Published: March 21, 2026
"Then I'll guide you through the parts of Uruk we couldn't finish yesterday!"
By the time the sun was fully up and Amelia was lazily eating breakfast, Ria arrived.
Amelia blinked at Lattice Nail, who was of course in the room, and when I explained what I had asked the two of them to do, she immediately understood and brightened at the long-awaited reunion.
After all, I guess Amelia had been lonely without Yoru.
More than that, I didn't tell Ria the location of the inn—so did Crow tell her how to get here? I tilted my head watching Ria and Crow chatting happily.
Their relationship is another mystery.
I stepped outside, feeling Yoru's weight on my shoulders again for the first time in a while.
Lattice Nail was with us, hooded at my request.
Among the Beastmen there are those with keen noses.
No matter how well you fake your magical power with magical power concealment, you can't hide your scent.
I wondered whether they'd even be able to tell the smell of the Demon Clan, but better safe than sorry.
Thinking it would be less troublesome than dealing with being found out, I persuaded Lattice Nail, who was reluctant to wear the hood.
Apparently it was one of the hoods Mahiro had made and it had an effect of dampening presence.
"Lord Crow is coming with us today too!"
"Yeah."
Ria, walking cheerfully ahead of the group, said that with obvious delight.
Ria walking next to Crow seemed even happier than yesterday.
As proof, her tail was wagging with such force it looked like it might tear off.
If I remember right, dogs wag like that when they're in a good mood...
Wait, was that when they liked the other person?
Anyway, Ria was clearly in high spirits today.
"Ria looks so happy."
"She must've really wanted to see Crow."
Amelia and Lattice Nail said that as they looked at Ria.
Yoru and I exchanged glances, wondering what they meant.
The women gave us an exasperated look.
"Didn't you notice? Ria seems to like Crow. Of course I mean romantically. I thought it was pretty obvious."
I stopped in my tracks at that.
Yoru's eyes widened too.
"Guys are so oblivious to that kind of thing. I noticed even though I only met him today."
But I had only seen Ria and Crow together for the first time today as well.
Still, it made a little sense.
Maybe that's why Amelia reacted weirdly when Crow taught her 'Inversion'.
"I didn't notice, but aren't those two a huge age gap?"
I had the feeling Crow was well over a hundred—am I imagining things?
"Age doesn't matter in Beastmen relationships~. Beastmen don't really show age on their faces or bodies, right? So it's acceptable even if it's a young one and an old geezer nearing senility."
I reacted with an intrigued "oh" to Lattice Nail's words and watched Ria's profile, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Is that what someone in love looks like?
I think Yui looked like that when she looked at Kyousuke.
"Shall we leave them alone?"
"Yeah, let's."
Amelia and Lattice Nail said that and slipped down a side street.
I figured Crow would sense which way they went and that it would be fine, so I followed.
"Hmm... this street."
I looked around the side street Yoru had taken in, eyes scanning.
Lattice Nail also narrowed his wisteria-colored eyes at a conspicuous sign.
"Ah, we passed here. Then this leads to the Adventurer Guild."
Despite being off the main road, the street was crowded, with more people who looked like adventurers walking than in Uruk.
"...Akira, want to drop by the Adventurer Guild?"
Speaking of it, we hadn't been to the Adventurer Guild since leaving Uruk.
We had no business there, and thanks to Crow covering the inn cost we still had money, but I was curious about the guild of the largest nation of the Beastmen.
Besides, Gram was the guild master there.
"...Yeah. I'm curious."
"Then let's go~"
Leading the way, Lattice Nail headed toward the Adventurer Guild.
When I asked if he knew the place, he said he remembered streets he'd passed once.
I try to remember routes too, but in Uruk everything looks the same and it's easy to get lost.
"This was the place, right? Familiar spirit?"