The lodging was silent.
Amy sat on the sofa by the fireplace, while Rian and Tess barely dared to breathe under her watch.
'Why isn't he back yet?'
Two hours had passed since Shirone left for groceries. Unless he'd gone fishing in the ocean, he should've returned by now.
Tess: "H-He's late, huh?"
Her own voice sounded too loud in the tense air. Amy just stared into the flames.
'Ugh, this is worse than walking on ice.'
As a fellow girl, Tess understood completely.
This wasn't just a couples' trip—it was their first romantic getaway.
'Shirone, you're too clueless. Even I'm disappointed this time.'
Rian, oblivious as ever, broke the silence.
Rian: "Ugh, I'm starving. Why isn't he back? Should I go get him?"
Tess glared.
Of course he'd be hungry—he never stuck to meal times. An hour past dinner would feel like famine to him.
Tess: "No. You'll just miss him."
Rian: "Oh. Then can I eat the potatoes I bought earlier?"
Tess nearly choked.
Tess: "Are you that thoughtless? Think about Amy!"
Rian: "Why so serious? Shirone had more to buy than me. He's probably just delayed."
Tess: "Even if he had more, he's smarter than you, so he should've been faster! That's the problem! Go chew on your potatoes in the corner!"
Rian scratched his head.
Rian: "Why so mad? What'd I do?"
Tess: "Ugh, forget it."
No amount of scolding would get through to someone this dense.
Finally, Amy spoke.
Amy: "Sorry, it's my fault. You two go ahead and eat. I'll wait for Shirone."
Tess: "We can't! It was a cooking contest."
Amy: "But Rian's hungry. Shirone's the one who's late. Let's just call it my loss."
Tess's eyes welled up as she approached.
Tess: "It's okay, Amy. I'm not hungry at all. We just need to deal with him."
Rian was already munching on a raw potato in the corner.
Even without his Schema, his metabolism burned calories like a furnace. It was almost pitiable—if not for Amy's mood.
Tess: "Ugh, glutton."
Amy ignored them, propping her chin on her knee as she stared at the fire.
'Why isn't he back? Did something happen?'
He wasn't the type to break promises. Nor was he careless enough to lose track of time.
Something must've come up.
Even so, the loneliness gnawed at her.
'You brought me here. Everyone else—Rian, Tess—I just met today.'
They were good friends, but they weren't the reason she'd come to this island.
Knock. Knock.
Someone rapped at the door.
Tess brightened, and Rian clenched his fists—finally, food.
Tess: "Shirone? Hold on—!"
Before she could finish, Amy sprinted to the door and flung it open.
Amy: "Hey! Where the hell were you— Huh?"
She blinked.
Not Shirone—but not a stranger either.
The pushy tout from the harbor stood there.
Amy: "You? What are you doing here?"
Jis's face flushed.
Of all people, why did she have to answer?
Seeing her in casual clothes made his pulse race again.
'No.'
Remembering Falcoa's demonic glare, Jis forced a smile.
Jis: "Wow, nice place! Nobles really live different, huh?"
Amy: "I asked why you're here. And how'd you even find us?"
Jis: "Hah! Told you—Jis, Harbor King! If I want info, I get it. You should've hired me from the start."
Amy sighed.
Amy: "So? You came all this way to gloat?"
Tess: "We're busy. Leave."
Amy: "Yeah. Bye."
As she moved to shut the door, Jis grabbed her wrist in panic.
Jis: "W-Wait!"
Amy tensed to yank free—but froze at his expression.
Like a drowning man, his eyes brimmed with terror and despair.
'This guy…'
Now that she looked, he was a mess. His collar barely hid the swollen, red bruises on his neck.
Jis: "P-Please? Even if your friends say no, you come. I'll show you something amazing. I—I need this…"
Amy: "Hmm."
She knew how back-alley deals worked.
'Figures. He's got backers breathing down his neck.'
The reason he didn't touch the face was probably to continue collecting money through Jis in the future.
No one would entrust their belongings to a tout with visible injuries.
Amy: "Hmm."
In front of Amy's meaningful gaze, Jis nervously waited for her decision.
Amy: "Alright. I'll change my clothes and come back, so wait for me."
Jis looked up in surprise. He hadn't expected her to agree so easily.
On the other hand, Tess wasn't pleased.
Thinking that Shirone had upset her, Tess followed and asked,
Tess: "What are you planning? Can you really trust that guy?"
Amy: "Whether I trust him or not, what can he possibly do? I just want to get some fresh air. I'll be back soon."
As a graduating student of the magic school who could even use schemas, there was no need to worry about her safety. However, Tess was concerned that this might strain Amy's relationship with Shirone.
Tess: "Let's wait a little longer."
Amy: "It's fine. Shirone can handle himself. Rian must be hungry too—how long are we going to waste time? It's better this way. I'll eat outside, so you and Rian can have a cozy meal."
Amy went into her room and returned ten minutes later, dressed in outdoor clothes.
Amy: "You're Jis, right? Let's go."
Jis: "Huh? Oh, yeah."
Jis was mesmerized from the moment Amy descended the stairs in her black dress.
Tess: "Then just get some fresh air and come back soon. If it gets too late, we'll come looking for you."
Her words were also a warning to Jis.
Amy: "Haha! Got it. Oh, and Rian, if Shirone comes back, don't give him anything. Let him starve."
Rian forced a smile and raised his hand as Amy left the lodging with Jis.
In the awkward atmosphere, Tess sighed.
Tess: "Ugh, how did it come to this? The mood was fine just a while ago."
Rian: "If you're worried, I can follow them."
Tess had also considered it.
Tess: "…No, it's fine. Amy's a woman too. She probably left because she felt awkward around us. If she finds out we followed her, her pride would be hurt. Let's just wait here for Shirone."
Rian walked to the window and watched the carriage carrying Amy depart.
It was a night so clear it felt like the stars might pour down.
Jis, sitting across from Amy, couldn't hide his excitement even after the carriage started moving. Getting her into the carriage was already 80% of the success.
Jis: "This is the natural green park in Galliant. It's a shame. If we'd come during the day, the scenery here would've been…"
Jis kept talking nonstop.
As if proving he was a local, he rambled on about trivial things no one cared about.
Who cared if the park store owner was having an affair with a widow?
Amy didn't say a word, just stared out the window at the passing nightscape.
Lost in thought, she didn't even hear Jis's words.
Jis: "Ah, and here…"
At some point, Jis realized this and stopped talking.
Honestly, just looking at Amy's face was the most enjoyable part for him. Her slightly cold expression was completely different from when she was angry earlier in the day.
Even if it was Falcoa, they probably wouldn't dare harm a noble, but seeing her intoxicated gaze made him unsure. Should he send her back now?
But if he did, what would happen to his younger sister…?
Amy: "It's taking a while. Where are we going?"
Coincidentally, her question hit the core of the matter. Jis flinched and made up an excuse.
Jis: "Uh, well… it's a bit far. It's the best place in Galliant. Really. You'll see when we get there."
Amy: "Oh? The best place, huh… Is that where the boss who beat you up is taking me?"
Jis's heart sank.
'Did she know?'
If so, why did she get into the carriage, and why hadn't she said anything until now?
Jis: "Well, you see…"
Amy: "No need to make something up. I can tell just by looking at you. You're scared and pleading—only a fool wouldn't notice. Anyway, get a grip. This is the last time I'll play along."
Jis: "Play along?"
Amy: "Yeah. I don't know why you became the scapegoat, but use this to get out of this life. I'm helping you out of pity."
Jis's face flushed.
Jis: "What? You pity me?"
Amy: "Well, aren't you pitiful? Should I be jealous?"
Jis: "This is really…!"
Amy: "You threw a gold coin, didn't you?"
Jis flinched.
Back then, he had lost his temper and been beaten half to death by Falcoa, so it was no wonder he had developed trauma.
Amy smiled bitterly.
Amy: "Guys like you don't last long in this life. People with too much to protect just get used and discarded."
Jis: "Tch, what do you know? You're just a noble who's lived comfortably thanks to your parents."
Amy: "…You're not wrong, but I know more than you. At least I've climbed to the top."
Jis bit his lip.
No matter how much pride he mustered, he couldn't match her weight.
Jis: "Are you pitying me?"
Amy: "Yes."
Jis: "I don't want your pity. Never."
Amy: "That's why I'm telling you to get out. This might be the last chance in your life."
Jis hung his head low.
Amy was right. If it weren't for her pity, he and his sister would be experiencing hell by now.
Jis: "Tch."
Hearing Jis click his tongue, Amy turned back to the window.
The night sea stretched out before her.
Amy: "It's not just pity."
Jis: "What?"
Amy: "Throwing the gold coin on the ground—that's what I mean. No matter what you do, you need that kind of resolve. If you were just some back-alley thug, I would never have gotten into this carriage."
Jis avoided her gaze.
Jis: "Damn it. Are you messing with me? This is why I don't like nobles. You mock some and scold others. You're all so self-centered."
Amy, resting her chin on her hand, smirked.
Amy: "Ah, Shirone? But he's a commoner too, you know? That's why he'd understand your feelings better."
Jis's eyes widened.
Jis: "What? A commoner?"