Towards a New City with my Reliable Partner

We're now inside the orphanage and the darkness itself can't hide the magic

lamps that are on the ceiling which aren't anymore working.

I can see traditional church chairs but they're all broken. This orphanage is

a place where it can be practically said that only it's floors are doing well.

…It's a lot different from the orphanage we grew in as it seems this place

can only barely meet the minimum necessities

I didn't expect this one to be so different…

However, at the moment when Fredrica takes foot into the dark ashen

building, like a glimmer of light suddenly descending, lively cheers of

children resounded from inside reach our ears.

[Is that Fredrica-san!?] (Child 1)

[It's Fredrica-san!] (Child 2)

[Onee-chan! ](Child 3)

[Ah, there's Sybilla too!] (Child 4)

The children immediately have the weeping Fredrica surrounded and call

them by their names one by one.

She then promises them that she'll be cooking something for them later as

she has things to talk about first with us.

The children seem to listen to Fredrica obediently as they suspiciously eye

me and Emmy without saying anything.

Yeah, just us, as Sybilla is somehow familiar with these children patting

their heads from here and there.

You said you've just talked with Eve last night but… Sybilla, didn't you

already steal the hearts of these children in just a short amount of time?

Jeez.

After calming the children down, the five of us went into a separate room

where we'll listen to Fredrica's story.

[…You see, I am originally wandering around various orphanages in this

kingdom trying to teach children at least the minimum amount of

education.] (Fredrica)

[So, during the times when you're not in Adoria…] (Russell)

[Around the time Russell-chan got back, I was actually here in Seiris

teaching the children with another priest.] (Fredrica)

As the words 'another priest' came out from Fredrica's mouth… Pressure

immediately surge from Eve as she hits the table as she stands up.

[That guy… How can someone like that be a priest or anything!] (Eve)

[Eve-chan…] (Fredrica)

[That guy didn't even bother himself to heal any of us when we got hurt just

because he didn't feel like working at all! Not to mention…!] (Eve)

[…Y-yeah. I was caught off guard as well.] (Fredrica)

We're talking about a priest that even made Eve unusually fume in anger

and someone which even Fredrica didn't think of defending.

It's because of him that Eve thought of resorting to pickpocketing.

And that's how we met and Sybilla saw that Eve has the orphanage in mind

for doing it.

I can now understand everything.

So this place, this orphanage…

[That priest… He took all of the valuables, even the tiniest of things, in this

place and ran away, huh.] (Russell)

[How terrible…!] (Emmy)

Emmy also realized what happened and frowned.

[Yes, that's how it is… That's why when I received the letter from Sybillachan, as one of the representatives' of the church's orphanage management,

I felt like all the blood inside of me ran cold… I decisively declined another

city's request for me and tried to get here as fast as I could…] (Fredrica)

I see… So during the times when Fredrica isn't around the orphanage in

Adoria, she was roaming around various orphanages providing support. I

didn't have any idea she had that kind of authority and responsibility.

I always thought of her as just a warm and caring sister but I guess it really

isn't good to judge a book by its cover.

She's apparently someone of a high standing.

[However.] (Fredrica)

But then, Fredrica's expression gradually softens.

[Sybilla-chan was faster. Eve's changes are quite apparent but her face in

particular feels like it had already transformed. Just what kind of magic did

you use?] (Fredrica)

[Well, to put it simply, it's the face of a girl who's able to become a level 21

assassin and be admitted to the city's top party, 'Gale Thunder', using

Sybilla-chan's power!] (Sybilla)

Fredrica looks at Eve in surprise after hearing that big load of information.

Eve, receiving the shocked look of Fredrica, chuckles softly before giving

the brightest smile she could muster to the sister.

That alone has persuasive power stronger than any word Sybilla can utter.

[So… who knows, Eve might get richer than Fredrica in the future,

y'know~] (Sybilla)

It's the future that Sybilla had drawn for Eve. Realizing it right away,

Fredrica's eyes redden as she put her hands towards her lips… And then,

once again, tears run down to her cheeks.

[Really, thank you so much, Sybilla-chan…! I'm weak… I was scared…

that no matter how hard I work, we will not be able to save this

orphanage… but… really… thank you…] (Fredrica)

[…Yes, yes. I know how hard Fredrica's working for everyone. It's alright

to leave the work we can leave to capable hands. Eve's a great child,

y'know. She's like a great big sister for every child around. She's someone

we can rely on and she will be fine.] (Sybilla)

After saying so, Fredrica wasn't able to hold it anymore as she used both of

her hands to cover her face while she broke down in tears.

Sybilla pats her back and lets Fredrica lie on her chest.

[…Someone like you who unhesitantly lends her small hands to anyone in

trouble has been carrying all this burden by yourself. So this time… let's

learn how to rely on others, okay?] (Sybilla)

[uh… *sniffs* *nods* *sniffs*] (Fredrica)

[There's always the Goddess-sama for a sister like Fredrica who everybody

can rely on. So don't hesitate to ask the Goddess-sama if you're in trouble,

okay? If it's a devout believer like you, I'm sure she'll definitely want to

lend you a hand. Don't you think so?] (Sybilla)

And with our Goddess words and embrace, Fredrica, who's been a reliable

sister for all of us, let herself rely on the comfort of Sybilla.

To be honest, this is the first time me and Emmy saw Fredrica break down.

For the longest time we've known her, she's always this warm person with

a gentle smile… So behind that are burdens and responsibilities that she

chooses to carry by herself, huh…

She really is such a strong and wonderful person.

But… Sybilla.

Her sharpness and kindness allowed her to see the weakness of Fredrica,

who everybody is relying on, in time.

And most importantly, on top of being always there for me, she'd even

extended her help towards Fredrica who's been taking care of us since

we're kids. For that, I can only be most grateful for everything Sybilla has

done.

…Not that I can directly say it to Sybilla though.

On that same day, Eve volunteered for her share of income to be used to

buy the ingredients for Fredrica's cooking which we will have for dinner.

There was some kind of incident though. Because when we were in the

market and Eve said that she'll be the one to pay, perhaps due to happiness,

Fredrica wasn't able to stop herself from crying once again.

Emmy soothes her along the way as the three of them thread the

marketplace and buy the ingredients.

Looking at those three, I finally realized something.

There are actually two problems in this city that Sybilla has solved in one

scoop.

'Considering how brilliant she is, I'd really have to step up to be someone

fitting to be her partner…'

[…You aren't thinking along those lines, no?] (Sybilla)

[Stop reading what's inside my mind.] (Russell)

Sybilla looks me in the eye before she taps my head with the back of her

hand.

[…now what.] (Russell)

[You're really good at being dense~ For me to be able to give money to

Eve, to meet and know Fredrica, to unravel the mystery behind the demon

king, and to allow the throwing knife and finish him… aren't all of those

possible because I have you?] (Sybilla)

[I don't know, I just don't feel like I can stand beside you every time I look

at you.] (Russell)

[I'd really want to tease how cheeky of you for a mortal to think of standing

side by side with a Goddess but… what you want isn't really that simple.]

(Sybilla)

Sybilla holds her hands behind her and looks at me like she's reminiscing.

[What I know is there's a limit of what a person can do alone. That applies

to you and even to me. Afterall, I can't be a Dusk Magi myself so I have to

rely on somebody else… Besides, I know for a fact that I'm not really

strong in battles and I do wonder from time to time if I'm actually useful at

all, you know.] (Sybilla)

Now that's surprising.

I always have this impression of Sybilla being confident, perhaps even

being overconfident, of everything she does… However, it seems that isn't

true deep inside her heart.

[Well… not that I think about it all the time. Only about half of the time, I

guess. People grow by self reflection, you know. But… There's always a

limit of what we can do alone. That's why what I've been thinking is 'hey,

I'm so glad we're able to accomplish this because I wasn't alone' or

something like that.] (Sybilla)

[…Because you will not be able to accomplish them by yourself, huh…]

(Russell)

[Yep.] (Sybilla)

I see… that makes sense.

It feels like the doubts that had been bugging me inside are starting to clear

up.

To feel glad of the things she was able to do because she wasn't alone, than

all by herself, huh.

[I like it. Let me keep those thoughts as well.] (Russell)

That being said, Sybilla nods at me without saying anything as she gives me

a fist bump.

And I, without further ado, return the gesture to my partner with my own

hand.

[I'll be relying on you, partner.] (Russell)

[You can rely on me, partner.] (Sybilla)

Is it just me or her response sounds a bit strange? Haha. I laugh at it and

Sybilla realizes after a moment and she immediately follows.

After that, well, it's the same as usual.

We heard Emmy's voice and walked towards their direction side by side.

Back in the orphanage, the dinner we had was so lively that it felt like we're

about to light the whole building up.

There's not a trace of sadness amongst the children as they gobble up

Fredrica's cooking happily.

I guess children are the same no matter the place they are raised. They'll

always be precious and innocent.

The energy and the cheerfulness of the children reminds me of those brats

from Adoria Village and I can't help but miss them.

Let's visit them again once things start to calm down.

.

.

.

The next morning, I let myself bathe in the morning sun of Seiris removing

all lingering feelings of being drowsy.

As usual, Sybilla's the one to first to wake up and she's already in the

balcony taking a good look at the surroundings.

And then I noticed… This girl is wearing that 'bracelet'.

Well, there's no need for us to return it, but for it to be considered as our

reward is just too cheap…. Still, I guess that's to be expected if it's her.

Today, we're finally leaving the inn we stayed at in Seiris after so long.

[It's such a good inn!] (Sybilla)

[Let's use it again once we return in Seiris!] (Emmy)

[Sure!] (Sybilla)

Sybilla provides a refreshing review of the inn as Emmy politely bows her

head to the clerk before leaving.

As we step outside, there's Fredrica waiting for us with her luggage at hand.

[As we have talked about yesterday, there's an urgent call for me from

another place which I declined due to the emergency here in Seiris, but now

that everything's okay, I'd like to head over there as soon as I can…]

(Fredrica)

[I see.] (Sybilla)

Sybilla looks back towards us and asks.

[That being the case, what do you think, Russell?] (Sybilla)

[What do I think, you say… Are you talking about accompanying Fredrica

towards the place she's heading?] (Russell)

She might not have explained everything but I think that's what she meant.

And as I have confirmed, Sybilla nodded her head in affirmation and

agreement.

However, the person surprised the most by that development was Fredrica.

[W-wait! H-how can I ask for your help when you've just lent me your

hands here in the orphanage…!] (Fredrica)

[That's not it. We've already defeated the demon king in this city so we got

no more business around here. That being the case, we're actually just

leaving Seiris anyway.] (Sybilla)

[… defeated the demon king…?] (Fredrica)

Fredrica looks at me and Emmy and, together, we both nod our heads.

Forget about me, but Emmy isn't someone who'll make things up just to put

on airs.

Seeing Sybilla, me, and even Emmy confirms it, Fredrica eventually got

convinced.

[…Y-you actually defeated one… Woww….] (Fredrica)

[That being the case, we'd like to tag along with Fredrica, but would that be

fine? If it's the people I know, then more the merrier, don't you think?]

(Sybilla)

[Ah! Yeah! If that's the case, then I'd love to travel with you guys! Ah,

but… what do the two of you think?] (Fredrica)

There's one thing I'd like to ask Fredrica though.

[Is the route safe?] (Russell)

[…I can't say for certain. But I just can't stop myself from going. I, myself,

want to go and the children are waiting for me over there.] (Fredrica)

…Fredrica… Even in such danger, you are still putting the children first

over your safety.

You're such a compassionate person that I'd even want to give the Saint

title to you. Really.

[That being the case, then I'd be glad to help. Is that fine with you, Emmy?]

(Russell)

[Ofcourse. It surprised me that Fredrica-san would be willing to travel

dangerously alone. Please rely on us if you plan to traverse in muddy

waters.] (Emmy)

[…Fufufu, really, the both of you have grown really cool.] (Fredrica)

Fredrica happily looks at us as if she's looking at something dazzling.

It was a decision we made on the spot but I really can't expect anything less

when it comes to Sybilla.

Besides, I do agree as well you know. If it's the people we know, then the

more the merrier.

I guess we're about to say our farewells to Eve… or not.

That kid's already all grown up and independent.

From this point onwards, she'll be writing her own story where she'll be the

protagonist.

She will be fine.

She has experience in fighting together with us, after all.

What's more, the girl has powers that had been handed to her by the

Goddess.

In just a few days after the pickpocketing orphan meets the Goddess, she's

now scouted by the city's top adventurers.

Hey, isn't that a pretty nice story?

[Now then, let's go and have fun once again!] (Sybilla)

Hearing Sybilla's bright laughter brought me back to reality.

Yeah, she's right.

On this new adventure… I hope we'll have another joyful encounter.

An adventure where we don't even know the place nor the people we're

helping.

However, I'm certain that place will have a lot of different people.

But regardless who we are up against, the Dusk's Oath will never lose to

them.

I'm taking in the view of the fading city of Seiris when my gaze moves to

Sybilla. Hm? Did our eyes just meet?

[Hm? Did you get some kind of sickness that you can't take your eyes away

from Sybilla-chan's cuteness?] (Sybilla)

[Nah. I'm just thinking it would be nice if we'd be able to defeat the demon

king in the next city we're going to.] (Russell)

Sybilla shakes her head after hearing my thoughts before looking at the

windows once again.

Then, the moment we can't see even a glimpse of the orphanage, she

murmurs.

[It'll be fine. We're working together after all.]

That's true. If we have each other, then there's nothing we can't do.

I'll be relying on you, partner.