Chapter 41

Flam pulled Milkit's hand forcefully. Milkit looked pained, but Flam bowed his head and said, "Sorry, just bear with me for a moment." He felt grateful that she understood and accepted his actions, even though it was just a simple gesture. Pushing through the crowd, they sometimes bumped into people and received glares, but they continued to search for the woman who resembled Satyros. However, no matter how hard they looked, they could not find her again.

"…Was it just my imagination?"

"Master, what's wrong?"

He should tell her the reason. But if it was just a lookalike, it would only make Milkit anxious. No, at this point, he should probably just come clean.

"I saw someone who looked a lot like Satyros."

"Wh-what… But she died yesterday, for sure!"

"Yes, she was definitely dead."

Not only that, but he had thoroughly destroyed her body, leaving nothing but a mess. So how could someone with the exact same appearance be walking around town so casually?

"I only caught a glimpse, so it might have been a mistake… but, can we go to the East District just in case?"

"If we don't, we won't be able to enjoy our meal properly."

The taste of food is greatly influenced by the eater's emotions. Since they were planning to have an expensive meal, it was important to clear any sources of unease. They left the bustling Central District and headed towards Satyros' mansion.

◇◇◇

In the end, they found no new information. The private guards at the gate looked restless, and Flam asked one of them, "Is something wrong?" The guard, who had no obligation to answer a slave, initially looked puzzled. But perhaps because he was a good person or well-trained, he replied:

"Since the news has already spread, I'll tell you. Lady Satyros has gone missing."

Flam feigned surprise, saying, "What, Lady Satyros?" as if he was genuinely shocked. With that, he had the information he needed and moved on. Once they were out of the guard's sight, Flam stopped and muttered:

"Was it just my imagination…?"

If Satyros were alive, she wouldn't have been reported as missing. Even the guards, who should have been in the mansion, didn't know about her death. It was likely that her body was still hidden in the secret room, undiscovered.

"Master, you must be tired from all that's been happening lately."

"Maybe."

He didn't realize it himself, but he should enjoy such a day off even more.

"Sorry for causing a fuss. Let's head to the restaurant now."

"Yes, sir."

With one less worry about the meal, they returned to the Central District with renewed enthusiasm, heading for an upscale restaurant on the main street.

◇◇◇

The meal was as delicious as the price suggested. However, there were a few issues besides the taste: the staff were reluctant to seat them in the back, and an unfamiliar male customer tried to trip Flam. But showing a bag of gold coins made the staff more cooperative, and the man ended up having his foot stepped on by Flam. These were minor problems. Milkit, tasting new dishes for the first time, tried to guess the ingredients and seasonings used. Flam, watching her with a smile, enjoyed the high-end dishes he had never tried before. Since it was lunch, the prices were more reasonable, and the restaurant had many casually dressed customers. Of course, there were also people who looked like they lived in the East District, but they were in the minority. As they ate, they gradually forgot about the woman who resembled Satyros.

After leaving the restaurant, they spent the rest of the day visiting various shops. They looked at accessories at a street stall, and Milkit was bombarded with questions about her favorite designs. They searched for cursed equipment but found none, and ended up buying a kitchen knife for no particular reason. They entered a different clothing store and bought Flam new white hot pants, and then made Milkit wear something similar, making her blush. Their playful behavior made them look like typical teenagers, despite their unusual attire. They were sixteen and fourteen, after all, and at an age when they should be enjoying themselves.

After fully enjoying the day, Flam and Milkit bought some groceries and returned home. Greeted by Eterna,

"Good job on your date."

She teased them. When Flam went upstairs, he heard Ink's voice through the door,

"Flam, did you have fun on your date?"

The residents said whatever they wanted, but Flam felt at ease because he had actually enjoyed it. He replied, "Yes, it was fun," and both Eterna and Ink genuinely said, "That's good to hear."

Later, while Flam was refining Prana and practicing magic control in his room, he heard Milkit preparing dinner downstairs. He stopped his training and went down to help her. As the food neared completion, Eterna appeared in the living room, drawn by the smell. She was made to serve the food, and a pleasant dinner began.

After dinner, a relaxed and peaceful post-meal time began. Flam observed Milkit, who was engrossed in making accessories, or hugged her from behind and read a book with her on the bed. When the bath was ready, they took turns, with Eterna, Flam, and Milkit going in that order. Ink was apparently drying off in Eterna's room and would join her later.

After the bath, it was time to go to bed. They got into the same bed, feeling each other's warmth despite the slight embarrassment, and fell asleep. Saying goodbye to the happy reality, they drifted into happy dreams. The night passed without incident, at least for today.

◇◇◇

The next day, Flam headed to the guild early in the morning. He took a job from Ira, who had a bad attitude, and went out of the capital to hunt D-rank monsters. He was now strong enough to handle A-rank monsters with ease. The problem was that there were no monsters higher than B-rank in the area around the capital. To aim for a higher rank, he would need to go on expeditions like Dain, or use numbers to get rewards. However, Flam's current goal was not to advance his adventurer rank. He could already earn enough to live on by hunting the monsters around the capital. Moreover, he had little interest in status or honor, so he was content with his current rank.

After completing the job, he also hunted some monsters unrelated to the request for medicinal ingredients, as Eterna had asked. Flam returned to the guild in the evening, handed over the items to Ira at the counter, and was met with her usual complaints.

"You're too efficient, it's boring."

They had a light argument, and he received his reward.

"By the way, is Gadio in his room?"

"The master went home early today. He said he was going to the store you told him about."

"To me?"

He remembered—yes, he had been asked.

A while ago, when they met at the guild, Gadio had asked, "Do you know what kind of food young girls like these days?" Flam had wondered about the unusual question but now realized it was about Halom. At the time, Flam had answered,

"Yes, it's delicious. Very delicious."

It was the name of a confectionery shop he had visited with Kiril. Thinking of her smile from back then still made his heart ache. But at least the time they spent together was a good memory, and the cake was delicious. He believed his recommendation was spot on.

"But… that store, huh?"

The taste was impeccable, but the store had a very fancy appearance. Imagining Gadio entering it was a mismatch. He would probably stand out, but it was also endearing to see a father buying a cake for his daughter.

"Also, someone is waiting for you at the introduction desk."

"Huh, someone waiting for me… Oh, it's Reach."

"With the master and the president of Manchessy Company, I'm starting to get a little scared of your connections. Can you introduce me to someone next time?"

"If Ira starts living a bit more seriously, I might consider it."

"Ke, cheeky. I'm trying to live seriously, you know?"

Ignoring Ira's complaints, Flam approached Reach, who was waiting at the introduction desk. He seemed deep in thought, resting his elbows on the table. He didn't notice Flam until she greeted him.

"Hello."

"Ah, Flam… You came."

"Sorry to keep you waiting, even though you're busy."

"No, I was just waiting. I had to… I had to confirm something."

Reach's serious expression made Flam tense as he sat across from him. After hesitating a few times and checking if anyone was eavesdropping, Reach spoke in a low, small voice.

"Is it true that you killed Satyros?"

Flam was taken aback by the question. Why would a busy man like Reach take the time to wait for her, just to confirm Satyros' death?

"…Is she alive?"

"Yes, it's true that she went missing, but she returned to the mansion last night. I spoke with her this morning."

"Wh-what…?"

Flam held his head. He had thoroughly destroyed her body, and he had confirmed that her heart had stopped. Was it a body double? But that didn't make sense, as no one else could enter that room. Then, could the Satyros he spoke to this morning be the body double?

"Reach, how was Satyros when you saw her?"

"There was something off. When she first saw me, she acted as if she didn't recognize my face. Even if she was unwell, the real Satyros wouldn't make such a mistake. But she quickly remembered, and the rest of the conversation was just like the usual Satyros."

"I see. So it was really her…"

"From your reaction, I can tell that she was indeed at your hands."

"Yes, without a doubt. It's impossible for her to be alive in that state."

If Reach's words were true, it was likely the real Satyros. Even if there were body doubles, it would be impossible to find someone with the exact same appearance. Even if it were close, it would be hard to fool someone as perceptive as Reach.

"Someone who was supposed to be dead, coming back to life…?"

There was only one organization capable of such a feat: the Church. They had been conducting research to revive the dead by implanting cores into corpses… or so it was believed. But Satyros was not a loyal soldier; she had returned to her original state. In a way, this was even more terrifying—

"Flam, you look like you have an idea."

"That's… the Church. Under the Pope, there are five cardinals, the highest-ranking officials in the organization. One of them, Slowanak Seiti, is the one Satyros made a contract with."

"Ah, I see."

Flam felt that Reach and the others were still at a point where they could turn back. He couldn't tell them everything.

"The Church has a research team called Necromancy, which is likely responsible for reviving Satyros."

"Meaning, they can bring the dead back to life? Is that even possible?"

Reach's question was valid. Flam himself still had trouble believing it. But considering how the core had maintained Ink's life, it seemed plausible. However, the revived person would be a different entity.

Flam then explained the Origin Cores used by the Church, which could be implanted into monsters or humans to create monstrous beings with strange powers. The mutilated bodies found in the capital were victims of this. The Origin power had a will of its own, and Flam was a target.

"Your story goes far beyond my imagination."

After hearing it, Reach covered his face, clearly overwhelmed. Flam waited silently as he processed the information.

"…But the Church has been hiding their research. Why is Satyros walking around openly?"

"Perhaps they are in a hurry, or her being outside is part of an experiment?"

"If it's an experiment, they could have chosen someone less conspicuous. Maybe it's a trap to lure you, Flam?"

"If it's a trap, I should have been caught by now. I visited Satyros' mansion yesterday, but the Church hasn't made a move."

"Her intentions are completely unclear."

"Yes. The only thing I can say is that you should avoid the current Satyros as much as possible."

Even after exchanging information, they still didn't understand her purpose. Reach had to go to work, so they parted ways.

◇◇◇

—He had done something out of character. He remembered standing in line to buy Tia's favorite treat, feeling embarrassed about buying a gift for someone.

"I hope Kereina and Halom will be happy…"

Gadio, holding the small box with the cake, headed home. He knew he couldn't keep dwelling on Tia and Soma's deaths. He wanted Gadio to find his own happiness, which Tia and Soma would have wished for. But the biggest issue was whether Gadio could accept it. As long as he couldn't let go of the guilt for abandoning his loved ones and friends, he couldn't move forward. Still, if he could meet Kereina and Halom's expectations, even a little.

He stood at the gate, unusually nervous, and exhaled. As he approached the front door, it opened from the inside.

"Ha… ha… Gadio, you're finally back!?"

Kereina, pale-faced, greeted him.

"Yes, I bought a cake for Halom."

"Thank you… but, but that's not the point!"

Her reaction was unusual. Something must have happened to Halom. Kereina tried to pull him somewhere, but stopped, saying, "Ah…" Gadio followed her gaze and froze at the sight of the person standing there.

"Welcome back… oh, I guess it's the other way around, isn't it?"

She spoke in a bright voice, just like in his memory.

"I'm home, Gario-kun!"

Her radiant smile overlapped with the face of the woman he loved most, who had sacrificed her life to save him six years ago—no, it wasn't just similar. It was exactly the same.

"Tia…?"

There was no mistaking it. At least when it came to her, Gadio had never forgotten her face, even for a moment. But that's why he was confused. Why—impossible—

"Of course! No matter how you look at it, it's me. Your partner and wife, Tia Raskart!"

Such nonsense—

Before he could feel joy, his mind went blank. He had seen her die with his own eyes. Yet, there she was, standing there, just as she was in life. It was abnormal, a scene that should not be accepted. His adventurer-trained rationality screamed not to get close. But the overwhelming joy that followed filled his mind. The box with the cake fell from his hand. Before he knew it, he was hugging Tia tightly.