"What, mmpf!"

I tried to scream in surprise, but Serena covered my mouth with her hand.

'Why does everyone keep doing this to me!'

The original heroine wasn't supposed to have this kind of image. Besides, that's the dagger I gave her.

"I'll take my hand off, so be quiet. If you scream, I'll stab you in the neck right away."

I nodded vigorously.

"Now, let's talk. What's your real identity?"

"What do you mean? My name is Tatiana and—"

"Stop. That's not what I'm asking. How do you know about me? You don't seem like an assassin... Who sent you?"

"No one sent me. I just happened to find you and helped you. Wait, hold on. Is this how you treat your life savior?"

Serena tilted her head and let out a snort.

"You knew my name, didn't you? You'd better speak honestly."

"I, I heard it from the troupe leader. When I was first captured, he asked me, 'Are you acquainted with Serena?'"

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"Then who else would I have heard it from?"

When I talked back defiantly, Serena narrowed her eyes and looked down at me.

It felt exactly like being dragged around by an older sister I didn't want to deal with.

"If you don't want to talk, fine. And one more thing I'm curious about. What was that power earlier?"

"What power?"

I'm someone who doesn't have even a speck of any kind of power.

"When the leader used magic on you, you deflected it."

"Oh, that. I don't know either."

It was probably related to why Popo had mistaken me for a demon.

"You sure have a lot of secrets."

'Not as many as you, though.'

"Anyway, since you did help me, I'll let it slide this time. But if we run into each other again, I won't go easy on you."

Serena placed her foot on the windowsill.

"Wait! You're not leaving now, are you?"

"Why, does it concern you?"

Her prickliness was on par with Keith's.

No, that was too harsh. Keith is the absolute worst person in the universe.

"Do you know about the Elianus Empire, beyond the darkness?"

The reason Serena joined up in the original story.

It was because the empire was her homeland.

"We're heading there. If you have nowhere to go, want to come along?"

Serena approached again and drew her sword.

'Look at that personality.'

"Why would you make such an offer to someone who threatened you?"

"You saved me. You didn't run away even though you were carrying that torture device."

"I couldn't run because of the torture device. I had to take the ring from the leader."

"I know that's a lie—"

The sword flew and embedded itself in the wall behind me.

"Say that again."

Today is really exhausting, seriously. At this rate, am I even going to survive?

"W-we don't have a mage. You know about the kraken appearing in the sea these days, right? There'll be a lot of dangers ahead, and there are things a sword can't handle."

"What's the payment?"

"Uh..."

'Seducing the heroine is harder than I thought.' I never expected her to demand money.

"We're all rich. When we get back to the empire, Keith will give you plenty, right?"

"That ill-tempered bastard?"

'Look who's talking.'

Apparently not liking my answer, Serena placed her foot on the windowsill again.

"Hey, you're leaving? Really? Keith really is rich. It's hard to find anyone as wealthy as him in the empire."

I jumped up and ran over, but Serena leaped onto the windowsill with light movements. Then she crouched down, facing me at eye level.

"I'm not leaving today, so go back and get some sleep."

"Promise? You swear."

I held out my pinky, but she had already jumped outside.

"This is the second floor..."

I looked outside, but she was nowhere to be seen.

What kind of mage moves like a thief?

It seemed I'd have to completely overhaul the original story.

The inn's dining hall was bustling, but at one table, only the clinking of spoons could be heard.

It was because of me and Keith. Several days had passed since our big fight, but we still hadn't made up.

Ferian glanced around cautiously before carefully opening his mouth.

"But Serena, if you were captured by the troupe, shouldn't you be going back to where you originally came from?"

"Not really. The bastards I knew there sold me out. I can't be bothered to go back for revenge."

"..."

At her raw words, Ferian, who had been trying to lighten the mood, fell silent again.

"Even so, you can't keep staying with us. If you need money, I'll give you some, so let's all go our separate ways. Prepare to leave today and depart tomorrow."

At that point, Keith spoke coldly.

'Just like a trashy reverse harem male lead.'

From the very first meeting, he'd been sharp with suspicion, and even as the story moved into the latter half, he kept acting ambiguous.

"But Tatiana said we should go toge— mph!"

I hastily shoved bread into Serena's mouth.

Everyone stared at me with wide eyes.

"Haha, as it happens, I agreed to go shopping with Serena tomorrow. Right?"

She narrowed her eyes at me and reluctantly nodded.

"You're almost done eating, right? Let's hurry up and figure out what to buy. We'll head up first. Enjoy the rest of your meal."

I forcibly pulled Serena up and pushed her forward.

Once we entered the room, Serena swallowed the bread and said in disbelief.

"I had a feeling—you asked me to come with you, but you didn't say anything to them?"

"There's a reason."

"Reason, my foot. It's because you fought."

"Anyway, you said you were still thinking about it too."

As I grumbled, Serena turned to leave but stopped and looked back at me.

"Just so you know, I have no intention of shopping with you."

"No way. We really do have to go shopping. Look at the state you're in."

Serena was tall and muscular, so my clothes were far too small for her.

"I don't need it. My clothes will be dry by tomorrow anyway."

"Still no. How are you going to travel all the way to the empire with just one outfit?"

"I never said I was going, you know?"

'You're still hanging around after all these days, and you're playing hard to get.'

"Anyway, just so you know. Now go."

"You're so willful."

As she opened the door, we ran into the three men coming up after finishing their meal.

Keith passed by as if he hadn't seen us, and Ferian approached with a crescent-eyed smile.

"I'll come around 10 to apply the medicine."

"Can't you do it now?"

I glanced sideways at Verto. He entered his room as if uninterested.

At night, I had something separate to do with Verto. He didn't know about it yet, though.

"I don't mind, but didn't you say you were going to figure out what to buy with Serena?"

"I don't have anything, so I just need to buy everything."

"Got it. I'll grab the supplies and be right there."

Late at night, I left the inn with Verto.

"Ferian will nag if he finds out."

At his worried expression, I said casually.

"It's a lot better now, so I'm fine."

There was still some pain, but thanks to Ferian, the treatment was going smoothly. The wounds had closed up considerably, he said.

"Still, no alcohol. Drink milk at the inn instead. There should be travelers there too."

Verto blocked my path right in front of the tavern.

"My target is the tavern owner. They'll have other things besides alcohol here."

The innkeeper already knew me, making it hard to execute my plan, and more importantly, Keith was likely to see me.

If he made a fuss about me doing something suspicious again when we haven't even made up yet, I felt like I'd just part ways here regardless of whether the world ended.

At least if I brought Verto along to get supplies, they'd be less suspicious.

"We need to find the next destination quickly since we're leaving soon."

Before crossing from Primagne to the next continent, it was common to pass through a place called Vallas, the largest island.

But that was where the Naval Alliance base was located. The very place where the protagonists had been imprisoned.

"Besides Vallas Island, no other stopovers are marked on official sea charts. Going elsewhere would just raise suspicion."

Normally, people would secretly get a sea chart from an acquaintance, procure supplies on another island, and then head to the next continent.

But we had no acquaintances and needed to save money, so there was no other way.

"Then have some juice."

"Fine, let's just go in quickly."

I dragged Verto into the tavern.

The atmosphere was chaotic. Not only dangerous-looking pirates and mercenaries, but merchants and travelers were all gathered together, enthusiastically downing beer.

Verto and I took seats at the bar counter.

"One beer for him, and orange juice for me, please."

The tavern owner, who had her purple hair tied up, placed juice in front of me and struck up a conversation.

"You must be travelers."

"Yes. We're heading to the Orpena continent."

"That far? That kind of voyage doesn't really suit a young lady like you."

"Does it not?"

"It's quite tough for someone as delicate as you. So you'll be stopping by Vallas Island then?"

"Ah, actually..."

I trailed off.

The tavern owner, who had been making light conversation, seemed to grow interested and leaned against the bar counter where we sat, propping her chin on her hand.

"Is something the matter?"

After hesitating, I glanced around and leaned in to whisper quietly.

"We're actually on the run."

"Oh my."