In the bedroom, the sounds of clinking and rustling came from next door—Zenith and Lilia were packing Rudeus's belongings. They were also gathering up some newly tailored summer clothes for Allen that hadn't yet been handed over.
Downstairs, Paul was chatting with Philip, who was draped in a towel, the two reminiscing about past and present.
Rudeus was in his own room, packing his things.
It was all a bit sudden—but both parents of the Greyrat household were former adventurers. Sudden changes of plan, acting on a whim, and decisive departures—this kind of lifestyle was par for the course.
Like in the original story, when Paul literally knocked Rudeus out, stuffed him in a cart, and sent him off.
Clean, efficient, and chaotic.
...
Allen sat at his desk, clearing out drawers and packing things away. The drawers were filled with letters and small gifts from Roxy.
Behind him, Sylphy was quietly folding clothes into his suitcase.
Click.
The trunk snapped shut.
Sylphy's familiar soft footfalls approached. Allen smiled, clapping the dust off his hands.
He had nearly everything packed.
"All right, that should do it. So, about what comes next—"
His wrist was suddenly grasped.
It was Sylphy's hand. Small, delicate fingers.
Yet somehow, Allen felt… strength in that grip.
He turned slightly—but her voice stopped him.
"Don't turn around, Allen. I want to tell you something."
"Uh… can't we talk after—"
"I want to be an adventurer with you and Teacher."
Allen blinked. The words he was about to say caught in his throat.
"I've thought about it for a long time. If one day I can be as strong as you and Teacher… could I be part of that adventuring party you promised to form? As your companion? To explore dungeons together?"
Allen looked a little dazed. He blurted out reflexively:
"Wait, huh? Weren't you already included? I mean, the adventurer party we talked about—"
"…Was I?"
"Weren't you? Rudeus too."
"…We've talked about adventuring before, yes. But when you talk to Roxy-sensei about forming a party, it doesn't feel like I'm part of that vision. Even the letters she sends me—when she talks about adventuring, your name is always there, but I… don't seem to be."
"I can't explain it very well. It's just a feeling."
"You and her, the 'adventurer party' you talk about… it feels like it's not the same one we've talked about."
Allen hesitated.
"Don't be silly. What kind of adventuring party has only two people—"
Her voice cut him off, quiet but firm:
"If it's just you and Rudeus, it still counts."
"If I'm not there—"
"…It still counts."
This time, Allen was truly speechless.
They both stood in silence for a long while.
Then Sylphy spoke again.
"Downstairs, Uncle Paul, Aunt Zenith, and Uncle Philip were all talking about grown-up things. It sounded serious. I know I shouldn't interrupt…"
Her voice floated like a soft note, barely audible beneath the steady drum of rain against the window.
"But I really wanted to ask."
"I wanted to ask you."
"Are you cutting me out of the adventuring party?"
"Because it feels like… you and Rudeus are going to Roa together. And your expression…"
"…It looked really happy."
"You got to see your father after so long. You have a very cute younger sister, about my age."
"I understand. I do. And I know—right now I shouldn't be saying anything selfish, or ruining the mood."
"But it feels like…"
"Even without me, your adventuring team would be fine."
"I just—couldn't help but ask."
"Is that how you really feel?"
The window was tightly closed, sealing out the wind and rain.
And yet Allen could hear it—the soft pattering of raindrops.
Close. Right behind him.
It was a faint sound, like mist forming at the edge of the sky—distant, but unmistakably clear.
On the desk in front of him were two burn marks, left by that piece of "future vision" parchment. The scars were still there.
Zenith had insisted last year that he replace the desk.
But Allen had refused.
Why?
A quiet voice in his heart offered the answer:
"A detestable future is one meant to be shattered underfoot."
"So then… is this present moment detestable?"
"Isn't the right choice already clear?"
Yes.
Completely clear.
There's no need to hesitate.
Just as Allen thought this, a commotion rose downstairs—Paul's startled voice, followed by hurried footsteps charging up the stairs.
Paul's voice rang out, nearly blowing the door off its hinges:
"Allen!!"
BANG!
The door swung open.
His sentence continued, shouted without pause:
"How could you tell Philip you're taking Sylphy to Roa with you?! What about Lord Laws?! How are you going to explain that?!"
And with that, the last ripple in Allen's thoughts stilled.
Ever since that fall into the Snow Valley—
There'd been no hesitation.
Bringing Sylphy to Roa—
That had already been his choice.
There was never a need for anyone to "wake him up."
---
Sylphy, hearing Paul's footsteps, quickly wiped at her face in a panic.
But wiping her face alone couldn't stop the truth from echoing through the room.
The words hit her like a physical blow to the heart.
Her hand froze mid-motion.
Her face went blank in shock.
The tears she had fought so long to hold back…
…now refused to stop. No matter how much she wiped, more came. And more. And more.
Raindrops pounded the floor.
Heavy, relentless, falling without end.
Ever since that moment—back in the afternoon—when she first sensed Allen was planning to leave Buena Village, the feeling had piled up, even behind the many smiles he showed her.
Now it all spilled out in waves.
Why had she held it in so long?
Why hadn't she spoken up, like Eris—boldly declaring what she wanted?
Why hadn't she clung to Allen, crying like in the original story, begging him not to leave?
Why?
Because—
Allen didn't like seeing children cry.
And Sylphy…
She didn't want him to see her that way.
She didn't think she was a child anymore.
She didn't want Allen to dislike her.
...
Paul froze in the doorway, blinking rapidly, stunned.
Just then, Zenith suddenly appeared out of nowhere, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him out—slamming the door shut behind her.
Perfect execution.
Allen blinked, scratching his head awkwardly.
He turned around.
The white-haired girl stood there, tears pouring down like rain.
Sylphy, her mind reeling, imagined the always-calm Roxy. She felt… ashamed.
If Teacher were here, surely she wouldn't be like this.
Her gaze, through tears, landed on her soiled dress.
"It's dirty," she said softly.
"Ah—then I'll buy you ten new ones in Roa."
"…One is enough."
"Ten."
"…"
"…Fine."
Downstairs, voices rose again.
The little lioness was yelling, and Rudeus's panicked shout followed.
"I don't need you to tell me—I've already decided Sylphy is going to be my tutor!"
"Please! Could you maybe not yell that at the top of your lungs?! I told you to quietly convince your dad!"
"Huh? Why quietly?"
…
"…Hey! I can hear you, you know!"
---
Outside, the rain hadn't stopped.
Raindrops dripped steadily onto the Greyrat household's doorstep, each drop echoing with flashes of memory from the past.
Within the rain—
Allen stepped to the front door, hand resting on the knob.
Then paused.
His voice, carried through the drizzle, reached Philip clearly.
"I have one more condition."
"I want to add another person to the tutor roster."
Philip watched Allen's profile.
His eyes narrowed into a crescent.
"…All right."
To take, one must first give.
That's all there is to it.
---
[Fate has already changed. And how many more now flap their wings, trying to stir the tide?]
[This new destiny has already been quietly woven together—through countless moments of resolve in the past.]
[Allen.]
[Under the gaze of so many, will you carve your mark into their memories?]
[The answer is obvious.]
[Tutor Arc – Participation Score Increased!]
[Current Stage: Childhood Tutor Arc | Total Score: 23 Points]
[Being moved by Sylphy's tears and adjusting your decision is fine—but how can that compare to making the right choice from the beginning? That is the only path to earning bonus points.]
[You did it.]
[And it wasn't even for the points.]
[Evaluation: Amid intense "variables," you made the most perfect "choice" in just a few hours!]
Allen didn't even look at the system message floating in front of him.
He simply turned to Sylphy and said, a little troubled:
"So, like I said… tonight's going to be busy."
"Gotta visit your house and convince your parents, after all."