It had been two days since we departed Kataroff Village.
"We finally reached our destination."
A massive stone wall loomed ahead of us, stretching across the horizon. Beyond those fortifications lay Larichmond, the capital of the Sage Empire of Ritz.
"At long last," Black Ageha grumbled from her seat at the front of the horse. "My backside is sore from being in the saddle for so long."
"Just bear with it a little longer. Once we pass through the gate, you can finally get off."
We moved toward the checkpoint, eventually passing through the city walls.
The interior was every bit as bustling and prosperous as the Royal Capital. When I had visited this place with Sage Nyau in the previous timeline, the country had been in the middle of a war, making sightseeing impossible. Even now, with an assassin potentially on our trail, we didn't have much room to relax—but we might have enough leeway for a quick look around.
After leaving the horse at a stable and securing a room at an inn, I walked through the streets with Black Ageha. We found a suitable place for lunch, and over our meal, I broached the subject of our next move.
"Ageha, what do you think we should do now?"
"...Right. When exactly was it that we were killed?"
"Counting from today, it would be in five days."
However, that five-day window only applied if we had stayed at the Royal Palace. Now that we were here in the Sage Empire of Ritz, there was no guarantee that the same timeline would hold.
"Perhaps we should just take it easy in this country?" she suggested. "I find it hard to believe the culprit would pursue us this far."
True, I didn't think our current location was common knowledge, so staying here was a valid option.
"I suppose..." I trailed off, nodding. Yet, the unease in my chest refused to fade. I felt it was better to be safe than sorry. "Ageha, I think we should flee even further. We should do everything in our power to put distance between us and the capital."
"I see. If that is your wish, then of course I shall follow."
"Thanks."
"Hm? Why the gratitude?"
"Well, you’re going along with my selfishness."
"If you consider that to be selfish, then you are far too much of a softie."
"You think so?"
"Hmph. Regardless, where to next?"
"Well..."
If we were to move even further away from the Royal Capital, our next stop would likely be the Nagara Federation. But wait—the Nagara Federation was a relatively new nation. I would need to check if it even existed yet in this era, a century in the past.
"I’ll look into our destination later. There's no need to rush, anyway. We’re staying here for the night regardless."
After leaving the dining hall, we wandered aimlessly through the capital. As expected of a major city, the streets were lined with all manner of interesting shops.
Suddenly, I noticed Black Ageha staring intently at a display case. Inside, various accessories were laid out on velvet cushions.
"Are you interested in those?"
"I-It is not like that," she denied instantly. "It simply happened to catch my eye."
She was being quite defensive about it, though there was no reason to be embarrassed.
"Since we're here, why don't we go inside?"
"Hey, I told you I am not interested!"
"It’s just a quick look."
I took the reluctant Black Ageha by the arm and led her into the shop. Being an accessory shop, the interior was dominated by women's rings and necklaces.
Everything was incredibly expensive.
It seemed I had accidentally led us into a much higher-end establishment than I had intended. Feeling a bit out of place, I turned to find Black Ageha so we could leave, but I saw her fixated on a specific item.
"Do you want it?"
When I spoke, her shoulders jumped, and she turned toward me with a startled expression.
"No, that is not it at all," she stammered.
The item Black Ageha had been looking at was a ribbon for tying hair. Unlike the rings and necklaces, it wasn't obscenely priced. It seemed like something I could actually afford.
"Besides, it would not suit me," she added with a self-deprecating smirk.
"Actually, I think it would look pretty cute on you."
I really wanted to buy it for her as a gift, but unfortunately, I didn't have a single coin to my name. Ever since being exiled to the dungeon depths, I hadn't had a chance to earn any money. Even our lunch today had been paid for by her—a fact that made me feel quite pathetic.
Come to think of it, I had wanted to give Ageha a ring before, but I’d had no money then either. In that timeline, I had eventually ordered a ring using the prize money from defeating Great Swordsmaster Nidorg, but I had died before I could ever give it to her.
"Enough. Let us leave," she said, pushing me toward the exit.
I followed her out, racking my brain for a way to get some quick cash.
Just then, a certain building caught my eye.
"It seems every country has an Adventurer's Guild," Black Ageha remarked.
The guild was perfect. They often had requests that could be finished in a single day, which would be ideal for earning some pocket change.
"Hey, Ageha. Mind if I stop in there for a bit?"
"I do not mind, but... do you have business there?"
"Ah, well..."
If I told her the truth, the surprise would be ruined.
"Sorry, Ageha. I just remembered something I need to take care of. I’ll be back by evening, so let’s split up for a while."
"I see. Very well..."
Once she nodded her consent, I hurried into the Adventurer's Guild alone.
With nothing in particular to do, Black Ageha returned to the inn by herself.
"How tedious."
There was nothing in the room but a bed. If she had known she would be this bored, she might have bought a book, but she lacked the energy to go back out into the crowd.
"I wonder what Kiska is up to right now?" she murmured to the empty room.
He had suddenly claimed he had business at the Adventurer's Guild and left her behind. He hadn't even told her what he was doing.
The thought made her feel a pang of loneliness.
"I wonder if he prefers the other me after all..."
The image of her other self—the Writhing Shadow—drifted through her mind. That "other her" was charming and knew how to interact with people. Unlike herself, who had a personality that people naturally disliked. Every time she realized that, her chest ached.
"Kiska..."
She spoke his name softly, wishing he were there.
"Sorry, Ageha. That took longer than I expected!"
The door swung open abruptly, and Kiska was standing there. He looked like he had been running; beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.
"What were you doing?" she asked.
He scratched his cheek bashfully, then pulled a small box from his pocket and held it out to her.
"Can I open it?"
"Yeah, of course."
She carefully lifted the lid.
"Ah..."
Inside was the ribbon she had been looking at in the shop earlier.
"I really thought it would look good on you, Ageha. I wanted to give it to you as a gift... I just hope it’s not a nuisance."
In an instant, she understood everything. She knew he had no money. That was why he had gone to the Adventurer's Guild—to work and earn enough to buy this for her.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I’ll treasure it for the rest of my life."
She really did love him.