Lucy, who'd already found the time to read the entire book, stepped forward and began recounting everything that had happened that day, along with the secret hidden within its pages that no one else knew about.
"...So you see, this wasn't just your father's worst failure of a book. It's actually his most perfect work, one meant only for the family he loved."
As her words trailed off, the magic sealed within the book activated. The words written across its pages, inscribed with a special enchantment, began shifting and rearranging themselves. Before everyone's eyes, the book transformed entirely into a different title.
To My Dear Kabi.
Staring at the new title, memories of his late father's face and voice came rushing back to Kabi all at once. He was overwhelmed instantly by a deep wave of regret and guilt, clutching the book, his father's final gift to him, and breaking down into tears. His wife wrapped her arms around him too, tears spilling freely as she quietly wept and wiped at her eyes.
"...Let's go."
Not wanting to intrude on the couple any further, Sorano turned and started for the door without ceremony.
"Wait, please, all three of you."
Seeing the women who'd helped him uncover the truth about to leave, Kabi hurriedly wiped his tears and called out to stop them.
"The reward, I still haven't paid you the reward..."
"Keep that little bit of money for yourselves. Besides, we never actually completed the job, did we? That book's still sitting right there, undestroyed."
With that, Sorano pulled Lucy, who looked like she wanted to say something, along with her and walked straight out the door. Meredy, trailing behind, glanced back at Kabi as he moved to chase after them, raised a hand to stop him, and added with a smile.
"Compared to that money, we care a lot more about our success rate on jobs. If it's not too much trouble, could you send a letter to the guild confirming the job's been completed?"
"Of course, that's no problem at all, just..."
Kabi tried to say more, but Meredy had already hurried out the door, catching up with Sorano and Lucy. Watching the three of them walk away without a single backward glance, the couple stepped outside and bowed deeply toward their retreating figures, overflowing with gratitude.
"I can't believe Sis Sorano's actually got such a soft heart under that cold exterior. We're out two hundred thousand J, but somehow this still feels pretty good."
Lucy leaned her head against Meredy's shoulder, still savoring the memory of the three of them walking away without looking back.
Hearing this, Meredy shot her a sidelong look, dripping with disdain.
"Please. You were clearly still hoping for that reward money earlier. I remember you looking absolutely crushed the second Sorano turned it down."
"Wha, what are you talking about, I've just never dealt with something like that before, I was a little slow to react, that's all."
"Liar. I think you're only being this generous about it because of the five hundred thousand J bonus from the city guard. If it weren't for that, you'd already be crying on my shoulder about it."
Caught out again, Lucy immediately turned her head away, unable to meet Meredy's eyes, clearly guilty as charged. Meredy covered her mouth and let out a quiet, satisfied laugh at that.
Just then, Sorano, who'd been resting with her arms crossed and eyes closed off to the side, suddenly opened her eyes and spoke up.
"Alright, that's enough teasing her. Honestly, I feel the same way. If it weren't for that bonus from the city guard, I would have squeezed every last coin out of that client regardless of how poor he actually was. Both of you, remember this: this time was a special case. Next time you run into a situation like this, you still collect what you're owed. Don't be foolish enough to work for free out of sympathy."
Lucy and Meredy stopped their bickering and nodded along earnestly through Sorano's little lecture, showing they understood.
But just then, Sorano's tone shifted abruptly, her gaze dropping to Lucy's waist.
"Besides, didn't we also walk away with a rather valuable prize this time? Compared to that, a measly two hundred thousand hardly matters at all. Wouldn't you agree, Lucy?"
"Ah, yes, yes of course~ Haha."
Forcing out an awkward laugh, Lucy instinctively reached down and covered the Zodiac key sitting safely at her waist.
"So, um, Sis Sorano, how do you think we should divide up this key?"
"Well now... naturally, it goes to whoever offers the most for it."
"Eh?!"