[No title provided]
Franz headed north to meet Hera. His destination was the commercial city of Cal Desien. True to its name as a hub of commerce, it was the continent's largest distribution center, where goods of every kind flowed in and out. Naturally, such places always buzzed with shady backroom deals—drugs and human trafficking were commonplace.
The rumors weren't good, huh.
They were about Cal Desien's lord. Stories of him gathering slaves for human experiments. Or being a kingpin who controlled the underworld. All sorts of nasty gossip swirled around him. It was hard to believe every rumor was true... but as the saying goes, where there's smoke, there's fire. He was definitely a scumbag.
Well, that explained why he had an elf slave.
Upon arriving in Cal Desien, Franz headed straight for the location marked on the request form. The center of the plaza, beneath a massive clock tower. When he got there, someone in a black hood was scanning the surroundings intently. A glimpse of their eyes revealed a fresh green, like new sprouts. The height matched too, along with the slender build—it had to be Hera.
Franz approached her.
"Hera."
"Franz."
Hera looked up at him. In Franz's eyes, she seemed oddly gaunt.
Something happen?
If she'd gone from pig to normal, he'd chalk it up to dieting. But she'd always been normal, so this was weird. Memories of her devouring two full bowls of meat-stuffed mushroom stew without mercy made it even stranger. Was she even eating properly?
With that thought, Franz said, "Hey, let's grab some food. I'm starving."
"Food? This isn't the time. Franz, I called you here because of... everything."
Hera trailed off, glancing around. She hesitated to say "elf slave" aloud, worried someone might overhear.
Franz patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Hey, loosen up. You'll scare off the fish even if it's already hooked. I get it's urgent, but we can't move in broad daylight like this, right?"
"That's true, but..."
"Then let's eat first. Gotta fuel up to move. And..."
There are too many people here.
Franz leaned in and whispered into her ear. A quick scan showed dozens of eyes already on them. A mage talking to a hooded figure? Suspicious, no matter what.
Maybe...
Some of those eyes could belong to the lord's spies. Better safe than sorry.
Soon, they left the clock tower plaza and slipped into Cal Desien's streets. Fitting its reputation, the roads were lined with food stalls and shops of every variety. The tantalizing aromas teased their noses.
Franz smacked his lips regretfully. On a casual outing, he'd sample everything leisurely. But today, he had business. Still, time wasn't just today—he could come back later.
Eventually, Franz and Hera entered a nondescript, ordinary-looking shop. Picking an empty one would draw suspicion.
They took the corner table. A server approached.
"Ready to order?"
"The most popular stuff, please."
He just wanted to fill his stomach, so Franz kept it simple. The top sellers were guaranteed tasty—no duds there.
But across from him, Hera sat silently. Franz asked curiously, "Hera, not ordering?"
"I, um..."
"I'll cover it, so eat up. Like I said, we need fuel to move."
"...Got it. Then I'll have..."
Hera rattled off dish after dish from the menu. Franz was floored by her nonstop mouth. He'd meant eat something, not all this.
The server seemed just as shocked. "Everything you just said...?"
"Yeah. Problem?"
"N-no! None at all!"
The server vanished after that. Now alone, an awkward silence settled.
They'd never been close in the hero party. Her friendliness at the tower was just because she seemed desperate. Food would have eased things, but without it, this was awkward.
But Franz couldn't let it drag. She might be turning villainess, but saving the world from her was still the goal. He'd requested her specifically for that.
Finally, he broke the ice. "How've you been?"
"Just... nothing much."
Her voice betrayed her—full of pathos. Something was definitely up.
Franz pressed on. He'd learned from Justia: listening and easing their burdens helped a ton.
"Nothing much? Your voice has zero energy. And why're you so skinny? You eating okay?"
"Am I... that bad?"
Hera gave a bitter smile. Villainess or not, seeing a former comrade suffer tugged at Franz. He just wanted to help—her and the world.
"What's going on? Spill."
"You might understand..."
Hera slowly unburdened herself. Elves opposing her hero party membership. Her brother and childhood friend betraying her. Secrets she'd kept from everyone.
Franz listened quietly to the end and thought, These guys are insane.
This wasn't some 21st-century morning soap opera. How could this happen in real life? Sacrificing herself to save the world, and they stab her in the back? Unforgivable.
He pitied Hera and raged at the traitors. Honestly, world-ending rage made sense. Intent and action were different, but he got her pain.
Collecting his thoughts, Franz ventured, "So now you're...?"
"Yeah, rescuing the ones my brother sold. It was that or lose my reason to live."
"I see..."
"But I'm worried. If I..."
A chill hit Franz. Here it comes—the classic line.
But it never landed.
"Excuse us a moment!"
The server started piling food on the table. Prepared while they talked.
Once it covered the table, the server chirped, "Enjoy!" and left.
Franz stared at the feast and said, "Let's eat first."
Who knew? Good food might lift her mood, dulling her world-ending resolve. A bit much, but variety was key.
Hera nodded and tentatively scooped some in.
Delicious...
Since that day, no food had moved her. Flavors were there, but joyless. These dishes? Pure bliss.
Her hands flew. Franz was stunned—she ate like possessed. Explained the weight loss: starvation.
Then Hera added, "Franz, sorry, but... could we order a bit more? Just a little."
"Uh, yeah. Eat if you're hungry."
He recalled the terror of meat mushroom stew vanishing into her.
But can she move after eating like that?
* * * * *
The long feast ended, and the midday sun had tilted westward. Unlike Franz's fears, Hera moved fine—no bloated belly despite the mountain of food. Astonishing.
Right after leaving, Hera said, "Now, to my lodging."
"Huh...?"
Franz was utterly baffled.