Wrought Iron Taimanin Chapter 11: Date Part 1 (Patreon)

Partially beta read by Paragon of Awesomeness, GamerCrusher55 and FabledLife

Next update is Nanoha and Broly.

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-Demon City Tokyo- 

Laughter and coos echoed within the room. 

The interior was a luxurious parlor, glittering with color and decoration. Paintings covered the walls from one end to the other, almost every one depicting women in revealing outfits, with some leaving practically nothing to the imagination. The air was permeated by a mixture of expensive perfumes and wine, creating a dense fragrance that could leave someone slightly intoxicated after spending enough time inside… or leave them with a burned-out nostril.

At the center of the room, a large sofa accommodated a single man who was surrounded by several women on it, all dressed in outfits designed to reveal and accentuate their figures: cocktail dresses, loose kimonos, and French maids. 

“You have a fine face, and those lips of yours do look quite tasty. Want to taste mine?” 

Their cleavage pressed against his arms on either side, while one of them was bold enough to rest her chin on his shoulders, and another traced fingers along his face. A girl in front of him leaned closer with seductive smiles and words that would have left many men weak in the knees.

At that time, a middle-aged woman soon approached the group, being a bigger presence than the girls but still having a lot of charm. Heavy makeup and the expensive dress she wore revealed considerably less than those surrounding him. Several gem-encrusted rings decorated her fingers, and a folder rested in one hand. 

Pa!

With a loud slap, the file dropped onto the nearby table loudly enough to startle the girls. "Alright, girls, leave the boy alone; he's our respected guest."

"Come on, Madam, we've just upped our game," one of the girls protested, glancing toward the white-haired man between them. "He's clearly enjoying our conversation. Isn't that right, Emiya?"

"Hey, back off!” Another girl leaned closer from the opposite side, her eyelashes fluttering. “He was talking with me. Do you agree? I learned a special nuru massage technique just for you~! I'll even give it to you for free today. Won't you accompany me and see how good I am?" 

Same as always, though he felt they were being a bit bolder than usual. Faced with their attention, he could only smile. "I appreciate the offer, girls, but maybe next time."

“Aaaaaw…”

“Again with that.” 

“I even used my limited edition makeup set today!”

Several pouts and complaints immediately appeared around him. "You always say that, but you never sleep with us. Do you hate us? Are we too dirty for you?"

“Heh, is that what comes to mind?” He reached for one of their hands and raised it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against the back. "Of course not. I wouldn't have such thoughts. I'm happy seeing you all here and having this conversation with you, with lovely ladies like you. How about this? To make it up, I'll give you a week's worth of free food and free drinks on the house."

“Woah!” 

The reaction proved instantaneous. Several pairs of eyes widened, sparkling with delight as the girls exchanged excited looks. 

"Really?"

"Of course. I don't go back on my word."

"Okay!"

That ended up working better than he anticipated; they soon scattered, and one of the girls even took the opportunity to plant a quick kiss against the side of his face. “I'll give you my phone number next time I visit the cafe, for when you may want some free services.” She whispered before winking and running away.

"Hey, that was not fair, Luna! You cheated!"

Watching the girls rush after the mischievous one, Madam Evelyn could only exhale through her nose and look back toward her guest with exasperation. "You do know they'll take full advantage of what you promised and empty your little shop's savings, right? They may have exceptional bodies, but they can easily consume three times the amount of a regular man."

Oh, that was no secret; Emiya knew perfectly well how much they could consume, along with their favorite dishes and drinks. There remained a real possibility that a week's worth of free food and drinks could push his shop's expenses far higher than usual, but he also trusted his own ability to keep up. If he prepared something filling without sacrificing taste, satisfying them for the week would not be impossible.

"But I am curious. Will you ever pick one of them? Or are you already sleeping with that cute waitress of yours?"

“No,” he shook his head, hardly surprised by the suspicion. Sakura's behavior could easily be misunderstood by anyone watching from the outside, and Evelyn possessed a keen enough eye to notice details most people would overlook. "There is nothing between us except for the standard boss and employee relationship, and friends at most."

Rolling her eyes, Evelyn picked up a cup of tea and took a sip before setting her attention back on him. "Both of us know that the girl is in love with you, or at minimum has a hell of a crush on you."

"I am well aware."

If all the teasing and flaunting her butt at him at least several dozen times a day wasn't enough to clue him — then he would truly be blind.

"And you still won’t touch her?"

“…”

At that, he smiled faintly, but no answer followed. 

“Humph, fine. Let's leave it at that.” The cup returned to the table as she studied him with a more thoughtful expression. "I have dealt with many kinds of clients in the past, and one who is not swayed by beauty is not a rarity, as some might believe. They just have better control, are preoccupied with something else, or have physical issues. Of course, I know it's not the latter for you, and you're not an emotionless demon — as ironic as the latter sounds. I feel like you give me the impression of one of those old veteran soldiers who are just far too numb to everything. It's both a hard thing and tragic to see those kinds of eyes on someone as young as you."

“Oh?” 

This Evelyn, no matter how many times he spoke to her and familiarized himself with her personality… she always knew how to catch him off guard. 

“Are you a mind reader?”

“No, I just trust my guts. And my guts allowed me to survive half a century in this industry for a reason.”

“…Just how old are you?” 

She barely looked past her late thirties.

“Enough to be your ancestor, brat.” 

Aside from that last part being the other way around, his opinion of the woman sitting across from him had changed. Madam Evelyn possessed an unusual talent for reading people, capable of noticing things hidden beneath layers that most would never think to examine. Even he could not completely conceal everything from her, and that realization only increased the respect he had for her ability to understand people.

"Has there been any good news?"

“Hah… hardly.”

The relaxed expression disappeared. 

Evelyn straightened, retrieved the folder from the table, and opened it before placing several papers in front of him. 

"These are just copies that I have already sent you about that Taimanin you were searching for. I won't bore you with the details again since you've already read it. Former Taimanin Mizuki Shiranui, one of the best, if not the best, Taimanin who was said to be one of the few capable of surpassing or equaling the likes of Asagi. Retired, married, and even a mother. She decided to live a comfortable life to raise her child and stepped away from this whole business. Current location: unknown. Though a little birdie did mention to me that she left the village yesterday. But with no concrete proof, that's all I can say."

He leaned over the documents, glancing at one of the entries in particular. "What about her abilities? Why do you have these question marks over there?"

At that, she shrugged helplessly. "Unfortunately, I was not able to acquire that much information about her abilities. I know she's quite capable and managed to defeat all her enemies using a spear-like weapon, almost a halberd. There are simply no enemies or targets she faced in the past that managed to survive or escape her. But I do know it has something to do with water, but even that is mostly rumours.”

“That efficient, huh?” 

“I'd say stubbornly deadly, but sure… efficient works too in this context.”

Not bad news, but definitely a bit irksome. Not that it made her any less useful.

Taimanin possessed diverse ninja arts no different from magical abilities and strength far beyond ordinary humans, with some capable of wielding weapons several times their own weight without any apparent difficulty. His thoughts briefly returned to Murasaki and the weapon she carried, a massive axe capable of crushing a demon in half and cutting through one with ease. She could swing it as though the thing weighed nothing, making the sparse details in the report even more frustrating.

"This is not enough."

"I know. Unfortunately, that's all I could gather. No refund, though."

Somehow, he already knew she would say that. "Come now, Evelyn. We are close enough for you to know that I would never ask for such a thing. I am quite familiar with your expertise and have always been satisfied. For you to not have this much really means someone went out of their way to erase her records."

“Ha! Clever brat, you catch on quickly.” The woman massaged her forehead. "It's most likely the elders, but to go to this extent… clearly something more, someone else on another level of power is contributing to this. Even public records are being tampered with. My gut feeling is telling me this is a recent thing."

"I'll trust your guts more than rumours. Then that means finding her will be impossible." 

Emiya's expression tightened. 

His priority had been to find this person and assess her abilities, if only to determine whether she truly possessed the level of power Kyosuke had insisted upon. Going through his memories offered no obvious match. There had never been an instance where he could recall facing someone who fit the description or that face. Even if he had encountered her and emerged victorious, he might not remember it, since his usual approach involved immediately going for the Black and killing as quickly as possible rather than paying attention to the surrounding area or the people nearby.

"I may have a solution to our problems."

The unexpected suggestion made him raise an eyebrow, allowing her to continue. "At the end of the day, I am just an information broker. I can only share what I have been told, what I have learned, what others have learned, and whatever news spreads through word of mouth. The clients who come here and share their secrets after sleeping with one of our girls are not exactly the highest echelon of individuals. Most of them are just regular blue-collar or white-collar workers. We do get high-profile people, but it's quite rare. So I'm suggesting hiring a professional."

"A professional?" 

That got him curious. 

She nodded. "It won't be cheap, that I can tell you. If you think I am expensive, then you have something else to worry about."

"Money is not an issue at the moment." He waved away the concern, Evelyn herself wasn't expensive to begin with. He just never told her that, this woman would immediately double the price with a weak excuse.

But the way she said it…

"Unless it's not money that you want."

"Humph, are we sure you're not the mind reader here?"

“I wouldn't even bother to pay for your services if that was the case.” 

"Fair, now tell me, the destruction of the arena… are you aware of it?"

Again, he paused internally before clicking his tongue. This woman is far too intuitive but showed nothing on his face. 

"Why would you believe that?" he asked with genuine curiosity. "I was merely an observer before leaving. The commotion was documented very well as three Taimanin who broke in to save their little friend."

"I don't care if it was you or if you're a criminal mastermind or not. You're my customer." Madam Evelyn leaned back slightly, the sofa creaking from her weight. "I'm just asking out of curiosity more than anything else. And besides, one doesn't have to raise a blade to be responsible for destruction. Regardless, I'm willing to cover half of the cost you would pay for this professional in return for you sharing the information with me, since they have a policy of not allowing third parties to get involved or learn about this matter."

"That's it?" Emiya's eyebrows lifted slightly.

There had to be more. 

"I take pride in both my primary and secondary professions. You think you'll be the only one who will come here to ask about Shiranui? Tough chance. I don't want to be empty-handed when a second customer who may as well demand a refund arrives."

She had a point and he couldn't ask her to not sell this information with others too. 

"Then consider it a deal. But who is this professional, if you don't mind me asking?" Evelyn reached into her clothing and produced a card before flicking it toward him. He caught it between his fingers and immediately grew confused while examining the strange object. "I can't read it."

The card contained characters that shifted across its surface, moving around like pieces of a spell that refused to settle into a recognizable pattern. None of it made any sense to him at first glance. Yet if this woman had given it to him, there had to be something he was missing. Usung structural analysis, he examined the card more carefully, trying to determine whether it truly amounted to nothing more than a simple card enchanted with some kind of spell. 

“Hm?” The instant his magical energy touched the surface, the characters suddenly shifted into place. One after another, they aligned until a sentence finally formed across the card: "I see, the material is sensitive to supernatural elements. Annerose Detective Agency?"

Clever. Whoever was behind this idea made sure that only the right kind of customer would go to get their services. Though the town name did catch his attention. “Amidahara?” 

A bit far away, though distance posed little concern for him.

Evelyn nodded, "I know the owner of the agency. Mercenary, detective, assassin, smuggler, whatever is necessary for the mission this person will do for the right price. They are quite good at their job, and their leader is a capable woman as well. Many people call her the Steel Witch.” 

He hummed in acknowledgement before slipping the card into his pocket. "How much would it cost?"

"Somewhere in the millions, easily past six million yen most likely, given the nature of this request." Evelyn folded her arms. "You're not exactly asking for dirt on a cheating spouse or trying to find the monster behind a murder or kidnapping. This is a high-profile Taimanin, and finding her will require the most expensive service. But like I said, I'll cover half of the cost in exchange for you sharing whatever information she finds with me."

Something else emerged from her cleavage, this time a small bag that she tossed at him. He caught it easily and opened it, only for his eyes to widen slightly at the sight of several diamonds resting within, gems of different colors and varieties, each one shining with exceptional clarity and purity.

This… 

"Is being the owner of a brothel and an information broker really that lucrative?" Emiya looked from the diamonds to their owner, still somewhat surprised by the sheer value sitting inside the small bag.

"High risk, high reward."

"Why not just buy an entire building or villa somewhere better than here?" He tucked the bag away while continuing the conversation out of genuine curiosity. Being a cafe owner, he regularly heard all the challenges the girl had to deal with working in these parts. "It would certainly help your girls from being targeted by certain unsavory individuals, and the customers would be better. I recall some of the girls mentioning that death was not exactly unheard of, given how violent some of their clients could get. While I cannot guarantee the same would not happen with higher-class people, at least they would be safer living in those areas than here."

A scoff escaped her. "You let me handle my business and I won't meddle with yours. Besides, the girls would not accept having to move even if I tried to do so. And you are to blame for that."

Hard to tell if she was telling the truth or not. While he and those women were familiar with each other, were they really that attached to the cafe? 

Convoluted, no matter which angle one were to look from. Feeling the gems through his pocket, he headed toward the exit. "Guess I'll take responsibility for that.”

{Break}

(A few days later)

-Copenhagen Cafe-

Aside from the matters connected to the investigation, everything else had returned to normal for him despite the destruction of the Chaos Arena. 

Whatever had happened there quickly found itself pushed to the back burner by Nomad. 

If Ingrid had been the one in charge of handling the aftermath, he had to give the woman credit. She knew how to create a convincing cover story in less than twenty-four hours and clear the entire area before the public had any opportunity to become too curious. All that remained of the arena now consisted of an empty plot of land. Even the rubble had disappeared, while the underground facilities had been buried beneath layers of cement. No wonder Black always kept her as his second in command. 

Even if her combat abilities were set aside, her talent for managing situations like this ranked among the best Emiya had ever seen.

'She did all of this while spending three hours at the cafe this morning without showing any signs of fatigue. Maybe her demonic body means she doesn't need as much rest as a normal human.’ he considered as he went about his own routine. 

Whatever the reason, it no longer concerned him. For the moment, the Counter Guardian had other things to deal with, namely keeping up the ordinary daily life of a cafe owner. Unfortunately, that ordinary life had developed a problem he never imagined he would face during his entire existence, and certainly not while working for the Counter Force.

“Hm…”

Sitting behind the counter and looking across the crowded cafe made the issue impossible to ignore. Nearly every table had someone occupying it, while a small line had even formed outside the entrance as customers waited for a place to open. 

The popularity of the establishment had not reached the point where people from the other side of the city were specifically traveling there, but the situation had still grown far beyond anything he originally intended. The explosion that destroyed the Chaos Arena had affected several nearby businesses, including bars and nightclubs, forcing many of them to close temporarily. That sent their usual customers searching for somewhere else to spend their time. His cafe happened to sit close enough for those displaced customers to find it convenient, yet far enough from the destruction that it avoided serious damage and the city's reconstruction orders.

"I might need to expand."

The thought alone felt strange to someone who had spent his existence dealing with threats to humanity rather than worrying about the number of seats available in a cafe. 

"One banana split sundae coming up!"

A familiar voice immediately drew his attention toward the other side of the room. Another factor had contributed to the cafe's sudden popularity, and it came in the form of a particular blonde waitress who had no problem flaunting her body suggestively while serving the customers. The tactic had certainly captured the attention of plenty of men who otherwise might never have stepped inside.

As if proving his point, Sakura strutted toward him, gave him a playful wink, then blew him a kiss. 

“Heh, this girl.” A simple nod acknowledged the gesture before his attention returned to the coffee machine and the drinks waiting to be prepared. Coffee, cappuccino, fruit juice, and everything else on the growing list of orders needed to keep moving if he wanted to prevent the line from getting even longer.

'I should save some of these ingredients for the girls from the brothel. They'll definitely order cocktails with them later.'

"Wow, today is a busy day!"

Sakura stopped beside the counter, glancing around at the packed tables and the customers waiting outside. The sight clearly impressed her, while Emiya simply looked over the crowd again.

"Looks like it. At this rate, I might need to change the upper floor, create more sitting areas, and build a third floor for my room."

"Really? That's amazing! That means business is really moving! All thanks to me, right?"

The expectant look she gave him was quite cute. Denying the claim would have been pointless. In a way, if she had never started working there, the cafe probably would not have become this popular. Still, Emiya had never planned for the business to grow to this level in the first place — regardless of how good the food was. Despite that, he had to admit the experience proved far more enjoyable than he initially expected, and her contribution deserved some credit.

“Yes… yes, all thanks to you.” 

"If that's the case, then I should also get a room for all my effort!"

“Huh?” He tilted his head slightly at that suggestion. "Why do you even need your own room in the first place? You already have a house nearby."

"Are you denying the opportunity for a cute and sexy girl living on the same floor as you?"

"I feel like it's more of a trap."

"How mean! It's more of an opportunity! You get a free labor worker working in the same building who can start work at any time and can even work late! And again, a cute beauty that is sleeping only a few meters away from you! Imagine accidentally using the shower when I'm taking one and me going “kya, pervert~!” You know how many people dream of such a thing!?"

Alright, this one definitely had a wild imagination. Literally the complete opposite of the other Sakura he knew. "I'm going to ignore the shower comment. But free labor workers? Since when are you working here for free?"

"Well… I do accept below minimum wage, but you're the one who insisted on paying me more. So it's your fault that you're not taking advantage of me."

Wasn't she the one asking him for a raise several times in the past? How quickly that changed. But, he wouldn't fall for her tricks. "Minimum wage plus all the food, sweets, and drinks you get here for free is more than double your wage, you know?"

“Are you calling me fat?” 

Looking down at her, Emiya gave her stomach a light poke. "I'm calling you a glutton. It's a surprise you managed to remain as slim as you are now."

“Kya! Hey! D-Don't poke me like that!” 

Like a squirrel, Sakura jumped at his touch, his teasing immediately turning her face bright red. Pushing his hand away and looking genuinely offended, though the embarrassment behind her expression made it difficult to take the outrage too seriously.

"Don't ever do that to a woman! I'll have you know I put a lot of effort into keeping my figure as it is right now! I burn through a lot of calories every day with all the exercise I'm doing, okay?"

Rolling his eyes, he could hardly argue with that explanation. As a Taimanin, she certainly trained far more than an ordinary woman, and he also suspected that her metabolism was also different given the demon side. 

"Of course, I don't doubt you."

"Maybe I could show you the truth with us going on a run together! How about I teach you some exercise movements and give you a yoga class after service ends?"

“No.”

“Oh come on!”

"I'm perfectly fit as I am right now."

A hand immediately reached for his arm, wasting no time squeezing them along with his forearm and biceps. With Sakura's face becoming increasingly perplexed with each passing second.

"How the hell does a cafe owner have such a strong physique? There's barely any fat and I have never seen you go to the gym nor do you have any weights in your room. You know, I never realized it, but you have some serious muscles behind that loose shirt of yours. You keep it hidden this entire time with those long sleeves, only showing off your forearms. No wonder those sluts from the brothels always like hugging you like this."

Her fingers squeezed his arm several times as she continued examining the muscle beneath the fabric. After a few seconds, however, her eyes lost focus, and the hand that had started on his arm gradually moved higher.

"Sakura?"

“Ah!’

That finally snapped her out of it. Looking down, she noticed that her hand had reached his chest, and the realization instantly brought another flush to her face. An awkward laugh escaped her as she pulled her hand back.

"O-O, I didn't n-notice. You can touch my chest in return if you want."

Crossing her arms beneath her breasts, she pushed them upward to emphasize her cleavage while giving him a provocative look. Emiya could only wonder if she had been getting bolder with each passing day, or if this had always been part of her personality and he had simply become more accustomed to it. 

"Hey, b-boss." The playful tone had disappeared by the time she called him. Her expression turned uncertain, and after a moment of hesitation, "Do you… do you have any free time this weekend?"

He quirked a brow. “Why do you ask?”

"There's a possibility that very soon, I may need to go back to my home village for some family-related matters, and I'm not sure how long I'll stay there. It could be from a few days to maybe a few weeks, maybe longer for all I know. And I'm sorry about telling you this now."

So they really were going back to Gosha.

“I see.” He nodded, having suspected that her group would return to Gosha sooner or later, though he had expected them to leave the Arena and head back that same night. Instead, they returned a few days later with Murasaki in tow. His first assumption had been that they simply wanted to wait for the security around town to settle down before slipping away. For highly trained Taimanin like them, however, that alone should not have been enough to keep them there for several days. 

"Are you afraid that I'll replace you or fire you because of your leave of absence?" he asked, a faint smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

Sakura nodded. 

“W-Will you miss me? Since I've gotten used to being around you, I'll also miss you too, Emiya.” 

"You are my number one and most competent employee. Not having a loudmouth like you around would make the place pretty dull, but I'll manage if I have to."

“Hehehe, I'm really your number one, yay~!” A smile spread across her face at that answer. 

“You and your selective hearing.” Shaking his head in amusement, the man lifted a hand toward her hair, intending to ruffle it a bit and get a reaction, but the instant his fingers neared her head, his vision flashed. 

The cafe disappeared, replaced by a ruined city surrounded by raging fires, screams, and blood. His hand held one of the countless swords he had used to destroy an army of demons that Black had desperately tried to gather against him. 

Rain poured upon the hellish scene, mixing with the bodies and creating a never ending ocean of blood.

One of those blades had not struck a demon at all. Instead, it had pierced the face of a certain Taimanin whose skin had lost its usual shine and turned crimson as the signs of demonic transformation spread across her body. Her blonde hair remained recognizable, however, and the blade had passed through her face, leaving only a red eye and the surrounding yellow sclera visible. 

“…”

Another memory showed that same face half reduced to charred remains, while an older sister desperately shielded the other half in a futile attempt to protect her younger sibling from the flames. 

“…”

Every moment of these instances led toward the same conclusion, her death caused either directly by his hand or by the consequences of his own actions.

The small glimpse into the past ended as soon as it started, leaving him standing before her once more. His hand remained suspended for a moment before his fingers curled slightly and he pulled it back. 

He… he… could not… was it regret? Or disgust at his past actions? The answer came to him in an instant, it was disgust at his current ones.

That tiny hesitation did not escape Sakura, who immediately noticed it and broke into a mischievous grin.

"Are you too shy to touch my head in public~? You can do it, I don't mind. After all, I did offer to let you touch my chest."

The bright smile on her face drew his attention for a moment longer than it should have.

Just like with Asagi, the same question resurfaced. If she ever discovered the truth behind those visions, would that expression remain? Perhaps it would disappear beneath horror, hatred, or the desire for revenge. 

"Oh, I'm just making sure to not make any enemies. Our little Sakura has plenty of admirers here."

"They can suck it up. For them I'm eye-candy, nothing more. But that's beside the point. Are you free soon? This weekend?"

He considered the question before remembering another engagement he already had planned. An apologetic look replaced his earlier amusement as he shook his head. "I have plans with a friend soon. Maybe next time."

That immediately made the girl visibly suspicious. 

"A friend? Who is this friend? It's a woman, isn't it? Is it that one who comes almost every day and gives you those horrendously fake googly flirtatious eyes and caked up makeup face who is a severe alcoholic as she stinks of booze?"

“Pft-hahaha!” 

Googly flirtatious eyes? Alcoholic? Caked up makeup face?” That certainly offered a unique interpretation of Ingrid's expression whenever she visited the cafe to release some of the stress that had built up around her. Exhaustion had usually been the most obvious thing in her face, but lately there had been a subtle change in the way she looked at him. He was not blind enough to miss it, and part of the blame belonged to him for the way he had treated her and allowed their relationship to develop.

Though he was pretty sure that aside from lipstick, the Hell Knight barely used any makeup on her face. A natural beauty who had no need for that or just someone who simply did not care. 

"It's a secret and personal matter." A quick flick of his finger landed against Sakura's forehead before he pointed toward the tables behind her. "Go back to work. I see some empty plates behind you, and someone is asking for utensils."

“Humph!” A scoff escaped her as she rubbed her forehead, but she still glanced toward the customer who had been waiting. "Don't try to change the subject. I really meant that you can touch my chest if you want. I don't mind."

"Maybe next time."

“Ah, so you agreed!” 

“…I won't even attempt correcting you.”

Reaching behind the counter, he picked up the requested utensils, a fork and butter knife, then held them out to her. 

“—!”

The moment she noticed the knife, however, her body stiffened and she instinctively took a step backward — enough to surprise him. "What's wrong?"

"It's no-nothing… j-just some bad memories that came back… hahaha… yeah, bad memories… tch, fucking white hooded maniac."

It really was difficult to resist teasing her a little further. 

"Issues with a butter knife of all things?"

"Of course not! Why would I have issues with that!?" She quickly snatched the utensil from his hand and backed away toward the tables, though the muttering under her breath still reached him. "Damn bastard, it was just a butter knife. How could he act like it was so dangerous in the first place? It's all his fault."

“…”

Perhaps he had taken things a tiny bit too far with that utensil back then.

Truthfully, he had chosen it because he did not want to hurt her and needed to make her understand that, at her current level, she remained far too weak to fight on the front lines. Using any other recognizable weapon from his collection would also have created unnecessary risks. If anyone saw one of those weapons and reported its details back to Black, then best to prepare for a reset the same instant. Even when he killed Oboro, he had avoided his swords and used a piece of rebar steel instead. 

‘Hah, I should have just smacked her unconscious.’

Looking back at Sakura's reaction, perhaps he had pushed the lesson a little too far indeed.

‘I’ll find a way to make it up to her.’

Returning his attention to his job, the man continued preparing food and drinks for the customers until he realized that the supplies behind the counter needed replenishing. At this rate, the current stock would not last much longer. Before, the inventory could easily sustain the cafe for two weeks, but the increased number of customers had changed that considerably. 

With a sigh, he stepped through the door behind the counter and moved away from the customers' view with a cup of coffee in hand. Entering the storage room filled with cartons of fruit, other produce, coffee grounds, and everything else needed to keep the cafe running. Most of the shelves remained stocked, but judging by how quickly the supplies had been disappearing, he doubted there would be enough left to last even three more days.

Scratch

A pen moved across paper and he turned toward the small desk on the other side of the room, where his office should have been. 

Sitting there, a certain dark-haired woman had spread several sheets of records across the surface, sorting through inventory lists, shop expenses, financial records, and other paperwork that had apparently caught her attention; far more than he expected. So focused that she had not heard him enter, barely acknowledging his presence until a cup of coffee landed beside her with a soft clink. 

“Ah!” The sudden movement startled her, making her jerk slightly before looking up in surprise. "Emiya? You scared me."

The fact that she had not noticed him at all surprised him. Someone with her level of Taimanin training should have picked up on another person's presence much sooner, especially inside a familiar location. Perhaps she had simply lowered her guard while working here, or maybe she had become so absorbed in the records that she stopped paying attention to anything around her. Either way, it was amusing considering he had not even bothered trying to move quietly.

"Busy, aren't we?" He glanced over the papers, most of which consisted of his café's expenditures, inventory, financial records, and other details that he had never bothered to organize properly.

A frown grew across her face as she looked back down at the mess. "How did you keep this place afloat for this long? There was barely anything written here! Entire weeks are missing, some of the records don't match, and there is money appearing from nowhere! Especially earlier on."

A helpless grin crossed his face. "Well, I don't really have a habit of doing paperwork. I mostly keep track of the numbers inside my head." 

Truthfully, things had been far less legitimate during the café's early days. He had taken money from some of the nearby gangs after dealing with them or sold a few items through Evelyn, then used the money to keep the place running. That had also been how he first met the information broker and learned what she did, but there was no way he could explain that without creating an entirely different conversation. 

“I had some savings before I came here.” 

"I see."

Taking the seat on the other side of the desk, she looked over the records again before giving him a helpless expression. "You can't keep going like this. It's just… you're extremely lucky that you haven't run into any problems yet."

"This is the first time someone has ever called me lucky." A faint smile tugged at his mouth before he glanced at the paperwork again. "Is it that bad?"

"Not really, you're in the green. But if you look at it in depth, it's definitely not good not keeping records in case something bad happens." 

"Good thing I have a competent employee capable of resolving this small issue of mine."

Her chest puffed up in pride at his compliment. "Now you definitely owe me one. Perhaps I might ask for a raise very soon, boss."

His eye twitched at the remark, the two sisters definitely had more in common. "Given that you haven't even been employed for a month, who knows. Maybe I can pay you back in other ways?"

The smile widened as curiosity entered her expression. "I'm curious. How do you plan on doing so?"

"Just like with Sakura, free food and free drinks."

That strategy never failed with anyone so far.

“Oh my, for a moment I must have been imagining something else then. But, I'll have to decline that, or else I might lose control and gain a lot of weight by doing so."

It failed?

Well that was a first. 

A second later, both ended up laughing. Once their amusement settled, Emiya glanced toward her again.

"Are you feeling better these days?"

The smile on her face faded somewhat as she nodded. "It's been hard after his passing. I don't know how to put it into words, but I was driven by a single emotion to continue day by day. Even trying to smile had been a challenge."

He figured that would be the case.

The desire for revenge and the need to kill Oboro. Yet with that woman having died, perhaps the goal that had kept her moving for so long had left her feeling lost afterward. He suspected it would only be a matter of time before her attention shifted toward Black after she realized that Oboro had nearly been nothing more than someone following orders. For all he knew, that realization had already happened.

If not, he could always act as a mysterious messenger to deliver the truth. 

"Sakura has been doing her best with me, trying to cheer me up and getting me to do several activities. Even this job, I know she tried to push it on me so that I could be distracted and keep myself occupied in a way."

"She's a good sister."

"Yes, she is." A small smile returned as she looked down at the papers. “I don't deserve her.” 

“Don't belittle yourself like that, Asagi.”

“I'll… try.” 

Best to change the conversation, “Things have been getting pretty hectic in this town. Sometimes I worry about the safety of the café, especially after what happened nearby with the Chaos Arena. Even if it's merely a nuisance, you can't help but worry when something like that happens so close by."

"You don't need to worry. I'll do my best to keep you safe." Asagi said with a stern voice, that previous weakness in her tone disappearing entirely. 

"It should be the other way around, shouldn't it? If this place gets into trouble and both of you are caught up in it, it's my duty to keep you safe."

A hint of amusement returned to her face. "A woman can protect a man, you know? I might not look like it, but I am quite capable myself."

"I don't doubt that. But that won't change my opinion. I'm not someone who needs to be saved or any kind of help."

Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him almost challengingly. "We'll see about that."

"Heh, aside from that, you really do look better than before. I'm glad things are getting better for you. I heard you and Sakura will be returning to your hometown soon enough. I might take the opportunity to close the cafe for a bit and use the opportunity to work on the second floor.” 

“Huh? What do you me—”

Bam!

Not even able to finish her sentence, the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang, drawing both of their attention as Sakura rushed inside. Her eyes immediately moved between the two of them before widening in disbelief.

"Are you flirting with my sister?”

The accusation left the dark-haired woman visibly flustered. A furious glare immediately snapped toward the blonde. "Sakura! Stop saying weird things! We were just having a conversation!"

"I could hear you two laughing with each other from the other side!"

"Am I not allowed to speak and laugh with another man!?"

The sisters immediately began bickering back and forth, their argument growing louder as each one tried to get the last word. 

As for him, he simply returned his attention to the paperwork spread across the desk, scanning through the records while the commotion continued beside him. Looking at the numbers again, he realized that perhaps he really did have enough money to finally build that second floor after all.

.

.

.

-Temporary hideout-

"That something was really going on between those two."

Sakura muttered the words to herself while sprawled across her bed, wearing nothing but her underwear. Her phone remained in one hand as she checked the screen again, scrolling through the messages she had already sent Emiya. Still no response. Her patience finally snapped, and she pushed herself upright before climbing out of bed. "I can't just sit here and do nothing!"

She remembered that he already had plans for the weekend, yet that only made her more determined to spend some time with him before they had to return to Gosha village. Things would become complicated once she and her sister went back to continue their training, especially with her sister needing to sharpen her skills again. Depending on what happened, they could remain there for an unpredictable amount of time. That meant she needed to make certain Emiya could remain safe while they were gone, even if part of her knew she was letting her concern get the better of her.

Her eyes settled on a small box nearby. Inside sat a teddy bear, though the innocent appearance hid the technology packed within it. 

The device could be used for both audio and visual surveillance, something Kuro had obtained for her after she asked for equipment that could accomplish exactly that. Sakura stared at the box for several seconds before reaching toward it, hesitating for a bit. 

“Isn't this going over the line?" 

If something bad happened while they were away, she would know about it immediately. At the same time, she couldn't ignore what she was actually considering. Spying on Emiya without his knowledge was still an invasion of his privacy, something that made her sound less like a concerned friend and more like a completely unreasonable girlfriend.

“Aaaah! Why is this so difficult!?” The blonde scratched her head, fingers catching in her hair with frustration. "I'm doing this for his own good! Nothing more, nothing less! But I also can't trust that pink-haired woman! Or Nomad could send someone else like Oboro! Damnit!" 

With that justification planted in her mind, she picked up the box and headed toward the living room of their new hidden headquarters. Despite its purpose, the place remained surprisingly comfortable, giving them somewhere they could settle in between everything they had been dealing with. Asagi happened to be there when Sakura entered, and the older Taimanin immediately noticed the box in her hands.

"What are you doing? Where are you going, Sakura?"

"To hand over something to Emiya. I'll be back soon." 

Asagi narrowed her eyes. "Wait, isn't he having a meeting with someone today?"

"You know about it too?" 

She thought he only told her…

"He mentioned that he would be busy during the weekend and would be meeting an old friend of his." Asagi said dryly, going back to watching the tv without much worry. “Must be a female friend, he was asking me for some advice on places a woman might like in this city.” 

"That bitch!" The words escaped before Sakura could stop herself, leaving her cheeks noticeably warmer as she realized exactly what she had just blurted out. "I'm just going over to make sure he's alright." 

“Sakura,” Asagi called her out with a concerned tone. "Aren't you being a bit too overprotective and watchful of him lately? I share your sentiment, but we can't be suspicious of everyone he meets and lock him up inside the cafe all day."

There wasn't much point denying it. After everything that had happened, worrying about Emiya had become difficult to control. If circumstances allowed it, Sakura would have told him the truth about their identity as Taimanin, taken him to Gosha village, and kept him somewhere she could personally ensure his safety. Yet doing that would also mean tearing him away from the life he had worked so hard to build here. She couldn't ignore how selfish that would be, no matter how much easier it might make things for her. 

She just did not want the same thing that happened to Kyosuke to also happen to him… "Aren't you worried about him too?" 

"I am worried, but I truly believe he's not as involved as you may believe." Asagi's expression softened, though her answer remained firm. "Now that Oboro has died, the other members of the Nomad organization are more occupied with keeping the city stable, and they would be busy searching for us. Kuro is still in the middle of a new mission he received, so more focus will go on him soon. They wouldn't really care about a small-time business owner like him. In fact, in a way, the more involved you get with him, the more you're putting him in danger, Sakura."

"Urgh." Sakura flinched as the argument struck exactly where it needed to, her fingers tightening around the box. She couldn't deny the truth in it, and that only made the decision harder. "I can't just forget about him and pretend that all of this never happened."

“Hah, you silly girl.” She rose from her seat and crossed the remaining distance between them. Her arms slipped around her sister, pulling her into a reassuring embrace. "I understand this feeling. I know it must be hard for you, but it has to eventually happen. We can't protect him forever, and eventually we will need to leave. We can make sure that any lingering presence that tries to target him is dead, and also cause as much commotion on our end to have the others focus on us more. But sooner or later, you'll have to return to Gosha."

All of this was just exhausting, she had to admit, she leaned further into the embrace. Her face pressed against Asagi's soft breasts, and the warmth helped her relax despite everything weighing on her mind. "I understand."

"Cheer up. It's not like we'll be leaving forever. I have no plans of staying in Gosha for an entire year. There's still so much we have to do, and in a way, this place is still our home."

"I understand." With nothing more to say, her hand reached the doorway, but she stopped before stepping outside and looked back. "Hey… Is it possible to one day bring Emiya to Gosha?"

“Bring him with us?” Her sister visibly pondered on her question for a bit. "That is not a matter that is up to us. It will be his choice."

"Yeah, makes sense." With that, Sakura finally turned away and left, still clutching the box in her hands as she headed out.

As she stepped outside, a voice called after her, "You're going to the cafe on your own?"

“Huh?”

Looking to the side, Sakura noticed the small open area beside the hideout, a patch of ground used for training where they could practice their skills by fighting against wooden puppets. Murasaki emerged from the training area, her body covered in sweat after what looked like a long session, a large axe resting in her hand while a towel hung around her neck. Having most likely apparently finished for the day, though the lingering sweat and slightly disheveled appearance made it obvious that she had been putting herself through a strenuous workout.

"Yes. I'm going to give him this gift."

Sakura lifted the box in her hands to show what she intended to bring to the cafe. The moment Murasaki looked at it properly, her expression shifted with surprise.

"You're going to spy on him?"

"Ah? How did you know? Did Kuro tell you!?"

"No, I just recognized the item. I've used it before."

“Oh…”

That made things a bit awkward now. She couldn't even deny it. But still, it was worth a try and she immediately began waving her free hand in denial. "I'm no-not trying anything bad or doing anything perverted, I swear! I just want to make sure he's alright when we leave and be able to observe him every day!"

Murasaki coughed awkwardly into one hand before giving her a look that made it painfully obvious how little she believed that explanation. "Sure. Whatever you say."

“I really am telling the truth!” Her cheeks puffed out in a pout. 

“I so believe you.”

“No you don't.” 

“What part of ‘I so believe you’ makes you think that?” 

“The fact that you are saying it dryly and giving me a dry stare!” 

“Tch, I'll have to work on that.” 

“Murasaki! Argh!” She was impossible! There would be no convincing the other Taimanin, so she eventually looked away and let the matter drop. "Never mind. I don't want to deal with this now."

After a brief moment, the blue haired woman shifted her attention back toward her. "Do you know Emiya for a while, Sakura?"

Eh? A rather random question.

"Yup, at this point, he can be considered someone I've known for a while. Nothing that exaggerated, like knowing him for years, but I know enough about him to make it feel like we've known each other for years."

One eyebrow rose at that answer. "Do you know anything about his past?"

His past… that was a bit tricky.

There had been several occasions when she had asked Emiya about his life before arriving in the city, although she had never pushed very deeply into the subject. At the time, she simply hadn't considered his past particularly important, and she had also assumed that if he wanted to tell her about it, he would do so himself. Even so, she knew enough to form a general picture of where he had come from.

"Uh… I think he used to live near a village a while ago and worked as a mechanic? Or was it a plumber? I can't remember, he doesn't have any family or he doesn't like talking about them. I can't tell which one it is sometimes. But he wanted to have a better life and came here looking for new opportunities. He decided to open a cafe because it was cheap here, and that's about it."

Murasaki stared at her for several seconds, disbelief plainly visible on her face. "That's all?"

"What do you mean by that? Are you looking for a specific answer? Do you know him or something?"

What was going on with these questions? It really weirded out the Sakura. Suspicion sneaked into her voice. 

"I don't know him, but I just feel something familiar about him. Like I've seen him somewhere before."

Ah, now that made more sense.

Sakura nodded slowly. "He does give off that feeling, doesn't he? I felt the same way when I first saw him. I figured it might have something to do with his face, or maybe someone from the village who resembles him. But he's not a Taimanin. He's just a normal person."

"If you're going to the cafe, do you mind me tagging along?"

That caught her off guard, now her suspicions growing enough to become a dreadful feeling. Her brows lifted as she looked over at her companion. "Why?"

"I just want to confirm some of my suspicions, that's all, and get a closer look to see who he reminds me of."

"You could have just come to the cafe these past few days and gotten a closer look at him."

Murasaki looked away, suddenly finding the surrounding training area much more interesting. "I was… busy."

The reaction alone told the blonde there had to be more behind that answer!

Whatever Murasaki had in mind, she clearly intended to keep it to herself for now, and forcing the issue would probably accomplish nothing. With a shrug, Sakura accepted the explanation… for now. "Sure. Just don't embarrass me in front of him."

Murasaki turned toward her in stunned disbelief. "You're the one who dresses up in a maid outfit that barely hides anything and shows off your butt to him every time you so much as turn around. How the hell am I supposed to embarrass you more than you already do when you practically arch yourself at him?"

"Hey! He likes it! I know he sneaks a peek at my butt every time I'm not looking!"

"Alright, alright. Just let me prepare my gear."

"Why? Do you need help putting on your makeup? I can do that for you, but you don't need to bring all the gear with us."

A quick handchop struck Sakura's forehead. "You idiot, we can't take any chances. Imagine if something goes wrong on our way over there and we get ambushed by a group of demons targeting us because of our beauty and wanting to take advantage of that. We have to be prepared. Also, if something like that does happen, your little boyfriend will see us fighting demons and immediately realize who we are!"

"Hey, he's not my boyfriend!" She exclaimed before going quiet for several seconds, until she lowered her voice and added, "Yet."

“…”

“Anyways, you're right. Let me prepare mine as well, just in case."

With that settled, the two returned to the hideout to prepare their combat gear and Taimanin outfits. Given everything that had happened recently, Sakura knew Murasaki had a point. They could not afford to take unnecessary chances simply because they wanted to visit a cafe, especially if something unexpected happened along the way. Once both had gathered what they needed, they left the hideout and stepped through the entrance of the abandoned apartment complex.

The building looked as though construction had stopped halfway through and nobody had bothered returning to finish it. Exposed beams jutted from unfinished sections of the structure, while scaffolding still surrounded portions of the complex. The neighborhood itself resembled the area around Emiya's cafe in some ways, although this particular district looked far worse. Almost nobody lived there anymore, leaving the unfinished buildings and empty streets to rats and the occasional homeless person searching for somewhere to sleep during the night. Its distance from the central part of the city made it an inconvenient place for ordinary people to travel from, but that hardly mattered to two Taimanin capable of moving at superhuman speeds. For them, the additional distance amounted to little more than another minute or two of running during their daily commute.

As they continued toward the cafe, she found herself thinking about Murasaki's questions. There had clearly been more behind the sudden interest in Emiya, and she couldn't help wondering whether her friend had fallen for him at first sight. 

The earlier teasing argument involving her sister and Emiya when she walked in on them speaking with each other had mostly been for fun, but this felt different. With Murasaki, Sakura genuinely couldn't tell whether there might be something more behind her curiosity or whether she simply wanted to investigate that strange feeling of familiarity. Rather than dwell on it, she pushed the thought aside as the two continued getting closer to their destination.

"I wonder what he's doing right now. Knowing him, he's probably in his room shirtless, reading a cooking book or thinking about me."

From beside her, Murasaki gave her a dry look. "Do you have to add the shirtless part?"

"A girl can dream, you know."

"What do you even see in him? Don't you find him a bit scary?"

The question genuinely stunned Sakura, enough to turn her toward her blue-haired companion with such open confusion. "Scary?"

“Yeah, scary. Or unsettling.” 

"There is nothing scary about him whatsoever! Do you mean his eyes? Well, he does tend to frown and glare when he's focusing or giving a lecture, which can make him look a bit scary. But overall, he's just a gentle person who can't say directly that he cares about you."

Murasaki shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant that something about him feels off."

"I don't know what you mean. Maybe you're feeling that way because of paranoia after what happened to you? I can understand. We just got you freed, and perhaps your mind is still in shock, leaving you paranoid about everything."

Murasaki fell quiet for a moment before giving a small nod. "Perhaps."

The conversation continued as they drew closer to the cafe, but she suddenly stopped when her eyes landed on Emiya walking out through the entrance. 

“What the… why's he wearing that?” Her surprise had nothing to do with seeing him leave the cafe. It came from what he was wearing. Instead of his usual casual clothes, he had dressed more formally, wearing a long vest over his shirt, a pair of trousers, and good boots that looked more suited for a proper suit than his usual cafe attire. His hair had also been done, and even his glasses were on, giving him a more polished and charming appearance than she remembered. For a brief moment, she found herself stunned enough to take out her phone and snap a picture, but that quickly disappeared when something about the situation began to feel wrong.

"Why?" She muttered again.

“Wah!” 

She immediately pulled Murasaki toward the nearest corner before the other girl could even react. "What are you doing!?"

“Shhh! Quiet!”

Rather than give her an explanation, she peeked around the corner and kept her attention fixed on the cafe entrance. Emiya closed the door behind himself while holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand. He then stepped onto the sidewalk and started walking in their direction, completely unaware that two Taimanin were watching him from nearby.

"Quickly, jump up before he sees us!"

Both of them immediately moved onto the roof, keeping their presence hidden as Emiya passed beneath them and continued toward the main part of the city. Sakura watched him go, her eyes narrowing while her teeth clenched without her even realizing it. "I knew it. It was a date all along!"

"You know, before he leaves, let's just go down and hand him over the gift quickly. He's still near his cafe, so he can put it inside."

"No. Come on, let's follow him for a bit."

Murasaki stared at her in incredulity. "You want to stalk him now? Are you serious?"

"Aren't you curious where he's going and who he's planning to go on a date with?" Sakura turned toward her, studying the reaction closely. If Murasaki really had any interest in Emiya, or even suspected that she did, this would be the perfect opportunity to find out. It also served as a test, and the result appeared almost immediately. Her companion hesitated, genuinely troubled by the suggestion before finally lowering her voice.

"Fine."

Inside, Sakura nearly screamed. "You too!?"

Outwardly, she showed none of it, merely pursing her lips before turning her attention back toward their target. The two Taimanin began following Emiya, keeping enough distance to avoid detection while also staying alert for the numerous surveillance cameras scattered throughout the main area of the city. Fortunately, the route he had taken contained fewer cameras than most of the surrounding streets, with plenty of blind spots that allowed them to move without exposing themselves. Sakura took advantage of every one of them, guiding Murasaki along whenever they needed to change positions.

"Is this a coincidence? Or is he also trying to avoid them?"

There was no way for either of them to know, and the question remained unanswered for the next half hour until Emiya finally reached his destination.

"A hotel?"

Sakura's expression went blank as she watched him approach one of the most luxurious skyscraper hotels in the city. It ranked among the fanciest establishments she had ever heard about, the sort of place where even wealthy people could not simply expect to get a room every night without making a reservation beforehand. Yet Emiya walked straight toward the entrance without any hesitation. After showing something on his phone to the doorman, he received permission to enter, with the security personnel treating him respectfully before allowing him inside.

"Are you sure he's just a former mechanic and current cafe owner? Or is he meeting someone extremely influential? And why would a cafe owner meet someone like that?"

Murasaki's question only made Sakura more confused. None of this matched what she knew about him, yet they could hardly stroll through the hotel's front entrance after following him there. She clenched her teeth, refusing to give up now, then looked toward another skyscraper standing nearby.

"Let's go up there. It will give us a better vantage point and a better view of what's going on on the other side."

Without waiting for an answer, she immediately moved toward the neighboring building. Its structure offered plenty of ledges, balconies, and other places to land, allowing her to jump from one level to another. Shadows gathered around her body as she used her abilities to merge into them, moving upward while keeping herself concealed. Behind her, Murasaki could be heard cursing as she followed, most likely forced to rely on a far more physical approach by taking the stairs instead.

Once she reached the rooftop and emerged from the shadows, her attention immediately shifted toward the top of the neighboring skyscraper. A luxurious restaurant occupied the rooftop, surrounded by a garden and illuminated by warm yellow lights. Music filled the area as actual violinists and pianists performed in the background, while numerous guests dressed in expensive suits and beautiful dresses enjoyed their evening together.

Her eyes moved across the restaurant until a familiar figure emerged from the elevator entrance. Emiya stepped onto the rooftop with the bouquet still in his hand, then headed toward one of the tables where the person he had apparently been meeting waited for him. Sakura's mouth fell open when she finally saw who it was.

“Woah…”

The familiar woman who visited the cafe every day looked almost unrecognizable.

Wearing a floor-length gown made of shimmering silver fabric that looked almost violet from the dim lighting and one that offered scant coverage. Two straps that held the dress connected to golden rings that rested upon her shoulders before linking behind her neck. A deep plunging neckline left the entirety of her cleavage exposed. The dress wrapped once around her torso, leaving her midriff and navel completely bare. A massive slit ran from the hem up to her thigh, revealing her entire left leg with every step she took. Her long pink hair cascaded down her back, and light makeup emphasized her features.

She attracted so much attention that even the waiters kept getting distracted around her, their eyes tracking her as she got up from the table. She paid them no mind, her gaze fixed only on the man walking toward her.

Emiya approached calmly before he handed over the bouquet.

The reaction immediately caught Sakura's attention.

She actually blushed, the look in her eyes growing hazy. 

"That minx!"

He was in danger! She knew that look in her eyes, that of a tiger barely holding itself back from devouring its prey!

And they were at a hotel for Pete's sake!

The sight nearly drove the blonde into action. She quickly started considering whether she could cross over, pretend that she had a reservation at the restaurant, and somehow get close enough to interrupt them. If necessary, she could even sneak one of the women away and steal her dress in order to pretend to be a guest. Anything seemed better than simply standing there and watching this continue.

Before she could make the jump, however, Murasaki grabbed her from behind and clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Mmmph!?”

"You idiot, hide quickly!"

She pulled Sakura down and dragged her behind the side of the rooftop structure just as Emiya’s date glanced toward their direction with a faintly suspicious expression. Fortunately nothing caught her attention, allowing the two Taimanin to remain hidden.

Sakura landed on the ground with a startled thump, completely stunned by Murasaki's sudden reaction. She turned toward her companion, ready to demand what the hell she had been doing, only to notice the pale expression covering the girl's face. Murasaki cautiously peeked around the edge of the wall toward the restaurant across from them, her entire expression turning horrified as she caught another glimpse of the couple.

Cold sweat was streaming down her face.

"Why the hell is he having dinner with that person!?"

"What? What do you mean?"

Murasaki barely seemed to hear the question. Her eyes remained fixed on the rooftop restaurant while her voice dropped into a horrified whisper.

"That's… that's Ingrid. A Hell Knight… The one who captured me in the Chaos Arena.”