Port city of Primagne.
"What a gorgeous day~"
Under the clear sky, I walked through streets that were a little chaotic but full of life.
It had already been a week since we arrived here.
And still, the main characters hadn't come. It wasn't that we'd missed each other on the way.
"You're here, Lady Tatiana."
As I entered the dock, a port office employee greeted me like an acquaintance. I'd been coming every day to check in, so I was now on familiar terms with the staff.
"Good morning. My friends' ship hasn't come in while I was away, has it?"
"No, ma'am. It's taking quite a while, but when your friends arrive, I'll send word to the inn. Please rest comfortably."
"No, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that."
I knew I had to accept it now.
The main characters had abandoned me.
They hadn't even come to this place—our original destination—just in case I might be alive.
But I just couldn't believe it. I was too anxious, so I kept coming out here.
"I'll just sit quietly and not get in the way. Feel free to go about your work."
I sat down in the familiar employee chair at the port office and unfolded today's newspaper.
Kraken Returns!
The Kraken appeared and sank a small fishing vessel.
All six crew members on board were killed.
This marks the second Kraken attack in a row. How should we respond?
The demons, having gained control of the Empire, were now expanding their territory in earnest. At this point in the timeline, they probably weren't even ready to infiltrate high society yet.
But the world had already been steadily deteriorating ever since Lucas fell.
I turned the page. The next article suggested countermeasures, but could anyone really escape a kraken without knights or mages?
I desperately needed to catch up with the main characters and join them to continue the voyage—so why did a kraken have to appear now, of all times?
'In the original story, we never encountered monsters.'
Encountering monsters was, in fact, extremely rare.
They'd been hunted consistently over time, and their numbers had dwindled so much they were practically endangered.
Actually, even without the male leads, just having the female lead would be enough to take down the kraken. She was one of the most powerful mages in the Empire.
'But I'd be in danger, of course.'
If Lucas hadn't truly saved my life, I'd have been in serious trouble.
Anyway, since those powerless guys would have a hard time dealing with demons, I absolutely had to bring the female lead along.
It'd be great if the male leads showed up before I went to find her.
"Ugh, what a life."
"H-hey! Dock that ship first! Don't jump off!"
As I was lamenting my fate, a port office employee suddenly shouted.
What kind of crazy person was trying to jump off a ship...
"Tatiana!"
I turned my head to find the crazy person, and a familiar voice struck my ears.
"Kies?"
The moment our eyes met, he shook off Ferian, who was trying to hold him back, and leaped through the air.
Before I could even react, he landed safely, ran over in an instant, and pulled me into a tight embrace.
His broad shoulders filled my vision below my chin. His arms constricted as if he were trying to crush me, and I could barely breathe.
At the same time, through our bodies pressed flush against each other, his racing heartbeat pounded clearly—as if trying to say, recognize me.
"W-wait a second..."
His ragged breaths kept tickling my ear, making my face feel hot.
As I squirmed against Kies, who wouldn't budge, I saw Berto and Ferian running over.
I let go of the hand that had been clutching Kies's shirt.
'Why are they making that face?'
The two of them let out deep sighs, as if finally relieved.
It was all a mask.
I knew that. But Berto?
That bear-like man wouldn't pretend to be worried. And Kies too...
With a strange, queasy feeling, I buried my face in Kies's shoulder.
Wasn't he supposed to think he'd gotten lucky and gotten rid of a despicable burden? Why was he putting on an act?
"You're so annoying..."
For some reason, I felt like I was about to cry, so I pressed my eyes hard against his shoulder—when suddenly Kies pulled back.
"Hah, annoying?"
"Does it look like I'm not annoyed? Why did you come so late!"
"I was looking for you! Do you know how worried I was..."
Kies, who had been about to snap, trailed off. His face had grown sharper over the past week.
And I'd been binge-eating every day.
Just as I was glaring at Kies, wide-eyed to keep the tears from falling—
"Um, excuse me, your friends...?"
A port office employee approached and cautiously spoke up.
"The docking fee for a caravel is five silver coins, but since you're travelers, with a 50% discount, that'll be two silver coins and five coppers. And please, never jump off a ship again—it's dangerous."
"...Yes, here you are."
Kies fumbled in his pocket and handed over the money.
As we entered my room at the inn and the door closed, cutting us off from the outside, Kies spoke.
"What happened?"
The atmosphere was heavy.
Just moments ago, these people had been relieved to see me—now they had hardened expressions and demanded an explanation.
"Um, actually, I don't really remember..."
"Don't remember again?"
Ferian cut me off and pressed forward aggressively.
"......"
I bit my lip.
Even if I told the truth, they wouldn't believe me—they'd just tell me to stop talking nonsense and become even more suspicious.
"This isn't an interrogation. Speak comfortably. I don't think you commanded a whale monster. I just want to hear what happened."
Kies stopped Ferian with a single glance and spoke in a calm voice.
But how could I speak comfortably when three large men were grilling me so stiffly?
"I woke up and found myself on some island."
I forced out the excuse I'd prepared beforehand.
"So I hitched a ride on a passing ship. They even gave me money, which is how I could stay at the inn."
"You don't remember anything about being eaten by the monster?"
"Are you talking about the humpback whale?"
When I returned Berto's question, he nodded.
"I don't know if it was a monster, but I only remember the moment it swallowed me."
"An ordinary humpback whale's mouth structure only allows it to swallow krill or small fish. It's highly likely it was a monster—and if so, there's no way you'd be alive."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Did you make a contract with a demon?"
"Berto."
Kies stepped in at Berto's blunt remark.
'What difference does it make.'
They'd said they were late because they were looking for me—but the conclusion the three of them had reached was this.
I couldn't blame them for jumping to conclusions. Logically, it was the most reasonable inference.
'I've been telling myself since the moment I possessed this body.'
That even if I so much as breathed too loudly, they'd be on guard. That even if it was unfair, I should just endure it for a while. That's what I'd resolved.
"So now being attacked by a monster is my fault too."
"I don't think you'd make a contract with a demon, no matter who you are."
At Kies's words, Ferian cut in with an irritated tone.
"It's so obvious, why are you beating around the bush and trying to coax an answer out of her?"
Ferian stepped closer.
I'd thought he had a gentle impression, but with his tall stature and solid build, his scowling face was quite intimidating.
"You were planning to use the monster to kill us, but it didn't go as planned, so you disappeared. That's it, right?"
He didn't give me a chance to respond, pressing on relentlessly.
"But you failed, so you came back to try again. You naively thought we'd let your lies slide once more."
"......"
How long did I have to keep up this exhausting bickering?
"You asked if I made a contract with a demon."
As I opened my tightly shut mouth, all three of their sharp gazes flew toward me.
"The answer I can give is one of two. Yes or no. But since you won't even listen to 'no,' should I just say 'yes' then?"
"Deflecting like that won't work. Explain the situation properly. Why did you disappear with that monster?"
Ferian had completely shed the mask of friendliness he'd been wearing.
"Why? You're right about everything."
Feeling exhausted, I sighed and gave them the answer they wanted so badly.
"Tatiana!"
Kies shouted like a thunderbolt.
"You're clearly going to doubt me no matter what I say—so what exactly do you expect me to do?"
"Everyone's tired right now. Let's talk about this later."
Kies tried to smooth things over. I had no idea what he actually wanted from me.
That's when it happened.
"There is a way to confirm whether she made a contract with a demon."
Berto's upright golden eyes turned toward me.
Did that mean he could detect demonic power? If so, the ability Lucas gave me might be judged as a contract with a demon.
'Then I really will be abandoned.'
No—they'd probably kill me on the spot. And just a moment ago, they'd acted like this was some tearful reunion.
"How?"
"Undergo a magical examination."
