“We’ve arriv——ed!!”

…I get it we arrived, okay.

Why are we in a place this ominous in the first place?

“Well? What do you think of my home?”

It’s HUGE—!!

AMAZING—!!

Was probably what she wanted to hear.

We had been brought into a vast hall large enough that even five of those spiders we met earlier could fit inside without any trouble.

Places like this don’t really give you that sense of achievement or heart-pounding excitement unless you enter them on your own, do they?

“Mm-hm, I’m glad you like it♪”

There was no way that reaction meant she genuinely thought that.

But arguing back casually would carry a very real risk of my body getting blown away, so I’ll keep my mouth shut.

I’m scared, okay. No violence, please.

…Come to think of it.

Arukaaa—?

She slipped smoothly out from inside me.

Since only I got taken, I thought she’d been left behind, but right—she can enter my body.

Thank goodness~

Getting hurt while separated would just be a loss, after all.

As I tried to stay close to Aruka, the third in command, a bob-haired girl grabbed Aruka and dragged her toward her own room.

“W-wait, Aruka!”

I hurriedly tried to stop her, but the bob-haired girl blocked me with her writhing hair.

Seeing that thing undulating right in front of me was a bit too much…

“Aruka and I have something important to discuss. Wait here for a bit, will you?”

Huh!?

What is that!?

That makes me curious!!

Did Aruka and the Jewel Merchants have some kind of connection?

I must’ve made my confusion obvious, because the bob-haired girl tilted her head and went, “Even if you look at me like that… I really can’t tell you much… hmm.”

Aruka’s eyes were darting around too, clearly flustered and unsure what to do.

I’ve never seen her act like that before.

She’s cute, so it’s totally okay.

Just then, the door connecting to the outside world opened.

“I’m back!”

A cheerful voice echoed through the hall and the bob-haired girl immediately followed with, “Oh, Citrine!! Your timing couldn’t be better!!”

She sounded genuinely happy.

Huh, Citrine… that name rings a bell…

I looked toward the voice and saw a girl who looked exactly like what you’d imagine a saint to look like—someone you’d see in any number of worlds.

…Yeah.

That’s right.

Citrine’s on this side, after all.

Always lazing around at the church, yet she’s firmly a member of the Jewel Merchant’s group…

What a terrifying girl—Citrine noticed me and trotted over, taking both my hands in hers.

“So you’re Aruka-chan’s contractor. It’s nice to meet you!”

Her smile was dazzling.

As expected of a saint.

Also, why do all the girls in this world smell so nice?

Seriously, stop it.

The faint floral scent that drifted over when she took my hands told me the lost-item quest was probably over.

“Since I’m about to have a long talk with Aruka-chan, could you keep Karua-chan company for me? If you want, you can even show her around the house.”

With that, she headed deeper inside together with Aruka.

Ah—my emotional support—!!

“Understood! Well then, I’ll be guiding you from here on♪”

Citrine switched her grip to hold my hand properly and started walking.

Hey!!

Do you think I’m a kid or something!?

Huh!?

…Right.

I am a kid.

Sorry. I’ll behave.

“This is the dining hall and here’s where Lady Kuneria’s servants are busy preparing meals~”

Each room was so enormous that just moving between them meant walking distances my frail body could barely keep up with.

Um, could I maybe get a break soon…

I was just about to say that when we reached the next room—

“Ah, this room is—”

“—H-hieh.”

A cold breath slipped out from the depths of my soul.

“Ah… this probably wasn’t something I should’ve shown you. Was it too much stimulation? I’m sorry…”

The saint apologized gently.

In front of me were—various grotesque monsters, eating people.

There were no screams—someone must’ve been using a silencing spell.

It felt like watching a splatter movie on mute.

But the blood smeared across the floor and the various bodily fluids screamed at my vision that this was real.

Seeing something like this in a manga and seeing it in person were completely different experiences.

I collapsed on the spot as my stomach contents surged upward—“…khp… gh-boh.”

Yellow liquid splattered messily across the floor.

I hadn’t eaten anything yesterday, so there was nothing solid—just stomach acid.

“S-sorry… urgh…”

I threw up again.

Yeah, given that my mental state has regressed quite a bit, too much stimulation really isn’t good for me.

I get it now!!

Citrine kept gently patting my back the whole time, which made me happy!!

But even so, it was terrifying!!

“O-okay, there there. That must’ve been scary. I’m very sorry… Let’s close this off and return to the previous area until their discussion is over, shall we?”

As if it had never existed, the door vanished and the space turned into a featureless wall.

* * *

“I’m hoooome… huh?”

“This isn’t your house anymore, you know… what’s wrong?”

Something’s off.

The door’s unlocked?

A break-in?

At senpai’s place?

No way.

I rushed inside, forgetting even to put my weapon away, searching for Karua-chan.

Something might’ve happened to her.

She might’ve been kidnapped.

The thought alone sent my body moving on its own.

“Hey, Moe!?”

Ignoring senpai’s panicked attempt to stop me, I searched every room thoroughly.

Bathroom, kitchen, balcony, bedroom—.

“…Thank goodness…”

I was certain it hadn’t turned into anything serious and relief washed over me.

Karua-chan was curled up under the covers on the bed I’d slept in yesterday.

“Geez! Karua-chan, you really worried us! At least lock the door—”

As she spoke, Moe lifted the blanket—

Karua-chan was there, trembling in small, rapid shakes.

What’s wrong?

Sudden light flooded in from the darkness and when Karua-chan noticed me, squinting—

She clung to my body.

“W-what!?”

It happened so suddenly that my hands froze in midair.

“W-what’s wrong, Karua-chan?”

I asked, flustered.

After a brief silence, Karua-chan said in a tiny voice—“…I was scared…”

Then she tightened her grip just a little more.

Aww, so that’s what it was~

She’s really adorable, honestly!!

I’ve heard that little kids can’t stand being alone and she probably wanted someone close, so she moved to the bed that smelled like me and hid under the covers.

I gently stroked Karua-chan’s head as she continued trembling and smiled a little.

Karua-chan needs me.

She trusts me.

She’s showing me her weakness.

—zzzt, zzt, zzt

What is this feeling in my chest though?