"I have to keep an eye on him!!"
After leaving the place that could barely still be called an island, Erza kept looking at Rain with eyes full of suspicion—no, more like she was staring at some kind of dangerous deviant.
After all, what kind of normal person could do something like that?
"What's wrong?" Rain asked, clearly puzzled. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Being stared at so directly, Erza couldn't help but complain.
"Rain… you're not seriously a pervert, are you?"
"How can you say something like that about me?!"
Rain looked as if he had been gravely slandered.
"Isn't it obvious?" Erza crossed her arms. "I saw everything you did to Brandish just now."
She shot him a look filled with undisguised contempt.
"That was an opponent—an enemy," Rain explained seriously. "That's the only reason I did it."
He felt he had to explain properly. Otherwise, his image in Erza's heart would really be finished.
"Hmph."
Erza's response to his explanation was just a short, dry sound.
Nothing more.
"..."
Rain fell silent.
Judging by her reaction, he knew—no matter how much he explained, it was completely useless.
This was… painfully awkward.
"Erza, really," Rain said, trying one last time. "You have to trust me."
"Well," Erza nodded solemnly, "I believe you're sincere."
"..."
That somehow felt even worse.
Wasn't she basically saying he was a sincere pervert?
What Rain didn't notice was the faint smile tugging at the corner of Erza's lips.
Seeing his completely deflated expression made her feel inexplicably satisfied.
Hmph. Serves you right for bullying me, she thought.
What Erza herself didn't realize was that, compared to before, she seemed much more relaxed now—more girlish, even—rather than the rigid, overly serious knight she had always been.
Perhaps… that wasn't a bad thing.
After arriving in a nearby city, the two gathered some information and then set off northward—toward the desert region of the continent.
"So, Rain," Erza asked as they traveled, glancing at him curiously, "what exactly is your goal this time?"
She knew he was chasing greater strength, but she still didn't know what he was truly aiming for.
"The remnant soul of Chronos."
Since she asked, Rain didn't hesitate to answer honestly.
"The remnant soul of Chronos?" Erza blinked. "What's that?"
It clearly wasn't something she'd ever heard of.
"It's normal that you don't know," Rain said with a small smile. "That god isn't exactly famous."
Truth be told, Rain himself found it strange.
Although the concept of gods existed in this world, aside from beings like Ankhseram—the God of Life and Death—most gods were barely known at all.
It wasn't even a matter of fame.
Most people simply had no idea they existed.
Something about this feels… off, Rain thought.
But he quickly pushed the thought aside.
"For now, that's still too far beyond me."
After all, while his strength was solid, it was still only at the level of the top Wizard Saints.
There was still a clear gap between that and monsters like the Spriggan Twelve.
But if this plan succeeded, he would be able to cross that boundary completely.
"Gods?!"
Erza suddenly stopped walking, her voice rising in disbelief.
"Wait—Rain, what did you just say?" She stared at him. "You're planning to go after a god?!"
She couldn't help it. The idea itself was far too outrageous.
Didn't this man need to calm down a little?
"It's just a remnant soul," Rain quickly corrected her. "A fragment."
"That's still a god's remnant soul!"
Worry filled Erza's eyes as she looked at him. "Can't you… rethink this? Maybe choose another target?"
"Erza," Rain said softly, meeting her gaze, "are you worried about me?"
"At a time like this, you're still joking?!" she snapped.
"I'm not joking."
Rain shook his head, his expression unusually serious.
"If I want to become stronger, how could there be no risk?" he said calmly. "If I can't even deal with a remnant soul, then what happens when I face a real monster someday? Do I just run away?"
"But—"
Even so, Erza's worry didn't fade.
No matter how weak it was, it was still something left behind by a god.
Seeing that she was about to argue again, Rain suddenly stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
"I promise," he said quietly. "If things really go wrong, I'll back off immediately."
"…Alright."
After hearing that, Erza finally relaxed a little.
Then—
She realized something.
She was currently being held in Rain's arms.
"!!"
"Y-you—let go of me already!"
Her voice dropped instinctively.
As for pushing him away herself?
For some reason, her body felt strangely soft, her strength completely gone.
So all she could do was hope he would let go on his own.
"Just for a moment," Rain murmured, lowering his head and resting it lightly against her shoulder, breathing in her scent.
"..."
Erza's eyes softened.
It had only been a month.
And yet, without realizing it, her relationship with Rain had already changed this much.
If this kept going…
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