After Lelouch’s dizziness completely passed, the three resumed their tour.
This time—
Ryu walked slightly closer to him.
Whenever a carriage passed, she subtly shifted between it and Lelouch.
Whenever a large adventurer party approached, her hand drifted closer to her sword.
Lelouch noticed every movement.
He wisely said nothing.
Another thank-you might result in Ryu spending the rest of the day with her hood pulled over her ears.
Syr continued performing her role as guide equally well.
She showed them a garden offering one of the clearest views of Babel.
A secondhand bookshop.
A narrow alley where artisans made jewelry from fragments of monster crystals.
Lelouch purchased a notebook.
Several pencils.
And a small measuring tool he could use to study weapon mechanisms.
Ryu inspected the quality.
Syr negotiated the price.
By the time they left—
He had paid almost one-third less than the listed amount.
“You’re better at bargaining than I expected,” Lelouch said.
“Working in a tavern teaches you which merchants increase prices for handsome customers.”
“Why would appearance increase the price?”
“Because they think you’re some rich young master who doesn’t understand money.”
“That is an inefficient customer-assessment method.”
Syr smiled.
“When you’re walking between two young women while dressed like that, everyone will assume it.”
Ryu nodded.
“Your mannerisms are the problem.”
“I stand and walk normally.”
“That is the problem.”
Both women answered simultaneously.
Ryu and Syr looked at one another.
Syr laughed first.
Ryu sighed.
But her expression relaxed.
As the sun began descending, the three returned to the western district near the Hostess of Fertility.
The delivery boy had returned Syr’s baskets long ago.
Inside the tavern, the limited staff were already rushing to prepare for the evening.
Mia herself had just carried an enormous sack of flour inside.
She now stood at the entrance with her arms folded, staring at Syr.
“I told you to be back before afternoon.”
Syr smiled innocently.
“There was trouble along the way.
I helped the injured and gave a statement to the Guild.”
“That’s why I was delayed.”
“And after the statement was finished…”
Mia’s eyes narrowed.
“…why did you make a detour all the way to the southern garden?”
Syr froze.
Lelouch looked toward her.
“It appears Mama Mia knows your route in considerable detail.”
“A delivery merchant told me,” Mia said.
“Including the part where she handed off the baskets before noon and followed you two around afterward.”
Syr clasped both hands in front of her.
“I thought Mr.
Lelouch deserved a guide who knew the shops.”
“Ryu was already with him.”
“Ryu doesn’t know as many dessert shops as I do.”
Mia released a long sigh.
“Inside.”
“Change clothes and get to work.
You’re making up every minute you disappeared until closing.”
“Yes, Mama Mia.”
As Syr passed through the doorway—
A shadow on the opposite rooftop withdrew silently.
As though the unseen observers had only needed to confirm that she returned safely.
Syr looked back toward Lelouch and Ryu.
“Today was fun.”
She smiled.
“Thank you for letting me come with you.”
“Thank you for the guidance,” Lelouch replied.
“Although it appears our meeting was not entirely coincidental.”
Syr’s smile became playful.
“If I said it was coincidence, would you believe me?”
“No.”
“What if I said I wanted to meet you, so I deliberately came to wait for you?”
“Far more credible.”
“You’re not angry?”
“I dislike being deceived.”
Lelouch considered her.
“But today’s outing was useful.”
“And you helped injured civilians without being forced.”
“So at present, I have no reason to be angry.”
He paused.
“Next time, if you want to meet me, ask directly.”
“Manufacturing a coincidence wastes both our time.”
Syr’s eyes brightened.
“If I invite you directly, will you come?”
“That depends on the reason, location, and my schedule.”
“I’ll prepare a good proposal.”
Ryu stepped beside Lelouch.
“We need to go.”
“Mm.
See you, Ryu.”
Syr waved.
Then, before entering the tavern, she met Lelouch’s gaze one last time.
“And I’ll see you again, Mr.
Lelouch.”
“Yes.”
Ryu was quieter on the walk back to the manor.
She answered questions about routes normally.
But she did not begin new conversations.
And whenever Lelouch looked toward her—
Some building or shop across the street suddenly became extremely interesting.
After they had walked halfway back, he finally asked,
“Are you still angry about what happened in the market?”
“I’m not angry.”
“Your tone and behavior are inconsistent with that answer.”
Ryu remained silent.
“I’m thinking.”
“About what?”
“Something you said.”
Lelouch reviewed the day’s many conversations.
“I said enough things today that you’ll have to be more specific.”
Ryu stopped walking.
Her fingers lightly gripped the edge of her cloak.
“The part where you said you trusted me.”
“I stand by that statement.”
Her ears began turning red again.
“I know.
You don’t need to repeat it.”
“You raised the subject.”
“I only…”
Ryu did not know how to explain it.
Trust mattered greatly to elves.
Especially trust given by someone as cautious as Lelouch.
He had refused to grant it to Syr without hesitation.
He had chosen to trust Ryu.
The distinction created a strange warmth inside her chest.
And made her uncertain how she was supposed to respond.
“Next time, don’t do that again,” Ryu finally said.
“Use Geass in public?”
“Put yourself in danger.”
“I cannot promise that if an innocent life is immediately threatened.”
Ryu had expected that answer.
“Then at least tell me first.”
“If there is time.”
“And do not calculate that I’ll always reach you in time.”
Lelouch looked at her.
“Do you want me not to trust you?”
“No!”
The answer came out too loudly.
Several pedestrians turned.
Ryu immediately pulled her hood down until it covered most of her face.
“I mean…”
Her voice dropped.
“…don’t use trust as justification to take unnecessary risks.”
“Understood.”
“Really?”
“I will separate my confidence in your abilities from my risk assessment more clearly in the future.”
The answer was far too formal.
But technically—
He had accepted the point.
Ryu nodded.
They started walking again.
Several steps later—
Lelouch spoke.
“But my assessment today was correct.”
Ryu nearly tripped.
“Are you still talking about this?!”
“I’m merely confirming that my trust had supporting evidence.”
“Be quiet until we reach the manor!”
Lelouch complied.
But the corner of his mouth rose faintly.
Ryu saw it from the edge of her vision—
And turned away to hide her own smile.
When they returned to the Astraea Familia manor—
Alice stood outside with her arms folded.
Behind her were Lyra, Kaguya, Neze, and several other members.
They looked less like people welcoming someone home—
And more like an investigative committee preparing to begin questioning.
Lelouch stopped.
“News traveled more quickly than anticipated.”
“A Guild officer delivered a copy of the incident report half an hour ago,” Lyra said.
Alice immediately walked over and inspected him from head to toe.
“Where are you hurt?”
“Nowhere.”
“Only minor Mind strain.”
Her eyes found the dried blood beside his left eye.
“You call that nowhere?!”
Alice caught his face in both hands and turned it left and right.
Ryu quickly explained that she had already checked him and found no serious injury.
“Then why did you walk into the middle of four criminals?!” Alice demanded.
“An innocent person was about to be attacked.”
“Ryu was there!”
“Because Ryu was there, I stepped in.”
Alice blinked.
Every other member turned toward the elf.
Ryu immediately pulled her hood down—
Too late to hide the red at the tips of her ears.
Lyra’s smile became enormous.
“Oh…”
Kaguya raised an eyebrow.
Neze tilted her head.
“What does that mean?” Alice asked.
“Nothing,” Ryu answered too quickly.
“Lelouch simply calculated that I would reach him in time.”
“And I trusted that she would not allow me to be injured.”
“Lelouch!”
“I’m supplying complete information.”
Lyra nudged Kaguya with one elbow.
“It’s only been one day.”
“Stop imagining nonsense,” Kaguya replied.
Though the amusement in her eyes was obvious.
Alice looked between Ryu and Lelouch.
Then a thoroughly mischievous smile slowly appeared.
“I see.”
“Because you trusted Ryu.”
“If all of you intend to turn an ordinary statement into entertainment, I’m returning to my room.”
“Ordinary?!” Lyra exclaimed.
“Elves consider trust extremely important, you know.
Especially—”
Ryu covered Lyra’s mouth with one hand.
“You speak too much.”
Laughter filled the entrance.
Astraea eventually came outside and rescued them from the interrogation.
She took Lelouch to her office for a brief examination and updated his Falna to determine whether using Geass had caused abnormal strain.
His abilities had increased only slightly from training and actual combat experience.
There was no permanent damage.
But—
More than half his Mind had been consumed by only two commands.
“The first command functioned perfectly against a Level One adventurer,” Astraea summarized.
“The second was resisted because the target was Level Two?”
“Most likely.”
Lelouch nodded.
“The second order also contained two actions: kneel and release the weapon.”
“And the target was already enraged.”
“Greater complexity and stronger active resistance may have increased the cost.”
“You attempted to compensate by pushing more power into the command.”
“Yes.”
Lelouch flexed his hand.
“The effect lasted less than two seconds, and he didn’t fully obey.”
Astraea recorded the information.
“Do not test harsher commands against higher-Level targets until we understand the effects on your body.”
“I agree.”
“And using Geass in public means rumors will spread.”
“That was unavoidable in this case.”
Lelouch’s expression became thoughtful.
“But from now on, enemies who hear about it may know to avoid eye contact.”
“I’ve lost part of my information advantage.”
“Do you regret using it?”
Lelouch remembered the elderly woman.
The young shopkeeper.
The blade that stopped before it could fall.
“No.”
His answer came immediately.
“If the choice is between preserving secrecy and allowing someone to be cut down, I would make the same decision.”
Astraea smiled gently.
“Then learn from the risk.”
“But do not punish yourself for saving someone.”
She finished sealing the Status and returned his shirt.
“As for Ryu…”
Lelouch stopped buttoning it.
“What about Ryu?”
Astraea laughed softly.
“Everyone keeps speaking as though there is some implication I’m missing.”
“Not every question can be answered through information alone.”
Astraea’s eyes softened.
“Some things require time for you to feel the answer yourself.”
The vagueness irritated Lelouch.
Astraea refused to elaborate.
At dinner, the others continued teasing Ryu at irregular intervals.
Every time Lelouch thanked her—
Or asked her to pass something—
The elf would pause before answering.
Lyra would immediately begin snickering from across the table.
Eventually, Ryu put down her cup.
“If this continues, I will eat outside.”
The table finally settled down.
Lelouch, still unable to identify the complete cause, turned toward her.
“If my presence makes you uncomfortable, I can sit at another table.”
“No!”
The answer came out much louder than necessary.
Ryu’s face reddened.
“I mean…”
“You have done nothing wrong.”
Her voice became quieter.
“Stay there.”
“Understood.”
Lelouch resumed his seat.
Lyra lowered her face toward her plate to hide another smile.
Alice had to shove bread into her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
After dinner, Ryu sat alone beneath a tree behind the manor.
Her sword rested beside her.
Moonlight filtered through the leaves in scattered silver patches.
She replayed the incident at the market repeatedly.
The image of Lelouch stepping toward four adventurers still made her angry.
The iron club passing within inches of his head made her hands turn cold.
But the words afterward—
Those made her heart accelerate every time she remembered them.
Because I knew you were there, I could step forward without hesitation.
Ryu touched one ear.
It still felt slightly warm.
“…schemer.”
She murmured the word.
Yet she knew Lelouch had not deliberately chosen those words to unsettle her.
That made it worse.
Because every word had come from genuine conviction.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Ryu turned.
Lelouch walked toward her carrying the medicinal herbs the elderly woman had given him.
“I thought I should give you half.”
“You received them.”
Ryu looked at the pouch.
“You should keep them.”
“We helped together.”
Lelouch sat down a respectful distance away and placed a smaller packet beside her.
“Besides, if I keep all of them, Alice may discover them and increase my training schedule as we predicted.”
“Distributing the evidence is therefore safer.”
Ryu laughed before she could stop herself.
“I thought you came out here for something serious.”
“This is serious to my survival.”
For a while—
They sat beneath the tree in silence.
This silence was not uncomfortable.
Lelouch looked toward the moon.
“Thank you for today, Ryu.”
She looked at him.
“For the tour.”
“And for helping me.”
“I only did what I was supposed to do.”
“Even so, I should thank you.”
Ryu looked down at the pouch of herbs.
“Next time…”
Her fingers tightened slightly.
“…don’t make me worry like that.”
The word worry escaped before she could replace it.
Lelouch turned.
Ryu immediately continued.
“As a member of the same Familia.”
“Of course.”
He did not tease her.
Did not ask a question that would make her uncomfortable.
He simply accepted the explanation at face value.
Ryu should have felt relieved.
Instead—
There was a tiny, inexplicable disappointment mixed into the relief.
“I’ll be more careful,” Lelouch said.
“But if I have to rely on you again…”
He looked toward her.
“…I will still trust that you’ll come.”
Ryu’s ears became hot instantly.
She rose.
Grabbed the herbs.
Turned away.
“It’s late.
I’m going back to my room.”
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
Ryu walked away somewhat faster than normal.
Lelouch watched her go, unable to understand why she appeared to be in such a hurry.
Once he confirmed that she had taken the herbs—
He considered his objective complete and returned to his own room.
He still could not remember his past.
He did not know whom he had once trusted.
Whether those relationships had ended in loyalty—
Betrayal—
Or loss.
But today, Lelouch had learned something.
Trust was a risk.
It could become a weakness.
It could be turned against him.
But when that iron club had been moving toward his head—
He had not regretted choosing to trust Ryu.
Because she had arrived.
Not even a fraction of a second too late.
Perhaps trust was not merely a vulnerability on the board.
If given to the right person—
It could become strength.
Something that allowed him to move into positions he could never reach alone.
And for Ryu—
To hear the word trust from a young man who doubted nearly everything—
Made her heart tremble more than any Magic ever could.
….
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….
I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length.
If you’re following a particular series, please wait your turn a little If there’s a particular novel you’re enjoying on Patron, please give it a ‘like’ so I know to focus on it