The last of the market's merchants have already packed up and left. Straf and Cycelia are walking through the empty square back to the main street. The traffic is minimal at this hour on the side streets, but there are still some scatterings of adventurers going somewhere, or drunk revelers singing out-of-tune tunes as they stumble home. Cycelia anxiously thumbs the empty space at her sheath, as she follows beside Straf.

「Straf, can I make a request?」

She asks quietly, almost too quiet to be heard, but Straf catches it.

「Hm? Yeah, what is it?」

「I know it's a little rude and greedy to ask this of you since you already bought me something, but… Could you buy me a sword?」

「Well. I said I'll spoil you, didn't I? But I didn't see any weapon merchant at the market. I thought there would be all sorts of enchanted stuff getting sold.」

She covers her mouth with a half-closed fist as she laughs gently, in a truly noble-like and highly mannered fashion.

「Haha ha… What do you think our kingdom is, Straf? Some sort of dwarven fortress at the height of the elder races?」

「What's so funny? I thought there would be all sorts of bracers with magic effects or magic rings.」

「That's… How rich exactly is your homeland, Straf? Ah- I mean, I don't- It's just, you're asking such fundamental questions, that it becomes apparent you're not from around here…」

Cycelia suddenly waves her hands trying to dissolve and defuse any unfortunate implication she thinks she may have made, but Straf rubs his chin as he ponders.

「Let's see… We have so much food it gets wasted by the entire piles. We live in such densities we need to build homes as tall as the walls in this city. And nobody really needs to work, you can just watch numbers go up and down and live off that. We basically have everything you need at shops, and even the things you don't need. It's total excess all around, kind of disgusting, really.」

「That's incredible! You mean you reached a level of prosperity you don't know what to do with it?」

「Yup. Pretty much. And then there's the NEETs that are paid to just live…」

「Nitos…?」

「No. N. E- Forget it. Think of them as a privileged noble class.」

「It may be a little rude, but I'm so curious I have to ask… Did your kingdom reach this level of wealth through conquest, or slavery?」

「Oh yeah! Basically everybody is a slave.」

「Ah… I see. So this wealth is in the hands of the few…」

Cycelia gets visibly sullen as her image of Straf's prosperous home shatters. She looks down at the cobblestones.

「Oh no, everybody gets it.」

「Huh? Even the slaves?」

She looks back up at Straf with eyebrows raised, surprised.

「Yeah. Like I said, everybody is a slave. And the best part is, nobody really knows that they are.」

「What-?」

「That reminds me… Is there a slave market around here?」

Straf pauses, and so does Cycelia. She blinks multiple times, shakes her head slightly and takes a good couple seconds to process Straf's outrageous question.

「Straf… That's illegal.」

「No slave market?」

「No. I know your image of slavery might be much different from ours, but slaves everywhere are deprived of their dignity and free will-」

「Are your slaves made to dance in duck costumes in the summer heat?」

「Wh… What?」

She squints and looks to the side, trying to make sense of Straf's bizarre question.

「Well. If you don't know… Trust me, your slaves are better off than we are.」

「Regardless… Straf. I can't say for sure there aren't any underground, hidden markets… But if there were any that I know of, I'd sentence them to death myself. Slave trade is the only crime that is- Was… Punishable by death.」

She clenches her teeth and fists as she looks aside.

「…Until that murderous maniac greatly expanded the list.」

Her fists tighten and shake as she growls through her teeth. Meanwhile, Straf is looking towards the main street, deep in thought.

《Hmm… That's surprising. Guess I'll have to introduce slavery here later. Or I'll just buy some animal-eared girl elsewhere.》

「Well anyhow, I'll get you that sword. Hopefully something fancy and magical.」

Straf announces as he turns away from Cycelia and continues towards the main street.

「Ah! No, there's no need! Just a regular hunk of iron will do… I felt really naked without a sword. I'm not really brave, or good with a sword, but… I don't like the idea of having no means to defend myself.」

「Magical or not, the problem is I haven't actually seen anyone sell weapons.」

「I saw a stall open this morning when I arrived here. The merchant apparently packs up and leaves later in the afternoon.」

「By the way, what are you doing here? This isn't the capital city of your kingdom, isn't it?」

Straf suddenly asks a random question.

「No, of course not. I'm on the run since the usurper-」

「No no, I remember that part. It's just, what are you doing here? What was your plan?」

「Well… I was just running in general. Survival was my first concern. When I managed to get away just a little, I thought that I would maybe try and get across the border and hide.」

「Is this city close to the border, then?」

「Somewhat. On that horse, I would have been halfway there by now.」

「Yeah, sorry about that.」

She shakes her head and smiles.

「Uh-uh. I'm glad. It made me really happy when you said I don't have to run anymore… It was really tiring to have to sleep with one eye open, in the dark and on the ground in a forest somewhere.」

「You know that most likely even if you'd get across the border, the kingdom there would hand you over for political benefits, right?」

「I… Yes. I thought that may happen. But it was better than certain death here.」

「Hmmmm…」

《She's a total airhead, but is surprisingly savvy about how political dramas go. Guess natural selection here is powered by cliches.》

「On the off-chance they wouldn't, I'd gather supporters and amass an army there to reclaim the throne… I'm sure in the end the kingdom would be weakened, as I'd have no choice but to hand out titles and concessions as a reward. I still don't know what to do about that bastard...」

《Honestly, that sounds actually like an interesting story. Too bad I ruined it! Butterfly effect!》

Cycelia leans in forward ahead of Straf, with her hands leisurely clasped behind her back. She looks at his face, meanwhile her shirt buttons scream in agony silently.

「Say, Straf. Where are we going, exactly?」

「Well, I figured we'd call it a day. Is there an inn around here?」

「Yes. I saw one down the main road, past the bridge.」

She points past Straf, down the main street.

「…Bridge? There's a bridge here?」

「Yes! It's quite a nice sight! Do you want to see?」

「…Sure?」

Cycelia takes a few steps forward and waves at Straf to follow her, he rubs his chin as he walks.

《You mean there's a bridge? Here? In the city? Why?》

Suddenly, Straf's thoughts are interrupted by a grating, familiar voice.

《Let me guess. You'll take her to the inn and then get a room with only one bed.》

Athea's once again echoes in Straf's head, insinuating what he'll do next.

「Tsk. You're actually wrong about that. First we're going to get some food.」

Straf clicks his tongue as he looks at the faintly starry sky.

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「Hm?-」

Cycelia looks back over her shoulder, smiling. Her smile turns into mild confusion when she sees Straf apparently talk to himself, while looking high above.

《Food first, and then what? I have to give you credit where it's due, at least you didn't immediately try to get between her legs.》

「Heheheh. Is that jealousy? Don't worry, I didn't forget about you.」

Warning, or perhaps threatening Athea, Straf chuckles and grins.

《Is he… Talking to himself? He already did that before, but… This time it sounds like he's having a real conversation with someone.》

Cycelia thinks as she's walking backwards and looking at Straf, trying to make sense of the situation.

《Jealousy!? And what would I be jealous of, you foul-minded degenerate?》

「Look who's talking. You're the one bringing that up.」

Cycelia blinks, staring at Straf with furrowed brows. She takes a quick glance behind herself and points at the bridge on the road.

《I'm bringing it up because I am concerned about that poor woman! What would she think!? Why don't you tell her what you requested of me!?》

「Straf, look! There's the bridge!」

Cycelia exclaims to get Straf's attention. She runs up to the pale stone railing, and leans onto it.

「It was a wish, not a request. Should I even bring you up? Is that allowed?」

Straf walks up to the railing as well as he asks Athea, and leans on it with his elbows.

「Isn't that a nice view?- …Straf?」

Cycelia turns to Straf as he hangs his head low. He stares into the water flowing beneath the bridge.

「Of course…」

Straf says quietly.

《So this is why I felt like I saw this city a thousand times before already. It's because I already fucking did! Who builds a walled city on a river!? Do these hacks have any idea how easy it would be to float an invasion ship past these massive walls into a city on a river!?》

Straf looks up from the water, and down the river in silence as he rants internally. Two more bridges arch over the flowing stream, one close and one in the distance. The streetlights' glow glitters and reflects off the warping surface of the water, dazzling onlookers like a magic spell.

「S-Straf…」

《Is he… Did he remember something sad? Why does he look so… Disappointed?》

Cycelia becomes worried as Straf says nothing and simply stares into the distance. She tries to get his attention quietly, but doesn't have enough confidence to disturb him. She fiddles with her gemmed medallion gently as she waits for him to say something.

《Ah, so you are actually appreciating the beauty of this world? Maybe there is still hope for you-》

「Heh. Is that what you think? Quite the opposite.」

Straf chuckles just once and grins as he looks up.

《And just when I thought you could get better…》

「Get better? After what happened? Oh, no. It won't be that simple.」

《So you'll choose to be upset all the time?》

《Is he… Did he actually go insane? Who- 》

「Yeah. You're right. I'm going to be upset until this world is in pieces-」

「Straf. Who are you talking to?」

「Hm?」

「You were… Talking to someone? Right? Who was it?」

「Ah… It was just…」

Straf looks up with a slight smirk.

《Don't tell her. You have no idea how many problems someone claiming to have a direct hotline to gods causes me.》

「…My girlfriend, you could say.」

《I am not your girlfriend! Why did you even think that was the appropriate thing to tell her!?》

Athea's protests echo in Straf's mind. Cycelia can't help but sneer slightly.

《Oh no… He actually has an imaginary girlfriend? But why? He's so cool and hand- I need to break this illusion for him. It's for his own good.》

「I see… And where is this girlfriend?」

Cycelia asks as she looks around in an exaggerated manner. Straf lowers his gaze from the sky and looks at her with a smug smile.

「In heaven, I guess.」

He says as he points his index finger up, still smiling.

《I told you it's not the afterlife you expect! What do you think you're doing!? Why are you telling her- Are you doing this on purpose to make me mad-? Ohhh, you are!》

Athea's shouts keep resonating in Straf's head as he maliciously ignores her.

「Eh-?」

「Oh, is that the inn? Let's go.」

「…Huh?」

Cycelia blinks in wide-eyed confusion, and stares blankly at the space Straf was occupying a moment ago as he walks past her. She grasps at her medallion as something hurts in her throat, and her rapidly blinking eyes water.

「Lia, are you coming!? I'll order food without you if you're late!」

Cycelia turns around, Straf calls out for her while looking back, as he walks towards the building with a sign sticking out of its facade. He turns his gaze away when he sees her looking his way.

Cycelia keeps staring at his broad back as he walks. Not dressed in anything remarkable or extravagant, he takes one confident step after another. His arm still wrapped in torn, blood-soaked rags. Cycelia clenches her teeth, struggling to hold back tears.

Ba-dump.

《...How could I? Why do I keep doing this to a man this kind, over and over and over again?! I'm an ingrate. A monster. He's been quietly suffering loss of a loved one and he still finds the strength to smile? And the person he saved, the person that should be the most grateful to him, thinks these terrible things about him?》

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Cycelia starts running towards Straf.

《That he's a liar, treacherous, perverted, insane…》

「Hm?」

Straf hears someone running behind him. He turns around, Cycelia charges into him and wraps her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

「I'm sorry Straf! I'm sorry! I'm sorry…」

《Anyone would go a little insane from this! I know what it's like! It's not his fault!》

「...Huh?」

Straf stares down at Cycelia clinging onto him, completely and utterly confused with his jaw hanging slack. Her large chest flattens against his body, putting the seams on her shirt through another dire trial.

《What the fuck. I have a bipolar runaway princess in my harem!? 140 luck my ass!》

「I'm sorry Straf. For everything. Please, don't suffer in silence anymore. Please.」

Cycelia says through harrowing sobs, still hiding her face in his chest. Suddenly, she looks up into Straf's confused eyes.

「Please! Let me be someone you can rely on! For everything! You don't have to be alone anymore!」

Her emerald eyes reflect the lamplight, as if twin lighthouses in the night.

「Uh… Oookay?」

《What is she talking about!? Wait- Everything?》

「Everything?」

「Everything!」

Straf grins and nods.

「Okay. How about we got some food now?」

「Yeah!」

《Wow, 140 luck alright. I'm going to give that dyslexiac one last chance though.》

Cycelia lets go of Straf and wipes her eyes with her sleeve, sniffling slightly. She follows him into the inn nearby.