Half an hour earlier.
Caitlin, who had arrived in Kitakami by private plane, was walking down the streets of Verdant Town.
After making a round, she had acquired several shopping bags, but still hadn't found the person she had expected to see.
"Darach, take these things back to the villa for me."
With a sigh, Caitlin dumped everything she had just bought onto the butler behind her.
"Of course, miss."
Darach caught everything with practiced ease, leaving both his arms and all ten fingers laden with bags.
Still, as a perfectly polished butler, he maintained his brisk, breezy stride despite the load, stepping in front of Caitlin in just a few paces.
"But miss, which villa should I take them to?"
"Whichever. The closest one will do."
Caitlin waved impatiently. He could have decided something this trivial for himself.
Although villas in Kitakami were somewhat expensive, to someone who spent money like water, the price was nothing more than a string of numbers.
If she hadn't been worried that Darach would object, she would have simply bought the entire resort.
"Understood."
Only after Darach hurried away did Caitlin breathe a sigh of relief.
"They still haven't arrived?"
She had thought she would arrive just in time for a "chance encounter," but apparently she had come a little too early.
That was fine, though. She could use this time to learn about Kitakami's local specialties in advance, then tell Cynthia about its customs and culture.
Her gaze wandered over the nearby shops, and only after another full circuit did Caitlin suddenly realize-
Kitakami was wonderful in every way, except that its local food seemed to consist of nothing but mochi and various Berries.
Mochi made a decent snack, but eating it as a full meal sounded rather cloying...
So after wandering