A Secret Meeting Between an Elf and a Magician

By the time the sun was setting over the mountain ridge.

Emerging from the gate, Franz headed straight for Count Lucia’s Residence.

“D-Duke…!”

Did he really keep his word about not sleeping? He came running out in a flurry, his eyes bloodshot.

“Didn’t I tell you it was fine to rest comfortably?”

“I apologize for causing you concern. However, thinking that the Duke had personally set out, I simply could not bring myself to sleep.”

It was nice of him to be so impeccably polite, but it actually just felt burdensome.

Anyway, that was enough for greetings.

“The Guild Master will explain the rest here.”

After all, Yuna was the one who had received this request. Regardless of the process, it was only right for her to wrap things up.

Nodding, Yuna took a step forward.

“The gate you requested has been resolved safely. As I mentioned earlier, the ownership of the byproducts from the gate belongs to the guild, and you do not need to pay any fees, Count.”

“Thank you for resolving it. And I am relieved that all of you are safe.”

Count Lucia bowed his head politely to express his gratitude.

Just as he said, it was a relief that everyone was safe. No one knew what lay beyond the gate, so even with the entire Hero’s Party gathered, there was still a possibility of danger.

“If it is alright with you all, I would like to treat you to a meal…”

“Thank you for the offer, but it might be difficult today.”

Franz rejected his offer without a moment’s hesitation.

Resolving the gate issue had been urgent, so they had taken a brief detour, but originally, they had been planning to visit a good restaurant recommended by Yuna.

Soon after, Franz left the mansion with Count Lucia seeing them off.

“Please get a good night’s sleep today.”

“Yes, I certainly will.”

With that short farewell, Franz and the others left Lucia County.

Light flashed, and the place they all arrived at was in front of the guild in the Imperial Capital.

Passersby on the street were startled and cast glances their way for a moment, but that interest soon faded.

“Then let’s go-!”

Yuna smiled brightly and took the lead, and Franz and the others followed her.

The place they arrived at was a shabby restaurant at the entrance of an alley.

Just as Yuna had confidently introduced it as a great place to eat, the food was quite delicious. It wasn’t luxurious or extravagant, but it had a taste imbued with a unique charm.

If he had to compare it, it felt like finding a delicious humble eatery. If he ever had business at the guild, he could just eat his meals here.

They were continuing their meal like that.

“Yuna, I think it would be good to have a monster dismantler in the guild.”

“A dismantler…?”

“We’ll be bringing in Monsters from Gates from now on, so it would be nice to have someone who can handle them exclusively.”

“Is there anyone who can do that kind of work…?”

“Just find anyone who can work hard. I’ll take care of teaching them.”

Yuna’s eyes widened, and she moved a piece of meat from her plate onto Franz’s.

“Why this…?”

“Because I’m thankful…!”

Franz let out a short sigh and returned the meat to her.

“You eat it. Saying thank you is enough.”

“No. You said that gratitude in words alone is only half-hearted.”

“I’m telling you it’s really fine.”

The two of them kept passing the meat back and forth to each other, as if they were squabbling.

It was at that moment. Yusti-ah, who had been watching them, let out a long sigh and snatched the meat mid-air.

Franz and Yuna could only stare blankly at the piece of meat going into her mouth.

“It seemed like neither of you wanted to eat it. Do you have any complaints?”

Franz didn’t really have anything to say. Come to think of it, it did seem like they were making a fuss over nothing.

Yuna, too, just smiled sheepishly.

Not long after that, the meal was finished. When they came out of the restaurant, a world where dusk had already settled welcomed them.

“Then I think it’s about time we head back, what about everyone else?”

At Franz’s words, Yusti-ah, Arian, and Yuna nodded.

Lastly, Hera…

“Franz, I have something to say. May I go with you?”

“Sure, it’s not a difficult request.”

Franz and Hera meeting alone.

The girls, who would normally have chimed in with a word or two, were quiet. They were clearly being considerate, thinking about what Hera had gone through today.

It was quite some time later when Hera brought up the story she had been keeping in her heart.

In the Magic Tower Lord’s Office where a quiet stillness flowed, Franz sat facing Hera with steaming teacups between them.

“Franz, there is something I couldn’t say earlier. Actually, this item was left behind in the spot where the me from that world disappeared.”

Hera took something out of her pocket and placed it on the table. It was a round, green jewel the size of a thumb.

That item was familiar to Franz as well. It was none other than the ornament on the necklace Hera always wore around her neck.

“When I grasped this jewel in my hand, memories flowed into my mind. They are my memories, yet I should say they are not my memories. I believe it might be what the me from that world experienced.”

Yuna had definitely experienced the same thing. She had said that as soon as she grasped the jewel, the things the Yuna from that world had experienced flowed into her mind.

By what principle on earth was this happening?

Conversely, if someone died on this side, would the other side be able to see their memories as well?

Continuing to ponder such things, Franz soon dismissed those thoughts. Because right now, listening to Hera’s words took priority.

“Seeing those memories, I realized again. What would have happened to me if I didn’t have you. I surely would have met an end no different from hers.”

It was a statement he couldn’t possibly deny. After all, the system of this world had concluded that she was a villainess who would destroy the world.

“I want to say thank you once again. Thanks to you, I can be here, and my kin, the Great Forest, and the World Tree could remain intact.”

“I’ve already received enough gratitude, so there’s no need to be more thankful…”

“No, it is not enough for me. And didn’t I say it earlier? You need to take responsibility for making me fall for you.”

Suddenly, Hera stood up from her seat. Then, she slowly took a step and approached him closely.

Gulp-.

Sitting on the sofa, Franz could only look up in bewilderment at the green eyes staring down at him.

“Stay still. It’s not like I have any intention of harming you.”

Saying it like that makes it even more suspicious, though…

Hera slowly moved her body and sat on Franz’s thighs. Yet they were still facing each other, so the posture could truly be called peculiar.

“D-Do not misunderstand. This is the first time in my life I’ve done something like this, too.”

The tips of Hera’s ears were dyed red, and they were flapping up and down like crazy. She was somehow maintaining a calm face, but her ears were apparently honest.

For a moment like that, Hera didn’t make the next move, no matter how long he waited. Time was just passing by with them merely looking at each other.

After some thought, Franz placed his hands on her waist.

“H-Hyaak…?!”

“So? What are you going to do next?”

“I-I hadn’t thought about that…”

“Then are we going to keep staying like this?”

“Then just a little…”

Hera carefully wrapped her arms around Franz’s head.

Was it really true that she wasn’t used to this kind of situation? Her actions were incredibly awkward.

Of course, it was the same for Franz, who was just as awkward.

“This is driving me crazy…”

He had provoked Hera, but that was purely a joke. He had absolutely no idea that Hera would actually take action.

Not that he hated being like this, absolutely not, but…

Just, how should he put it? He felt needlessly embarrassed and shy. In addition, he also felt sorry for the girls who weren’t here.

It was a little while later that Hera and Franz, who had been clinging so tightly together, separated.

“For some reason, isn’t it a bit hot…?”

“Right…? Should we take a short walk?”

“M-Mm-! I think taking a walk would be good.”

Franz left the Magic Tower Lord’s Office with Hera.

A bright moon was floating in the sky, but as soon as they came out, it hid behind the clouds. As if to say it would pretend not to have seen what happened today.

* * *

It was a day after much time had passed.

Yuna, Yusti-ah, Hera, and Arian were gathered in the Magic Tower Lord’s Office.

It was because Franz had briefly stepped away to teach someone how to dismantle monsters.

Thus, a gathering of the women was held for the first time in a while.

“Come to think of it, I forgot to ask. Arian and Hera, did both of you confess to Franz…?”

Yusti-ah launched a direct question right from the start.