Published: January 22, 2026
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“Ah, Sister Ru, welcome back~ How was it?”
When I entered the room I rent at the Twilight Moonbow guild, Carol, who was already inside, greeted me.
When I lowered my eyes and shook my head in response to Carol’s question, Log, who was also in the room, looked troubled.
Judging by their reactions, it seems our search came up empty-handed.
“Geez, where could Sophie have gone?”
Carol let out a sad sigh.
We had planned to explore the Great Labyrinth again today and were supposed to meet here at the usual time.
However, even when the appointed time came, Sophie didn’t show up. Although it was unusual, we waited for a while, but after an hour, she still hadn’t appeared.
Sophie is a serious girl and has never been late before, so we worried something might have happened. We split up to check places she might have gone, but we couldn’t find her, and now we’re here.
“Should we consider that she might be caught up in some sort of trouble...?”
Log muttered, resting his chin on his hand.
I thought the same. Sophie isn’t someone who makes enemies, but the cause of trouble doesn’t necessarily have to be her.
There’s a strong possibility she was accidentally caught up in something.
If Sophie is scared right now, we have to go help her immediately...!
When I lost my place at Golden Dawn and the Flockhart Trading Company, it was Mr. Orun who gave me a new home. But it’s also true that Sophie, Carol, and Log warmly welcomed me, which saved my heart in many ways.
When Carol was going through a tough time reuniting with her siblings, I couldn’t do anything.
So this time, I decided I will do whatever I can for these children who call me their comrade.
This moment must be the timing.
“Both of you, I’m going to concentrate now. For a little while, I might not respond if you speak, so please don’t worry.”
I made up my mind and spoke to them.
“Hmm? Sister Ru, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to find Sophie.”
“Eh!? You can do that!?”
“No, I can’t say I’m absolutely sure. In fact, it’s more likely this method won’t find her. But I want to try everything I can.”
When I said that, they both nodded earnestly.
“I don’t know exactly what Sister Ru is going to do, but I believe in you! Do your best!”
“Sister Ru, is there anything we can do?”
“Thank you both. Just keep being yourselves. Knowing you’re cheering for me gives me strength.”
“If it’s cheering, leave it to me~! I’m good at that kind of thing!”
“I’m praying for your success!”
With their encouragement, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and raised my concentration.
I felt the mana and spirits around me more clearly, then focused on a particularly strong presence among them and spoke silently in my mind.
‘Pixie, can you hear my voice?’
Pixie is a type of fairy who, unlike most free-spirited fairies, has always been by my side for some reason.
‘Eh...? W-what’s wrong? You sound so serious...’
‘I have a favor to ask you. Will you listen to it?’
‘A favor...? If it will help Luna, I’ll cooperate...’
‘Yes. What I’m about to ask is very important to me.’
‘O-oh... Okay. So, what is it?’
‘I want you to find Sophie.’
‘...? Sophie? That’s a human name... Who is she?’
Pixie doesn’t seem to know Sophie.
Well, saying she doesn’t know might be misleading.
She probably recognizes Sophie’s existence but hasn’t connected the name to the person.
Pixie protects me from humans who direct malice towards me by returning the same level of malice to them.
I’m the one being protected, so I shouldn’t complain, but this “returning malice with malice” is quite troublesome.
For example, after Golden Dawn was defeated by the black dragon last year and was forced to recall to the Seeker’s Guild, I was the cause of a fight, and Mr. Derrick swung a sword at me with such malice it seemed he wanted to kill me.
I don’t know if he really intended to kill me.
At that time, I asked Pixie not to kill Mr. Derrick.
If I hadn’t, he would have been killed by Pixie.