After having dinner and lying in bed, I was sending texts to those whose numbers I had to let them know that I was safe when suddenly, I received a notification saying money had been deposited into my account. I checked my account.

“…Wait, how many zeros are there? One, two, three, four… Who in the world sent me this much money?”

Upon checking, it turned out that a significant amount was deposited from the Dolos family, who suspected me of being an accomplice and had interrogated me directly, described as a reward for my troubles.

Honestly, while I did feel a bit wronged, there was no way to brush it off, shouting that money could not compensate for such matters! It was simply too much.

After calculating the numbers shown in my account, I concluded that it was enough.

With this amount, I would finally be able to do something I had only been contemplating until now.

However, as it wasn’t something I could just do on my own, I was about to make a phone call to ask for permission when someone naturally opened the door and walked in.

There was only one person who would come to my room.

As I suspected, it was Sylvia.

“Oh, Scarlet! You’re awake! How do you feel? Are you okay?”

Looking a bit tired, possibly having just returned from her schedule, Sylvia was surprised to see me awake and quickly asked about my well-being.

I put my phone away and responded with an expression that was as casual as possible.

“Yeah, I think I’m okay.”

“Is that so? Phew, that’s really a relief. I was worried that something might be wrong with you. Did you read the note I left for you? I hope I didn’t overstep.”

“No, not at all. Thanks to you, I was able to rest comfortably. I appreciate your concern.”

Upon hearing my words, Sylvia smiled slightly and walked over to me, sitting right next to me.

After a moment of looking at me quietly, she gently took my hand.

At that moment, a single tear rolled down her cheek as she gazed at me.

Suddenly seeing her tearful, I was taken aback and exclaimed.

“Wha…?! Sylvia, why are you crying all of a sudden?! Are you hurt?!”

“…No, no. I just felt relieved when I saw that you’re okay…”

In her shimmering, moist blue eyes, my reflection appeared.

With a quivering voice, she spoke to me.

“…I’m so grateful you’re safe. I thought I wouldn’t get to talk to you like this again…”

I realized I had caused her worry.

That thought filled me with heaviness.

Seeing her this way made me acutely aware of how much I meant to Sylvia.

I had been feeling it more and more lately.

Getting close to someone would ultimately only make that person sadder at some point.

So even though I thought I should push her away, seeing her cry made my heart involuntarily soften.

I gently pulled Sylvia into my embrace and hugged her head.

Then Sylvia, bursting with emotions, spoke while crying even more.

“Ugh, I’m sorry. I promised I would help you if you ever needed it, but when you were captured by the witch, I couldn’t do anything. I’m so, so sorry…”

Although it was a promise she had made unilaterally, her overwhelming sense of responsibility for not keeping it filled me with bittersweet feelings.

Sylvia was such a person.

She wasn’t one to open her heart easily but had an endless desire to help those she cared for.

Knowing this would happen, I had tried to avoid becoming too close to her…

As those thoughts passed through my mind, I began to gently rub her back and said.

“Sylvia, don’t feel sorry for that. It was something beyond your control at that moment.”

“…Still, I’m sorry.”

“You did your best to help me in your own way. If you hadn’t been there during the interrogation, things could have turned out much worse for me. Thank you for believing in me and for your help.”

Hearing this, Sylvia cautiously raised her head from my embrace and looked up at me.

“…Did I actually help you, Scarlet?”

“Of course.”

“…Then, can you please pat my head?”

A hint of redness crept onto her face as she said this.

When I patted her head as requested, Sylvia seemed to calm down a bit, and she let out a soft giggle in my arms.

After petting her head for a while, I finally tried to detach her from me, but for some reason, Sylvia held on tight and wouldn’t let go.

Wondering why, I looked at her, and she murmured in a small, childlike voice.

“…If you want to let go, you have to promise me one thing.”

“…What promise?”

“…Promise me you won’t just say sorry and try to leave alone again. I don’t want that. I’d hate not being able to see you, so promise me you won’t do that again…”

Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke while clinging to me.

I felt a surge of anxiety about what would happen if something like that ever happened again.

I could only imagine how shocked she must have been back then.

Even though I had made it back safely, if something were to go wrong…

She would definitely have a hard time and cry a lot.

Just the thought of it pained my heart.

I wanted to reassure her, but I couldn’t make such a promise.

I knew myself best about my state.

Instead of the words she wanted to hear, I posed another question.

“…Sylvia, do you still want to be friends with me?”

“…Yes. Because you’re my precious, precious person, Scarlet.”

Sylvia nodded as if it was obvious in response to my question.

Hearing her answer, I opened my mouth once more.

“…I feel the same way. I always wanted to be friends with you. You mean that much to me too.”

“…Then…”

I could see the glimmer of hope in Sylvia’s eyes.

However, what I had to say next was different from what she was expecting, so I put on a wry smile and said.

“That means, I can’t be friends with you. No, I shouldn’t be.”

Her eyes trembled at my incomprehensible words.

It hurt me, but I continued, believing this was necessary for both her and me.

“As you know, I’m not an ordinary person. Something like this is bound to happen to those around me again. I felt that deeply this time. Since you’re precious to me, I don’t want to cause you trouble. I don’t want to owe you anymore.”

“I…! I don’t care about that! Don’t think of it as a debt! It’s nothing burdensome! I’m helping you because I want to! I do it because I like you! So, don’t worry about it!”

“Because you’re that kind of person, I felt I should be even more careful. You’re the type who endlessly looks out for those you consider friends. I’m like that too; even though I try not to burden anyone, I end up depending on them without realizing it. If this continues, I’ll end up putting too heavy a burden on you. I don’t want that. So, Sylvia…”

I said to Sylvia, who was looking at me as if she didn’t understand, expressing the resolution I had made earlier.

“I’m going to leave this mansion.”

*

I struggled for quite a while to calm Sylvia, who was clinging to me and throwing a fit.

No matter how hard I tried to explain, it seemed she couldn’t accept the notion of me leaving the mansion.

So the next morning, after comforting the tear-streaked Sylvia several times, I had no choice but to pack a few belongings and escape from the mansion.

In truth, there were many reasons beyond what I had shared with Sylvia.

But I couldn’t tell her everything.

How could I?

You’re too kind and too weak for me to feel safe being here.

Besides, there were just too many people living in the mansion.

So, as I left the mansion, I decided to find a new place to stay.

A house where there were almost no residents.

Moreover, a place where I could feel somewhat at ease.

*

How long had it been?

To be able to rest so leisurely.

Despite being perfectly healed by the unyielding Holy Sword, Yoon Si-woo was forced to take leave after being denied his return to duty and was somewhat dazed at home.

Since he had already trained with Lucy while sleeping, he had nothing particular to do while awake.

While pondering what to do during his long leave, Yoon Si-woo suddenly picked up his phone as it rang and brought it to his ear.

“[Yoon Si-woo. It’s Scarlet. Is this a good time for you?]”

Startled by the unexpected voice on the line, he exclaimed.

“Gah?! Oh, it’s fine! Absolutely fine! What’s up?”

“[Can I live at your house?]”

The phone slipped from Yoon Si-woo’s hand.