Kaito walked up behind the "suspicious figure" and tapped the top of her witch's hat.
"Why are you lurking out here instead of going inside?" he said. "If the Knights see you like this, they'll haul you in for questioning."
"Ah!"
The girl jumped back two steps, startled, then lifted her chin.
Clear sea-green eyes—watery, stubborn. A proud little face that tried to look fearless… until you noticed how her hands hovered near her stomach.
Long black hair split into twin tails, decorated with starry ornaments. An astrologer's outfit, complete with that ridiculous, unmistakable hat.
Mona Megistus.
"Kaito…" Mona exhaled like she'd been holding her breath. A faint blush warmed her cheeks. "I… divined that you weren't inside."
Kaito forced his gaze upward.
"Alright," he said. "What went wrong this time?"
"…Because of the dragon attack and the storm," Mona hesitated, "The Steambird can't process payments properly right now, so my—"
Grrrrrr.
Her stomach growled loud enough to be its own answer.
Mona froze.
Her cheeks went bright red.
Kaito lifted a brow. "You budgeted down to the exact day your column payment was due again, didn't you?"
Mona didn't charge for divination. She refused to use Hydromancy to earn Mora.
Her only stable income came from The Steambird—her Astrology Consultation column.
And every month, she did the same thing:
Spend first on research.
Eat later.
She'd once survived on wild mushrooms for nearly a month—right up until she almost collapsed.
Kaito had found her like that before.
"I calculated perfectly," Mona insisted, trying to salvage her dignity. "This was an uncontrollable variable."
"Yes, yes," Kaito nodded solemnly. "All Stormterror's fault."
He pushed the door open and led her inside.
Candlelight warmed the dining hall. Heat pooled over the wooden tables.
At one of them, Lumine and Paimon sat surrounded by the aftermath of a feast.
"Kaito!" Lumine hurried over—then stopped short when she saw Mona.
"Lumine, this is Mona," Kaito said. "A friend."
Mona's gaze swept over Lumine's scuffed clothes and travel-worn look.
Her expression softened with instant sympathy.
"Hello," Mona said, gentler than her posture suggested.
"…Hello," Lumine replied.
But inside, Lumine's thoughts tangled.
He brought a girl home… this late?
Paimon lay sprawled on a chair with a swollen belly, barely able to lift a hand. The table looked like a battlefield of plates and skewers.
Mona breathed in the lingering scent—
and quietly mourned, because none of it had gone into her stomach.
"This is Paimon," Kaito added. "Your guide."
Paimon puffed her chest like she'd been granted an official title.
Kaito looked Lumine over properly. "Are you staying here tonight?"
"Staying… here?" Lumine's eyes brightened for a split second.
She'd been planning to return the key and find the cheapest inn she could manage. Staying at Good Hunter would save Mora—
and being near Kaito made her feel strangely safe.
But Mona was here.
And suddenly, Lumine felt like she'd be intruding.
She shook her head quickly. "We… already booked an inn."
A lie.
Paimon opened her mouth instantly—
Lumine scooped her up and clamped a hand over it before she could betray her.
Kaito didn't doubt her. With the Knights' usual logistics, it sounded plausible.
At the door, Lumine paused and looked back.
"Kaito… can I come by again tomorrow?"
"Of course," Kaito said.
Lumine smiled faintly, then slipped out—closing the door behind her.
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