After the tumultuous night passed, morning broke.
I had barely managed to wash Aiz and put her to bed, and only just fallen asleep myself, but I was able to see the next sunrise safely.
"..."
Wondering if Aiz was suffering from a hangover, I opened the door and found her burying her face in the bed, her cheeks flushed red.
"...!...!"
"Looks like you didn't black out after all."
"..."
"Try to hold back on the drinking from now on."
"...Got it."
How had she gotten drunk after half a drink?
Was it because she had grown closer to a spirit?
...No, if that were the case, I should be getting drunk that easily too.
"Today's the expedition, right? Any hangover?"
"Hangover?"
"Like nausea, or feeling off."
"...Not really."
That was a relief.
Unless something happened, the expedition wouldn't start until the afternoon, so there was plenty of time to rest.
"Anything you want to eat?"
"...Potato balls."
Did we even have any potatoes at home?
I'd forgotten to buy ingredients, so I headed out to do some shopping.
Aiz said she would come with me, but since it was better for her to rest the day after drinking, I left her lying in bed.
"How much for a sack of potatoes?"
"[Let's buy some habanero too.]"
That was cheaper and better quality at another shop, so I'd buy it there.
"One hundred valis."
"Here you go."
I'd already arranged for the rest of the ingredients to be delivered by the Demeter Familia, so after I made a few more stops, I'd be done shopping.
"H-Hey, big brother!"
"Bell?"
While I was walking around to buy potatoes and the rest of the ingredients, I spotted Bell.
"What's wrong? Why do you look so frantic?"
"V-Vine... Vine...!"
"...Take it slow and explain."
Had she been found out? Or was this a kidnapping?
"Vine... is... at Ganesha..."
"...First, explain who Vine is."
That way, I'd at least know who I was supposed to be defending.
[From what I can tell, Vine is a monster with human-level intelligence.]
Her body looked human, though?
[Hmm... I'd need to look more closely to know for sure.]
But wasn't she being taken away?
[...Ah.]
For now, I should hear Bell out first.