At a secluded fishing spot tucked away in a corner of the Hydra Kingdom, Laguna—the King—and Noin were passing the time fishing.
Since Noin was currently protected by barrier magic, she wasn't in her usual suit of full-body armor. Instead, she wore casual, comfortable clothes that suited the private atmosphere.
"Ah, what a beautiful day. Perfect for fishing... I’ve been so busy lately that it’s nice to just relax like this."
"That’s right. The Hydra Kingdom’s Founding Anniversary Festival is coming up soon, isn't it? As the King, it makes sense that you'd be swamped, Laguna."
"It’s true. And since it’s so close to the Arclesia Empire’s festival, everything feels incredibly rushed... Honestly, I’ve been wanting to step down as King for ages. But as long as I hold the title, I suppose I have to see my duties through."
Noin couldn’t help but offer a wry smile as she watched her best friend. Despite Laguna’s constant complaints about wanting to quit, she always acted decisively when the situation demanded it and never failed to produce results. That, Noin figured, was exactly why the people would never let her step down.
"Still, first Sinfonia and now Arclesia... things have certainly taken a turn for the absurd."
"You mean the Supreme Gods gathering? I wasn't there myself, so I've only heard the rumors. The Six Kings gathered in the Kingdom of Sinfonia, and then every single Supreme God attended the Arclesia Empire's festival. The pressure on the Hydra Kingdom must be immense."
"You aren't kidding. With the way things are going, people are bound to expect something spectacular from our festival, too. But the guests are already finalized, and it's far too late to start tinkering with the ceremony..."
"Hahaha, that sounds like a nightmare."
Noin laughed it off as if it were someone else's problem—and for the time being, it was. At least, for now.
"Nonetheless, being here with you brings back memories. We rarely had the chance to go fishing during that journey... those were the days."
"They were. We went through a lot, but looking back, it was a wonderful trip."
"Indeed. Come to think of it, you were always complaining about the bread back then. You never said a word in front of the others, of course, but you’d always grumble to us when we were alone about how much you wanted white rice."
"...Haha, well, rice is the soul of the Japanese people, after all."
They chatted happily, reminiscing about their old journey to defeat the Demon King. However, the atmosphere shifted the moment Laguna spoke again.
"Speaking of which, I remember going to great lengths to help with that search for rice. I spent so much time gathering information until I finally tracked down that tiny plot in Hydra's countryside. Then I pulled all those strings to ensure it actually reached us... We finally got some during the latter half of the trip, didn't we?"
"Eh? Oh, yes, that's right. I was truly grateful for your help back then."
"No, no, it was only natural to help a friend in need. Just hearing Hikari say she'd never forget the favor as long as she lived was enough for me."
"............Um, Laguna? Why are you bringing this up now? I mean, it really happened, and I genuinely appreciate it, but..."
Perhaps it was an intuition forged by countless experiences as a Hero, but Noin sensed the conversation was veering into dangerous territory. Laguna had never used this kind of phrasing before—the kind that subtly whispered, "You owe me, don't you?" Combined with their earlier talk about the Sinfonia and Arclesia festivals, Noin was starting to feel a deep sense of dread.
"Oh, it’s nothing. I was just feeling a bit nostalgic. I’m not trying to hold it over your head or anything. Helping a friend is its own reward... By the way, Hikari. Totally unrelated, but..."
"...Y-Yes?"
"The truth is, I’m in a real bind right now... and I’d love to hear the opinion of a friend I can trust. Would you mind... listening to a consultation, just between friends?"
"..................Yes."
As Laguna beamed at her with a radiant smile, Noin wore an indescribable expression before looking up at the sky in total resignation.
Contrary to Noin’s internal turmoil, the sky over the Hydra Kingdom that day was a beautiful, irritatingly clear blue.