Caro was weak, having drained too much stamina.

Arnold carried her to her place. It was cheap—no, truthfully, she didn’t even pay rent. She lived with an elderly woman named Mary, who treated Caro like her own granddaughter.

How Arnold knew this… well, best not to ask.

The girl felt light.

Of course, even under ten times gravity, her weight wouldn’t burden him—but he still felt it: *so* light.

Soft. Slender. Weightless in his arms—as if the next breeze might whisk her away forever.

Arnold instinctively held her tighter.

He set her down gently. “Need to rest? Sleep a bit?” She looked utterly exhausted. Wait—should he help her change?

Caro shook her head slightly. “No one else is here. I can speak now… you’ll hear me.”

Unlike the noisy tavern—Mary hadn’t returned yet—only silence wrapped them. Even the faintest whisper, barely shaped by her throat, reached Arnold’s ears.

Caro opened her status panel, eyes fixed on the new skill: *Summon Undead Lucy Lv.1*. She fell silent.

“Generally,” Arnold said lightly, glancing away, “don’t show your panel to others. Basic rule out there.”

Caro’s voice was a thread. “It’s fine. If it’s Arnold… it’s okay.”

*Thump.* Arnold’s heart skipped. *What did she mean?!* He turned—saw her gentle smile, warm eyes on her screen.

“Anyway… I’m weak. You’re Heroic Rank. Whether you see it or not… I’m no threat.”

*Ah.* Misunderstood. Relief washed over disappointment. If she’d meant *that*… he wouldn’t know how to react. Wait—just the two of them? Alone?

If he… Arnold swallowed. *As long as she doesn’t object…*

“Lucy hasn’t appeared yet…”

Ice-cold water doused his thoughts. *What was I thinking? What almost happened?*

And this was a hero’s conduct?

…Though he wasn’t one anymore. He sighed. “Yeah. Lucy hasn’t appeared.” He leaned closer, forcing his gaze to her panel, resisting the girl’s faint, sweet scent. “Bards’ projection mechanics… honestly? You’ve sung it plenty already.”

Caro nodded slightly. Her whisper carried fragile tenderness—a quiet ache to protect her.

*Weak Caro.*

Normally: Energetic Caro. Also Cool Caro. Embarrassed Caro…

If Arnold ranked her cuteness? Weak Caro easily top three. Embarrassed Caro ran close second.

“I thought Lucy’d greet everyone… Maybe the skill isn’t that convenient.”

Arnold teased gently—he’d learned how to talk to her. “If Bard skills were *that* useful, everyone’d be Bards. Who’d bother being swordsmen?”

Caro blinked, shot him a mock-offended look, then smiled. “You’re right. If it were that easy, everyone *would* be Bards.” She pushed her voice louder, testing her limits—then coughed, wincing. Her throat needed rest.

Arnold fetched water from the well.

Caro thanked him softly, lay fully clothed on the bed—natural grace in stillness.

“I’ll go. Rest well.”

“…Wait, Arnold.” Her whisper stopped him. “Tomorrow… I leave town. Travel days’ll let my voice heal.”

Arnold stilled. “Yeah… time I left too. Dwelling on the past helps no one. I ignored too much. Maybe visit old friends… ask if I was right.”

“Then I should wish *you* well…” Caro smiled. “But… spare a moment? Tell me about you and Lucy.”

*This* was what she truly wanted. The undead Lucy surely held feelings for the so-called Dragon Slayer unlike anyone else’s…

Lucy was kind—but her devotion to Arnold went beyond kindness. Near-unconditional.

Agreeing to let villagers hold the Void Rift? Probably just to stay beside him when he was weakest. She wouldn’t give up until he stood again.

So—

Caro needed to hear it.

Arnold scratched his head, sat on the bed’s edge. “Not an exciting story. Just… an ordinary adventurer’s tale.”

…

As he said: a classic adventurer story.

Lucy had lived in the town for decades, bewildered by the Void Rift’s emergence. Villagers feared it—reported it—the Adventurers’ Guild posted the quest.

Harmony Weaver Melissa took interest. Researching the phenomenon, seeking new magic… Normally, their demon-hunting squad wouldn’t accept.

They met Lucy. Understood the Void Rift.

Arnold’s own words then: *I was unreasonable.*

He’d insisted Harmony Weaver Melissa use magic—just enough time for Lucy and villagers to say goodbye.

To Melissa, a mage devoted to cosmic balance, it was unappealing.

Yet she did it.

She bought time. Lucy gained final moments with the town. (Though as now showed… that farewell was all they had.)

“Melissa probably thought me selfish,” Arnold chuckled wryly. “Her expelling me… maybe tied to that. She follows the world’s rhythm. Mages restore imbalance—that’s why she’s Harmony Weaver. Truly remarkable.”

Caro smirked. “She expelled you, and you defend her?”

Arnold accepted the jab. “I’ve always disrupted balance. Her helping Lucy… huge favor. No grudge.”

*(Resentment toward the others?)*

“Maybe the world *should* seek balance. My actions… were wrong.”

“*NO!*”

Both froze. Turning slowly.

A tiny, semi-transparent doll-like spirit floated midair—smaller than a fist.

“Lu…cy?”

The spirit planted hands on hips. “Yep! That’s me!”

“You… were summoned?!” Arnold’s shock was genuine.

Lucy drooped. “I *was*… but this small? Too shy to show up. Wanted to hear Lord Arnold’s thoughts… then you said *that*…” She’d appeared during Caro’s song—her size revealing Caro’s current Bard level.

Caro offered a wry smile, spread her hands: *This is my limit. Nothing I can do.*

“I couldn’t stand it!” Lucy zipped to Arnold, tiny spectral hands gripping his finger, shaking it. “Lord Arnold was *NOT* wrong! What you did—*saved* me!”

Her voice rang clear, unwavering, eyes blazing with conviction:

“I’d been here centuries… numb. What was the point? How much longer?”

“When the Void Rift came… I’d decided to vanish. But *you*, Lord Arnold—you *taught* me! Those two hundred dull years *mattered*. My time with the town was *real*! Because of you, I cherished every last moment. I said a true goodbye… I don’t know if Miss Melissa was right—but *I* was saved by *you*!!”

“So—*please* hold your head high! Don’t doubt yourself! What you did had *value*! At least… *I* was saved!”

Caro’s smile softened. *So his actions held meaning…*

To hear this story—to hear *this*—*worth it.*

She glanced at Arnold. Tears glistened in his eyes.

*Ugly…*

*…But so enviable.*

*Will I leave something like this behind… as a Bard?*