"Uncle Daibun, where has my sister gone?"
"Your sister? I think she might return tomorrow or the day after. She had some business to attend to and went out for a while."
"I see."
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason, I just haven't seen her since yesterday."
Adriana casually exchanged these words as she held the laundry basket and hung the clothes on the line outside. Other club members who were free at the time also helped Adriana with the laundry, hanging it up and folding the ones that were already dry and crisp.
Adriana had been staying at the Rotary Club for several months.
She had grown accustomed to life here.
Everyone in the club was now living like proper human beings.
Of course, at the time Adriana started living here, the Rotary Club's income was already stable, but many people still couldn't break away from their shabby lifestyles.
However, quite a lot had changed since Adriana's arrival.
The most important aspect was hygiene.
The club leader, who should have set an example for everyone, had a severely poor hygiene, and there were quite a few members who were no better.
Once Adriana began to thoroughly wash Loyar and even check her nails, everyone else became more conscious of maintaining their cleanliness.
Everyone couldn't believe that the fierce and ill-tempered dog turned into a pet-like creature in front of Adriana.
Eventually, Adriana took on the role of managing the cleanliness, housekeeping, and hygiene of the Rotary Club headquarters.
More than anything, seeing Adriana, who would become restless and look for something to do when left alone, everyone began to find chores to do themselves, such as cleaning.
In the end, one way or another, Adriana had become a source of vitality that encouraged the older Rotary Club members to live more diligently.
The sight of the young girl working so hard made them think it would be shameful to be adults who just drank and loafed around.
As a result, even though Adriana didn't say anything, the incidents of people getting drunk and passing out on the floor or vomiting had stopped.
Now, even when they drank alcohol, they would have one or two glasses in a reserved manner, and when it was bedtime for Adriana, everyone would quietly go to their rooms and sleep. A culture of consideration had been established.
They thought it would be inappropriate to be noisy while a child was trying to sleep.
And so, Adriana unknowingly became like a daughter to everyone at the Rotary Club.
During these months, Adriana also learned about some of the club's characteristics.
Loyar spent most of his day lying on the couch in the reception room on the top floor of the club headquarters or going for a walk with Adriana. She didn't really have any other tasks.
In other words, she was just like a house dog, guarding her spot and nothing more.
The business of the Rotary Club was managed by the subordinates, and Loyar didn't know exactly what was going on or how much income was coming in.
Instead, the situation was gradually changing, with Adriana discussing matters that required Loyar's approval and then relaying them to Loyar.
No matter what they talked about, Loyar simply told them to handle it as they saw fit.
One day, Adriana asked Daibun, "What kind of work does your leader do?"
Daibun responded that when they lived under the bridge, there was quite a lot for her to do.
Typically, she would protect club members during fights with other beggar groups and retaliate on their behalf if any of them were hurt in a conflict with thugs.
She even managed to get money from somewhere, and Daibun told Adriana that Loyar was an indispensable presence when they were part of the beggar group under the bridge.
Now that the situation had improved, Loyar simply had no tasks to perform.
Adriana thought it was fortunate that there were no more fight-related matters to deal with.
Despite her rough appearance, it was quite fascinating to hear how skilled Loyar was at fighting.
Most club members had seen Loyar fight, and many had even been on the receiving end of her blows.
Everyone praised her fighting skills as nothing short of supernatural.
In any case, as far as Adriana knew, Loyar used to play a crucial role in the club but now had little to do, as their circumstances had improved.
Nevertheless, Loyar would disappear for a few days about once a month.
Adriana only knew that Loyar went out for some reason, but Loyar would suddenly leave and return a few days later without further explanation.
The club members simply accepted it as a usual occurrence.
Now that Loyar had no more fighting to do, Adriana wondered what she was doing on those trips.
Adriana was curious, but Loyar merely brushed it off, saying she had some business to attend to and provided no further details.
So, Adriana simply thought that it must be something she didn't know about.
It was on one such day.
There had been surprising events, such as the murder case at the royal palace, the dark cloud hanging over the world, and Ellen, Reinhardt, and Olivia becoming the owners of the sacred relics. However, Reinhardt didn't visit the Rotary Club very often, so there was no time to discuss these matters.
Thus, Adriana spent her days at the club headquarters, which, despite being in the imperial capital, seemed somewhat detached from the world.
On one ordinary afternoon, Adriana was cleaning the reception room on the top floor of the club. She was engrossed in picking up the long, thin strands of hair that had fallen on the sofa.
It felt like she was sweeping up animal fur.
From a distance, Adriana could see a group approaching the club.
It wasn't unusual for outsiders to visit the club, but something about their demeanor seemed off.
And at the very front of the group, there was a familiar face that Adriana knew.
It was Ellen Artorius, the younger sister of the hero Ragan Artorius and the known possessor of the holy artifact, Lament. She was walking towards the club headquarters, leading the soldiers.
The recently revealed truth was astonishing, but to Adriana, Ellen was more strongly associated as a friend of Reinhardt.
And she had heard that Ellen would sometimes come to the club, get thoroughly beaten by her sister, and then leave.
Everyone at the club was somewhat in awe when they learned that Ellen was actually the sister of the hero, sticking their tongues out in amazement.
Although Adriana was now treated as the club's darling, Ellen was also acquainted with everyone at the club, and people liked her just the same.
Now, with a serious expression on her face, Ellen was approaching the club with heavily armed soldiers in tow.
"What's going on…?"
As an ominous feeling settled in the air, the club members who were outside went to approach Ellen.
Contrary to the sinister premonition, Ellen began to have a conversation with the club members. There were no signs of violence being used.
However, one by one, the soldiers began approaching Ellen and the other club members to start conversations.
The content of the conversations could not be heard.
What could be happening?
Just as she was considering going out to see for herself, someone called her name.
"Adriana."
Daibun, who had arrived without her noticing, urgently grabbed Adriana's arm.
"Mr. Daibun?"
"Follow me."
Without any explanation, Daibun began to drag Adriana down the stairs.
"What's happening outside…?"
"I'm not sure. But it seems like something serious is going on."
Daibun hurriedly led Adriana down the stairs, as if there was something they needed to do before the soldiers entered the club headquarters.
They arrived at the club's basement storage room.
In a place filled with food supplies and unsold items from the magic train store, Daibun pressed Adriana against the wall and looked at her.
"Adriana, don't ask questions. Just follow the path I'm going to open for you."
"Y-yes?"
"Under the southern tower of Bronze Gate, where our old club used to be, there's a passage leading to the underground sewer of the Imperial City."
Daibun's expression was so serious that Adriana couldn't even bring herself to question him.
"Go deep into that sewer, and you'll find your sister there."
"My sister? Why would she be there…"
"It's difficult to explain everything. Adriana, do you care about your sister?"
"Yes? Y-yes, of course."
Adriana was grateful and thankful to Loyar, who treated her with care even though she found everything bothersome. She now thought of Loyar as family.
There was no reason to dislike someone who protected and cherished her unconditionally.
"Follow the sewer and find your sister. And tell her never to come back here."
"I don't understand… what you're saying…"
But Daibun had already manipulated something on the wall, revealing a hidden secret passage within the basement.
Why on earth was there something like this in the basement of the Rotary Club?
It was as if someone had intentionally created it for someone to escape.
Adriana couldn't tell.
Daibun stared at Adriana with wide eyes, as if there wasn't much time to explain.
"After you tell my sister, get out of the sewer quickly. You must get out quickly. After you deliver the message, do not be with her. Never."
-Thump
-Creak
Upstairs, ominous thudding sounds and the creaking of doors opening could already be heard.
"Adriana, after delivering the message, you must part with your sister before nightfall."
Daibun grasped both of Adriana's shoulders, as if to emphasize not to forget, and repeated the words once more.
Adriana didn't think she knew much about the Rotary Club. She simply did her part in that place, and she considered herself to be just beginning to learn about the true work of the Rotary Club.
However, Adriana suddenly realized that she truly knew nothing.
She didn't know why there was a secret passage in the basement of the Rotary Club headquarters.
"Hah... Hah..."
All Adriana did was run.
She didn't know why Ellen had come to the Rotary Club headquarters with soldiers, or what exactly they were asking about.
She didn't know what Loyar was doing in the underground sewer.
Why was she being told to deliver the message to Loyar and then part ways before nightfall?
Adriana knew nothing.
Fearing that dangerous events might unfold for everyone, Adriana ran and ran to carry out the desperate request Daibun had made.
The secret passage wasn't very long.
Adriana gently pushed up something like a manhole cover and emerged outside.
Instead of the main street, a forest thick with trees appeared.
Since it was an exit that wouldn't be noticed by human eyes, Adriana ran towards the main street visible in the distance.
