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A trip that ended up being just the two of us.

Normally, Isabel would have shown her emotions openly, but this time was different.

She could not tolerate Lucas’ corpse being desecrated.

So until he was found, she thoroughly restrained her emotions.

Our search extended beyond the radius Isabel had previously covered.

The Empire has many cities.

Given the vastness of the Empire, searching just one city is no easy task.

There’s even a saying: “If you want to hide someone, send them to the Empire.”

But my case was different.

I had sources that could provide information.

“You’ve arrived.”

We had arrived at the city of the Norsecran Barony.

A northern city famous for its unique frostflower wine.

Here, a one-eyed man, formerly of the Imperial Knights, greeted us.

He wore armor in a mix of blue and white, and a pure white cloak emblazoned with the sigil of the White Tree.

He carried a single spear—he was a knight of the White Wolf Order, an elite unit serving the Duke of Whitewood.

This order was composed of loyal wolves who carried out the Duke’s missions.

They were currently investigating the mystery of vampires under her command.

I decided to cooperate with them in exchange for information.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Hannon Irey.”

“I’m Isabel Luna.”

Isabel followed my lead and introduced herself.

The man was Varkan Harberic, the vice-captain of the White Wolves.

He was an expert in tracking mysteries.

When it came to the supernatural, there was no one more trustworthy than him.

“Spring weather, lovely day… you two should be out on a date, not stuck helping us.”

Varkan smiled, and Isabel flinched.

She had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Lucas that she hadn’t registered the current situation.

She glanced at me repeatedly.

So you’re finally seeing me again, huh?

“D-Do we look like a couple to you?”

Isabel looked at Varkan with pleading eyes.

Perhaps unable to resist the earnestness of a young girl, Varkan gave her a thumbs-up.

“Yes, you make a very good pair.”

“R-Really? Oh, come on…”

Blushing, Isabel clung to my arm.

Then, as if seeking my agreement, her eyes sparkled.

Like a golden retriever looking for affection from its owner—adorable.

It was quite disarming, so I gave her a nod.

Her mood brightened instantly.

Varkan watched the scene with satisfaction.

Young love must’ve been a pleasant sight to him.

“Helping you? No, we’re the ones grateful for your help. We’re here looking for a friend.”

Rather than blindly wandering with no leads, getting help from experts like them was far better.

If there was even a hint of information, they would dig it up thoroughly.

“Yes, and no news of your friend just yet might actually be a good thing.”

Varkan looked out at the city with a complicated expression.

“In most cases, we only hear news after something has already gone wrong.”

The White Wolf Order mobilized whenever word spread of someone returning alive in the Empire.

But by the time they arrived, it was often too late.

The vampiric compulsion—draining life from others to sustain their own—was monstrous.

Resisting it required a mental fortitude few possessed.

“Still, this time, there were rumors of a dead person wandering around before anything bad happened.”

“I hope that’s Lucas.”

The city of Norsecran wasn’t far from the Zerion Academy.

Students who walked a heroic path were interred in the academy’s exclusive cemetery.

If Lucas had come back to life, it wouldn’t be strange for him to be here.

“Descriptions vary, but let’s look around. Hannon, since you handle mysteries, I trust you can sense something?”

“Yes. If you give me an area, I’ll investigate there.”

“Please do.”

Varkan handed us a map with the city divided into sections.

The Norsecran Barony was split into four major districts.

Isabel and I were assigned to the third district.

‘A gesture of consideration, perhaps.’

The third district was safer than the others.

It was close to the Baron’s manor, surrounded by a church and upscale housing.

As a result, patrols were frequent, and public safety was high.

“Looks like they still see us as kids, huh?”

Isabel gave a wry smile.

The Duke of Whitewood’s policies were unusual in that even young people were actively utilized if they had the ability.

Still, considering our age, this sort of treatment was probably normal.

Empire law defined adulthood at 15, but like in modern society where people in their twenties are still seen as young, the attitude was similar.

Isabel and I walked along the well-paved streets.

Fitting for an upscale area, both the roads and buildings were neatly arranged.

The city must’ve been planned with high-end residences in mind from the start.

Soon, the scent of grapes filled our noses.

The signature aroma of frostflower wine, the city’s specialty.

Isabel walked in silence through the city.

Perhaps the familiar atmosphere reminded her of Lucas.

“…In your opinion, what kind of person was Lucas?”

Under the shadow of a bridge connecting two buildings, Isabel asked me.

Lucas—what kind of person was he?

“If I had to say… foolish.”

Isabel turned to look at me.

She clearly hadn’t expected me to speak ill of him.

Seeing Isabel like that, a smile crept onto my lips.

“But he's upright. He can’t ignore injustice. That's something that sounds easy in words but is a whole different matter in action.”

The fear inherent in people.

Standing up against injustice means putting your own life on the line.

Lucas was someone who could lay down his life without hesitation.

And not like me—whose emotions were severed and wrapped in the Veil Bandages —but with his full, untainted emotions.

“I respect that about Lucas.”

Lucas was undoubtedly a shining star.

A star that could lead everyone down a righteous path.

Such a star faded far too quickly.

That’s the part that saddens me.

“And the same goes for you, Isabel.”

A sunflower that followed the sun called Lucas.

That was Isabel.

“…Maybe I also thought Lucas was foolish, just like you did.”

Isabel, by nature, is kind and gentle, unable to be harsh to others.

Even to someone like her, Lucas’s sense of justice was something extraordinary.

“But even so, the reason I never stopped wanting to be like Lucas was because he was always sincere.”

A pure sense of justice, with not a hint of falsehood.

Because she spent her childhood with him, Isabel learned that truth is more beautiful than lies.

“And to me, you’re the same.”

“I’m not that righteous.”

I’m someone who doesn’t care about means and methods if it means achieving my goal.

I’m different from Lucas, who only walked the upright path.

“It’s that foolish part that’s the same.”

“Do I… look foolish to you?”

“Hugely. You pretend you’re not, but you’re just as kind and softhearted.”

Isabel wrapped her hand around mine and leaned her head against me.

“Like how you can’t push me away when I do this.”

Her fingers entwined with mine, fidgeting gently.

“Or how you don’t say anything even when I get greedy with you.”

“I don’t think most people would get mad at that.”

“Well, what can I do? I’ve got rose-tinted glasses on hard. Everything you do looks good to me.”

Isabel let out a soft giggle and said it was already too late for her.

“Maybe that’s why I’ve been thinking this lately.”

Her gaze turned toward the alleyway.

“I wonder if someone as kind as you can really choose just one person.”

My shoulder flinched.

“You’ve been worrying about it a lot lately, haven’t you?”

So she noticed.

Of course—it’s Isabel.

Just as she said, I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently.

Though it’s still early, I’ve already recovered two emotions.

The next one I’ll likely recover… will be love.

Once I regain love, the time will come when I must make a decision about us.

And even I—someone who doesn’t yet know love—have a feeling it won’t be easy.

“Knowing you, you wouldn’t be able to bear hurting any of us.”

Everyone is throwing their feelings at me wholeheartedly.

Pushing away such emotions is selfish, but I still can’t bring myself to do it.

Because they’re the most precious people to me.

“You’re probably just pacing in your heart, not knowing what to do.”

“…”

It feels like she saw right through me, and I’m incredibly embarrassed.

“…Sorry. I’m such an indecisive bastard.”

If only I had a little more resolve.

Even after regaining love, I still can’t see where this is heading.

I can’t return the emotions they’ve given me.

Love can’t last if only one person pours it out.

So I thought someone would eventually confess and then let go of their feelings neatly.

But that was me underestimating them.

“Nope.”

Isabel raised her hand and poked my cheek.

“That just means you treasure all of us equally.”

That part is true.

“You haven’t picked anyone yet, right?”

She gave me a teasing grin.

Is that what she wanted to confirm?

She’s getting more cunning by the day.

“I just wanted to say this.”

She walked ahead of me.

“If it means you won’t be hurting your head over this, then maybe things staying the way they are now isn’t the worst option.”

I hadn’t realized Isabel thought that way.

Maybe, just like me, they’ve all been thinking hard about our situation too.

“Of course, if I could have you all to myself, I’d take you in a heartbeat.”

She shot me a seductive glance.

If I had love, that look would’ve knocked me out cold.

“Isabel, your eyes are scary.”

“See? Who told you to be so lovable? Maybe I really should make you spend the rest of your life looking only at me.”

Even her expressions are scary.

“Anyway, I just meant—don’t overthink it so much.”

Her hand again entwined with mine.

“No matter what choice you make, I’ll keep loving you.”

And with that, she promised me eternal love.

Her beautiful smile now showed that she knew better than anyone that she herself was the sun.

Then, my gaze turned toward the alleyway.

There, a noblewoman was walking with a parasol in hand.

“Isabel.”

The mood had changed in her too.

“So it’s not Lucas in this city.”

“Yeah, seems like it.”

The noblewoman sensed something and looked our way.

But it was too late.

Isabel and I kicked off the ground at the same time.

The Barony of Norsecran.

It was the moment we captured a vampire who had been hiding there.