I brought the orders out not long after.
Three plates. Set them down one by one.
"Sorry for the wait."
"Mmm—" Libel was already leaning forward before I finished setting down her plate. She took one long breath over the steak and turned to the table with both eyes closed. "Sibel. Cia. L.E.T.A."
A beat of silence.
Cia tilted her head. "…L.E.T.A?"
Sibel glanced at his sister's expression — already halfway to triumphant — and sighed through his nose.
"Let's Eat Them All. It's her thing."
"It's not a thing, it's a tradition—"
"Same difference."
"It's not—"
"Let's eat," Sibel said.
Libel opened her mouth. Closed it. Picked up her fork with slightly more force than necessary.
I watched from a step back.
Then my eyes moved to Cia.
She had set down her staff and clasped both hands together in front of her, eyes closed, lips moving quietly.
A prayer.
Something tightened in my chest without warning.
Dia used to do that.
The same posture. The same quiet focus before a meal — hands folded, head slightly lowered, like the food in front of her was worth a moment of real gratitude.
"Thank you for this opportunity, Lord…"
I looked away before I could hear the rest.
No.
Dia from that world is gone. This is a different person.
Don't carry that here.
First love was hard to forget. I knew that already.
But knowing it didn't make the weight of it any lighter.
I went back to the bar and waited for the dinner crowd to thin out.
---
Moments later..
By the time the last customers left, the three of them were still at their table — unhurried, the kind of tired that came from a long journey finally ending. Libel was leaning back with one arm over her stomach. Sibel had both elbows on the table, turning his cup slowly.
I walked over.
"How was everything?"
"Delicious," Sibel said. "It's been a while since we had a proper meal."
"Right?" Libel straightened up. "That steak — the sauce especially. I could've had another one."
"You already had enough for two people," Sibel said.
"That's called appreciation."
Cia smiled quietly. "The atmosphere here is really warm. I like it."
I knocked once on the counter behind me.
"Fu-fun~ of course. Our tavern are the best in the city."
A comfortable silence settled for a moment.
Then, as naturally as I could manage:
"Lot of outsiders passing through lately. City's gotten busier."
Sibel nodded. "The raid on the Demon King's castle. It's north of here — most parties are using Anvil City as a checkpoint before they push forward."
I pulled out the nearest chair and sat down.
"Are you three part of one of those parties?"
"We should be," Libel said. "But our party is short on people. Last quest, Cia almost got ambushed from behind. We barely made it in time."
"Ahaha…" Cia touched the back of her neck. "I'm used to having someone covering that position. I haven't quite adjusted yet."
I turned it over quietly.
Backline support. So they need someone to keep the backline safe so Sibel could focus at front.
In the previous world, that was exactly what I did.
If I join their party — I might actually be useful this time.
"In that case," I said, "what if I help you guys to fill that role?"
Silence.
The three of them looked at me.
Then Libel burst out laughing.
"Pfft — pu-hahahaha!" She pointed at me without hesitation. "You? You look like you've never even held a sword in your life. Im~pos~sible~."
She wasn't wrong, technically.
I had trained for six days. In a backyard. Against a dummy. Alone.
"Libel," Sibel said. "Don't be rude to him."
"I'm being honest—"
"Th — that's not true." The words came out before I could stop them. "I train every morning. Sword basics, stamina — everything. I also have experience covering the backline. And my body isn't weak either, look—"
I flexed my right arm.
Immediately regretted it.
Gaaaaaaaah. What am I doing.
The three of them stared at me in silence.
"Ufufu~" Cia covered her mouth. "You really have been training. I don't think he's lying, Sibel." She tilted her head slightly. "And I think he seems reliable."
Libel turned to her. "And what exactly is that based on?"
"Woman's instinct. Ehehe~"
"…Woman's instinct."
Sibel looked at Cia with a mildly defeated expression.
"D.U.W.I!" Libel announced, nodding along like Cia had just won an argument.
I blinked. "D.U.W.I?"
Sibel pinched the bridge of his nose. "Don't Underestimate Woman's Instinct, you said, eh."
A pause.
"But no. What we need is a veteran mercenary. We need someone to actually have experience on the role" He stood. The other two followed. "Thank you for your offer. Well then—"
I stood.
"Please wait!"
They stopped.
"At least give me a chance to prove it." My voice came out steadier than I expected. "I believe I'm the only person who can fill that role in your party. Please — trust me."
Silence.
Sibel looked at me.
His eyes were quiet. Not cold — just reading.
…The look of his eyes filled with desperation. Why is he so desperate to join?
…I should at least hear his reason.
"Alright, fine." He sat back down.
The other two followed.
"Then let's start with introductions." He set both arms on the table. "I'm Sibel. That's Libel — my sister. And beside her is Cia. We each have our own goal, but we happen to share the same destination."
"I'm Satou," I said. "Son of the owner of this Tavern and Inn."
Silence fell over the table again.
But this time it felt different.
Sibel and Libel both turned to look at Cia at the same time.
Her expression had gone very still.
The soft warmth from before — the easy smile, the quiet laugh — all of it had pulled back at once, like a candle suddenly shielded from wind. Something moved behind her eyes. Something she was working very hard to keep inside.
"Sa… Satou?"
"Yes. That's my name."
She didn't move for a moment.
Then she was out of her chair.
Both hands gripping my shoulders. Eyes wide open. Her staff nearly toppled behind her.
"A — are you Satou?!"