The Uninvited Guest (2)

"Huh…?"

Something about the familiar face and that venomous voice made Kallen's memory stir on its own. Then, at last, he recalled something — and his expression twisted in an instant.

"Hold on… you're…"

"Do, do you have any idea… how long I've been searching for you…?"

The woman stomped toward him, her face etched with an indignity beyond all words.

"Ho-holed up in a place like this — no wonder I couldn't find you!!"

She stalked right up to him and bawled him out at point-blank range. Around them, laughter erupted, nearly spilling over into outright howling.

"BAHAHA! Boss, so this was you sneaking out behind the missus' back, huh? Eh?"

"Wow, he's got it rough at home."

"If I had a wife that terrifying, I'd keep her sweet too, believe me."

"What the hell are you all on about? I don't know this woman…!"

"G-gambling in broad daylight — is that even allowed?! Who in the world would ever expect that…!"

Kallen's protests were helplessly buried under her shrieking voice and the thunderous laughter shaking the room.

He heaved a long, deep sigh at the chaos that had materialized out of nowhere.

"Good grief…"

Then, shooting a sour glance at the woman in front of him, he said:

"…Let's at least move somewhere else first."

Kallen and Lucia stood facing each other in a quiet back alley.

Unease was plainly written in Kallen's eyes as he regarded his uninvited guest.

"So? What is it."

"S-sorry?"

"What do you want."

Faced with his suddenly settled anger, Lucia couldn't help wearing an awkward look.

She couldn't very well admit that she'd spotted the man who had vanished without a trace despite her frantic searching, that she'd ducked into a tavern just to wet her throat, and that seeing him had made her see red and charge straight at him. Far less could she bring up the matter of Prominence and its flames.

"W-well, you see… I…"

Dodging Kallen's prickly gaze as she fumbled for an excuse, she stammered on.

"It's just… I… you do remember, right…?"

"I do. That crazy woman, right? I helped her and got cursed out for my trouble."

At Kallen's sneer, something hot welled up in Lucia's chest for a moment. Forcing her breath down with everything she had, she arranged her face into a strained smile and layered on the excuses.

"I… a-at the time, I was in a really bad state, so… I think I may have… said some things I didn't mean…"

"…"

"S-so… I wanted to apologize, even if it's late… and I never got to thank you, so… I've been l-looking for you…"

"Thank me?"

Kallen, who had been wearing a puzzled frown, soon let a snort of laughter escape.

"Funny. Last time you were telling me to quit my useless tricks."

"Th-that was… a slip of the tongue, I told you…!"

Startled, Lucia jerked back and shook her head desperately.

"I-I really am grateful… that's why I was looking for my benefactor… really…"

"Hm…"

Kallen still only eyed her with lingering suspicion. Lucia swallowed dryly and quietly averted her gaze.

"Fine. I believe you."

At last, Kallen gave a wry smile and nodded.

"I didn't do it expecting any thanks… but if you're going to say that, then I'm grateful in return."

"Oh…! Th-thank you!"

And Lucia's face bloomed with a bright smile.

Only then could she breathe an internal sigh of relief. Of course — no one in this world would refuse someone apologizing so earnestly like this.

"Oh, and…"

She was just about to steer the conversation along, step by careful step—

"Hm…?"

A palm silently extended toward her made Lucia tilt her head in confusion. His gesture was utterly impossible to read.

"Um… what's this?"

"The round just now. It was absolutely mine to take, and then you barged in and voided it."

Even at her bewildered expression, Kallen continued with perfect calm.

"B-but…?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"…But what?"

And the smile on Kallen's face hardened, his brow crinkling in a flash. As if none of his earlier composure had ever existed, he glared up at her truculently and spoke flatly.

"You voided it with your little tantrum, so naturally you're the one who compensates me."

"Wh-what did you say…?"

"Even at the low estimate, that pot was worth at least five imperial gold coins. Pay up, please."

"Th-that's not how anything works!! You can't just spring that on someone… where would I even get that kind of money…!"

"Has this woman actually lost her mind?"

Cutting off Lucia's protest, Kallen shoved his face in close and growled.

"Do you have any idea how much damage you cost me? Huh? This is a situation where groveling on your knees and begging forgiveness wouldn't even begin to cover it—"

"K-knees…?"

"Not paying up? I'm a professor at Elysion, you know. I'm also very close friends with the captain of the Caliburn Guard. Keep resisting like this and we'll both end up in an unpleasant situation, understood?"

Lucia's head was spinning.

Never in her wildest imaginings had she expected to be suddenly demanded money. He's even crazier than I thought… what do I do? Should I just beat him down like a dog…

The sheer gall of a scrawny gambler so brazenly impersonating an Elysion professor and claiming friendship with the captain of the guard was almost worthy of admiration.

But gnashing her teeth, Lucia finally let out a sigh. It wasn't that she believed a word the man said — but no matter what, she needed to avoid the situation spiraling into a major disturbance as much as possible.

"Here… take it."

Her face stained with humiliation, she finally held out the pouch she'd been carrying. Kallen snatched it and counted the coins inside — then immediately screwed up his face again.

"This is way short."

"Th-this really is everything I have!"

Recoiling before a man patting her down like he was conducting a body search, Lucia cried out in protest.

"I emptied out my entire emergency savings for you… c-can't you just let it go with that…?"

"…"

She continued pleading with him in a desperate voice. Kallen, still frowning, eventually sighed and grumbled to himself.

"Ugh, fine. I suppose the kind-hearted me has to let it slide, don't I…"

At that, Lucia flared up and timidly protested.

"Wh-what kind of man demands money from a woman like that in the first place…?!"

"The kind of man who splits hairs about gender when money's on the table — that's who's insane."

Kallen only replied with utter indifference, as if she were spouting nonsense.

"Stay far away from anyone who approaches you talking like that. Those are people who've lost their minds over women instead of money, and they'll stop at nothing."

"Wh-no… what's that supposed to…"

"Anyway — I got my thanks, I got my money… business concluded, right? Let's really stop being a nuisance to each other and go our separate ways now. Hmm?"

"H-hey…! Wait a second…!"

Having reached his conclusion entirely on his own, Kallen ignored the voice of Lucia grabbing at him and vanished around the corner of the alley in an instant.

—Ugh… there goes my precious free time, completely wasted… Maybe one more round when I get back…

Lucia stared blankly at his retreating back, so utterly indifferent to her, and murmured to herself.

"…What was that? Was I mistaken back then? Maybe he really was trying to help… no."

She shook her head vigorously and steadied herself.

"How could I trust such a pathetic man? A gambler, stumbling around drunk in broad daylight…"

By now she was back to her usual habit, haughtily tilting up the corners of her eyes.

"He's nothing but a pretty face — the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠type who swindles women… Did I see wrong? Could someone like that really… hm?"

She had been looking down at the ring on her pinky finger out of habit — and her eyes snapped wide open.

—Fwaaaah…

The flame within the ring was blazing with even fiercer intensity than before. Staring at it dumbfounded, Lucia murmured, almost despite herself.

"It's… come back again."

At this point, there was no longer any need for doubt. That man definitely had something. Otherwise, the flame flaring up every single time they crossed paths made no sense at all.

"And this time, our fingers didn't even touch…"

Lucia stared at the spot where the man had just stood, her brow furrowing into a scowl.

"What could a hopeless wreck like that possibly have… if it's a man, that's good enough? Seriously?"

Having vented a light complaint at Prominence, she soon sank deep into solitary thought.

"Or… is the problem not the man, but me? They did say the recovery rate can vary depending on the wielder's emotional state… when I'm around that man, how I feel is…"

Then her expression froze over, cold and hard.

"…That's just unpleasant for no reason. Or… could unpleasantness also aid recovery? He was certainly an exceptionally unpleasant man…"

However long she turned it over, she couldn't begin to guess the reason.

"…He definitely has something. That much is certain."

The face murmuring those words had sunk so cold that it was almost murderous.

There was no law saying the opportunity that had found its way to her couldn't find someone else too. But Lucia was not the kind of fool who would dumbly hand over everything she held to another.

"Should I interrogate him by force? No… that won't work…"

Having spoken those murderous words, she promptly shook her head. He was, after all, the owner of considerable skill. There was no guaranteeing a careless scuffle wouldn't break out. And the claim about his friendship with the guard captain, too, gave her a flicker of pause. Not to mention that the method itself left a distinctly sour taste in her mouth.

"…Well, I doubt someone like that is actually a professor, no matter what he says."

A snort of laughter escaped Lucia.

In any case, pointlessly kicking up a scene would be the worst possible move in her current situation. Personal feelings aside, one thing was equally clear: that man was someone she desperately needed right now. And with force taken off the table, only one option remained.

A human approach.

"Hm… what excuse could I possibly use…"

Lucia intended to use him — to eat him alive, all while he knew nothing. The flames welled up just from being near him, so as things stood, she had little real choice. And as for acting ability, she had a fair measure of confidence.

The great nobles of the Imperial Capital had practically worn their mouths dry praising her as nobility born of heaven itself. Baking one gutter drunk from the absolute bottom of society would be nothing by comparison.

Deep in thought with her brow creased, she suddenly remembered something and muttered in displeasure.

"Ugh… but really, is this any way for me to act toward a man…? There has to be some other way…"

Her face was thoroughly stained with humiliation and shame. Somewhere, she could almost hear the sound of her self-esteem being shaved away, chunk by chunk — but at this point, she had little other choice.

"I don't even know how to approach him… oh, come on…!!"

After agonizing and agonizing, she suddenly burst out, suffocating with frustration.

"…To dare inflict such humiliation on me."

And then, face burning red, she ground her teeth furiously.

"Just you wait. Once I get my strength back… hmm?"

Just then, the crystal orb in her breast began to hum with light. Confirming that no one was around, Lucia drew it out and said flatly:

"What."

"Shut it, loudmouth."

Lucia only replied with utter indifference.

"Just tell them I'm busy rolling around in bed with a woman."

"KYAAH! Disgusting! I have no hobby of rolling around with women!"

"Oh, spare me. A hag who's lived five times longer than me acting all innocent."

Making a face of utter disgust, Lucia sighed and asked:

"Hey, Kal. Where's Gloomy One?"

"Sleeping in her room, like every day. I asked her to go for a walk with me and she didn't even pretend to listen…!"

"Well, fair enough — she'd probably like the current arrangement even better. I did drag her out here against her will in the first place…"

As Lucia gave a small snort of laughter, a certain idea flashed through her mind.

Right — I could just ask her. She has experience with this sort of thing, after all.

So she cleared her throat and slyly changed the subject.

"…Forget Gloomy One. What's the white-haired one up to?"

"Oh? What's this all of a sudden? Usually you two can't stand the sight of each other."

The voice beyond the crystal orb let out a small gasp of amazement.

"Could it be you missed her, being so far away?"

"I told you to quit talking nonsense. So. What is she doing."

"Not here."

"What?"

"She went into a rift again. No idea when she'll be back."

A Saintess who had received Aten's direct blessing was one of the precious few who could pass in and out of the Illusion Realm unharmed, with her own two hands bare. And the reason such a woman peered into the Illusion Realm whenever a rift opened was obvious to anyone.

"Ugh… gone precisely when I need her…"

Lucia heaved a long sigh.

"What does she think the Illusion Realm is, some country-bumpkin territory market…? She can't do a thing on her own in there anyway…"

"You really are heartless… Don't you feel even a little sorry for Elise…"

"Shut up."

Lucia brushed aside the other's scandalized voice with a single flat word.

"If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you have something to say, want me to pass it along for you?"

"…Forget it. Just tell her to contact me when she gets back."

There was no way she could admit she'd sought the woman out to ask how to seduce a man. Having fudged her way around it, Lucia soon muttered indifferently:

"Well… at least there's one person around here who actually does her job."

"So when exactly ARE you coming back? Did you find a way to revive the flame? Honestly, why does she never listen to her master… Maybe it's because your personality is just so—"

"I told you to shut it. Anyway, it'll take a while longer."

Lucia's tone went razor-sharp and irritable.

"Come up with some excuse or other on your own. Even if you drop my name, no one's going to casually talk back to you. And send more operating funds. Be generous about it."

"What? You already blew through all that money? Even for a duke's daughter, that spending is—"

"I said send it. Cutting the call."

Her temper flaring skyward, Lucia unilaterally severed the connection. Heaving out another long sigh, she muttered quietly under her breath.

"…Since when do elves talk this much… Seriously, she's the reason all my illusions about them shattered…"

Then, concentrating, she spread her palm and chanted a short incantation. Soon, a faintly glowing golden line traced out from her feet and stretched away down the alley in an unbroken thread.

Seeing that the tracking spell she'd made sure to cast this time was working properly, Lucia nodded in satisfaction.

"Well… I only have to play nice and act like I'm making an effort, and he'll come running in no time, won't he?"

And then, gazing at her own reflection in a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shop's glass window, she let a soft laugh escape.

"When I'm this beautiful."