After having dinner at the Canary Restaurant in town, Sifa and Levtor strolled unhurriedly along a cobblestone path, walking off their lavish meal.
"I've already received 8,600 pounds from 'The World.' My personal assets are quite substantial now. If I get the Navy's 50,000-pound reward as well, I can truly be called a wealthy man, even in Backlund."
"Hmm, Miss Magician's two chapters of Spirit World Notes have arrived. This book is rather interesting. The author advises against making eye contact with creatures in the Spirit World for more than three seconds. Apparently, that counts as Provocation."
"And don't appear frightened or nervous. That will increase certain predators' urge to attack. What a nasty hobby."
As they passed Memorial Square, a small figure blocked Sifa's path. Timidly taking out a bouquet from the basket at her side, she said, "Mister, would you like to buy some flowers?"
Sifa looked down. She was a little girl of eight or nine, her hair braided into a single plait. She was trying hard to sniff back her snot, her little face reddened by the evening wind. Her thin clothes clearly did little to keep her warm.
"It's you?" Sifa remembered this girl. When he had just arrived in this world and returned to town with Bison, he had encountered her in an alley near Memorial Square.
Only then, this little thing named Kalina had been selling fruit rather than flowers.
The little girl froze for a moment. Then she noticed the faint scar beneath Sifa's eye, and her small mouth fell open. "S-Sifa, young master?"
Good. At least she didn't cry this time. Sifa frowned as he looked at the bouquet in her hands.
"What is all this? Aren't these wildflowers that can be picked anywhere outside town?"
"How much could they possibly