The magician who was constantly called incompetent is actually the strongest in the world, but was imprisoned and didn't realize it Volume 2 Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Encounter

Numerous magic circles floated in the air.

Immediately following, the ground trembled with a rumble that shook the valley, and a terrifying roar squeezed the space around it.

Glendair—a gigantic magical beast roughly three times the size of a human—was rampaging.

It bore an ugly face resembling that of a goat, with sharp fangs protruding from its gaping maw.

Its crimson eyes darted about, intimidating its surroundings, while it sprayed saliva with each fearsome roar.

The wind pressure generated by its thick arms was strong enough to blow away a smaller person.

Yet, the overwhelming power that should have erupted from this fearsome, massive frame was nowhere to be found.

The reason was simple.

Vines had wrapped around its limbs, sealing the brute strength it prided itself on.

“Fire! Take it down in one go!”

At the command of a red-haired girl, the magic circles floating around unleashed their spells in unison.

In other words—it was a concentrated barrage.

Fire, wind, water, and various other magics crashed into Glendair one after another.

The ferocious assault intertwined, enveloping it in a colorful explosion of smoke.

Before long, the dust settled, revealing Glendair, bleeding profusely yet still very much alive.

Though its vitality was astonishing, the red-haired girl—Karen—showed no trace of worry on her beautiful profile.

“Oh dear… didn’t manage to finish it off, huh?”

Her figure was slender, clad in lightweight attire centered around the color red.

Her delicate, fair skin was smooth and refined, and her youthful, exquisite features captivated anyone who laid eyes on her.

Matching her hair, her ruby-red eyes sparkled like gemstones, radiating an unwavering resolve.

Her beauty, one that would earn praise from men and women, young and old alike, rivaled even that of a goddess.

“Hmm, what to do…”

She gave a troubled smile, scratching her cheek in a manner that seemed almost leisurely.

Glendair roared at her. Whether it was the repeated attacks that enraged it or the agony driving its reaction, its hideous face twisted in fury.

Then, breaking free of the vines’ restraints, its massive body displayed an unbelievable agility, charging across the ground.

As Glendair barreled toward her with a furious roar—

“Lady Karen, we’re so sorry! We’ll take it down with the next strike!”

One of the soldiers cried out in panic, but Karen shook her head.

“No. That’s enough. Stand down for now.”

If she let the soldiers continue fighting, someone might get hurt.

Their determination to make up for their failure was commendable, but overexerting themselves wasn’t praiseworthy. Thus, Karen decided this was the moment to step in.

“Leave the rest to me.”

Rather than blaming the soldiers who failed to defeat Glendair, Karen smiled and turned to the blue-haired, blue-eyed beauty beside her.

“Elsa, please hold it off.”

“Understood.”

A serene beauty—there were no other words to describe her flawless appearance.

Her skin was so fair that her blue veins were faintly visible, and her alluring figure, paired with her boldly revealing outfit, exuded an irresistible charm. Yet, due to the sheer perfection of her features, her elegance outshone any hint of seductiveness.

Her icy blue hair and eyes likely reinforced that impression even further.

This stunning woman—Elsa—narrowed her eyes and raised her favored bow.

“Sky of the archer reversed, arrows of a thousand hands unleashed, none to mock, none to prattle, by my will—”

As she chanted, an arrow flew from her hand.

“Become the mirror of the sage—‘Fool’s Freeze.’”

The moment she uttered the spell’s name, the arrow pierced Glendair’s legs.

In an instant—white smoke billowed upward.

Glendair froze from its toes up to its neck in a flash.

Soon, it could no longer move, its grotesque face displaying bewilderment.

Facing the now-confounded beast, Karen gripped her trusty spear.

“Everyone, clear the way!”

“This is bad, we’ll get caught in it!”

“Get out of there! Don’t block the line of fire!”

The soldiers scrambled in slight disarray at Karen’s command but obediently followed her orders.

Karen immediately assumed a throwing stance, her eyes locked on the line of sight that opened in the center.

“Blood boils, flesh scorches, bones shatter, heat turns to azure flames etched upon the earth—”

Twisting her waist and swinging her arm, Karen hurled the spear with tremendous force.

“Capture all creation—‘Infernal Prison.’”

The spear, wreathed in roaring flames, effortlessly pierced Glendair’s chest. The moment its body was impaled—azure flames surged skyward, and its massive form writhed as it collapsed to the ground.

“…As expected of Lady Karen.”

“Lady Karen… truly incredible.”

Once the beast’s death was confirmed, whispers tinged with awe rippled through the surroundings.

“Piece of cake.”

Hearing the soldiers’ praise, Karen puffed out her chest with a smug hum and reached toward the sky. The spear she’d thrown miraculously returned to her hand.

“You performed admirably—but are the materials intact?”

“Don’t worry, I dialed back the magic a bit. The skin might be singed, but the insides should be fine.”

Karen snapped her fingers in response to Elsa’s concerned question.

The azure flames burning on the ground extinguished instantly, revealing Glendair’s charred remains.

“…Lady Karen, your control over magic has really improved.”

Elsa nodded repeatedly in admiration. Seeing her reaction, Karen grew bashful.

“Well, it’s because I’ve had Ars as a reference. Seeing him wield magic so skillfully right in front of me sparked the thought, ‘I can do it too.’”

“I see. So that’s why you used Glendair to practice controlling your magic?”

“Exactly. Plus, I’ve been working on abandoning incantations. I’m growing too, you know.”

Karen winked playfully at Elsa before issuing orders to the soldiers of the “Vitre Guild,” who stood by around her.

“Everyone~ I think it’s dead, but let’s confirm it first, okay?”

At her words, those planning to gather materials approached Glendair.

From a short distance away, two figures observed their exchange.

“…That was quite the impressive fight.”

The speaker had black hair, heterochromatic eyes, and features hinting at a future as a handsome man. His bold, fearless expression gave an air of maturity, yet the lingering traces of youth lent him an oddly charming aura. This black-clad boy, known to those close to him as Ars, spoke up.

“If I recall… according to the Magic Association’s standards, Glendair’s subjugation difficulty is Level 4, right?”

“Seems like it. By the way, the male scorpion lion you defeated solo last time, Ars, was apparently Level 5.”

The one answering Ars was a silver-haired beauty.

“…Since you’ve fought both, can you tell the difference in their strength?”

If one had to describe her in a single word, it would be ethereal.

Her beauty outshone even that of a goddess. She exuded the air of a peerless maiden stepping out of a painting. Flawless in every way, even the word “perfect” fell short of describing her. Her indescribable loveliness carried a charm that would make anyone turn their head.

“Hmm, if only it were that simple to compare…”

The male scorpion lion Ars had defeated on his last expedition was designated as a Level 5 threat by the Magic Association. It was said to be a standard that an A-rank mage couldn’t defeat alone, requiring a group effort.

“But I didn’t feel like the scorpion lion was that big of a threat. Maybe it’s a matter of individual variation.”

Ars hopped down from the corpse of a beast he’d been using as a seat—one that he and the others had defeated before Karen’s group took on Glendair—and tapped its massive body with the back of his hand.

“And this guy was taken down with Karen, so it’s hard to make a direct comparison.”

“I see. Well, if another Glendair shows up, how about trying it solo next time?”

“That doesn’t sound half bad.”

As the two conversed, a woman approached, interrupting them.

“Lord Ars, is it alright to start the dismantling process now?”

“Sure, sorry for holding you up.”

“No, no, I’ll have it dismantled in no time.”

The one greeting Ars was a soldier from the “Vitre Guild” known as a “Supporter.”

They primarily possessed spatial talents like «Leather Pouch» or «Cloth Sack» for storing materials, making them a highly valued profession among mages. Additionally, Supporters were skilled in dismantling magical beasts, making them indispensable for adventures in the “Lost Lands.”

As Ars and the others watched the Supporter’s dismantling work—

“Sis~ We’ll leave this to you. Everything okay over here?”

Karen waved as she approached, and Julia opened her arms with a smile to welcome her.

“Yeah, no injuries either.”

“As expected of Sis!”

Seeing Karen leap into Julia’s arms, Ars gave a wry smile.

This was because she burst out with her usual love for her sister, shouting, “As expected of Sis,” as always.

“Ahh~… My first dose of Sis in hours.”

“Hehe, no matter how much time passes, Karen’s still a spoiled little girl.”

According to Karen, burying her face in Julia’s chest and taking a deep breath, subtly licking her skin without being noticed, allowed her to take in her sister’s essence mixed with an inexplicable sweetness.

Ars was astonished that such an essence existed and had tried it several times with Julia’s help. However, hugging turned out to be unexpectedly difficult to control.

Each time, Ars ended up pushing Julia down with too much force.

But practice makes perfect, and now he could hug her naturally. Unfortunately, he still couldn’t grasp what this “sister essence” was supposed to be.

Thus, Ars concluded it was a mysterious essence only Karen could perceive.

“Hehe, thanks to Ars working so hard, I didn’t have to do much.”

Hearing Julia’s humble words, Ars snapped out of his thoughts and joined their conversation.

“Not true. Without Julia’s swordsmanship, we wouldn’t have cut off Glendair’s head.”

“Huh… Hasn’t your dagger come back yet, Ars?”

Karen, basking in Julia’s scent with a satisfied look, tilted her head to ask.

“I stopped by the Badger’s Den before the expedition, but it’ll take a bit longer.”

He usually carried two daggers at his waist.

But they weren’t with him now. About a month ago, during a fight with Albert, the “Fifth Seat” of the “Five Swords of the Empire,” one had broken.

He’d initially thought he’d need to buy a new one, but the craftsman said the break was clean and repairable. So, until the repairs were done, it remained at the shop.

“I think it was bronze—the cheapest kind, right? Wouldn’t it be better to just buy a new one? I remember giving you a decent reward from the last expedition—why not use it?”

“…I’m out of money.”

Ars mumbled with a hint of melancholy.

He had indeed received a generous reward, but between a gift for Julia, doll expenses for Elsa, and dining out with Karen in the commercial district, his socializing costs had nearly drained it all.

“Geez… Ars, I didn’t peg you as such a big spender.”

“Y-Yeah.”

Of course, he couldn’t say that in front of them—plus, Karen had once taught him that men who bring up money issues from the past might be seen as lacking common sense—so Ars just laughed it off vaguely.

“And it’s my fault for not using the dagger properly anyway. Once it’s fixed, I’ll make good use of it next time.”

If he’d controlled his magic more skillfully back then, he wouldn’t have needed to send it for repairs.

His skills clearly weren’t up to par yet. Even with the cheapest bronze dagger, he needed to infuse it with enough magic to match the durability of the finest ores if he wanted to reach the level of a Magic Emperor.

“Besides, I need to train myself to cut through anything with bronze.”

“Uh… Cut through anything? I’m amazed you can say that so casually, Ars.”

If, as Ars claimed, he could cut through anything with bronze, there’d be no need to painstakingly select ores or rely on blacksmiths. But because that wasn’t feasible, people sought out master craftsmen and coveted weapons forged from superior materials.

Perhaps Ars was voicing his own ideals, but to Karen, it sounded like a pipe dream. No wonder she looked at him with exasperation.

“There’s still a lot I need to do. It’s all to surpass the ‘Essence of Magic.’”

“The ‘Essence of Magic God,’ huh… I’ve been helping you look into it, but I haven’t found anything significant.”

Information about the world’s strongest mage—the “Essence of Magic God”—was scarce.

Though rumors suggested he might be hiding in the Magic City, even Ars’s talent «Hearing» couldn’t locate him, so it was likely just hearsay.

“Well, there’s plenty of time. I’ll search slowly.”

Unlike when he was imprisoned, he was free now, so time was on his side.

There was no need to rush yet.

When he began challenging the formidable foes of the Magic City—the various Demon Lords—the “Essence” would likely reveal himself naturally.

“Until then, I’ll build my strength in the ‘Lost Lands’ and aim to climb the ranks with high hopes.”

Mages affiliated with the Magic Association were assigned one of twelve ranks.

Everyone started at the twelfth rank, “Regalia,” and raised their rank by completing missions issued by the Association, with the ultimate goal of becoming a Demon Lord—the first rank, “Lucifer.”

A while back, Ars had visited the service desk at Babylon Tower to register, officially becoming a mage under the Magic Association. Naturally, his rank was the lowest, twelfth-rank “Regalia.”

The ring on his ring finger was proof of that.

Provided by the Babylon Tower service desk, it served as an identity marker for the Magic Association. Embedded in it was a gemstone representing the twelfth rank “Regalia”—iolite.

Incidentally, one could choose from five accessories: a ring, bracelet, collar, necklace, or earring. Ars had a reason for picking the ring.

He glanced at Julia beside him. On her left ring finger, she wore an identical one.

In short, under Julia’s insistent—almost uncompromising—pressure, they’d ended up with matching rings.

And why the left ring finger?

“When a man and woman receive rings at the same time, it’s customary to wear them on the left ring finger. It’s common knowledge.”

That’s what Julia had told him with a straight face.

Of course, Ars had checked with Karen to see if it was really “common knowledge.” After seeing her sister’s expression, Karen nodded vigorously with a twitching cheek, so it must be true.

“So, have you gotten used to the Mid-Territory? Think you can handle it?”

Karen’s question snapped Ars back to reality, and he nodded slightly.

“Yeah, more or less. The Mid-Territory mostly has Level 4 threats like Glendair, right?”

The “Lost Lands” spanned a vast area, divided into several regions.

The “Low-Territory” was dominated by Level 2–3 threats, while the “Mid-Territory” was home to Level 5–6 creatures.

Beyond that were the “High-Territory” and “Deep-Territory,” with increasingly powerful beasts the further north one ventured. Ars and the others were currently in the “Mid-Territory,” the usual hunting ground for Karen’s “Vitre Guild.”

By the way, their last expedition—where Ars and Karen’s group had gone hunting—took place in the Low-Territory.

The male scorpion lion Ars had defeated alone was a boss-level monster known as a territorial lord, with a subjugation difficulty of Level 5, higher than the Low-Territory’s norm.

“That’s right. But if you go deeper from here—near the border with the High-Territory—Level 5 beasts become more common, and the Mid-Territory’s territorial lord roams nearby, so we need to be cautious.”

“What’s the subjugation difficulty of the Mid-Territory’s territorial lord?”

“Level 7. But our guild’s gotten stronger, so it might not be impossible to take it on once.”

Karen said hesitantly, as Elsa approached from behind her.

“We’re not fully prepared yet. I’d advise against challenging the territorial lord for now.”

“Oh, Elsa. Finished dismantling Glendair?”

“Yes. Since there was little damage, we gathered a large amount of materials. The load capacity’s reached its limit, so I think it’s best to wrap up this expedition here.”

“If the Supporter says so, there’s no helping it. Let’s call it a day, then.”

“Understood. I’ll have them pack up in order.”

“Mm, please do.”

After watching Elsa head off to direct the soldiers, Karen turned to Ars.

“Ars, did you bring the teleportation ring I gave you earlier?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it on properly.”

On Ars’s left middle finger was another ring.

It was one Karen had given him during the last expedition, enchanted to return him to their headquarters, <Lantern Sisters>.

The magic stone embedded in it held a “Teleportation” spell, with coordinates inscribed for the return destination.

“Then come back whenever you like.”

As Karen said this, the surrounding soldiers began teleporting back one by one.

“See you at the guild, then.”

Finally, Julia waved goodbye and vanished before Ars’s eyes.

The once-bustling scene fell silent, now tinged with a desolate air.

“Guess I’ll head back too…”

Just as Ars prepared to channel magic into the ring to return—

“—None.”

“…Hm?”

Though faint, his «Hearing» picked up a sound.

He couldn’t have misheard—so Ars walked toward its source.

The valley’s paths were already rugged, and last night’s rain had left the ground muddy.

Even so, Ars moved toward his destination with an easygoing expression.

What appeared before him was a river.

It was an ordinary narrow river, nothing special about it, except that last night’s downpour had raised its water level.

Ars looked around and spotted something washed up on the riverbank in the distance.

“Huh… could that be the legendary mermaid?”

Karen had once told him that mermaids inhabited the “Lost Lands.”

It was said they closely resembled humans, possessing intelligence and the ability to speak human languages.

Due to their beautiful appearance and rarity, they were often coveted, which made them wary of showing themselves to humans. However, it was rumored that they occasionally got washed ashore when rivers swelled.

“But… it doesn’t quite seem like it.”

Karen had mentioned that mermaids had fish-like tails, yet the creature before him had two slender, human-like legs—meaning the woman lying in front of Ars was unlikely to be a mermaid.

“…Then, is she human?”

Her wet, peach-pink hair shimmered in the sunlight. Her features were so refined that one might mistake her for a mermaid. But she appeared frail, her skin an unhealthy pale, devoid of vitality.

“…This is…”

Ars crouched down to look at the woman’s face, his brow furrowing in surprise.

The woman lying on the ground had two horns protruding from her forehead, and a portion of her bangs between them was dyed black. As he leaned closer to examine her, her eyelids suddenly fluttered open.

Though her body was weak and powerless, her emerald-green eyes burned with an unexpected intensity, locking onto him with a piercing gaze.

“Not yet… not yet… Shion is!”

She reached out, grabbing Ars’s collar and pulling him toward her with force.

Even so, he sensed no hostility or intent to harm from her.

Deciding not to resist, Ars responded calmly.

“Shion? Is that your name? Or someone else’s?”

Her green eyes held an obsession—a color Ars knew well.

It stirred a sense of nostalgia in him.

He recalled having the same look in his eyes when he was once confined.

However, she didn’t answer his question, instead losing consciousness once more.

“Well… before I figure out what to do—”

Ars slowly stood up, shifting his gaze from the woman to the forest behind him.

“—it seems we have guests.”

His talent «Hearing» picked up multiple footsteps, and soon a group of humans emerged from the shadows of the trees.

There were six of them. Though some wore light gear and others heavy armor, their clothing styles varied, yet they were unmistakably mages.

They formed a circle, gradually closing in on Ars and cutting off his escape routes.

“That woman is one of our soldiers. Sorry for the trouble she’s caused you.”

The man in the center stepped forward as their representative, offering a friendly smile.

His expression didn’t seem deceitful, but there was something suspicious in his demeanor.

“Do you have any proof?”

“Unfortunately, no. But I think once she wakes up, she’ll naturally recognize us…”

He claimed she was one of their soldiers yet refused to show any guild insignia to prove their affiliation.

“I see—well, I’ve already gathered enough evidence.”

Judging by the words he’d caught with «Hearing», Ars was certain the man was lying.

“Your tone shifted slightly higher. If you’re going to lie, you need to control your emotions better.”

“What did you say—!?”

“You outnumber me. So I’ll make the first move.”

Before the visibly shaken man could finish, Ars cut him off, extending a hand toward his face.

“«Impact».’”

“Guh!?”

The man, struck directly by the spell, was sent flying, crashing through trees and disappearing into the depths of the forest.

The remaining five mages stared in stunned silence as their comrade was swallowed by the darkness. Then, they turned furious glares toward Ars.

“Do you really think you can take on all of us… Are you insane!?”

Ars calmly regarded the enraged, shouting mages and shrugged.

“To be honest, I don’t even know the extent of my own strength.”

It had been the same when he faced the magic knights of the Earth Empire.

The power of «Impact» was supposed to be merely a deterrent, yet every time, his opponents ended up blasted away. It might sound odd, but this made it hard for him to gauge his own abilities.

No, more accurately, he couldn’t assess them objectively.

To understand his current level, he’d even risked fighting Albert, the “Fifth Seat” of the “Five Swords of the Empire.” But later, he learned Albert had likely been chosen for his family background rather than his skill, casting doubt on his true strength.

Despite facing numerous foes, Ars still couldn’t measure his own power.

“What… what are you saying?”

Thrown off by his incomprehensible words, the mages exchanged bewildered glances.

Ars gave them a self-deprecating wry smile and waved a hand in front of him.

“Nothing, don’t mind me.”

After offering a candid apology, he surveyed the remaining five mages one by one.

“So, what’s your plan?”

“At this point, did you think we’d let you off!?”

Ars deduced that this group was roughly on par with the man he’d just defeated.

Logically, they should’ve realized this too, but whether their anger clouded their judgment or they had some reason they couldn’t retreat, it seemed a fight was inevitable.

“What are you smirking about?”

“Ah~… You caught me? Sorry, I’m not laughing at you.”

Ars scratched his cheek sheepishly, aware of his own reaction.

“It’s just that I’ve been in a similar situation before.”

It had been the same when he helped Julia.

Recalling that moment, he couldn’t help but smile.

“So, you’re not planning to hand over the ‘Black Cat,’ then?”

The remark might’ve been offhand, but Ars’s «Hearing» didn’t miss it.

Without a doubt, they knew the woman lying on the ground.

But rather than comrades, they were her enemies.

When they mentioned “Black Cat,” their voices carried an unmistakable disgust.

Even Ars could sense their near-murderous intent, so strong it couldn’t be ignored.

“Hmm, your reaction makes me even more curious about her. So no, I won’t hand her over.”

“Is that so… Looks like we’ll have to take her by force.”

The five mages seemed to solidify their resolve, now viewing Ars as an enemy to eliminate.

Ars didn’t assume a fighting stance, standing naturally. Yet his gaze remained cautiously fixed on them as he spoke first.

“‘«Sonic».’”

For instance, Julia’s talent «Light» included a spell called ‘Lightspeed.’

It granted the user absolute speed, even creating the scenario that time itself had stopped.

Ars had once used Julia’s ‘Lightspeed’ by employing ‘Echo,’ a spell within his «Hearing» talent. After realizing how useful it was, he’d searched his own repertoire for something similar and found ‘Sonic’—though it paled slightly compared to Julia’s ‘Lightspeed,’ it still gave him ample speed.

His swiftness left the enemies before him visibly shocked.

“«Impact».’”

Ars didn’t hesitate. With an impassive expression, he blasted them away with his magic.

Unable to keep up with his speed, they could only gape in astonishment as the dark forest swallowed them, vanishing into its depths.

When the spell’s effect wore off, only one enemy remained.

“W-What was that magic… Is it the «Gale» talent!?”

“No, all I have is a talent that enhances my hearing.”

“Enhanced hearing!? Y-You’re bluffing! I’ve never heard of such a talent!”

Seeing the man’s fury, Ars’s brows drooped, looking troubled.

“I’m just telling the truth… I don’t know why everyone doubts it.”

When people learned of Ars’s talent, they typically reacted in one of three ways: anger, laughter, or pity. But most, like this man, assumed they were being mocked and got angry.

“Oh, right… I just remembered a spell I’ve been wanting to try. Mind helping me test it?”

“Do you think anyone would just stand there waiting after you say that!?”

He didn’t really need the man to wait, but Ars didn’t feel the need to point that out.

“«Whispers of the Wind.»”

By abandoning incantations, no matter how seasoned a mage his opponent was, they’d be powerless.

Once the spell activated, the enemy would have no choice but to defend.

After confirming the magic circle had appeared, Ars turned his back and began walking away.

“What… Did you take my sight!?”

A stunned voice came from behind—apparently, the spell had taken effect.

The enemy clutched his face in shock.

But perhaps it wasn’t his first time losing his vision, as he quickly dropped into a low stance, preparing to guard his surroundings. His movements were fluid and flawless, revealing him to be a seasoned veteran.

“Did you think blinding me would stop me? That I’d panic over losing my sight?”

The enemy roared in defiance, but Ars didn’t look back.

“Don’t underestimate me, kid—your carelessness will be your downfall.”

The man raised his staff, beginning an incantation aimed at Ars.

“Fount of the azure sky, parched tongue, quench the desert, aloft as vapor, fallen as water, filling the void—”

With his resonant chant, water-blue lines traced elegant patterns in the air.

“Drown in the heavens—‘Deluge of Desolation.’”

A massive surge of water burst forth from the magic circle with ferocious momentum.

However, it shot off in a direction completely unrelated to Ars’s position.

“How’s that! This is the power of a B-rank mage!”

A gleeful voice rang out from behind.

Was it really that impressive? Ars paused and glanced back.

“What… Just ‘Deluge of Desolation’? I already know that spell.”

He sighed in disappointment, losing interest and resuming his walk.

Then, though he knew the enemy couldn’t see him, he waved a hand behind him as if to catch his attention.

“Also, a spell doesn’t always have just one effect. ‘Whispers of the Wind’ doesn’t only take your sight. Its true essence—‘Illusion’—is using phantom sounds to throw the enemy into confusion.”

That mage would likely keep fighting illusions until his magic ran dry.

“…Alright, time to head back.”

Ars returned to where the woman had been lying, but—

“Huh… What’s this?”

There was no woman—only a “black cat.”

She had transformed into the pet-like form most people would picture when hearing the word “cat.”

＊

The second basement floor of the “Vitre Guild” headquarters, <Lantern Sisters>.

This area housed a place known as the “Chamber of Return.”

Though it was a plain stone room, it had one distinctive feature befitting its name.

Etched into the room was a magic circle used for returning from the “Lost Lands.”

“Ars… could something have happened to him?”

The silver-haired beauty—Julia—was gazing at the magic circle with a worried expression.

“It’s only been five minutes, hasn’t it? He’ll be back soon enough.”

Karen, sitting on the stone steps at the room’s entrance, responded with an exasperated tone.

“But… it’s already been five minutes, you know?”

Julia clasped her hands together, casting an anxious glance at Karen.

“What if the teleportation ring broke, and he can’t get back?”

“Hmm… I don’t know how many times he’s used it, but I doubt it’s broken. It should be good for over thirty uses.”

As she spoke, Karen pulled out her own teleportation ring.

Under the light of the magic stone lamps installed in the room, the gem embedded in the ring emitted a faint glow.

The magic stone had been imbued with the “Teleportation” spell by a mage with the «Enchantment» talent.

Of course, depending on the mage’s skill, a magic stone might break after just one or two uses, but the mage Karen had commissioned was a master—no chance they’d provide a shoddy product.

“Perhaps… he went off to search for the mermaids Lady Karen mentioned before?”

Elsa interjected into their conversation. As usual, she spoke with a blank expression:

“Since Lady Karen took advantage of Lord Ars’s naivety and filled his head with exaggerated tales, he seemed quite intrigued by the mermaid stories. And this expedition’s location was near a river.”

“Ugh~ No way… Elsa, do you really think Ars went looking for mermaids?”

“Yes, I think it’s highly likely.”

Elsa nodded, and Julia adopted a serious look, pressing a finger to her lips.

“Indeed… that’s very possible. Due to the effects of his confinement, Ars sometimes shows a very childlike side. He probably took Karen’s fibs at face value.”

“Sis, hold on a second!”

Karen protested loudly, standing up.

Her voice echoed surprisingly loud in the stone room.

Unfazed, she continued:

“Don’t slander me like that! I didn’t lie!”

Karen appeared indignant, but Julia and the others had long since figured out she was just putting on an act. Whenever she got loud and theatrical like this, flailing her limbs to express herself, it was usually a ploy to dodge responsibility.

Seeing through her obvious intentions, Julia sighed and calmly pressed further:

“Dropping a copper coin in front of a mermaid to trade for gold or silver coins—something that far-fetched isn’t a lie?”

“T-That’s not a lie, it was just a joke!”

“You always twist words like that… Besides, mermaids aren’t gentle creatures who’d trade money with humans.”

There did exist highly intelligent beings called mermaids due to their human-like appearance.

But when they possessed near-human intellect, they transcended the category of mere magical beasts.

—The Demon Race.

People referred to this race, hostile to humanity, with fear.

They had appeared a thousand years ago.

In the northern part of the continent—where the Magic Emperor clashed with the gods—the battlefield ruins of the “Lost Lands” left behind accumulated magic power that impacted future generations in various ways.

Whether it was the Magic Emperor’s resentment or the gods’ wrath, the reason remained unclear, but this residual magic turned into a poison harming humanity. Over time, it birthed magical beasts, which people began calling miasma.

Eventually, magical beasts emerged endlessly, destroying the forests where elves dwelled, ravaging the mountains inhabited by dwarves, and crossing valleys to demolish human towns. These terrifyingly powerful creatures, upon gaining intelligence and evolving into the Demon Race, expelled humans from the northern continent with overwhelming might.

Now, the Demon Race reigned as the rulers of the “Lost Lands,” using the “Deep Territory” as their stronghold and obstructing human access.

Every so often, they’d emerge from the “Lost Lands” as if to pass the time, indiscriminately attacking human nations and causing widespread chaos.

“Sis, have you ever seen a demon?”

“No… but just hearing the rumors is enough to sense their threat.”

“I saw one once.”

Karen had encountered a demon three years ago, during her first visit to the Magic City.

For a young girl unfamiliar with the place, it was a deeply terrifying experience—one that became an indelible memory. The demon she saw, even surrounded by dozens of mages, wreaked havoc like a natural disaster, demolishing everything around it.

“I couldn’t do anything. Just watching took all I had, and I trembled the whole time until it was defeated.”

As if ashamed of her past self, a bitter expression crossed Karen’s face.

“…Lady Karen.”

Elsa, aware of that time, showed a concerned look but seemed unsure of what to say. She called Karen’s name but didn’t continue.

At that moment, the magic circle in the center of the room flared with brilliant light.

When the glow subsided, the figure they’d all been awaiting appeared.

“Ars!”

The moment Julia saw him, she rushed over.

Seeing her sister’s reaction, Karen stood up with a wry smile.

“You’re way too late. What were you even—”

Karen’s words cut off mid-sentence, and Julia, in her line of sight, halted as well.

Both their gazes fixed on the creature in Ars’s arms.

“…This is certainly unusual.”

Elsa, too, seemed to notice the anomaly, her earlier calm replaced by a wary squint.

“Ars, where did you pick that up?”

Karen voiced the group’s question, her voice trembling slightly with tension.

She was, of course, referring to the creature in Ars’s arms—

—The “Black Cat.”

“Hm? Oh, pretty rare, right?”

Rare didn’t even begin to cover it. It was exactly what they’d just been discussing.

Oblivious to the tense atmosphere in the room, Ars looked at them with innocent curiosity.

But Karen and the others, knowing what the cat truly was, stiffened with extreme unease.

“Ars, listen to me calmly—”

Sweat trickled down Karen’s cheek. She mentally reassured herself it wasn’t a crisis yet, suppressing her past memories with sheer willpower.

Even so, after opening and closing her mouth several times, she carefully chose her words:

“That’s a demon… Put it down and step away from it.”

A demon in human form would be incredibly troublesome, but fortunately—or so it seemed—it was currently in a more manageable beast form.

And though it wasn’t clear if it was unconscious or asleep, dealing with it now could eliminate any future trouble without casualties.

As Karen and the others reached peak tension, Ars, still holding the demon, tilted his head in confusion.

“…Ars, did you hear me?”

“Yeah, I heard you. So it really is a demon, huh.”

Ars nodded casually, as if it were no big deal.

Karen was speechless, stunned that he could remain so calm.

“…You knew and still brought it back?”

Julia asked in place of the dumbfounded Karen.

Even she couldn’t hide her shock, her eyes widening as she stared at Ars.

“Yeah, because it’s rare. I heard there aren’t any ‘jet-black’ animals.”

Until a thousand years ago, no “jet-black” animals existed in this world.

But it was said that the miasma left from the war between the Magic Emperor and the gods gave birth to “jet-black.”

Animals tainted by miasma turned “jet-black” and, over time, transformed into magical beasts.

Though exceedingly rare, some of these beasts even evolved into demons.

The miasma’s influence didn’t stop there—it affected humans too.

Humans with “jet-black” hair or eyes began to appear.

Those born with “jet-black” almost always possessed the “Incompetent” talent. After the discovery of the taboo «Necromancy» talent—manipulating the dead—“jet-black” became not just a symbol of incompetence but a mark associated with demons, earning widespread disdain.

Whether miasma truly caused “jet-black” remained unproven, but it was a fact that creatures tainted by miasma changed color, and no other animals naturally bore “jet-black.”

“So when you see a ‘jet-black’ animal, you shouldn’t approach it recklessly. First, suspect it’s a magical beast or demon.”

“You know all this… and still brought it back…?”

Julia looked dumbfounded, rubbing her temple as if nursing a headache.

Catching her sister’s rare reaction out of the corner of her eye, Karen nodded in agreement.

She understood Julia’s feelings. Even Karen felt the urge to yell.

Normally, no one would knowingly pick up a demon—the sworn enemy of humanity—and bring it back.

“Then you should know we have to deal with it immediately, right?”

Protecting or hiding a demon was a grave crime.

This wasn’t just a rule in the Magic City—it was a strict international law upheld by nations worldwide.

If the Magic Association discovered they were harboring a demon, not only would the guild face disbandment, but Karen and the others could be sentenced to death, and the soldiers might be implicated too. Thus, killing a demon on sight within human territory was common sense in this world.

Karen gripped her beloved spear but didn’t take further action.

Because Ars was still tilting his head nonchalantly.

“Normally, maybe that’d be the case. But I don’t think this one’s dangerous.”

As he spoke, Ars petted the demon that had everyone on edge.

Though it was a demon, aside from its “jet-black” appearance, it didn’t differ much from an ordinary cat, making Karen feel a twinge of envy. Yet, despite its cute exterior, once it awoke, it would unleash destruction likened to a natural disaster.

“What basis do you have for saying that?”

She had a mountain of questions. What had Ars encountered before returning? How had it escalated to him bringing back a demon?

Plus, the shop had just been repaired a few days ago. If it got wrecked again, she’d be in tears.

“My «Hearing» is my basis. Before I picked her up, I heard—”

Ars paused mid-sentence, looking down at his arms.

“Oh, looks like you’re awake.”

Ars cheerfully addressed the “Black Cat” in his embrace.

The “Black Cat” slowly opened its eyelids, revealing emerald-green eyes.

With just one glance, Karen’s hair stood on end.

“No way… Ars, get away from it now!”

Everyone except Ars instinctively backed away.

The room was small, making a safe distance impossible, but driven by instinct, Karen and the others leaped back to the walls.

The “Black Cat” leapt lightly from Ars’s arms to the floor.

After a brief silence, a faint meow sounded—then a light enveloped the “Black Cat’s” entire body.

The brilliance was so intense it forced their eyes shut, and a surge of magic power instantly filled the room.

When Karen and the others opened

 their eyes again, a breathtakingly beautiful woman stood there.

Her peach-pink hair still shimmered even in the dim room. Her appearance rivaled that of a naturally radiant elf. Her elegantly sculpted features carried an ethereal, otherworldly beauty.

Though the two demon-like horns on her forehead exuded an ominous aura, they weren’t a flaw—rather, they perfectly accentuated her allure.

“Why… Why is Shion here?”

(T/N: Yeah, Shion talks in third person view sometimes)

The demon furrowed her brow, seemingly in pain, clutching her face as she stared at Karen and the others.

“Who are you? What did you do to Shion?”

Whether it was the unsteadiness of just waking up or her strength not yet recovered, she appeared deeply disoriented.

Despite the situation making everyone hesitate, Ars stepped forward to chat with her, completely unperturbed.

“Glad you’re awake. You don’t… look too well.”

“You are…?”

“I’m Ars. The guy who picked you up from the riverbank.”

“…I see, the riverbank… Well, thank you anyway. Shion is called Shion.”

“So that really is your name.”

While Karen and the others stood frozen, the two somehow ended up introducing themselves to each other.

In this bizarre atmosphere, the first to react among Karen’s group was Julia.

Typically, for better or worse, Karen was the first to act in situations like this, but surprisingly, she merely stared at Shion without taking any steps.

Elsa, too, just kept her eyes on Shion.

Julia glanced at the two, who were reacting identically, with a puzzled expression.

“Karen… what’s wrong?”

Up until a moment ago, Karen had been stressing the danger of demons and urging them to eliminate Shion.

Yet now that she’d taken human form, Karen didn’t press the issue—she just stared in a daze.

Seeing her strange behavior, Julia naturally grew curious.

“Karen! Snap out of it. What are you going to do?”

Julia placed a hand on Karen’s shoulder and shook her.

“Uh, ah! R-Right… about what to do with her!”

Karen jolted back to reality, stammering as she spoke:

“For now… since she doesn’t seem hostile, let’s hold off on subjugating her.”

Her tone was a stark contrast to earlier, now markedly cautious.

“Let’s ask her some questions first. We can’t judge anything without understanding the situation.”

It was as if she’d become a different person with this sudden change of heart.

Julia narrowed her eyes, seemingly probing the reason behind this shift in attitude.

Perhaps sensing the suspicion in her gaze, Karen placed both hands on Julia’s shoulders, flashing a forced smile to brush it off.

“Sis, could you and Ars take this Shion girl to the reception room? If possible, keep the soldiers from noticing.”

“…Karen? What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“Sis… please. Can you just do as I ask?”

Karen leaned in close to Julia, her expression intense.

Julia was naturally taken aback by her sister’s uncharacteristic lack of composure, but given the current vibe, she doubted she’d get an explanation. She glanced at Elsa, who might know something, but Elsa merely shook her head.

In other words, she was being told to follow Karen’s instructions for now.

With even Elsa staying silent, there was no helping it.

Arguing with Karen would just waste time—Julia made that judgment and sighed reluctantly.

“Fine. But you’ll have to explain later.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Hearing Karen’s response, Julia approached Ars.

She used his body as a shield, trying to stay out of Shion’s line of sight.

Ars seemed to be getting along well with Shion, but that didn’t mean Julia would receive the same friendly treatment.

Unsure if Shion might suddenly turn hostile, Julia decided it was best to let Ars mediate and avoid unnecessary provocation.

“Ars, it’s not convenient to talk here. How about we move to the reception room? I’ve already gotten Karen’s permission.”

“Good point. A quieter place would be better…”

Ars pondered for a moment before turning back to Shion.

“Shion, sorry to trouble you, but could you come with me?”

“Hm… Sure.”

Though still disoriented, Shion seemed to grasp that they needed to relocate to continue talking.

She agreed with unexpected candor and followed Ars and Julia toward the stairs leading upstairs.

Karen watched the three of them leave, letting out a deep sigh before turning to Elsa with a pale face.

“…That’s Shion, isn’t it?”

“Y-Yes. I think there’s no mistake.”

Elsa answered Karen’s question immediately. Though her face remained expressionless as usual, her voice trembled slightly, clearly showing even she was shaken.

“But… why has she become a demon?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s impossible… This shouldn’t be happening.”

An inexplicable, eerie sensation washed over her.

Unable to spit it out or swallow it down, Karen nonetheless forced herself to suppress the rising nausea and managed to choke out a sentence.

“Because up until three years ago, she was definitely—”

Perhaps due to the sudden drop in people, the room’s warmth dissipated quickly.

“—human.”

＊

In the valley after Ars’s departure, a gentle breeze blew, as if heralding the arrival of spring.

This was an unnamed area in the Mid-Territory of the “Lost Lands.”

Though it was an overlooked region, it had fewer magical beasts compared to other areas, often earning it the designation of a “safe zone.”

That was also why they’d survived—the mages Ars had knocked out began to stir awake one by one.

“T-That guy, is he still here?”

“No… He’s probably gone back.”

“…No one’s dead?”

“Doesn’t look like it… Only one seems to have passed out from magic exhaustion.”

“We couldn’t even land a hit on him… What a monster.”

Upon waking, they didn’t signal each other but naturally gathered around the unconscious mage. The leader, his face ashen, let out a heavy sigh.

“Ugh… Damn it. How are we supposed to report this to Lord Christoph?”

The others looked at the captain with sympathetic eyes.

Tracking and capturing the “Black Cat” had been their squad’s mission.

Yet they’d failed to achieve their goal, thwarted by a single boy—Ars.

Worse still, this was a task assigned to an elite team of B-rank mages—fifth-rank “Dominion”—and they’d still botched it.

Their superior, Christoph, would never forgive such a blunder.

“I get how you feel… but not reporting it will only make things worse.”

Deceiving their boss wasn’t an option. And a failed mission wasn’t something they could hide.

Their orders had been to capture the “Black Cat,” dead or alive.

“I know. But… damn it, this was supposed to be an easy job!”

The captain slumped in defeat.

“—Ugh… Fine, we’ve got no choice but to report it.”

Resigning himself, he pulled out a magic stone imbued with the “Transmission” spell.

“No need for that. I’ve come to hear the report in person.”

Startled by the voice behind him, the captain dropped the stone in shock.

He whipped around, eyes wide with disbelief—

“Well then, care to explain what’s going on here?”

A lean man with glasses stood there, a smile on his face.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse gaps in the trees, illuminating him.

Perhaps because of this, he exuded not only a calm demeanor but also a soft, gentle aura.

The moment the captain saw him, he straightened up and dropped to his knees.

“Uh, um, Lord Christoph, we did our utmost—”

Before he could finish, his hair was seized, forcing his face upward. Christoph loomed before him, golden eyes narrowing behind his glasses.

“Who told you to make excuses? Hm?”

His venomous tone and actions starkly contrasted with his gentle air.

“I told you to explain the situation. Are you an idiot?”

“Ah, guh—”

The captain tried to respond, but Christoph’s fingers clamped around his throat, silencing him. He thrashed in agony, clawing at Christoph’s hand, but it didn’t budge.

“Come on, speak. Are you mocking me? Hurry up and explain.”

“Hah—ha, ngh!?”

The incredible grip made his neck bones creak.

Bloodshot eyes bulged from the pain, but his strength to resist faded, and his eyes rolled back.

He lost consciousness, mouth flapping uselessly, until a fatal crack sounded from his neck, and his arms fell limp to the ground.

“Ah—did it break? No matter how many times I snap bones, I can’t get used to the feeling.”

Christoph frowned, releasing the captain’s neck and pulling out a handkerchief to meticulously wipe his hands.

“So, can anyone explain what happened?”

After cleaning his hands, Christoph slowly adjusted his glasses.

“Or… is there someone else who’d like to test how tough their neck is?”

He glared down at his cowering subordinates, waving a hand back and forth for emphasis.

Unable to withstand his murderous gaze, one of them, shoulders trembling, spoke up loudly:

“R-Report, sir! We found the ‘Black Cat,’ but a mysterious boy interfered midway.”

“And then?”

“To our great shame, we were no match for him and were defeated. By the time we came to, the boy had vanished along with the ‘Black Cat.’”

“Oh… Then why—”

Christoph’s lips curled into a delighted smirk.

“—aren’t you all dead yet?”

Though a simple question, it carried the weight of a death sentence.

Every one of them clung to the hope of survival.

But even begging for mercy would only earn disdain.

Christoph’s question was a demand for them to end their own lives, sparing him the effort.

Delaying their suicides would only lead to a more agonizing fate at his hands.

Given that, the subordinates naturally wanted to suffer less… The captain’s final moments flashed through their minds.

The four remaining men, still prostrate, immediately drew their weapons and pressed them to their own throats.

In that instant—Christoph clapped his hands sharply.

The tense atmosphere dissipated like smoke.

Then, his subordinates, as if they’d forgotten to breathe until that moment, let out ragged gasps in unison.

Perhaps finding this drastic shift amusing, Christoph let out his first laugh since arriving.

“Just kidding. There’s no need for you to die. Besides, he’s already taken the fall for it.”

Christoph kicked the captain’s corpse with a sneer of disdain.

His actions showed no trace of respect for the dead.

“You’re all my valuable pawns. Sure, sometimes a useless one slips in, but I believe you’re different.”

After delivering his cold, merciless words, Christoph watched as reinforcements—five, then ten, then twenty—gathered around him.

“The rest of my pawns have finally caught up. This should be enough manpower, I’d say.”

“What are your next orders, sir?”

“First, I want information on that unknown boy. It’d be a problem if you were lying.”

He said this while eyeing the four subordinates who’d failed, all of whom bowed their heads in apology. Christoph observed their reactions with satisfaction before issuing orders to the one addressing him.

“Gather intel carefully. If you stir up unnecessary suspicion and it traces back to me, it’ll be a hassle.”

“Could it be one of the Twenty-Four Council—no, a Demon Lord’s subordinate?”

“Quite possible. After all, you’re a squad of fifth-rank ‘Dominion’ mages who lost. If it’s someone capable of taking you down single-handedly, it’s likely one of the Demon Lords or a high-ranking officer from those damned Twenty-Four Council.”

Christoph spat the words with a curse, glancing at the man unconscious from magic depletion.

“Wait for him to wake up. He might have some useful information.”

Having settled on a plan, Christoph began giving instructions to his men.

“Until then, search the area for any clues.”

As his subordinates silently set to work, Christoph’s smile deepened.

＊

“…No memories?”

Karen’s voice broke the silence enveloping the reception room.

She stared suspiciously at Shion, seated on the sofa across from her.

Perhaps feeling blamed, Shion shrank into herself apologetically.

“Um, you might not believe me… but Shion really doesn’t remember why she was lying by the river.”

Maybe to calm herself, the horned woman lowered her head and scratched one of her horns, speaking honestly. Her demeanor didn’t suggest she was lying.

She seemed to be straining to recall, occasionally furrowing her brow.

Even so, unable to summon memories from before Ars found her, Shion appeared guilty and kept apologizing.

“You don’t need to apologize. Maybe something will jog your memory later.”

A demon, yet friendly from the start—it made sense she could get along with Ars so smoothly.

With no memories, she must be overwhelmingly confused. She was likely doing her best to grasp the situation. Though some wariness remained, compared to the demons Karen knew, Shion was as tame as a borrowed kitten.

Speaking of which, there was one thing Karen desperately wanted to confirm.

No matter how closely she looked, Shion was the spitting image of an old acquaintance.

The only difference from the person in her memory was those two horns on her forehead…

If she could definitively say this was someone else, Karen might have dealt with her according to the Magic City’s demon-extermination rules.

But she couldn’t treat Shion, who bore such a striking resemblance to someone dear, so harshly.

“Then, until Shion’s memories return—let’s discuss what to do moving forward.”

“Moving forward?”

Shion tilted her head in confusion, and Karen decided to explain simply.

“Right. Hiding a demon in the Magic City is considered a crime. In fact, it’s the same in most human nations.”

“Even if you call me a demon, it doesn’t really sink in…”

Perhaps due to her amnesia, she seemed unsure whether she was human or demon.

But she likely understood she’d cause trouble for Karen and the others.

As if resolving herself, Shion looked at them with a serious expression.

“Before I cause you any trouble, Shion will leave on her own. That’d be better for you, right?”

With that, Shion stood up without hesitation.

“Thank you for your help. Shion’s leaving now.”

Karen hurriedly raised both hands to stop her.

“W-Wait, wait! Where do you plan to go if you leave?”

“Shion heard there’s a demon territory in the ‘Lost Lands.’”

“Uh, yeah… there’s supposedly a nation ruled by demons in the High-Territory.”

Karen’s guild hadn’t ventured into the High-Territory, so she couldn’t confirm it, but she’d heard of such a place.

“Then Shion will go there and seek asylum.”

The High-Territory wasn’t somewhere you could just stroll into.

Getting as far as the Mid-Territory was manageable via the magic circles Karen’s group used. But beyond that lay uncharted lands teeming with powerful magical beasts.

Though Shion’s strength was unknown, Karen wasn’t cold-hearted enough to send an amnesiac to her doom. And if Shion was indeed the person Karen knew, expelling her was even less of an option.

“Just stay here for now.”

“…Is that okay?”

“Yeah, but in exchange, you’ll need to hide your horns…”

Karen paused, eyeing her tentatively.

“By the way… can you do something about them with your talent?”

“Hm, piece of cake.”

Shion didn’t question Karen’s odd demeanor, touching her horns with a hint of pride.

Then, a wondrous thing happened—her horns vanished as if melting into the air.

“I see…”

Karen’s face twisted into a mix of shock and realization.

Shion, oblivious to her reaction, grinned like a kid who’d pulled off a prank.

“Shion’s talent is «Transformation». It lets me ‘alter’ anything I touch.”

“…Wow, that’s a handy talent.”

Karen sank deeper into the sofa, exhaling to steady herself.

When she looked at Shion again, her earlier hesitation had vanished.

“This way, no one will mistake you for a demon.”

Though her distinctive black bangs couldn’t be hidden, hair color alone could be explained away easily.

As long as the horns were concealed, there was little difference between a demon and a human in appearance.

That meant letting her move freely in <Lantern Sisters> wouldn’t be an issue.

With careful behavior, the soldiers wouldn’t find anything odd.

The worst-case scenario was the Magic Association noticing Shion’s presence—but keeping her under house arrest felt too cruel, so her ability to hide her horns was a stroke of luck.

“Like I said, you can stay here for the time being.”

“Thank you.”

As Shion bowed in gratitude, her stomach let out a cute growl.

She rubbed her belly, glancing around with a troubled look.

“…Sorry.”

“No worries. You probably haven’t eaten anything, right?”

Karen smiled understandingly and shot a glance at Elsa, who’d been standing by the door.

Elsa caught her meaning instantly and sprang into action.

“Miss Shion, shall I prepare a meal for you? Please follow me.”

Elsa opened the reception room door, ushering Shion out.

“Is that really okay…?”

Shion asked hesitantly, and Elsa, perhaps finding her demeanor endearing, nodded with a faint smile.

“Yes. Don’t worry, we can continue talking after you’ve eaten.”

“Alright then. I’ll take you up on that.”

Shion left the room with light steps.

Only Ars, Julia, and Karen remained.

Who would speak first—Karen and Julia glanced at each other, silently urging the other to start.

Since their thoughts aligned, the room fell into an odd silence.

Unable to stand it, Ars broke the ice.

“Do you know Shion?”

His blunt question made Karen give a wry smile as she nodded.

“Yeah, since her talent’s the same… I think it’s her.”

Her repeated probing earlier had likely been to confirm if Shion was the person she knew.

“…Shion’s an acquaintance—no, an important friend.”

Karen sighed melancholically, gazing out the window.

The sun was setting. The entertainment district’s usual clamor was about to begin.

But today, <Lantern Sisters> was closed, cut off from that bustle.

So it wasn’t just the reception room.

The entire tavern was cloaked in a stillness that felt detached from the world.

“…That day’s sky was a beautiful crimson, just like today.”

When Karen first arrived in the Magic City, she couldn’t tell north from south.

Led by excitement, she wandered daily with curiosity, running aimlessly yet innocently.

And it was during such a dusk that the immature, willful Karen met Shion.

＊

It had been three years since Karen first came to the Magic City.

She’d come to learn magic, hoping to save the Vitre Kingdom from the Earth Empire’s threat.

In truth, that was just an excuse—her real desire was to live a free, fun life.

So, from the start, Karen intended to fully enjoy the Magic City.

Her heart raced at the sight of the massive main gate, and her spirits soared seeing the bustling streets.

—The Magic City encompassed everything.

Everything she saw and heard was fresh and fascinating, sparking her interest in all she didn’t know. At the same time, her habits as a princess had a negative effect.

In other words, Karen back then was hopelessly naive.

“Whoa… My wallet’s been stolen!?”

She searched herself top to bottom, but alas, no wallet.

Penniless in an unfamiliar city. The despair drained the color from her face.

Though she was set to rendezvous with Elsa later, that was weeks away—maybe even a month.

Whether she could survive alone until then—

“No way. What do I do… Where did I lose my wallet…?”

Karen trudged along dejectedly, her steps heavy like a zombie’s.

Naturally, she didn’t even have money for tonight’s lodging.

And because she’d been searching everywhere for her wallet, she no longer had any idea where she was.

So, she hadn’t even noticed she’d wandered into a rough part of town.

“Hey, little miss, it’s dangerous for a girl like you to be alone in a place like this.”

It was only when someone called out to her that she finally realized she’d stepped into a danger zone.

Just moments ago, the streets had been bustling with people, but now she was in a narrow, dim alley with only two suspicious men before her.

When she instinctively tried to turn back, two more men appeared behind her, blocking her escape.

“Oh my, what do you fine uncles want with me?”

Karen forced her voice to sound bright and cheerful.

She didn’t know their intentions, but showing weakness would surely get her devoured on the spot.

Though the context was different, it felt akin to the tension of dealing with foreign diplomats.

These were survival skills she’d honed back in the royal palace.

She reassured herself inwardly: It’s fine, as long as I handle this well, I’ll get through it.

“With such a pretty face, us uncles just want to have some fun with you.”

Though not on par with her beloved sister, Karen knew her looks fell into the realm of beauty.

Even if partly for political reasons, she’d often received letters praising her appearance from noble heirs or their parents back at the palace.

But of course, no one had ever dared speak to her with the lecherous tone this man used.

“Sorry, my sister told me not to play with strangers, so I’ll have to pass.”

She brushed them off casually, trying to slip out of their encirclement, but they closed in effortlessly, leaving no gaps. Karen decided this was a situation where magic might be necessary.

However, even in a shady place like this, it was still the famed Magic City.

Even street thugs lurking in dark alleys might have some skill as mages.

Could she escape unscathed? Karen exhaled deeply, steeling herself.

“If you don’t move, I’ll roast you.”

“Feisty, huh? You’re so fiery, little miss—it’s getting me all worked up.”

The man clicked his tongue, drooling as he laughed.

His breathing grew heavy with excitement, a foul stench leaking through the gaps of his missing front teeth. As Karen wrinkled her nose at the pungent odor, one of the repulsive men reached for her.

“I warned you. Time to get roasted.”

“Heh, little miss, I’m gonna enjoy breaking that smug face of yours.”

“Try it if you can.”

“With all those openings, you won’t last long in the Magic City if you’re not careful.”

The man easily grabbed her arm, leering with a vulgar grin.

But Karen summoned surprising strength—

“You should be the one picking your targets carefully, or you’ll end up dead.”

Using the “Firepower” ability granted by her «Flame» talent, she wrenched his hand off her.

Riding that momentum, she swung her fist hard into the tip of his nose.

“Ngh!?”

The man’s nose gushed blood as he collapsed, eyes rolling back.

Though she’d taken one down, the remaining three closed in undeterred. Still, Karen slipped through the gap left by her fallen foe, raising her hands high above her head.

“O King of Blazing Flames, manifest before me! Annihilate my enemies, fulfill my will—ugh!?”

Focused on her incantation, Karen’s mouth was swiftly covered by the toothless man.

Inexperience. The spell she’d chosen required full concentration and a lengthy chant.

It might work against beasts, but in a outnumbered fight against humans, it was a terrible choice.

Another man grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms.

“Little miss, let me teach you something. A mage who can’t chant isn’t scary at all.”

The toothless man’s throat bobbed as he chuckled creepily.

“Weep and lament, for thy body is bound—‘Water Shackles.’”

Chains of water surged from the ground, wrapping around Karen’s entire body.

“Little miss, your talent’s in the red category, right? Judging by your hair and eye color, it’s «Fire»? And that strength earlier—your ability’s ‘Firepower,’ huh? Seal it with your weakness attribute, and there’s nothing to fear.”

Magic was divided into seven attributes: white, black, red, blue, yellow, green, and orange, with strengths and weaknesses. Red lost to blue—meaning «Fire» couldn’t unleash its full power against «Water», while «Wind» not only failed to suppress «Fire» but fueled it instead.

“You should’ve checked what kind of uncles we are.”

The man removed his hand from her mouth, licking his cracked lips.

“Come on, entertain your uncles. Heh, it’s been a while since we’ve had a woman.”

Bound by water chains, no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t move a finger.

It seemed he spoke the truth—her strength was nullified under her weakness attribute.

Despite the hopeless situation, Karen didn’t give up, still searching for a way out.

She endured their leering gazes, trying to stay calm. But—

“Eek!”

When a hand slipped under her skirt, she couldn’t hold back a scream.

Perhaps her reaction stoked their sadistic urges. The excited men let out roars.

“How am I supposed to resist when you scream like that!?”

The toothless man grabbed her skirt without a shred of mercy.

“Little miss, I’ll love you to death—ugh!?”

“No, don’t—…huh?”

Just as Karen was about to scream, the toothless man vanished from her sight.

A loud crash followed, and she looked up to see him smashed against the wall, unconscious.

“What… huh? You’re—”

Before Karen, still reeling from confusion, stood a beautiful girl who’d appeared out of nowhere.

“You okay?”

Her peach-pink hair glowed a deep red under the setting sun.

She exuded confidence and poise, her captivating beauty undimmed even in the gloomy alley.

More importantly—

—She was the real deal.

Karen felt she’d finally met a true mage in the Magic City.

Strictly speaking, she’d seen mages several times already, but this was the first who embodied the essence of a mage.

“Wait a sec, I’ll handle this quick.”

As she promised, the fight was over in an instant.

Like a bolt of lightning, she overwhelmed the thugs with sheer power.

One word: Strong.

Since her sister Julia, this was the first person to give Karen that impression.

Forgetting her own peril, Karen stared, captivated, thinking: This is a real mage.

“My name’s Shion.”

It was an unforgettable, electrifying encounter—a precious memory for Karen.

That was how she met Shion, second-rank “Seraphim” and one of the Twenty-Four Council.

“Shion’s my savior. She taught me so much when I was clueless and lost.”

After recounting her meeting with Shion, Karen downed her cooled tea in one gulp.

After boldly quenching her throat, she looked between Julia and Ars, who’d listened silently.

“So I have to help Shion. I owe her a debt I can’t repay.”

“From what you’ve said, she wasn’t a demon back then, right?”

Demons, humanity’s sworn enemies, couldn’t possibly be part of the Magic City’s Twenty-Four Council.

“Right, she was human originally.”

“If that’s true, it means Shion used a taboo to become a demon.”

During his confinement, Ars had heard of methods to turn humans into “demons.”

It was widely known that beasts evolved into demons through prolonged exposure to the “Lost Lands” miasma. With power strong enough to drive humans from the northern continent, it was inevitable some would seek to harness it.

Researchers backed by a certain nation turned their attention to the miasma that evolved beasts.

Thus, they began experimenting on humans instead of beasts.

Nearly all experiments failed, but since the subjects were death-row inmates, it stayed hushed up. Over time, with more sacrifices, they succeeded in creating artificial demons.

Their method became known as the taboo “Demon Creation.”

Subsequent experiments increased successes, but flaws emerged, causing massive damage and earning it a place among the three great taboos.

“Shion was a rare upright and honest member of the Twenty-Four Council. I can’t imagine her willingly becoming a demon.”

“Then it suggests someone forcibly turned her into an artificial demon…”

Julia, who’d been listening quietly, chimed in:

“Do you think that might be why she lost her memories?”

“True… Sis makes a good point. That’s very possible.”

It was said “Demon Creation” hadn’t faded away—there were still diehard adherents.

Countless people in this world craved power.

It wouldn’t be surprising if someone conducted secret experiments, and since it was one of the three taboos, results wouldn’t be public.

“First, we need to gather intel. I have a few leads, so I’ll look into it.”

“I’ll help too. It’s not like we can send the soldiers to investigate.”

Even if Shion was an artificial demon, it didn’t change the fact she was a demon.

Keeping it hidden was the safest bet. If the Magic Association found out, it’d be trouble.

If it came to light, those unaware might escape collateral blame.

So Karen didn’t want to drag the “Vitre Guild” soldiers into this.

The fewer who knew Shion was an artificial demon, the easier it’d be for Karen and her group to act.

“Then, Sis, could you and Elsa dig up info on artificial demons?”

“Does Elsa know Miss Shion too?”

“Yeah, not super well, but they’ve met a few times.”

That’s why she’d sent Elsa to take Shion to the dining area.

Karen decided to first explain to the uninformed Ars and Julia, then later include Elsa, who knew some details, for a full briefing.

“Then I’ll fill her in on what we’ve discussed. Leave this part to me.”

Julia puffed out her chest, patting it confidently.

Karen swallowed hard, eyeing her sister’s ample, jiggling bosom with envy.

Ars, who’d been waiting for the right moment to speak, finally cut in:

“So what should I do?”

“You’re willing to help too, Ars?”

“Of course. I’m living under your roof, after all. Let me repay some of your kindness this way.”

Ars said it half-jokingly, and Karen gave a slightly troubled, bittersweet smile.

“That’s a big help… but you don’t have to push yourself, okay? You’ve got your own goals… If this gets out, it might set you further from becoming the Magic Emperor.”

“Even if it comes to that, it’s fine. I’m just a bottom-tier twelfth-rank right now anyway. A little setback isn’t worth worrying about.”

Ars grinned broadly and shrugged.

“Besides, I’m the one who brought Shion here. I’ll see it through.”

Karen tilted her head at his odd phrasing, but it wasn’t anything worth dwelling on. It was very much in Ars’s style, so she nodded in agreement.

“Then, Ars, could you keep an eye on Shion for me?”

“You’re not staying with her?”

“I think it’d be better if Karen were with her… She might suddenly regain her memories.”

Julia echoed Ars’s sentiment, but Karen shook her head firmly.

“That’s exactly why. I’d end up expecting something. I don’t intend to force her to remember, but I’d unintentionally hope to trigger her memories.”

“So, to let her recall naturally… you don’t want to put extra pressure on her? That’s why you’re entrusting it to Ars.”

“Exactly. So, Ars, can I count on you?”

“Sure, leave it to me. I’ve learned a lot from you lately, Karen.”

“Heh, you might not be far from graduating as my apprentice. I’m looking forward to it.”

Karen smiled happily, and Ars thumped his chest confidently.

“I won’t disgrace my master. Think of it like crossing a river on a mud boat—rest easy with a hundred and twenty percent confidence.”

“Yep, go ahead and sink or drown. Humans grow through mistakes.”

Julia let out a deep sigh as Karen replied with barely contained laughter.

“Ugh… It’s because of Karen that Ars keeps picking up all this wrong knowledge. What a headache.”

Despite Julia’s exasperated sigh, the two clasped hands firmly.

＊

The vast territory of the Magic Association was divided and ruled by twelve Demon Lords.

Each of their domains was large enough to be considered a nation in its own right.

Among them were belligerent Demon Lords who’d even invade the territories of fellow Association members.

While clashes between Demon Lords were commonplace, serious provocations were rare.

That was because the Twenty-Four Council, who managed the Magic City, mediated disputes.

The Council was almost daily racking their brains over the messes caused by the Demon Lords.

Among these troublemaking Demon Lords was one who ruled a grand city called <Shattered Star Citadel>.

This city belonged to Glynn Zambar, the most notorious problem child among the Demon Lords.

The white palace at the city’s heart reflected the brilliant sunlight from high above with striking intensity.

This dazzling structure was a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from distant lands just to witness its beauty.

As a result, the streets below buzzed with life.

Pedestrians on the main roads wore smiles, and vendors called out energetically to attract customers.

Though there were occasional bumps as hurried people brushed shoulders, both parties would apologize and move on, creating a peaceful atmosphere free of curses.

Despite being ruled by a so-called problem child, the governance surprisingly ensured the people’s prosperity. However, with Demon Lord Glynn Zambar currently away, his deputy—Christoph Capro—was temporarily in charge.

“Lord Christoph, Liber has woken up.”

Hearing the tense voice from the doorway, Christoph paused his work.

He adjusted his glasses and spoke with irritation.

“Liber? Who’s that? Is he important enough to interrupt me?”

His displeased tone made the subordinate outside the door falter before replying stiffly:

“Liber is the one who encountered the boy with information about the ‘Black Cat.’ He was unconscious from magic depletion earlier and just woke up. I came to report this to you, sir.”

“Oh… right, that’s a thing. So, have you brought him?”

“Yes, he’s right beside me. May we enter?”

“Yes, come in.”

Christoph left his desk and moved toward the sofa in the center of the room.

On the way, he seemed to recall something and fetched a tea set from the corner.

Meanwhile, his subordinates entered and stood stiffly near the sofa.

Christoph glanced at them with a gentle smile.

“Don’t be shy, sit down.”

“Y-Yes, excuse us!”

“E-Excuse us!”

The two sat nervously on the sofa.

Christoph took a seat across from them, skillfully brewing tea and placing cups before them.

“This is my pride and joy. Give it a taste.”

He gestured with both hands, and they hurriedly sipped the tea.

Christoph savored the tea’s aroma, watching them with satisfaction.

“So… which one’s Liber?”

“I-It’s me, sir.”

“I see. Go ahead and speak. Keep it brief.”

“Yes, sir. The boy had black hair and heterochromatic red-and-black eyes. His talent seemed to be in the green category.”

The information was no different from what the others had reported. Christoph felt a twinge of disappointment but noticed Liber seemed to have more to say, so he tilted his chin to prompt him.

“The boy said something strange. He claimed his talent only improves his hearing.”

“Hm, perhaps he’s trying to pass it off as an ‘Incompetent’ talent to hide his true identity. It’s likely a lie, but I’ll look into it… Heh, just better hearing? What a funny joke.”

Christoph didn’t drink, merely enjoying the scent, then set his cup on its saucer.

He observed Liber, who was trembling violently.

“Y-Yes—agh!?”

“Hey, what’s wrong all of a sudden—agh!?”

Liber convulsed wildly on the sofa, while the other subordinate clutched his chest and collapsed.

Despite the sudden chaos, Christoph remained unfazed.

Of course—he was the cause.

“As expected… a failure? It’s not going smoothly.”

Christoph sat with his legs crossed, watching his subordinates grotesquely mutate.

They turned bloodshot eyes toward him.

“L-Lord Christoph, what did you do!?”

“I mixed some ‘Awakening Drug’ into your tea. I diluted it to a level that shouldn’t affect the body, but it seems I failed. Sorry about that—inviting you as test subjects only to die for nothing.”

Though he apologized, there was no remorse on his face as he gazed coldly at his now-speechless subordinates—two wriggling masses of flesh.

“The smell’s awful, and they look so ugly… Not beautiful at all.”

Christoph sighed and left the room.

“Oh, you there… come here.”

In the hallway, he beckoned a passing soldier.

Christoph wasn’t good with names—or rather, he found it a waste of time to memorize those who might end up as test subjects.

“Yes, sir? Your orders?”

The soldier stood at attention, and Christoph jerked a thumb toward the room he’d just left.

“Burn that room down. Be careful when you go in—the air might be contaminated. Wear protective gear before you start.”

“U-Understood. I’ll prepare for purification immediately. Shall I rebuild the room afterward?”

“Sure. I’ll head back to my quarters, so take your time.”

With that, Christoph stopped the soldier as he turned to leave.

“Oh, wait. One more thing.”

“What is it? Please command me.”

“I’ve got some idle folks looking for a black-haired boy. Tell them the new condition.”

After the soldier nodded, Christoph continued:

“Search for someone whose talent just improves hearing. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but have them scour the Magic City as the center. Thanks.”

“Understood.”

The soldier bowed, and Christoph waved him off without turning back.

“What to do once the ‘Black Cat’ returns… She’s a rare success, after all.”

Christoph’s only interest was what experiments to conduct next.

The recent failure was already forgotten.

To him, comrades were mere pawns—nothing more than lab rats.

＊

After settling on their next steps, Ars and the others gathered in the main hall.

It was a rest day for <Lantern Sisters>, but since they’d just returned from an expedition, the place was filled with soldiers. They sat at tables, enjoying the food served up. On rest days or before opening hours, the hall was free to use, and drinks could be had for a fee.

In one corner of the lively hall, a woman was creating a bizarre spectacle.

“…Incredible.”

“Yeah.”

Julia muttered in awe, and Ars nodded in agreement.

The sight before them was truly staggering.

Empty plates were stacked into small mountains on the table.

At the center, Shion was buried in the pile, her head barely visible.

Judging by her stuffed cheeks, she was still eating.

“…She hasn’t changed a bit.”

Though Karen’s tone was exasperated, her eyes brimmed with affection.

“She ate this much back then too?”

“Yeah, an unbelievable amount. Even with her memories gone, seeing this unchanged part is reassuring.”

After smiling at Shion, they each picked their favorite seats and sat down to eat.

“Looks like you’re done talking. I’ll bring the food.”

Elsa appeared, swiftly cleared the towering stack of plates, and began serving extra dishes.

Steaming soup teased the appetite, and an array of meat-heavy dishes looked mouthwatering—each one promising a delightful taste.

Once Elsa finished serving and sat down, Ars and the others began their meal.

By the way, Shion hadn’t stopped eating during the prep, her cheeks perpetually puffed out.

“Speaking of which… even if the horns are fine, can Miss Shion control her beast form?”

The “beast form” referred to Shion’s initial “Black Cat” state.

Most demons evolved from beasts could revert to their original shapes, but many lost control and transformed into beasts when overwhelmed by emotion.

In beast form, their jet-black bodies made it obvious they were either beasts or demons.

Artificial demons were the same in this regard, and Julia’s question likely stemmed from concern.

If Shion couldn’t control it, moving around in public would be risky.

“With a full stomach and stable magic, Shion thinks it’s fine. Shion can freely change forms, but when weak, it’s hard to control, and I turn into a beast.”

“When you’re weak, huh…”

“Sis, is there something bothering you?”

“No, I was just thinking—since that’s the case, why was she able to change from beast form back to human…”

“Ah~… That’s true, isn’t it?”

When Ars brought Shion back, she was unconscious and in beast form.

That meant she was likely in a weakened or exhausted state at the time.

Yet, without anyone doing anything, Shion’s condition improved enough to revert to human form and introduce herself to Ars. Plus, after eating so much, her physical strength must have recovered too.

“Shion doesn’t know either. When Shion woke up, it just felt like I could turn human.”

Shion, seemingly satisfied with her meal, leaned back in her chair as she spoke.

Julia tilted her head slightly, looking at her with a hint of confusion.

“Miss Shion… though your horns are hidden now, having two horns means you’re an upper-tier demon—even as an artificial one, you’d be classified as an ‘Ogresse,’ right?”

Demons were divided into three tiers.

The first was Imps.

These were lower-tier demons with a single small horn, retaining strong beastly traits. They generally had low intelligence, varied greatly in size, and came in many forms.

The second was Ogres.

These mid-tier demons had a single long horn and resembled humans but still leaned closer to their beast origins.

They were ferocious and intelligent, making them strong fighters. They often led groups of Imps, mimicking human lifestyles.

The last was Ogresses.

With two horns, they were nearly indistinguishable from humans in size and appearance.

They were said to be rarer than Imps or Ogres, though exact numbers were unclear.

This was because they lived deep within the “Lost Lands,” primarily in the High-Territory and Deep-Territory.

Since Ogresses occasionally raided villages or towns and possessed the power to destroy entire nations single-handedly, humans viewed them as natural disasters and feared them greatly.

By beast standards, their combat difficulty was rated 8 or higher, leading to the international “Demon Extermination Ordinance,” which mandated their immediate elimination. Thus, killing demons on sight had become global common sense.

“I think you’re right. Even with the ‘artificial’ label, she’s still a demon at her core.”

“Oh, an Ogresse has a combat difficulty of 8 or higher by beast standards, huh…”

Karen’s words piqued Ars’s interest, and he turned his gaze to Shion.

“If you’re up for it, Shion, want to head to the ‘Lost Lands’ tomorrow? I’m curious about an Ogresse’s power and what kind of magic your «Transformation» talent can do. Show me something cool.”

“That’s fine with me… but wouldn’t it be better for you all if I kept a low profile?”

Shion agreed to Ars’s invitation but seemed aware her presence could cause trouble, occasionally glancing at Karen and the others’ reactions.

“And… someone’s after me, right? Shion thinks it might bring you trouble.”

After Shion spoke with unease, Karen set down her food and pondered for a moment.

“Hmm… It’s fine. Go ahead. As long as you keep your horns hidden, there’s no issue.”

Karen gave her approval readily.

She likely figured that to help Shion regain her memories, it was worth taking her to the “Lost Lands” despite some risks. Still, for safety’s sake, Ars double-checked.

“You sure it’s okay?”

“The guys you fought didn’t reveal who they were, right? That means they’ve got something to hide. And since this involves demons, they’ll probably tread carefully. If some idiot does attack, we can just capture them and squeeze out the truth.”

“In that case, leave it to me.”

“Why not swing by Dragon City while you’re at it? Your weapon should be repaired by now.”

“Good idea. I’ll check it out… Julia, want to come along?”

“I’d love to, but tomorrow I’ve got to go somewhere with Elsa… Such a shame. Let’s go together next time, okay?”

Julia clearly planned to start gathering intel on artificial demons with Elsa right away, as agreed with Karen.

“I’m sitting this one out too. Oh, and if you’re heading to the ‘Lost Lands,’ take a few soldiers along. If you’re hunting, Ars, you’ll need some ‘Supporters.’”

Outside of expeditions, the “Vitre Guild” soldiers often teamed up in small groups to explore the “Lost Lands.”

Ars had joined such squads a few times. Since they didn’t tackle tough beasts, it was less intense than expeditions. These outings focused on enjoying a relaxed adventure while earning some coin, which Ars quite liked.

“If I spot anyone free, I’ll ask.”

“In that case, those girls might work. They’re planning a low-tier trip tomorrow, I think.”

Karen scanned the room, her eyes settling on a group at one table.

Three women were quietly sipping beers, their laughter occasionally ringing out.

“Gretia! Can you come over here?”

Karen called out loudly, and a gentle-eyed woman with a full figure approached their table, her chest swaying as she walked.

“Lehrer, what’s up?”

About a month ago, she’d been gravely injured in an attack by the “Sted Guild.”

Her wounds were severe, her life hanging by a thread, but Ars’s magic saved her.

Since then, she’d often chatted with Ars and teamed up with him several times. Besides Julia and the others, she was probably the female soldier in the “Vitre Guild” closest to him.

“Ars is going to the ‘Lost Lands’ tomorrow with this girl named Shion, but it might be risky with just the two of them. I was thinking they could join your group, Gretia.”

“Eh, really!?”

“You’ve probably got your own plans, so feel free to say no if it’s inconvenient.”

Ars said to the surprised Gretia, who shook her head vigorously.

“Inconvenient? Not at all… We were just planning a light exploration. Having Lord Ars’s help would be amazing! Honestly, just adventuring with you makes me happy!”

“Cool, then I’ll count on you tomorrow. Looking forward to it.”

“Yes! I’ll prepare perfectly so I don’t trouble Lord Ars!”

Gretia leaned forward eagerly, and Ars gave a wry smile, finding her enthusiasm a bit much.

Ever since he’d healed her, some soldiers, including Gretia, had started calling him “Lord” for some reason. He’d asked them to stop multiple times, but they wouldn’t budge, and lately, he’d given up trying.

“You’re Miss Shion, right? Looking forward to tomorrow!”

Gretia greeted her with an outstretched hand, and Shion shook it with a smile.

“Yeah, same here.”

As Ars and the others watched their exchange—

“Deadbeat—! You’re drunk and acting up again! If you want to make a fool of yourself, go drink outside!”

A sudden roar cut through the air, drawing everyone’s attention.

There stood Mitchida, a tough matron fresh off maternity leave, radiating fury.

She gripped the neck of a middle-aged mage with her right hand—her forlorn-looking husband, Banz.

“F-Forgive me… It’s not my fault—they dared me to strip!”

Banz, clad only in underwear, protested loudly, but the other soldiers rolled their eyes in exasperation.

“Banz always strips when he’s drunk.”

“It’s his usual thing. Ignore it and keep drinking.”

“Mitchi-nee, you should really lay into him this time.”

The soldiers chimed in, and Banz shot them pleading looks, but they all averted their gazes to save themselves.

“Help me out once in a while, you heartless jerks!”

“Shut it! Quiet down and come here!”

Banz was dragged off by Mitchida and tossed out the back door to the courtyard.

Same as always. The lively, warm night grew ever deeper.