Miss Anya, you still believe in fairy tales at your age..."
"Shirou-kun, for girls, 'at your age' is a forbidden phrase, nya! But it's fine for Anya, a certified young beauty. Some old hags would really take offense though~"
"...Anya, are you skipping work again?"
Though she was both older and more experienced at the tavern, it was hard to take her seriously—Shirou found himself calling her by name without honorifics. That, too, could be considered a kind of talent.
"Of course! Working just earns labor fees. Slacking off is where the real money is, nya~"
"Anya occasionally says things that sound wise."
"Hehe, told you, Anya's amazing..."
"YOU DAMN CAT! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!"
The thunderous roar made Anya pale. "Oh no, nya! I've been found, nya! Anya was never here, nya!"
When Shirou turned, the catgirl had already vanished—what incredible speed...
He smiled slightly and looked back at Ryuu—only to find that the elven girl had opened her eyes.
"Miss Ryuu..." Shirou tried calling to her, but in the next moment, she reached out and pulled his face close between her hands.
She yanked him toward her until their noses nearly touched.
Amber eyes and jade eyes locked together, each reflecting the other's image—memories of past phantoms flickering between their gazes.
Chapter 3 – The Useless Elf
I did it. I succeeded.
I avenged my comrades. I wiped out the Dark Faction and their collaborators.
And—I saved a child from that place. A boy with warm hair like Arlice's...
She had tried to save the other imprisoned children, but the Dark Faction had rigged the dungeon with firestones. Caught off guard, she couldn't save a single other soul—and was gravely wounded in the blast.
Once again, I accomplished nothing. No... at least this time, I saved one child.
Or rather, he saved himself. However he did it, he had escaped what should have been certain death. It was his own courage that saved him.
That child... deserves to live.
Even after her vengeance, Ryuu felt no sense of accomplishment—only a bottomless loneliness remained.
She no longer knew where to go... or where she belonged.
Her vision, once stained red, had turned to gray. Her companions' smiling faces—or the scenes of their tragic deaths—had all faded from memory.
Tears, laughter, pain, joy—everythingAs her obsession was fulfilled, Ryuu became an empty shell.
She was wrapped in endless darkness. Once, her fury burned like a beacon. Now that the hatred had ended, that fire had died, leaving behind a void.
No... in that pitch-black emptiness, a single spark remained.
A faint ember of justice.
"Always being the one saved... This time, at least I want to save someone—even if it's just one child."
It was perhaps the last remnant of her conscience—warped by vengeance—seeking some form of redemption.
Before losing consciousness, she saw a girl reach out to her.
Good. At least the child will survive. I can rest easy... and join the others soon.
"Alise... you've come to take me..."
When she opened her eyes again, Ryuu thought she had arrived in heaven. Red hair filled her view—warm like sunlight. She clung to the figure before her, afraid they'd vanish again.
"Miss Ryuu...?"
Wait. Something was wrong. Other than the red hair, the age, the face, the voice—all wrong.
"Wow~ Shirou, you really did it—woke up the princess with a kiss, meow~?"
Anya reappeared—this time dangling from Mia's grip.
Ciel peeked in from behind, whispering, "Shirou-kun looks like the one who was kissed…"
But Mama Mia was focused on a more practical matter: "Isn't Gale Wind supposed to be at least 18...? Shirou looks like he's twelve."
"Whoa—" Anya's gaze turned into a mixture of awe and suspicion, like she was watching a walking crime in progress.
Realizing the huge misunderstanding, Ryuu's mind froze. Anya's gaze hit her like a hammer to the chest—she audibly choked.
With steam pouring from her face, Ryuu fainted again.
Alise was the leader of Ryuu's former Familia—an adventurer with bright red hair known as the Crimson Saint.
In her daze, Ryuu had mistaken Shirou's red hair for her late friend's.
Mia seemed to have known Ryuu's identity from the start but hadn't shared much beyond her name. Over the past two days, Shirou had only gathered vague details through Anya. He still knew little about Ryuu, aside from her name—and that she was very strong.
Now, finally, there was a chance to learn more.
Ryuu awoke again thirty minutes later. This time, the tavern staff were all present: waitress Ciel, boss Mia, helper Shirou, and the ever-noisy Anya.
But Ryuu was silent—seemingly withdrawn. She lay still on the bed.
"Why did you save me—?" she asked Ciel, her voice empty.
"Um..." Ciel looked flustered, but gave a gentle smile. "I saw someone bleeding in the rain. I couldn't just ignore that."
It was a perfectly valid reason. Everyone present would've done the same in her place.
But Ryuu didn't ask to understand Ciel's logic—she asked because she saw no reason to be saved.
Her eyes turned to Shirou—the warm-haired boy.
But for a moment, she couldn't speak.
Grateful he survived, embarrassed at the mistake, and torn by her own selfish motives—Ryuu was overwhelmed.
And then, Shirou walked over.
"Thank you for saving me, Miss Ryuu." He took her hands, his voice earnest.
Ryuu didn't pull away.
"Eh? Don't elves hate physical contact? Why—ow meow!"
There was a smack as Mia's dwarf fist collided with Anya's head.
Ignore the catgirl noises—they were background noise now.
"He's the second…" Ryuu murmured.
The first was her former captain, Alise. No one else had ever touched Ryuu's hands without being reflexively pushed away—a deeply ingrained elven trait.
Shirou was the second. And this time, she had reached out first.
Was it because he reminded her of Alise—or…?
"You know my name," Ryuu muttered, shifting the topic.
"Just checked your clothes and belongings—'Gale Wind' Ryuu Lion, right?" said Mia.
"Eighty million valis bounty. First-class wanted criminal."
The room froze.
"Planning to hand me over to the Guild?"
Ryuu's voice was more resigned than provocative—almost as if she hoped for it.
She had taken vengeance into her own hands. Killing guild informants, wiping out enemies without trial—an outlaw.
Too many deaths. Too frequent. The bounty climbed.
At 30 valis per fried potato ball, Ryuu was worth 2.6 million of them. A lifetime supply.
Mia snorted. "What a pain. Why would I do something that troublesome, you useless elf."
"U-Useless elf?"
"You're awake now. Your business is your own. But you owe rent for the last few days before you go."
Ryuu stared, stunned.
"Miss Ryuu, if you don't mind, maybe stay a bit longer?" Ciel suggested. "It's safe here. You can leave when the heat dies down. Shirou works here too."
Are they crazy?
Ryuu thought—how did these women survive in Orario? She was a wanted Level 4 adventurer. Most would've either thrown her out or ratted her out.
Leaving her here was like inviting danger into their home.
If I lose control, who could protect them? That rude dwarf woman?
Her thoughts were in chaos.
"Mama Mia is really strong," Ciel said. "I believe she can protect you. Also, I'd like to know you better. Shirou too, right?"
Mama Mia...?
Ryuu recalled something... but shook it off.
"I'd like you to stay too, Miss Ryuu. At least until your wounds heal," Shirou said sincerely.
No. Don't say that.
Ryuu's heart was in turmoil.
I have no reason to go on living. Don't look at me like that. Don't remind me of those I lost—don't shake me like this…
"I... I already—!"
Her voice cracked into a scream.
"I have nothing left! No comrades, no home—someone like me who acted so recklessly should've died already! I have no reason to live!"
At that moment—
Growl.
A cute stomach noise broke the silence.
Everyone stared.
Ciel was stunned. Mia blinked. Anya burst out laughing.
"Your mouth says no, but your belly says yes, meow~"
"You still want to live, don't you?" Mia grinned.
"Guuh…"
The shame. Ryuu wanted to drop dead on the spot.
Not like this—not death by embarrassment. At least let her die in battle against ten evildoers...
She'd been unconscious for three days. Naturally, her body craved nourishment.
Shirou pressed his lips together. Even Ciel giggled softly.
Ryuu's long ears turned bright red.
Just then, Ciel had an idea. She winked at Mia.
Mia looked surprised, then smirked.
"Leaving a starving girl like you alone would ruin my reputation. Alright, I'll make you something."
"W-Wait—I never said I wanted to eat—"
Her protest was silenced by Mia's palm on her head.
"You stubborn fool. Don't insult my intelligence with that nonsense. Be a good girl and sit tight."
"Ugh…"
Mia's hand was like a mountain. Ryuu broke into cold sweat.
She understood instantly—the power gap was massive.
Then Shirou spoke.
"Mama Mia, please let me cook for Miss Ryuu."
"Oh?" The dwarf raised a brow.
"I want to repay her. Besides, I'm quite confident when it comes to cooking."