Chapter 36

After the ceremony at the mine ended, they returned to the convent.

After the mine accident, the inn had been vacated, and since then, they had been sleeping at the convent.

Their room had four beds, and Tien also lived there. Since Tien could only eat food prepared by Nina, it was easier for her to live in the same place.

"——Nina, Emiri, Astrid"

Tien said to the three who were preparing to leave the town.

"There's... something I need to talk about."

Until today, she hadn't told Nina and the others that she wanted to go on the journey with them. She was worried that if they refused, it would make things awkward for her work at the mine. Moreover, she wondered what she could contribute to these three—these three with incredible abilities—and her confidence gradually faded.

Tien's goal was to find her parents, but she had no leads yet. If she could travel with them until she found a clue, it wouldn't be unreasonable.

They were leaving today.

If she missed this chance, she wouldn't get another one.

"Hmm?"

Emiri looked at her, Nina, who had already finished preparing, was straightening the bed sheets, and Astrid, who was always more disorganized, had stopped what she was doing.

"Um... that..."

The words wouldn't come out.

Just one sentence, "I want to travel with you," wouldn't come out.

She hadn't even been able to pay for her meals properly, so she thought she might be seen as presumptuous...

She had no special skills, so she thought she might be seen as impudent...

She might be seen as a despicable person who just wanted to tag along and benefit from their excellence...

These negative thoughts kept coming, making it even harder for her to speak.

"...Hey, Tien. Is this going to take long?"

Emiri said with a sigh.

"!"

They had to hurry to get ready because they had to catch the carriage.

She had made Emiri impatient—Tien's resolve wilted.

She didn't know.

She was so weak.

(That's right... Tien is scared. She wasn't afraid of dying in the mine, but she was afraid of disappointing Nina, Emiri, and Astrid, or being rejected by them...)

These three girls had become so important to her.

"Tien..."

If so.

Overcoming fear was what it meant to be a Moon Wolf.

When she realized this, her body moved on its own.

Her voice came out on its own.

"I'm going to leave the town with you all!"

She wanted it as much as she wanted Nina's food when she was starving—no, even more.

She wanted to go with them.

"Huh?"

Emiri's mouth dropped open.

Her reaction pierced Tien's heart.

(Ah... as I thought, it's no good...)

This thought turned Tien's heart completely black, despite her last bit of courage.

"We know that, right?"

Then,

"Huh?"

"We already bought four tickets."

Emiri showed a piece of wood. It was a ticket for the stagecoach to the next town, and indeed, there were four tickets.

Tien blinked, not understanding.

"Are you coming with us? Here, this is yours."

Emiri pushed one of the tickets into Tien's hand.

"By the way, Astrid, are you going to clean up? It's a mess!"

"I'm not used to traveling."

"I don't think that's the level of your problem... and Nina, don't spoil Astrid."

"No, no, this is part of a maid's job."

"You're the best maid."

"Ha... I've been telling you to stop being a maid among us. Astrid is getting lazier every day."

It seemed that Emiri's decision to buy the ticket wasn't made alone.

Astrid and Nina didn't say anything, which was proof that they also thought Tien would come with them.

(It's okay... It's okay for Tien to go with them.)

Tien finally realized.

Even though she hadn't properly talked to them, the three had already considered Tien as part of their group.

Warm feelings overflowed, and she couldn't stop them.

"...Come on, Tien, you don't have time to cry."

"I'm not crying."

Tien wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.

Tien realized that Emiri knew she hadn't yet said she wanted to go on the journey and that it was due to her feeling of inferiority. To make her feel better, Emiri had given her the ticket in a gruff, casual tone.

How warm this person is—Tien thought.

"Get packing. We don't have much time."

Tien picked up the small bag—more like a pouch—on the bed.

"That's all I have."

"You have so little luggage!"

They went to say goodbye to the orphanage in the back.

The children had become very attached to Nina and the others during their long stay, and when they heard they were leaving today, they started crying.

"Don't go, big sisters~"

"Nina's cooking was so delicious!"

"Emiri..."

"I wanted to learn more from Astrid..."

The teachers and nuns tried to calm the children, but it wasn't easy.

"Tien, listen to what Nina and the others say, don't overexert yourself, and be careful on your journey."

"Yes... Goodbye, teacher."

In front of the teacher, Tien's ears and tail drooped.

"That's not right, Tien."

"Huh...?"

"In situations like this, you should say, 'I'm going now.'"

"!"

Her ears and tail perked up.

"I'm going now, teacher. Everyone!"

The teacher smiled.

"Have a safe trip, Tien."

"Have a safe trip!!"

"Be careful!"

"Bring us souvenirs! Bring us souvenirs!"

"Idiot, you don't even know when you'll come back."

"But you will come back, right?"

A child asked innocently.

Yes, she would come back.

She would definitely come back.

"Tien will come back. I'll bring lots of souvenirs."

When they left the orphanage, everyone was smiling.