I will finally embark on the road of no return called hero

No casualties. That was the good news.

The bad news? A ridiculously expensive dress had been sacrificed, along with an equally outrageous sum in security systems. Oh, and let's not forget the priceless statue that got utterly obliterated.

Yeah… definitely not a small loss.

"Consider it a learning experience," Luviagelita Edelfelt said, twirling a strand of her signature drill-like curls. She sat there, utterly unbothered by the fact that her now-ruined dress left her legs completely exposed. "Well worth it."

That's rich, coming from the actual rich girl.

Cyd shot her a deadpan look from where he lay sprawled on the table, his gaze flicking toward the extravagant, over-the-top parfait in front of her. "Sure, sure. Just make sure you actually learn from it. Otherwise, it's just a really expensive mistake."

"Of course~" Luvia crossed her legs, smirking. "I now fully understand that your hand-to-hand combat is superior to mine."

"…That's not what I meant," Cyd sighed, rubbing his temple.

"E-Er, Luvia, I don't think he was talking about that…" Gray chimed in cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Oh?" Luvia tilted her head, completely unfazed as she took another bite of her needlessly decorative parfait.

"That spell array was way overdesigned," Cyd said flatly. "If you'd toned it down just a little, you could've avoided a lot of unnecessary chaos… and, you know, damage."

Luvia blinked. Then, ever so casually, she pushed the parfait away.

"Wow, that's a first," Reines Archisorte drawled, folding her arms as she smirked. "The infamous Hyena of the Edelfelt actually listening to reason?"

Luvia scoffed, tossing her hair. "How rude. I am always reasonable."

Yeah, sure. If getting drop-kneed into a wall counts as a "learning experience," then she's super reasonable.

"Well, it's not like this is a big loss for you." Reines sighed, shaking her head. "You just bought this entire department store outright after the mess."

"Of course! Anything valuable should be claimed without hesitation." Luvia let out a rich, aristocratic laugh, covering her mouth with one hand.

Cyd glanced at Reines. "This is why her family gets called scavengers."

Reines could only sigh in agreement.

Then, she turned to Gray, pulling out a revealing, off-shoulder dress from Trimmau's metallic grip. "Anyway, since the incident is handled, we should move on."

"Oh-ho? I have quite a collection I could contribute~" Luvia's eyes sparkled as she eyed Gray up and down like a prized doll.

Gray, naturally, shrank back.

Sensing danger, Cyd pushed back his chair and stretched. "Yeah, you all have fun with that. I'll pass on this girls' night or whatever."

"A shame," Luvia sighed dramatically. "I would've loved to learn more of your techniques."

"Oh~?" Reines' smirk widened. "Don't tell me you've got your eye on him now?"

Luvia scoffed. "Excuse me! I do not just claim people like objects!"

"Uh-huh. That's definitely not how you operate," Reines said dryly.

Cyd, wisely, decided that was his cue to leave.

"Wait—wait! I'm coming too!" Gray hastily stood up, panic clear in her expression.

She had every right to be worried. If she stayed, Luvia and Reines would no doubt treat her like a life-sized dress-up doll, and Gray was awful at saying no. No matter how much she protested, she'd inevitably end up parading around in whatever frilly, embarrassing outfits they picked.

Reines snapped her fingers. "Fine, you can go. But—" her smile turned devious, "you have to wear this dress on the way back."

Gray's face fell.

It was off-shoulder.

And just to make things worse, Trimmau devoured the bag containing her regular clothes.

"Ahahahaha! Guess you'll have to go naked then—ACK!"

Add gasped mid-laugh as Gray violently shook his container, rattling him against the metal bars.

And so, with no other choice, Gray ended up trudging behind Cyd, clad in the elegantly humiliating dress, her face buried in her hands. Worse, she had to carry Add's cage, the strange cube making her look even weirder to every passerby.

People were staring.

Gray hunched over, trying to shrink into herself. This is humiliating… I look ridiculous…

"Seriously."

A warm fabric draped over her shoulders.

Gray flinched, then slowly peeked out. A familiar long coat now covered her bare arms, shielding her from prying eyes.

Cyd adjusted the collar, sighing. "Relax a little, will you?"

For a moment, Gray thought of her mentor, El-Melloi II. His usual, careful way of looking out for her.

"…Thank you, Mr. Cyd." She took his offered hand and stood up properly.

He gave her a lopsided smile. "Try having some confidence in yourself." Then, without warning, he pulled the coat's hood over her head.

Gray blinked in surprise at the sudden warmth.

"I'm fine like this," she mumbled, holding onto her sleeves.

Cyd tilted his head. "Yeah, well. If you say so." He reached over and casually plucked Add's cage from her hands.

"Hey—HEY! Put me down, brat!" Add protested.

Cyd tossed the cage in the air and caught it effortlessly. "What is this thing anyway?"

"HEY, STOP THROWING ME AROUND!"

Gray sighed. "Please don't make him angrier…"

Cyd snorted. "Yeah, yeah. I just put him somewhere he can scream all he wants."

"…Wait, what?"

Before Add could complain further, a swarm of black scaled tendrils slithered out from Cyd's scarf, snapping shut around the cage like a Venus flytrap.

Add let out a strangled screech before vanishing into the black mass.

Gray's jaw dropped. "A-Add…?"

"Relax." Cyd waved a hand. "I just sent him somewhere he can shout his lungs out without bothering us."

Gray, still unsure what just happened, exhaled. "…Thank you."

Cyd grinned. "It's only natural." He lightly flicked her forehead. "A hero's supposed to help when he sees someone who needs it."

Gray's eyes widened slightly at that.

The protective gesture, the bright warmth in his eyes, the faint shimmer of light across his bracer… He really is like a hero from legend.

"You've saved a lot of people, haven't you?" she asked.

Cyd shrugged. "Not that many."

Gray frowned. "But in myths—"

"In myths," Cyd cut in, his expression turning distant, "people need a pure, selfless hero. Someone to give them hope. But I'm not that guy. I never was." He exhaled. "Sometimes, I feel like the one they sing about isn't me at all."

Gray shook her head, her eyes shining with conviction. "No. You are."

Cyd blinked, caught off guard.

Then, he laughed. "You're a sweet kid, Gray." He ruffled her hair.

Gray flushed, quickly looking away.

"…Anyway," Cyd said, smirking, "since you're all dressed up, how about showing your teacher?"

"Absolutely not!"

"…You do realize your real clothes are with Reines, right?"

Gray hesitated.

Then, clutching his sleeve, she looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Cyd… help."

Cyd chuckled. "You're a handful, kid."

And then, with an exaggerated grin—

"…But I refuse