a simple blacksmith in greece

Two Weeks Later

It's been two weeks, and I've found absolutely nothing. When I say nothing, I mean nothing. No strange occurrences, no hints of divine power—just quiet, uneventful days. The closest thing to excitement was when Miss Flay's husband tripped over a stack of fabric. That was funny, but it didn't exactly help my investigation.

The maddening part is that I know there's something about this girl. I can sense the faint traces of divinity coming from her, but that's all. No powers, strange behaviors, nothing unusual—just a normal girl stitching clothes. It doesn't add up.

To make matters worse, I've been observing her closely using one of Emiya's skills, Clairvoyance (C Rank): a visual ability that enhances both static and kinetic vision, often referred to as "Hawkeye." It allows me to see things with incredible clarity, even at long distances. But despite all that, I've come up empty. She's as ordinary as they come… or she's very good at hiding.

And today? Today's the day I go back to the shop to pick up my clothes. If there's a chance to learn anything more, this might be it. But if she really is hiding something, how long can she keep it up?

I arrived at the clothes shop, and this time, the person I came face-to-face with was none other than Pluie herself.

"Hi, welcome to Cloflay. How can I help you today?" she greeted me, her voice pleasant and calm. (If you really want to help me, just tell me what you are.)

"I came to pick up my clothes," I responded, trying to keep my tone neutral.

"Can I get your name?" she asked.

"David," I replied, my voice steady despite the nagging questions swirling in my mind.

She glanced at the list in front of her and nodded. "Oh, right. You had four pieces of clothing, yes?"

"Yes," I confirmed.

"Okay, give me a minute," she said before disappearing into the back of the shop.

While she was gone, I took a moment to steady myself. Her presence still unsettled me, but I couldn't afford to give anything away. After a few minutes, she returned, carrying a neatly wrapped bundle.

"Here you go. Thank you for purchasing here, and I hope I'll see you again," she said with a smile.

"Yes, me too," I replied politely before turning to leave.

As I walked out, I could feel her eyes on my back, but I resisted the urge to glance over my shoulder. Something about her still didn't sit right with me. Who are you, Pluie?

Pluie's POV

You know, ever since I arrived in this city, I've been really lucky. I mean, I got a job so quickly, and the couple who hired me are such nice people. My whole life has felt like I was cursed—monsters always seemed to follow me—but here, I haven't seen a single one.

Well, except for that strange incident two weeks ago. I was stitching up some clothes when I felt something... dangerous. It was like a shock, a jolt that ran through me. My brain scrambled to figure out what it was, but the sensation vanished as quickly as it came. I've tried not to think too much about it since then.

Anyway, life here has been peaceful. I've been so grateful for this fresh start. But today, my luck ran out.

I was running an errand for the couple. I knew I should've declined—it was late, and I had a bad feeling about it. But they've been so kind to me, I didn't want to seem ungrateful. In hindsight, though, I really should have said no.

Now, I'm regretting it because I'm being chased by two monstrous dogs. Their glowing red eyes pierce through the night, and they move unnaturally fast like they're shifting through shadows. My heart is pounding so hard it feels like it might burst.

One of them lunged and bit my leg, sending me crashing to the ground. Pain shot through me, but adrenaline kept me moving. I scrambled to my feet and kept running, even though every step sent sharp stabs of pain up my leg.

They caught up with me again, snapping at my heels. This time, I managed to dodge their attacks and kicked one of them. To my surprise, the force of my kick sent it flying. What? I didn't know I was that strong.

But my brief victory was short-lived. The dogs recovered almost instantly and resumed their chase. Before I knew it, they tackled me to the ground. I thrashed and flailed, trying desperately to keep their snapping jaws away from me. It felt like hours, but it must have been only a few minutes.

Suddenly, two loud noises rang out. The dogs that had been biting me dissolved into golden dust, their glowing red eyes fading into nothingness.

I blinked in shock, panting heavily as I realized I wasn't dead. My gaze fell on the strange objects that had appeared where the dogs had been—two arrows, their shafts sleek and elegant, with sharp, metallic protrusions glinting in the dim light.

End POV

When I sensed a monster had entered the city, I rushed to handle it. For the past five years, I've made it my mission to eliminate every creature that dares approach. The city has been a sanctuary, and I intended to keep it that way.

As I got within two yards of the commotion, I used Clairvoyance to assess the situation. What I saw surprised me—wolves with glowing red eyes were chasing someone. Narrowing my focus, I quickly projected a bow and loaded it with Hrunting arrows, ready to take the shot. But when I got a better look at who they were chasing, I hesitated.

It was her.

The girl from the tailor shop.

I paused, my fingers flexing on the bowstring. A thought struck me—this might be the perfect opportunity to confirm what she really is. If she were the divine being I suspected, surely she'd reveal her power when pushed to the brink.

So, I waited.

The wolves closed in, snapping at her heels as she stumbled and kept running. My grip tightened. "Come on," I muttered to myself, "use your power. Prove it. Do something."

She didn't.

She flailed, kicked, and kept running, but there was no sign of divine power. Finally, the wolves pinned her to the ground. I readied my bow, my heart pounding. "Come on... just one sign. Anything."

Nothing.

All she did was fight to survive like any normal person would.

Doubt crept in. What if I was wrong? What if she wasn't some powerful divine entity in hiding but just a newly discovered demigod, completely unaware of her potential?

The thought hit me hard. I couldn't wait any longer. I released the arrows, and they hit their marks perfectly, turning the wolves into golden dust.

I ran to her side, my heart sinking when I saw her unconscious and bleeding. The wounds on her leg and hand weren't fatal, but they were deep, and I couldn't help but feel like a complete idiot.

What's the point of this power if I act like this?

I chastised myself as I carefully picked her up and carried her back to my house. The entire walk home, I couldn't shake the guilt. I had let this happen—just to satisfy my curiosity.

When we arrived, I laid her down on my bed and began cleaning her wounds with alcohol I'd prepared earlier. She winced unconsciously, her body reacting even in her weakened state. The sight only deepened my shame.

I activated one of my ten avatars—the Ram. This avatar grants miraculous recovery powers, allowing me to resurrect myself from the dead and recover from any injuries. While I couldn't resurrect others, I theorized that I could transfer my mana to heal someone else.

So, I did.

I sat by her side, pouring my mana into her body, focusing on closing her wounds and restoring her strength. It wasn't easy—it took nearly the entire day. By the time I finished, I was physically and magically drained, but her breathing had steadied, and the color returned to her face.

Looking at her peaceful expression, I let out a sigh. I'd made a mess of things, but at least she was alive. Tomorrow, I'd have to figure out how to explain all this to her.