By the time Lil’s tears stopped, her stomach suddenly let out a loud growl. Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t eaten anything since morning. Ian chuckled and offered her the meal he had brought.

It was warm soup and pure white bread. Lil had only seen such delicious-looking food in ‘Michiru-chan’s’ memories.

When she glanced at Ian, unsure if it was really okay to eat it, he smiled and patted her head.

Lil timidly took a sip of the soup. The taste of warm soup, something she’d never had before, was exceptional. She tried the white bread as well. Unlike the hard, stale bread she was used to, this one melted in her mouth. Lil devoured her meal eagerly. Ian felt a pang of sadness as he watched her. The way she ate made it clear she had barely eaten anything decent before.

Once Lil finished eating, Ian decided to ask something that had been on his mind.

“Did you learn those neat table manners at home?”

Lil paused to think. The memory of proper dining etiquette came from ‘Michiru-chan.’

“‘Michiru-chan’ taught me.”

Ian was puzzled by the sudden mention of this name but quickly asked who ‘Michiru-chan’ was.

“She’s… in my head… like a ghost?”

From her answer, Ian realized that even Lil herself didn’t fully understand. Ian wondered if perhaps ‘Michiru-chan’ was a guardian spirit.

Guardian spirits were known to exist. Sometimes, they would speak to their host and protect them with supernatural powers.

“Can this ‘Michiru-chan’ move objects?”

“No, she can’t.”

Lil answered with a curious expression. Ian assumed her guardian spirit must not be very powerful.

In truth, ‘Michiru-chan’ was an imaginary friend Lil had created from memories of her past life due to loneliness. However, Ian had no way of knowing this. For now, Ian simply believed that Lil had a guardian spirit named ‘Michiru-chan.’

Having learned more about Lil, Ian wondered what to do next. He needed to contact the royal palace quickly and inform them that he’d found a possible ‘interpreter.’ However, taking Lil directly to the capital right away seemed too harsh. Since she was still weak, Ian decided to report that he would observe her for a few months first.

“Um… your name…”

Lil seemed like she wanted to say something, interrupting Ian’s thoughts. That’s when he realized—he hadn’t properly introduced himself yet.

“I’m Ian Wilson. I’m the captain of the Second Holy Knights. Nice to meet you from now on.”

Lil repeated Ian’s name in her head several times, determined to remember her benefactor’s name.

“What is the Second Holy Knights?”

“The Holy Knights protect the sacred forests where divine beasts live. There are several such places, so there are eight divisions of the Holy Knights, and mine is the Second.”

Lil understood Ian’s brief explanation but tilted her head with curiosity.

“What are divine beasts?”

As soon as she asked, Louis rested his head on Lil’s lap.

‘Divine beasts are animals like me, who are enveloped in sacred energy and possess high intelligence. At first glance, they may resemble monsters, but unlike monsters that emit malicious energy, we are their complete opposite.’

Lil stroked Louis’s head as he proudly explained. His fur was fluffy and soft, making him feel warm and comforting. Lil decided that divine beasts must be wonderful creatures.

“Did Louis tell you that?”

Ian smiled warmly. Seeing Louis barking excitedly one moment and then calmly allowing Lil to pet him the next was amusing.

“Yes. Are the squirrels that helped me also divine beasts?”

Louis was still happily being petted. Normally, divine beasts avoided excessive human contact, but Louis must have sensed Lil’s situation and shown her kindness. Divine beasts were compassionate toward the weak.

“Yes, that forest is home to both monsters and many divine beasts. It’s the largest forest in this country.”

“I’d like to thank the squirrels.”

Ian found Lil’s politeness admirable. Perhaps it was thanks to ‘Michiru-chan’s’ guidance.

“That’s a good idea, but let’s save that for another time. Right now, you need to build your strength, or you won’t be able to enter the forest.”

Remembering how quickly she had exhausted herself in the forest before, Lil obediently agreed.

“Um… am I really allowed to stay here?”

Lil asked again, her voice anxious.

“Of course. Everyone will welcome you.”

“I’ll do my best to help. Please ask me to do anything.”

Ian felt ashamed of his own naïve thinking. The young girl in front of him was still scared. Her heart had been pushed to the brink, unable to accept kindness without feeling she had to repay it. Perhaps Lil needed a reason to stay.

“Alright, starting tomorrow, I’ll give you a job. You’ll be Louis’s interpreter. Louis patrols the forest, so I want you to listen to what Louis says and report it to me. Only you can understand Louis, so this is an important mission.”

Hearing that, Lil’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Yes! I’ll do my best as an interpreter!”

She cheerfully called out to Louis, “Let’s do our best from tomorrow!” with a smile.

For the first time, Lil felt like she had finally found a place where she belonged.