"By any chance..." Lu-el said gently as he entered the front door, greeting a little girl—around eight years old—with short white-blonde hair and dark-toned skin, sitting at the receptionist counter.

"Is this place perhaps the Moon Pavilion?"

His search for the inn Kaori had told him to go to before disappearing at the east gate of Florescence Town led Lu-el to a medieval fantasy–themed two-story building with an attic—the ground floor seemingly serving as a dining area, the second floor as the inn proper, and the attic reserved for residents.

However, it had taken him almost half a day of searching, during which he got lost multiple times in the guild area of the town’s southeastern district.

Not even his loyal viewers could help him follow the map Kaori had drawn, which had very little detail and even failed to mention that the Moon Pavilion’s signage was a magic item that changed the moon logo depending on its actual phase.

He could have asked passing strangers and bystanders for directions, but in Lu-el’s reasoning—where would be the fun in that?

Besides, he wouldn’t miss the chance to stroll through a fantasy town, as if reliving the time he first arrived at the capital city to attend college in his original world.

"This would be the place, Mister," the little girl cheerfully replied, before introducing herself as Yue.

"Are you here for a meal or for lodging?" Yue asked, adding that if Lu-el intended to stay, he would need to present a recommendation letter.

"I have one from Lord Daichi of Daifuku Village."

Although Kaori had instructed Lu-el to stay at the Moon Pavilion and use it as a base of operations while in Florescence Town, she had also told him to ask Daichi for an inn he could recommend—which, somehow, turned out to be the same place.

Or perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence, Lu-el thought, considering how Kaori seemed determined to hide her presence in the town and obscure her connection to him.

Yue carefully opened and examined Lu-el’s recommendation letter before asking him to wait as she rushed to the back room to call the inn’s owner.

"Mom—!"

"So she was the landlady’s daughter..." Lu-el murmured while patiently waiting at the counter.

Not long after, Yue returned together with her mother.

And upon seeing the landlady—a blonde-haired, dark-skinned gyaru—Lu-el quickly understood why Daichi had recommended the Moon Pavilion.

"So you’re the kid who has Daichi’s recommendation," the landlady said, introducing herself as Daira, Daichi’s older sister—or rather, half-sister, since they had different mothers.

Daira followed her introduction with a remark that she wasn’t a noble, just as Lu-el shifted from his laid-back demeanor into an awkward, formal courtesy.

"Right, that brat was supposed to be in town by now," Daira added, then asked about Lu-el’s connection with Daichi, since Daichi hadn’t explained it in his letter.

"Mr. Daichi, along with his wives, happened to save me from some bandits," Lu-el replied, giving a brief recap of his encounter with Daichi, Mikoto, and Manami, while carefully removing Kaori from the story—assuming she wouldn’t want others to know about her.

Although Lu-el’s backstory of being robbed naked by the Croc bandits caught Daira and Yue off guard and made them laugh, the part about Fumoto Village being cursed and its villagers turning undead didn’t just scare Yue—it left Daira deeply concerned.

"I guess I have to pay that brat a visit."

***

"This will be your room, Mister," Yue said as she opened the door to one of the residential rooms in the attic.

Though Lu-el was surprised to be assigned a resident room rather than a standard one, he simply decided to be grateful for the kindness the mother and daughter were showing him.

"Thank you, Miss Yue," he said, offering her some of the snacks he had bought while strolling through town, which she gladly accepted.

Stepping inside after Yue took her leave, Lu-el was once again surprised by how spacious the room was.

Although the ceiling slanted on one side due to the attic structure, it was large enough to fit two beds without feeling crowded.

What was even more shocking was that it had its own bathroom and shower, showing the influence of modern civilization in what was supposed to be a medieval fantasy setting.

But what caught Lu-el’s attention most was the large window set into the slanted roof, overlooking the street outside.

He set his bag down on the floor and leaned his battle axe against the wall before excitedly inspecting every corner of the room—just like when he first arrived at his apartment to attend college.

Opening the roof window, Lu-el glanced outside, enjoying the peaceful fantasy scenery and the gentle breeze, as if the air itself were overflowing with magic—without a care for the dangers of this world that could one day send him back to his original world as a corpse.

The peace he felt almost resembled the calm before a storm—and in his original world, that "storm" would be him calling one, two, or more of his "girl friends with benefits" to share intimacy.

"If only Kaori was here," Lu-el mumbled softly, daydreaming of all kinds of intimacy with her in that quiet moment—until the storm he had just wished for arrived.

"You sure took your time getting here." Kaori said, startling Lu-el as she glared at him, looking annoyed while sitting on the roof.

"Sorry, Kaori..." Lu-el replied, maintaining his laid-back demeanor, though internally he nearly jumped back like a frightened cat.

"I got lost like a cat."

"Cat?"

"Hmm?"

"Anyway, you didn’t get lost!" Kaori grumbled, shifting back to her main concern.

"I was secretly following you the whole time, and you were just happily strolling around!"

***

Going back half a day earlier, while the caravan was waiting in line at the east gate of Florescence Town, Kaori had disappeared after giving Lu-el instructions to stay at the Moon Pavilion, awkwardly avoiding explaining her reason.

Yet once again, Lu-el had faithfully trusted her—which delighted Kaori, even as she felt slightly guilty.

The truth of her disappearance, however, was simple: she had hidden under the seat inside Daichi’s noble carriage, the same one Mikoto and Manami used when they weren’t riding the Alpha and Mystic Snow Wolves.

Entering Florescence Town, the capital of the eastern region, required strict inspection—both physical and magical.

But it wasn’t as if the guards would dismantle a noble carriage, especially with two of the baron’s wives inside.

As for magical inspection using detection skills from Priestess and Mage guards, the second Divine Weapon Kaori had received from Lu-el allowed her to go completely undetected.

[Night Veil—black choker necklace with sliver-white gem—a divine weapon capable of countering detection and tracking spells.]

With such a convenient item, Kaori was able to enter Florescence Town without the risk of her family discovering her return.

All that was left was to continue hiding from anyone who might recognize her—which was why she had been secretly following Lu-el, unable to properly accompany him despite wanting to enjoy strolling through the town together.

***

"You mean you wanted to go on a date with me, right?" Lu-el teased after listening to her explanation about needing to avoid anyone who knew her—including the landlady and her daughter, or so he assumed.

"That’s not the point," Kaori retorted as she accepted Lu-el’s hand to help her climb in from the roof into their room. Though, in truth, it was half her concern.

The other half, however, was far more important than going on a date and sharing intimacy afterward.

"The Goddess’s Trial starts tomorrow—" Kaori muttered, until Lu-el pulled her into an embrace and sealed her lips with a kiss that lasted until she almost forgot what she was going to say.

"You only have until the end of the day to register, Lu-el."