After leaving Daluane a few days ago, we stopped in a city called Lintes to spend the night.
While we were eating dinner at the tavern attached to our inn, a look of pure delight spread across Carol’s face.
“Ah, this is delicious!”
She was sipping the fruit liquor my sister had recommended.
“Right? The proprietor here is a connoisseur of fine spirits. Every drink he selects is top-notch.”
Seeing Carol’s reaction, Selma nodded with a proud, self-satisfied air.
The reason my sister was so familiar with a city this far from Tsutrail was apparently because the local lord was a sponsor for the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky. She had visited here several times on clan business.
(Oh, she’s right. This fruit liquor really is good.)
It was sweet and went down incredibly easily.
As we savored the excellent food and drink, our conversation began to flow.
“Is that how it works? Once you climb higher in the explorer ranks, do you end up working outside of Tsutrail more often?” Log asked, sounding impressed by my sister’s stories.
“Well, yes. Once you make a name for yourself as an explorer, people everywhere start to recognize you. Big Sis Ruu, weren't you also quite busy back when you were in the Hero Party?”
My sister turned the question toward Luna.
“I was. We were the ‘Hero Party,’ after all. Between the power struggles among the nobility and various other disputes, I was constantly being summoned to different places and nearly dragged into their messes,” Luna replied with a wry, weary smile.
Right now, everyone is united because of the war, so we haven't been caught up in political drama like that. But by the time the war ends, we’ll probably have reached even deeper floors of the Great Labyrinth. I wonder if we’ll end up in the middle of those kinds of headaches too?
I really hope not…
“Ugh, noble power struggles… Just hearing about it makes me exhausted,” Carol muttered, clearly sharing my sentiment.
“It wasn't all bad, though,” Luna added.
“Oh? Like what?”
“The best part was the support from the people. Even complete strangers would call out to me, saying things like ‘Good luck with the conquest.’ It gives you a surprising boost of energy and really keeps your motivation up.”
“Ah, I know exactly what you mean. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve realized that public support is something you can't underestimate,” Selma agreed, nodding vigorously.
We’ve reached the lower floors and joined the ranks of senior explorers ourselves, but listening to them made me realize we still have a long way to go. I hope that one day I’ll be able to join in on a conversation like this as their equal.
Late that night, I suddenly blinked awake.
“…Big Sis Ruu?”
As I rolled over, I realized that the bed where Luna should have been sleeping was empty. Looking out the window, I spotted her silhouette standing outside. I slipped out of the room quietly, taking care not to wake the others.
“Sophie? What are you doing up at this hour?”
Luna noticed me as I approached, her expression one of surprise.
“I just woke up a second ago. When I saw you weren't there, I got worried.”
“I see. I’m sorry for making you worry. I didn't mean to.”
“It’s okay… Were you just looking at the moon?” I asked, sitting down beside her.
“…Yes. I was just lost in thought.”
“About what?”
“Well… this is going to sound strange, but Sophie, do you ever get the feeling that you’ve forgotten something important?”
“Huh? Something important…?” I blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question.
“Yes. I feel as though I’ve forgotten something essential. I don't know what it is, but the mere thought of it makes my chest feel tight.”
“Hmm… sorry. I don’t think I’ve ever felt like that.”
“…I see. Perhaps I’m just being sentimental. Don't mind me.”
Luna gave me a kind, reassuring smile, clearly trying to be considerate.
“Is something bothering you?”
“No, it’s not anything so dramatic that I’d call it a worry.”
“If there's something on your mind, please tell me! You’re always the one saving me, Big Sis Ruu. I might not be able to do much, but I want to help you however I can!”
“…Thank you. Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll talk for a bit. But truly, it isn't a deep concern or anything like that. It’s just… I realized the Thanksgiving Festival is approaching.”
“The Thanksgiving Festival…? Oh…”
As soon as she said it, I realized she was remembering the events of last year.
The Thanksgiving Festival is an annual event in Tsutrail held from late May to early June. It was during last year’s festival that Golden Dawn—the former Hero Party—effectively collapsed, leading to Luna transferring to the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky.
“Around this time last year, the atmosphere within Golden Dawn was at its absolute worst. I did everything I could to fix things, but nothing worked. Then, on the first day of the festival, my foster parents were arrested for child abduction, and the Flockhart Trading Company they ran was forced to shut down. After that, as you know, Oliver and the others suddenly went on a rampage, and the party disbanded.”
I’d heard the story of how she came to join our clan and eventually our party. Because she usually spoke about it so calmly, I assumed she had long since made peace with it.
But thinking about it now, that isn't the sort of thing anyone could just get over easily.
Until recently, I was estranged from my own family, but I’ve since reconciled with my brother and started to feel a genuine attachment to the Claudel House. If I put myself in Luna’s shoes—if the Claudel House had been involved in crimes without my knowledge and was suddenly abolished, and if Log and Carol had suddenly turned violent and were arrested… it would be like having my entire world snatched away for no reason.
“I lost everything during that festival. The one who reached out to me then was Orun. He gave me a new home in the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky, and he introduced me to wonderful friends like you.”
“Big Sis Ruu…”
“That was when I decided that I would follow him. …Sophie, did you notice? How Orun changed the day we left Daluane?”
“Wait, he changed?” I asked, a mental question mark appearing over my head.
To me, Orun had seemed the same as always that day.
“Yes. He had the look of someone who had just made a monumental decision. I don't know what it was. But if Orun is planning to do something big, I intend to support him with everything I have.”
I hadn't noticed at all.
It was frustrating that Luna saw it when I didn't. I thought I was watching Orun more closely than anyone.
I guess Big Sis Ruu really does feel that way about him too…
“…I’m sorry for rambling like that. But talking to you helped me organize my thoughts. Thank you for listening.”
“I didn't really do anything but listen, and I couldn't even think of anything clever to say… but if it helped clear the clouds for you, then I’m glad!”
Orun’s change, huh?
The next time I see him, I’ll have to pay much closer attention.