With her lost belongings returned, the girl's mood visibly improved.
Just as she'd said earlier.
Her pale, slender hand lifted and waved lightly, and the magic gathered in her palm quietly dispersed.
"Don't do something like that again. Other people won't be as easygoing as I am."
Those were her parting words.
Standing to the side, Satoru Gojo nodded in wholehearted agreement. "She's got a point."
The last time he'd been robbed, he'd casually taken all the money Felt had on her as well.
Compared to that, this girl really was far too kind.
With that, she turned and walked away.
Natsuki Subaru watched her retreating figure, and for reasons he couldn't quite explain, a strange urge stirred in his chest. He wanted to get closer. He wanted to know her better.
A girl who perfectly matched his tastes and was genuinely kind like this. If he let this chance slip by, who knew when he'd ever meet someone like her again?
He hesitated for a moment. Seeing her about to disappear from view, he finally couldn't hold it in.
"Um, could I ask what your name is?"
Her steps paused slightly. Then Puck poked his head out from her silver hair.
"Planning to come after us for revenge later?"
"No, no, that's not it. I swear."
"Even if it isn't, that won't do. Looks like Lia doesn't want to tell you~"
As Puck spoke, the silver-haired girl resumed walking, gradually fading into the distance.
Subaru stared after her, disappointment filling his heart.
This goodbye would probably be forever.
"Some romances end before they even begin."
"But hey, it's not like you got nothing out of it," Gojo said, patting Subaru on the shoulder with the air of a seasoned veteran. "At least now you know her name probably includes 'Lia.'"
"And besides, in all those light novels you read, don't heroes always end up with a harem? Maybe once you defeat the Demon King, she'll come looking for you herself."
Subaru shot Gojo an exasperated look. He hadn't forgotten how this guy had deliberately called him Satoru Gojo earlier.
"Crack."
A sharp sound rang out behind them.
Felt finally broke free from the thick ice that had frozen her to the ground, reclaiming her freedom.
"Hey, Felt, seeing you safe and sound is a relief—"
"You bastard! Go die!"
Faced with Gojo's heartfelt concern, Felt's small face flushed red with rage.
She shouted furiously and charged at him, swinging her fist.
"Thud."
This time, there was no mysterious force stopping her.
Felt's punch landed cleanly in Gojo's open palm.
That strike fueled by hatred, however, had absolutely no effect on him.
Even the hand catching her punch didn't so much as tremble.
The difference in strength was obvious.
Felt didn't care about that right now. Her mind was full of fury, desperate for release.
"Jerk!"
"Jerk!"
"Do you have any idea how much you made me lose?!"
"That was twenty Holy Gold Coins! Twenty!!"
She yelled at Gojo while her heart bled.
Twenty Holy Gold Coins.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say she'd never taken a commission that lucrative in her entire life.
She'd finally gotten her hands on the item after all that effort, and then what?
It got ruined by this idiot right in front of her.
Gojo easily blocked her attacks with one hand while scratching his cheek with the other.
"Huh? That thing was really worth that much?"
"Obviously! I'm going to beat you to death!"
Felt snapped, her fists raining down like a storm.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hurt him at all.
Subaru, standing off to the side, still didn't really grasp the value of Holy Gold Coins.
But Gojo, who'd already spent a full day wandering the capital and even read up on this world's history, understood Felt all too well.
Twenty Holy Gold Coins were enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for many years.
For someone like Felt, who survived through theft, it was an unimaginable fortune.
She wailed on Gojo for a long while until she was panting from exhaustion, still without leaving so much as a scratch on him.
After venting, though, her head finally cooled.
The important thing now wasn't wasting time here. It was figuring out how to make up for her losses.
After resting for a bit, Felt made her decision.
"Hey."
"You ruined my commission and cost me twenty Holy Gold Coins."
"Those twenty coins count as a debt you owe me."
"You and this guy will pay it back together."
"Huh?"
"Why am I dragged into this too?"
Subaru didn't know exactly how much twenty Holy Gold Coins were worth.
But judging from Felt's reaction, it clearly wasn't a small amount.
For someone as broke as him, that was the last thing he needed.
What kind of hero shows up in another world and immediately ends up buried in debt?
"And I'm a victim too! He even deliberately called me Satoru Gojo earlier. Didn't you hear that?"
Subaru argued earnestly, trying to escape this miserable outcome.
"No problem!"
"It's just twenty Holy Gold Coins. That's nothing for my partner!"
"Right, protagonist's partner!"
"Am I just here to take the blame? And isn't it supposed to be you who's the protagonist?"
"That stuff's flexible. I think guest-starring once in a while is fine. Who knows, maybe someday you'll even play the villain and get defeated by me."
"..."
Subaru turned and looked at Felt.
"I'm starting to understand how you feel."
"Do you have any ideas on how to teach this guy a lesson?"
"That's really hurtful. What about our bond? Is our friendship falling apart before it even starts?"
"And whose fault do you think that is?!"
---
After a round of friendly negotiations.
The three of them reached an agreement in the alley.
In less than three hours since Natsuki Subaru arrived in this world, thanks to Satoru Gojo, he found himself saddled with a massive debt of twelve and a half Holy Gold Coins.
From that moment on.
Felt officially became their creditor.
The two formerly idle men were successfully reduced to part-time laborers.
"I don't know why, but I feel like the future's nothing but darkness. This is not the otherworld adventure I was hoping for."
Following behind Felt, Subaru muttered gloomily.