Once Georgine had been taken care Naru went back to Hakuya’s bar for some well-earned rest, she had spent the day enduring abuse from the girl and even had to use magic to save her from assailants.

Naru flopped into bed realizing how much easier it was to just be a simple barmaid. Even if the pay was less she could always tell Ymir to kick out unruly patrons. In Georgine’s case, Naru could only endure it. It wasn’t like she could simply leave Georgine, that would be tantamount to asking for death.

The next day Naru confronted Hakuya at midday where there was no one else in the bar.

“How do you know I would be able to defend that girl.” Naru accused him.

Hakuya continued to wipe down the counter ignoring her protests.

“Hey! I’m talking to you, listen to me”

“Mah, it’s really loud today isn’t it,” Hakuya said ignoring her again.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” Naru said swiping the rag from Hakuya’s hand so she couldn’t ignore her further.

“Tch, annoying girl, she doesn’t even have a nice rack like that last one,” Hakuya muttered under his breath

Naru slapped Hakuya

He groaned in pain slightly

“Alright, I deserved that.”

He stood up and straightened his back from the bent posture he held while cleaning the counter.

“Come” He said gesturing for Naru to follow him.

Naru watched him suspiciously but it seemed like Hakuya didn’t have any ulterior motives. He eventually led her to the storeroom door where she had seen him enter with many visitors.

Naru followed Hakuya inside to room. It smells like mildew and a faint scent of soil.

Hakuya turned his head towards Naru once they entered the room. Unlike his normally easy-going face, Hakuya’s expression was stone cold.

“Why did you bring me here,” Naru said. The room was a dead end and there was plenty of other private areas to talk in the bar, Naru didn’t know why Hakuya chose this spot.

“I can tell you why I know so much, but that will mean losing an aspect of your freedom,” Hakuya said.

Naru took a step back.

“What do you mean…” She said.

“You’ve got ears hiding underneath that hat don’t you.” He said grinning.

Naru grabbed the top of her head instinctively, she felt her ears flutter slightly in surprise.

“… How do you know.” She said in a low tone, ready to attack Hakuya and make a run for it.

“Hakuya pulled a pair of keys from his pocket,

“I own this building you know. I can see you when you sleep.”

[Tch] Naru had been careless she had been under the assumption that Hakuya would respect her privacy, but it seemed like he snuck a look at her while she was sleeping.

“Don’t you know it’s rude to watch a girl while she sleeps?” Naru said.

“Ah, but you’re a deer aren’t you,” Hakuya said.

In that instant, mounds of earth shot up from the ground, breaking through the thin wooden floorboards and completely encasing Hakuya’s body except for his head.

Despite the attack, Hakuya seemed calm.

“Hmm, so you have earth magic too, don’t see too many blessed animals with two elements, not to mention that fact that yours have good synergy.” He said.

“Speak!” Naru shouted. Ymir was out of the bar right now running errands, and she could dispose of Hakuya quickly and make a run for it, but before that she needed to know why he went through so much trouble to bring her to this spot, or why he didn’t expose her sooner

“Now, Now, let’s not get too hasty here. I don’t have any intention of outing you. If I wanted too, I could’ve done it plenty of times right?” Hakuya said.

“What?”

Naru had been under the impression that Hakuya was keeping her identity a secret for an ulterior motive, but he was right that there wasn’t any reason for him to keep her on staff for so long.

Naru loosened the earth bindings slightly. That’s was a mistake on her part.

In an instant, Hakuya shifted slightly in the earth that encased him and Naru felt the magic surging through her chest cut off. The earth that encased Hakuya fell to the ground in clumps, and he was free. Naru saw him clutching a small black gem in his hand.

Naru adopted a fighting stance, ready to pummel her way out. Hakuya was positioned towards the door and blocking her path of escape. Magic deer were physically stronger than normal humans, so although Naru was physically a young girl she was about as strong as a full-grown man.

“Let’s just calm down alright. Can you at least let me explain myself?” Hakuya said, making no motions to defend himself.

“What did you do to my magic!” Naru growled.

“Ah, this thing?” Hakuya said holding up the gem that was in his hand. “it’s a magic absorbing gem,”

He crushed the gem in his hand it fell to the ground.

“They’re fairly rare but they are handy no?”

Naru eyed Hakuya, throughout this whole exchange he had not once attacked her.

Hakuya seemed to smile slightly.

“So you are finally getting that I mean no harm. Good, that means we can talk.”