Cortina took care of the place for now, so we could still enjoy Yuji in a soothing atmosphere afterwards.

I laid my bedding on the floor that night, just like the day before, and we all fell asleep side by side.

But late at night, I feel signs of Cortina sneaking out of her bunk.

Sneak your footsteps and head to the balcony instead of leaving the room.

And he sits on a rocking chair that was mounted on the balcony, and brings it neatly to his back.

It even seemed to have tears in its eyes.

I saw it and decided to take action.

It's what I look like that's gonna be the problem. You can't let Cortina understand who you are or what your voice is. As long as you mislead it, there's nothing wrong with her knowing she exists.

That's where I sneak out of the room.

Out in the hallway, I took a wooden cup out of the inn's kitchen and threaded it.

It's called a yarn phone. This would not be suspicious even if there was a voice.

Hiding himself with the power of the ring, he circles into the backyard and rolls the cup at Cortina's feet.

She was alert to her surroundings after looking at it with surprise and concern.

I guess I was wary of the area because I was stuffing with poor quality adventurers at noon.

"Can you hear me, Tina?"

I ignored it, had it threaded and voiced. The cup acts like a loudspeaker and communicates the voice to Cortina.

I can't tell her that the thing called a yarn phone is not threaded. But with the power of my gift, I can do enough to convey the tremor of the thread at hand to the tip.

That said, it can't be like faking a voice color, so it's a slightly tongueless child's voice emanating from the other side. Besides, it echoes the cup and magnifies the sound, so it is a humble voice.

Still, she guessed whose voice belonged.

"Reid...... what is it!?

"Oh, it's me"

Hearing my reply, Cortina has no voice and hugs the cup. As if that's my body too.

Low, he also conveyed a whimpering voice.

"Sorry, I can't show up."

"Why is that?

"Kind of. I can't show it to the public."

"I don't care!

"I care."

Pretend to be the easiest breeze possible and tell them so.

It's about Cortina. I may think of a lot of things and think of some terrible developments.

For example, I was reincarnated into a monster like Goblin...?

"Well, we'll do something about it. I can guess."

"Really? But..."

"I'm sorry you can't show up, but that's what you have, isn't it? So guess what."

"That's... that's not true."

"Liar, you were crying earlier, weren't you?

In my words, she was blushing as far away as she could tell.

It's her habit to pretend to be a temperamental breeze.

"That's not true."

"I'm sorry I can't. I regret imitating it a little too."

"Yeah, I'm glad."

Even as she continues her conversation with me, Cortina looks around and looks for me. A guy who hasn't changed his face at all.

But even professional scouts will find it difficult to discover me hiding in hallucinations and disappearing in secret gifts.

"Well, be patient now. 'Cause I'll be back in front of you soon and I'll definitely be there to see you."

"... yeah, I'm waiting"

Somehow and honestly, Cortina answered that.

Impossible attitude in previous life. So much so that I suspect there's a back. So I ran into the question directly.

"That's unusual and honest. Are you up to something?

"Shiatsu! I can be sentimental, too!

"Really? Fine... anyway, so don't worry too much. Then it's time for me to disappear."

"Wait! Is that when you came to help me?

"Oh, I've always seen it nearby."

This is not a lie. At the end of the day, I only severed the thread and pulled it back on hand.

The move was so fast that Cortina couldn't tell.

Cortina has lost sight of the tip of the yarn and has been on the spot looking around for a while.

In that gap I snuck back into the inn and into the room.

Cortina's been exploring the area ever since I got back to my room. Forever, ever... till morning.

"Oh, man."

"Morning, Cortina"

Cortina greets me as I bite off my yawn.

I answered that while hiding my sighs.

In the end, she kept looking for me until the sun came up and woke up just taking a nap in the morning.

When I was an adventurer, I used to act all night, so I am somewhat worried even though I know that there is no such thing as a day...

"Did it go away?

"Hey. But I'm sleepy, but I don't feel bad."

"Really?"

Seeing her with a sunny smile, I'm convinced that apparently last night's behavior wasn't a mistake.

I have to leave this inn today and return to the capital.

If the puller Cortina is unwell, the parents on the answering machine will be worried.

"Huh... hey hey"

"Ugh..."

Michelle and Retina wake up one after the other.

These two didn't sleep well, so their hairstyles were exploding. Especially Retina's hairstyle. My usual drill hair is bouncing all over and turning into nigauri hair.

"Good morning, Master Nicole. You're early today."

"Sometimes I get up early too"

Finia, who was up next to me, washed her face early and prepared tea.

I still have hot milk on my tray and just got back from the kitchen.

"Look, you guys wash your faces, too. Once you've unpacked, you can leave the inn for breakfast and then head back to the capital."

"Uh, already?

"You wanted to come slower."

"I have a college, so I won't take it so slowly. Come back for a long vacation."

"Really? Will you bring me back?

"If your parents give you permission."

"Yay!

After exchanging high touches, the two rush into the washroom making sure they stay together.

I went to wash my face for breakfast, knowing I could come again.

"What healthy kids..."

"That's my friend."

Always healthy and soothes the place. I'm proud to be friends with them like that.

He was no less than one of my predecessors, and a proud friend of mine.