Once upon a time, back when I was still suffering—uh, I mean, studying—at the academy, my class somehow managed to win an inter-class competition.
As a reward, we got a month-long vacation to another country.
And that's when I met her.
A beautiful red-haired girl. The moment our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat.
Ah, love at first sight. Or maybe just heartburn from eating too much festival food.
Anyway, fast forward to the present—I'm back in this country again.
The reason? Oh, you know, just a coincidence. Definitely not because of a certain red-haired someone.
Nope. Not at all.
As I stepped off the ship, I took a deep breath of the foreign air.
I'm relieved I'm not on that ship anymore, because ugh.. I'm seasick.
Then, I noticed something. Half-human, half-animal people filled the streets, chatting, working, and just existing.
I had traveled to many places, but this was definitely a rare sight.
Well, whatever. No time to gawk. I had a mission.
With a confident hum, I walked through the town, feeling the wind ruffle my hair.
Soon, I arrived at my destination—a certain shop. A mischievous grin crept onto my face as I knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a red-haired woman with striking blue eyes.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Well, well, look who it is," she said, smirking.
"Yo, long time no see, Riviere," I greeted, flashing my most charming (or so I hoped) smile.
She chuckled, crossing her arms, her grin turning wicked.
"And here I almost forgot your existence," she quipped, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Ouch. Don't hurt me like that," I said, clutching my chest dramatically.
Then, without waiting for an invitation, I stepped inside. Riviere rolled her eyes but didn't stop me.
She led me further into the shop, taking a seat while I casually made myself at home.
"What brings you here today?" Riviere asked, her sharp blue eyes subtly scanning me, as if trying to detect any hidden agenda.
"Oh, you know, just dropped by," I replied casually.
I mean, sure, we were from entirely different countries, but let's not dwell on minor details.
Riviere arched an eyebrow. "Dropped by…" she repeated, her voice dripping with skepticism.
"That's quite the journey just to drop by, don't you think?" She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, clearly waiting for me to slip up and reveal my true reason.
"Come on, why don't you make me some tea?" I said with a teasing grin. "Is this how you treat an old friend?"
She sighed dramatically. "Fine, I'll humor you, wait here and try not to get into any trouble."
She stood up and disappeared into the back of the shop.
Moments later, she returned, setting down a steaming cup of tea in front of me with an unnecessarily forceful clink.
I smirked, picked up the cup like a sophisticated gentleman, and took a sip—only to immediately regret every life decision I had ever made.
"Agh—!! Hot!!" I gasped, frantically fanning my tongue.
Riviere smirked, resting her chin on one hand as she very obviously enjoyed the spectacle. "Ooh, forgot it's hot, didn't you? Smooth move, genius."
I glared at her through watery eyes. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
She simply sipped her own tea with an infuriatingly smug look.
"So, what have you been busy with lately?" I asked, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.
"Not much, just running this shop and dealing with the occasional troublesome customers," Riviere replied with a slight shrug.
"It's mundane work, but it pays the bills."
"And what about you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
I put on my most serious face. "Wake up, eat, sleep."
Riviere smirked. "Sounds like an unemployed person."
I gasped, clutching my chest dramatically. "How dare you! I'll have you know that being unemployed is a very demanding lifestyle!"
She rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Right. And what about your friend Arthur?"
I blinked. "Arthur?"
She nodded, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Is he still like the main character of a hero novel?"
I sighed. "Yes, and now he's a king in some kingdom."
Her eyes widened. "Really?! Now I'm interested..."
"And what about that girl who likes you?" she asked casually.
I froze for a moment before smirking. "Not much, just running her shop and dealing with the occasional troublesome customers."
"It's mundane work, but it pays the bills." I shot her a cheeky grin, perfectly mimicking what she had said earlier.
Riviere let out a deep sigh. "Not me, silly."
She crossed her arms, looking mildly exasperated. "I mean Luna. Are you dating now?"
...Ah.
Yeah… she didn't know about Luna's death.
Well, I didn't want to ruin the mood, so I'd just—The sound of the shop's door opening saved me.
I turned around, relieved by the sudden distraction—only to find myself staring at a girl I had never seen before.
"Oh? We have customers?" the girl asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Indeed we do," Riviere responded, her gaze moving between me and the girl.
I glanced at the newcomer, then smirked. "Oh? Is she your new assistant?"
"Yeah, let me introduce her. Her name is MacMillia," Riviere said, gesturing to the girl. "She's my assistant."
MacMillia bowed slightly, looking polite but a bit wary.
I smiled and waved a hand. "The name's Arche. Nice to meet you, my junior."
Her expression shifted into one of mild confusion. "Junior..?"
Riviere sighed and decided to explain. "He was also my assistant for a month long before you came."
MacMillia blinked in surprise, looking back at me. "Oh… I see."
I smiled nostalgically. "Well, it's been a fun month, I must say."
"Not really," Riviere muttered under her breath.
"Don't say that, my lady," I replied smoothly, using the nickname I had given her back then.
Riviere let out a soft huff, rolling her eyes, trying to act annoyed—but I caught the faint blush dusting her cheeks.
"You only called me 'Lady' back then," she grumbled.
I grinned. "This is what we call character development."
"Character development, huh?" she echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Is that what you're calling it now?"
Before I could respond with another witty remark, MacMillia suddenly spoke up. "You guys seem close, huh?"
"Well, in the past, I met her every day for a month," I replied casually.
Then, turning to MacMillia with a mischievous glint in my eyes, I added,
"Hey, do you want to know one of Riviere's secrets, Millia?"
MacMillia, caught off guard by how quickly I was acting familiar with her, hesitated for a moment. But curiosity soon won over.
"Oh, a secret, you say? I'm all ears." She leaned forward slightly, eyes sparkling with interest.
Riviere instantly shot me a very sharp glare. The kind that silently screamed, If you value your life, shut up.
Too bad for her—I valued entertainment more. "Don't you dare, Arche," she warned, her voice carrying a hint of desperation.
I laughed, raising a finger. "I'll tell you when it's just the two of us, Millia."
MacMillia eagerly nodded, her curiosity growing even more intense.
Meanwhile, Riviere looked mildly panicked, fully aware of the potential disaster I was about to unleash.
MacMillia suddenly changed the topic. "By the way, have you heard about the incident that happened recently?" She then sat beside Riviere, her expression turning a bit more serious.
"No, I haven't," Riviere responded, feigning indifference as she listened. "What news?"
"I just arrived, so I don't know anything" I said, throwing my hands up in mock helplessness.
Riviere chuckled at my dramatic response. "Fair enough." She glanced at MacMillia, signaling her to continue.
"So, there have been a lot of incidents of lost property and missing people!" MacMillia explained, leaning forward slightly.
"This is making a lot of people worried, you know," she added, her voice laced with concern.
Riviere's expression shifted. Her usual teasing demeanor faded as her eyes narrowed slightly. "Missing people, you say? That's concerning."
I nodded solemnly. "Lost property, you say? That's concerning."
"So... thieves and kidnappers, huh?" I mused, tapping my chin.
"They couldn't choose between the two, so they just went with both?" I said before casually taking a sip of my tea.
Riviere let out a long, suffering sigh. "You're quite the comedian, aren't you?" she remarked, dripping with sarcasm.
MacMillia, on the other hand, chuckled, clearly entertained by my commentary.
"Well," I said, setting my teacup down, "if this place has a crime problem, maybe it does need a hero like Arthur."
Riviere snorted. "Please. Arthur would give a whole dramatic speech before even drawing his sword."
I smirked. "Which would give the thieves enough time to rob him, honestly."
Riviere and I laughed while MacMillia, who had no idea who we were talking about, looked utterly lost.
I finished the rest of my tea in one go and stood up, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Alright, I should book a hotel first."
Riviere leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "How long are you planning to stay?"
I smirked. "Why? You don't want to be away from me?"
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't flatter yourself. I was just asking a question."
I pretended to think for a moment, then grinned. "Until I'm satisfied being close to you."
I saw MacMillia freeze, well, she's a girl. A normal reaction, I suppose.
Riviere, on the other hand, merely sighed, looking unimpressed.
I chuckled and walked out of the shop, leaving behind a stunned MacMillia, who remained silent for a few seconds even after I was gone.
Once I was out of sight, MacMillia slowly turned to Riviere.
"...That guy…"
Riviere chuckled, clearly amused by her reaction. "He's certainly a character, isn't he?" A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
MacMillia nodded. "He's so... bold. Does he always flirt like that?"
Riviere let out a nostalgic sigh. "Actually, in the past, he was stiff. Almost emotionless. Cold, even."
MacMillia's eyes widened. "Really?"
Riviere nodded. "Yeah. And now? He's completely different… I wonder what changed him."
MacMillia tried to imagine me as a cold, emotionless person.
After what she just witnessed, the thought seemed almost ridiculous.
"After seeing him now, it's hard to believe," she admitted.
Riviere let out a soft chuckle, her gaze lingering toward the door where I had left.
"Yeah," she murmured. "Completely unrecognizable."
After booking a room at the hotel, I headed inside and dropped my bag on the floor.
Without hesitation, I collapsed onto the bed with a satisfied sigh.
"She's still as beautiful and charming as before," I muttered, staring at the ceiling.
Then, as if struck by an invisible force, I suddenly sat up. "Wait… did I just sound like a hopeless romantic?" I shook my head. "Tch, dangerous."
Shoving aside my totally normal and not at all concerning thoughts, I walked over to the balcony.
That's when I saw her.
A woman with cyan-colored hair moving hurriedly down the street, clutching a dark brown leather doctor's bag.
"She doesn't look like a doctor…" I murmured, narrowing my eyes.
Curiosity got the best of me.
Without hesitation (and definitely not thinking about how this might be considered stalking), I slipped out of my hotel and followed her.
She entered an alleyway. I leaned casually against the alley wall, waiting.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, she turned around—only to find me standing there, watching her.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Who—"
"Hello, are you in a hurry?" I asked, flashing my best I swear I'm not suspicious smile.
Her grip tightened on her bag, her expression shifting to caution. "Who are you?"
I gave her an easy shrug. "You can think of me as anything."
She blinked. "That's… not an answer."
"Exactly," I said with a grin.
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry!" she blurted out before darting past me.
I watched her go, my eyes full of curiosity. Now that was interesting.
After standing in the alley for a few moments, lost in thought, I finally sighed and turned back to my hotel room.
Time to get serious.
I put on my robe and strapped on my tool belt, glancing at the mirror. Yep. Looked like a real warrior now.
Lately, I'd been living in casual clothes. Maybe I was getting too comfortable.
With that thought in mind, I stepped out of my room and made my way toward Riviere's antique shop once again.
I opened the door and stepped inside, immediately spotting Riviere and MacMillia chatting.
"Hello, do you miss me yet?" I grinned, leaning casually against the doorframe.
Riviere rolled her eyes, a sly smile tugging at her lips.
"Oh please, I wasn't even thinking about you," she said, feigning indifference like the pro she was.
"Actually, I've got something to ask you, Riviere," I said, adopting my best mysterious tone.
Riviere raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? And what would that be?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
I grinned mischievously and struck a dramatic—uh, I mean, "cool"—pose.
"Riviere… would you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?"
Her eyes widened in surprise, her usual cool demeanor slipping for a moment.
"What…?" she stammered, clearly taken aback by my sudden, out-of-the-blue proposal.
I watched her reaction with a smug sense of satisfaction before breaking into a goofy smile.
"Just kidding!" I laughed, waving it off.
Riviere glared at me, her face darkening with irritation as she marched toward me.
"You…" She began ranting at me, and I just stood there with a grin, enjoying the show.
MacMillia, who had been silently watching us, seemed equally entertained, her eyes flicking between us with an expression of mild disbelief.
After Riviere had finished her rant, I decided to switch gears. "Actually, I do have a real question."
Riviere shot me a pout, clearly sulking now.
Huh, cute.
MacMillia tilted her head, intrigued. "Hm? What question?"
Riviere perked up slightly at MacMillia's curiosity, her thoughtful expression returning.
I then explained about the cyan haired woman carrying the doctor's bag.
"The woman with the doctor's bag? Hmm…" She narrowed her eyes, clearly thinking hard. "I've seen her around. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know," I shrugged. "Just curious. She seemed kind of in a hurry earlier."
"So you met her before?" MacMillia asked, her eyes widening. "I met her too, actually, before I came here."
"Really?" I asked, leaning in slightly.
"Yeah," MacMillia nodded. "I saw her at the market."
"She was putting a ton of stuff into her bag. I was shocked she could fit so much in there."
Riviere's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Interesting," she said, her mind clearly turning over the possibilities.
"And she was just shopping? Nothing unusual, nothing suspicious about her?" Riviere asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Uh... I don't think so..." MacMillia replied, looking puzzled.
"Huh, maybe she stuffed someone in that bag," I joked, winking at them.
MacMillia, completely oblivious to the playful banter, stared at me in disbelief. "Someone? In a bag that size? That's absurd!"
"Who knows?" I shrugged dramatically, trying to look mysterious.
"Oh? Is that the woman we were talking about earlier?" Riviere suddenly pointed out the window.
We both turned to see the woman I met earlier, now being chased by a man.
"Yes, that's the one," I confirmed, raising an eyebrow.
MacMillia looked alarmed. "Who's that guy chasing her? This doesn't look good..."
She ducked into an alley, the man hot on her heels. "Does she live in an alley? I mean, when I met her earlier, she went into one too."
We watched her disappear into the alley, and when she emerged again, she was alone, casually walking with her bag.
"Where did the man disappear to?" Riviere asked, sounding genuinely curious.
"Let's check it out!" MacMillia exclaimed, already heading for the door.
Riviere and I followed behind her, moving quickly through the shop and out into the street.
As we entered the alley, the man was gone, like he'd never been there at all.
Riviere and MacMillia exchanged a look of complete confusion.
"Huh, that's strange," Riviere muttered, her brows furrowed.
MacMillia, still rattled, looked around frantically. "Where did he go? How did he disappear like that?"
I took a quick look around the alley, scanning for any hidden entrances or secret passages.
"It's strange indeed," I agreed, equally perplexed.
Riviere stood there, her brow furrowed in deep thought, analyzing the scene with a concentration that could probably slice through steel.
Meanwhile, MacMillia was still visibly shaken, her eyes darting around the alley like she expected something to jump out at her.
"This is giving me the creeps..." she whispered, clutching her arms.
I casually patted Riviere on the shoulder, leaning in with a grin. "This must be that woman's doing."
Riviere shot me a sideways glance, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Her doing? What makes you so sure?"
I nodded sagely, as if unveiling the greatest mystery of the century.
"The bag's probably Sancta."
Riviere blinked, then smiled, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Oh? That's your theory? Well, let's test it, shall we?"
MacMillia, clearly still on edge, stepped forward, her voice cautious. "But... how are we supposed to check it?"
I puffed out my chest with far too much pride. "Don't worry, I'm really good at stealing. I'll just snatch the bag, and then we'll search it."
Riviere raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into an amused smirk.
"Oh, really? You're 'good' at stealing, huh?" she said, her tone skeptical, yet clearly entertained.
I winked at her, utterly convinced of my own charm. "Yes, and I can steal your heart too."
Riviere sighed dramatically, shaking her head. "You don't need to"
MacMillia, however, wasn't exactly sold on the idea. Her brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms, giving me a doubtful look.
"You're just going to steal her bag? Won't that attract a ton of attention?"
I shrugged casually, unfazed. "Then we'll lure her first."
MacMillia's frown deepened, and she gave me a skeptical side-eye. "Lure her? Are you sure that's the best plan?"
I could practically hear the "I-can't-believe-I'm-hearing-this" tone in her voice. "That could totally backfire, you know."
I grinned, completely unphased. "Don't worry, I'll be the bait."
Riviere raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small, amused smile.
"You're really going to be the bait?" she asked, clearly enjoying my enthusiasm for the absurdity of it all.
MacMillia looked like she was about to protest, but her curiosity had clearly overtaken her concern.
"Are you sure you'll be okay? This isn't exactly the safest plan in the world..."
I gave her a thumbs-up, clearly too confident for my own good.
"It's fine! We've got this. Trust me."
With that, we made our way out of the alley, MacMillia trailing behind, looking like she might faint at any moment.
"Be careful," Riviere called after me, her voice holding a note of genuine concern.
MacMillia, however, was muttering to herself, her voice barely audible. "I don't think this is a good idea at all..."
I shot her a grin over my shoulder. "I'll look for her, you guys follow me from behind."
I then gave them a quick rundown of the plan, despite it being a bit... unrefined.
"When I face her, you guys stay back and keep your distance. If things get messy, help me out."
Riviere nodded, her lips curling into a sly smirk. "Got it. We'll keep an eye on you, don't worry."
MacMillia, still looking like she was about to have a panic attack, gave in. "Just... don't do anything too reckless, okay?"
I gave a dramatic salute. "No promises, but I'll try my best."
I started scanning the area, trying to spot her. After a while, I finally saw her exiting a clothing store.
Smirking to myself, I strolled over, adopting my best flirtatious swagger.
"Hey, girl," I called, all charm and confidence.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "You again? What do you want?"
I smirked, going full-on jerk mode. "Hey... follow me. I'll give you pleasure."
To my surprise, she smiled and nodded, accepting my offer without a second thought.
"Good girl," I said, almost proud of myself for my 'smooth' approach.
I led her down a dark alley, ready to continue my charade. "So... let's start with—"
Suddenly, she whipped out a glass bottle from her bag, aiming to smack me across the face.
But I wasn't having any of that. I caught her wrist mid-air and gently lowered her hand. "You're a rude woman, aren't you?"
She huffed, putting the bottle back into her bag. But then, to my utter disbelief, she pulled out a long stick.
I blinked, momentarily stunned. Even people with blurred vision, could tell that bag was not that big.
Meanwhile, Riviere and MacMillia, who had been lurking in the background, looked just as baffled as I felt.
The woman swung the stick at me with surprising speed, but I dodged, grabbing the stick in mid-air.
"Is he okay?" MacMillia asked, her voice laced with concern.
Riviere, in her usual deadpan style, responded, "Don't worry, he's a strong man."
"Hey, hold on!" I shouted, using the stick to stop her next swing.
"Huh? What do you want, jerk?" she sneered, clearly done with my antics.
I grinned, shaking my head in mock disbelief. "One simple question—how did you manage to fit this long stick into your bag?"
She chuckled, clearly enjoying the absurdity of the situation. "Because... I can fit everything in this bag!"
And with that, she opened the bag once more—and pulled someone out of it.
The man who had been chasing her earlier, now looking incredibly disheveled and probably very confused, was unceremoniously pulled from the depths of her seemingly bottomless bag.
I could only blink, utterly dumbfounded. "Well... that's not something you see every day."
Riviere, MacMillia, and I were all equally stunned. "Huh...," I muttered, still processing the bizarre scene.
Riviere's eyes went wide with shock, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What the hell...?" she breathed, clearly struggling to wrap her mind around what just happened.
MacMillia, on the other hand, was practically speechless.
Her jaw dropped so far it might as well have touched the ground.
"Is that the same guy...? How can she fit a human in that bag?!"
The woman—Vivienne, apparently—beamed proudly.
"My name is Vivienne! And I am the greatest criminal in this country!" she declared, arms wide like she was unveiling her secret lair.
I couldn't help but mock her a bit. "No one asked about your name, though..." I said with a smirk.
"But, hey, nice name. It's a bit of a tongue twister, though."
Vivienne just grinned like she didn't care one bit.
"Thanks for the info!" I called out as I spun on my heel, starting to jog away.
"Let's go!" I shouted over my shoulder at Riviere and MacMillia.
Riviere and MacMillia hesitated for a moment, before they followed me, their faces a mix of confusion, disbelief, and—dare I say it—relief.
"See?! Told you, she really used to put someone in that bag!" I said triumphantly, as though I'd just solved the greatest mystery of the century.
Riviere raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "I think I'm starting to believe your weird jokes a little more," she commented, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
As we ran, Riviere was the first to speak up. "So, what did you learn?" Her voice was filled with curiosity, though a bit of skepticism still lingered.
I grinned. "She can fit everything in that bag... it has unlimited capacity," I said confidently. "That's my assumption, anyway."
Riviere considered this for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Unlimited capacity, huh? That's... weird, but not impossible."
MacMillia, still trying to make sense of the situation, nodded slowly, her eyes wide.
"Unlimited... so, she could just... carry around anything in that bag...?"
"Exactly," I said, feeling like a genius. "It's like a magic trick, but way more suspicious."
We finally reached the Riviere antique shop again and collapsed onto the chairs, catching our breath.
I leaned back and took a deep breath. "Riviere, can you get me some water?"
She gave me a look, hands on her hips. "Sure, I'll get you some water. Stay here and rest up."
With that, she made a swift exit, leaving me and MacMillia to stew in our thoughts.
MacMillia broke the silence, sounding almost like she was talking to herself.
"She seems like a troublesome person, doesn't she? I mean, she can put anything in her bag..."
I leaned back in my chair, tapping my chin thoughtfully.
"Mhm... An interesting enemy, I must admit. I wonder if she can fit a building in there, too."
MacMillia's eyes widened, clearly entertained by the thought. "If so, that would be amazing, Mr. Arche."
Before I could respond, Riviere came back with three glasses of water and placed them gently on the table.
I picked up my glass, taking a big gulp before setting it down.
"So, what's our plan to beat that lady?" Riviere asked.
I took another sip, trying to look deep in thought, then said, "Beat her until she loses!"
MacMillia blinked, clearly unimpressed. "That doesn't sound like a great plan," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you sure that's all you've got?"
Riviere, resting her chin on her palm, was also skeptical.
"I'm not sure that's even possible. We don't even know what's inside her bag. It could be anything."
"Anything... huh?" I mumbled to myself, already brainstorming possible scenarios in my head.
I took a dramatic breath, as if I were preparing for a grand exit. "I want to go home."
Riviere raised an eyebrow, leaning in. "Oh? You don't get tired this easily, the last time we met," she teased, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Well, I was still young and full of enthusiasm that time," I replied with a mock sigh, playing along.
Riviere laughed softly. "What are you? A fifty-year-old man?"
I chuckled at that. "I see how it is, huh? Well, see you later, my lady."
"Just 'Lady' is enough, you know?" she called after me.
I didn't bother responding and walked out, leaving them behind. Now, I just had to wait and see what happens tomorrow.
The next day, I walked back into the Riviere shop, casually strolling like I had nothing to worry about—until the door suddenly swung open.
Out came MacMillia, looking both worried and relieved, as if she had just run a marathon. "Mr. Arche!" she exclaimed.
"Yo, good morning, Millia," I greeted, grinning.
"No time for jokes! Miss Riviere... she... disappeared!" MacMillia said, her voice full of worry.
"Wait, for real?!" I replied, instantly dropping my casual vibe. Panic hit me for a moment. "Follow me!"
"Where are we going?" she asked, looking confused.
"Saving the princess!" I said dramatically, pointing ahead like I was in some grand adventure.
I took off running, quickly darting around the city. MacMillia, of course, was lagging behind, her panting echoing through the streets.
"You're so slow, aren't you?" I called over my shoulder.
"Hey, give me a break! I'm not built for speed like you are!" she huffed, clearly out of breath.
I slowed down, waiting for her to catch up. She leaned against a nearby wall, gasping for air, her chest rising and falling like she had just been through a war.
"How do you have so much stamina, seriously?" she asked between breaths.
"Training," I said with a wink, feeling pretty smug about myself.
Then, without warning, I asked, "Millia, when you play hide and seek, what kind of place do you usually hide in?"
She blinked, still catching her breath. "Uh, I guess it depends on where we're playing," she replied after a moment's thought.
"But I usually like hiding in places no one would think to look—behind furniture, in closets, under beds..."
She paused and looked at me, completely confused. "Why are you asking all of a sudden?"
I nodded as if everything had suddenly clicked into place. "I see... Millia, follow me."
MacMillia hesitated for a second, but then shrugged, her curiosity getting the best of her. "Lead the way."
We made our way to the forest, and MacMillia was clearly baffled as to why I dragged her all the way out here.
She looked around, eyes wide, clearly confused. "What are we doing here? Why did you bring me to the forest...?"
I didn't answer her right away. Instead, I led her deeper into the trees until we stumbled upon a mountain of goods piled high like a small, bizarre treasure trove.
At the top of the pile sat Vivienne, casually lounging as if it were just another Tuesday.
MacMillia's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw Vivienne. She let out a small gasp, looking utterly taken aback.
Vivienne grinned down at us, clearly pleased with herself.
"Well, well, well... if it isn't the two of you," she said with a devilish gleam in her eye.
I grinned back, striking a dramatic pose. "Good morning, villain!" I greeted her with a mock bow.
MacMillia blinked at Vivienne, trying to process the sight of her sitting there like she owned the place.
Vivienne raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh, you haven't introduced yourself yet, have you?" I said, casually tossing a question her way.
"The name's Arche, nice to meet you... Vivienne, right?"
Vivienne scoffed, not impressed. "I don't care about your name," she replied nonchalantly.
She hopped down from her mountain of pilfered goods with a flourish, clearly not bothered by the fact she was standing in front of a massive pile of probably-stolen items. Her bag swung carelessly by her side.
MacMillia, however, wasn't as relaxed. "Hey! Are you the one who kidnapped Miss Riviere?!" she demanded.
Vivienne gave her a lazy look, unfazed. "Oh? You mean that red-haired woman? Yeah, that's me," she said, setting her bag down with a thud.
"Mr. Arche! We must save—" MacMillia's voice trailed off as she turned to look at me, only to freeze when she saw the devious grin on my face.
"Do we really HAVE to save her?" I asked with a mischievous glint in my eye.
The two of them were taken aback, clearly not expecting such a response from me.
Before anyone could respond, Vivienne's bag suddenly popped open on its own.
Out of the bag popped Riviere, grinning widely. "I want to be saved!" she shouted, her smile as big as ever.
Vivienne and MacMillia stared, mouths agape, at the sight of Riviere casually emerging from the bag like it was no big deal.
Riviere wasted no time, launching a punch straight at Vivienne's stomach.
Vivienne, however, was quick on her feet and dodged the attack with ease.
I smirked. "Millia, help her out of the bag, she might be stuck in it," I said, my tone dripping with mock concern.
"Hey! Help me out already!" Riviere shouted, looking half amused and half annoyed.
MacMillia blinked at Riviere, then hurriedly rushed over.
"Oh, right!" she said, scrambling to help Riviere out of the bag with all the urgency of someone handling a delicate situation—well, sort of.
I locked eyes with Vivienne, launching myself toward her with relentless speed. She darted back, grabbing a long stick.
Spinning it effortlessly, she swung at me, aiming to strike. I dodged.
She kept attacking, relentless and precise, until she abruptly switched weapons—two gleaming blades flashing in her hands.
Without hesitation, she lunged, slashing at me with both.
A flicker of movement behind her caught my eye—Riviere had managed to escape the bag.
My momentary distraction cost me; a blade nearly carved into my flesh.
I barely managed to block it with my arm, but the steel bit deep. "Tch…"
Pain flared, but I retaliated instantly, unleashing a barrage of punches. She couldn't evade them all.
Staggering backward, she smirked. "A man shouldn't hurt a woman, you know."
"Maybe. But my fists don't have a gender." I grinned.
Without missing a beat, she dashed forward, slashing again. This time, I caught the blade—barehanded.
Blood trickled down my arm. The second knife found its mark, sinking into my stomach.
A sharp growl tore from my throat.
"This is all you've got?" Vivienne sneered.
I glanced past her—MacMillia had opened Vivienne's bag wide.
Smirking, I shoved Vivienne back. Realizing my intent, she struggled to keep her footing, refusing to fall in.
But I was already too wounded, my movements sluggish.
From behind me, Riviere charged forward—slamming into Vivienne with full force.
She tumbled inside. Before she could react, MacMillia snapped the bag shut.
We managed to catch Vivienne, and the two of them hurried over to me.
"Mr. Arche?! Are you okay?" MacMillia asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Riviere, always prepared, pulled out a healing potion from the pile of stolen goods and thrust it at me. "Drink this."
"Aw, you really do care," I teased, taking the potion and drinking it.
As the potion took effect, my wound slowly began to heal. "So, how was it in that bag?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Riviere gave me a flat look. "I prefer outside."
Just as she finished speaking, the bag suddenly popped open again.
Vivienne's annoyed face emerged, her eyes glaring at us. "Hey! Get me out of here!" she demanded.
Without missing a beat, Riviere casually shoved Vivienne's head back into the bag, closing it with a firm snap.
"Better be quiet," she muttered.
MacMillia and I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Suddenly, a dove flew by, holding a letter in its beak. It seemed to stare at me, almost as if it had something important to say.
I picked up the knife Vivienne had dropped earlier from the ground, my eyes narrowing in thought.
"Riviere, do your thing," I said, feeling a spark of mischief.
"Huh? Where are you going?" she asked, slightly confused by my sudden shift in tone.
I winked at her. "You really don't want to be far from me, huh?"
MacMillia looked between the two of us, utterly baffled.
Riviere sighed and rolled her eyes. "Okay... do whatever you want."
I flashed a grin. "It won't be long, my lady."
With that, I turned and walked away from them. Once I was a bit farther from the group, I found a large rock to sit on.
The dove flew down towards me, gracefully landing in front of me.
I took the letter from its beak, my fingers brushing against the soft feathers.
I couldn't resist a moment of curiosity, so I gently stroked the pigeon, only to abruptly stab it with the knife in my hand.
The dove let out a soft flutter before collapsing lifelessly in front of me.
Realizing it was just an ordinary dove, I buried it with a quick sigh.
No use getting sentimental over a bird sent as a messenger.
With the letter now in my hands, I carefully opened it and began to read.
"It's been a long time, Zero Four.
How have you been? I trust you're well.
There is something I must share with you, something you've long sought after.
Meet me in the land of Vortavia, in eight days. The rendezvous will be by the beach.
I'll allow you some time to enjoy the sands first; after all, not all things must be shrouded in seriousness.
Until we meet again, Zero Four.
Warm regards,
Valtherion."
The words on the page hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind reeled.
Valth... I never thought that bastard would contact me again.
The information I'd been searching for?
This was a trap—a way to drag me back into that damn organization.
I stared at the letter, speechless. Should I go? Should I even bother?
The journey would take at least five days, according to the map. Vortavia, huh?
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The decision weighed on me, but before I could think it through any further, a rustling sound came from the bushes nearby.
I turned around at the sound of MacMillia's voice. "Mr. Arche? Riviere called for you."
Her words brought a strange sense of calm over me. I took a deep breath, shaking off the weight of the letter, and refocused.
I'll enjoy my three days here…
I gave a small nod. "She misses me too easily, doesn't she?"
MacMillia didn't respond right away, but I could tell she didn't quite know how to react.
Instead, we made our way back to Riviere's place, where she was in the middle of interrogating Vivienne.
The scene in front of me was chaotic, as expected. Piles of stolen goods were scattered around, clearly the contents of Vivienne's bag.
I glanced over at a few unconscious figures. They must have been the ones Vivienne had kidnapped. Their hands and feet were tied up with rope.
"Oh? You're back," Riviere said, a smirk tugging at her lips as she looked up from her conversation with Vivienne.
I raised an eyebrow. "So, let's hear the sad past of this villain."
Vivienne, sitting tied up with her head lowered, began her tale in a dramatic tone.
"I was originally just a very poor woman… I wanted to be like everyone else."
Her eyes wandered as if lost in her own memories. "Those who enjoyed their valuables, while I had nothing…"
"I stole things I had never even held or seen before."
"I wanted everything… all the wealth…"
Her voice trailed off, the silence stretching between us.
I couldn't help but mutter under my breath, "What a cliché and mediocre story." It was loud enough that I thought they might have heard me, but they didn't react.
"Then why did you kidnap people?" MacMillia's voice was laced with confusion as she looked at Vivienne.
Vivienne hesitated for a moment, eyes darting around, before finally responding.
"Because... they caught me stealing. I had no choice but to put them in my bag too!" Her voice wavered, as if trying to justify her actions.
"So, that's why you kidnapped Miss Riviere?" MacMillia pressed, trying to connect the dots.
"Yes," I answered, cutting in before Vivienne could say more.
"She must've seen Riviere and you following me from behind when we ran away yesterday."
Riviere, who had been quietly observing, spoke up then. "When I woke up earlier, I saw her stealing things from my shop, and in the end, I got caught."
MacMillia blinked, clearly still processing everything.
"Why do you sound so relaxed about it?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Riviere simply shrugged, her usual calm demeanor never faltering. "It's just another day, isn't it?"
After the brief exchange, Vivienne was escorted to the police station, her fate sealed as she was taken away to be imprisoned for her crimes.
As we walked towards Riviere's shop, I broke the silence. "I'll stay here for three more days."
I came to a sudden stop, and the two of them followed suit, halting just behind me.
"Oh? Why are you in such a hurry?" MacMillia asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"I have business in another country. It'll take quite a while to get there," I explained.
"Ah, so you're only here for a short time, huh?" Riviere responded with a knowing smile.
"Yes," I said, returning the smile. "Are we thinking the same thing?"
Riviere met my gaze with a grin, and we both said in unison, "Let's go to the cafe!"
MacMillia blinked in surprise at our sudden burst of enthusiasm, her expression unreadable as we seemed to have completely forgotten our original destination.
"Let's compete again!" I said, the excitement in my voice impossible to miss.
"Yeah! We ended up in a draw last time, right?" Riviere agreed, equally animated.
"I'm curious..." MacMillia suddenly spoke up, pulling us out of our excitement.
We both turned to her, sensing her confusion. "Hm?"
"What have you done and been through in the past?" she asked, her eyes scanning us both for answers.
Riviere and I exchanged glances, a shared history passing between us in that silent moment.
A quiet laughter bubbled between us as we both looked back at MacMillia.
"Well... many things," I said, my voice tinged with amusement.
"Many..." Riviere echoed, her eyes twinkling with unspoken memories.
"We'll tell you sometime!" I added with a grin.
"Yes, because what's important now is..." Riviere continued, matching my grin.
"Let's go to the cafe!" we both declared in perfect unison, quickly turning away from our path toward Riviere's shop and veering off toward the cafe instead.
"Yeay!" we cheered, practically skipping as we left MacMillia behind.
She stood there for a moment, stunned by our sudden shift in energy.
Then, with a long sigh, she smiled softly and followed us, though her curiosity was clearly still gnawing at her.
She had many questions—too many to keep them all to herself—but for now, she'd keep them bottled up.
Sometimes, it's the little moments that make life the most meaningful.