"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Kazuma." Luna thanked as she darted back and forth within her receptionist area. "Normally, I would have been more forthcoming with something like this, but given how busy I've been the last few days, it completely slipped my mind!"

"It's cool, Luna," Kazuma said with a light shrug. "It happens to the best of us. Eris knows how forgetful I am whenever I'm overloaded. Anyway, what is that you needed me for? Is it some kind of solo quest best suited for a rouge-like adventurer or something?"

"Well...you could say that, yes. More so to the solo quest part, admittedly." Luna admitted, pausing to face Kazuma properly as she elaborated. "It's an escort mission, and it shouldn't take longer than a few hours for the whole trip, here and back."

Kazuma scratched his cheek before saying, "Uh-huh...okay then. I feel like Chris would've been your better bet, but sure, I think I can manage it. Besides, at least it'll give me something to do for the rest of the afternoon. So who am I escorting and where to?"

"Ha, that's the easy part, actually." Luna admitted, before hefting up a large travel pack over her shoulder, so accompanied by a familiar crossbow. "You'll be escorting me to a small town called Evergreen. Like I said, it's only a few hours away, but it's far enough that I don't feel comfortable going alone."

Now that was a shock for the Japanese teenager: Luna doing something other than her job! Kazuma had almost never seen the receptionist leave her post or even go on break. And he wasn't the only person to notice this either, most of the guild's adventurers thought she pretty much lived in the hall itself since the blonde also worked the night shifts. Admittedly a rude rumor, but it was one Kazuma had a hard time trying to refute.

"Wait, if you're going, then who's going to man the guild in your absence?" he asked, practicing being mindful of his phrasing. It was just one of the things he was working with his therapist on in recent times.

"Oh, we have plenty of staff. I already called in a substitute and everything, so we're good to go whenever you are." Luna explained, before stepping out into the hall and shooting him a good-natured smile. "Come along, now. We still have quite the journey ahead of us if we want to be back in Axel by nightfall."

Despite still finding the prospect a little hard to believe, Kazuma put his incredulity to one side and agreed to escort the workaholic woman to the village of Evergreen. He had no idea what this was all about or why Luna had chosen him specifically to come along with her, but he figured he'd find out soon enough. If nothing else, this trip could make for a great opportunity to maybe get to know the enigmatic receptionist better. She is somewhat of a mystery even amongst the guild's very own staff.

"Alright, I hear ya! Let's head out then." He relented, before exiting the guild hall alongside Luna and starting down the main path out of Axel. They had barely passed the main gates before Kazuma's curiosity started to get the better of him. "So...you gonna tell me what this is about, then? Given this isn't technically a public job and all?"

Luna looked up at the sky for a second, seemingly thinking over her response before settling with a simple, "For now, let's just say that it's something of a personal matter I need to attend to sooner rather than later. It'll be easier to explain once we arrive at Evergreen, I assure you, Kazuma."

Kazuma just hummed at her response, deciding that whatever she was visiting was important enough to treat delicately. As such, he mentally vowed to keep the invasive questions down to a minimum while they walked.

Of course, that was easier said than done, considering the fact that not half an hour later the desire for conversation started to dig its way back to the surface. If Kazuma's time with the girls had given him anything, it was an unexpected and irrational disdain for silence while traveling. It just wasn't the same without the idle babbling of his party mates nearby.

"Sooo...Luna, huh? That's interesting, being named after the moon. Where'd you get it?"

Unfortunately, his time with the girls had yet to eradicate his initial awkwardness when conversing with people he wasn't familiar with. Kazuma swore to himself that he would get better at talking even if it killed him for a...10th time? He'd officially lost count of his deaths.

"Oh. Um...I suppose it was the theme of my family?" Luna answered, chuckling slightly as she explained. "My father was named Apollo, my mother was Celeste, perhaps they just wanted to keep the family line going down a certain path. Truth be told, I haven't considered it in years."

"Huh. Well that's pretty cool," Kazuma politely hummed. "It's more creative than mine, I can tell you that. Satou is a common family name where I come from, so there's nothing too unique about it. It's why I'm fine with random people just calling me by my given name instead."

"Hmm. I can definitely see how that would make a difference." Luna remarked, a small smile gracing her lips. "As you can tell, I don't think many in Belzerg would suffer from such misfortune. Everyone has a unique name to make their own, no?"

"I guess that's true," Kazuma agreed as he slipped his hands into his pockets and glanced downwards. "Although I did recently consider disowning my family name given how much grief my parents gave me back home. But after some consideration, I decided against it. Mainly because in the event I settle down and start a family of my own, I can hopefully turn the last name Satou into something more positive. Kinda dumb, I know, but that's what I felt was right. I mean, no sense in letting the past completely die, right?"

"I don't think that's dumb in the slightest. Quite the opposite, actually." Luna assured him with surprising gusto, apparently spurred on by his statement. "I think it's very brave of you to continue your family line in a new way considering what you went through back in Japan. It's actually...inspiring, to be frank."

Kazuma stared at Luna for a second, not sure of what to say back. He personally considered his decision to be a little on the corny side, but he supposed she made a valid point. After all, why should he let his parents define him as a person? He was by no means perfect, but compared to them, he might as well be. He'll breathe new life into the Satou name if/when he has kids...with his three girlfriends somehow. That's a dangerous thought best left for another time.

"Uh...thanks, I guess." Kazuma chuckled awkwardly. "It's nice to know an outside source approves of my decision."

"I'm glad to be of help however I can, Kazuma. Eris knows how many people need someone to lean on out there." Luna replied, kind as ever. "It certainly helps to have someone to talk to, doesn't it? Just another layer of comfort in knowing that someone else out there understands, or at the very least sympathize."

"...Say, you wouldn't mind being a part of my support group, would you?" Kazuma tentatively asked, feeling like he was taking a huge risk with this. "I mean, uh, my therapist recommended I have a lot of people I can trust in my inner circle and um...W-well, I see you a lot at the guild and I take you as a nice person in general, sooo...?"

"I wouldn't mind in the slightest! I'm actually very flattered that you'd ever ask." Luna admitted, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face as she continued. "I'm glad to hear that you trust me to the degree that you'd be willing to have me support you when you need it."

"Yeah, but don't make it sound like I'm going to annoy you every time I feel sad!" Kazuma hotly reiterated, his face burning red for willingly allowing himself to be vulnerable in front of a co-worker. "The last thing I want is to be a burden just because I've been more in touch with my emotions lately."

"Kazuma, it's not a burden to feel. It's just...life." Luna assured him, a tinge of concern entering her smile. "Everyone has bad days, everyone gets sad. You, me, maybe even the Devil King himself! The point is, you shouldn't feel ashamed or sad for wanting support. It's only natural, and you deserve to have people who will stand by you through the worst moments of your life."

Kazuma sighed, "I know. I'm just used to keeping it all to myself is all. It's...challenging for me to open myself up to others. I mean, it took a year and a half for me to be comfortable with my own party. I don't know how it is normally, but something tells me it doesn't, or shouldn't, take that long for a leader to trust his own team. But again, what do I know, right?"

"I think...at the end of the day, what truly matters is that you trust them now. With your heart, and your life." Luna replied, undeniable confidence in her tone. "You had your reasons for being closed off, and now you've moved past them. Once again, you've shown bravery that was unexpected but all the more welcomed. You've grown, Kazuma. Is that not in itself worth it?"

Feeling the corners of his lips start to curl up in an embarrassed smile, Kazuma chuckled lightly for a couple seconds before his brain finally forced him to use his words. "You're right, I have grown, haven't I? Sorry, I just try not to dwell on it too much; rather spend my energy focusing on completing quests and doing things to keep me happy. Best not to let it all go to my head, otherwise it's back to square one!"

"I can't argue with your preference for positivity. I concur that letting it get to your head is a no-go." Luna agreed, before breaking off with a chuckle. "You know, while I've preached about the need for a support group and people you trust, I haven't had a normal conversation like this in...days? Weeks, even? I'm always so busy with work, I never get a chance to just...talk about simple things."

"You really need a vacation Luna," Kazuma stated matter-of-factly. "You work too hard for your own good. Take it from me and learn to take a break every now and again."

"Oh, but it's so much easier said than done!" Luna practically whined, drawing out the last word with an amusing pout. "I only trusted my staff to run the guild for a few hours for a reason. I doubt they could keep it running for a week without my help, excusing Sena, of course. She's quite competent by comparison."

"Yeah, she is pretty awesome, isn't she?" Kazuma said, happy to hear that his friend was already making waves in her new job. "Speaking of a few hours, how much longer till we reach Evergreen? I've been chatting with you for so long I've lost track of time."

"Oh, maybe another hour. We're already making pretty good time, honestly." Luna admitted, her mood seemingly diminishing slightly as her smile flattered. "We should be able to take an hour or so to eat and rest once we arrive. After that, I'll finish my business, and we can start the trek back. Sound good?"

Kazuma's social skills may be lackluster at best, but even he managed to catch that subtle shift in the blonde woman's demeanor. He chose not to comment on it, however, as it seemed to tie into their destination. "Sure, I think my feet will hold out till then."

"Good. With any luck, we'll be in Evergreen within the hour." Luna practically repeated, her shoulders tensing as she sighed heavily, muting to herself. "At least then this'll finally be behind me."

Confused but uncertain, Kazuma elected to leave it be for now, knowing full well that if Luna was right, he'd see just what had her so downtrodden shortly.


The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon, basking the earth in a spectacular orange glow by the time Luna and Kazuma made it to the settlement. True to its name, Evergreen was a small, independent village community nestled in a forest of evergreens. Kazuma thought the name was a bit on the nose, but didn't think much else. Besides, he'd probably name the village that himself if held at gunpoint.

"Huh. This place is pretty nice. Definitely secluded." He mused with a light smile, before noticing how sullen Luna seemed, frowning and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You alright, Lu?"

"W-what?" Luna sputtered slightly, apparently startled out of her thoughts by the motion...or perhaps the nickname? "O-oh, sorry Kazuma. I just...I haven't been here in a while. It's...refreshing, but melancholy."

"Oh. Alright, do you...need a minute, then?" Kazuma offered, gradually growing more and more concerned for the receptionist. He'd never seen her so despondent, and while they weren't the best of friends or anything, he still worried about her. "I can, uh, grab some food from my pack, break out an early dinner for the both of us?"

"...actually, do you mind if we finish my business first?" Luna asked, a tinge of uncertainty entering her tone before she took a breath, composing herself. "Sorry, I just...I want to confront this while I still have the nerve."

"Yeah, sure. I'm, er, right behind you, then." Kazuma relented, following his temporary companion as she blazed a trail through the town, ultimately ending at the last place Kazuma could have anticipated: a dimly lit graveyard on the far ridge of the town, beside a modest church.

"Huh. Awful grim in here, ain't it?" Kazuma remarked nervously as they continued to move through the yard. "Yeesh, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a...date with...oh."

The perturbed young lad stopped moving and talking the second Luna came to a stop. Kazuma peered over the quiet lady's shoulder to see they had stopped directly in front of an overgrown but fairly well-kept gravestone. A small pot of flowers was placed atop the bed, already starting to wilt as of the time they were placed. The engravings on the stone were a little worn out, but Kazuma could make out the words, Celeste Hart.

And that's when the purpose of their outing was made clear to him.

"O-oh. Oh god, I'm so sorry, Luna." He apologized hastily, a brief wave of genuine shame overtaking him. Awkward or not, the second they entered the graveyard, he should have put two and two together! "I'll...I'll leave you to your grieving. Sorry again."

"No, Kazuma, you have nothing to apologize for," Luna corrected, turning her head back around to face him. In all his times seeing the receptionist at work, not once did she ever see her so...crestfallen. "I brought you here for a reason. I...I needed someone who I knew I could trust to be there with me to visit my mother. If anything, I should be apologizing for leaving you in the dark until the last minute. I'm sorry..."

"N-no, it's alright. I get why you wouldn't share this with me. It's...obviously very personal." Kazuma assured her, admittedly relieved that she wasn't upset with him. However, as his gaze drifted back to the headstone, his mood did turn somber once more. "I'm sorry for your loss. When did she pass?"

"Last year, just after the winter season." Luna replied, her own gaze flicking to the grave once more. "I, uh, I tried to make the journey alone to see her once I'd gotten word she'd fallen ill. I...didn't arrive in time to say goodbye, or to make amends. Which is certainly it's own story…"

"I mean...I got nowhere to be." Kazuma assured her, taking a seat beside her and offering a patient smile. "If you're comfortable with it, maybe we can talk it out. My therapist told me that can help when you're seeking closure."

"I...suppose there's no harm in it. You've certainly earned your explanation." Luna admitted, taking a deep breath before she started to explain. "Evergreen is my hometown. I grew up here with my mother and father for most of my childhood. However, when I was twelve, there was an attack. A stray Rookie Killer entered the village, cut off from its pack. My father and the local hunters defended the town, but...he didn't make it."

"Eris above...I'm sorry, Luna" Kazuma offered, placing a hand on her shoulder once more, which did earn him a slight smile.

"Thank you, Kazuma, but it's alright. I came to terms with his passing long ago." Luna replied, before continuing her explanation. "Afterwards, my mother was a wreck. She didn't want to stay here, but she didn't want to go into Axel, either. She hated the idea of living in a bigger city, though I never really understood why. Eventually, she made peace with my father's death and decided to stay in Evergreen, but not before she forbade me from ever becoming an adventurer like him."

"...and you wanted to anyway?"

"More than anything. While I was still grieving, I knew that my father had been strong, courageous, and above all else, a protector of his family. I wanted to be that, to be my own adventurer." Luna remarked, a brief but notable air of nostalgia washing over her. "Of course, as you can tell, it never quite worked out. Eventually, I decided that if I couldn't be an adventurer, I would do everything in my power to help them. The next time a convoy went into Axel, I applied at the guild hall for any position they had available."

"I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say your mother didn't approve." Kazuma interjected, earning a tired, damn near defeated sigh in response.

"You'd be correct. She was positively livid, fuming over the fact that I was still too close to such a dangerous profession, one that had cost her a good husband...and her sense of security." Luna confirmed, ducking her head slightly as her eyes started to get misty. "One night, we had an absolute blowout fight, a-and after it was over, I just...left. I packed whatever I could carry on short notice and walked all the way to Axel. I didn't look back once...and I'll always regret it."

Luna was on the verge of tears after that, and Kazuma wasn't quite sure what to do to support her. Words didn't feel like enough, a hug seemed like too much...he had no damn idea how to deal with this situation.

"L-Luna, I'm...I don't...gah, screw it."

Deciding to take a leap of faith, (and taking some trust in his luck skill), he wrapped the receptionist into a hug. Sure enough, her quiet sobs disappeared, if only what he could guess was from surprise, but then her arms wrapped around him as well and she spoke again, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Kazuma. I-I shouldn't have dumped all that on you." She muttered, her grip increasing briefly as she spoke again, her voice still thick with emotion. "I-I just keep going over what is in my head, over and over. It hurt enough when I lost her, but then the anniversary rolled around and it's just gotten so much worse, and I...I don't know what to do anymore."

Kazuma didn't say anything at first, he wasn't sure if he even had anything he could say. Still, he would be damned if he didn't try. Luna deserved closure, and he was going to do whatever he could to help her reach it.

"Luna, I need you to look at me. Please." He insisted, getting the receptionist to raise her teary gaze to his own. "Now what I'm about to say, I'm not sure if you'll take it to heart or not, but I have to say it regardless. Luna Hart...your mother would be so goddamn proud of you."

Luna startled slightly at the intensity of Kazuma's words, the confidence and certainty that radiated from them. Before she could formulate a response, he continued.

"You are strong, courageous, and you help hundreds of people who need it daily. You're patient, and kind, and I couldn't imagine anyone else running the guild hall even a fraction as good as you do!" He insisted, keeping his words as steady as possible. "Above all else, you are a good person, and your mother recognized that before she died, even if she never got the chance to tell you herself."

Coming from anyone else, Luna would have doubted those words, the reassurance they carried. Looking into Kazuma's deep green eyes, however, she felt certainty...and then relief.

Luna wept into Kazuma's shirt for a time, not that either of them really bothered keeping track. Eventually, she leaned back, as close to composed as she was going to get that soon, and offered Kazuma a worn down smile.

"T-thank you, Kazuma. Just...thank you."


It took about half an hour for the pair to both compose themselves and take a short break to eat, before getting back on the road and starting the trek back into Axel. It took another two hours for them to reach the guild hall, and by that point they were both physically and emotionally exhausted.

"Home sweet home!" Kazuma exhaled tiredly, spreading his arms out in a joking manner. He was just about ready to crash early for the night. "Not that you actually live in the hall itself, at least I don't think. Still, good to be back in Axel, eh?"

"Very. As much as I enjoyed a change of scenery, it's nice to be back home." Luna agreed, before sparing Kazuma a small but genuine smile. "Thank you again, Kazuma, for coming with me. I'm not sure how that would have gone if I didn't have you by my side at that moment."

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, no problem, Luna! I'm touched you even considered me in the first place," Kazuma corrected himself as he scratched his cheek in embarrassment. "I may not be a model guild member but I certainly try my best. Oh, by the way, sorry if I ever annoyed you before in the past. I'm looking to conduct myself better from now on, so...yeah."

"Oh, you weren't that bad! You certainly had some...less than reputable moments, such as stealing both my and Lan's panties. We did sort of earn that one, though…" Luna mused, flushing slightly as she recalled the incident before clearing her throat and continuing. "Regardless, you have grown significantly, and I am more than proud to call you both an ally and a friend. Now, give me a moment while I go and fetch your eris for escorting me, and then you can be on your way and we can both get some sleep."

Kazuma was quick to hold up his hand to stop the receptionist from going anywhere. "That won't be necessary. It wouldn't feel right to take money from you just for tagging along on a personal errand. Besides, I am technically still rich, so I'm not exactly strapped for cash at the moment. Consider my services today a freebie."

"I-Kazuma, while that's very generous of you, I should give you something in return. It wouldn't feel right not to." Luna insisted, before a brief look of realization crossed her face, followed by another smile. "I actually do have something in mind, a reward of sorts for you being so kind to me."

Without warning, Luna leaned in close to Kazuma and planted a warm kiss on his cheek, leaving him momentarily caught off guard. The blonde receptionist giggled, seemingly returning to her usual bubbly self, before bidding the stunned young man a good night and jogging up the steps to the guild. Kazuma touched his cheek as he wordlessly watched Luna enter the hall, wondering what to make of all that. Ultimately, he chalked it up to just her being tired and not thinking completely straight in the moment. He doubted his girlfriends would mind all that much if he told them, but he decided to just keep the exchange to himself for now. No need to make things needlessly complicated back at home!

With that sentiment in mind, Kazuma turned on his heel and started to make his way back down the main street, eager to return home, see the girls, and get some well deserved rest. Still, his mind did linger on a particular idea he'd come across when he was making the trip back to Axel.

"That speech I gave to Luna felt real familiar, like something the girls would have said to me when I was in a similar situation." He considered, before a short laugh escaped him. "Guess they're really rubbing off on me. Well, I'm glad I could help her out today. It feels like I don't do half as much hard work these days. Maybe...maybe I'm finally just at the top of the hill. That'd be an awesome change of pace, heh!"

Kazuma was quickly ripped out of his thoughts when he looked up and almost ran into two mysterious figures clad head to toe in white robes. They damn well almost made his heart stop too, considering they gave off unsettling cultist vibes. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword when one of the figures began to speak.

"Kazuma Satou. We've been expecting you."

"...seriously? Is-is this supposed to be intimidating? Un-intimidating? Make up your mind, kid." Kazuma huffed, rubbing his eyes tiredly before practically shouting past the figures. "Cut the theatrics, Your Royal Loli! I'm tired and not in the mood for games. If you have something to say, make it quick!"

Peeking from behind one of the robed "assailants", Iris offered a shameful smile as she chuckled, "Sorry about that, Kazuma. I guess I caught you at a bad time yet again, huh? I wish my timing was better..."

"Yeah, well, that makes two of us. Seriously, what is the deal with spooks A and B here?" Kazuma asked, jabing a thumb at both robed figures and pointedly ignoring the sputters that followed. "What do you want this time, Iris? I said I'd consider your deal, and I'm still weighing my options, alright?"

"About that," Iris started, holding up one finger to indicate to her bodyguards that everything was under control. "I came here to personally tell you not to worry about joining my Anti-Devil King Coalition anymore. There will no longer be a need for it in the foreseeable future."

Kazuma blinked, taking a few seconds to process the statement in his exhausted state, before his mouth slowly opened in surprise as the meaning of her words sank in.

"You don't mean..?"

The princess nodded enthusiastically as she continued, "Oh, I mean! One of the Devil King's messengers relayed a personal letter formally requesting a truce between our kingdoms. Kazuma...the war is finally coming to an end!"