After opening the door of the fi room, as the rush of cold air and low pressure flowed out, Edward immediately saw the girl lying motionless oraw mat.

  The red and bck alternating wizard robe was stained with dust, and the girl's face was hidden uhe wizard hat. Edward, who hadn't seen this old friend for a few years, was surprised to find that she hadn't ged at all. He quickly said, "Hey Helena, long time no see."

  Upon hearing his words, the girl who had been lying on the ground like a dead fish suddenly moved. Leaning oaff tightly held in her hand, she slowly stood up and said, "Haha, long time no see, my ally and aremy Edward! I never expected that your power has been increasing since being separated from the Bck Star of the Spire. It really excites me. Ah, could this be the resoweewin stars..."

  Fag Helena's self-absorbed words, Edward's panion, Winry, couldn't help but ask, "What is this dy talking about?"

  "Well, you uand it as 'long time no see, didn't expect you, bastard, to be doier than me.'"

  Seeing Winry's puzzled expression, Helena quickly added, "That's not true! I'm not envious that this guy couldn't bee a wizard and still i the family business! I'm also not envious that this guy's magical power has been increasing even after leaving the Mage Tower!"

  "..."

  With a subtle expression, Edward, realizing that this person was still easy to uand, smiled helplessly and said, "By the way, how did you get here? sidering your situation, you probably 't even afford to use a teleportation array now..."

  Hearing his words, Helena, who had expressed dissatisfa due to the inequality between people, immediately said fidently, "Humph! 't guess, right? inally, I thought my fate would end because of the loss of my belongings. I didn't expeeet a kind person who offered help on the way, successfully reag the pce where my ally is. This is fate!"

  "What does that mean?"

  Seeing Winry's perplexity again, Edward just answered silently, "In simple terms, she lost her wallet on the way, and someone helped her. Otherwise, I doubt she could have made it to our southern border."

  "Oh."

  "And, this girl's wallet didn't have much money in it. If no one had helped, I doubt she could have reached us."

  Upon hearing Edward's words, Helena blushed immediately. After struggling to find words for a while, she couldn't tio pretend in front of her old friend and said tiredly, "Anyway, Edward, I haveen anything for three days. If possible, could you please treat me to something before the interview?"

  ...

  In Durin Family Castle, after Helena almost devoured the ptes, she finally sighed with relief and asked, "Although you mentioned a job in your letter, you haven't told me what kind of job it is! To be ho, this time I sold all my belongings after running out of the Mage Tower. If you don't tell me about the job that pays five gold s per month, I'll stay in this castle!"

  "Don't worry, I afford five gold s. But what about you? You owe more than fures i at the item shop in the capital, right..."

  Hearing Edward's words, Helena couldn't help but smile brightly and shook her head, "Hahaha, what are you talking about? How could I owe a debt of over fures? Don't uimate me! I owe a debt of over five figures, you know. I decided to leave the Mage Tower partly to avoid creditors."

  "What did you say? Over five figures?!"

  Seeing Edward's fused expression, Helena, who had beeing, suddenly showed a sad expression. She almost burst into tears and said, "I have no choice. After you were expelled from the Mage Tower, I had no pce to freeload, and someoold me that I could get a small loan with seemingly low i. So I agreed, not knowing that..."

  "Not knowing what?"

  "Not knowing that these magic crystal packs would be so attractive. I just took advantage of having some money after borrowing and opewenty packs without paying much attention. But that damn item shop was too deceitful. After openiy-eight packs, I realized that I had reached the limit of the small loan without realizing it and unknowingly owed a debt of over five figures! So, it's not my fault!"

  "Just get out of here!!"

  "Please don't! My credits are on the verge of expulsion this year. I only prehend the heart of the fire element, and I 't master magi other elements. I 't find a det job to repay the debt. The capital's shopping street has already bcklisted me. If I go baow, I'll definitely face wsuits!"

  "What does that have to do with me?! I 't afford to support someoh a five-figure debt! What if the Imperial Knights find me?! "

  Seeing Edward's determined look, the panicked Helena hurriedly said, "You are a baron, Edward– Lord Durin! Please don't abandon me! As long as you are willing to provide me with a pce to eat and bathe, I won't ask for any pensation. As long as you take me in and not tell the Knights about my whereabouts, I'm willing to do anything!"

  "Anything?"

  Edward, who had just shown a resolute expression, suddenly smiled. Oher hand, Helena, who was still trying to persuade Edward, felt a chill and subsciously covered her chest. Stepping back two steps, she muttered, "Uh, Edward, you're not that kind of persht..."

  "What kind of person do you think I am? Anyway, since you said you're willing to do anything..."

  pletely ign the shivering Helena, Edward, now smiling like a hungry wolf eyeing its prey, turo Winry, who had a subtle expression, and said, "Winry, is the outfit I asked you to make ready? Go get it and help her ge."

  "???"