After the rain came clear skies.
It was beautiful weather. I sat on a chair inside, Kettle sleeping soundly in my arms, while I remained completely sleepless after a night of chaotic violence, watching a large oni and a small invalid sprawled across my bed.
Having stayed up all night, I began considering whether to buy more mattresses and bedsheets.
I hadn't found Tamura Kaito's mother.
Even in my rage last night, I had searched every building for any imprisoned woman, but found nothing. I broke countless bandits' arms, smashed their heads against walls, even applied violent interrogation techniques I'd learned from Batman—bending their hands at unnatural angles. No matter how I asked, the answer was always the same: Tamura Yuri had died long ago.
［But you've turned Kujou Village into half a Dragonspine. What now?］
"I can't just withdraw it all at once. I used a bit too much elemental energy," I muttered in explanation.
Blinded by anger, I'd summoned ice spikes with every strike, leaving frost spreading everywhere I walked. By the time I was done, Kujou Village resembled the Hilichurl camps I'd devastated—countless ice spikes erupting from corpses, the ground covered in persistent ice, houses and trees coated in white frost.
My Vision and elemental energy felt like an overfilled kettle, spilling over at the slightest agitation—uncontrolled, excessive.
My level had unconsciously broken through to 30. I allocated all the points to Attack as usual and received a level reward called "Mark Resonance," though I hadn't tested how it worked yet.
I'd caused too much trouble. The Tenryou Commission would probably investigate.
I thought bleakly.
But I'd let Tamura Daisuke escape. I'd nearly lost control and smashed his head open with the Debate Club, but when he stumbled away, I didn't chase him.
Sayu had left by the time I returned last night—undoubtedly to report. Tamura Kaito was recovering well; the medicine I bought went unused into the medical kit. The kid was already kicking Arataki Itto in the face in his sleep, and his wounds hadn't reopened.
And Arataki Itto… he'd drooled all over my pillow.
—Tch, go die.
I clenched my fist.
The two slept until sunset.
Meanwhile, I cleaned like a housemaid, scrubbing away the mud from last night's chaos. The more I looked at Arataki Itto, the angrier I felt. I directly used Cryo energy to form a chunk of ice and tossed it into his pants.
Keep sleeping, and I'll freeze your junk off.
——
Tamura Kaito was awakened by a scream.
He opened his eyes to see Arataki Itto yelp and run out clutching his pants, while I stood nearby watching with crossed arms.
He bolted upright.
"Hungry?" I asked. The boy nervously scooted backward. "Don't bother moving. It's still my bed, and my house."
Tamura Kaito's face flushed red.
I fetched him a bowl of water. Listening to Arataki Itto's ongoing complaints outside, ensuring he couldn't hear, I said, "I destroyed Kujou Village. Killed everyone."
He nearly spat out his water. "...Really?"
"I couldn't find your mother."
"When I interrogated them, they said your mother died the day she was captured." I noticed Tamura Kaito's grip on the blanket tightening. "I injured Tamura Daisuke. He ran too fast for me to catch."
The boy looked up sharply, his eyes gradually filling with fierce intensity.
"I'll kill him myself. I'll be the one to do it."
Good kid, I thought.
Revenge is always most satisfying when taken personally.
"Ah, that…" Tamura Kaito suddenly remembered something. Seeing me watching him, he grew hesitant. "The Mora… did you get it?"
"I did. You kept your promise."
I studied him for a moment.
"Tamura brat, how old are you?"
"Hah, what's it to you—" The reflexively defiant boy glanced at me and backed down. "...I'm 8."
"Got a place to stay?"
"No."
I once had a cousin who, neglected by his parents in middle school, fell in with a bad crowd. He got into drugs, ruined his health early, accumulated debts, and refused to return home. Stubborn to the end, he eventually grabbed the loan sharks beating him and jumped into a river with them.
Tamura Kaito reminded me of him.
"Then stay here. Once you're healed, go to school."
"Huh?" Two voices echoed—the boy staring in disbelief, and Arataki Itto, who had been climbing through the window. The oni seemed puzzled about the ice in his pants but, hearing my offer, fixed me with that intense Arataki Itto gaze, making me want to avoid eye contact entirely.
A chime echoed in my mind—another favorability increase.
Before Tamura Kaito could respond, Arataki Itto burst into laughter. "See? I told you Miya Ryuguu was good people! My judgment is never wrong, bro!"
He bent down, stepped fully through the window, and picked up my comb from the table—who knew when he'd taken it—using it to tidy his greasy hair.
"Seriously, Miya, join the Arataki Gang!"
I took a deep breath.
［Just admit you're flattered by the praise］
Somehow, the System had learned to tease, its stiff electronic voice spouting nonsense. ［Acting all shy like a girl］
"Shut up—" I retorted, addressing three targets at once. I sat back down, massaging my temples, and glared at the boy. "What 'huh'? Are you staying or not?"
"And Arataki Itto, put down my comb!"
——
——
"Hey, brat, remember to close the window when you get up later. And change your bandages."
"Got it, got it! Nagging like an old granny." Tamura Kaito wobbled as he got out of my bed. "I have a name, you know. Stop calling me 'brat'—"
It was the second day since taking in Tamura Kaito. Because he was injured, I'd slept on the floor last night—having slept in trees before, it was nothing. I planned to buy another bed after returning tonight.
"Nope, 'Kaito' sounds awful!"
"Miya Ryuguu!!"
I waved and left. It had been three days since I last visited the Adventurers' Guild. I wondered what money-making missions awaited.
Kettle followed, her curly tail wagging, pink tongue lolling as she kept pace.
"Miss Ryuguu! Good morning—"
An unfamiliar girl from the Adventurers' Guild greeted me.
"Miss Ryuguu, you look great today! Keep up the good work!" another guild member called out.
"Good morning, Miss Ryuguu!"
Tch. I frowned, annoyed.
"Who are they?"
［Your attitude toward strangers is terrible］
"Ah, Miya!" Gong's voice rang out. He approached happily. "When did you take that commission? And not through me!"
He wore an expression like a jilted lover. "Miya, how could you! Even on break, you're still working."
"...No." I pushed him away, baffled. "What commission are you talking about? I don't understand."
Seeing my genuine confusion, Gong explained.
"You know, the Kujou Village mission! The emergency commission issued by the Yashiro Commission. Those roaming ronin had gathered there, blocking a transport route for goods the Yashiro Commission needed to purchase. It was posted two nights ago. The reward was only 200,000 Mora, and with the rain, no one took it."
"Who knew you'd complete it overnight, Miya!" Gong grew more excited. "That ice covering everything—the frost and crystals were spectacular! It hasn't even fully melted yet."
"Thanks to your ice, the bandits and ronin nearby have scattered too. It served as a great deterrent."
By the time Gong finished, my hair stood on end.
A chill ran down my spine.
The Yashiro Commission's influence was immense. No wonder the Tenryou Commission hadn't made a move. That earlier commission gathering materials for 500,000 Mora was likely also their doing. I clenched my fist.
I owed the Yashiro Commission at least two favors now—one for the house, one for Kujou Village. Probably more I hadn't realized.
Ultimately, I owed Kamisato Ayato personally.
How terrifying.
"Miya?" Gong waved a hand in front of me.
"Ah, I'm fine. Just recalling that night's details," I said, feigning thoughtfulness. "I figured the rainy weather would make ice easier to use, so I went specifically for that."
"Any other missions you need me to handle?"
"Actually, about that—" Gong pulled out his task list. "There's a new mission only you can handle."
"Your ice can't be melted without a Pyro Vision. Even with elemental reactions, the cleanup is too slow. So this new commission is mostly about you clearing it—"
"And several free adventurers will help too," Gong added. "Everyone's gathering at Katheryne's soon."
I nodded in understanding.
Cleaning up my own mess was only fair.
"Then head to Katheryne first, Miya. I'll await your good news."
As I turned toward the Adventurers' Guild counter, I mused, "Is it obvious I can control my elemental energy? This mission feels tailor-made for me."
［Sayu saw it］
"So Sayu really followed me all the way to Kujou Village."
［Yes, exactly as you suspect］
No matter how scatterbrained Sayu was, she was still a Shuumatsuban ninja.
The power I'd unleashed must have drawn significant attention, but Sayu reported it to the Yashiro Commission first. Hence, they quickly used a commission as a cover-up for the large-scale freezing incident—even the Adventurers' Guild wasn't immune to being used.
［Will you stop using it now?］
"Of course not," I said. "I'll keep using it. I just need to avoid being seen."
"Or make sure any witnesses who should die, die."
Ahead was Katheryne's counter. Since meeting Gong, I hadn't needed to accept missions directly from her—it felt like ages since I'd been here. I spotted a group of people gathered there—
Among them stood a blond boy with a small floating companion, his long braid swaying gently in the breeze.
［Important character detected: Aether］
I paused briefly, then quickened my pace. I'd have to meet him eventually anyway—better to get it over with.
Hello, Traveler.