The tiny voice barely stood out in the noisy Shrine and was soon drowned out by the others, but Krov heard it. He froze where he stood.
Could Medusa have been here all along?
Had Medusa been beside me all this time?
"What are you talking about, Thea? Don't make things up. Apologize to this man... I'm sorry, sir. My daughter's just making things up. Please don't take it to heart..."
A white woman who appeared to be the little girl's mother held her daughter close. She scolded the girl, then apologized to Krov herself.
To her, Krov was just a strange man dressed a little like someone from a movie. There was no young woman on his back. Her daughter must have been lying.
"N-no problem." Krov forced a faint smile, his voice trembling slightly. "...Can you tell me what the young woman you saw looked like?"
"There wasn't any young woman. My child made it all up, sir. Please don't pay her any mind."
The girl's mother answered before her, irritation showing on her face.
There were so many people in the Shrine. If this strange man really had a young woman on his back, someone would have noticed by now. No one had said a word. Her daughter was plainly lying to tease him.
She decided she would have a serious talk with her daughter when they got home and make sure she understood that lying was wrong.
While she was thinking, the little girl spoke. "The young woman was very pretty."
Krov paused. Then he remembered how young the girl was. How could a child her age describe someone's features accurately?
He crouched until his face was level with hers and asked in a voice that was half plea, half prayer, "Did the young woman you