However, the traitors had read even that move. They proceeded to capture Kizuna and use a mysterious teleportation technique to whisk her away. It sounded like L’Arc’s scythe and Kizuna had been their only targets the entire time.

Glass and the others had planned an operation to rescue Kizuna. It had looked like all-out war would erupt with the traitor-controlled nation . . . but then a new problem had occurred.

The explanation was cut short there for a moment in order to get all these new facts in order. Packing in too much information at once could only make a situation even harder to understand.

“So the actual events are a little different, but it seems like a similar issue to what we faced in our world,” I said.

“Yes, it does,” Glass agreed. At that point, Therese, who had been silent the entire time, started to cry.

“Master Craftsman . . .” she sobbed.

“Please don’t call me that,” I told her.

“The item that you provided me with . . .” She trailed off and then showed me the broken pieces of her Orichal Starfire Bracelet.

“Right. When we were in danger, it was this accessory you created that saved us, Naofumi. Without it, I reckon we very well might have been killed,” L’Arc said with a slightly pained expression.

“We managed to survive only because it chose to sacrifice itself by unleashing all of its power,” Therese explained. During the battle, after the scythe was taken, it was apparently the power of the accessory I had made for her that allowed them to survive. Wasn’t that a good thing if it meant the lives of L’Arc and the others had been saved?

“I am so sorry. Sacrificing such a work of art as this . . .” Therese continued.

“Hey, Therese, no need to apologize to me quite so profusely. Besides, I don’t like the look in L’Arc’s eyes,” I told her.

“He looks a lot like you do sometimes, Mr. Naofumi,” Raphtalia muttered, looking between our faces and comparing them. When did I ever look like that? I wasn’t sure what the feeling in the air was, but it was almost like—even though I wanted no part of it—I was stealing Therese away from L’Arc.

“Indeed. He does look a lot like Naofumi,” Itsuki commented.

“Fehhh! Itsuki, please be quiet!” Rishia hissed. I seconded her statement, internally, and with considerably more vigor.

“The gemstone is cracked, but I can polish it up again, change the shape and remake it as something else. I hope that will be enough for you,” I told her. I wasn’t sure why it was falling to me to console her. My suggestion did make her raise her head, however. It was the best from a bad situation, then.

“Really? You can do that?” she asked.

“Sure I can, if I can find a moment. It’s basically your weapon, isn’t it, Therese? So it’s definitely worth it to make you something,” I told her. Making accessories for Therese allowed me to experience the feeling the old guy must have all the time. Like the reforging of a broken sword, I would give some thought to how to bring new life to this shattered accessory. It probably wouldn’t be easy, but it felt like it had some magic left in it.