Quite nimble movements that utilized a fair amount of magical power.
The skill in navigating through narrow alleys as if looking at the palm of one's hand was not ordinary.
However, it couldn't escape Rosha's ability, which was second to none in the field of pathfinding.
'You're trying to run away right in front of me?'
Rosha, confirming the direction the person was moving, composed her breath and moved her magical power.
Aren't a magician's limbs their magical power, after all?
The invisible magical power that stretched out like an arrow fired swiftly grabbed the back of the fleeing person's neck.
"Ack!"
Just as they were about to turn a corner, they rolled on the ground with a short scream.
Rosha quickly picked up the object that had rolled out of their hand and hit her feet.
"What's this?"
A small orb imbued with mana.
It was a video recording device.
Inside was footage of her and Froy walking around the marketplace secretly with their hoods on, but no matter how much she searched, there was nothing else.
...What is this? Surely not what I'm thinking?
'Paparazzi...?'
"I-I'm sorry for following you secretly! I won't come near again. So if you could just return that item... hehe."
Her suspicion turned into certainty.
She felt so dumbfounded by the unexpected identity that she momentarily forgot what to say. But surprisingly, it was Froy who took it a step further.
He personally helped the paparazzi up and spoke in an uncharacteristic tone.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-yes... Um, that..."
"Then you can go."
He even gently returned the video recording device that was in Rosha's hand to the person.
Rosha, watching the back of the paparazzi's head as they ran away without looking back, asked in bewilderment.
"...What was that just now? Did you know this would happen?"
She asked, but the situation naturally pieced itself together in her head.
Come to think of it, hadn't Froy said it was 'something that appears to be done in secret but ultimately needs to be discovered'?
Somehow, that phrase... seemed to fit this situation perfectly?
"Yes. It was intentional."
Sure enough. His answer was straightforward.
"The paparazzi?"
"...I don't know what 'paparazzi' means, but it was necessary to make the contract engagement successful. I need to persuade your grandfather."
So Froy's meaning was this:
According to the advice of Cedric, a senior in contract engagements, since grandfather is such a stubborn person, if you casually bring up the contract talk in front of him, he'll become angry and tell you not to play games.
Hearing that, he felt the need to make it look real to anyone who saw it.
"So I thought of the daily newspaper circulating in the capital. Recently, news spreads much faster thanks to the spatial doors connected to each region."
"Ah, if it's like that..."
It made some sense.
No matter how youthfully grandfather lived, it was obvious he would strongly oppose if he heard about a contract engagement.
...But still.
"Even so, why didn't you tell me?"
"It's more fun to keep it a secret. And..."
Froy, who had briefly closed his mouth, stared at Rosha and continued.
"You have no talent for acting. So I deliberately didn't tell you for a natural performance."
"W-what do you mean? I think I'm quite decent at this level, you know?"
She was half serious.
Although she couldn't say she was good at acting, in the previous world, she had been relatively highly evaluated thanks to a companion who was excellent at bad acting.
"Is that so? Then let's try. You agreed to go along with me for the rest of today anyway."
Froy smiled and led Rosha to the marketplace without giving her time to think.
As the sun set and night fell, a festival celebrating the safe passage of the trial was being held in the marketplace.
Pop! Small fireworks beautifully spread and faded above their heads.
They walked through streets where the glow of lanterns spread brightly. Although it was late, the crowd seemed even larger than before sunset.
The troublesome part was that, although the situation was clearly similar to before, she was subtly conscious of her surroundings.
'So... there are paparazzi around now too?'
Rosha, who had been looking at the stalls nervously, almost knocked over a jar at the edge.
Froy, who quickly pulled her back before disaster struck, whispered:
"Be careful, Rosha. Don't think about other things too much."
"...I'm sorry. I was trying my best."
"Just... how about thinking that you really like me? Like a kind of self-hypnosis. I think it might be a bit easier that way."
...Is that so?
Being in a tight spot, his words sounded tempting.
In fact, if asked whether she liked or disliked Froy, it was closer to liking. If she had disliked him, she wouldn't have been with him until now.
"..."
After hesitating a little, Rosha released the restraining line she had set in her heart.
A strong restraining line trying not to like him.
In this world where loss of life was rampant, she had vowed not to grow any feelings beyond this until the trials were completely over, but now she focused on him, crossing that line.
"...What is it? Why are you smiling like that?"
"Just because."
Crossing the line for a moment didn't change much, surprisingly.
Maybe that elegant face she saw almost every day just looked a bit different.
"Froy... looking at you like this, you're handsome."
Rosha complimented softly.
It felt refreshing to say out loud what she had always thought inside. By now, the existence of the paparazzi was forgotten from her mind.
Froy, who had received the compliment unexpectedly, touched his lips for a moment.
Staring intently at Rosha's face, blinking his eyes a few times as an indescribable emotion arose, he glanced behind her.
"...I don't want to show this side."
Just as she faintly heard him mutter.
Whoosh, the surrounding scenery changed. It wasn't the marketplace from earlier, but a quiet alley nearby.
Just as she was wondering what was happening, he turned Rosha by her shoulders.
Clear purple eyes faced Rosha. Whether it was because of the night or not, the color seemed deeper and more vivid than usual.
"Don't smile like that at other people. I'm afraid the number of competitors will increase."
"What?"
"Well then... let's go back."
He held Rosha's hand tightly and walked leisurely.
She wanted to ask if he had moved here just to say that one line, but she didn't say anything.
She just wanted to enjoy this tingling feeling as much as possible.
* * *
[I don't usually look at text, but I read it once because I was bored... Is this what I think it is?]
"Oh, showing off."
Clang, clang!
Koko, who had been examining the metal fragments Rosha had bought, raised his head sharply and said.
The next morning.
The God of War, who had somehow adapted despite being tied up, blew on a sheet of newspaper lying on the floor, turning the page with its mouth.
The article about Rosha and Froy wandering around the marketplace in disguise was featured prominently on the next page as well.
Cassis, who had glanced at the content, casually spoke to Rosha.
"They're really interested, huh? Life must be tiring for you."
"Yeah, well."
"Do you know that thanks to this, the marriage proposals that used to come in twenty pages every day have been halved? Rumors seem to spread quite quickly."
That was probably true. Just thinking about the number of paparazzi she saw yesterday, it seemed there were far more people interested in celebrities than she had expected.
"Hey. I'm just asking in case, but... it's not real, right?"
"Huh? Oh, of course not."
"Right. If that engagement was real, I'd have to reevaluate the Duke from top to bottom."
"...Ahem."
Rosha cleared her throat softly.
Although she knew and Froy knew that it was a contract engagement, after yesterday's events, it wasn't easy to reply firmly.
'...I don't know. I should think about it when I return from the rift and everything is settled.'
Forcibly shaking her head to drive away her thoughts, Rosha picked up Cassis's broken sword.
She intended to fix his sacred relic before entering the rift.
"You'll help me fix this, right?"
[Hmm, alright. If you untie my hands.]
The God of War, who had been looking at Rosha meaningfully, suddenly held out its hand.