Chapter 21: Converging Fates

“Lady Bronya, do you know this bard?”

Perhaps sensing the awkward tension between the two, Officer Dunn stepped in to defuse the situation.

“No wonder you decided to hold the frontline earlier. I failed to understand your intentions and delayed your counterattack strategy.”

“—No, Officer Dunn, you’re too kind. Your actions were entirely appropriate. It was I who hesitated too much.”

Bronya quickly shook her head at the mention of this.

Officer Dunn was a seasoned veteran of the Silvermane Guards. In fact, most of the younger guards had trained under him. His experience was profound, dating back to the era of the current Supreme Guardian.

His earlier actions were entirely for the sake of preventing the battlefront from collapsing. Even now, he was giving her a way to save face. To refuse his goodwill would be the height of arrogance.

Moreover, Bronya gazed deeply at the Silvermane Guards who had been willing to sacrifice themselves for her. Among them were both veterans and rookies, none of whom were particularly robust. One was even just a teenager.

“...Everyone, I can’t say too much here. But I sincerely thank you for your sacrifices.”

She bowed her head, offering them a solemn and respectful gesture.

The guards exchanged glances, then stood tall and proud, returning her gesture with a salute second only to the one they would give the Supreme Guardian.

After this exchange, the awkward atmosphere dissipated. Perhaps because of the guards’ support, Bronya’s anxious heart settled once more.

She turned to Venti, who had been quietly watching their interaction with interest.

His ever-carefree smile, so inviting and warm, remained unchanged.

But this time, she finally understood why he believed she had the power to change the current situation.

Behind Venti, the Extraterrestrial Inferno, now completely incapacitated, showed no signs of recovery. If not for the faint tremors on its surface, one might have thought it was just a large “decoration.”

A decoration capable of effortlessly devouring an entire Silvermane Guard squad and forcing the Supreme Guardian’s heir into a desperate retreat.

Bronya’s eyes dimmed with self-mockery, but she forced herself to stay composed. “We owe you a great deal this time, Venti. Without you, our casualties would have been severe. Please tell me how I can repay you.”

“Repayment? That’s too formal. After all, Lady Bronya and I are friends, aren’t we?”

Venti winked at her, deliberately teasing.

“Don’t tell me it’s just me who thinks so?”

“...No, it’s not. You are indeed a trustworthy friend.”

Though they were still on the battlefield, hardly a place for lighthearted laughter, Bronya couldn’t help but feel a spark of joy at his words.

It was as if his words alone could make her heart bloom. If her mother knew how easily she was swayed, she would undoubtedly intensify her training in this area.

To dispel these strange emotions, she changed the subject. “I know this might sound presumptuous, but… could we deal with this monster? If left alone, it will eventually recover.”

If that happened, it would pose a new threat to the stationed Silvermane Guards. After all, she couldn’t keep Venti by her side at all times. He must have his own reasons for being here.

As Bronya prepared herself for whatever conditions Venti might propose, he simply stepped aside, revealing the barely breathing Extraterrestrial Inferno behind him.

“Of course, go ahead.”

He had no intention of leveraging the situation for personal gain. After Bronya fired the shot that finally vanquished the monster, reducing it to scattered light, the tension among the Silvermane Guards visibly eased.

This made Venti reflect a little. While dealing with such monsters was trivial for him, for most Silvermane Guards, they were insurmountable peaks—entities whose mere presence exerted tangible pressure.

Not to mention, they had witnessed their comrades being consumed by its flames, leaving them burdened with grief and helplessness.

After resolving the matter, Bronya let out a deep sigh of relief and ordered the Silvermane Guards to begin cleaning up the battlefield. Officer Dunn tactfully joined the cleanup efforts, maintaining a respectful distance from the two.

Only then did Bronya and Venti truly begin their conversation.

Bronya’s expression was complex, but mostly filled with relief. She didn’t want to speculate whether Venti had orchestrated this situation.

That would be too cynical, allowing seeds of distrust to take root in her heart.

Though, from the perspective of “old friends reuniting,” the scene felt somewhat out of place.

“You’re still the same as ever.”

Before she could finish her thoughts, Venti spoke softly.

“Huh? Did I… do something inappropriate?”

Bronya instinctively checked herself but found nothing amiss. Yet, Venti still looked amused.

“It’s your expression. When you’re thinking, you unconsciously furrow your brows and look as if you’re pondering what to eat for your next meal!”

“Is… is my expression that obvious?”

She had actually been trained in this area—to never let her thoughts show on her face, no matter the situation.

Doing so would undermine her authority as a leader, making it hard to command respect. But judging by Venti’s reaction, she must have failed miserably.

With this in mind, Bronya let go of her cold, composed mask and sighed wearily.

“It seems you really have a knack for reading people.”

“Of course. In my line of work, first impressions are everything. Who’s generous, who’s stingy—I can tell at a glance.”

Venti smiled at her.

“Lady Bronya, with your beauty and grace, you look like someone who would spend a fortune without hesitation.”

His playful compliment lifted her spirits, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

“I wouldn’t spend the people’s hard-earned money so frivolously. But if it’s my own savings, I do have some. I wouldn’t mind tipping you generously.”

Venti’s eyes crinkled with laughter, and he let out a whistle like a street rogue, making her blush with embarrassment.

“Ugh—!”

Perhaps noticing her discomfort, Venti quickly stopped and shifted to a more casual tone.

“Though I should say ‘long time no see,’ I think I also need to add an apology.”

“...I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry for having the Silvermane Guards follow you…”

Bronya shook her head, admitting her actions.

“No worries, no worries. I could tell they were just keeping their distance, occasionally even doing some ‘protective’ work. So I knew you wanted to find me but were too embarrassed to reach out directly, right?”

Being so directly called out made even Bronya, who had trained to control her expressions, feel a little flustered.

A faint blush spread across her moonlit cheeks, and her flustered attempt to refute him was endearing to behold.

It had to be said that, in terms of appearance, she perfectly aligned with conventional beauty standards—a fact not lost on Venti.

“So, let’s call it even and happily forget about it, okay?”

“...Agreed.”

In the end, she could only nod.

“So, do you have anything else to do? If not, I can wait for you to finish, and then we can go to that place you’ve been longing to see.”

Venti’s straightforward invitation showed no awareness of the late hour or any finesse in asking a girl out. He was all sincerity.

And as it happened, Bronya, though she could think of a thousand reasons to refuse, wasn’t the type to do so.

Whether to repay his kindness or to see for herself the truth of his words, she had to accept.

“Alright, I’ll go with you to the Lower District.”

When she gave her answer, Venti smiled and bowed with elegant grace.

“Then I can promise you this will be the most interesting, most authentic, and most unforgettable journey of your life.”