Anya gave an embarrassed smile.
"Um... Haven't you been busy outside the city recently? Why do you have time to perform on the street, meow?".
Hermes picked up his hat from the ground, dusted it off, and subtly glanced at Rhode, who was still inside and hadn't looked at him, narrowing his orange-yellow eyes.
Doesn't want to see me? Or does he have an opinion of me?
Never mind... I originally wanted to test this 'Hero' who has recently gained quite a reputation, as I always felt there was something off about him.
But it seems it's not the right time to meet yet.
Next time, I'll have Asfi approach him.... Judging by his personality, he probably wouldn't dislike a pure and kind girl.
I hope Asfi can extract some useful information.
Strange, why do I always feel like I'm losing something when I plan this way?
Never mind, it's probably just a delusion.
Putting his travel hat back on, Hermes revealed a hearty smile.
"Since the guest doesn't want to listen, I'll come back another day~"
Hermes waved his hand casually and left, while Anya blinked, looking down at the small money pouch in her arms, grinning happily.
"Today is truly the cat's lucky day, meow!"
When she returned to the tavern, Anya was surprised to find that half of the food on the table was gone.
She sat back opposite Rhode, curiously observing the young man's delicate face.
He was just an ordinary human, so how could he have such a large appetite?
"Hehehe, little brother Rhode, since you're free, can you tell me about your adventures with little sister Lily?"
"A lone hero rescuing a beauty, it's practically a modern epic!"
"How did you two meet? Did she ask you for help first? What's your relationship now?"
Anya was like a true kitten, incredibly curious about gossip, her tail wagging excitedly behind her.
Rhode swallowed a mouthful of honey-roasted meat and gently wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
"Actually, the story isn't as dramatic as the rumors say. As for her relationship with me now... it's probably like siblings."
After all, Lily is only eight years old now; any other relationship would be inappropriate!
However, Lily's dependence on him had actually grown stronger after living alone with Hephaestus for a while, increasingly feeling like a brother-complex.
When Anya heard the words "siblings," the vibrant smile on her face gradually disappeared, her wagging tail drooped limply, and her shoulders seemed to tremble as if she had thought of something.
"Siblings, huh... I suddenly feel a bit envious of Lily...."
[A-rank Wish Issued.]
[Content: Anya longs for family. Please help her rediscover the bond of siblings.]
[Conditions: Resolve the misunderstanding with her brother / Become her new brother (Although your brother is foul-mouthed and emotionally twisted, unable to express care, I can become your new brother)]
[Task Reward: One of Anya's abilities, corresponding Wish Points awarded based on completion.]
Rhode looked at the suddenly appearing panel and couldn't help but frown slightly.
Anya's brother, Allen, was the famous 'Goddess' Chariot' in Freya Familia, whose foul-mouthed skills were unparalleled in this era.
Rhode personally disliked this person, or rather, found him extremely annoying.
He claimed he wanted to protect Anya from harm, so he used the roughest methods to drive her away, even resorting to extreme sarcasm and humiliation.
His original intention was probably just to protect her from further harm, planning for Anya to no longer follow him into a dangerous life until the Black Dragon was defeated, and instead enjoy a peaceful life.
But Rhode didn't like this approach.
Wasn't he afraid Anya couldn't bear the consequences of being abandoned by her only family and simply committed suicide?
Although abandoning Anya was part of a deal with the goddess, and Syr took her in afterward, the problem was that Syr herself was a ticking time bomb.
If the only way to protect her was to drive her away, that only proved one thing: you were too weak.
You didn't even have the ability to choose another path.
Making her live in a daze and inner pain, depriving her of the right to choose, as family members, they couldn't even understand each other.
Though the previous Anya was also a brainless clumsy cat....
If the wish's condition was only the first one, Rhode would rather give it up.
But since there was a second method, Rhode didn't mind taking action.
"Open your mouth."
Rhode said calmly, and the distraught Anya involuntarily shivered, instinctively obeying and opening her mouth.
A fruit was tossed into her mouth.
Anya bit into it subconsciously.
"Mmm!!!"
Instantly, a rich, thick, sweet fruit nectar filled her entire mouth!
Like soft marshmallows soaked in honey, the sweet aroma of the fruit juice instantly dispelled her inner sadness and melancholy.
"Mmm-hmm... This is... mmm... Cloud Fruit, meow!"
"Don't look at me like that. That's a farewell gift I prepared for a friend. I couldn't stand your gloomy expression, so I reluctantly gave you one with her permission."
Rhode cut the steak in front of him with a knife and fork, not even raising his head.
Anya froze, staring at Rhode blankly.
"There are also people in this world who live only for others, and I don't reject that choice."
"But the premise is, are you sure it's really worth it? Do you and the other person truly understand each other?"
"Is he truly worth you doing this? Can you both receive a response from your efforts?"
"There are those who say they love but constantly hurt with their actions, and there are those who say they hate but love in their hearts."
"But I don't approve of either. If there's mutual understanding, even strangers meeting for the first time can connect their souls."
In her mind, Silent Suzuka showed a gentle smile.
"But if communication is refused, even family members who have been together for a long time can feel like enemies."
"Gratitude and love are not the same thing. If you can't bear distorted love, then clarify it early and give up. It's better for everyone. Think about it carefully."
Rhode placed the half-cut steak on a plate beside him, pushed it in front of Anya, and then continued to eat his own steak.
The moment Rhode treated her gently, an unstoppable wave of bitterness and emotion surged within her.
The mist in her tightly closed eyes accumulated more and more, finally turning into a glistening tear that slid down her cheek.
Huh?
I'm crying again, meow?
Heh, I thought my tears had already run dry....
When was the last time I cried? It was probably when my brother kicked me out of the Familia, when I was exiled and became a stray cat.
If Syr hadn't brought me here, I probably would have died on the streets long ago.
The first time I met this guy, I was attracted by his extraordinary speed, vaguely seeing my brother's shadow in him.
The second time I heard about him from others was when he single-handedly wiped out Soma Familia and rescued a Pallum, at the declaration of his heroic deed.
At that time, I thought, I was once protected by my brother like that, meow.
I started to envy and be jealous of that Pallum, and gradually changed my view of him and accepted him.
The third time I saw him, I watched from afar as he laughed and played with the girls from Astrea Familia. It was a warm scene I had never witnessed in Freya Familia.
Even as an observer, I could feel the girls' attachment and trust in him, and I could also sense his care and protection for the girls.
For a moment, I even couldn't help but think of simply joining them.
But because of that, I finally realized that he was completely different from my brother!
Frank and sincere, he trusted others and was trusted by others.
Although those dark eyes seemed to hide many secrets, being by his side felt as warm and reassuring as sunlight.
At that time, I still stubbornly declared that I was not that kind of superficial girl, and I wouldn't be easily attracted to him!
However, it wasn't until just now, when she herself was treated with gentleness, that the psychological defense she had painstakingly maintained began to crumble.
The warmth of being understood and cared for by others was like a tsunami, almost suffocating her, yet she couldn't help but cry with a smile, silently begging for more.
Her heart was still confused and conflicted, too shy and nervous to look at the young man across from her.
But the more Anya tried not to look, the more she couldn't help but stare intently, large tears streaming down her face.
In her blurred vision, the figure of the brother she once chased gradually became indistinct, eventually transforming into the image of the young man before her.
"...Ah, ah..."
Anya just choked, chewing the cloud fruit in her mouth, letting the tears flow down her face, unable to say a word.
The fruit was so sweet, too sweet....
Miya silently withdrew the foot she had intended to step out of the kitchen with, letting out a soft sigh.
How bold, to comfort Anya with such thoughts, do you think I can't see through it?
But, forget it.
Even if Allen completely lost his sister because of this, that twisted brat brought it upon himself.
Perhaps, compared to their current awkward relationship, a complete break would be better for everyone.
But you little brat, your current strength is no match for Allen's.
Miya felt like watching a good show.
Heh heh, when he comes knocking, what will you do?
And so, with Miya turning a blind eye, the relationship between Anya and Rod subtly changed.
After finishing this grand meal, Silent Suzuka in his mind was also satisfied, and Rod specifically went to the kitchen to greet Miya before leaving.
As for Anya, she had long since hidden away due to shyness.
On the second floor, the shy little cat lay by the window, nervously and regretfully peeking at the street, silently watching Rod leave.
"In the end, I still didn't gather the courage to go down and see him off, nya... Ah!"
Her listless tail suddenly stood up; Rod, who had already walked away, suddenly raised his right hand and casually waved!
Anya's previously dim beautiful eyes lit up again.
"Did he notice my gaze and is he saying goodbye to me...!!!"
She initially thought this was just Anya's wishful thinking, but as she murmured this, Rod's raised right hand formed a thumbs-up.
"!!!"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Anya wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, a serene and brilliant smile blooming on her face—no longer the carefully faked smile from before, but one that came from the heart.
"Although I still can't make a choice, and I don't know what the right answer is, I will do my best, Rod, and you too!"
"I will be here, looking forward to your adventure stories, and waiting for your next return~"
On the city wall west of Orario, Rod sat on the edge of the stone wall, quietly gazing at the uninhabited landscape of the vast land in the distance.
He had been enduring Silent Suzuka's somewhat nagging teasing on the way, saying he was truly a "sinful man" who always stirred up girls' hearts.
But didn't the innocent Uma Musume's words also include herself....
After a long silence, a reluctant sigh echoed in his mind.
[It's almost time~]
"Yes...."
[Master, I feel truly lucky to have met you in this world!]
[Defeating hateful villains, exploring unknown Dungeons, enjoying rich and colorful delicacies, meeting many kind-hearted girls... although they didn't know me, hehe.]
[...I really don't want to leave, but I also have unfulfilled dreams and friends I'm fighting alongside in my hometown.]
[So... Master, you will come find me, won't you?]
Rod propped his hands on the stone wall, narrowing his eyes to feel the breeze.
"Of course."
"Leading the charge, outshining all others, I want to personally witness Suzuka's moment of victory!"
[Hmm, actually Suzuka isn't that strong. But in these days of adventure with you, I've also grown!]
[If you're watching from the sidelines, then I won't be running alone; I'll witness that uninhabited landscape with you!]
[Together with Master, I'm invincible! We'll definitely win any race! I'm an Uma Musume who's going to become an Uma Empress!]
He was a little sad initially, but Silent Suzuka's last sentence almost made Rod lose his composure.
He clutched his forehead, suddenly regretting telling the innocent Uma Musume all sorts of things.
According to the system, characters summoned by prayer tickets usually require him to give them a reward upon completion of their tasks.
However, Silent Suzuka had no requests, but Rod, feeling that this wouldn't do, still prepared a farewell gift for her.
A bottle of panacea, enough to heal a fatal injury once.
A basket of cloud fruits as sweet as honey, which Rod found too cloying, but Silent Suzuka loved very much.
Rod deliberately saved some so she could share them with her friends when she returned.
And finally, a novel named "Battle Through the Heavens."
The reason was that Rod felt bored at night in this world without mobile phones and began to miss web novels from his previous life.
Out of curiosity, Silent Suzuka pestered Rod to tell her a story.
With no other choice, Rod casually adapted a plot from a novel.
The fallen genius, an Uma Musume named Xiao Yan'er, was dumped by her fiancée at the beginning due to poor development. Later, she received help from an elder Uma Musume who called herself the Green Devil, found in a ring, and eventually successfully joined Canaan Tracen Academy.
To fulfill the three-year promise to slap her fiancée's face, she decided to take a temporary leave and head to the Magical Beast Mountain Range for a Monster Derby....
Silent Suzuka had probably never been so impacted by such classic web literature; she was immediately hooked and excited, demanding updates every night, and even wanting to go for a run with full energy late at night.
To satisfy her curiosity, Rod had no choice but to spoil the upcoming worldview for her.
Things like the power levels skyrocketing in the later stages, Uma Sages being everywhere, Uma Venerables being less than dogs, and in the grand finale, Xiao Yan'er ultimately inheriting the legacy of the previous Uma Empress's secretariat to become the last Uma Empress of the continent... Silent Suzuka was thrilled to hear it all.
Although there wasn't time to fully record the entire story, Rod took the time to write down the story outline as a gift to Silent Suzuka.
It's possible that Silent Suzuka, after retirement, might even transition into a master of online literature.
Anticipating such a comical future, Rod couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Thinking about it, with the system's ability, as long as it anchors to the Uma Musume world, they might meet again in the next moment, so there's no need to feel sad.
[Master, you must be careful without me, goodbye~]
"Goodbye, Suzuka~"
Silent Suzuka, with her hands behind her back, spun a circle counter-clockwise in his mind, waving with a radiant smile.
At the same time, the gifts prepared on the ground also dissipated into particles.
[Silent Suzuka Prayer Ticket, Spirit Rank possession status ended.]
The attributes of the blessing receded from his limbs and bones like a tide.
The air suddenly felt heavy, and the strength in his legs dissipated.
His taut muscles gradually softened, and his previously wide field of vision began to narrow.
He no longer had that feeling of being able to run freely like a swallow skimming the ground....
"....Although I expected it, I'm still not used to this sudden feeling of weakness. Suzuka's blessing was too significant for me now."
"Fortunately, I had already prepared a plan beforehand...."