It has already been a few days since we arrived to the capital. We've been accepting jobs from the Travelers’ Guild, while looking around for my friends’ whereabouts. I have come to learn that this large city known as Centreville, is a capital city with their own history and lineage of royalty.

“We should probably move onto the next city…” (Meirou)

I watch from afar as Juyu and Hana high-fives each other. They worked together to take down a bear-looking monster. Juyu has been training Hana how to properly handle a sword, and today is the first day Juyu is assisting Hana apply what she has learned into practical use. Their teamwork is looking great.

“Hm…?” (Meirou)

Juyu is sniffing the air. I run over to see what's going on.

“Eh? I can't hear anything though.” (Hana)

“No, I am sure there is someone nearby. A suspicious smell.” (Juyu)

Juyu speaks in a lower voice.

“Is something wrong?” (Meirou)

“Master, there might be someone following us. I have been smelling this scent for some time now.” (Juyu)

Someone following us? Right as I was about to turn to survey my surroundings, I felt hostility. Right as I pinpointed the source, a dagger flew our way and hit Juyu’s back.

“Damn!” (Meirou)

“J-Juyu!!” (Hana)

I waved my hand to throw an attack at the source, but the attack sliced through thin air as if nothing was there.

“Tch.” (Meirou)

I click my tongue. I run up to check her condition

“M-Meirou. A-Ahaha… I messed up...” (Juyu)

Right as i reach her, she says those words with a pained expression. The dagger is deep, so I hesitate on pulling it. I remember reading from somewhere that pulling out foreign objects that pierced one's body prematurely might cause the bleeding to worsen. Damn, I still feel the hostility.

I pick up Juyu in a princess carry, and run alongside Hana.

“Hah, hah... M-Meirou! They’re following us!” (Juyu)

“‘They’!?” (Meirou)

Hana perks her ears.

“They seemed to have been covering their footsteps with magic, but I could’ve bypassed it with my special magic! I-I am sorry!! If I had used it sooner!!...” (Hana)

“Hana, save your regrets for later. We need to escape and treat Juyu! Help me!” (Meirou)

“Meirou!! I can heal her! I-I just need everyone to stop somewhere so I can do it! (Kanko)

Ah! I nearly forgot about Kanko’s healing ability! I don't think they will give up chasing us though. They are persistent! It's likely a better idea to defeat them here, and obtain information killing two birds with one stone.

“Hana! I have a plan!” (Meirou)

…

I sharply turn left while Hana continues forward. I quickly hide behind a bush, slowly lower Juyu to the ground, and let Kanko start her healing. I run out the bush and hide in another bush a few meters away. Right as I jump in, the pursuers arrive a heartbeat later. They couldn't have missed the bushes’ quivers when I jumped to hide, so they likely know where I'm hiding. There were two pursuers, huh. I ready my attack, and right as one of them throw a knife, I jump out and wave my hand altering the direction of the knife midway. I also wave my other hand no second later to counterattack, but the two pursuers jump out of the range of the attack. Right then, Hana stabs one of the pursuers from behind through the chest. The second pursuer, not expecting Hana’s surprise attack, becomes startled. I took advantage of that small opening, and physically attacked him from the front while the second layer is still coating my arm, doubling my strength.

“Gah…” (Pursuer)

The pursuer falls unconscious, and I tie him up. Good thing we brought rope along for any emergencies that could arise. I quickly return to the spot with Juyu and Hana.

“M-Meirou!! I-I healed her, but she's not getting any better! W-What do I do!?” (Kanko)

“What did you say!?” (Meirou)

Is she poisoned!? Right as I think that, Juyu coughs out a small amount of blood. I turn to the tied-up pursuer. Luckily, he roused from unconscious, so I moved over to question him.

…

Meirou walks over to the pursuer, he must be planning on questioning him. Right as I was about to stand up, Juyu holds my hand to stop me.

“Wait… Hah… H-Hana…” (Juyu)

“Don't worry, we'll save you! Just wait for a bit longer!” (Hana)

“H-Hana… I… *cough cough* don't have much time… I know my own body the best...“ (Juyu)

“D-Don’t say that! Just hold on for a bit longer-” (Hana)

“H-Hana!!... J-Just listen to me!... Please!... *cough cough*... Please protect… Master… in my... place…” (Juyu)

Juyu tries unlocking her bracelet with shaking hands. After a few tries, she manages to unlock it off and shoves it into my hand. Juyu smiles weakly at me.

“C-Call Master... here… q-quickly…” (Juyu)

The reality of this situation still hasn’t sunk in, I refused to believe it. M-Master Meirou might have a way. I managed to shout Master Meirou’s name loud enough to alarm him. As Meirou quickly arrives, he looks around alert.

“What happened!? Are they're more pursuers on the way!?” (Meirou)

“Master Meirou…” (Hana)

Meirou stood there frozen on the spot, as he comes to realize why I called him. I remain in a kneeled position by Juyu’s side, my back facing Meirou.

“Master… T-Thank… you… for everything you've… d-done for… me. I was… so happy… to have bee-... n picked up… by you…” 「I have been so happy. So blessed. I have always heard scary stories from being a slave. My parents died, I was sold by the rest of my family. I was prepared for so much worst. I have been hearing many bad things about Hana’s previous Master from Hana’s stories she shares with me every night. I am glad Master was my first master. If I were to have one regret, it would be that I won't be able to protect Master anymore. I want to return all the kindness and warmth I've received. Hana, don't blame yourself for being weak anymore. This was from my own carelessness. You did nothing wrong. It was just my fate to die here. Kanko, it is not your fault, you healed me. See? I stopped bleeding.」

Juyu weakly turns her eyes to my way, then to Kanko's direction.

"No...t y-you..r fault... O-Oka...y? Than..k yo...u Hana... J-Juy..u..." 「Ah, can you still hear me? My voice isn't coming out anymore. I want to tell you, please don't blame yourselves. Protect Master in my place. You can become stronger than me. Why are the three of you watching me with such anguished, teary expressions? I will be fine… Ah, I guess I really am dying… Mom, Dad, will I get to see you again?... Good bye… Master… Hana… Kanko…」 (Juyu)

“......” 「I can finally receive her thoughts again… but in this situation...」 (Meirou)

“......” 「I heard everything that you wanted to convey from your heart, Juyu…」 (Hana)

「Eh?」 (Meirou)

「Eh?」 (Hana)

“...E-Eh?” (Kanko)

「M-Master Meirou? Kanko?」 (Hana)

「Was that your voice just now, Hana? You too, Kanko?」 (Meirou)

…

I thought there were more pursuers on their way, but I was wrong. I panicked when I heard Hana’s shout for me. I just feel empty right now. Juyu, why did you have to go off on your own so quickly. We only just became family…

「Hana, are you still receiving my thoughts?」 (Meirou)

「Y-Yes… I can hear your voice in my head loud and clear…」 (Hana)

「Kanko?」 (Meirou)

「Kanko can hear the both of you too…」 (Kanko)

I close my eyes. I will figure this out later. I return to the tied-up pursuer.

“You kept your mouth shut, but now I don't care about your life anymore. If you don't share the name of the person who sent you, I will torture you here and now, before ending your life.” (Meirou)

“...” (Pursuer)

My eyes darken.

…

I return to the spot where Kanko and Hana still remained on the spot by Juyu's side. I managed to learn the pursuer was a hired assassin. I kept my promise and let him go after torturing both his arms. It went much better than expected. Luckily, it was a hired assassin. If it was an assassin personally sent by the culprit… Forget names, I don’t think I will ever manage to hear a single word out of his or her mouth.

“Hana, please help.” (Meirou)

Hana, and even Kanko moves to help dig. It seems our minds are synchronized, so I didn't need to say what I needed help for. Hana touches Juyu’s cold cheek one last time. Juyu smiled at the end, huh...

“Juyu, just wait for a bit longer… Okay?” (Hana)

After placing Juyu down the hole, Hana faces me and nods. I lead the way.

…

When we returned to the city, I asked about the whereabouts of the said noble at various inns. It seems even in this large city, he is a famous noble, so it was easy to find out where his residence is from public information alone. As we wait it out till midnight, we sneak in through the front.

Kanko told me she will stay behind, since she could be a burden. I refused. We are leaving this city right after, after all. There won't be any luxury to stop on the way. I told her it is fine to remain on the usual spot on my shoulder, but then she urged me to squeeze her inside one of the pockets instead, if I don't comply. She doesn't want to restrict my movements, so I did as she said. She made a valuable point after all. We checked out the surroundings during the day, and it seems the walls are just not climbable without drawing attention. They are simply too tall. The front gates are the only option.

From a distance, I wave my hand and silently killed the two guards, and entered with ease. When I enter, as expected, there was about 16 guards around the actual residence. They haven't noticed yet, so we continue with the plan. Hana pulls the large gate, and as expected the noise of opening such a large gate is noticed by some of the guards. They started yelling, and a group started running towards Hana. Hana quickly enters, and runs towards a completely different direction. After waiting for the guards that started their pursuit for Hana, I enter the premise and silent kill the few left that stayed behind to remain on guard. I killed. I enter what seems to be a two-floor mansion the size of a student dormitory. I killed. I killed a few more on my way to the second floor. I notice a large eye-catching portrait of a young woman wearing a crown, there were two aides standing behind her. The queen of this country? No, from her appearance she is more like a princess.

“……” (Meirou)

For some reason I stay rooted on the spot when I see the portrait. I shake my head, and reach the second floor. I walk down the hall, and killed two more. I look around to find a pretentious-looking door that screams ‘I'm here.’, and open it.

“Oi! I'm busy! Also knock before… you… enter… You, how did you enter this place.” (???)

"......” (Meirou)

So this was the man. It's the noble I met at the restaurant. I wave my hand, and sliced his head off. He died silently, without resistance.

“Juyu… it's over.” (Meirou)

I start hearing footsteps resounding from the distance, and took a peek out the window. I narrowed my eyes. It was a small platoon running towards the residence. I see at least 60 soldiers running towards us. They responded fast.

「Hana!」(Meirou)

「I am in position, Master Meirou! Please hurry!」 (Hana)

Ah, she must of heard all my thoughts when I killed the noble. This blessing is a total cheat if met with the right conditions. We managed to save a large amount of time just by being able to communicate like this. I run out the room, and broke through a window from the back. Hana is already under me lying in wait, and catches my fall.

“Thank you, Hana. Let’s quickly leave now. This city, together.” (Meirou)

“I'll follow you no matter where, Master Meirou.” (Hana)

We nod to each other, and start running. Hana uses her jumping magic, a special magic where only rabbitkins could use, and lands on the top of the wall holding the rope. She helps me climb over the wall right before the soldiers come into view. We ran, and ran. Through the shopping street, the city entrance. The guards must've not received word of us yet, so we ran through the entrance without obstruction. Into the forest, we continue to run hours on end until we couldn't run anymore.

…

“Princess, we just received word they already escaped through the gates of the city. Shall we continue the pursuit?” (Soldier 1)

She narrowed her eyes.

“I heard from the watcher that two intruders broke into Uncle Matt’s mansion. Did they steal anything else other than his life?” (???)

“N-No, the reports says they escaped right after taking Sir Matt’s life.” (Soldier 1)

They killed Uncle Matt, and that's it? What did Uncle Matt do to them? He has always been a kindhearted man, as well as a teacher and father to me.

“......” (???)

From this point, I really am alone now… At the very least, I want Uncle Matt to rest in peace. I must stay strong in front of everyone.

“Continue the pursuit. Capture them, dead or alive.” (???)

“As you command.” (Soldier 1)

…