"Very well. Then, Sayu, I'll leave the follow-up coordination with Miss Belle and Miss Ellen, as well as the initial intelligence integration, to you. Be sure to ensure their safety, as well as that of the Water Spirit."
"...Understood," Sayu agreed. No emotion could be heard in her voice, but she had already silently made a mental note of the "increase in workload."
The communication ended, and Sayu tucked the magitech communication device back into her small pouch, looking up at the three people and... a group of Slimes before her.
Tineva breathed a visible sigh of relief after hearing the Guild Master personally promise to cancel the commission. She hugged Little Slime tightly, her eyes filled with gratitude. Luna Belle gave her a friendly smile. Only Ellen continued to observe her with half-lidded red eyes, making Sayu feel as if she had been inadvertently scanned by some large predator, even though the other girl looked lazy and was sucking on a lollipop.
"Now then, according to the Guild Master's instructions..." Sayu broke the silence, turning her gaze toward Tineva. "Miss Tineva, please rest assured that the Guild will no longer send adventurers here for clearing missions. Furthermore, regarding Clear Water Lake, the Guild will launch follow-up investigations and operations. We may need you to provide more detailed terrain information at that time."
Tineva nodded quickly. "I will! I'll do anything as long as Little Slime and the others can go home!"
Sayu nodded and looked at Luna Belle and Ellen. "You two, if you have no objections, we can set off for the Guild now." She paused and added, "Of course, if you need to handle other matters first, we can arrange to meet at the Guild later."
Luna Belle looked at Ellen, who shrugged indifferently, her tail swaying lazily as if to say, "You decide." She looked again at Tineva, who was watching her expectantly, and Little Slime, who was rubbing against her feet. After a moment's thought, she said to Sayu:
"We don't have anything else to do, so let's go back to the Guild together. However, will Tineva and Little Slime be safe staying here? Will those black-robed figures find this place?"
This was indeed a problem. Sayu pondered for a moment, then looked at Tineva and asked: "How well-hidden is this cave? Have there been any signs of you being tracked while living here?"
Tineva shook her head firmly. "It's very well-hidden. The entrance is covered by vines, and there are forks deep inside the cave. We hide in the innermost part. The goal of those black-robed figures seems to be Clear Water Lake itself. After we escaped, they didn't pursue us deeply. They only sent mana-wolves to patrol the outskirts of the forest to prevent us or other creatures from approaching Clear Water Lake."
"In that case, staying here for the time being should be relatively safe," Sayu made her assessment and said. "The Guild's operation will take time to prepare. Until then, acting rashly would be dangerous. Miss Tineva, please be sure to stay hidden and minimize going outside."
Tineva nodded vigorously. "I understand. Thank you all!"
With the preliminary plan settled, they prepared to leave the cave. Habitually, Sayu moved to blend into the shadows just as she had when she arrived; this was her most common and efficient mode when on a mission. However, before she had moved even half a meter, she felt her wrist being gently caught by a cool, soft hand.
Sayu's body stiffened instantly. A rare flicker of astonishment flashed through her violet eyes. She almost instinctively tried to break free and counter-attack, but her strong self-control forced her to halt the movement. She turned her head to look at the person holding her, who was none other than the blue-haired, green-eyed girl named Belle.
Luna Belle had a slight smile on her face, and her tone was natural. "Miss Sayu, since we're all going back together, there's no need to hide anymore, right? Let's just walk together."
"..."
Sayu looked at Luna Belle's frank gaze, which seemed to suggest she simply thought "it's more fun if everyone walks together," then glanced at the black-haired maid, Ellen. The latter was tilting her head, her lollipop making a soft clicking sound against her teeth. Her red eyes seemed to hold a hint of amusement, as if watching a play. Even the Water Spirit, Tineva, was holding a Slime and watching them curiously.
Sayu fell silent. She was used to acting alone, used to hiding in the shadows, and used to being an observer rather than a participant. This feeling of being pulled directly into the light, walking side-by-side like ordinary companions... was foreign and inefficient to her.
"My duty is protection and reconnaissance. Being in the shadows is more conducive to..." Sayu tried to explain. Her voice remained flat, but her speaking speed was slightly faster than usual.
"Eh~ but that's so boring," Luna Belle interrupted her. The hand holding her wrist didn't let go; instead, it gave a gentle shake. "Look, Ellen is always getting sleepy; she might even fall asleep while walking. If there's no one to talk to, I'll be so bored by myself."
Ellen yawned beside them and chimed in vaguely. "Mhm... she's right. I really might fall asleep... Sorry for the trouble, silver-haired lady."
The corner of Sayu's mouth twitched imperceptibly. She looked into Luna Belle's expectant dark green eyes, felt the undeniable tug on her wrist, and heard a maid whose strength likely far exceeded Gold Rank confidently claim she might fall asleep... She suddenly felt that taking the mission funds from the Guild Master... might not be as "easy" as she had initially thought.
"...As you wish." Ultimately, Sayu gave up the struggle and let Luna Belle hold her wrist, tacitly accepting this "walking side-by-side" arrangement. She turned her head away, avoiding Belle's overly bright gaze, her voice remaining cold. "But please stay alert. The forest is not absolutely safe."
"I know!" Luna Belle replied happily, taking both Ellen's and Sayu's wrists in her arms and nodding. "Then let's set off! The sooner we get back, the sooner we can help Tineva solve her problem!"
Tineva, holding Little Slime, saw them to the cave entrance and waved goodbye reluctantly. Little Slime also made "pu-chiu pu-chiu" sounds as if saying goodbye...
On the way out of the Gloomy Forest, Luna Belle walked in the middle, her left hand still holding Sayu's wrist, while her right arm was lazily hugged by Ellen, who leaned nearly half her body weight against her.
"By the way, Miss Sayu..." Luna Belle turned her head to look at the expressionless profile of the silver-haired girl beside her and asked curiously. "Have you always worked at the Adventurers Guild in White Thorn City?"
Sayu's gaze habitually scanned the gaps between the trees. Hearing this, she simply gave a faint "Mhm" in response.
"Then you're amazing!" Luna Belle praised her sincerely. "I feel like your ability to hide your presence is exceptionally strong. If Ellen hadn't noticed you, I would have had no idea you were nearby. You must be a very skilled Stalker, right?"
"...It's just a requirement of the job."