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 2

 Chapter 2: Daily Life

The refreshing and pleasant sunlight streamed through the window into the room.

The cheerful chirping of birds delightfully teased the sense of hearing, blending with the morning’s tranquility in a way that lulled one back to sleep. It was only natural to want to crawl back under the covers for a little more rest.

Ars was no exception, unable to resist the temptation of dozing off again.

But as he tried to pull the blanket over his head, something felt off.

The soles of his feet were unusually warm. With a slight shift, he brushed against something soft, like a ball of fur.

Curiosity piqued, Ars gave up on his nap and flung the blanket aside.

“A black cat… Oh, it’s Shion.”

Ars reached out and scooped up Shion, who had transformed into a black cat.

Even so, Shion didn’t stir, sleeping blissfully with a contented expression.

“She’s even drooling… How did this little rascal end up in my room?”

Last night—after dinner—Shion had been taken to Karen’s room.

“Hm… Whatever.”

Ars quickly abandoned the thought.

He could just ask Shion when she woke up.

Still, waiting around felt boring, so he placed Shion on the blanket and began petting her.

As he enjoyed the sensation of her sleek, beautiful fur, the door burst open with a bang.

“Ars! Is Shion here!?”

It was Karen, her expression unusually frantic.

She had clearly rushed over, panting heavily with her shoulders heaving.

Ars greeted the flustered Karen with a blank look.

“She’s sleeping right here.”

He pointed at the black cat sprawled on her back. Karen’s tense expression softened immediately.

“Oh… Thank goodness. She suddenly disappeared, and I nearly had a heart attack.”

Karen sat on the edge of the bed, stroking Shion as she let out a sigh of relief.

“But how did she end up in your room, Ars?”

“Who knows? She probably snuck in during the night.”

Ars sat cross-legged on the bed, yawning as he replied.

“Karen~ Did you find Shion-san?”

Julia poked her head through the open doorway into Ars’s room.

Her silver-violet eyes caught sight of Karen petting the black cat.

With a relieved smile, she stepped inside.

“I’m so glad she’s safe.”

Julia didn’t head for a chair either, instead plopping down on the bed next to them.

Ars’s bed was a single. Fitting three people and a cat made it a tight squeeze.

Why doesn’t anyone sit on the chairs…? Ars thought to himself as he watched them.

“So, why was Shion-san in Ars’s room?”

“Sis, listen to this! It seems Ars took her back to his room—what a jerk!”

That was Karen’s usual exaggerated flair kicking in.

With her knack for embellishment, she could turn a roadside commoner into a hero in an instant.

Her words carried such conviction, her every gesture so dramatic, that no one could doubt her. Sure enough, Julia, now clinging to Karen, patted her back while shooting Ars a suspicious glance.

“Ars… Is that true?”

“Huh? I’m not sure myself. When I woke up, Shion was already on my bed.”

Unfortunately for Karen, her theatrics didn’t faze Ars.

Even in situations that might rattle most people, Ars would lay everything out plainly without hesitation. He didn’t flinch. Even if he’d done something wrong, Ars was the type to admit it outright—a trait that made him completely incompatible with Karen’s over-the-top style.

“Karen… Why do you always have to blow things out of proportion?”

“I’m just adding a little imagination to the facts, that’s all.”

Even after Julia’s scolding, Karen showed no remorse, turning her head to whistle innocently.

Amid the trio’s early-morning commotion, a black shape began to stir.

“…Are you all always this noisy first thing in the morning?”

Shion, still in her cat form, stretched gracefully, then licked her front paw and began grooming her face.

“Pretty much,” Ars replied with a wry smile. It couldn’t be helped—this was their norm.

Ever since arriving in the Magic City, Ars’s mornings had been this lively.

On a typical day, it’d be Julia or Elsa in Shion’s place.

Then Karen would tease them, and the whole group’s bickering would become a daily ritual.

And whenever this happened, without fail—

“Breakfast is ready. How long are you all planning to mess around?”

Sure enough, Elsa stood at the door. As usual, her face was expressionless.

But the vibe she gave off made it easy to guess what she was thinking.

“I’ll go change first, then.”

Julia opted for self-preservation and was the first to slip out of the room.

“Come on, Shion, turn back to human form. You can’t go back to your room like this.”

“Got it.”

Perhaps sensing the shift in the air, Shion swiftly reverted to her human form and left with Karen.

“Ars-sama, come down once you’ve changed.”

“Alright. Thanks for coming to get me.”

At his thanks, Elsa’s lips curved slightly upward. She gave a small bow before heading downstairs.

---

After washing away his drowsiness with well water in the backyard of the Lantern Sisters, Ars made his way to the main hall, greeting the training Scholars along the way.

In the hall, a few Scholars were already seated, eating breakfast.

Today’s duty Scholars were bustling about, carrying dishes from the kitchen prepared by the head chef, Michida.

The aroma wafting through the hall stirred Ars’s appetite. As he glanced around, he spotted Shion sitting obediently at her usual spot.

“Karen and the others aren’t here yet?”

“They seem to have a lot to prepare. Julia’s helping out.”

“Normally, she’d have everything ready ahead of time, but Shion going missing threw her off.”

“Shion deeply regrets it.”

“By the way, why did you come to my room?”

Shion was well aware of her situation. Even in last night’s conversation, she’d repeatedly shown concern for those around her.

So why would someone like her turn into a black cat in the middle of the night, sneak out, and risk being caught by the Scholars just to slip into Ars’s room?

“Shion doesn’t know either.”

She tilted her head, her brow furrowed. From her expression, she genuinely seemed clueless.

“Oh well… Can’t be helped, then.”

Ars didn’t need to know the reason. He’d only asked to fill the silence while waiting for Karen and the others, so any topic would’ve done.

“Just let someone know next time before you sneak out.”

“Understood. Shion won’t make the same mistake again.”

Shion nodded.

As Ars pondered his next topic, Karen and the others appeared at the edge of his vision.

“Sorry. It took me a while to fix my hair.”

“We kept you waiting. Have you already eaten breakfast?”

“No, not yet. The food should be coming out soon, though.”

As he answered Julia, Elsa emerged from the kitchen right on cue, carrying a tray of food.

Today’s breakfast was a platter piled high with sandwiches.

One glance at the spread revealed a generous variety of ingredients.

From fresh vegetables and chicken marinated in a special sauce to classic egg fillings, the assortment was mouthwatering. And since Elsa had made them herself, the flavor was guaranteed to be top-notch.

“Sorry for the wait. Let’s dig in.”

With Elsa’s permission, everyone reached for their preferred picks.

At that moment, Karen, sandwich in hand, posed a question.

“By the way, Ars, are you taking a job from the Magic Association today?”

“No, I don’t plan on taking any commissions.”

The Babylon Tower at the heart of the Magic City issued all sorts of requests.

From monster subjugation, material gathering, and escorting VIPs to even babysitting, the range was vast.

The tasks varied widely, from time-limited jobs to standing requests. As a mage’s rank increased, they could take on urgent commissions.

Urgent commissions were ranked from Level 1 to Level 5, typically involving the subjugation of specific monsters or demons. When the target’s difficulty reached Level 8 or higher, it was classified as an urgent commission.

There were also rumors of “capital offense” commissions exclusive to Demon Kings.

But today, Ars just wanted to earn some pocket money and had no intention of taking on any jobs.

“Gretiya and her team said they’re not taking commissions today either.”

“Oh, I see. Then they probably won’t push themselves too hard.”

“I’ve hunted with Gretiya’s group a bunch of times. They’re not the reckless type—they prefer a cautious, steady approach.”

“No, no, no—I’m not talking about Gretiya. I’m worried you might go overboard, Ars.”

Karen gave a wry smile while Ars tilted his head, looking puzzled.

“I don’t think I’m as reckless as Karen makes me sound…”

“What are you talking about? You’ll fight any rare monster you spot, and you keep raising the difficulty of your commissions yourself, don’t you?”

Karen pointed out, her tone incredulous.

“It’s fine today. It’s just a day trip, not an expedition. Time’s limited.”

“Alright, then… Just don’t give Gretiya and the others too much trouble, okay?”

Karen eyed Ars suspiciously, but perhaps deciding a morning lecture wasn’t worth it, she sighed in resignation and took a big bite of her sandwich, her face lighting up with delight.

“Mmm, Elsa’s sandwiches really are something else.”

“Thank you. Should I pack some for lunch?”

“Please do. I’d love extra of the ones with fruit.”

“Leave it to me. Ars-sama, would you two like lunches as well?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it.”

Ars glanced at Shion, whose mouth was stuffed with sandwich, before turning back to Elsa.

“More meat-filled ones over veggies or fruit, please.”

“Understood. I’ll get right to it.”

Elsa rose from her seat and headed to the kitchen to prepare their lunches.

Julia watched her go, then shifted her gaze to Ars.

“I don’t see Gretiya-san. Aren’t you going with them?”

“We’re meeting up at the north gate of Dragon City. But before that, I’m stopping by Badger’s Den to pick up a weapon I sent for repairs.”

He glanced at the large clock in the hall. The hands pointed to nine o’clock.

“The meeting time is ten o’clock, so we’ve still got plenty of time.”

Just as Ars was about to look away, Elsa emerged from the kitchen carrying several cloth bundles.

She approached the table and set down two packed lunches wrapped in fabric.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. This smaller one is for Lady Karen. The larger one is for you, Ars-sama, and Shion-san—since Shion-san eats quite a bit, I packed extra. I also included portions for Gretiya and her team, though they might bring their own. But I figured Shion-san would finish it all off if needed, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Yep. Leave it to Shion.”

Seeing Shion respond so promptly, Ars stood up with a wry smile.

“Well, we should probably get going.”

“Understood. This might be unnecessary, but please be careful out there.”

“Ars, if anything feels dangerous, come back right away.”

Karen and Julia each offered their parting words.

“Safe travels. I look forward to your safe return.”

Elsa gave an elegant, slight bow.

Ars waved to the three, each bidding farewell in their own way, and left the Lantern Sisters with Shion in tow.

“Come on, Shion, this way—though I doubt you’d get lost.”

The Babylon Tower was the symbol of the Magic City—no one could possibly lose their way heading toward it.

The roads were designed so that no matter which path you took, they all led to the tower.

Plus, with its unmistakable silhouette looming in the distance, there was no chance of getting turned around.

A colossal spire piercing the heavens.

It exuded a majestic aura, reflecting sunlight to create an air of mystique.

Ars couldn’t help but pause, admiring the breathtaking sight of the Babylon Tower blending seamlessly with the cityscape. Shion, walking beside him, seemed uninterested, her gaze darting around instead.

“This place is so fascinating. It was so noisy last night, but it’s strangely quiet this morning.”

“That’s how it always is around here. The nights are lively, and the mornings settle into silence.”

The Lantern Sisters was located in the southern part of the Magic City, known as the Pleasure District.

Though it was an area where children wandering alone might find danger, the mornings were peaceful since those responsible for the nighttime chaos were still asleep.

Mages were currently cleaning the streets dirtied by last night’s revelry, while adventurers strode briskly toward the Babylon Tower, their steps light and free of tension.

Yet, a glance into the shadowed alleys revealed ragged figures clutching bottles, sprawled on the ground. If you ignored those details and focused only on the surface, the Pleasure District wasn’t such a bad place.

“Among all the areas in the Magic City, this might be the only one with such a stark contrast between day and night.”

“Does Ars like it here?”

“Yeah, I do. I enjoy both the bustling nights and the quiet mornings.”

Compared to the days of his confinement, this place felt like paradise.

The Pleasure District had worse security than other areas, with drunks and thugs often stirring up trouble.

There were certainly some hopeless cases, but the residents lived freely and boldly, and Ars didn’t mind that vibe.

“I see… If it can put that kind of look on your face, this must be a great place.”

“Did I make a weird face or something?”

“No, it’s a gentle expression—Oh, what’s that!? That stuff at that stall!”

Shion nodded thoughtfully, but her attention quickly shifted to food.

“That’s skewered meat. They grill monster meat and sell it on sticks—perfect for eating on the go.”

“Ars, buy some for Shion! We can’t pass this up. Spreading that aroma since morning—that stall’s committing a serious crime.”

“I can buy it… but didn’t you just eat?”

“No problem. Shion planned ahead and left room in her stomach.”

“You can do something that clever…? Is that a demon—no, an artificial demon skill?”

Even if he learned it, he might not use it, but if it involved magic, he wanted to understand the mechanics. Different races had restrictions on magic use, so it could end up being useless knowledge anyway.

“Nope, I’m kidding. How’d you fall for that? So naive!”

“…Here I thought it was some new info. Give me back my excitement.”

“That’s not Shion’s fault. Enough talk—hurry up and buy the skewers!”

Ignoring Ars’s sulky expression, Shion circled behind him and pushed his back.

“Please, buy Shion some skewers!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll buy them—stop pushing!”

“R-Really!?”

“Yeah, why would I lie about something this small? Speaking of which, why are you so desperate for this? I’m starting to wonder if you actually ate breakfast.”

“You’re still on that… Fine, Shion will let you in on the truth. Women, you see—have a second stomach.”

At first, Ars thought Shion was joking again, but her tone made it hard to tell.

He tried to read her face, but she was behind him, nudging him forward.

He’d heard the phrase “second stomach” before, so he hesitated on how to respond. Sensing his uncertainty, Shion let out a catlike chuckle from deep in her throat.

“Hehe, seeing you fret like this is making Shion feel guilty.”

“Another joke, huh…”

Ars sighed in resignation as they reached the skewer stall.

He ordered with a simple gesture, and the vendor, accustomed to such exchanges, handed two skewers to Shion.

By the time Ars finished paying and turned to her, she was already on her second one.

“Hey, you’re eating way too fast. And that was my share…”

“Hm? Didn’t Ars just eat?”

“Well, yeah… but I still want some.”

Now he felt like he understood what Shion meant by “second stomach.”

“Don’t look so grumpy. We can share, can’t we?”

Shion flashed a tender, motherly smile and offered him the half-eaten skewer.

Her demeanor was like a mom coaxing a stubborn child.

That’s exactly why it threw him off. Eating his share was clearly her fault, yet the atmosphere she created made it impossible to argue.

Giving up on protesting, Ars took a bite of the skewer she handed him. The juices burst in his mouth, the sweet fat and chewy meat dancing on his tongue.

“Good?”

“Yeah, it’s delicious.”

Their little exchange drew reactions from passersby—whistles of amusement, glares of jealousy, and gazes of envy.

It wasn’t surprising people responded that way.

To an outsider, it looked like a couple flirting shamelessly in the early morning.

Though the streets weren’t crowded this time of day, most would feel too embarrassed to act like this. Unfortunately, neither of them had that kind of self-awareness.

---

The kitchen of the Lantern Sisters was run by Michida, a head chef blessed with the Cooking talent.

She hired local housewives and acquaintances to assist, while Scholars from the Virte Guild took turns helping out on a rotating schedule, keeping the tavern running smoothly.

“Elsa-san, we always feel bad making you help out like this.”

“No need. I enjoy doing it.”

“We’ll handle the rest, so please go take care of guild business, Elsa-san.”

“Alright then. I’ll take my leave.”

After stepping out of the kitchen, Elsa headed to Julia’s private room on the third floor.

She greeted the Scholars she passed along the way until she reached her destination.

Taking a deep breath, Elsa knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

A beautiful, melodic voice answered.

It was sweet enough to melt one’s bones, brimming with charm that could captivate anyone, young or old, man or woman.

“It’s Elsa. May I come in?”

“Hehe, please do.”

With permission granted, Elsa gently opened the door, stepping inside carefully to avoid stirring up dust.

Inside was a girl as lovely as her serene voice.

This was Julia, the master Elsa served.

“Where’s Karen?”

“She just left.”

“I see. Did she seem off at all?”

“She looked the same as always… Is there something to worry about?”

“I told you we discussed Shion-san—the artificial demon—last night, right?”

“Yes. Didn’t you say we should gather intel on artificial demons first?”

“Before that, there’s something I need to confirm.”

Julia offered a gentle smile as she placed a box in front of Elsa.

“Is this… a letter?”

The box had no lid, making its contents clearly visible.

Inside were hundreds of letters, their handwriting all too familiar to Elsa.

“I didn’t know about this ‘Shion-san’ until last night.”

That alone was enough for Elsa to catch the unspoken implication.

That red-haired girl hadn’t even mentioned a word about it to her beloved sister.

“These letters in here are all from Karen to me.”

After speaking, Julia placed another box by Elsa’s feet.

“And these are all the letters you’ve sent me.”

Had she escaped the burning royal capital carrying all these letters with her?

The trivial question flickered through Elsa’s mind.

“I sent all the confidential correspondence and important items to a safehouse beforehand. These two boxes were brought here a few days ago at my request.”

That made sense… Elsa nodded in understanding.

She’d heard that the “Saintess” was granted various privileges.

One of them must be a safehouse. Though curious about its location, Elsa was far more interested in why Julia was showing her all these letters now.

So she stayed silent, waiting for Julia to speak.

She knew sometimes silence was the best way to nudge a conversation forward.

“Elsa, listen carefully. What I’m about to ask allows no lies.”

Julia smiled as she leaned closer—and the moment Elsa peered into the depths of her eyes, regret washed over her.

Those eyes were cold and piercing, dominated by a darkness untouched by light.

A primal urge to flee surged within her, but Elsa bit her lower lip to endure it. Using the pain to distract herself from fear, she met Julia’s gaze head-on.

She couldn’t look away.

Julia was like a wild beast now. The slightest sign of weakness, and she’d pounce.

If it were just a matter of getting hurt, that’d be fine—but a misstep could cost Elsa her life.

(Lady Julia is human… yet she feels so much like an elf.)

Among the elven race, there was a custom known as the “Fairy’s Smile.”

Always composed, always strong, always victorious.

No matter the time or place, those who kept smiling were the true heroes.

From the moment an elf was born, these words were etched into their heart until fully internalized.

Yet Julia was human.

Aside from her unique royal upbringing, she hadn’t been specifically trained in elven ways.

Still, for some reason, her smile rivaled that of the most cunning elder elves.

Julia had mastered the elven art of the “Smile” with finesse.

Was it because she was the “Saintess”?

“I went through your letters again, and Shion’s name doesn’t appear once. Isn’t that strange? Both you and Karen know her.”

Julia closed the distance further, leaning in to peer into Elsa’s blue eyes.

“Are you hiding something from me? Did you forget to report it? I trust you completely—I believe you’d tell me everything.”

Julia’s smile turned bewitching.

“After all, we’re so close.”

She languidly raised an arm, extending her slender fingers toward Elsa.

“So, Elsa von Akenfield… don’t you have something to say to me?”

“Ah…”

Elsa froze as Julia gently caressed her cheek, but she quickly snapped out of it, dropping to one knee and bowing her head.

“I-I’m terribly sorry. There’s something I forgot to report to Lady Julia.”

“Is that so… Well, tell me now.”

Julia let out a soft sigh and sat on the edge of the bed.

Yet her gaze remained intense and captivating, fixed on Elsa.

For some reason, Elsa felt like a frog pinned by a snake’s stare—her body stiff, cold sweat beading on her forehead, her breathing shallow. Though she wasn’t cold, her shoulders trembled faintly.

“Lady Karen didn’t want to worry you, so she asked me to keep it quiet.”

Three years ago, when Karen first arrived in the Magic City, she’d been helped by Shion and apparently traveled with her for a short time.

“By the time I rendezvoused with Lady Karen, it was all over.”

“…What happened?”

“What follows is information I gathered personally—it hasn’t been verified, so I can’t vouch for its accuracy. Are you sure you want to hear it?”

“It’s fine. Go ahead.”

“This took place three days before I met up with Lady Karen. Shion-san, leading the ‘Lavender Guild,’ clashed with the ‘Marituya Guild’ under Demon King Glynn Zambar—and lost.”

Back then, Shion, who’d risen to the rank of the Twenty-Four Councilors at a young age, was wildly popular among the younger mages. Under the leadership of the “Prodigy” Shion, the ‘Lavender Guild’ rallied numerous guilds, growing into one of the most formidable forces in the Magic City.

It was said their rise was strong enough to redraw the long-unchanging power map of the Magic Association.

That was precisely why they met their downfall. Shion had shone too brightly.

So Glynn, a rising star among the Demon Kings, was sent to crush her guild.

“Shion-san was stripped of her Twenty-Four Councilor status, and her guild was disbanded. The fallout was massive—guilds tied to ‘Lavender’ faced collective punishment, sparking widespread conflict.”

Elsa paused, speaking slowly as if recalling each detail carefully.

“However, with the leading ‘Lavender Guild’ already destroyed, the unrest ended in just two days. The Twenty-Four Councilors apparently spared no effort to suppress it entirely.”

Those who survived the chaos were driven out of the Magic City. Some guilds were allowed to persist but were preyed upon by others, collapsing under the pressure or clinging to a miserable existence.

As the defeated, they had no place left in the Magic City.

“With Shion—a young prodigy who’d joined the Twenty-Four Councilors—leading the charge, the younger mages who admired her seemed to draw the envy of the older generation. Her defeat became the trigger for a massive purge.”

“So the Twenty-Four Councilors eliminated all the young upstarts who wouldn’t obey them…”

“Yes, just as you suspect. On the surface, it was a clash between ‘Ghost Eater’ Glynn and ‘Prodigy’ Shion, but in truth, it was a power struggle to protect the vested interests of the Twenty-Four Councilors.”

At the time, Elsa had been busy preparing to relocate to the Magic City, unaware that Karen would get caught up in such a massive event.

It wasn’t until the dust settled that she learned the full story.

She vividly remembered Karen that day.

Standing in the rain without an umbrella, Karen had bitten her lip and wept in front of the confiscated headquarters of the ‘Lavender Guild.’

“So I think Lady Karen didn’t write about it in her letters because she didn’t want to worry you.”

Elsa concluded, but Julia tilted her head in puzzlement.

“That does sound like Karen… but I feel like she’s taking it too seriously.”

“…Too seriously?”

“Yes. Ever since meeting Shion-san, she’s clearly changed.”

“Maybe it’s because Shion-san lost her memories or became an artificial demon?”

“No, I think it’s more than that. That girl’s still hiding something.”

Elsa couldn’t sense anything herself, but if Julia, her sister, said so, it had to be true.

The two sisters had been incredibly close since their days in the royal capital.

That hadn’t changed even now—they still cherished each other deeply.

Because of that bond, even the slightest shift couldn’t escape Julia’s notice.

And whether Julia’s hunch was right or wrong, it didn’t change the fact that an investigation was necessary.

“…In that case, should we start by looking into people connected to Shion-san? It’s only been three years—there might still be people in the Magic City who know what happened back then.”

“That’s an option… but I don’t want to spend too much time on it.”

Seeing Julia’s delighted smile, Elsa felt a wave of unease.

Though she appeared delicate and charming, Julia sometimes took shockingly bold actions.

If she could, Elsa would’ve pretended not to hear, but Julia was waiting for her to speak.

Resigned, Elsa sighed and said what Julia wanted to hear.

“…Then, Lady Julia, could you share your idea with me?”

“Let’s get the ‘Holy Knight Faction’ involved. They’ve already infiltrated the Magic City, haven’t they? It’d be a shame to let them sit idle.”

“…We’re part of the ‘High Priestess Faction.’ I doubt they’d follow our orders… Plus, if this goes wrong, it could expose our weaknesses. I think it’s too risky.”

Elsa tried to argue, but Julia flashed a smile she’d clearly been holding back. The moment Elsa saw it, she realized she’d been led into a trap—but by then, it was too late to back out.

“Of course I know that… But listen, there’s an oddball in the ‘Holy Knight Faction,’ right? Someone famous for hating the Demon Emperor. That elf who despises the Magic Association yet, for some reason, infiltrated the Magic City on his own.”

At this point, she might as well have said the name outright. Elsa figured Julia was being roundabout out of consideration for her feelings.

“Naturally, if you mean that lunatic (Virg), he’s bound to have ties to the Twenty-Four Councilors. But I still think contacting him is a bad idea.”

“But compared to us fumbling around blindly, this will definitely yield more information. Let him investigate Shion-san and the artificial demons.”

Elsa opened her mouth several times to object but ultimately gave up with a sigh.

From years of serving Julia, she knew her master wouldn’t budge.

“…I’ll contact him immediately using the ‘Transmission’ spell. Please wait a moment.”

Before Elsa could act, Julia stood and approached her first.

“Is there something else?”

“If you use the ‘Transmission’ spell, he’ll likely refuse to answer. Let’s go meet him in person instead. It might throw him off guard and tip things in our favor.”

“…Are you serious? The ‘Holy Knight Faction’ doesn’t even know what you—the ‘Saintess’—look like.”

Despite Elsa’s tactful rebuttal, Julia’s smile didn’t waver.

“No matter. If we’re forcing him to give us information, he’ll naturally want something in return.”

“It’s not the right time yet. If the ‘High Priestess’ finds out, you’ll be reprimanded.”

“I’m not afraid of being scolded by someone who hides behind the scenes issuing orders without showing their face. If she gets mad enough to step out herself, wouldn’t that be a win for the ‘High Priestess Faction’?”

Julia placed a hand under Elsa’s chin, her thumb gently brushing her cheek.

“Elsa, holding back too long only diminishes value. If you don’t sell at the peak price, regret comes too late.”

This was probably the limit. Pushing further would only upset Julia with no gain.

“If you’ve decided that… I’ll guide you there.”

“Hehe, that’s the spirit. If we delayed any longer, I might not have been able to hold back.”

Julia nodded with satisfaction, her laughter ringing like silver bells.

---

“I never thought I’d come back here…”

Karen stood before a decaying ruin, a self-mocking smile on her lips.

This was the northern part of the Magic City—the special district where the wealthy resided.

The mansion before Karen stood out starkly against the surrounding buildings, its dilapidation glaringly apparent.

Part of the roof had rotted and collapsed, exposing rusted rebar and tangled wires amid the rubble.

Just three years—and this once-thriving estate had become unrecognizable.

There was only one reason such an eyesore remained in the special district.

A warning—to serve as an example. It was a public declaration to the neighborhood: this was the fate of fools who defied the Demon Kings and rebels who challenged the Twenty-Four Councilors’ authority.

Karen stepped onto the weathered stone path.

With the slightest pressure, the stones lifted from the ground, creaking as they squeezed out trapped air.

Soon, she reached the mansion’s entrance—but the door was gone.

The grand entrance, once the pride of the ‘Lavender Guild’ and crafted by a master artisan, now lay in ruins within the courtyard.

She stepped through the empty threshold into the house, greeted by a desolate hall.

Shards of a fallen chandelier, tattered carpet remnants, broken table legs, and decayed wooden desks littered the floor.

“As expected, there’s nothing left.”

This had once been one of the Magic City’s most prosperous guilds, yet the Twenty-Four Councilors and their subordinate guilds had stripped it bare.

The mansion, now a ruin, was no exception.

Nothing remained. Even the memories had been obliterated.

No beastman eagerly welcoming Karen.

No elf imparting knowledge.

No old woman teaching her the tricks of survival.

—They’d all been killed.

This was a graveyard for those who couldn’t become heroes.

The wreckage of dreams belonging to warriors who lost everything in a single failure.

Karen wove through the debris until she reached a room.

To be honest, it wasn’t spacious.

The small room held a decayed, collapsed bed and a few chairs with broken legs.

Karen approached the desk and reached for the drawer.

As she gripped the weathered handle, it crumbled fragility in her hand.

Carefully, she slid the drawer open. Inside was a moth-eaten photograph.

A red-haired girl—herself, younger than she was now—smiled brightly in the picture.

Beside her stood Shion, her pink-peach hair framing a shy, nervous expression.

“…Can I ever reclaim that old me? The one who feared nothing?”

Karen gave a sad smile and carefully tucked the photo away.

She’d come here to steel the resolve she kept buried in her heart.

There was no turning back now.

From this point on, she could only charge forward.

“I won’t let it happen again.”

A flame of determination ignited in Karen’s red eyes. She slapped her cheeks and stepped forward with resolve.

She left the room, exited the mansion, and didn’t look back.

---

The ‘Lost Lands’ stretched vast and wide.

This had once been humanity’s most prosperous domain.

Yet humans lost the struggle for survival against demons and monsters, driven to the continent’s southern reaches.

But they didn’t surrender.

Refusing to give up, they endured, gathering strength and wisdom to reclaim their territory.

Even so, the harsh environment steadily eroded their passion.

Eventually, some began to abandon the dream of retaking the ‘Lost Lands.’

Alarmed leaders shifted their strategy, replacing reclamation with adventure.

In other words, they chose compromise.

From then on, humans explored the unknown, pursued knowledge, and sought treasures hidden across the vast land, driven by desire into the ‘Lost Lands.’

Though adventuring is now taken for granted, it rests on the sacrifices of ancestors who shed blood and sweat, risking their lives to gather information.

Thanks to those countless losses, mages could now venture into the ‘Lost Lands.’

Ars had come to this place too.

He was currently with Gretiya and her team, watching Shion fight.

“…She’s fast.”

Her lightning-swift slaughter of monsters was awe-inspiring—agile and sharp, like a nimble beast.

“Her speed’s a different kind from Julia’s.”

Julia wielded her innate «Light» magic, dispatching enemies via the shortest path.

Her speed was so overwhelming that battles ended in a blink.

As an enemy, few could be more terrifying.

“Hm, if it were just that, it wouldn’t be so bad.”

Countering Julia’s ‘lightspeed’ magic wasn’t actually hard.

She always took the most direct route, making her trajectory predictable.

Julia’s swordplay, for better or worse, lacked flair—clean and efficient but overly straightforward, surprisingly easy to read.

“Shion, on the other hand, is a real handful.”

Shion was fast too, though compared to Julia, it was like a tortoise to a hare—a world apart.

Even so, her speed was still troublesome because her attacks weren’t monotonous.

Even in small strikes, she mixed in feints, ensuring her opponents couldn’t easily anticipate her moves.

“Her talent’s a problem too.”

Shion used her innate «Transformation» ability in combat, turning her hands into claws.

She combined exceptional fighting skill with the power to morph her body into a weapon—a duo that made her a nightmare to face.

You couldn’t disarm her, and since it wasn’t magic, sealing it was impossible.

As Ars observed, Shion took down one Rogrog after another—spider-like monsters.

Since they were hunting in a low-tier zone with weaker foes, they’d chosen a pack of Rogrogs as their target. Only six remained now—ugly spiders—and Shion slammed both hands into the ground.

“The tide’s unset, heavens turn, patterns spiral, left and right invert, knowledge twists, life and death reverse—”

Magic surged, elegant lines danced, carving a massive array into the earth.

“Distort the world—‘Myriad Transformations.’”

As she invoked the spell’s name, the ground split open, swallowing several Rogrogs.

The surviving ones were engulfed by the rippling, wave-like terrain, vanishing without a trace.

The earth writhed like a living thing. It must’ve been partially controlled by Shion’s will—her hands were subtly moving.

“Wow… That’s incredible. The ground’s gone as soft as clay.”

Gretiya, standing near Ars, tapped the ground with her toes.

After testing the texture for a moment, she began dismantling the Rogrogs Shion had defeated. With practiced ease, she tossed the collected materials into a small pouch.

Watching her, one couldn’t help but wonder where all that stuff fit, but Gretiya’s talent was Pouch—commonly known in this world as a “Supporter.”

It was said that the storage capacity of Space-type magic depended on one’s total magical reserves.

From that perspective, Gretiya’s mana pool must be impressive. That’s why she was so valued in the Virte Guild, often invited to join teams. Plus, she was an excellent adventurer in her own right.

During this hunt, she not only gathered materials but also provided timely healing potions to the frontline.

Gretiya’s squad originally consisted of three members: one vanguard, one rearguard, and herself.

Now, with Shion taking the vanguard role, her two teammates handled the stragglers.

“Watch out! Two of them went that way!”

Shion sometimes considerately let a few monsters slip by like this.

“Got it! Leave them to me!”

“Watch me take them down in style!”

Her teammates replied with enthusiasm.

“Alright, I’ll handle this.”

But when Ars stepped forward, their spirits visibly sank.

“Uh, Lord Ars, um… no, it’s nothing.”

“We haven’t done anything today… What do we do, Greti? What do we do?”

“Haha, how about we just accept Lord Ars’s kindness for today?”

Gretiya replied with a wry smile as Shion, slightly sweaty from the fight, approached.

“…Should I have let more slip through?”

“No, not at all. Even in a low-tier zone—where the monsters aren’t that strong—letting your guard down can still be dangerous.”

“I see… Still, I didn’t expect Ars to be this good.”

At first, Ars’s movements—so amateurish they bordered on clumsy—had left Shion stunned.

She’d thought someone might die, her face draining of color in panic.

Yet the result was the opposite—Ars didn’t die; the monsters were wiped out in an instant.

It was jaw-dropping. His technique screamed novice, yet he slaughtered monsters unscathed, and now his signature moves shone brilliantly.

The Rogrogs Shion had deliberately let escape were struck by Ars’s dagger as if drawn to it.

Without knowing where the monsters would appear in advance, such precision was impossible. And he hit their vitals dead-on—Shion didn’t even know what to be shocked about anymore.

“…He’s a monster.”

That was Shion’s assessment of Ars. Hearing her awed whisper, Gretiya chimed in.

“Of course he is. Lord Ars has reached the realm of ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion.’”

“…What?”

Shion froze, caught off guard.

‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’ was a realm reserved for the genius among geniuses—attainable only by the chosen few.

Even Glynn, the rising star among Demon Kings, hadn’t reached it.

That made sense. Though the details were unclear, it was said that achieving ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’ required speaking with a god—or making contact with the divine to receive the ‘True Name’ of one’s talent.

The ultimate magic bestowed directly by the gods, ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion,’ boasted staggering power.

Those who attained it wielded miracles, capable of destroying entire nations single-handedly.

In the modern era, only three had reached this realm.

If Gretiya was to be believed, the fourth stood before Shion now.

“Oh, Lady Julia said to keep it a secret, so please don’t spread it around.”

Then why mention it? It stemmed from a series of misunderstandings.

Shion, like Ars, had been taken in as a guest of the guild.

Their bond was close enough that they’d head out together, and Ars looked after her often.

After some speculation, the conclusion was that Shion must have some hidden backstory—likely tied to Ars.

That was the Scholars’ take, at least.

Logically, Shion should’ve denied it, but doing so would only raise questions like “Who is this person?” and spark unwanted suspicion. So she silently went along with it.

In short, a mix of factors led to Gretiya’s accidental slip.

“No, Shion knows it’s a secret… but has he really mastered ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’?”

“Uh, I think so?”

“Why do you sound so unsure?”

“When Lord Ars used ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion,’ the guild was under attack… I lost consciousness. But some Scholars stayed awake, and I heard it from them later.”

“…What’s ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’ like?”

Shion’s curiosity was understandable.

After all, aside from Ars, only three others in the world had reached this realm.

The odds of witnessing it in one’s lifetime were astronomically low.

“They say it’s incredible. Like the world itself changes.”

“…The world changes?”

“They say it creates a new world. Truly worthy of a god’s magic.”

As the two discussed this—

“So, you’re talking about ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’?”

Ars returned after finishing off the monsters.

Figuring the fastest way was to ask the man himself, Shion turned to him.

“…Have you really reached the ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’ realm, Ars?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Ars admitted it plainly, leaving Shion speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond.

He found her reaction typical and gave a wry smile.

Plenty of people had come to him with the same curiosity.

Yet, despite being the ones to ask, they always reacted the same way.

“How do you reach ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’—how do you awaken a talent like that?”

“Even if you ask me, all I can say is I sort of stumbled into it.”

That was the question that troubled Ars the most.

Despite rumors of life-threatening trials, a lifetime of struggle, or even forbidden acts to attain this coveted power—Ars couldn’t recall suffering to achieve it. In fact, he’d found learning his first spell, ‘Impact,’ far more grueling.

Once he realized magic tied to his Hearing talent revolved around ‘sound,’ things clicked into place. Compared to that, ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’ had felt relatively easy to grasp.

And it wasn’t even the end—just a stepping stone.

Ars had heard whispers of an even greater possibility beyond it.

So he believed he could still grow stronger.

His goal was to find the ‘Essence of Magic’s God’ and claim its knowledge.

With unknown enemies out there at unknown levels, even reaching ‘Heaven’s Dominion Expansion’ didn’t mean he could rest on his laurels.

“I see… Guess it’s not that simple.”

As Ars sank into thought, Shion seemed to reach her own conclusion.

Then she tossed out another question.

“So, does that mean you’ve met the god who gave you your talent?”

“Yeah, I’ve seen something like a god.”

“So talents really are tied to gods… Did you get your talent’s ‘True Name’ through a conversation with one?”

“No, in my case—”

“I’ve finished gathering the materials from the Rogrogs Lord Ars took down!”

Gretiya suddenly cut into their conversation.

She’d slipped away unnoticed earlier to collect materials.

“Huh? Did I interrupt something…?”

“No, not at all. More importantly, it’s about time for lunch.”

Ars brushed it off—perhaps feeling the moment had passed, Shion didn’t press further. Instead, she succumbed to the lure of food, nodding vigorously.

“Yep. I’m starving after all that exercise. Shion votes for eating.”

“Got it. I’ll set things up!”

Gretiya pulled a picnic mat from her Pouch and began preparing lunch.

The box of Elsa’s handmade sandwiches came out too.

As Ars marveled at how handy her talent was, the famished Shion dove straight for the food. Watching her, Ars chuckled wryly before urging Gretiya and the others to join in.

“Come on, let’s eat. Gretiya, you all help yourselves too—grab what you like.”

“We can eat too?”

“Of course. Elsa made enough for you too.”

“Then we’ll gladly partake. Did you know? Elsa-san’s cooking is a huge hit among the Scholars.”

“I get it. It’s really delicious.”

Ars took the tea Gretiya handed him, nodding in agreement.

“But lately, she’s been in the kitchen a lot, so everyone’s probably getting a taste, right?”

“No, no, no. Elsa-san almost exclusively cooks for you, Lord Ars. If it’s just Lady Julia or Lady Karen around, it’s usually left to Michi-nee.”

“Oh? Really? Guess I’ll have to thank her when we get back.”

“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”

They chatted as they ate, and midway through, Gretiya held out a sandwich toward him.

“Here, say ‘ahh~’”

“…What’s that?”

“Huh? You don’t know what ‘ahh~’ is?”

“Is it something I need to know?”

Due to his time in confinement, Ars lacked any social experience. According to Elsa, he was missing basic common sense. Recently, he’d been learning societal norms from “Professor Karen,” but to his surprise, these norms were far more numerous and complex than he’d imagined. For Ars, mastering common sense was harder than mastering magic.

“Of course! I can’t believe you don’t know… I thought you and Lady Julia would be doing this all the time, all lovey-dovey.”

“So it’s a piece of everyday knowledge?”

“No helping it then. I’ll teach you the ‘ahh~’”

“Please, I’d appreciate it.”

Gretiya spoke with such conviction that Ars felt a sudden duty to learn it.

“It’s not hard. Just hold the sandwich up to my mouth.”

“Like this?”

“Yes! Ahh~”

Gretiya took a bite, then cupped her cheeks with both hands, beaming happily.

“Mmm~ So good. Being fed Elsa-san’s cooking by Lord Ars himself—it’s a flavor that lingers in the best way.”

“Is it really that good?”

“It’s divine.”

“Mmm, Shion wants some too. Ars, put it in Shion’s mouth.”

“Now that you mention it, on the way here, Shion fed me a skewer like that…”

Ars recalled the morning, ignoring Shion’s lonely “Ars?” gaze as she looked at him, and turned to Gretiya instead.

“Did she say ‘ahh~’?”

“No, she didn’t say anything. I just bit into it normally.”

“Then that’s not an ‘ahh~.’ If you mix them up, people might think you lack common sense.”

“It’s… it’s so hard… Common sense really is complicated.”

He still had a mountain of norms to learn. The thought alone nearly sent Ars into a slump.

“Ugh, are you guys done talking? Stop teasing me—Shion wants to eat already.”

Shion tugged at Ars’s sleeve, and with a wry smile, he held out a sandwich.

“Alright, I get it. Here, open your mouth.”

“Ahh~ Mmph.”

Shion chomped down the whole sandwich in one bite and started chewing.

“Mmm, I see… Delicious.”

Nodding with deep satisfaction, Shion opened her mouth again, looking like a baby bird waiting to be fed.

“One more.”

“But I want to eat too…”

“I’ll feed you next.”

“Will I actually get a turn?”

Ars had a sinking feeling he might be stuck feeding Shion endlessly.

---

The Pleasure District on the southern side of the Magic City—its dark alleys were a chaotic mess of lawlessness, often dubbed the “Fallen Zone.”

A melting pot of riffraff, from drunks to criminals, eked out their lives in these shadowy corners.

Step into the wrong alley, and you’d be stripped of everything you owned.

That, however, only applied to ordinary folk.

“Eek! What are you—argh!?”

Julia’s silver hair fluttered as she cut down a man blocking her path with a single swing.

Not with the flat of her blade—this was a lethal strike. She pressed forward without pause.

“Is Virg really in a place like this?”

At Julia’s question, Elsa, guarding her back, nodded.

“Yes. This is the last refuge for the desperate. It’s the perfect hiding spot.”

“So… only criminals live here?”

“Correct. Some are vicious outlaws wanted by the Magic Association. Even if you’re confident in your skills, a moment’s carelessness could get you ambushed.”

Elsa spoke calmly, loosing an arrow that pierced the knee of a man lunging at them.

“Gaaahhh—m-my leg!?”

The man writhed on the ground, screaming pathetically.

No mercy was needed—Elsa finished him off with a flurry of arrows, unflinching.

“By the way, this is where Lady Karen wandered into after losing her wallet.”

“We owe Shion-san for saving my little sister. She wouldn’t have escaped on her own.”

Julia dispatched the thugs with cool precision, though inwardly she was surprised.

She’d barely stepped into the alley—one step—and already they were under attack.

Drawn by Julia and Elsa’s beauty, men swarmed toward them.

But after Julia felled five, the rest scattered like frightened animals.

“A few took fatal hits… If they die, will I get arrested later?”

They’d acted in self-defense—kill or be killed—but as Julia realized this wasn’t a battlefield but a city alley, an odd pang of guilt welled up.

“No bodies will remain. From skin to bones to organs, everything human can be sold here—for talent research, legal or not. Every part’s in demand. No matter how many you kill, no one’s convicted. There’s no evidence—corpses vanish within an hour.”

Though part of the Magic City, the Fallen Zone operated outside its laws.

It had its own rules, and its denizens lived by them alone.

Royalty, nobility, or commoner—once you entered the Fallen Zone, status meant nothing. Under its rewritten code, only the strong survived in this dog-eat-dog world. That’s why letting your guard down was out of the question.

Even now, countless eyes glinted from the shadows, sizing Julia and Elsa up.

“To think he’d hide in a place like this—he’s certainly odd.”

“Because he’s a freak… No one knows what goes on in his head.”

As they spoke, they reached a wooden shack. Newly built, it stood out starkly against its dilapidated surroundings. Yet an eerie aura clung to it, repelling approach.

Elsa knocked, and the door creaked open slowly.

From behind it emerged a man of otherworldly beauty—an elf named Virg.

He was also one of the Ten Saints of the Holy Law, among the world’s greatest mages.

“Well, well… A nostalgic face. And—who exactly have you brought along? No matter, it’s awkward talking out here. Come in.”

Virg glanced at Elsa, squinted at Julia, then smiled and ushered them inside.

“Please, take a seat on the sofa over there.”

Virg gestured to a sofa in the center of the room and began preparing tea. He brought the tea set to the table, deftly setting out cups for three.

“Now, perhaps we should start with introductions.”

Virg stood, bowing gracefully with a smile.

“I am Virg von Akenfield, the ‘Ninth Apostle’ of the Holy Law Church.”

“How polite… I am Julia de Virte, the ‘Saintess’ of the Holy Law Church.”

At Julia’s words, Virg froze—a rare lapse.

Even his usual plastered smile slipped as he stared blankly at the silver-haired girl.

“Is something wrong?”

Seeing Julia’s smug expression, Virg’s cheek twitched, but he quickly forced a smile to cover it.

“This is quite a surprise. I never imagined the ‘Saintess’ of this era would appear before me… Does the ‘High Priestess’ know?”

“No, I’d definitely get scolded.”

“I see… It seems this generation’s ‘Saintess’ is a bit of a troublemaker.”

“I’m glad the surprise worked out.”

“I’m certainly shocked. Above all, meeting the ‘Saintess’ is a wonderful gift.”

Virg nodded in agreement, then deepened his smile and cut to the chase.

“So, what do you want in return?”

“It’s great that you catch on so quickly. I’d like you to investigate the conflict between the ‘Lavender Guild’ and the ‘Marituya Guild’ from three years ago.”

“…Hm, that’s all?”

“And I’d also like you to tell me about artificial demons.”

“May I ask why you want to know these things?”

For the first time, silence fell between the two.

Julia hesitated, wondering if she could reveal anything about Ars here.

But when her eyes landed on the black wooden carvings in the corner of the room, she decided it was fine.

“The ‘Obsidian Star’ is hiding an artificial demon.”

The black carvings were a testament to devotion to the ‘Obsidian Star.’

It was said that since ancient times, people carved idols from black wood to honor the ‘Obsidian Star.’

Given the sheer number of carvings piled in the corner, Julia judged she could work with Virg. She also understood why Elsa kept calling him a freak.

So, instead of mentioning Ars by name, she chose words she knew would strike a chord with him.

“…Looks like I have no choice but to cooperate.”

Julia’s plan worked. Virg pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a deep sigh.

“Honestly… This generation’s ‘Saintess’ and the ‘Obsidian Star’ are both far too headstrong.”

Virg tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling for a moment before fixing Julia with a resolute gaze.

“Fine. First, what do you want to know about artificial demons?”

“Their ‘lifespan.’”

Her blunt answer made Virg’s hand, reaching for his teacup, freeze midair.

“…Lady Julia, ‘Saintess,’ how much do you know about artificial demons?”

“They’re victims of ‘Demon Creation,’ one of the three great taboos—human experimentation, right?”

“Exactly. ‘Demon Creation’ was originally developed to enhance talent awakening.”

Monsters exposed to the miasma of the ‘Lost Lands’ evolved into demons that threatened humanity’s survival.

A certain researcher drew inspiration from this, and that’s where the tragedy began.

That researcher used his own wife and daughter as test subjects, harnessing miasma to achieve the miracle of artificial demonification. Though it didn’t fulfill the initial goal of evolving their talents, his wife and daughter gained immense magical power. The cost, however, was the emergence of demonic traits—horns sprouting from their foreheads, patches of their hair turning black.

Thus, the experiment was dubbed artificial demonification—‘Demon Creation.’

At the time, such minor changes in appearance were trivial to mages, and the experiment was hailed as a success. The news brought widespread joy, especially to nobles whose heirs bore ‘useless talents.’

Using ‘Demon Creation’ techniques, they transformed their children—those with magic-incapable talents deemed worthless—into artificial demons, one after another.

It marked the dawn of a frenzied era.

Kings across the world, eager to keep pace with the new age, made ‘Demon Creation’ research a national priority.

Noble families under these crowns, if they had children with useless talents, offered them up to the state as test subjects for ‘Demon Creation.’

During this period, sacrificing incapable offspring became a noble duty, giving rise to the term ‘Noblesse Oblige.’

But five years after its development, a fatal flaw came to light.

“Magic Deficiency Syndrome—artificial demons gain vast magical power but lose the ability to naturally regenerate it.”

Once their magic ran dry, it couldn’t replenish, and death inevitably followed.

“From there, things spiraled downward. ‘Demon Creation’ was swiftly abolished. The researcher who pioneered it wasn’t just erased from history—his very existence was scrubbed. It’s said he met a gruesome end, tortured to death by the victims of his experiments.”

Today, ‘Demon Creation’ stands alongside ‘Magic Development’ as one of the three great taboos.

“Of course, the artificial demon hidden by the ‘Obsidian Star’ is no exception. They might be fine now, but someday they’ll succumb to Magic Deficiency Syndrome. I think it’s best to separate them before any attachments form.”

“There’s no cure for Magic Deficiency Syndrome?”

“I can’t say definitively that there isn’t. But as of now, no solution exists, and death is certain eventually. To live longer, they’d need to avoid expending magic—meaning no spellcasting. That’s the only way to extend life at this stage.”

“Could you look into that too?”

“Alright. But don’t get your hopes up, and be prepared to wait.”

“Fine, that’ll do. One last thing—can artificial demons lose their memories due to side effects?”

“The one they’re hiding has lost their memory?”

“Yes, but only their ‘recollections.’ Their ‘knowledge’ and such seem intact.”

From Julia’s observations of Shion, she managed daily life without issue, operating within the bounds of common sense.

“…That’s a convenient amnesia. I don’t think it’s an effect of artificial demonification. It’s likely something else.”

“You’re sure?”

“The Holy Law Church conducted artificial demon experiments too, and I don’t recall any reports of that.”

“I see…”

“My memory could be off, so I’ll look into it. Anything else about artificial demons?”

“No, that’s all for now. Thank you for your answers.”

“Don’t mention it. I hope I’ve been of some help.”

Virg took a sip of tea to wet his throat before moving to the next topic.

“As for intel on the guild war three years ago, I’ll report back within a few days.”

“Please do. And as thanks for the information, I could pay you some gold?”

“No need. Meeting the ‘Saintess’ is reward enough. Besides—”

Virg paused, smiling at Elsa, who’d been listening silently.

“Consider it gratitude for looking after my little sister.”

In stark contrast to Virg’s familial warmth, Elsa’s face twisted into a rare grimace of disgust.

“You can say that with a straight face?”

“Think what you will.”

Virg accepted Elsa’s cold retort with calm indifference.

Silence descended, heavy and still.

They locked eyes wordlessly, but Elsa broke the stare first.

“Lady Julia, since we’re done here, let’s head back.”

“Uh, well, but—alright.”

It’s a rare chance to see her brother; should we catch up after so long?

Julia sensed the mood wasn’t right for such an unnecessary suggestion and nodded obediently.