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“Alice, earlier—the butcher, Bede¹—”

As I sipped my tea while comforting Noche, who was slumped face-down on the desk with her tail between her legs, Sufi returned with a bag in hand, looking rather conflicted. She’d been tasked with gathering ingredients for potions.

“He came bringing meat, and then he told me, ‘We’re in this mess because you didn’t leave sooner! I’m taking pity on you, so I’ll give you this!’ But Sufi made it clear we don’t need any of that! And turned him down.”
“That’s just like you, big sis.”

Vade seems to have learned a little—he’s getting close, but he’s still making fatal mistakes.

Even if he were a super-handsome rich guy, he’d still be on the borderline of being suspicious.

“He’s got quite a rough road ahead of him, too.”
“You know him, Chytis George?”
“Yeah, the kid from the butcher shop in the lower town, right? He said he wanted to take the exam, so I gave him a preliminary test. You rarely see a kid with such low scores trying to join the Alchemists’ Guild, so I actually ended up remembering him.”
“I see.”
“Nya, I heard from Midd that he’d started saying; ‘I’m gonna be a bigger adventurer than she’s an alchemist!’ nya.”

I have to give him credit for his drive and quick thinking.

That said, if I hadn’t been recommended and had to start from the basics, I might have been in trouble too.

“Well, that’s just how children are. Anyway, I think we should head back soon.”
“I suppose so.”

Chytis Philip and Chytis George stood up. Philip brushed the dust off his coat, picked up the box of potions, and looked at me quietly.

“Chytis Alice, you really don’t need to worry about it. Not a single alchemist here regrets acting to protect you all.”
“……”

It’s something that’s been on my mind lately. We’re included in the list of targets.

I’m doing what I can do best, but I feel like I’m just causing trouble, and it makes me uncomfortable being here. That feeling has been gnawing at me.

It seems he saw right through me, and I feel a little embarrassed. My rational mind is telling me correlation is not causation, but still…

It must be because the Divine Soldier clearly targeted me. Even though I know the encounter was just a coincidence, that lingering unease still remains.

“Why go that far?”

That unease is why the question slipped out—a genuine question. I know Chytis Philip owes a debt to Grandpa, but there must be a limit. It would be one thing if he sold us outright, but I wouldn’t hold a grudge if he suddenly casted us out.

Why would he accept us to this extent?

“Let me think. Maybe it’s because you… all of you are good kids.”
“……?”

Caught off guard by those unexpected words, I tilted my head in confusion. I know Sufi and the others are good kids—that goes without saying. But does that include me, too?

“Everyone knows you were working so hard for your friends even though you’re frail, even when the commotion broke out. We’ve also heard how your friends helped clean not just the orphanage but the common areas of the staff dormitory too, Chytis Alice.”

When I looked back, all three of them looked away, looking a little embarrassed.

Apparently, without me knowing, everyone had been helping out with cleaning and chores at the staff dorm.

“I was just bored and couldn’t sit still, nya.”
“We owe them, after all…”
“Sufi had nothing to do, so…”

They could at least tell me—wait, I’ve also been holding things from them, huh.

“Of course, the female staff members are on your side, too. They’re keeping a close eye on things to make sure no unwanted pests get near you.”
“……”
“I know you’re trying to be considerate to us, even today. However, Chytis Alice, you’re a fully capable alchemist in your own right. I won’t ask you to stop helping us, I don’t want to hurt your pride as an alchemist, but I want you to know that you don’t have to push yourself so hard.”
“Mm.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that gentle tone.

When I gave only a short reply, Chytis Philip gave a faint, wry smile with just the corners of his mouth.

“The biggest reason I accepted you at first was certainly that you were the Old Master’s adopted daughter. But thanks to you, the Alchemists’ Guild has become a much more refreshing place, you know that?”
“It used to be a stuffy, all-male workplace, after all. Once a girl—even if she was just a kid—started coming in and out, the guys finally started paying attention to their appearance. Then again, maybe the level of your skill at your age is a bit too much for some, Chytis Alice.”

I hadn’t really noticed, but compared to when I first arrived, the alchemists in the workshop did seem to be better groomed.

I guess when you’re cooped up in the workshop, opportunities to interact with female staff are kept to a minimum.

“So, how do I say this? Just don’t worry about it—it’s okay to lean on us adults. You’re still just kids, after all. We like to think we have that kind of generosity.”
“Chytis Philip.”
“It’s only natural for adults to protect children. At least, that’s what I hope to be. Well… that’s all I wanted to say. Sorry to bother you.”

With that, Chytis Philip and Chytis George left the staff dormitory with smiles on their faces.

“…I used to think all humans were the same, nya, but they’re actually nice guys, huh?”
“Yeah.”

Hearing that directly from Chytis Philip honestly lifted a weight on my shoulders.

…It’s natural for adults to protect children, huh. I feel like it’s the first time anyone’s ever told me that.

The adults around me were all self-serving in my past life. Even Captain wasn’t much different in that regard.

There might have been some who treated me that way, but they never said it out loud.

Just those few words can make your heart feel warm.

Just a little longer, until our travel preparations are complete. Is it okay for us to stay here?

“Whoa!”

Startled by Sufi’s voice, I jumped to my feet just as a west wind swept in through the open lounge window.

When I turned toward it, the strong wind made my tail sway. It was a pleasant breeze, carrying the scent of a sunny day, as if it were pushing me forward.

***

#Author’s Note:#

The adults are working hard again today—surely because they want to make that the norm.

**“Ears Facing West, Tail Facing East,”** is complete.

I’ve made many blunders in pacing my story, and this volume gives me a lot of homework to do.
There’s too many mistakes to revise, so instead I’ll try to apply what I’ve learned to future chapters.
The next volume is **“Frozen Wings Dream of the Sky”** …please look forward to it.