatures, unicorns were known as rare beings with a more "pure" nature. In many stories, they were considered a kind of divine beast—sacred creatures that didn't just appear before anyone.
Their horns themselves were famously very valuable.
Not only as rare materials, but also as medicinal ingredients with extraordinary healing properties. Many nobles were even willing to pay a fortune for just a small fragment.
However—
Killing a unicorn wasn't considered a good thing.
Even among adventurers.
Loki cleared her throat, drawing attention back.
"Ahem. So... the conditions are clear," she said, folding the parchment. "You must not harm the unicorn. If possible, the horn must be obtained peacefully."
This time, Shirou really frowned.
"...How do we do that?"
The question slipped out without him realizing.
In his mind, he immediately recalled the past few days—how every attempt he made to talk to monsters always ended in a fight.
No way, right...
Was he supposed to have a chat with the unicorn, too?
That thought made him doubt a little... and, for some reason, feel a little traumatized.
Fortunately, before his confusion could linger too long, Loki immediately raised her hand and began explaining in a casual tone, as if this topic were old news to her.
"There's an old legend," she said, leaning back. "They say that after coming to the surface, a group of unicorns once played with a spirit girl in the forest. They became very close... even bonded."
The three girls in front began to pay serious attention, while Shirou listened along, though still a bit lost on the direction of the conversation.
"Since then," Loki continued, "unicorns have become interested in something 'pure' and 'holy'. In mortal terms..." she paused briefly, smirking, "...that means virgins."
Lefiya immediately choked on her own breath.
"V-virgin?!" Her face turned bright red in an instant.
Aiz remained standing calmly, her expression unchanged, as if it were just ordinary information. Meanwhile, Tiona looked even more intrigued.
"Seriously? So they only get close to virgin girls?" Tiona asked, her eyes sparkling.
Loki shrugged. "Legend or not, based on existing records, their behavior is indeed like that. They can become tame... even fall asleep... if they feel safe with that 'pure' thing."
Shirou nodded slowly, finally starting to understand.
"...So that's what you meant by 'pure-hearted'," he murmured.
Loki then pointed directly at the three girls before her.
"That's why, to take its horn without harming it, we need..." she raised her fingers one by one, "...virgin girls."
Lefiya turned even redder, almost covering her face. "W-why do you have to explain it like that...!"
Tiona just laughed softly, while Aiz remained silent, receiving the information without any significant reaction.
On the other side, Shirou seemed to think for a moment. His interest wasn't in that odd detail, but rather in the process.
Taming.
Interacting.
Without violence.
He raised his hand.
"I want to come."
All eyes immediately turned to him.
Loki looked at him with undisguised disgust.
"Ugh. What's a playboy like you coming for?" she said bluntly. "You'll just scare the unicorn away."
Shirou was silent for a moment.
"...I just want to watch from a distance," he said finally. His voice was lower than usual. "I won't interfere."
Loki narrowed her eyes, still clearly disliking the idea.
"Nope."
The refusal was quick and firm.
However, Shirou didn't give up.
"Please, my Goddess."
The words came out simply.
His tone... was different.
Not his usual confident tone, nor his casual one—it was truly pleading.
For the first time, the mischievous goddess heard that tone from Shirou.
Loki blinked.
She stared at Shirou for a few seconds longer than usual, her expression changing slightly.
"...Hmm."
She sighed.
"Fine," she said finally. "But from a distance. Don't interfere."
Shirou nodded quickly.
"Thank you."
And for some reason, Loki actually looked a little uncomfortable after that. Then the goddess waved her hand, as if already bored with the conversation.
"Alright, go on," she said casually. "If you succeed, give the horn to Airmid. She'll make the antidote potions according to our share."
The parchment was folded again. Business concluded.
Shirou, Aiz, Lefiya, and Tiona exchanged glances briefly before finally moving. They walked out of Twilight Manor together, their footsteps echoing softly in the hallway.
Tiona waved cheerfully toward Loki. "We're off~!"
Loki only raised a lazy hand in response.
The journey continued outside the city of Orario. The bustling streets gradually gave way to quieter paths towards the gate, then towards the western mountains, their destination.
Along the way, Lefiya glanced at Shirou. Her curiosity couldn't be contained any longer.
"By the way..." she said quietly, "...why do you seem so interested in the unicorn?"
Shirou was silent for a moment, as if considering the right answer.
"...I'm just curious," he said finally. "About monsters that... can be close to humans."
His tone was calm, but there was something hidden beneath it.
Briefly—
The face of the peacock-patterned harpy crossed his mind.
Tiona immediately chimed in, walking beside them with light steps.
"For me, unicorns are cool!" she said enthusiastically. "Just imagine, a white horse, a shining horn, running across a vast field... wow!"
Lefiya seemed to think for a moment, then her eyes suddenly sparkled.
"Ah! I've read something about unicorns!" she said excitedly. "In a famous fictional novel! About a prince who rides a unicorn!"
Tiona immediately perked up. "Seriously?"
"Yeah! It's about a High Elf prince and a poor Elf girl," Lefiya continued, growing more enthusiastic. "They met in a forest, and the prince arrived on a unicorn—"
Aiz, who had been quiet all this time, finally interjected, her expression starting to show confusion.
"Wait."
Lefiya stopped.
"But aren't unicorns only tame around virgin girls?" Aiz asked innocently. "Why can a prince ride one?"
Lefiya fell silent.
Tiona also blinked.
Shirou suppressed a small curve of a smile.
"That's why it's fiction," he said casually.
A moment of silence—
Then Tiona burst out laughing.
"HAHA! True!"
***
Their journey felt light, filled with casual chatter and occasional laughter breaking out between steps. Unknowingly, time passed quickly.
The sun, which had been warm in the morning, was now rising higher. Its light grew brighter, illuminating the path they traveled.
Not long after, they arrived at the foot of the western mountains.
Stretches of rock and steep slopes spread before them, with narrow winding paths leading to the summit. The mountain wind blew cooler, carrying the scent of earth and wild grass.
Tiona let out a long sigh, looking at the vast area before them.
"Searching for a unicorn in a place this big..." she said, scratching her short black hair. "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Lefiya, walking beside her, seemed thoughtful. Her sapphire eyes swept across the surrounding area.
"Well then..." she said quietly, "...how about we go to the highest point first?"
Everyone turned to her.
"From there, we can see a wider area," Lefiya continued. "If there's any movement or tracks, it might be easier to spot."
Aiz nodded without hesitation. "Makes sense."
Tiona immediately grinned widely. "Agreed! Let's head to the peak!"
Shirou just nodded slightly, following the decision without comment.
So they began to climb.
The path they chose wasn't the easiest—slippery rocks, steep inclines, and occasionally needing to use their hands to climb. But for those already accustomed to fighting in the Dungeon, obstacles like these weren't a big deal.
Step by step, they continued upward.
And in the middle of that journey, Shirou unconsciously observed his surroundings.
This path...
Felt familiar.
He had passed through this place before—with Ryuu, when they were investigating the trail towards the Rudra Familia's secret hideout. Every turn, every conspicuous boulder, he vaguely remembered.
However, he said nothing.
He kept that to himself.
Because their goal today... was different.
Finally, they reached the summit.
The wind blew stronger at that altitude, carrying faint sounds from the valley below. From there, the view opened wide—mountain slopes, distant forests, and rocky paths that looked like thin lines.
Even from up high, everything still looked vague.
"Hmm..." Tiona leaned forward, trying to sharpen her view. "Still hard to see."
Lefiya bit her lip, looking down slightly. "Sorry... maybe my suggestion wasn't helpful."
She sighed quietly, then added, "Should we just spread out instead?"
Shirou, standing behind them, suddenly raised his hand.
"There's another way."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"Trace... on."
A faint blue light appeared, and in an instant, two pairs of small objects formed in his hands—cylinders with lenses at both ends.
The three girls immediately gathered closer, curious.
Shirou handed one to each.
"Try these."
Tiona immediately took hers, her face lighting up. "Wow! What are these? So cool!"
Lefiya held hers carefully, turning it over briefly. "This... what kind of tool is this, Shirou?"
"Binoculars," he answered succinctly. "For seeing distant objects."
Aiz, without much talk, immediately raised her binoculars.
However—
She pointed them the wrong way.
She aimed them at Shirou.
"Hm..." she said quietly. "Your face got really small."
Shirou paused for a second.
Then chuckled softly.
"That's because they're backwards."
He stepped closer, then casually reversed the binoculars in Aiz's hands.
"Try now."
Aiz raised them again.
A few seconds of silence.
"...Oh."
This time, her reaction was different, though her expression shifted slightly.
"Closer."
Beside her, Lefiya also started trying. Her eyes immediately widened as she saw the distance clearly.
"Wow...! This is amazing!" she said in awe.
Tiona followed suit, though initially a bit clumsy.
"How do you—oh!" she suddenly exclaimed. "I can see! I can see really far!"
The wind blew again at the summit.
But this time—
Their vision was no longer limited.
After understanding how to use the binoculars, the four of them immediately took positions on different sides of the summit. Each faced a different direction, using the elevation to scan as wide an area as possible.
Initially, things went smoothly.
But it didn't take long for their focus to start wavering.
"Hey... look at this!" Tiona called from a distance. "There's a huge bird's nest over there!"
"Where?" Lefiya immediately turned her binoculars, too curious. "Oh! Yeah! Wow, the details are so clear..."
A few seconds later—
"E-eh?!" Lefiya suddenly yelped and immediately lowered her binoculars. Her face flushed in an instant.
"What's wrong?" Tiona asked casually.
"I-I accidentally saw someone... opening his pants... uh..." Lefiya covered her face, half-panicked.
Tiona just laughed. "Hah? Seriously? Let me see!"
"Don't look!" Lefiya panicked again.
On the other side, Aiz remained silent, but her eyes were following something seriously. "There's a tree... shaped weirdly."
Shirou could only let out a long sigh, watching the three of them from a distance.
"Focus, guys..." he murmured.
Unlike them, Shirou maintained his concentration. The binoculars in his hand moved slowly, carefully scanning the area one by one—cliffs, slopes, rock crevices that might serve as hiding spots.
The wind blew gently.
Sunlight reflected off the rock surfaces.
And then—
He saw something.
A glimmer.
Faint, but distinctly different from ordinary reflections.
Shirou focused his vision.
The sun hit something long and curved—
a horn.
"...Found it."
His voice was quiet, but firm.
He immediately turned to the others.
"Over here," he called.
Tiona, Lefiya, and Aiz quickly approached, still holding their own binoculars. Shirou pointed in one direction, towards another mountain cliff, somewhat far from their position.
"Over there."
The three of them immediately raised their binoculars.
A few seconds of silence.
Then—
"There..." Aiz murmured.
In the distance, near a cliff partially covered in shadow, a white creature stood. Its body was graceful, its fur glistened softly, and its horn reflected sunlight like a jewel.
A unicorn.
The creature looked wary, half-hidden behind a rock, but clearly visible to them now.
They had finally found it.
They immediately moved down from the summit, following the rocky path carefully to avoid making suspicious noises. Their steps slowed as the distance to the cliff where the unicorn stood grew shorter. From behind bushes and large boulders, the silhouette of the white creature could be seen occasionally—calm, yet clearly alert.
When they were close enough to see it even as a small dot, the four adventurers instinctively lowered their positions.
They began to creep forward.
Shirou stopped behind a sufficiently large tree trunk, holding his steps. He glanced at the three girls ahead, then shook his head slightly.
"I'll stay here," he said quietly. "If I get too close, it might run away."
He raised his binoculars slightly to emphasize. "I'll observe from afar."
Lefiya looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Okay... that makes sense."
She then thought quickly, her eyes sparkling as an idea came to mind.
"Well then... how about we take turns?" she suggested quietly. "One person approaches, the others stay here."
Aiz nodded without hesitation. "Agreed."
Tiona didn't wait any longer.
"Then I'll go first!" she called out softly—which somehow still sounded full of energy.
Before anyone could stop her, she had already lightly run out from their hiding spot, approaching the unicorn with steps that were... too cheerful for a situation like this.
Shirou and the other two immediately raised their binoculars.
A few seconds passed.
They saw Tiona wave slightly.
The unicorn turned its head.
Silence.
Then—
PRRRRT!
The creature took one step back, then two... before finally turning and quickly moving away.
Tiona froze.
And a few seconds later, she was already running back.
"Eh?! That was so fast?!" Lefiya lowered her binoculars in shock.
Tiona stopped in front of them, laughing softly while scratching her cheek.
"Hehehe... looks like it got scared of my enthusiasm."
After Tiona's failure, the atmosphere fell silent for a few seconds. Then, without much discussion, Aiz stepped forward.
"I'll go next," she said briefly.
She stepped out from behind the tree with quiet steps, neither hurried nor hesitant. Unlike Tiona, who was full of energy, Aiz's movements were gentle and controlled, like a barely noticeable breeze.
From a distance, Shirou observed through his binoculars.
Aiz stopped a few meters from the unicorn.
Her golden eyes met the white creature's eyes.
Silence.
However—
The unicorn's reaction was different.
Its body tensed.
Then... trembled slightly.
Shirou narrowed his eyes.
"It's... scared?" he murmured.
Aiz took one step forward.
The unicorn backed away.
She stepped again.
The unicorn backed away further, its breathing becoming unsteady.
Aiz then slowly extended her hand; her expression remained as flat as usual.
But to the unicorn—
That wasn't calmness.
It was pressure.
Suddenly, the creature reared up, neighing in panic. Its hooves were at the edge of the cliff, as if ready to jump off just to get away from the blonde girl.
Aiz stopped.
A few seconds passed.
Then she lowered her hand.
Without a word, she turned and returned to them.
When she arrived, Tiona immediately looked at her.
"...Worse than me," she commented honestly.
Aiz just nodded slightly, but was clearly disappointed.
Now—
It was Lefiya's turn.
"I-I'll go next..." she said, clearly nervous.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, then walked out from hiding. Her steps were careful, though still looking a little stiff.
Shirou raised his binoculars again.
This time—
The unicorn's reaction was different again.
The creature turned its head, looking at Lefiya.
Then—
"Fhrrr..."
It made a short sound.
Not scared.
Not friendly either.
More like... dismissive.
Lefiya blinked.
"...Eh?"
She approached a little, trying to smile.
"Here... here..." she said quietly, even unconsciously calling it like one would call a pet.
Shirou, behind her, immediately held his breath.
That was a bad idea.
The unicorn raised its head high.
Its eyes narrowed.
Then—
FWOOSH!
With one stomp of its hoof, it kicked the ground in front of it. Sand and dust flew directly towards Lefiya.
"Kyah?!"
Lefiya reflexively covered her face, retreating a few steps in a panic.
Dust clung to her hair and clothes.
She returned with quick steps, her face red with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
"...Why did it turn out like this..." she murmured weakly.
Tiona couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Looks like it got offended."
Tiona let out a long sigh, then clapped her palms together as if she had made a decision.
"Well, we all failed," she stated plainly. "That means there's only one way left—force it to submit."
Her tone sounded light, even a little excited, as if that were the most logical solution.
However, before that plan could be seriously considered, Shirou spoke up.
"Wait a minute... can I try?"
The three girls immediately turned to him. Aiz looked at him straight, then asked without preamble, "Are you going to use the magic net?"
Shirou smiled faintly, a little bitterness there. "I could," he answered honestly. "But I want to try the peaceful way first."
He didn't explain further, but in his mind, that image reappeared—the harpy with a human face, an expression not empty. If creatures like that truly existed, then the possibility of interacting with monsters without violence shouldn't be impossible either.
Beside him, Lefiya was still busy brushing dust from her ponytail. She glanced at Shirou with annoyance.
"Be careful, okay," she reminded him. "That horse is really naughty."
Shirou just nodded briefly, then began to step out from behind the tree. He deliberately slowed his movements, showing no intention of attacking whatsoever.
The mountain wind blew gently as he approached the edge of the cliff. There, the unicorn still stood, its body tense, its eyes following Shirou's every step.
Shirou stopped at a safe distance, maintaining space so the creature wouldn't panic. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
His plan remained the same—simple, even sounding foolish.
Talk.
But this time, he wasn't trying just out of curiosity.
He truly hoped... There was a small chance that humans and monsters could understand each other.
Shirou stood still for a while, letting the mountain wind pass between him and the unicorn. He deliberately didn't move closer, maintaining enough distance so the creature wouldn't feel threatened.
The unicorn stared at him.
Alert.
However, it didn't immediately retreat.
Shirou took a slow breath, then opened his mouth.
"...Hello."
His voice was calm, neither too loud nor hesitant.
"My name is Shirou."
He didn't know if the creature understood or not. However, unlike the monsters in the Dungeon, he wasn't greeted by roars or sudden attacks.
The unicorn just stood there.
Its ears twitched slightly.
Listening.
Shirou continued, quietly, like speaking to someone he was afraid might leave at any moment.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
His hands remained at his sides, not raised, showing no aggressive gestures.
"I just want... to talk."
Silence.
The sound of the wind.
And his own heartbeat.
He took one small step forward.
The unicorn tensed—but didn't retreat.
That alone was different.
Shirou could feel it.
Unlike goblins, unlike orcs, unlike all the monsters that attacked him without a second thought.
This creature—
was considering.
"...I know this sounds weird," Shirou continued with a small, barely visible smile. "Usually, I get attacked before I can even say anything."
He chuckled softly, remembering all his foolish attempts in the Dungeon.
But this time—
No one attacked.
The unicorn let out a soft breath, hrrr... its eyes still fixed on Shirou.
Shirou slowly raised his hand.
Not suddenly.
Not threateningly.
Just... open.
"If you're scared... that's okay," he said again. "I'm actually a little scared, too."
He let out a small sigh.
"But... I want to try."
Behind him, in the distance, the three girls observed through binoculars. They said nothing, as if afraid to disturb the moment.
Shirou stepped again.
Closer.
The unicorn shifted slightly—but didn't run.
The distance between them was now only a few steps.
Shirou could clearly see the shine of its horn, like living light.
He stopped.
Didn't push.
"If you understand... even a little," he murmured, almost in a whisper, "I don't want to take anything from you by force."
His hand remained outstretched.
The unicorn lowered its head slightly.
A small movement.
That was enough to make Shirou hold his breath.
The creature approached half a step.
Its nose sniffed softly towards Shirou's hand.
Hrrr...
Shirou didn't move.
Didn't pull his hand back.
Didn't rush.
He just waited.
And for the first time—
He felt... heard.
Not fully understood.
But enough.
Enough to make the distance between human and monster... feel a little closer.
***
From behind the trees, the three girls stared with wide eyes. The binoculars in their hands nearly dropped from the shock of seeing what was happening out there.
"Eh... eh... that..." Tiona stammered, pointing towards Shirou.
Lefiya raised her binoculars again, making sure she wasn't seeing things. "Why... why can he get that close?!"
Aiz remained silent, but her golden eyebrows furrowed slightly, a sign of confusion.
They began whispering among themselves, their voices quiet but full of speculation.
"Maybe... the legend isn't accurate?" Lefiya murmured.
"Or..." Tiona narrowed her eyes, thinking hard, "That unicorn is female, so she's actually interested in guys?"
Lefiya immediately turned red-faced. "T-Tiona! Don't say weird things!"
Aiz just stared straight ahead, as if trying to understand the situation with logic that wouldn't reach her brain.
However, their discussion was suddenly cut short.
"—What are you all doing?"
The voice was calm, but enough to make the three of them immediately turn.
A mature High Elf stood behind them, her long green hair neat and flowing, an elegant aura radiating without effort.
"L-Lady Riveria!" Lefiya immediately stood at attention, almost like a reflex.
Riveria raised an eyebrow slightly, then glanced in the direction they had been observing. "Well?"
Lefiya hurriedly explained, stammering slightly because she was still surprised. "We got a quest from Loki to take a unicorn horn without harming it, so we—"
"—Oh, that."
Riveria cut in with a flat tone.
The three fell silent.
"It was a prank. She knew you all would fail," she continued.
"Huh?" Tiona blinked.
Riveria sighed softly. "Loki did it on purpose. She told me to follow after you."
She folded her arms, then added in a casual tone, "Because I've already tamed a unicorn before, back in the forests of my homeland when I was younger."
Aiz let out a soft sigh.
"...That Loki."
Tiona clicked her tongue. "Seriously..."
However, Riveria didn't pay much attention to their reactions.
"So, where's the unicorn?" she asked.
Tiona immediately moved, handing over the binoculars she was still holding. "Over there! Use these, Riveria!"
Riveria accepted the object, tilting her head slightly at its unfamiliar shape. However, without much difficulty, she quickly understood how to use it.
She raised the binoculars to her eyes.
And looked.
A few seconds of silence.
Her expression didn't change—but her eyes widened slightly.
What she saw... didn't make sense.
Shirou—
Was on the unicorn's back.
The image inside the binoculars slowly enlarged. Shirou's figure, which had looked small in the distance, now grew clearer, approaching along with the glimmering white creature moving gracefully beneath him.
Riveria slowly lowered her binoculars.
The shock on her face hadn't faded.
In front of them, Shirou really was coming—riding the unicorn calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The mountain wind blew his red hair, while the white creature carefully approached their hiding area.
Shirou gently patted its neck.
"Easy... they're my friends," he said softly.
His tone was different—gentler than usual.
The unicorn let out a soft breath, still wary, but not resisting. They continued approaching until finally stopping a few meters from the hiding spot.
Shirou looked up.
His brown eyes immediately met Riveria's.
"...Oh," he said lightly, as if just noticing. "You're here too."
Behind him, Lefiya stared with sparkling eyes.
"It's... It's just like in the story..." she murmured, in disbelief. "The prince riding a unicorn..."
Tiona chuckled softly, while Aiz remained silent but was clearly watching seriously.
Riveria stepped closer slowly.
Interestingly—
The unicorn didn't reject her presence.
She reached out her hand, and the creature allowed itself to be touched. Riveria's fingers gently stroked its mane. Her expression returned to its usual calm, though inwardly she was still full of questions.
"Interesting..." she murmured.
On the other side, Tiona couldn't stay quiet. She began circling the unicorn, observing it from various angles with great curiosity.
"Hmm... so it's true," she said suddenly. "If it's a mare, that means only a male virgin can ride it!"
Lefiya immediately choked.
"What are you saying, Tiona?!"
Riveria, who had been calm, immediately stopped stroking the unicorn. She closed her eyes for a moment, then massaged her forehead with her fingers.
"...It's not exactly like that either."
Her tone was flat, but clearly holding something back.
Shirou, who had already dismounted from the unicorn, turned casually.
"Well, if that's the case, then that theory must be wrong," he said without a care. "Because I'm not a virgin."
Silence.
Immediate.
Lefiya froze on the spot. Her face flushed all the way to her pointed ears.
Aiz blinked once, twice—then slowly looked away.
Riveria stopped completely.
And her expression truly cracked, as did her heart.
Meanwhile, Shirou just stood there normally, completely unaware that his words just now... had shattered the composure of three fair maidens all at once.