Somewhere in a quiet apartment.
It was a small but tidy place. Minimalist. Cozy.
The air was filled with the rich, savory smell of udon broth—bonito flakes, soy, something warm and soul-healing.
Kamazuki Suzuno.
Or rather—Crestia Bell.
She sat cross-legged in front of a low table, happily working through her second bowl of udon for the night.
Her long black hair was tied up loosely with a plain pin, showing off her graceful neckline.
She was dressed comfortably in a casual kimono, completely relaxed now that her public persona as "Kamazuki Suzuno" was off for the day.
This was her only real peace.
For someone who used to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Audit Bureau in the Great Magic Church of Ente Isla, with that enormous mission on her shoulders...
Well, sometimes, a steaming bowl of noodles was the only thing that made her feel human again.
But then—
Just as she was about to slurp up the final strand of noodle, her ears twitched.
VROOOM.
An engine?
The sound of a high-performance sports car tore through the night—getting closer—until it came to a stop right in front of her apartment.
Then silence, as the engine cut off.
In the stillness of the night, it was deafening.
Suzuno froze.
She put down her chopsticks.
The peaceful look on her face disappeared in an instant.
Her whole vibe shifted. Alert. Predatory. Like a cheetah ready to pounce.
Nobody—nobody—should know where she lives.
And those who did? Only knew her as a normal girl named Kamazuki Suzuno.
No one would be pulling up in a fancy car at this hour.
And definitely not for a social visit.
She didn't have friends to show up like that.
"Who is it?"
Without a sound, she stood up. Her movements were light, sharp.
The sleeve of her kimono fluttered—
—and with it, a massive, ancient-looking war hammer appeared in her hand.
Heavy. Imposing. Radiating force.
Her sacred weapon. Still in disguise.
Barefoot, she glided across the floor like a shadow, moving toward the front door.
She pressed herself against the wall beside it, holding her breath.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps approached.
Measured. Solid. No rush. No fear.
Two people.
One light.
The other... unreadable.
Tap...
They stopped. Right in front of her door.
They were here for her. No doubt about it.
The air went still.
Suzuno could hear her own heart speeding up.
She tightened her grip on the hammer. The cold of the metal grounded her.
Knock, knock, knock.
Three sharp, polite knocks.
Her eyes narrowed.
In a quiet but icy tone, she asked:
"Who's there?"
A calm, unfamiliar male voice answered from the other side of the door.
"Kamazuki Suzuno-san."
It was smooth. Emotionless. But it carried... weight.
"I'm here with someone who'd like to see you. Would you be willing to meet her?"
He paused.
"You know her. Hero Emilia Justina."
Inside the apartment—
What?!
Suzuno's eyes widened in shock.
Emilia Justina?!
The Hero?!
She's alive?!
Here?!
Her heart nearly stopped. All her defenses shattered under the weight of disbelief.
That name—it meant everything to her.
Finding the missing Hero was one of the biggest reasons she'd traveled across worlds.
But still, she didn't fling the door open.
Her instincts as an auditor, forged in the darkness of the Church, made her hesitate.
This could be a trap.
Another fake. Another cruel lie.
She drew in a deep breath. Pulled herself together.
One hand on the hammer.
The other slowly reached for the door.
She was ready to strike at a moment's notice.
And then—she yanked it open.
Light from the hallway spilled into the entryway.
The first thing she saw was the young man who'd spoken.
Black hair. Blue eyes. Ridiculously handsome in a low-key kind of way. Just standing there in casual clothes, but somehow—
He felt like gravity.
Suzuno's palm broke out in cold sweat.
This guy... was dangerous. Extremely dangerous.
But then she saw the girl beside him.
Red hair. Golden eyes.
And that unmistakable aura.
Calm. Pure. Radiant.
That unique, powerful energy could only belong to one person.
The Hero.
"Y-Y-Your Excellency?!" Suzuno blurted out, her voice cracking.
The hammer in her hand clattered to the floor—but she didn't even notice.
A flood of joy, disbelief, and relief overwhelmed her, and her eyes began to tear up.
Emilia stared at the kimono-clad girl with a puzzled expression.
She was sure she'd never seen her before.
But the faint trace of Ente Isla's holy energy—and the raw emotion in her eyes—told her this girl was the real deal.
No way Rei Ao was lying.
"I'm Emilia, the Hero," she said gently. "I get the feeling you know me—but who are you?"
"You… came from Ente Isla too?"
Suzuno nodded—hard. She could barely get her words out.
"Y-Yes! Yes, Your Excellency! I'm—"
"Hold up," Rei Ao cut in with a smile. "I know you're excited, but maybe... not the best place to catch up?"
Suzuno blinked, then quickly came to her senses.
"R-Right! Sorry, come in—please, let's talk inside!"
She rushed to the side, welcoming them into her small apartment.
At that moment, she only had eyes for Emilia.
The mysterious man's presence? Completely forgotten.
Emilia looked over at Rei Ao.
He gave her a small nod, reassuring her.
They stepped inside.
The apartment was small. Minimalist. Peaceful.
A half-finished bowl of udon still sat on the low table, the broth giving off a gentle warmth.
Flustered, Suzuno grabbed it, tucked it away, and quickly brewed tea for both guests.
Then she knelt across from them—formal, but visibly overwhelmed.
The entire time, her eyes never left Emilia.
Full of awe. Respect. And something close to worship.
~~~
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