Hitori stood completely frozen.
His widened eyes shifted back and forth between Sarina and the gigantic mansion behind her.
The girl who called him a worm.
The girl who jumped across rooftops.
The girl who fought dangerous criminals with fans…
Was the daughter of the Governor of RiverHold.
Hitori: “WHAT?!”
His shout echoed through the bushes where they were hiding.
The nearby birds immediately took flight.
Sarina’s eyes widened.
Sarina: “DO YOU WANT THEM TO FIND ME?!”
She rushed toward him without a second thought.
THUD!
Hitori’s back slammed against the stone wall of the small canal as Sarina covered his mouth with both hands.
Her face was extremely close.
Too close.
Hitori could smell the gentle fragrance coming from her green hair mixed with the faint scent of the river breeze she carried when she spoke.
Sarina: “You idiot!”
Sarina: “Keep your voice down!”
Her green eyes trembled nervously.
Hitori’s eyes widened even more.
Then…
The two of them realized the position they were in.
Silence filled the place.
Their breaths became visible in the tiny space between them.
Hitori’s heart pounded so hard that even he could hear it.
Sarina froze.
Hitori froze as well.
Their faces were practically touching.
For a moment…
Neither of them could move.
Then—
Sarina violently pushed him away.
Sarina: “P-pervert!”
Hitori: “HUH?!”
Hitori: “YOU’RE THE ONE WHO JUMPED ON ME!”
Sarina turned away, completely red.
Even her ears had turned crimson.
Sarina: “Shut up, worm!”
Hitori: “STOP CALLING ME THAT!”
She crossed her arms irritably, trying to regain her composure.
But she was clearly nervous.
Far more than before.
Hitori then looked back at the mansion.
Still in disbelief.
The golden lights scattered throughout the gardens partially illuminated the enormous Aimada estate.
Guards constantly patrolled the area.
Decorative fountains gleamed under the moonlight.
And huge glass windows reflected the festival taking place in the distance.
It didn’t look like a house.
It looked like a castle.
Hitori: “So…”
Hitori: “You’re literally the daughter of the most important man in the city?”
Sarina let out a deep sigh.
Sarina: “Yeah.”
She slowly turned around and began walking away from the mansion.
Hitori immediately noticed the weight behind that answer.
There was no pride.
No happiness.
Only exhaustion.
Hitori: “That ‘yeah’ doesn’t sound like something good.”
He began walking after her.
The two slowly followed the small stone path beside the canal that ran along the side gardens of the mansion.
The sound of the flowing water softly filled the silence between them.
In the distance, people were still decorating the streets for the festival.
Colorful lanterns were being hung.
Musicians practiced near the river.
And small illuminated boats began crossing the waters of the Lovrelis.
Sarina rested her arms on the canal railing.
For a few seconds…
She simply watched the water flow.
The river breeze gently blew, swaying the tips of her green twin tails.
Then she finally spoke.
But this time…
Her voice sounded different.
Softer.
More sincere.
Sarina: “Everyone here keeps watching me.”
Hitori remained silent.
Sarina: “Guards.”
Sarina: “Servants.”
Sarina: “Nobles.”
She slowly looked back at the huge mansion behind them.
Sarina: “My father.”
Her voice carried years of emotional exhaustion.
Like someone who had repeated those words in her mind countless times.
Sarina slowly closed her eyes.
Sarina: “Ever since I was little, I’ve always heard the same things.”
Then she began listing them one by one.
Like invisible chains wrapped around her body.
Sarina: “‘Sit properly.'”
Sarina: “‘Speak like a lady.'”
Sarina: “‘Don’t run.'”
Sarina: “‘Don’t fight.'”
Sarina: “‘Don’t go out alone.'”
She opened her eyes again.
The reflections of the festival lanterns shone in her green irises.
Sarina: “‘You’re the Governor’s daughter.'”
There was a strange weight in her voice.
A deep exhaustion.
For the first time since meeting her…
Hitori saw no arrogance.
No sarcasm.
Only someone who was tired.
Very tired.
Sarina lightly clenched the fabric of her dress.
Sarina: “Everyone decides how I should act.”
Sarina: “How I should speak.”
Sarina: “How I should smile.”
She slowly lowered her head.
Sarina: “How I should live.”
Her words struck Hitori unexpectedly.
Because he understood.
More than he wanted to.
The pressure of school. New chapters come out on g.com first.
The stares.
The feeling of not belonging anywhere.
The constant desire to run away.
“She thinks like me…”
The thought naturally appeared in his mind.
Hitori: “So that’s why you created that identity…”
She slightly raised her head.
Sarina: “The Noble Thief?”
Hitori nodded.
Sarina turned toward the horizon, as if trying to see something beyond the river.
Sarina: “When I wear that cloak…”
The wind blew stronger.
The canal waters gently rippled.
Sarina: “Nobody cares who I am.”
Sarina: “Nobody expects me to act like a porcelain doll.”
Then she smiled.
A small smile.
A free smile.
Sarina: “I can run.”
Sarina: “I can fight.”
Sarina: “I can breathe.”
Silence filled the place again.
But this time…
It was a comfortable silence.
Hitori watched her quietly.
And for the first time…
He realized that Sarina wasn’t just an annoying and arrogant girl.
She was trapped.
He was trapped at school.
She was trapped in that mansion.
Both of them wanting to escape from different worlds.
Yet feeling exactly the same thing.
Hitori then smiled slightly.
Hitori: “So you’re troublesome too.”
Sarina immediately turned toward him.
Sarina: “What?!”
Hitori: “I’m serious.”
Hitori: “You remind me of those complicated anime heroines.”
Sarina narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Sarina: “Do you have a death wish?”
Hitori chuckled quietly.
Sarina: “What’s so funny?!”
Hitori: “Nothing…”
Hitori: “It’s just strange seeing you talk seriously.”
She snorted irritably.
But this time…
She didn’t immediately argue back.
Then—
Herny: “Milady.”
The calm voice came from behind them.
Hitori almost jumped in surprise.
Again.
The man dressed as a butler simply appeared out of nowhere.
Herny calmly approached, wearing the same impeccable suit as before.
His hands were clasped behind his back as he looked at the two of them.
Sarina immediately looked embarrassed.
Sarina: “Herny…”
Herny gave a small bow.
Herny: “Forgive me for interrupting.”
He then cast a serious glance toward Hitori.
A dangerously intimidating look.
Hitori immediately felt a chill run down his spine.
“Why does it feel like this guy is going to kill me at any moment…?”
Sarina quickly stepped in front of Hitori.
Sarina: “Don’t start.”
Herny discreetly sighed.
Herny: “I would never do anything rude to milady’s guest.”
“Guest?”
Hitori blinked a few times.
That sounded strange coming from him.
Then Herny continued.
Herny: “But, milady…”
Herny: “It’s about to begin.”
Sarina immediately made a face.
Sarina: “Arrgh…”
Sarina: “I hate this part.”
Hitori tilted his head slightly.
Hitori: “Part?”
Sarina pointed toward the city center in the distance.
A huge commotion was beginning near the main river.
Magical lights illuminated the central plaza while hundreds of people started gathering.
Sarina: “Every year, my father gives a speech at the start of the festival.”
She let out a tired sigh.
Sarina: “And I have to stand there smiling like a statue.”
Hitori chuckled quietly.
Sarina immediately looked irritated.
Sarina: “What’s so funny?!”
Hitori: “Nothing…”
Hitori: “I just imagined you trying to act like an elegant lady.”
Sarina narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Sarina: “Trying to test my patience, worm?”
Hitori immediately raised his hands.
Hitori: “Sorry, sorry.”
Herny silently observed the two.
But something in his expression had changed.
He seemed…
Relieved.
As though he was seeing Sarina act in a way he hadn’t seen in a very long time.
Then Herny spoke calmly.
Herny: “Milady.”
Herny: “It’s time.”
Sarina slowly looked away.
For a few seconds…
She seemed unwilling to go back.
Then she sighed.
Sarina: “Alright…”
She started walking toward the mansion.
But then she stopped.
Turning her head slightly toward Hitori.
Sarina: “Hey, wo… what’s your name?”
Sarina: “Hitori…”
Sarina: “Thank you.”
Hitori blinked in surprise.
For the first time…
She seemed genuinely embarrassed.
Sarina: “For listening to me.”
Before he could answer—
She started running toward the mansion.
Her green hair swayed softly behind her as she disappeared among the guards and illuminated gardens.
Herny remained standing beside Hitori for a few seconds.
The butler then calmly looked at him.
Herny: “It’s been a long time…”
Herny: “Since I’ve seen milady smile like that.”
Hitori stood speechless.
Herny then gave a small bow.
Herny: “Thank you.”
And then he walked away as well.
Leaving Hitori alone.
The boy remained standing, looking at the enormous mansion.
His heart still felt strange.
Heavy.
But at the same time…
Warm.
Hitori: “What was that just now…?”
Then—
It finally hit him.
Hitori: “WAIT.”
Hitori: “HOW DO I GET BACK TO THE CITY CENTER NOW?!”
Silence answered him.
Hitori looked around desperately.
Hitori: “Damn it…”
Hitori: “I’M LOST AGAIN!”
Meanwhile…
Near RiverHold’s enormous central clock tower…
Kamero, Yashina, and Aysa waited for Hitori in the middle of the festival crowd.
The streets were packed.
Fireworks had begun to be launched along the riverbanks.
Musicians played near the docks.
And hundreds of people walked among the decorated stalls.
Aysa crossed her arms irritably.
Aysa: “I look away for five minutes…”
Aysa: “And that idiot disappears.”
Kamero let out a deep sigh.
Kamero: “I asked you to keep an eye on him.”
Kamero: “But obviously, seducing random merchants was more important.”
Aysa placed a hand on her chest dramatically.
Aysa: “Don’t blame me.”
Aysa: “I’m just a helpless maiden.”
Kamero: “You literally got free sunglasses from a vendor in less than ten minutes.”
Aysa proudly adjusted her sunglasses.
Aysa: “Charm is a powerful weapon.”
Yashina quietly observed the crowd.
Then her eyes widened.
Yashina: “There!”
She pointed ahead.
In the middle of the crowd, Hitori was walking around completely lost, looking in every direction.
Yashina immediately waved.
Yashina: “HITORI!”
He finally saw her.
His expression instantly relaxed.
Hitori: “Ah, thank God…”
Shortly afterward, he approached them.
Clearly embarrassed.
Hitori: “I know I shouldn’t have disappeared.”
He quickly raised his hand.
Hitori: “But before you say anything…”
Hitori: “Sorry, I got lost…”
Kamero crossed his arms.
Kamero: “Impressive.”
Kamero: “For the first time, you learned before the lecture.”
Aysa narrowed her eyes as she looked at Hitori.
Something about him seemed different.
More distracted.
Quieter.
Yashina smiled in relief.
Yashina: “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Then—
BOOOOOONG!!
An extremely loud sound echoed throughout the city.
Everyone covered their ears.
A huge system of magical loudspeakers had been activated near the central plaza.
A voice echoed throughout RiverHold.
???: “We apologize for the noise.”
???: “But now, we will hear the words of the honorable Governor of RiverHold…”
???: “Lord Barsel Aimada!”
The crowd immediately burst into applause.
At the top of a gigantic building near the river…
A platform began to rise.
And upon it…
Stood a familiar figure.
Hitori’s eyes widened immediately.
Elegantly dressed.
With refined posture.
And a perfect smile on her face.
Sarina Aimada, the perfect young lady.
Completely different from the girl who ran across rooftops wearing a cloak.
Barsel Aimada then appeared beside her.
Barsel: “Good evening, everyone!”
The crowd erupted into applause.
Barsel: “It is with great pleasure that I officially declare the Festival of the Saint of Winds open!”
More applause echoed throughout the city.
Kamero watched attentively.
Barsel raised his voice once more.
Barsel: “And as every year…”
Barsel: “We will have our grand main event!”
He opened a wide smile.
Barsel: “The tournament…”
Barsel: “Guild Arena!”
Silence fell over the group for a moment.
Kamero: “Tournament…”
Yashina: “Arena…”
Aysa: “Of…”
Hitori: “Guilds…”