“Ugh, it’s not like that,” I muttered, taking another bite of tuna to avoid her probing gaze. “It’s just… I think I did something terrible to someone who tried to be o me yesterday.”Sophia raised an eyebrow, her i clearly piqued. “Hmm, I see,” she said, leaning in slightly with a pyful smile. “Well, spill it! Tell me all about it. I’m excellent at giving romance advice. I’ve lived long enough to see tless buds of love bloom—and wilt.”I hesitated, gng down at the food in my hands. “It’s not romance,” I insisted, though my voice cked fidence. “I just… I left without saying anything. He was kind, and I just—vanished.”Sophia’s expression softened, her teasing demeanor fading slightly. “Ah, so it’s guilt, huh?” she said, resting her on her palm. “But sometimes, a little guilt is just the first step toward doing something right. Are you pnning to fix it?”I fidgeted, unsure of how to answer. “I don’t know… What if it’s already too te?”Sophia grinned mischievously, her wings fluttering slightly as if preparing for some grand procmation. “It’s oo te, Mashiro! And if it’s romance, eveer! Just go back, sweep him off his feet, and fess your undying love—”“It’s not romance!” I interrupted, my face burning.Sophia let out a melodramatic sigh. “Fine, fine. But seriously, just talk to him. Even if it’s not romantic, people appreciate hoy. You might be surprised.”I mulled over her words in silehe waves gently crashing against the shore in the background.“Let me tell you how us, dragonborn apologizes.” Sophia put her hand inside her maid pocket, and pulled out a bunch of treasures such as rings, earrings, bracelets, s made out of gold and jewelry. “Treasures are treasures! More treasure means more sincere dragons! So just give this person the illuminating rainbow gem you collected from the monsters you defeated!”I sat in silence, chewing the tuna slowly as I mulled over Sophia's suggestion. The savory fvor leasant distra, but my mind was already rag. After swallowing, I finally spoke.“Well… he’s a human, not a dragon,” I said, my tohoughtful. “Besides, he was trying to give me that same gem to cheer me up before. So handing it ba might just feel... weird.”Sophia tilted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. “Oh? So this person gave you a treasure first? Iing. Maybe they were trying to tell you something.”I ignored her teasing smirk and pced my hand under my , tapping it lightly as I pondered. “But... a gift, huh? That might not be such a bad idea. Even if it’s not the gem, maybe giving him something meaningful would show that I’m sorry.”“Hm… if it’s not treasures, how about food?” Sophia said with a grin, her hands busy skewering the tentacles of the giant octopus alongside the tender ks of tuna. The fire crackled as she worked with practiced ease, her wings giving a small, satisfied flutter as she g her handiwork.After preparing a dozen or so skewers, she thrust them into my hands with a bright smile. “Here! Food is the universal nguage, right? Everyone loves a good meal, and it shows you care. Plus, who could stay mad at someone whs them fresh seafood?”I blinked, staring at the pile of skewers. “This feels a bit... excessive,” I said, trying to juggle the awkward weight of the makeshift feast. “Am I supposed to feed an army or something?”Sophia ughed, pg her hands on her hips. “Better to overdo it than underdo it! Besides, food is a symbol of hospitality and peace. Give this person these skewers, and I guarahey’ll five you. Or, at the very least, you’ll make their day better.” She winked. “I’ve seen more awkward apologies and budding romahan you imagirust me, this’ll work.”I sighed, shaking my head with a faint smile. “Fine, I’ll try it. But if this backfires, I’m bming you.”“Deal,” Sophia said with a pyful grin, sitting back down by the fire. “Now, go make peace! And don’t fet to smile—it’ll help.”I clutched the skewers, feeling both amused and uain. This might not have been the grand strategy I was expeg, but it was certainly... unique.While holding the skewers and mulling over the idea, a familiar bubble text appeared in the er of my vision:[+14 Octopus skewers][+19 Tuna Skewers]I sighed and shifted the weight in my hands, watg as the skewers shimmered and disappeared into my mysterious iory. "I'll give these to S, Lisa, and Elise as a token of apology," I muttered. "Maybe Roy and the other vilgers, too. If they're hungry, they’ll appreciate it."But then a thought struck me—could I even store food in my mysterious iory? I wasn’t sure how it worked, especially with something as perishable as food. There was no telling if it kept things fresh or if I’d end up handing out skewers of spoiled fish by act. The idea made my stomach .I sighed. "Well, I'll just deal with that ter. One problem at a time."Sophia’s voice broke through my thoughts. “What are you mumbling about over there, Mashiro?” She smirked from her spot by the fire, prodding the remaining ks of octopus with a stiothing,” I replied, brushing sand off my dress. Sophia stood up, her sharp eyes sing the horizon as she noticed a fiery glow in the distahe fireball shot up into the sky from the dire of the mountain, lighting up the atmosphere.“Well, it seems like my babysitting shift has e,” she said, a hint of excitement in her voice. “I’ll take you bae to Catherine’s house.”Before I could respond, she had already moved toward me. In an instant, I found myself swept up in her arms, her wings unfurling dramatically like a phoenix taking flight. I barely had time to finish swallowing the st bite of my meal before we were hurtling through the air.The wind rushed past me, tugging at my clothes and hair as we asded higher into the sky. My stomach dropped from the sudden movement, but I quickly steadied myself, trying to ighe dizzyiion. Sophia’s grip was firm, ae her pyful demeanor, there was an undeniable strength in how she carried me.“Waaait~!” I excimed as she halted abruptly in midair, her wings frozen in pce. “ you take me to the vilge instead? I want to give them the seafood directly, as quickly as possible.”I had no idea how long the food would stay fresh in there, or if it would spoil altogether. The thought made me uneasy.With a flick of her wings, she shifted dire, turning toward the vilge. I gnced over the ndscape as we began to desd, the peaceful view of the beaow repced with the familiar sight of the vilge led between the hills.

  Sophia adjusted her grip on me, flying a little lower, her wings cutting through the air with a graceful ease. “Alright, vilge it is. Hold on tight.” I tightened my hold around her, watg as the vilge grew closer, hoping that my hasty decision wouldn’t backfire.Sophia's wings slowed as she desded toward the outskirts of the vilge. The wind shifted, and I braced myself for nding. “Here we are,” she said with a satisfied grin. “Ready to deliver your apology, I guess?”“Thanks, Sophia,” I nodded, feeling a bit nervous but determined. “Well, I o hurry or my employer would be angry,” said Sophia as she brushed off her maid uniform and spread her wings once more as her feet left the ground. “Bye, Mashiro.”Before I could even respond, Sophia was already lifting off the ground, her wings beating strongly as she asded into the sky. The breeze from her takeoff blew my hair back, and I squinted up at her, now floating high above."Goodbye, and thanks," I muttered to myself, before turning my attention forward, my heart set on reag Lisa’s restaurant.I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what y ahead, and started walking toward the vilge ter. The sun was still high in the sky, but I was determio deliver the food and apologize, no matter hoard or stra might feel. As I walked, the familiar sounds of vilge life reached my ears—chatter, the rhythmic king of tools, children’s ughter.I walked toward Lisa’s restaurant and inn, my steps slow and steady, though my thoughts raced with uainty. The sign still hung outside, signaling that it was closed for the day. I hesitated for a moment, then knocked gently on the door.

  “Lisa, are you there?” I called softly, my voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

  The door creaked open, but to my surprise, it wasn’t Lisa who greeted me. Instead, Elise appeared, her hair disheveled, and her eyes half-lidded as she rubbed them groggily.“Ah, Miss Mashiro…” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. She yawhen bli me, clearly still adjusting to being awake. “Big sister is… resting.”Her words were soft and unhurried, as though she were trying to make sense of the situation while still caught in the haze of sleep. I stood there for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt rise in my chest, but I pushed it down. This wasn’t the time for hesitation.“Is she... alright?” I asked quietly, ed about slipping through despite my attempts to stay posed.

  Elise’s sleepy expression faltered, her gaze dropping to the floor. She bit her lip and shuffled unfortably, as if weighing her words. Finally, she whispered, “She’s… not gettier.”