Immediately afterward.
That shock quickly turned into deep self-reproach.
"I'm sorry, my lord..."
Tsukuyo Inaba lowered her head and bit her lip, a hint of trembling in her voice.
Her hands tightly gripped the skirt over her knees.
"Tsukuyo was useless."
"You gave Tsukuyo so much, my lord..."
"Yet someone followed us the whole way, even right to our doorstep."
"And Tsukuyo never noticed."
"It was Tsukuyo's oversight."
"If that had been an enemy..."
If it had been an enemy with murderous intent.
If it had been an assassin seeking to ambush her god.
Then that journey just now would have presented countless fatal openings.
For Tsukuyo Inaba, whose strength lay in extraordinary perception and who aspired to become her god's support, this was an enormous blow.
However.
The next second.
Haimo reached out.
He did not scold her.
Instead, he gently rested his hand on the soft, long silver hair atop Tsukuyo Inaba's head.
"?!"
Noticing Haimo's movement, Tsukuyo Inaba froze slightly. She did not dodge, but merely raised her head in some confusion.
"You don't need to apologize."
"This wasn't your fault in the first place, Tsukuyo."
Haimo gently rubbed Tsukuyo Inaba's head, without the slightest intention of blaming her.
"By the way, do you want to know who was following us?"
"That person was once a renowned adventurer in Orario."
"In terms of level, she's a full three tiers above you right now."
"In terms of experience, she's also had her Falna for several years longer than you."
"And for the sake of revenge, she's spent these years walking the line between life and death. Her ability to conceal her presence has long since become second nature."
"So, honestly."
At this point.
Haimo looked at Tsukuyo Inaba's still somewhat downcast little face and smiled.
"Tsukuyo."
"You only