Once Lucy's father opened the shop's door, his hand paused mid-air before he pushed it open wide.
Frieren's eyes flicked toward the door; her expression remained unreadable, yet her gaze cut sharper.
"Wh… what's going on?!" Lucy said as she leaned closer to Frieren.
"The same sound I heard at the white building…" Frieren blinked.
Are they after me? she thought.
Frieren's fingers twitched near her sleeve, a motion so small Lucy almost missed it.
Lucy's father swallowed hard, his gaze drifting toward Frieren as guilt flickered across his expression.
Once the door opened, an officer stood in the doorway, gripping a printed sheet.
"Ah… hello," the officer said as he rubbed his head, his stare fixed on the ground.
"Welcome. How can I help you?" the shopkeeper asked.
A cold draft crept into the shop with him, brushing past Frieren's knees like an unwelcome whisper.
Lucy's breath caught, just barely, her fingers curling against her skirt.
"Did any of you… see…?" The officer dropped the paper from his hands as he recognized the same creature from that night.
Frieren's posture remained still, but her eyes darkened, the way they did when an old memory stepped too close.
Mike staggered backward, his legs trembling beneath him as he stared at Frieren.
"Hello, C1 here. There's no trace of her. Over," Someone's sound came from Mike's radio.
Once the sound vanished from his radio, Mike felt alone in this.
His heartbeat thudded loud enough that he wondered if the others could hear it. "That elf…" he breathed.
The officer's grip tightened on the radio, knuckles paling as he fought the urge to flee.
Lucy's father shifted uneasily. "Elf? What do you mean?"
"Elf…?" Lucy whispered as she stared at Frieren.
"Correct," Frieren said as she shifted toward Lucy.
"T… that's why you… were about to uncover your hoodie…" Lucy's terrified laugh cracked at the edges.
From the other side, not too far away, Joe sat in his car, the golden coin catching the faintest glint of light.
Frieren's ears dipped just slightly beneath her hood.
Lucy's throat tightened as the truth settled in, fragile and enormous all at once. "So… what's wrong, then?" she breathed heavily.
Frieren didn't move away; instead, her gaze softened with an apology she didn't speak.
"I see," Frieren said as she closed her eyes.
"But your eyes say the opposite."
Frieren rose quietly, setting the cup down with deliberate care.
Mike held his radio carefully, speaking into it, but his gaze remained fixed on Frieren.
"Here's Mike… I found the elf. Street 81. Urgent—over."
Once Joe heard the message, the coin slipped from his hand and he slammed his foot on the accelerator.
A faint tremor crossed Lucy's voice, as though she feared the answer she'd invited.
Frieren's fingers curled once, barely brushing her cloak.
Lucy stepped half a pace closer, then stopped.
"C-creature, come with me!" Mike shouted, his voice trembling as he pointed the gun at Frieren.
"I see…" Frieren stepped closer to Mike.
"D… don't step further!" he barked, the gun trembling in his hands.
"Weird… you just told me to come with you," Frieren said as she checked the clothes; her hand drifted across the dimmed hat, almost absentmindedly.
"I'm warning you!" The officer took a shaky step back, sweat beading at his temples despite the cold draft.
Frieren blinked once, unhurried, as if time itself slowed for her.
What's that? A magical tool? she thought, her eyes narrowing slightly, not with fear, but calculation.
I don't think so… it doesn't even carry a trace of M—
Boom!
The gun fired.