Without waiting for Cid to respond, Riveria pulled a pile of tools out of her pocket.
This time, she really had come as bait—and indeed had no reinforcements.
But Finn wasn't sending her here to die. Beforehand, he had arranged for her to meet Asfi of the Hermes Familia.
And now, Riveria had brought a whole stash of miraculous items made by "the Universal One."
Among them were tools capable of detecting and suppressing curses.
Relying on those items—and on her own understanding of curses—Riveria found a section of stone wall.
After some probing, she confirmed there was a passage inside.
"If nothing unexpected happens," Riveria said, "the tunnel beyond should be the Dark Faction's base."
Seeing Riveria turn back with a look of approval, Cid felt there might still be a way to salvage this.
"Finding this is only because you're so knowledgeable, Riveria. I just blurted out a random thought—how could I be called a 'great benefactor'?"
He shook his head like a rattle drum.
No. Absolutely not. This credit could not be pinned on him.
Riveria needed to understand: he'd only moved his lips in a safe place.
The adventurers on the front line were the ones bleeding and fighting the Dark Faction—those were the real benefactors, the real heroes!
Compared to them, Cid was just a mob character. How could he shamelessly claim to be a "great benefactor"?
Unthinkable. Completely unthinkable.
"Don't be so modest," Riveria said. "Some things sound simple once spoken, but without the right idea, you might never think of them in a lifetime."
Cid's protest clearly didn't convince her.
She couldn't open the "door" yet, but the mere fact that they now knew how to locate it was already a major contribution.
From now on, the Dark Faction's location would no longer be impossible to trace.
Riveria understood Cid's awkwardness—but didn't agree with it.
In her view, Cid might possess an "ability" even more valuable than Finn's.
Not a blessing skill or magic.
But Finn's peculiar thumb.
When danger was approaching, Finn's thumb would sting.
With that unique trait—and his sharp mind—Finn had become captain of the Loki Familia.
Even now, with Orario locked in confrontation against the Dark Faction, the Ganesha Familia frequently relied on Finn's advice.
That "ability" had played a crucial role in building his formidable reputation.
Cid's version of such an ability—Riveria thought—could be called "Ultra-Intuition."
Maybe Cid believed that because it wasn't earned through hard work, it wasn't something worth boasting about.
But were talent in physique, swordsmanship, or magic really "earned" through effort either?
The reality was: Cid had this special trait—and he'd shown it twice right in front of her.
With his talent, his "no upper limit" magic, and that unusual intuition, this young man might one day "take Finn's place."
Not as captain of the Loki Familia—
but as Orario's wartime command leader.
So there was no need for him to belittle himself.
"Riveria said so, so just accept it," Raul said, stepping up to pat Cid's shoulder.
The more he looked at his "bro," the more impressive Cid seemed.
If Cid's combat talent hadn't been just as average as his, and if their personalities weren't so similar, Raul might have believed they belonged to entirely different worlds.
"…I really did just say one random sentence," Cid said, forcing out a normal-looking smile. "If I get treated like some benefactor over that, it's embarrassing. Please don't tell anyone."
At this point, retreat was the only option.
If the "benefactor" story didn't spread, then everything else was manageable.
"Relax. If you don't want to advertise it, we won't go around talking," Ankie promised. "But we will have to report this to the captain and the others."
"…!"
Cid hadn't even finished feeling relieved from the first sentence before the second shoved him straight into the abyss.
So the big shots of Orario were going to learn about his "benefactor" status anyway!?
Aaaaargh!
…No. Think positively.
At least in front of ordinary people, he could still keep playing the mob.
And if they could locate the Dark Faction's base, that would reduce Orario's casualties and pressure—meaning it also reduced the chances of Alise and the others falling into danger.
That was a good thing.
So it wasn't a loss!
Not a loss—NOT A LOSS!
Cid worked hard to comfort himself.
Logic didn't matter. What mattered was that he successfully convinced himself.
"Um… the Dragon-Slaying Magic…" Ais finally blurted out, growing anxious as Cid and the others discussed things she didn't understand.
She was still young. There were lots of things she didn't get.
But could anything—anything—be more important than Dragon-Slaying Magic?
No. Obviously not.
"I'll use it right now," Cid said flatly. He didn't want to talk anymore.
Just hurry up. Fire off the once-per-day explosion. Then crash like a washed-up nobody.
Today's emotional damage had been heavy. Shadow needed a moment.
"…"
As Cid stepped up in front of her, Riveria was briefly confused.
Then she remembered: she'd said she had a "special method" to help Cid enter that state.
The problem was—she'd only said it offhand. She didn't actually have any such method.
But with Ais staring at her with bright, expectant eyes, Riveria had no choice but to play along.
Otherwise, there'd be no way to explain it later.
Only now did Riveria fully understand what it meant that one lie required countless lies to patch it up.
After thinking briefly, Riveria reached out, patted Cid's head, and cast a spell that made him look like he was glittering.
She'd heard Astraea say that Cid had a "heart even elves wouldn't find unpleasant."
Riveria didn't know why the goddess had nearly laughed when she said it—but the statement was true.
Meanwhile, Cid put on a perfectly-timed shy expression.
Without needing to think about mob-character secret arts, Cid returned to his usual state.
This confirmed it completely for Riveria:
Cid liked the "mature" type.
Even though Cid hadn't done anything, the fact that he had the thought was enough to make Riveria feel mortified and irritated.
The high-and-holy elf finally couldn't hold back—and flicked him on the head.
"Ow!"
Cid stared at her, baffled.
Was that really necessary?
"Did Cid enter the state?" Ais asked, believing that hit was part of the process.
"Wait… so the Dragon-Slaying Magic is real?" Raul muttered, starting to doubt his own assumptions since Riveria was cooperating too.
"Riveria…" Ankie's eyes turned strange, as if she'd realized something.
"…"
Meeting Ankie's gaze, Riveria immediately regretted hitting him.
Of course this girl became sharp at the worst possible moment.
…But if she hadn't hit him, Riveria would have regretted it too.
This overly bold young man really needed to be "educated."
"All right," Riveria said, face tightened into a poker-straight mask, utterly composed aside from that one strike. "I've helped Cid enter the state."
She was an old veteran. With her calm expression, she successfully made Ankie start questioning her own suspicion.
On the other side, Cid—still waiting for an explanation—was utterly lost.
Wait, so you can just bonk him without a reason?
Wasn't Riveria supposed to be the "highest and most pure" elf?
How does bullying people come with no accountability?
Is there no law? No justice?
Cid etched this grudge into his heart.
....
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