In a vibrant garden full of blooming flowers, a man with a rugged face opened the gate and stepped inside.

Garid, despite his stern appearance, looked around with a satisfied gaze, his chest swelling with pride. Then, his voice erupted like thunder.

"Hey! Kana!"

A passerby, startled by Garid's sudden shout, jumped in surprise. Garid scratched his head and lowered it apologetically as the passerby shot him a sharp look.

Though Garid’s shout drew the attention of everyone around, the person he was calling for was nowhere to be seen. Just as he was debating whether to shout again or open the door, he heard a creak.

“What’s going on?”

A girl with pink hair and eyes, her face still sleepy, peeked out from the house. Kana must have just woken up.

“You’re still sleeping when the sun is already high? Getting plenty of rest is important, but you need to get up early and move around if you want to grow taller!”

“If moving around could make me taller, I’d have grown by now. Stop bothering me when you know it’s pointless.”

Kana, who usually responded indifferently, always bristled when it came to the topic of her height. Of course, Garid knew that too.

But he mentioned her height just for the fun of it.

'So, this is why the guys used to tease their daughters.'

He had already said it, but Kana’s usual lack of reaction made her occasional bursts of irritation all the more striking.

“So, what is it this time?”

Kana shook off her drowsiness, her voice clearer than before.

“What do you mean ‘this time’? Anyone listening would think I do this all the time.”

Kana remained silent, and Garid, sensing the unspoken thoughts in her quiet stare, pretended to be hurt. He quickly returned to his usual self, though, and offered her his hand from behind his back.

“Here, what do you think?”

“...Flowers? Did you make all this noise just to show me these?”

“No, no, these are special flowers. Take a closer look.”

He moved his hand closer, revealing a potted plant with petite pink petals. Kana looked down at the flowers, then back at Garid with a look that asked, ‘So what?’

“Don’t they remind you of someone?”

“...Not really.”

“They look just like you. Small and—ah, I’m joking, I’m joking. I wouldn’t dare joke around like this if I was scared. Why did I ever teach you how to use a sword…?”

Even though he had expected no reaction, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Why don’t kids ever understand a parent’s feelings?

Sighing, Garid put down the pot and spoke.

“Kana.”

“?”

“I want you to be like this flower.”

“...What do you mean?”

“Just watch.”

With a trowel, Garid dug a small hole and transplanted the flower from the pot into the ground. Though it took some time, Kana silently observed his movements. When he finished, the lone flower that had been isolated in its pot now blended with the other flowers, bashfully smiling among them.

“See? It was already pretty, but isn’t it so much prettier like this?”

“...”

“Like this flower, you’ll be much more beautiful if you blend with others. Make some friends, find reliable companions... And, hey, maybe even marry a nice guy someday.”

“Stop meddling in my business.”

Kana, who had been listening quietly, scoffed and turned back into the house, as if she didn’t need to hear any more. Once Kana disappeared inside, Garid clicked his tongue.

“If she could just soften up a bit, men would line up for her. I wonder who’ll end up with that temper of hers.”

Garid briefly imagined a man vying for Kana’s affection—a young man offering her a bouquet, Kana shyly accepting it, their distance closing as they gazed at each other lovingly. Though he hoped Kana would meet a good man someday and start a happy family, the thought made his face wrinkle.

What if Kana brought some stranger home one day, claiming he was the one she loved?

“I’ll have to make sure he’s a good man,” he muttered ominously, imagining if the guy could protect her as well.

In that moment, Garid's expression mirrored that of his friends who doted on their daughters in the way he had always loathed.

 

‘…I remember that.’

Even though it had been years, it felt as clear as if it happened yesterday. Who would have thought I'd hear such corny words again?

‘What do you think? Doesn’t this flower remind you of someone?’

‘Doesn’t it look like you, Kana?’

Different words, but the same meaning. As I recalled his words, I stared blankly at Journey before hurrying away. There was no real reason for me to leave, so why did I flee as if escaping?

“...”

Perhaps it was the exact match of Garid's flower that stirred my memories.

“Is this where you came from?”

Of course, Garid's nameless pink flower might not be exclusive to this place. But I couldn’t shake the thought that he might have passed through this village in the past.

I knew it wasn’t a logical deduction, just a baseless wish. But...

‘Even if it’s just a trace, I want to feel Garid's presence.’

If I could feel like we were together, even for a moment, that would be enough.

But now, it’s time to wake up from this sweet dream.

“There’s an ogre corpse here!”

“Did someone actually defeat it?!”

“Oh my—! It’s a Dimensional Beast…!”

Expecting it to have fled, villagers and caravan members rushed in, their jaws dropping at the sight of the ogre and the Dimensional Beast. They finally approached, their hesitation melting as they realized the bodies had no life left.

‘One of them isn’t dead yet.’

When Dimensional Beasts die, they leave behind only their core. So if its form remains, it’s still alive. Missing limbs and teeth, it was practically a corpse.

Swish—

“Oh my!”

No sooner had I thought that than the beast’s body crumbled to dust. The people who had backed away in fear, thinking it had revived, returned, reassured.

Some, cautiously observing the area, met my gaze.

“Isn’t that the girl from earlier? Could she have really defeated the ogres and the beast…?”

“She looks younger than my daughter. Surely it was the Apostles who did it?”

“The Apostles? They didn’t look that strong…”

“Hush, don’t say such things!”

Some of the chatting villagers approached me.

“Ahem... Did you see what happened here, child?”

“…”

“Hey, child?”

“Perhaps she’s scared by your rough face?”

“If that’s the case, she must be scared by yours. Have you forgotten the butcher’s boy cried after seeing you?”

Um...

What are they even talking about?

“Ah, just a moment!”

At that moment, Journey, who I’d abandoned—uh, who I left behind—hurried over.

“My sister doesn’t understand Arkish. If you have any questions, please ask me instead.”

“Oh… That explains her silence. Your sister is adorable.”

“Isn’t she?”

“So, did the Apostles defeat the ogres and the beast?”

“Um…”

Journey hesitated and turned to me.

“Kana? Why are you avoiding my gaze?”

“...Nothing.”

I didn’t know why, but I found it difficult to look at her. Without meeting her eyes, I answered.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, um. They’re asking if we defeated the ogres and the beast?”

“So?”

“I thought you might be uncomfortable if I told them the truth…”

Ah. I finally realized Journey’s concern. She thought I kept my face hidden because I didn’t want to be known. Which, to be fair, was true.

“…”

What should I do? Really, it doesn’t matter much anymore. Plenty already know about me—the Empire’s snakes, the Apostles… A little more exposure won’t change things much.

Just that it might get a bit more annoying.

“You can tell them the truth.”

After some thought, I decided. Not the best answer after weighing everything. It’s just… a whim. Today, I feel like this; tomorrow, it could be different.

“Are you sure?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

I simply found Journey’s concern burdensome. If she wanted honor, she could claim it; if it bothered her, she could say it was me. But she didn’t, and asked for my opinion instead—a small but considerate gesture.

I acted on impulse because of that small gesture.

“I have a condition.”

“...It’s not hard, right? Like fighting a monster…”

I shook my head. Of course not. I’d make her do that without needing a condition.

Shiver—

“Why do I suddenly feel a chill…?”

Journey shuddered, though it wasn’t that cold, even at night. I glanced at her trembling form, shrugged, and let it pass. Maybe she’s sensitive to cold.

I told Journey.

“You have to—”

Hearing my words, Journey’s eyes widened like saucers. Then, suddenly, she started pinching her cheeks and tapping her face, as if testing reality. She finally stopped and grabbed my hand.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll do it!”

Though it meant more work, Journey beamed with joy.