After the registration business was done, Rent followed Moro toward the western district of Lumeria City. The streets began to quiet down, far from the bustling merchants and the midday hustle. This pce was slightly different from the previous district; it was filled more with other residential houses. Some houses had been turned into cssic beer tavern businesses. The atmosphere here was much more calming.

  Fyra-Bunn hopped beside Rent, looking calm as usual—but Rent still didn't fully trust her.

  "So, Master Rent. We are going to a temporary free inn for a few days, while we figure out our finances ter," Moro said while spinning in the air. "It's called Arvia House."

  "Hmmph. At least I can rex my back on a free mattress."

  They finally arrived at the inn Moro mentioned. It was located right among the residential houses, a bit far from the city's central square.

  Arvia House was a three-story building made of old wood and smooth bricks, with a small garden in front and crystal mps hanging on the porch.

  "Here we are, Master. This is the pce!" Moro said excitedly.

  "Hmm..." Rent observed from the outside. "Not bad," he mumbled softly.

  They stepped inside. An old man welcomed them, then handed over a room key after going through the visitor registration procedure with the Lumeria Pass.

  "We got Room number 304, Master. Come follow me!" Moro floated ahead.

  "Room 304. At the end of the hall," the old man said in a hoarse voice to Rent, his eyes gncing suspiciously at the blue furball that had sped off earlier and the strange rabbit at Rent's feet. "And remember, pets are forbidden from relieving themselves anywhere they please. If the sheets get dirty, you pay double for damages."

  "She's not a pet. She's a burden," Rent muttered softly while taking the brass key that felt cold in his hand.

  He walked up the stairs to the second floor, where his room was provided.

  The room was simple but clean. A single bed, a wooden writing desk, empty shelves, and a small window with thin curtains fluttering gently in the evening breeze. There was a blue crystal mp on the side of the desk for lighting.

  Fyra-Bunn immediately hopped onto the bed and curled herself up in no time.

  "Hey, stupid rabbit. Who told you to get up there? Move."

  Fyra, of course, refused to listen. She remained curled up there, marking it as the fire rabbit's new territory.

  "Haaah. You... ugh. Never mind." Rent just gently pushed Fyra to the corner of the mattress, trying not to ruin her sleeping position.

  Slowly, Rent sat on the edge of the mattress. Taking off the small bag he had been slinging all this time.

  "Finally. Temporary peace. At least it's better without noisy social problems."

  Rent stood up from his seat. He slowly took off his brown jacket, which was slightly dusty. There were still traces of soil, remnants of the sudden battle between Fyra and himself earlier this afternoon. He walked to the clothes hanger and hung his jacket there.

  "Hah. Alright. This white shirt smells a bit like dusty soil from that incident. Haaah... I need some fresh air now."

  Rent walked slowly towards the window covered by thin curtains, then gently opened them. The cool outside air immediately hit his face and hair. The small ahoge on his head swayed gently. Rent's eyes observed the flowers in the garden below blooming, emitting a soft green light.

  "Hmmm. Not bad. Finally... personal peace," Rent mumbled softly.

  Outside the window, he looked around—a fruit shop on the right and a tool shop on the left.

  And across the street, right in front of the bookstore...

  ...a stranger was standing.

  The person was a woman, biting an apple. Showing a glimpse of her red lips chewing slowly. Purple hair flowing down to her waist. And standing proudly atop her head was a long, curved strand of hair—an ahoge—that swayed gently. It was identical to his own stubborn cowlick, only hers was longer and looked far more elegant.

  A bck fur jacket top that... didn't completely cover her body. A jacket top that only covered the chest area, while the smooth skin of her back, all the way down to her waist, was clearly visible.

  A short blue pleated skirt. High bck stockings that left a small gap of thigh skin exposed—the Absolute Territory—between the skirt and the bck stockings connected to high brown boots. And her posture was one hand on her hip.

  Rent instantly froze.

  "Why... do those clothes feel different? Like they don't fit this pce, and what the hell is that outfit? Only covering the top part?"

  Wait... why am I thinking about fashion? He mumbled softly.

  Before he could finish mumbling, the girl suddenly turned. Her face slowly looked up, directly toward Rent's open bedroom window.

  Wait... that girl's face... why does it look like...

  Instantly, Rent's dead fish eyes widened slightly, then squinted for a moment. Making sure once again.

  Wait a minute... that... that... that is my face?! Hah?!

  He was trembling, not because of the cold. But his brain was trying to process it all.

  The woman's face had a shape that was too simir to... himself. The nose. The shape of the chin. The way she stood.

  Her eyes were clearly Amethyst Purple but slightly brighter than Rent's. These two pairs of purple eyes met each other.

  The woman raised one eyebrow... then smiled a little and winked casually. As if she knew she was being watched.

  Instantly, Rent pulled away from the window. He turned his back to the window and pressed his back against the wall.

  "Okay. This is a dream. I must still be dreaming."

  SLAP! The sound of a hard sp Rent delivered to his own cheek.

  "Wake up, Idiot! Don't sleep! Wake up from this nightmare immediately!" SLAP! SLAP! Two more hard sps he delivered to both cheeks.

  "Why won't I wake up?! Damn it!"

  Rent held his chest, right over his own heart which was now beating fast. While reguting his breath, he tried to calm himself down from that sudden visual attack.

  "Hah... hah... this... I must be hallucinating. I'll make sure if this is real or if I saw it wrong."

  He crouched down, peeking out slowly again. But... the figure was no longer visible. The street was empty. Only the wind passed by.

  As if no one had ever been there.

  "Hah? No one? Damn. I hope that was just a hallucination from my exhaustion."

  Rent slid down weakly to the floor of the room.

  A few minutes ter, Moro entered the room.

  "Oh? Master Rent? You look... pale? What happened?"

  Rent was silent for a moment. Then shook his head. "No... nothing."

  Moro looked at him with his innocent round (imaginary) eyes. "Hmm, alright, Master. If you need anything, just tell me, okay? I want to go to the back garden for a bit."

  Rent just nodded. He sat on the edge of the bed. Fyra-Bunn opened one eye, then went back to sleep.

  "Damn it. I look like a crazy person here. Haaah..."

  That girl... who is she? Why... do I feel strangely attracted to her?

  No. It must be just a hallucination... this isn't real. That girl isn't real. He thought.

  Rent stood up slowly. Walked back to the mattress. Then sat down while massaging his own forehead.

  "It seems I'm too tired. I better sleep. My brain has started creating strange fantasies beyond my understanding."

  He y down immediately, curling up beside Fyra-Bunn who was asleep in the corner of the mattress.

  At night time. The atmosphere outside Arvia House seemed so calm and quiet. There was only the sound of the night wind and some wild animals.

  However...

  Elsewhere, in a different pce, in a back alley, the same pair of purple eyes watched from the shadows, then disappeared with a light jump, accompanied by a small ugh like a whisper.

  "Heeeh... what a cute confused expression. I like that."