She is not an investigator.

"He is a pitiful man."

Igris gently shook her head.

“I know he’s pitiful, but he’ll only be more pitiful if we don’t help him. I’m asking what your thoughts are on the problems he’s facing.”

When Emilyda heard Igris's question, she actually started to think about it seriously.

She frowned slightly and spoke with an air of seriousness.

"If those things really exist, their purpose might not be to harm him."

“Indeed, otherwise the best opportunity to strike would have been when he took the sleeping pills, but he still didn’t suffer any harm.”

However, this kind of question doesn't actually prove anything. After all, many pollution-related anomalies are harmless to humans, but psychological harm is unavoidable.

"Hopefully it's not something too serious..."

The Gods' Fool - The Rainstorm: Chapter Seven, The Clock Shop

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon. What? You finally want to spend more time with me?"

Inside the Special Investigations Department, Igris brought the medication to Alex, intending to have her help analyze its components to see if there were any problems.

Alex was always exceptionally warm towards Igris, which naturally elevated Igris's status in the eyes of the others there.

"I need your help."

Igris took out the medicine she had wrapped and handed it to Alex.

"Please get it tested for me."

"Oh? What's this?"

Alex examined the medicine in his hand and even sniffed it lightly, but found nothing unusual.

"These are just some medications to relieve mental stress. My client may have some mental health issues, and I want to see if there's anything wrong with his medication."

"Oh, I can certainly get other staff to do the tests for you, but it's not free, and I can't help everyone with their tasks."

"I can't do it either?"

Igris raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

Alex paused for a moment, then sighed before speaking.

"Alright, alright... I'll pick up the results tomorrow since it's for you."

"Thank you."

After saying that, Igris turned to leave.

"Wait...you're just leaving like that?"

Alex quickly took a few steps and stopped Igris in his tracks.

Igris looked at her suspiciously and asked in confusion.

"What else? I just came to ask you for a favor."

Although she made no attempt to ask for help, Alex didn't care; she only stopped Igris for other reasons.

“Listen…you can’t, you can’t just dump your work on me and walk away without doing anything, understand?”

"You didn't have to do this for me, right? But I'll be very grateful that you did."

"It's not gratitude, I don't need your gratitude... damn it."

Alex had something to say, but she couldn't bring herself to say it, and Igris couldn't understand her behavior either.

"I'll treat you to dinner another day."

"Hmm... Okay, whatever... You can go now."

Alex stepped aside, no longer trying to stop Igris from leaving, but he seemed inexplicably downcast.

She was always so inexplicable, and Igris couldn't do anything about it.

"I'll come again tomorrow."

"Oh."

……

Outside the Special Investigations Department, Emily Rida stood quietly on the street, looking at the outfits of the passersby, then at her own dress, which seemed far too thin no matter what, and fell into deep thought.

This outfit wasn't hers; Ling bought it for her when she was around, since she couldn't stay naked all the time, so Ling kindly gave her one.

It's quite pretty; at least Amelida seems to like the outfit, though she's not quite used to the climate.

Even though she didn't feel cold, the feeling of being out of place with the people around her still made her somewhat uncomfortable.

This would remind her that she was ultimately not human, but rather an outsider trying to blend in with them.

"What are you thinking about?"

Igris slowly walked to Amelida, who had been waiting for her, and asked her, looking at her dazed figure.

Amelida turned her head slightly and looked at Igris, speaking softly.

"I... am a little cold."

"? Indeed... you're dressed too lightly."

Igris wrapped her scarf around her and said thoughtfully.

"I'll go to the watch shop first, then I can buy you some clothes before I go find Adam. Do you want to come with me?"

Amy Rida nodded, clutching the scarf around her neck tightly.

"Thank you."

"There's no need for you to thank me so much. We'll be living together for a long time to come, so just be casual."

Igris glanced at the still-early sky and decided to head to the watch shop now to retrieve her pocket watch.

Would you mind if I caused you trouble in the meantime?

"It depends on what kind of trouble you're causing. As long as I can accept it, then it's fine."

What kind of trouble are you willing to accept?

"...As long as you don't try to destroy the world, I can probably forgive you."

Igris couldn't say for sure, but the other party did indeed have the ability to destroy the city.

"I understand."

No one knows what she actually understood, but Igris can only hope that she didn't misunderstand anything.

"Alright... let's go."

May I hold your hand?

"No."

"..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Igris returned to the watch shop. The last time she came, she wanted to see the owner's parrots, but he wasn't there then.

The shop didn't seem to be affected by the chaos; everything inside was still exactly the same as when Igris last visited.

Igris still couldn't see the shop owner; the young man was still fiddling with something on the counter, seemingly unaware of Igris's arrival.

Igris tapped the table lightly, and he finally looked up, looking at Igris with some surprise.

"Oh...! Sorry, I was so focused I didn't notice you... You're here to retrieve your pocket watch, right?"

Igris nodded, and then saw him carefully take out a tiny, heart-sized box and place it on the table.

"Here's your pocket watch. It's been repaired, but... my boss would like to have a brief chat with you. Would that be convenient for you?"

"Let's talk? Why?"

Igris looked at the pocket watch, which was being kept with great care, and opened the box with some curiosity.

Sure enough, the pocket watch in the box had started its normal ticking, and the time showed 3:54.

"Hmm... He was very curious about what kind of person the owner of this pocket watch was, and he said that if you were willing to talk to him, he wouldn't charge you for repairing the pocket watch."

"A strange person."

Igris put the pocket watch in her pocket and asked the shop assistant.

"Where is he?"

"It's in the attic. You can go up there yourself. I still have some work to do."

He pointed to the half-assembled mechanical components on the table. Igris didn't understand their function and didn't care. She turned and walked upstairs.

As she stepped up the stairs, heavy footsteps echoed, and the attic door appeared before Igris.

She gently knocked on the door, and a strong, resonant voice followed.

"The door's unlocked, come in."

Igris pushed open the door, but as soon as she took a step, she kicked something.

Igris then noticed that the attic was a mess, with all sorts of random things scattered on the floor, and their owner didn't seem to have any intention of cleaning it up.

Amidst this pile of clutter, a man who looked to be around forty or fifty years old was writing something in a notebook, appearing remarkably focused.

After Igris walked in, he put down his notebook and turned to look at her.

"You are the owner of that watch, right?"

"It's me, what's wrong?"

"I won't waste any more time, I'll get straight to the point."

The man stood up, ran over the scattered items on the ground, and said in a serious tone.

How much would you sell me for this watch?

The Gods' Folly - The Rain: Chapter Eight, Night

"You want to buy my watch? Give me a reason."