"Is it really true your name is Satou?"
Her hands were still on my shoulders.
I looked at her face.
The tears at the edges of her eyes caught me off guard. Not grief exactly — more like the expression of someone who had been looking for something for a very long time and wasn't sure yet whether they had found it.
Why is she reacting like that?
Come to think of it, my father had called me Satou from the very first morning. I had assumed the name carried over automatically when I entered someone else's body. Some kind of system adjustment. Or maybe Hans's doing.
But this girl—
"Y — yes," I said carefully. "My name is Satou. But I don't think we've met before, Cia."
"B — but…"
Her hands trembled slightly where they gripped my shoulders.
Sibel spoke from across the table.
"Easy, Cia." His voice was calm. Measured. "There's more than one person named Satou in this world. It might just be a coincidence."
A moment passed.
Cia slowly let go and sat back down.
Her eyes dropped to the table. She pressed her lips together once.
I waited until she looked settled, then asked:
"Is there a reason my name surprised you that much?"
Sibel folded his hands on the table. "Do you remember what I said earlier? About each of us having our own goal?"
"That you all happen to share the same destination."
"Right." He glanced sideways. "Cia's goal is to find someone."
"Hee~" Libel leaned forward immediately. "And who exactly is that? Is he your boyfriend~?"
Cia's cheeks went faintly pink.
"…That's right," she said quietly. "He's my precious person. I've been looking for him for months now." A pause. "No matter how long it takes. Even if I have to search the entire world."
The room went a little quieter after that.
Someone who would travel the world just to find one person.
I thought about it.
And has the same name as me.
Something stirred in my chest. Quiet and sideways — the kind of feeling I didn't have a clean word for. I had no right to it either.
I'm just a side character in this world.
Even so.
I smiled.
"I hope you find him, Cia."
She looked up.
Then quickly looked back down, a faint color rising to her face.
"…Y — yes. Thank you."
A small silence.
Then I turned back to Sibel.
"So. How do I prove myself?"
He reached into his coat and placed a folded piece of paper on the table.
I picked it up.
HIRING PARTY.
We require a party to exterminate all monsters currently occupying the cave on the western outskirts of the city. Reward: 5 Gold. — Mayor of Anvil.
P.S. The Guild is offering an additional reward for the rescue of the previous party that accepted this quest.
"We picked this up this afternoon," Sibel said. "We leave in three days. Show us you're useful in there — and you're in."
I set the paper back down.
"Understood."
"Then we'll meet here when the time comes."
All three of them stood.
I walked them to the door.
Just before she stepped out, Cia turned back. Raised one hand in a small wave. A soft smile.
I waved back without thinking.
The door closed.
I stood there for a moment looking at the space they had left behind.
Someone named Satou.
What a strange coincidence.
I shook my head and turned back to the empty tavern.
Before any of that — there was still one thing I had to do.
---
The next morning.
I brought it up over breakfast.
My father listened without expression while I explained what had happened the night before. The party. The quest. The cave west of the city.
When I finished, he set down his cup.
"Ha? No."
I had expected that.
I stand up and pressed both hands flat on the table.
"Father. Please." I met his eyes. "I finally found something I want to do. And this might be my only chance. Please — let me go."
Silence.
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then exhaled.
"Haah. Whatever I say, you won't listen, will you?"
"That's right."
"Is it more important than the tavern?"
"That's right."
He stared at me.
Then stood and walked into the back storeroom without another word.
…Huh.
I was expecting father won't let me.
But a moment later, he came back.
A sword in its scabbard. Newer than the one I had been training with. The grip leather was clean. When I drew it a half inch, the edge caught the morning light without a single notch.
He set it on the table.
"You know," he said, "after your mother died, you told me you would stay here forever. That you'd take care of this tavern that me and your mom built." He didn't look at me when he said it. "Back then, you looked like someone who had given up on everything else."
I said nothing.
"But when I saw you in the backyard with that sword every morning — I felt relieved. That my son had finally found something he wanted."
"Father…"
He reached across the table and placed his hand on my head.
Just for a moment.
"Promise me one thing, Satou."
"What is it?"
"Come home safely."
"Yes. I promise."
He pulled his hand back. Picked up his cup. Returned to the kitchen without saying anything.
I looked at the sword on the table.
Then picked it up and went upstairs to prepare for the quest.