I usually hole myself up in the Clan Master's office, but that's for self-preservation — not because I actually like being a shut-in.
The truth is, I'd gone and made far too many enemies in the capital. Just stepping outside and I'd get accosted by those guys — everyone and their mother was coveting my life with predatory interest.
But this wasn't the capital. Nobody knew I was here, in this unremarkable satellite city with absolutely nothing to distinguish it.
The number of people who recognized my face here was a fraction of what it'd be back home. It was raining, too, and if I pulled my hood down low enough, the odds of being spotted were practically zero.
The weather wasn't ideal, but my mood wasn't bad at all. I'd been startled when I heard the storm had followed us, but thinking calmly, that was impossible.
My anticipation for the vacation was steadily swelling. Right now, I was free.
I'd ditched my work, sure, but wasn't it nice to do this once in a while?
Liliz, who'd been wandering aimlessly nearby for no particular reason, suddenly stumbled and nearly tripped — despite not having caught her foot on anything. The puddle she'd stepped in splashed water onto her legs. Quite the rare sight.
Was she feeling under the? Watching her closely, Liliz noticed my gaze and gave an awkward, sheepish grin.
"Hehehe… Sorry. I forgot how to walk without leaving openings. It's been years since I've done it…"
"O-Oh…?"
Was that really what I'd asked for? I swallowed the question before it left my mouth.
All I'd asked was that she enjoy the vacation peacefully — that was the whole of it. But if I went and told her "Don't worry, just stay natural," she'd snap right back into Genocide Monster mode. For her, only Axel existed.
So it'd be better to have her bear with it a little and make it up to her later.
Liliz, despite looking somewhat uncomfortable, clasped her hands behind her back and flashed me a beaming smile.
"But… yeah. This is kind of fresh and fun, in its own way?"
"…………"
Being able to enjoy anything was a wonderful thing. Maybe I should take a page out of Liliz's book when it came to living life.
As I was thinking this, Citry and Tinno — who'd gone ahead on an errand while leaving the two of us behind — came trotting back. Inside their deeply pulled hoods, faint pink eyes glimmered softly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No, I wasn't waiting. You had something to do?"
I couldn't think of anything that absolutely had to be taken care of first in this town, but they'd gone out of their way in the rain before even finding an inn, so it must have been something important.
At my offhand question, Citry covered her mouth with her hand and answered somewhat bashfully.
"Well… I shut down our information network."
"……?"
"I'd set it up so we'd receive immediate contact if anything happened, but… that's not allowed either, is it? And also, the groundwork we'd laid with the lord… Oh, we're far too defenseless… My heart is racing a little. This is yet another learning experience, isn't it…"
"Y-Yeah, that's right…"
Not knowing how to slack off was both their strength and their weakness. What I'd wanted to封 was their ability to take action, not their eyes and ears. But since I'd been the one to ask, it was impossible to say anything. Just be normal, be normal…
Liliz let out a soft whistle and looked at me.
"Hoh, not bad. Klye-chan, should I maybe bind my legs or something too?"
"No need to bind anything…"
I wasn't trying to put handicaps on them. I'd said don't act. I'd said just keep things peaceful.
Tinno was the only one behaving normally.
I glanced over at Tinno, who shrank behind Citry in fear. The height difference meant she wasn't fully hidden, but considering she'd been going "Mastaa, Mastaa" until just recently, it stung a little. I absolutely had to reclaim my dignity during this trip.
But I couldn't think of a way. The bill was coming due for all the times I'd relied on others. Fixing this level of uselessness would take considerable effort.
Citry — one of the fundamental reasons I'd become this way — approached me tentatively.
"Klye, what shall we do about an inn? If this is supposed to be a vacation, I think we should stay at an inn of at least a certain caliber…"
"…Can you even get one on the same day?"
It wasn't exactly a tourist destination, but Elan was a relay city on the route to the capital. With yesterday's storm, inns would probably be full.
At my question, Citry smiled faintly without so much as pausing to think.
"…We can get one if we use your name."
What value did my name carry when backed by no real ability…
I felt a pang of sadness, but setting that aside, high-level Hunters were basically given preferential treatment. I felt bad about it so I almost never used my privileges, but with Level 8 pulling weight, I could probably get a room or two.
But that was out of the question. Right now I was playing hooky and running away.
"Rejected. We're on vacation. That's right — right now, we aren't Hunters."
So we wouldn't accept commissions, fight, or do any work. If someone on the street asked about "Thousand Transformations," I'd say they had the wrong person. We wouldn't train either. That's what a vacation was.
"That's… a truly fresh and wonderful way of thinking."
Without a shred of hesitation, Citry praised me — even though what I'd said sounded like nothing more than a joke.
That was exactly the kind of thing that ruined me. No, seriously, I was sorry. Somebody needed to chew me out.
"Ooh… Hiding your identity while traveling, that sounds so fun! Like a spy! Ti thinks so too, right?"
"Y-You can't possibly expect me to read Mastaa's true intentions…"
"If we're going to do this, we have to commit… I'll brag about it to Luke and the others later."
That was when I first realized something terrible.
This time's group… there was nobody to stop me. Everyone here would fall into the same trap if I did. I should have at least brought Eva along.
The whole "wipe your own ass" situation would normally affect only me — but this time, I wasn't the only one who'd suffer.
A nameless dread washed over me, and Citry squeezed my hand tight.
"I understand your true intentions, Klye. Please leave the arrangements to me."
§ § § Tinno Shade could only feel ashamed of her own immaturity in the face of how naturally her two big sisters conducted themselves.
This was probably what they called the difference in experience.
Klye's words were worth more than a thousand gold pieces to Tinno, and at the same time, more terrifying than anything else.
The countless "Thousand Trials" she had endured up to this point had certainly helped Tinno grow, and combined with her master's training, she had acquired the composure to always be ready for battle.
But this trial was entirely different from all the ones before.
Training only. Deliberately refraining from the skills she had honed at the cost of her soul, and placing herself in the position of the weak.
What a devastating trial this was.
Tinno couldn't begin to predict what might happen during this vacation, but she could tell that something unpleasant was likely to occur. And to face that in a state essentially equivalent to being defenseless was tantamount to throwing her life away.
Her two big sisters must have understood that even better than Tinno did. Yet unlike Tinno, their faces showed no shadow of doubt.
They probably weren't accustomed to the act of placing themselves in such a defenseless position. Their movements were somewhat stiff and unnatural here and there, but even that sight appeared to shine brilliantly in Tinno's eyes.
Tinno could never do it. Keeping watch for threats, treading silently, staying ready to enter combat at any moment — all of this had become habit for her.
To discard those things was to discard everything she had built up until now.
The feelings she'd had when her master first dragged her along and stuffed her into the carriage had long since dissipated in the face of this brutally harsh trial.
This trial wasn't about raw combat power — it was the kind that forged the heart.
A mind like a still mirror and calm water. Maintaining composure in any situation and being able to act accordingly.
For Tinno, this trial might be even harder than running through the rain and getting struck by lightning.
And at the same time, she was reminded of how Mastaa was always in a natural state, and was struck dumb by a fact she had never consciously registered before.
The Mastaa she now reconfirmed stood apart from her two big sisters, boasting perfect defenselessness. Just how much courage must it take to expose oneself so openly?
As Tinno held an indescribable sense of awe, those eyes suddenly turned toward her, and she straightened her posture.
"Tinno, I'm sorry for dragging you along against your will."
"…No, Mastaa. But… am I not a burden?"
Tinno was immature. The three Citry had brought along aside, among the four people present right now, she was by far the weakest. Experience, ability — she was lacking in everything.
And when they inevitably found themselves in a desperate situation, the kind Mastaa who was always so soft on her would never abandon Tinno.
The anxiety that she was imposing on everyone, combined with fear of a trial unlike anything she had ever faced.
At Tinno's words — spoken while suppressing that anxiety — the perfect Mastaa opened her eyes in surprise.
"A burden? Don't be ridiculous. I really wanted you to come too, Tinno. Besides, Liliz is always the one causing trouble."
The gentle smile she wore made Tinno involuntarily shudder.
Tinno owed Mastaa a great debt. If asked whether she liked or disliked her, she'd say she adored her. But whether she would joyfully accept the brutal trials Mastaa imposed was another matter entirely.
Those eyes held nothing but goodwill. That was precisely what made them terrifying. Mastaa was trying to impose a trial on Tinno out of nothing but pure, genuine kindness.
She let out a small squeak, her eyes welling with tears, and pleaded: "That's… Mastaa, I'm incredibly grateful, truly, but I'm already at my limit with big sister's training…"
Mastaa and big sister were amazing. They didn't just shamelessly impose trials on Tinno — they endured them themselves, so she had no right to complain.
But if there was just one thing she was allowed to say — it was impossible.
"Mm-hmm, that's right. So this time, I want you to spread your wings a little."
"Klye-chan, you're so nice… Ti, come on, put on a happier expression? It's rude to Klye-chan, you know?"
Big sister's shrill voice no longer reached Tinno's ears at all.