"In two days, there will be a grand meeting."

As Lin was preparing to go out, he asked Ravin why she had come all the way to the capital. The answer was just as he expected.

In the memories of Lee, the reincarnated hero, the Hero rejoined the Hero's Party, and shortly afterward, a grand meeting was held. After Valtercroua and the Zramun Archipelago, the Hero's Party appeared on the front lines once again, and they were almost annihilated in the archipelago. Naturally, they needed to have a serious discussion about what to do next.

Especially since Reinhold’s special item, the shield “The Unscathed Rock,” had been sliced apart by Denarua’s slash, making its name meaningless. There was no hope of repairing it. The Shield Knight, who had lost the special item bestowed by the Goddess, would have his position greatly diminished as a result.

Although it was likely that Linascien and Reinhold were planning some sort of act together, Lin didn’t really care. Once everything was settled, neither of them would survive, or if they did, they wouldn't be in any shape to be called human.

Never forget that in the original version of Arrogant Saga, no matter which heroine you chose, Reinhold and Linascien were the characters who stabbed Lucy in the back in the DLC. If the episode progressed, it would naturally lead to that.

When that time came, Lin would decide whether or not to add a little spice to the situation according to his tastes. But for now, just getting through the episode itself was challenging enough. It was strange how the main episode plot continued to unfold despite all the little details being different.

“I'm ready.”

Lucy was wearing light armor for the first time in a long while. With her large chest squeezed into the breastplate, it was hard to tell how large it actually was, except for the slight bulge under her arms. She had a holy sword at her waist, but since she was wearing armor over a dress designed for ease of movement, she neither looked fully armored nor fully noble. This in-betweenness matched her current situation perfectly.

She was held back by her past and had no shame in taking action. The criticisms Ravin had made after discussing the past kept running through her mind.

The events in the City of Romance.

The incident where Reinhold kissed her forehead.

She had vowed to be more reserved, to not show her previous foolish behavior.

But her nature of diving into love like a moth to a flame was ruining everything.

There was no light in Lucy’s eyes.

[Ah, her spirit is shattered.]

"......"

[Don’t be so down. You're not the only one who’s wronged Lin.]

It wasn’t comforting at all. She wanted to be the one person who hadn’t wronged Lin.

Like Ravin, who was cheerfully chatting with him.

“Did you come here without any guards, Ravin?”

“I brought Jiol with me, but honestly, who’s guarding whom?”

“The sheer number of your people is already a good guard.”

“Heheh, are you worried about me?”

Lin smiled faintly at this.

“I’m not sure.”

“That’s cheating…”

His smile had an almost magical power that could captivate people.

Maybe it was only powerful to Ravin and Lucy, but it was overwhelming to the two of them.

I’m jealous.

I’m so jealous of Ravin, who can make Lin smile.

I want to chat with him like Ravin does.

I talked with him on the ship to the archipelago and in the carriage to the city with the magic circle that leads to the capital, but that was back when I was just a clueless fool.

Now that I know his past, and now that I know that he despises Reinhold as much as anyone, the fact that I had once actively sought the attention of that Shield Knight makes me feel like I’ve lost my place again.

Even so, I’m still clinging to him because of that one word he said: that even if he weren’t a hero, he would have saved me.

Was that word giving me a chance, or was it simply an act of mercy?

I have no certainty.

I want to open Pandora’s box and see, but what if it turns out to be empty?

What if he, who has become the center of my world, has no affection for me at all?

Lucy couldn’t imagine living with that knowledge.

Even death wouldn’t bring her peace.

“Lucy?”

“Huh?”

Lin’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she looked up, startled. He was gazing at her curiously.

“Are you still thinking about my childhood?”

After Lin woke up, Ravin confessed that she had shared all the stories of their time in Filthy Alley. Lucy had been embarrassed, but Lin hadn’t minded, understanding that Ravin had to explain why he now had to wear a mask and why he couldn’t be called anything other than a porter.

He even felt sorry for Ravin.

“It must have been a painful memory…”

“If you feel that bad, why don’t you come back with me to Valtercroua?”

“I have something I need to do.”

“Again with that…”

Anyway, the preparations were complete.

Lin and Ravin both turned to Lucy.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Aren’t you supposed to lead the way?”

“But why should I…?”

Sigh.

Ravin sighed in frustration.

“In the capital, you have the highest status, except for the royal family. If you follow us around, people will look at us strangely.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Idiot, that will just make people wonder, ‘Who the hell is this guy?’ Use your brain for once!”

Lucy’s self-doubt deepened.

“Ravin, you’re being too harsh.”

“I heard she was rude to the only other survivor from our hometown, so I’m mad.”

“Ravin.”

At Lin’s gentle gaze, Ravin quickly surrendered.

“Okay, I won’t nag her. Just don’t mope around Lin.”

“…Okay.”

Feeling sorry for her, Lin decided to give Lucy a pat on the head.

But Lucy recoiled slightly and stepped back.

“Lucy?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it…”

She was worried that if Lin touched her, he would become tainted by her impurity.

If she revealed these feelings, how pitiful would she become?

In the end, Lucy forced a smile.

“Sorry, you startled me…”

“No, I’m sorry for surprising you.”

She was disappointed that his hand pulled away.

I wish he would come closer.

I wish he would try to pat me again.

Acting cheerful and playful like she had with Reinhold would only make Lin dislike her.

Lucy lowered her gaze again, feeling downcast.

“If you’re not feeling well, why don’t you rest in your room?”

“No!”

“Good!”

Lucy and Ravin’s responses were out of sync.

Lucy’s voice trembled as she spoke rapidly.

“I-I’m still scared when Lin’s not around. So please, let me stay with you. I know it’s a burden, but please, let me stay by your side…”

Seeing her rambling, Ravin frowned from behind Lin, and Lucy quickly stopped her clumsy excuse.

“…I’ll stay quiet by your side.”

“You’re not overdoing it, right?”

Lin, are you the one overdoing it?

Are you forcing yourself to keep me around even though you don’t want to?

Her heart swelled with emotions.

Her mind was a mess.

Lucy was clinging to Lin, driven by both emotion and reason.

Even though she had learned about his past, her reaction seemed strange.

Lin decided to change the subject rather than probe further.

“Now that I think about it, going out without any preparation seems dangerous.”

“For example?”

“For example…”

“If we run into Arsil?”

“If we do, we do. Just ignore her. What nonsense could she spout?”

Ravin’s indifferent attitude made Lin glad he had brought it up.

“If it’s Arsil, she’ll definitely ask what happened to Filthy Alley.”

“Oh.”

Ravin uncrossed her arms.

“You’re right, she probably would.”

“What will you say?”

“What do you think? She’s a saintess now, so she’ll probably avoid mentioning Filthy Alley because of her position.”

“……”

“…No, she’s too stubborn for that. She wouldn’t even look around to see who’s listening.”

The moment Filthy Alley was mentioned, invisible eyes and ears would relay the information to the Crown Princess and the Shield Knight.

Then they would likely tighten security and start probing around.

“No, no. Since I already know Lina, it’s only a matter of time before they figure it out, right?”

“Then she’ll ask about me.”

“Hmm, Lina?”

Lin let out a wry laugh.

It was clearly overconfidence.

There’s no way she’d ask.

After all, she’s the Crown Princess.

“Don’t worry. I’m good at thinking on my feet. Trust me.”

“I know you’re good at improvising, but…”

“What’s the problem?”

“Just don’t hit her if you get mad, okay?”

“……”

“……”

“…I can’t?”

“Of course not!”

Lin’s head already hurt just thinking about it.

Even though she said that, Ravin was someone who did what she needed to do when the time came.

If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have been able to lead a group in Filthy Alley and become the leader of a bandit guild in Valtercroua.

Since he had already pointed it out, she wouldn’t let her emotions get the best of her.

“Let’s go, Lucy.”

“Can I stay behind you, Lin?”

“Haha, I guess you’ve been standing behind me for so long you can’t imagine standing in front.”

But even that sounded like an accusation to Lucy.

Ravin stepped in.

“This is too pitiful.”

“Ravin.”

“I’m not scolding you.”

Ravin, moving away from Lin, whispered to Lucy.

“I told you in Valtercroua to follow Lin’s lead, didn’t I?”

That one sentence was enough.

“If you make it too obvious that you’ve been scolded, it’ll cause me trouble too. If you can’t make simple decisions, then stick to the basics.”

By “basics,” Ravin meant doing what would benefit Lin.

Now Lucy finally understood what she needed to do.

“But where are we going?”

“I’ll tell you once we’re outside.”

“Okay, Lin.”

Despite this, Lucy was still nervous.

Lin hesitated for a moment, then reached out again.

His rough hand touched the top of Lucy’s head.

And gently patted it.

Lucy was surprised but didn’t pull away this time.

She closed her eyes and savored the feeling.

“Let’s go, my best companion.”

That made Lucy smile brightly.

“Okay!”

Lucy opened the door with enthusiasm.

And quickly shut it again.

“Hey, um… I thought I should apologize to the porter…”

Arsil’s voice trailed off as Lucy slammed the door.

“Hey! Open up!”

As Arsil banged on the door, Lucy looked between Lin and Ravin.

“What should we do?”

“Window! Let’s go through the window!”

“Good idea!”

For the first time, Ravin and Lucy were on the same page.