After graduation, Shuraina was deeply concerned about Hestia. For her, she was surrounded by those who supported her in her quest to knighthood and whatnot–but Hestia's future was filled with blockages.
She had taken taken care of Hestia ever since they were children, and she was like a little sister to her. She was concerned. Even as she worked, she couldn't help but worry for her. She'd do well in the future, I can't insert myself into Hestia's life, Shuraina thought to herself even as she worried about Hestia's every step. And then–her worries came true.
One day, Hestia's family began to talk about a potential wedding. Hestia knew about her horrible makeup skills but still came over to get her makeup done. And then, not too long after, Hestia stopped contacting her.
Anxious, Shuraina decided to look for Hestia herself. And, in the end, she was able to learn that Hestia was living on the streets.
Shuraina stayed up for a week to finish her work ahead of time. After that, she asked for permission from her overseers and ran out of the capital. Shuraina made sure to stop by a clothes store to buy a warm coat, hat, and gloves.
Once Shuraina found a much thinner Hestia, she dressed her up in the clothes she had bought for her and took Hestia to a fancy restaurant.
"But anyway, Shuraina, how did you come here? Why did you leave the palace? They're super strict about leaving, right?"
Hestia asked, gazing blankly at the thick slab of steak in front of her.
"I just received reports of a suspicious person in the area."
"Liar. You, a member of the 1st order, got asked to take care of such a petty problem?"
"Yup."
Shuraina responded curtly as she dumped the glass of red wine into her mouth. Hestia rested her chin on her hand and stared at Shuraina before her eyes curved into a smile.
Then, she removed a leaf from Shuraina's hair.
"You ran out because you were worried for me, right?"
"Shush."
Shuraina almost spit out the wine in her mouth after hearing Hestia's accurate explanation. She clearly remembered screaming, "I'm not going to concern myself with your life anymore! For real!" last time. She couldn't keep her own promises. Why was it? So embarrassing.
"…..if you're aware, then don't sleep in places like this. I barely stopped someone from almost giving you a newspaper blanket."
Shuraina complained, lowering her head as she fished around her salad plate. Her ears grew redder.
"Anyway, did something happen?"
Shuraina hurriedly asked, ready to change the subject. She had been curious about it all the while, and she had been careful to not ask until they had reached the restaurant.
Hestia had nothing to hide from Shuraina, so she began to recant her story. She told her everything–from what had happened to her at home to what had happened to her, all of it.
How publishers and newspaper companies had cursed at her and rejected any of her works that could cause issues. How all of the skills and logic she had been praised for by professors were treated as trash, and how Count Flowith had learned about everything she had done and cursed at her, how all of her work had become ashes, how her mother had given her everything she had and told her that she wasn't her daughter anymore, and how she had been kicked out of her home.
Hestia was overcome with emotions as she burst into tears. She didn't know how she was going to live from now on–and that made her even sadder. Shuraina had questions for Hestia, but she didn't stop her and just quietly nodded and listened to her.
After her long tale, Hestia downed the remaining bit of wine in her glass, just like Shuraina.
It was a great feeling, to have someone to listen to your every concern without worry. As Hestia talked about her situation to Shuraina, she felt like her thoughts were becoming more organized. Hestia wiped away the tears in her eyes, breathed in a few times and looked straight at Shuraina.
Shuraina's head hung low as she stabbed her steak with her fork and stuffed it in her mouth. When her mouth was so filled with food that she couldn't chew anymore, Hestia worriedly spoke up.
"Shushu, slow down..."
"….."
Shuraina covered her mouth with her hands and nodded, but she couldn't hide her distress. Shuraina's expression was sad as she just shoved more food into her mouth without chewing. Hestia's situation was just so, so distressing.
Shuraina slowly chewed on her steak while looking at Hestia with an anxious expression before she finally spoke, voice shaking.
"….why can't everything just work out?"
"No, it's okay. This is actually better. I can finally start from scratch now. I just have to build myself up, bit by bit, so it's okay. I've decided to look at it positively now."
"…..I'm not worried about you, I'm just angry and bitter about the whole thing. What do we do now…..?"
Shuraina's fork shook in her grip.
Her already fierce eyes grew even fiercer. Her fork began to move faster, too. Shuraina quickly finished her portion of her meal and asked for another plate. She had originally been planning on giving Hestia some of her portion as she watched Hestia eat, but she had ended up eating everything.
Hestia smiled and sat Shuraina back down from her seat when Shuraina fumed angrily.
"It's okay. You said you trust me, right? I'm just thankful that you're here to listen to my situation. You're already helping enough."
"..."
Hestia placed a slice of fruit in Shuraina's mouth and sat her next to her. When Hestia smiled joyfully as if she was content, Shuraina calmed herself down and focused on Hestia.
"First, don't worry about money."
"…..?"
"I was thinking about selling that white magic pillar that Noirelle gave to me last time. I can probably get a few hundred gold if I sell it."
"No. No. You don't have to. I don't want it."
If it was made with white magic stones, then that meant that Swanhaden made it. She couldn't live off of those disgusting stones. That wouldn't be truly living. Hestia held Shuraina's two hands and pleaded with her.
"Shushu, I'm telling you, don't worry about me. I just have to contact one of the professors I worked well with and ask for work from them."
"But how are you going to survive before all of that? Right now is the problem, right? I was trying to contact Harun or Karim, too, but both of them aren't home..."
Shuraina let out a groan as she flipped a silver coin that she was using to pay for the meal.
While Shuraina grabbed her head as she figure out what to do, Hestia couldn't help but smile. Seeing her try her best for herself made her feel touched. She was treated as nothing at home... Hestia rested her face on her chin and smiled. Just spending time with Shuraina like this was enough.
While Hestia stared at Shuraina with a satisfied expression, she noticed something different.
'That white-haired leech isn't here today?'
That white-haired asshole, the one that stuck to Shuraina like glue whenever she visited–Swanhaden. She couldn't see him. Hestia cheered internally, feeling happy and content.
She wasn't curious about his disappearance. No, she didn't want to be curious about his existence. Just remembering the times that he had taken Shushu away from her in the name of romance made her angry. But seeing how happy Shuraina was with Swanhaden made her feel like she should let it go, regardless of the jealousy blooming in her heart. No, but Swanhaden really, really wasn't the one...
"That's it! Noirelle! Why didn't I think of that?"
While Hestia was gnashing her teeth, deep in thought about something else, Shuraina flicked her fingers and shouted quietly.
"Noi….relle? Oh, the dragon from before? The academy principal?"
Hestia hurriedly came back to her senses and nodded as she remembered Noirelle. The one that made her feel uncomfortable because they pretended to know her a bit too much.
"Yup, the one and only. The one that did the sexy dance."
"…..I don't really want to remember the dance. But what about Noirelle all of a sudden?"
"Let's go loot Noirelle's lair."
Shuraina pulled her hair back and, as if prepared, slapped her coin onto the table and stood up. Then, she grabbed Hestia's arm and took her out of the restaurant. Hestia's round eyes blinked in confusion.
"Huh? Hold on, Shushu? Loot what?"
"A dragon lair."
Shuraina walked out into the streets and began to draw a magic circle, Hestia standing behind her. She placed her hand on Swanhaden's magic stone from her pocket, pulled her magic together, and poured it onto her magic circle for travel.
'Noirelle mentioned last time that they were going to move homes once Blanchielle hatched from the egg, right?'
Shuraina didn't forget what Noirelle had told her before. Well, Noirelle had also mentioned that she should bring Hestia over to visit before she moved lairs, too.
The one good thing about visiting when people moved was that there was a chance to earn free items. Shuraina decided to visit Noirelle right now–it was perfect. She could bring Hestia over to Noirelle, and she could go see the newly hatched Blanchielle.
"Shushu, hold on, waaaaaait!"
Hestia looked befuddled as she tried to stop Shuraina, but the magic circle was already shining brightly as it activated. Hestia had no idea that Shuraina and Noirelle were close, so it all just sounded bizarre to her. If the two of them were caught looting the dragon lair, how were they supposed to fight off the dragon? All she had was a hard piece of bread…. Was she supposed to swing her bread while Shuraina swung her sword? It was a bit of a reach to use it as a weapon.
Hestia, whose imagination was running even more rampant than Shuraina's, soon felt like she was being sucked in by something and disappeared.
A few moments later, Hestia stumbled on her feet once she exited the transportation circle. Once she was able to stand straight, Hestia took out the weapon, no, the dry baguette and looked around the area in nervous anticipation. But it was completely dark and empty. Moreover, she realized that she wasn't holding Shuraina's hand anymore. Hestia called out Shuraina's name as her voice shook.
"Shuraina?"
She had been right next to her... Hestia always became scared as soon as Shuraina left her sight. Hestia's shoulders hunched in.
"Shuraina….. Where are you..."
Like a lost child looking for her mother, Hestia fervently searched for Shuraina. Her voice was shaking.
Sssssst!
Right then, she could hear something moving. It sounded like leaves falling and rustling, but Hestia was so scared that it was enough to surprise her.
Sssssssst!
It sounded like something was coming closer. The sound grew louder. Hestia gripped the baguette tighter as she bit her lips.
She was definitely near the lair….. Was it Noirelle? Or….a monster? Shuraina, where are you?
Ssssssssssssssssssssst!
"Kyaaaaaaaaa!"
When the thing making the rustling noise came even closer, Hestia screamed and swung her baguette as hard and quick as she could. People were known to have superhuman abilities when in danger. Hestia was the same. Bam, bam, bam! The sound of her bread slamming down on the thing rang loudly.
"Hestia, whoa, whoa. Calm down."
"...!"
As soon as she heard the familiar voice, Hestia lowered her baguette-wilding hand. Once Hestia looked calm, Shuraina held her wrist to create a magic light. At the sudden influx of light, Hestia frowned and covered her eyes with her hands. Once her sight adjusted, Hestia could see Shuraina covered in crumbs.