"...What?"
He muttered something to himself and then suddenly departed.
It was a relief that he seemed to have come to some kind of understanding, but a lingering sense of unease wouldn't fade.
At least we didn't end up fighting...
Hearing his words brought to mind the woman from the Set Familia who had once rowed the boat with Haruhime.
Years later, after joining the Set Familia, she had tried to support her Familia—which had been ruined by the Zeus and Hera Familias—by taking on small side jobs on the days she didn't venture into the Dungeon.
All because of a conflict that had occurred over a decade ago.
Of course, I knew it was wrong to sympathize with her when her own side had been the catalyst for the fighting.
But still. Even so, could you really call it right to trample someone so thoroughly that people decades later would still suffer the consequences?
It was too cruel to simply brush off as "inevitable." Even if her predecessors had been in the wrong, her suffering was a separate matter entirely.
I had spoken up to prevent such a tragedy, but regardless of the reason, avoiding a fight was always the best outcome.
Win or lose, it didn't matter.
"Well, I guess it makes sense. It's Grandpa's Familia, after all..."
It was easy to forget, but my grandfather was their deity, Zeus. Perhaps my words resonated with them so easily because they carried the weight of my grandfather's influence...
At any rate, now that the other gaze I had felt nearby had also completely vanished, I could consider this matter settled.
"I'm exhausted..."
Even if it had been a light exchange, it had been a long time since I'd faced someone so strong, and I was drained. Right now, I just wanted to rest.
But if I went back to the church, there would still be people lingering nearby... and staying at an inn didn't feel quite right either.
"In times like this, I should go there."
The place I always headed to whenever I had something on my mind.
Since my thoughts were so tangled, I might as well go there and get some fresh air.
"But before that..."
Grumble—
My stomach let out a loud cry.
"...Maybe I should buy something to eat."
It was already lunchtime. It felt like I'd only just eaten breakfast; I wondered where the time had gone.
"Let's see... something suitable..."
I decided to pick up a few street foods and head out. Just as I was thinking that—
"—Come on, cheap and easy! Two Potato Balls for six valis!"
"..."
Potato Balls again?
"No, no, that's not it."
No matter how delicious they were, that was pushing it.
This would be my second meal in a row, after all.
I'd survived on Potato Balls from last night's dinner through this morning's breakfast.
And now I was supposed to have them for lunch too?
...Actually, maybe it's not so bad?
Come to think of it, yesterday's Potato Balls hadn't been the real deal.
They were the leftovers from the end of the day—clearance stock, essentially.
Those were tasty in their own way, but Potato Balls are best when they're fresh off the grill.
Before I knew it, my arms were full of them.
The warmth radiating through my arms and the savory aroma tickling my nose stirred my appetite.
I considered sneaking one now, but since I only had one free hand, I gave up. I'd just find a place to sit and eat.
"Hm?"
As I headed toward my destination, a familiar golden hue caught my eye. That was...
"Ais?"
"Eek...?!"
The girl sprang up in alarm, looking like a startled cat.
Even I was a little surprised to see the younger version of Ais.
Wait, why was she so startled?
"N-no...!"
"Huh? What is it?"
"Th-that... Riveria... no?"
Why was Riveria suddenly—
Ah, wait, could it be?
Come to think of it, I had heard that Ais was quite unruly when she was younger. Was she perhaps running away because she'd done something wrong?
"Did Riveria scold you?"
"..."
At that, she glared at me with resentful eyes.
Of course, combined with her blank expression and the fact that she was a child, she just looked adorable.
"Y..."
"Yes?"
"B-because of you..."
?
"Because of you... I got scolded..."
That made me realize my mistake.
Right, I did do that...
I was the one who had tattled to Riveria about Ais's behavior. From her perspective, my question must have felt like rubbing salt into the wound.
Tsk, I hadn't meant to, but so much had happened today that I'd completely forgotten. Now what do I do...
"Uu..."
Ais had her own grievances. She had been reprimanded for her reckless behavior and handed a week-long ban from the Dungeon.
What made it especially frustrating was that she hadn't been told yesterday, only today.
Naturally, that resentment shifted toward the man in front of her. She was too terrified to resent Riveria; she didn't want to end up tied to a rock and thrown into the sea again.
When she directed her glare at him, the man looked a little flustered.
Seeing that only fueled her stubbornness. As she pouted openly, the man hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I'm sorry. I think I made a mistake."
At those words, Ais's conscience pricked her. She knew the fault was hers.
Despite her strong desire for revenge, she understood that they were only trying to stop her for her own sake.
As the two of them stood there in awkward silence, the man spoke again.
"As an apology, would you like me to show you something nice?"
***
"Waaah..."
Looking down at the scenery from atop the city wall, Ais forgot all about her angry act and let out a breath of admiration.
And though I didn't say it out loud, I was just as moved.
So this place is still the same...
So many things had changed since I came back to the past, but thankfully, this place remained untouched.
The location, and the view that stretched out from it.
Of course, if I looked closely, there might be minor differences, but for me, this was enough.
Just seeing a familiar sight allowed my heart to ease a little.
"This is my secret spot. I'm showing it to you because you're special, so don't tell anyone else."
"Mm..."
No matter what I said, Ais answered half-heartedly, her mind completely absorbed by the view.
Well, it was only natural. This had been Ais's favorite place, after all.
"Pretty view, isn't it?"
"Mm."
"It's a sight you'd miss if you spent all your time in the Dungeon."
Flinch.
At the mention of the Dungeon, Ais shuddered.
She looked at the man with a slightly awkward expression, and he looked back at her with his one remaining eye.
The emotion held in that eye was so intense that she instinctively looked away.
"I..."
"Don't worry, I'm not scolding you. I just want you to find some peace of mind."
The man's tone, as if he saw right through her, annoyed her.
And the fact that she couldn't find a single word to retort annoyed her even more.
It felt as though he had completely read her.
Perhaps that was why a sudden spark of defiance ignited within her—the kind of childish stubbornness that wanted to get one over on him.
"...It's not like that."
"Is that so?"
But even her desperate denial was met with a relaxed smile.
That indulgent attitude only made her more irritable.
Giving in to the feeling, she puffed out her cheeks and looked away.
Good grief...
The Ais I knew had always been a bit childlike, but the actual child Ais was on a whole other level.
...I could finally understand why Riveria had such a hard time.
"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
"...Nothing."
She was definitely upset.
I didn't know exactly what had offended her, but I could tell she was thoroughly piqued.
...I wasn't sure if I failed to understand because I had become an adult, or if I was still too young and lacked the necessary patience.
Since I didn't know what else to do, I gently placed my hand on her head and patted it.
Ais looked startled, but after a moment, she quietly accepted the gesture with a complicated expression.
Since she didn't pull away, I continued to pat her head for a while longer.