[Ding~ Congratulations to the host on successfully unlocking "Sage Eye: Sharingan."]
The system notification sounded in Ron's mind, but this time, instead of feeling excited or expectant as he had before, he felt a faint heaviness welling up inside.
He lay on the Kuja stone sculpture, gazing at the sky, then slowly raised a hand to shield himself from the glaring light. Only then did he discover that a dream had left him shedding tears without even realizing it.
Whoosh~
Just then, a figure landed on another snake-shaped stone sculpture nearby.
She had been about to say something, but the moment she saw Ron's face clearly, her voice caught in her throat.
So... even the strong sneak off somewhere deserted to cry? she thought.
Ron turned his head slightly toward the figure standing nearby. It was one of the Kuja Warriors from Amazon Lily whom he had saved earlier.
"S-sorry, Mr. Benefactor, I didn't see anything! Really! I didn't see a thing!" The warrior abruptly turned her head away.
Ron: "..."
He had barely minded what had just happened, but her words made him feel as though he had to do something about it.
"Need something?" Ron asked.
The warrior did not look at Ron, her gaze still fixed in another direction. "I just came to thank you... A lot of people don't know, but I do. If you hadn't arrived in time, Lady Shakky would have been taken away, and Amazon Lily would have suffered total destruction."
"Why aren't you looking at me when you speak?" Ron asked.
"Because, because..." The warrior sounded awkward, as though words were stuck on her lips and she simply could not get them out.
Ron said nothing, merely watching her quietly.
After fidgeting awkwardly for quite a while, the warrior finally