After arriving at Forshville and passing through the gate, they headed straight for the orphanage. Inside, Marle explained to the three nuns who run the orphanage that they had wiped out the Mafia and that they would never return to demand food or stake out the children again.
The three nuns immediately covered their mouths with their hands, their bodies trembling as tears streamed down their faces. They immediately took both of Marle's hands and thanked her, promising once again to look after all of Marle's younger siblings wholeheartedly.
Then, Marle's younger siblings came out and hugged Marle, who crouched down to embrace them one by one. Dash, Shel, and Lilin, standing behind Marle, smiled as they watched. The nuns also thanked Dash and Shel for helping Marle since yesterday.
Finally, the nuns served them a meal, putting out a large amount of food for everyone, including Marle's siblings. After offering a prayer of thanks to the gods and starting to eat, Marle looked at Dash, Shel, and Lilin sitting across from her.
"So, where are you all going after this?" Marle asked.
"I plan on traveling the world because I want to see it," Dash replied.
"Me too. I don't want to get my memory back, but I want to learn a lot of things, with Dash, of course," Lilin added.
"I am definitely following Dash wherever he goes," Shel responded, hugging Dash's arm.
"I see," Marle replied, smiling, but it looked forced.
"What about you?" Dash asked.
Before answering, Marle glanced at her eight younger siblings. Then she also saw the three nuns who were pretending not to listen but clearly heard everything. She smiled and turned to look at Dash across from her.
"Um... I... I guess I have to stay in this city, taking care of my siblings and this orphanage," Marle answered.
"Oh, I thought you wanted to come with us," Shel said, surprised.
"Yeah, I thought so too at first. I want to get to know you even though we just met," Lilin added.
"That's a real shame, but I respect your decision," Dash said.
"Thank you, Dash," Marle replied.
The atmosphere fell quiet and still. The only sounds were the chewing of food and the clinking of cutlery on plates. Then Dash turned to look at Shel.
"Oh, right. We should probably register Lilin too, shouldn't we, Shel?" Dash asked.
"Yeah, that would be easier," Shel agreed.
"Register for what?" Lilin asked.
"The Hunter Guild. At least that way you have an ID," Dash replied.
"Oh... okay, I want that," Lilin answered.
"Alright, I can take you guys to the Guild," Marle replied.
"Okay, we'll head there right after we finish eating," Dash responded.
They kept eating. Marle looked a little down, and this was noticed by the three nuns sitting at the end of the table, who were actually only pretending not to hear everything. When they finished eating and Marle was washing the dishes in the back, the three nuns suddenly approached her.
"You actually want to go with them, don't you? This is the first time you've had friends; of course you want to go with them, right?" asked the Human nun.
"Huh... n-no, I don't," Marle replied, stuttering and continuing to scrub a plate even though it was already clean.
"You don't have to worry about us. We promise we will look after your siblings and raise them. You need to follow your heart," said the Goblin nun.
"I'm fine, Mamas, don't worry about me," Marle replied, smiling.
"Go. Don't worry. We can take care of ourselves, and we will absolutely raise your siblings," added the Elf nun, smiling.
"Listen, Mamas, I've already decided I'm staying here, making money as a hunter for all of us and helping you take care of my siblings. I can't possibly burden you anymore," Marle said, turning around to face the three nuns behind her.
Seeing Marle's face, the three nuns flinched, but they immediately gave a gentle smile. They stepped forward and hugged Marle.
"You silly child," said the Goblin nun.
"One day, you have to leave the nest, so go now. Send us letters and tell us about your adventures," added the Human nun.
"Hurry up and get ready. Your friends are waiting for you," added the Elf nun.
"Wh-what are you Mamas saying?" Marle asked.
"You're crying, aren't you? Now get out of here," answered the Goblin nun.
Marle gasped in shock. She touched her cheek and realized she was indeed crying. Immediately, Marle burst into sobs and hugged the three nuns in front of her. After that, Marle went out to meet Dash, Shel, and Lilin. They then walked out of the orphanage and strolled casually. Marle walked behind the three of them.
"Hey, Dash, Shel, Lilin," Marle called out.
Dash, Shel, and Lilin turned around to see Marle calling them. Marle looked shy, and her tail wagged.
"If... if I came along on your adventure and left this city... could I?" Marle asked.
Dash, Shel, and Lilin looked at each other, then smiled and looked at Marle in front of them.
"Welcome aboard, Marle," Dash said, extending his hand.
"Oh, what's with the formality? We've been confused since you refused to come with us after everything we've been through together these last three days. Come here," Shel said.
Without delay, Shel stepped forward and hugged Marle, who hugged her back. Then Shel pulled Lilin's arm so Lilin, who was standing there stunned, also joined the hug with Marle. Meanwhile, Dash looked at his hand.
"Hmm... I guess I should stop shaking hands like back on Earth," Dash mumbled.
Then they continued their journey toward the Guild. Lilin looked happy seeing the city, though she was still the center of attention, just like Dash was when he first arrived. After passing the main square and entering the Guild district, Lilin suddenly stopped. She looked stunned staring at one of the flags on the Knight Guild building.
"Um... are we going to destroy the Grandias Kingdom someday?" Lilin asked, suddenly staring at the flag.
Dash, Shel, and Marle immediately turned to look at Lilin, who was still staring at the flag with a strange, questioning expression.
"Do you have a problem with the Grandias Kingdom?" Dash asked.
"I don't know... but somehow, I recognize that flag more than the others, and I know that flag is the Grandias Kingdom flag, and for some reason, I feel angry," Lilin replied, pointing at the flag.
Dash, Shel, and Marle immediately turned to look at the row of flags on top of the Knight Guild building that Lilin was pointing to, and one of them was indeed the Grandias Kingdom flag. Then they turned back to look at Lilin, who was standing still with the spear strapped across her back.
"Yep, definitely. Half of my revenge is there," Shel said.
"Same here. That kingdom is the one that ordered the Mafia to wipe out my tribe," Marle added.
"Well, you heard them, right?" Dash asked.
"Okay, I'm happy now," Lilin replied cheerfully and immediately jumped to hug Dash from the front.
"HEY!" Shel and Marle shouted, trying to pull Lilin off.
Then they started talking among themselves. Dash, lost in thought, turned once more to look at the Grandias Kingdom flag in front of Knight Guild building.
"Turns out that kingdom really is a bunch of bastards, huh? I've only been in this world for five days, not even a week, and that kingdom is already getting on my nerves. But before I decide anything, I want to see this world with my own eyes first," Dash mumbled to himself.