Published: March 21, 2026
"I can see it, there it is."
Crow suddenly stopped and pointed a little ahead.
Through the distant trees stood a three-story building that, for having been abandoned decades ago, still looked remarkably well kept.
Its exterior was painted green to blend with the forest, with white accents here and there giving it a somewhat tasteful appearance.
If Crow hadn't pointed it out, we might have missed it entirely—the craftsmanship was that subtle.
I had pictured something old and collapsing, but this was pleasantly different from my expectation.
"...Lord Crow, is something the matter?"
Ria peered at Crow's face with concern while he kept pointing at the building without moving.
Crow's furrowed gaze wasn't on the safe house itself but the area around it.
He wore a hard expression, glaring at gaps between trees and the ground.
I checked for signs of an attack, but there were no demonic beasts nearby.
If not demonic beasts, then why was Crow scowling like that?
I thought of Crow's mother from not long ago, but didn't she live elsewhere?
Still, I had a bad feeling.
"Oi, Crow?"
When I waved in front of him, my hand was grabbed with a firm, wrenching grip.
He seemed to be conscious, at least.
This forest was full of troublesome demonic beasts; I didn't want any misleading reactions.
"...It's nothing. Let's go."
His tone didn't sound like nothing at all, and if it really was nothing he could at least make it look like nothing.
This guy really doesn't say enough.
Here came Irritable Crow all over again.
"What should we do, Akira?"
Amelia whispered to me, watching Crow's odd behavior.
I shrugged.
"There's nothing to do. He isn't going to listen to me."
I said that and followed as Crow strode ahead with no sign of caution.
If he were the kind of man to listen to others, he wouldn't have had so many problems with his family and Ria.
He seemed like someone who lost half his life to his personality.
"...We're here, I guess?"
Amaryllis muttered in a daze.
We had been a little way off before, but now that we were close we could see the whole exterior.
Time had taken its toll: the once-unseen worn outer walls were now wrapped in vines, giving it a haunted-house feel.
"Akira!? You're safe!"
A face appeared from something like a second-floor window when someone called out a name.
Relief and gratitude showed on his face, and I raised my hand in response.
"Oh. You lot are all here too?"
The hero's expression clouded a little at my words.
My heart skipped.
Had someone been lost? Who would it be?
"I'll come over right away! ...It's faster to see for yourselves."
The murmured words reached my ears clearly.
What did he mean?
"Oh! You arrived, thanks for coming."
A large entrance door opened and, instead of the hero, Nanase came out.
After spotting us, he forced a wan smile.
"Oh. You too, thanks. ...Is something wrong?"
His face, as if he'd survived a near-death experience, had clearly changed since the last time I saw him.
He looked gaunt, as if on the verge of collapse.
More like fatigue than hunger.
"...Well, it's faster if you see it yourself."
Saying the same as the hero, Nanase staggered toward the back of the building.
The hero and we followed him out from the building.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing! You lot—"
"Ugh!! Gah!?"
There was a thud as the ground was gouged out.
A human body flew through the air.
I recognized the shrill voice that didn't fit the scene.
In fact, it was the voice of the one who had just rendered Crow useless.
It was impossible to forget.
"Why are you here...?"
A low voice came from deep in her throat. As if unaware of it, she had already, with her bare hands, snapped the consciousness of Kyousuke—who was holding a weapon—like cutting a candle, then turned toward us as if only now noticing.
"Oh, you're late, my foolish son. I gave the current hero a little training. You can pay me whatever you owe in this building."
Crow's mother smiled oddly, saying that as if she hadn't noticed Crow's murderous expression at all.
She was too free with her words and hadn't answered any of Crow's questions.