Chapter 101

Three Homecomings Diamond, the Dineez Adventurers Credit Union, and the Thunderbolt Corporation began work on the project to enhance the Sword of Bonds. Nick was worried about the holy sword falling into the hands of any unsavory people, but Bond laughed this off when Nick mentioned it to him. “We already count plenty of unsavory people among our allies. Including Marde, Diamond, and the Sword of Evolution,” he said. Nick had no choice but to agree. There probably were some people out there who would try to get in their way, but their biggest threat—the Sword of Tasuki—was gone. It was unlikely that anyone else would be able to stop them. The four original Survivors had nothing to contribute to the enhancement project, so they were left to do as they pleased. They went to the Adventurers Guild to ask for work, but the people there didn’t know what to do with them. The Survivors had already achieved something that no one else was going to top. The Stampede had also escalated to the point where missions now consisted of organized labyrinth assaults made up of dozens or hundreds of adventurers, meaning there were no jobs for an individual party. The guild decided that adding Nick and the others to these missions would only invite confusion, and it sent them away. Unfortunately, indulging in their hobbies proved difficult, too. Idol concerts had temporarily been suspended. Some idols were performing charity shows, but only on a volunteer basis and mainly to lift the morale of struggling refugees. Nick felt awkward about attending such events when he was flush with cash and wanting for nothing. Tiana struggled as well. She had planned to devote herself to her job as an employee of the Thunderbolt Corporation, but she quickly discovered a problem: Her words carried too much weight. She had been an excellent student, but Tiana was a rookie as a magic researcher; it would take years of experience before she could debate with the researchers of the Thunderbolt Corporation on equal footing. Yet she had defended Starmine Hall, contributed to the dissolution of Dead Man’s Balloon and the destruction of the Sword of Tasuki, and been with Bellocchio during his final moments. The others couldn’t ignore her input. She realized her presence could throw off the whole project. Zem and Karan were in a similar position. They both volunteered to help restore order in the city—a job for which extra assistance was desperately needed—and distinguished themselves in the planning phase, but as plans solidified, it became increasingly difficult for them to actually do anything. The four Survivors met again to discuss what they should do, and they arrived at a logical solution: They should take care of any personal business so they could go into battle without regrets. “My heart feels heavy going home… But I suppose it’s something I must do,” Zem said. He’d left Labyrinth City and was riding in a carriage toward a certain post town. “Wouldn’t know it by lookin’ at you,” the coachman teased. “I am somewhat excited as well. Though please don’t tell Nick and the others,” Zem said. “What’s the big deal? It only adds to your legend.” “That is exactly what I want to avoid. And don’t you go picking any fights, Ada. I know your leg has healed, but you don’t need to test your strength against anyone.” The coachman was Ada, a woman who had helped the Survivors hunt down the Steppingman and taught Nick the fundamentals of Stepping. “Is your daughter well?” Zem asked. “I left her with Redd. That makes me feel much better than having her around you,” Ada said. “You wound me. I know how to behave myself.” “Oh, I know. It’s Reina I’m worried about,” Ada said. Zem smiled awkwardly, unable to argue. “I haven’t decided if I should evacuate her or not. It would help a lot if I could make some money and tour the countryside… We’re stopping at that post town up ahead, right?” “Yes. I won’t be long. I just want to say hello,” Zem said. Their first stop was a post town on the road from Labyrinth City to Zem’s hometown of Rhodian. It had a small population, consisting only of people who provided lodging, sold food, and managed curio shops, armories, and blacksmiths. There was a guard armed with a spear at the gate, but he wasn’t a knight; regular citizens took turns serving that role, and they weren’t at all strict. Zem walked inside one of the inns. “Excuse me. Is Velkia here?” he called out. It was the inn run by the proprietress who’d saved Zem’s life. She had let him stay here when he drifted to this post town after being banished from Rhodian, and she had ended up taking his virginity. Zem had been hurt and desperate after what his town had put him through, and he’d spent a lazy week with her until he recovered enough to get back on his feet. The proprietress had actually been the one to give him his priest robes and mace. It had been only a year since then, but Zem felt a wave of nostalgia thinking of her. “Yeah, wait a moment. My kid’s throwing a fit,” a young woman called out from another room. Her voice was followed by a baby’s crying. Zem froze, breaking out into a sweat. His heart pounded in his chest as he quickly tried to remember exactly how long it had been since he left this inn. Could that baby be…? “Ah,” a woman said, appearing before Zem with the baby on her back. It was Velkia. “H-hello, Velkia.” “Well, if it isn’t Zem! It’s been so long… I almost didn’t recognize you!” Velkia said. Zem had a lot he’d wanted to say, but it all left his mind at the sight of the baby. Velkia laughed and dragged him to a table, ignoring Zem’s inner turmoil. The baby looked at Zem with bemusement. “Uh, Velkia… Is that child…?” Zem asked, sweating. Velkia gave him a pained smile. “There’s about a one-in-three chance this baby is yours.” “…One in three?” That vague answer only deepened Zem’s discomfort. “I mean there are two other men who could be the father,” she said. Zem walked to the table expecting Velkia to be angry with him, but she actually looked guilty. “That a customer?” a man asked as he lumbered into the room. He was a burly man who looked like he could make a living as a soldier. He must have been chopping wood, because his strong arms were filled with firewood. “Meet Jett, one of the other potential fathers. I don’t know where the third one is. Jett, this is Zem. He’s a priest and the second potential father,” Velkia said. Zem and the man named Jett were both speechless. They needed a moment to process the implication of what she’d just said. Velkia had seduced and slept with them both. “Oh, don’t worry. Zem only happened to drop by… Right?” Velkia asked. “Y-yes. I’m just passing through. I’m on the way to Rhodian with a letter…” “Ah, you’ve mentioned a priest before… S-so this is the guy?” Jett asked. The two men sized each other up, then started to laugh at the same time. “Sorry, Father. Or should I call you ‘Brother’?” Jett asked. “It’s not every day you learn you have two brothers,” Zem said. “Wanna drink?” Jett offered. “Oh, don’t start drinking already. The sun’s still high in the sky,” Velkia scolded, then shrugged and gently bounced the baby. A moment that should have resulted in someone getting angry—though it was unclear who—had ended up filled with laughter. Once the baby had fallen asleep, the three of them sat down to talk. What was a casual catch-up for Zem quickly turned into a shocking conversation for Velkia and Jett. “You’re kidding… You’re a member of the Survivors who everyone’s saying saved Labyrinth City?” Velkia asked. “Did we save it? We were unable to stop the resurrection itself. Oh, I have a number of items that can serve as proof,” Zem said, showing them a piece of parchment. It was signed by the chief priest of each of the four sanctuary sects in Labyrinth City and the Teran Lord and was intended to clear Zem’s name. “Have you heard of the priest who was banished from Rhodian, Jett?” Zem asked. “That’s you, isn’t it? I’ve heard you were framed. I don’t got a doubt in my mind you were. Those Rhodian priests have always rubbed me the wrong way,” Jett said, guffawing. Zem chuckled in response to the man’s kindness, feeling tinges of both jealousy and relief. This man was living with Velkia and raising a child who could be Zem’s. Yet he was comforting Zem instead of feeling threatened by him. Fate had a strange sense of humor. “I couldn’t agree more. You can’t let the priests of that town fool you. I say that as a former member of the ranks, however, so take that as you will,” Zem said. “Why are you going back?” Velkia asked. “You must be more comfortable in Labyrinth City.” “I’m innocent. They have no right to throw me in prison, and they cannot prevent me from returning to my home,” Zem said coolly. There wasn’t a hint of gloom in his expression, but what he said sounded unrealistic. He had already been punished for his crime and forced to become an adventurer. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea…,” Velkia said, worried that Zem wasn’t thinking straight. He just smiled in response. “…Indeed. It would be unwise to walk through the gates alone and proclaim my innocence. No one would listen.” “Oh, you were joking,” Velkia said, relieved. Zem’s smile didn’t fade, however. He was just getting to the good part. “This is no joke. I am now a high priest of Labyrinth City. In the process of promoting me, my sanctuary discovered some peculiarities surrounding my arrest.” “Like what?” Velkia asked. “When the sanctuary asked the town of Rhodian for the trial records, they received a response saying that the chief priest of my old temple was ill and would get back to them when he recovered. They have yet to share the records. The Labyrinth City sanctuary eventually grew impatient and sent a priest to investigate in secret, and he discovered that certain necessary procedures had been omitted during my trial. He also found hints of sabotage and embezzlement of donations. The sanctuary must now perform an official investigation to bring these discoveries to light. The demon god’s imminent resurrection has made the world a dangerous place, hence why they chose an experienced adventurer for the job.” “You mean…” “Yes. I am going to Rhodian to perform an investigation as a high priest of the Teran branch of the Sanctuary of Medora.” Velkia and Jett stared at him in silence, then burst out laughing. “Damn! Way to stick it to ’em!” exclaimed Jett. “See! What do I always say? Good luck comes to men who stay at my inn!” Velkia said. Crying sounded from the other room; their laughter had woken the baby. Velkia and Jett got up to soothe it, knowing it wouldn’t stop crying until they did. Zem watched them with fondness. Feeling refreshed, Zem departed for Rhodian. Velkia and Jett had told him about the state of the town, making him even warier than before as he approached it. Rhodian was a town in disarray after a labyrinth had spawned nearby and broken out into a Stampede. At the same time, word reached the town that Zem had become an adventurer and accomplished great feats after getting banished. Monsters aggressively hounded the town’s walls, and criticism of the chief priest grew louder every day. The sanctuary had been trying to quell both with violence. Zem’s visit would be like dropping a bomb in the middle of the town. Velkia and Jett were thrilled by his success, but they suggested he abandon Rhodian and go back to Labyrinth City. Their concerns were valid; word of Zem’s visit had preceded him and sent the town into a frenzy reminiscent of a kicked anthill. Priests and guards trembled with fear, and some tried to flee in the night. Rumors had been spreading that Zem might have been banished on false charges. Children were openly avoiding Myril, his supposed victim. And now, another rumor had begun that the chief priest’s thuggish son—who’d been made a high priest—had raped a young girl. Order was breaking down among the priests. Banishing Zem had done nothing to fix the depravity of the sanctuary, and just as the citizens were starting to wonder if Zem’s banishment was actually where it had all started to go wrong, the town had been distracted by a more pressing issue: the Stampede. The area around Rhodian was safe compared to Labyrinth City, but there were still dangerous labyrinths. The citizens were unable to kill the monsters before they spilled out of their habitats, and insect-like monsters called dead crawlers devastated the highway. Some of them transformed into winged monsters called mad mothmen, which rained poisonous scales on the town from above. Warrior priests from Rhodian and knights from the capital fought hard to protect the town, but mad mothmen were formidable monsters. Rhodian had been on the brink of falling when, all of a sudden, the mad mothmen had withdrawn. The dense mana leaking from the Stampeding labyrinths had thinned, making it difficult for the monsters to fight as a horde. This had happened because, moments before being resurrected in Labyrinth City, the demon god had been put back to sleep. A brave young party had contributed greatly to that accomplishment. It was called the Survivors. The party consisted of a light warrior named Nick, a dragonian warrior named Karan, a mage named Tiana…and a priest named Zem. To the people of Rhodian, it felt as if the guilty were being punished and the innocent were being rewarded. This only increased their paranoia. They wondered if the chief priest had lied to them when he’d punished Zem, and whether they could have seen through it if they’d just taken a moment to think. They wondered if they had let themselves get swept up in the drama of the sensationalist lie. The day of judgment had arrived. “W-welcome back, Lord Zem.” “You must be tired from your long journey. I’d be happy to prepare a fine meal for you…” “I-it’s me, Zem! Do you remember how I took care of you when you were little?!” Zem arrived in Rhodian and was immediately hounded by old coworkers and bosses hoping for a chance to speak with him. He ignored their flattery. “I seek an audience with the sanctuary chief and have business with no one else,” was all he said before acting as if he owned the place and choosing a vacant room to use as his base of operations. Then he took full advantage of his authority to force his way into libraries and offices to investigate a variety of records. The priests could only watch enviously as Zem went about his work. Zem already knew some of Rhodian’s secrets. He had worked in the sanctuary for years as a cleric, doing odd jobs and treating illnesses and injuries. There were many open secrets and practices that were technically illegal that he’d picked up on in that time. He found dirt on any priests who tried to win him over and threatened them by saying, “If you don’t want to be interrogated, either do as I say or stay out of my way.” Not everyone was so civil in their attempt to reach Zem, however. Some even resorted to violence. “We’ve got guests past curfew. There are five of ’em lurking outside the door. Judging from their footsteps, I’d say they’re carrying blunt weapons,” Ada said. “Someone likes getting busy at night,” Zem said. He suppressed any such visitors with Ada’s help. Some of the priests were probably attacking Zem out of loyalty to the chief priest, while others likely did so to prevent him from uncovering certain secrets. Zem didn’t care either way; they stood no chance against him and Ada. Zem had obviously grown much stronger since he’d been banished. Priests with no adventuring experience couldn’t faze him in the slightest. Ada was a physical fighter with more advanced scouting abilities than Nick. She could strengthen not just her muscles but her sense of smell and hearing, which she used along with her mana to detect everything around her with pinpoint accuracy. Her Stepping ability and sharp senses also gave her martial arts skills that rivaled Nick’s. “Ada…I didn’t know you were so strong,” Zem said. “Oh, come off it,” she snapped back. “I’m not as strong as you guys, but I’ve seen my fair share of scraps.” And so Zem devoted himself to his duty of investigating the sanctuary. The chief priest used his feigned illness to ignore all inquiries regarding Zem and requests for an audience, but when he learned that his diversionary tactics and attempts to expel Zem from the sanctuary had failed, he had a mental breakdown that confined him to his room just the same as his supposed illness. Zem could only sigh when he learned of the chief priest’s shameful and self-destructive behavior. His disappointment only grew as the days stretched on. One night, a girl visited his room. The candlelight in Zem’s room flickered and cast the shadows of two people. Zem was writing silently at his desk. He didn’t even glance at the girl who had entered his room. She didn’t speak, either; just stood there, waiting for him. “…I have nothing to say to you, Myril,” Zem said, finally looking behind him once he’d reached a good stopping place. It was the young girl who’d falsely accused him. Her appearance had changed drastically in the last year; her clothes were frayed and her hair unkempt. It looked as if she had tried to dress as stylishly as she could, but there was only so much she could do as a poor child living in a sanctuary. What differed most of all was her expression. The bright, wild gleam in her eyes that seemed to suggest she believed anything and everything would go her way had disappeared completely. “U-umm… I really messed up,” Myril said. “You were used,” Zem replied. He’d sensed an apology coming and stopped her. “Huh…?” “You’re suffering a great deal. I can tell just by looking at you.” Myril said nothing. He was right. “People blame you for ruining my life. I imagine some may even say it’s your fault the monsters attacked. Has anyone been violent with you? Or have you been harmed in other, more subtle ways? Have people refused you food, stolen things from you, or neglected to give you important messages that went to everyone else?” “Y-yes, they have!” Myril said, stunned. Zem spoke as if he’d seen it all personally. “Those are common methods. There are people like that everywhere. They grow frustrated and seek an outlet, and it feels like they’re speaking for everyone when they punish you. Anyway…” “Yes?” “Do you think that will all go away if I forgive you?” “N-no! That’s not what I’m here for! I don’t expect forgiveness!” “Oh?” Zem turned around fully. Joy flashed across Myril’s face, but she quickly looked away in embarrassment. “I—I have no right to live after what I did. Please tell everyone that I deceived you.” “You want me to reveal the truth?” Zem asked. “Yes.” “Do you know what will happen to you if I do?” “…I do.” “Did you receive anything for accusing me? Money perhaps?” “…Gold coins.” “You received money in exchange for making a false accusation. You would definitely be imprisoned for that. In fact, you should consider yourself lucky if that was the worst of it. If everything comes to light before you are imprisoned, you will have twice as many stones thrown at you as I did. Stones hurt, you know.” Myril nodded as if she’d resolved herself to her fate. She actually looked like she wanted it, probably thinking it would end her suffering. Zem sensed suicidal thoughts from the girl. There was no trace of her old flirty, mischievous personality. She had grown old enough to lose the feeling of invincibility many children had, and she had developed too much of a conscience to be proud of her wrongdoings. She was just a weak child who lived in fear of her sins and wished for death as a way out. Had she made a different choice and her life had gone the way it should have, she wouldn’t have turned out like this. If it had been a minor offense or an innocent prank, Zem would have swept this all under the rug and urged her to reflect. But it was too late for that. “…That would do nothing to save the child who was the true victim in this case.” So Zem decided to tell the truth. Giving her that burden was the only way to help her. “The true victim?” Myril asked, looking dubious. Not being able to think of anyone else she’d hurt with her actions, she assumed Zem was going to talk about his own suffering. “Something else happened the day that you accused me. A young girl with an unknown illness that not even the famed medicine of Rhodian could heal left the town… At least, that was the story.” “Huh?” “That story was an outright lie, of course.” Myril could remember many of the girls who’d left the town. Some had left after being adopted, and others had left because they were sick. Some had died, too. When you lived in a sanctuary that doubled as an orphanage, it wasn’t uncommon to see children your age go for one reason or another. “Finding gossip on this matter is not difficult. The truth is that a priest blackmailed the girl into sleeping with him, then banished her from the town—along with the baby in her belly—so she couldn’t cause him problems,” Zem said. “What…?” “That man is one of the most successful priests in this sanctuary, who also happens to be the chief priest’s son. Before he was promoted to high priest, one man stood in the way of his success. That man had the trust of the townsfolk… Well, that is debatable, but he was certainly well-liked. Enough so that he overshadowed the chief priest’s son.” Myril knew about the chief priest’s son and the girl who’d left Rhodian. The two of them had often worshipped alone, which spawned rumors of misconduct. Other priests had grown angry and shut down the rumors, and because neither the girl nor the chief priest stood out at the time, Myril had quickly forgotten about it. “There was a girl the chief priest’s son liked,” Zem continued. “She was about your age. I don’t know if he truly loved her or if it was simply lust… But that hardly matters. Everyone knew that opposing the chief priest’s son would mean losing their place in the sanctuary. I am sure there must be many children who are overly afraid of his power.” The girl hadn’t had Myril’s impulsive personality. She’d been meek and had difficulty refusing requests, which was all too common of girls in sanctuaries. “The chief priest’s son got the girl pregnant, and he was forced to hide it. He ended up selling her and her unborn child, without giving her a say in the matter.” “…Wh-what does this have to do with you?” Myril asked, already feeling like she had figured out the connection. “However, the chief priest knew that it would not be easy to keep an incident like this hidden. He could sweet-talk some of the priests into keeping silent, but others—the ones who had no interest in promotions and devoted themselves entirely to their work—would not be so willing to compromise on their morals. Eliminating them would be in his best interest. Shock value is often enough to convince people of scandals surrounding serious, diligent workers, and the chief priest took advantage of that to convict me without a detailed investigation, claiming I had concealed evidence.” “I—I had no idea!” “He also pinned me with the crimes of forging documents and selling medicine on the black market. This investigation has been quite enlightening; it turns out I was an even bigger criminal than I thought.” Zem chuckled, but Myril just listened, her face turning increasingly pale. She had to fight the impulse to cover her ears. “You were an accomplice. You just didn’t know it. You thought you had everyone dancing on your strings, while in reality, you were the puppet. The chief priest even prepared a trap in the documentation to make you the next sacrifice if my name was ever cleared. Next was going to be the priest who teamed up with you to get me arrested. The chief priest has multiple layers of insurance to prevent the blame from ever reaching him.” “What…?” Myril gasped. “You are lucky. If someone else had been sent to investigate, they likely would not have seen the whole picture. The people who used you saw your true nature. They knew your guilt would prevent you from accusing the other priests.” “How…how can I atone for my crimes? I’ll die if I have to. I’ll jump out of that window right now.” Myril pleaded for forgiveness with increasing distress. Zem calmly shook his head. “You will do no such thing. Surely you must know that is what they want.” “B-but…” “…This town is on the verge of destruction. That goes for the sanctuary, too.” “Because of the demon god’s resurrection?” “No. Because of me. I am going to destroy it.” Zem’s words shocked Myril speechless. “When I submit this report, the chief priest will quickly lose his job and be thrown into prison. The same will happen to everyone else who has committed crimes. The sanctuary will lose its role of governing the town. Under normal circumstances, the king would seize control of the town from the sanctuary and send a governor to rule. But that is not how things will turn out.” “Wh-what’s going to happen?” Myril asked. “Most likely, knights will seize the town in preparation of the demon god’s full resurrection. They need people and buildings they can use without consequence. Many drastic measures will be justified in the name of defeating the demon god, and I do not expect the noble knights who will fight it to behave so nobly toward other people. Even a sage can become a monster when their life is on the line.” Myril gulped. Rhodian’s public order had already crumbled. There were still many people who were yet to receive treatment from injuries they’d suffered fighting monsters. “I have no punishment for you. You are already being punished by having to continue living in this town,” Zem declared. He had no intention of reprimanding or tormenting Myril. Zem had only just realized that himself, and he was surprised by it. Not long ago, he might have lost his composure after coming face-to-face with her, but his experience of coming back after falling to rock bottom, as well as the many adventures he had been through, had fortified his heart. He was able to remain calm and advise this girl who had sinned terribly. “You are a weak person. You hid behind that and your youth and framed an innocent man, unknowingly playing a part in the suffering of a young girl weaker than yourself. If you want to atone, the only way is to become a strong and kind person. Do that, and one day you will be able to save a similarly weak person from making the same mistake as you.” Myril listened as intently as if Zem were giving her a divine revelation. Zem’s investigation continued for a number of days. When his work was done, he felt nothing but sadness. The chief priest and his son, who had been behind the plot to frame him, turned out to be pathetically weak. Zem had been afraid the chief priest had prepared some sort of ingenious, unpredictable trap while he was pretending to be sick, but it soon became clear that he had done nothing of the sort. He had only argued with the upper brass of the sanctuary and failed to arrive at an answer. The chief priest’s son had panicked and spent the whole time drinking and hiding from Zem. His father ordered his subordinates to destroy any incriminating documents, but they were too afraid of being labeled accomplices. They tried to pass the order on to others, but they disobeyed as well. The sanctuary’s leaders debated extensively to pick a suitable scapegoat, but they came up with no plan other than to drive Zem out of the town with violence, which obviously failed. In the end, a number of people gave up the chief priest and offered Zem evidence in exchange for his guarantee they wouldn’t be charged with anything. “You’re so kind, Father Zem,” Ada said jokingly while driving the carriage back to Labyrinth City. “Oh? You think so?” Zem asked. “Of course. You think that town’s gonna be just fine, don’t you? You scared the living daylights out of ’em with all that talk about how a fearsome order of knights is gonna come in and enslave ’em all.” “Procedures are already moving ahead for the town to be seized. It might not end up coming to that, but the town’s administrative system will collapse, and the people will suffer greatly. That has nothing to do with me, however,” Zem said. “That’s not what I’m talkin’ about. You don’t think the war’s even gonna reach ’em.” “Hm? Why do you say that?” “Because a hero with a holy sword’s gonna send the demon god packin’ before it comes to that.” Ada barked with laughter. “Hmm, so everything worked out?” Tiana asked, gazing out the window of her carriage at the scenery going by. “Yes. The investigation wound up being so simple, it made me feel silly for ever being anxious about it. I actually find my mind more occupied by something that happened on the way to Rhodian.” “What’s that?” “I learned that a woman I was fond of now has a husband and child. That was quite a shock.” “R-really…? Sorry for your loss…” This conversation was reminding Tiana why talking to Zem alone could be quite difficult. “This is so convenient… I never would have thought we could converse over such a great distance,” Zem said. “You can say that again… I thought I was used to Telepathy by now, but this is a whole other level,” Tiana wholeheartedly agreed. Marde had given each of the Survivors a telepathy orb in case some sort of trouble occurred, such as the demon god resurrecting early. They were powerful magic items that had a much wider range than normal Telepathy and could be used to communicate from opposite ends of the continent. The Survivors had actually used the Sword of Bonds enough times that Bond could tell exactly where each member was at all times. He was forgoing his usual Telepathy to relay their messages using the multiple telepathy orbs, increasing their range of communication by over a hundredfold. Tiana and Zem were currently using this incredible power for nothing more than casual conversation. “It’s hard to imagine, but magic items like this could become commonplace one day,” Zem said. “Wow. You’ve developed quite an imagination,” Tiana said. “Is that suggestion really so absurd?” Zem asked. “No, not at all. This last year has been full of impossibilities, so I wouldn’t be surprised by anything.” “You two are free to talk, but don’t waste too much mana!” Bond scolded. “Come on, don’t you realize how boring carriage trips are? Besides, talking distracts me from the dread I’m feeling over this mission,” Tiana said. “I suppose I can’t be too hard on you, then…,” said Bond. Tiana was traveling to Regulus, the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Dineez—her hometown. “Could you consider this a triumphant return?” Zem asked. “I’ll be treated like a noble again, I guess.” Tiana had moved to Labyrinth City to support herself after being disowned by House Ernafelt and made a commoner. However, she was now a knight—a position given to commoners who entered a chivalric order or reached A-rank as an adventurer. Knights had a unique place in the Holy Kingdom of Dineez. It was the lowest rank among the nobility, and the most achievable path to nobility for a commoner. As such, they had essentially no authority in high society or the royal palace. But things were different during wartime, and that was especially true now, given the demon god’s imminent resurrection. Not even barons or viscounts could obstruct a knight, nor could they insult one while they were away fighting on the battlefield or in a labyrinth. Trying to harm a knight’s reputation while they were absent and unable to defend themselves was considered aiding the enemy by intentionally spreading misinformation, which was a much more serious crime during wartime than peacetime. Tiana’s newfound knighthood had given her, Havok, and other employees from the Thunderbolt Corporation an idea: Tiana could travel to the capital and restore Instructor Bellocchio’s reputation. The Thunderbolt Corporation employees were well aware that Tiana had never actually seduced Bellocchio, and that instead they had been victims of a struggle for power among the nobles in high society. They didn’t blame her for not spending much time with the company employees, either. They just got into fake fights with her to give her a hard time about how upset she was at the low bounty that was placed on her head. After Bellocchio sacrificed himself to delay the demon god’s resurrection, Tiana and the Thunderbolt Corporation employees had been left with a strong sense of helplessness. They wanted to do something to repay the favor to their fallen instructor, and restoring his reputation was what they had decided on. They would also be able to clear Tiana’s name while they were at it. That was why the Thunderbolt Company had dispatched Tiana to the capital. “I hope this works out, too… But I know it’s gonna be really hard,” Tiana said. “Hey! Monsters ahead! They’re on the road!” There was much more traffic between Labyrinth City and the capital than there was on the way to Rhodian, and riding a stagecoach was the safest and fastest method of travel. As an adventurer, Tiana was obligated to take up her staff and fight when they were attacked by monsters. “Well, that’s my cue. Conversation over! Bye!” Tiana said. “Good luck,” Zem said cheerfully as Tiana left the carriage and began an incantation. Tiana headed right for her old aristocratic school when she arrived in Regulus. A part of her wanted to torment the school’s new leaders, but the faster she finished this job and got the weight of it off her chest, the better. She hoped she would be able to wrap things up as quickly as Zem…and was shocked to arrive and find the job already done. It was so anticlimactic, she was almost disappointed. “I apologize that you came all this way, but in light of Lord Bellocchio’s incredible achievement, we have already decided to revoke his punishment. We have also arranged for severance and condolence money to be sent to his bereaved family. Ah, we should send them your letter as well. Would you mind entrusting that to me?” said a bespectacled man who had agreed to meet with Tiana. He was a bureaucrat in every way. “Oh, uh, thank you. Are you the current headmaster?” Tiana asked. “Whoops, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Kepler Arnciel, and yes, I am the current headmaster. This academy has had its difficulties, as you know; I am the second headmaster since you were expelled. I was hired from outside the academy, which is why we have never met.” “Huh.” Kepler, the headmaster, already knew that Tiana and Bellocchio’s banishment from the academy had been the result of a political struggle. He wouldn’t have told her that unless House Delcott, the noble family who’d plotted against the two of them, had suffered some downfall. Their glory had been short-lived. Lene Delcott was the name of the noble girl who had stolen Tiana’s fiancé, Alex. She had spread rumors that destroyed Tiana’s reputation and gotten the headmaster at the time and Bellocchio fired. Lene was uncommonly smart for her age; however, that did her no good when the lord of House Delcott died of an illness and a succession struggle tore the family apart. The signs of the demon god’s resurrection had also heavily impacted the source of House Delcott’s wealth: their dragon-based transportation service. The army and the knights had conscripted their dragons, and the Demon God War greatly limited civilians’ ability to purchase dragons. Other powerful nobles with a presence at the academy had seized this opportunity to rise up against House Delcott, intensifying the academy’s factional strife. The political struggle had disrupted classes entirely, which resulted in leaders of the academic world sending a man to the academy to take over as the new headmaster. That man was Kepler. “A-are you sure you should be speaking so frankly with me?” Tiana asked. “That’s the way I like it. Being anything less than direct with you would be a waste of time,” Kepler said. “My job at this academy is to overhaul the irresponsible management that has been going on here so far. I belong to no faction, and I would welcome getting fired. There are many more academies that are in desperate need of my help.” Kepler was a low-ranking noble, but instead of teaching, he had made a living repairing or completely rebuilding the management of academies. He was a professional who had fixed instances of rampant bullying and violence, revamped the curricula of a school that had taken advantage of its isolated environment to brainwash its students, and solved a variety of other educational issues. He was a man who didn’t mince words and could silence even high-ranking nobles due to his track record, making him a dignified yet peculiar presence. “What are your intentions here, by the way?” Kepler asked. “What do you mean?” Tiana asked, confused. “Lord Bellocchio’s reputation being restored means yours has been as well. You could return to school if you like.” That caught Tiana completely off guard. “I can?” she asked. “Absolutely. I can factor your activity in Labyrinth City into your credits and grades. I’ll also do everything I can to deal with any students and teachers who insulted you.” Tiana could regain the life she had lost. She could once again apply herself to the study of magic and resume her ascent to fame in the academic world. It would mean saying good-bye to fighting and camping in humid and damp labyrinths that stank of smelly moss and beast flesh. “…No, thank you. I’m going right back to Labyrinth City,” Tiana said. “Really? That’s a shame. I thought the presence of a student with both knowledge and practical skill would be a good stimulus for the student body,” Kepler said with a quiet sigh. It made Tiana a little happy to see how disappointed he was by her refusal. “Thank you for your efforts regarding Instructor Bellocchio,” she said. Just like that, what should have been a month-long job was already done. She was excitedly considering how she should spend her newfound free time—whether to visit her family or just return to Labyrinth City after grabbing something to eat and doing some sightseeing—when a girl aggressively approached her. “You have some nerve coming here!” the girl said. “Uh, what?” “Don’t play dumb with me! I know exactly what you’re doing!” the girl yelled. Tiana genuinely had no idea what she was talking about. “Umm… Who are you, again? Sorry if you were a classmate of mine. What’s your name?” This was Jewitt Royal Academy, a prestigious school for aristocratic children from the Holy Kingdom of Dineez. It was unthinkable that anyone on campus would be rude enough to grab a stranger’s collar as this girl had done to Tiana. “I moved to Labyrinth City after being expelled from this academy for reasons I don’t want to get into,” she explained. “I only came back for some minor business, and I never had many friends here. You must be mistaking me for someone else. On that note…” Tiana paused, staring at the girl. She spoke with an overly kind tone to convey that the girl was the one who was out of line. Tiana had fought monsters, intimidated ruffian adventurers, and been hunted by the instructor she trusted most. To her, a girl grabbing her collar with graceful fingers felt no more threatening than being barked at by a puppy. “Who do you think you are, approaching a person you’ve never met in such a violent manner?” she finished. The girl let out an eep of terror, shrinking away from the quiet ferocity in Tiana’s expression. Tiana sighed internally, wondering if she’d scared her a little too much. But the girl stuck around, timidly looking at Tiana as if she still had business with her. “…I’m Lene. Lene Delcott. I refuse to believe you’ve forgotten me,” the girl said. “Nope, not ringing a bell,” Tiana said, finally convinced it was actually her. This was the girl who had been with Alex the day he broke off their engagement. Tiana vaguely remembered her having long black hair and dressing maturely for her age—unlike Tiana herself in every way. “How dare you…!” Lene seethed. “Sorry, sorry. You’ve changed a lot, though. I guess I have, too,” Tiana said. For some reason, Lene had cut her long hair short and was wearing boyish pants that one might wear when riding a horse. They looked good on her, but they were rare to see at this academy. “O-of course I have! I’ve been really busy… I have to help with the war preparations because we don’t have enough men around!” Lene said. Tiana sensed trouble and felt her lips curling into a smile. She cleared her throat to hide it, but the sight actually calmed Lene down. “…Do you really know nothing about my situation?” she asked. “No. Why would I? I just got to the capital, and I don’t think about you at all. Shouldn’t you apologize for the rude way you approached me?” “…Sorry.” “Just don’t do it again, okay?” Assuming she was done here, Tiana started to turn around to go and rest at the inn where she’d made a reservation, but she stopped when Lene started to cry. “Urgh… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry,” Lene said in between sobs. People began to gather in the hallway to see what the commotion was. “D-don’t do that! That’s all behind us! I forgive you,” Tiana said. She kept trying to soothe Lene, but the girl wouldn’t stop crying. Seeing no other choice, Tiana grabbed her and fled to her old favorite café. “I’m not buying you a drink. I’m just gonna drink this cup of tea and leave. Then it’s good-bye. We’ll have nothing more to do with each other. Got it?” Tiana said after placing her order. Lene hesitantly opened her mouth to speak, ignoring Tiana’s words. Tiana thought about just walking out without listening, but her curiosity got the better of her. She also knew what would happen if she left. “The first three months after that day were peaceful,” Lene said. “And all it took was sacrificing me,” Tiana said, instantly darkening the mood. She spoke coldly and without sympathy for the girl’s apparent struggles. “You know, you should be grateful I’m not being meaner to you. Where’d the bully who ruined my life go? You’re boring me.” Tiana stuffed a leaf into her pipe in annoyance and puffed out smoke. Once the smoke had reached the ceiling, Lene continued speaking. “There was someone in our way…” “You mean me?” Tiana asked. “No. It was the old headmaster,” Lene said, earning a confused look from Tiana. That answer was completely unexpected. “You don’t know who I’m talking about, do you?” “Uhhh, sorry. I kinda remember him,” Tiana said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t. But he thought highly of you and Instructor Bellocchio. You would’ve been the first girl to graduate top of the class. The headmaster’s high opinion of you both and your success were obstacles to my father. It’s all complicated faction stuff,” Lene said. The girl launched into an explanation of her family’s situation. House Delcott had made a meteoric rise in high society, thanks to their quick and cheap transportation service that utilized domesticated dragons. However, the nobility was generally antagonistic toward such upstart families. Some nobles tried to steal their profits, while others criticized their attitude and lineage. House Delcott decided to fight these antagonistic nobles by getting involved in disputes between noble factions, and they didn’t hesitate to use dirty tactics. Lene had also been willing to serve as a political pawn for her family. That was the only reason for her actions. To Lene, Tiana had been nothing more than a pebble to kick aside on her family’s path to glory. “So I was caught up in a factional dispute that had nothing to do with me. Did you never really like Alex?” Tiana asked. “Huh? Oh, I didn’t mind him. I just thought it would be fun to steal your boyfriend, too. Everyone hated you at school, so a few girls helped me out,” Lene said. “Ever heard the phrase just deserts?” Tiana asked. This girl was even more despicable than she’d thought, but this was getting interesting. Tiana’s curiosity to hear a little more won out over her annoyance. “…I know, I know. I’m the worst. What I did can’t be forgiven with a simple apology. I thought I had to do things like that to make it in the world,” Lene said. “You’re probably not wrong. I think there are plenty of nobles worse than you.” “Yeah. I’m already sick of it.” Lene smiled weakly, but the emotion behind it wasn’t despair. She had certainly given up on something, but not on life itself. Tiana didn’t mind people like that. She thought for a moment—just a moment—that they might have been friends had things been different. “Why did you grab me, though?” Tiana asked. “Oh, right. Alex is missing.” Tiana’s ex-fiancé was a man named Alex Colney. House Colney was a militant noble family whose members had filled important posts in the capital army’s Magic Division for generations. There was no shortage of heroic tales about Alex’s father, including one about how he had charged into a labyrinth and stopped a small-scale Stampede all by himself. According to Lene, Alex had been going to join the Magic Division—which was led by his father—and live a cushy life in the reserves while on a promotional track. However, those plans had been made during peacetime, and his family could no longer afford to be so soft with him once it became clear that the Demon God War was about to break out. It was decided he would be trained just like all regular new recruits. Alex’s father and grandfather had both inherited the talent his family was known for, so it was assumed the same would be true of him. “I’m assuming he ran here,” Tiana said after leading Lene to a bar. “What? But…this is a bar for commoners,” said Lene. “I always had a few girls in mind I thought Alex could be cheating on me with. You were one of the leading candidates, but I was still surprised when he chose you. He always had his eyes on the singer of this bar.” “Wait, what are you talking about? I never heard that… Are you sure this place is even open?” “It doesn’t matter. He could be in there regardless. Before we go in, I want to ask you something.” “Wh-what?” “What are you going to do if you find him? Try to get him back?” Lene looked away uncomfortably. “…Well, well. You’re just an ordinary airhead, aren’t you? I’m even more impressed now that you managed to best me,” Tiana said. Lene flared angrily. “I-it’s not like that! If I don’t take Alex to my father-in-law and get him to join the Magic Division, House Colney is ruined! It would be terrible for my family, too!” “Why should you care if his family is ruined? If you just divorce and cut ties with him, your precious noble house should be just fine.” “That…might be true, but…” “So what are you going to do? He’s in there. I sense one man and one woman.” Tiana used Magic Search without an incantation or using her staff. She simply sensed their location, the number of people, and their genders from the subtle rebounding of mana waves. “Huh… Did you just use a spell?” Lene asked. “I asked you a question,” Tiana said. “O-okay, okay! I’m going in!” Lene said. Having confirmed Lene’s intentions, Tiana threw open the door to the bar. There was no one in sight. She stomped up the stairs and stopped in front of a private room. “Unlock,” Tiana chanted, and the door clicked open. Unlock wasn’t a spell that was taught at regular magic academies. Most teachers didn’t even know of its existence, and it toed the line of legality. It could open any lock as long as it wasn’t a special shape, protected by magic, or reinforced by a heavy bolt. Havok had covertly taught Tiana the spell, saying it would come in handy. “Wh-who are… Gah!” “What do you mean ‘gah’? Is that really the way to greet your ex-fiancée and wife?” Tiana asked. Alex was in the room with a girl Tiana had never seen before. They were lounging together half-naked. “Who the hell is she?!” Lene shouted. That was the start of an ugly fight. The fight finally ended around the time Tiana finished smoking her pipe. The girl who was with Alex quickly surrendered and backed away as Lene wailed and hit him over and over. It had taken ten minutes for her to wear herself out. “Please go home…,” Lene begged. “I—I refuse! I don’t want to fight in the Demon God War!” Alex said. “Then I’ll go with you!” Lene said. “Your father is prepared to risk his life and protect you, too!” “You’re a fellow pipe enthusiast? What leaf are you using?” the other girl asked. “It’s Witch’s Broom from Teran,” Tiana said. “Wanna trade? I prefer Happy, personally.” “I’ve never tried it. Is it good?” “I think it’s the best you can get in the capital. I love your pipe and igniter. I wish I had one like that…” The two of them excitedly discussed pipes as Alex and Lene fought. “I’m not strong like you and Tiana! And what are you doing getting all friendly with her?!” Alex yelled. “Uhh, which of us are you talking to?” the other girl asked. “Either one of you! Lene and Maurine!” Alex shouted. The girl he was cheating with—Maurine—shrugged exasperatedly. “Gee, I wonder. Maybe it’s because you’re a serial cheater. Don’t you have anything to say to me?” Tiana asked. She puffed out smoke and sighed. “Urgh… H-how are you?” Alex asked. “Just peachy. Aside from when I nearly died,” Tiana replied. “So the rumors are true… I’m sorry… I don’t know what to say.” “Oh my, there are rumors about me now?” “People are saying you saved the world. You were probably too good for me all along,” Alex said with a self-deprecating smile. “The world’s not saved yet. The war hasn’t even started.” Alex paled, and Tiana looked in his eyes with pity. “…You always had a passion for poetry and music,” she said. “I used to wonder if you weren’t suited for magic…or fighting, rather. It’s unfortunate for you that the world is coming to war.” “…I’ve always wanted to be a musician, actually. I was never able to tell anyone.” Alex began to speak falteringly about his life. He’d realized one day that he wasn’t skilled enough at magic to become a mage like his father—in fact, he didn’t even have the aptitude to use magic to fight monsters. He couldn’t face a goblin without shaking in his boots. He had cared deeply for Tiana at first but, over time, he had developed an inferiority complex. How could he live up to a girlfriend who’d earned the respect of the eccentric yet famously skilled Bellocchio? He’d never been able to be truthful with Tiana, nor tell his family that he didn’t want to take over as the head of House Colney. Nothing he shared surprised Tiana. She thought it was all self-evident. “Well, that just confirms what I already thought,” she said. “I was excited about having a fiancé but never actually had any interest in you. You never cared much for me, either.” “…Yeah, you’re right,” Alex said, looking down apologetically. “I was jealous of your success, though I may as well have been jealous of the sun. You’re way out of my league.” “Don’t get all mopey now. I’m over it.” “Will you forgive me?” Alex asked. “Uh, no. I’m not forgiving you or Lene, or…” Tiana looked at Maurine. “Eh, I guess I’m fine with you.” “Really? I went out with him while you were still a student, you know,” Maurine said. “And you’re telling me now?!” Tiana shouted angrily. Maurine laughed, Lene’s face twitched, and Alex made himself as small as possible. “Actually, I…always had a feeling he was spending money on a girl at a bar,” Tiana admitted. “I was too scared to say anything, and I had more fun focusing on my classes and research anyway.” “Same as you, I figured music was his real passion,” said Maurine. “You know how there are a bunch of idols in Labyrinth City? He writes lyrics that fit their genre of music and sends them in. I used to help him with those lyrics, and I also sang and played acoustic guitar so he could figure out the melody.” “…I had no idea about that,” Tiana said, surprised. Maurine smirked. “I like how pathetically weak he is. He can’t keep himself out of trouble. Only losers like him can write the lyrics I like. But you’re different. You have a respectable life and better taste in men,” she said, looking at Tiana with admiration. “I’m no angel. I fell on hard times, too,” Tiana told her. “Haven’t you made a fortune gambling in addition to your success as a mage?” “I don’t make any money gambling… Wait, there are rumors about my gambling habits, too?” Tiana asked, shocked. Maurine pointed at her. “I think you were put in a hard situation and struggled financially. But you didn’t let it drag your soul down.” Tiana frowned, unsure what to make of that. “Most people aren’t so strong,” Maurine continued. “If you work at a bar, your soul adapts to that environment. If you flee from your life’s problems, you become a fugitive by nature. By comparison, your soul is an indestructible diamond.” “That sounded poetic,” Tiana said. “That’s why you have nothing to gain from interacting with people like Alex. He’s a pebble on the side of the road compared to you. Forgive him. I’ll make him apologize as many times as you need.” “There’s no way in hell I’m forgiving him. I’m only here because I needed something to punch, and I couldn’t think of anything better than his face. What makes you think you can talk to me like this, anyway?! He cheated on me with you!” “Good point. Well, knock yourself out,” Maurine said, giggling. Tiana sighed deeply. “This turned out a lot more boring than I expected.” “I’m sure,” responded Maurine. “Honestly, your lives have nothing to do with me… But I’ll tell you one thing, Alex.” “What, Tiana?” he asked. “I don’t care one iota about whether you elope with this girl and become a poet or stay with Lene and succeed your father. You don’t, either, do you, Lene?” “Uh, it wouldn’t be ideal… Well, actually, I don’t know…” Lene sounded unsure how to respond, and she let out a sigh of resignation. “You have more in common with me than with them,” Tiana told her. “You know how to lead a guy around by the nose and take down other girls. You’ll do just fine on your own.” “Watch it,” Lene said, glaring. But Tiana didn’t so much as flinch. “Anyway,” Tiana continued, “don’t think you can just do whatever you want because the world’s about to fall apart. You’ll end up in an even worse spot than you’re in now.” “You’re telling me to be an upstanding citizen? In this world without a future?” Alex said bitterly. Tiana laughed. “Get a grip. The world’s always been cruel, and that has nothing to do with the demon god. Besides, the world’s not going to end. A certain someone is putting her life on the line to make sure that doesn’t happen.” The great confidence Tiana spoke with gave her a radiance even more beautiful than she’d had as a student. She used to think her tendency to act high-handed and arrogant was a character flaw, but it was only going to serve her in the face of their impossibly powerful foe. No one stood a chance at breaking her confidence. “…I guess I can’t argue with that,” Alex said, smiling in surrender. In the end, Lene gave up on Alex and decided to divorce him. She realized how empty babysitting Alex for the support of House Colney made her feel. Alex decided to try to convince his parents to make his younger brother the heir. Tiana left the bar wondering why she gave advice to people she hated, but the experience left her feeling refreshed. She decided not to visit her family, electing instead to just visit her mother’s grave. After all, there wasn’t much she wanted to say at her family home, where her father lived with his second wife and concubine. Standing in front of the grave, Tiana spoke to her mother. “I went through more than I ever could have imagined, but I made it back safely. I’ll visit again if I ever get the chance.” Then she placed the flowers she’d bought in the capital on the grave and set out once again. The way to the dragonian village was long. The village wasn’t actually much farther from Labyrinth City than Regulus in terms of distance, but the poor state of the roads doubled the travel time. It could even be called more of an adventure than a trip. “It’s good we were able to rent a dragon…but they’re harder to ride than horses,” Nick said. “You’re just being a scaredy-cat. You have to trust it,” Karan said. “I’m not as used to this as you are,” Nick protested. Nick and Karan were traveling the rough road on dragonback. The dragonian village was in a remote location, and getting there required passing through several cities and mountains. They had rented a dragon because they were afraid the journey would be too hard for the kind of horse you could rent at a stable. It was a slow, four-legged creature, but it was herbivorous and had a calm temperament. Karan took good care of the dragon as she and Nick made their quiet journey through the countryside. There weren’t many labyrinths near the dragonian village, which meant no Stampeding monsters on the roads. It was yawn-inducingly peaceful. “It’s so safe out here that…,” Nick said, trailing off. “Hm? What were you going to say?” Karan asked. “…Never mind.” Nick had been about to say, “You didn’t need me after all,” before he stopped. He’d come under the pretext of guarding Karan on the trip, but in reality, her strength had returned enough for her to travel alone, and he knew it. He was also tagging along because he was the only member of the party who had no home to return to, but that wasn’t the main reason, either. It simply didn’t feel right letting her travel alone after the promise he’d made her in the Colosseum of Carnage. “…Did you used to travel like this, Nick?” Karan asked. “I dunno. We usually had a lot of cargo, and we’d all end up in a bad mood if it got damaged or if we got in a fight. I have fond memories of those days, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.” Karan had gladly accepted his offer, though it was unclear if she was aware of the real reason he’d come. “That sounds kinda fun,” she said. “I never said it wasn’t,” replied Nick. “Even when Marde wasn’t there?” “It’s not like I talked to her all day long… Traveling under her employ isn’t bad, but her products are way too volatile. I’m not cut out for selling insurance and loans,” Nick said. “…I think you’d be surprisingly good at it, actually.” “Really?” “You can’t be too nice in that kind of job. But being cold is even worse.” They chatted practically nonstop throughout the trip, to the point where it was a little strange. It had actually been that way ever since the Survivors reunited after Nick recovered and Karan’s work calmed down. Neither of them felt comfortable with silence when they were alone together. Nick had promised to stay by Karan’s side forever, but he had been avoiding figuring out what that meant. If anyone had asked whether he’d meant as a boyfriend or husband, he would have said yes, but he wasn’t sure if Karan felt the same way. Whenever he tried to feel out Karan’s thoughts, however, she would panic and bring up some random topic. Nick was annoyed at her for avoiding the topic, but their other conversations were fun, too. It was remarkable how much better Karan had gotten at talking after going through Diamond and Hector’s training. Besides, he could hardly blame her when he did the exact same thing and changed the topic every time he sensed her trying to bring up something he was embarrassed to talk about. Neither of them had enough experience with romance. “W-we’re almost there, you know!” Karan said. “G-great,” Nick said. They continued their journey with a vague sense of distance between them, drawing closer to Karan’s hometown. A red mountain range was visible in the distance, and short vegetation dotted the landscape. The land felt a little desolate but not lonely. Large land dragons drank water from a small stream. They weren’t wild, though. “Is it okay to let those dragons roam free without chaining them to a stable or something?” Nick asked. “They’d just break free. We let them all graze. They’re smart, so they don’t go anywhere. They defend the village from monsters and bandits,” Karan said, looking proud. The dragon they were riding snorted with displeasure. “Oh, sorry. You’re a great dragon, too. Thanks for letting us ride you,” she said, hurriedly praising the dragon. It lumbered along, looking satisfied. The grazing land dragons gathered around as if curious about the newcomer. “Tulip! Peony! Hydrangea! Have you all been well?” Karan said. “What’s with all the cute names?” Nick asked. “Dragons and people are often named after flowers in my village. My name means ‘fire’—ka—and ‘orchid’—ran—in the ancient language.” “That’s a really pretty name,” Nick said. “Whuh?!” Karan gasped, panicking. Nick wanted to kick himself. He had not planned to be that cheesy. “A-anyway,” Karan continued, “we should be able to see my house soon… Oh, they came to greet us.” A middle-aged dragonian man had appeared in the distance. Many more dragonian men and women appeared behind him, and they all sprinted toward Nick and Karan. There were only a few dozen of them, but they looked like an attacking army. “What the…? Did I do something wrong?” asked Nick. “I don’t think so… Oh. This might be about something Daffy wrote in her letter,” Karan said. Nick worried that Karan’s father was going to accuse him of stealing his daughter, but thankfully his fears were quickly put to rest. The dragonians stopped a short distance away and formed an orderly line. “Huh?” he said. It was clear from their courteous behavior that they were not about to try to chase him away from Karan. The man who appeared to be the leader approached the confused Nick. He was a middle-aged man with red hair and tanned skin. His horns were larger than Karan’s, but the scales on his arms were the same color. It was clear that he was related to her. “Daddy!” Karan cried. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that on formal occasions?” the man said with an exasperated look. Nick nervously dismounted the dragon, and the dragonians immediately responded by kneeling to him. Karan’s father was the only one who remained on his feet. “I am Chidori, chief of the fire dragonians,” he said. “H-hello. I’m Nick, an adventurer. Uh… Why are they kneeling to me?” Nick asked. “Surely you understand why. We dragonians hold great respect for heroes. If a person who fought the demon god and survived isn’t a hero, then who is?” Chidori said. Nick thought Karan’s father seemed like a magnanimous person, and that attitude seemed to be backed up by his strength. He sensed the man had undergone considerable training himself. “I didn’t set out to fight the demon god… Things kinda just worked out that way,” Nick admitted. “And yet you achieved something no one else has,” responded Chidori. “That, my boy, is called fate.” Nick felt like Chidori wasn’t listening to him, but at the same time, he felt a belated sense of accomplishment sink in. None of what they’d done truly felt real until right then. That said, he still didn’t think he should be treated like a hero. His gratitude at being saved outweighed the feeling that he’d done any saving himself. “This village may seem like it is cut off from the world, but word of the war and the demon god travels quickly,” explained Chidori. “I also received a letter from Daffodil, so I already have a general idea of what has happened. I am sure you must be tired from your long journey. Please, feel free to get some rest.” A large white building constructed of sun-dried bricks and mortar stood in the center of the dragonian village. The citizens used it as both an assembly hall and a banquet hall, and it was furnished with resplendent carpets, tables, and chairs. The tables were laden with large meat dishes that looked crude but required careful heating to prepare, as well as giant barrels of alcohol. Young and old alike had gathered to enjoy the feast. “I don’t feel like I’m being given any say in this…,” Nick said. He was led to what seemed like the seat of highest honor in the hall, where he was treated to food and conversation by Chidori and other important dragonian men. Everyone there looked like a relative of Karan’s. They pressed him to drink the alcohol, but Nick was afraid it would be strong enough to knock him out, and he avoided it the only way he knew how: by talking. He told the story of the Survivors, doing his best to avoid saying anything that would make Karan sound bad. Daffodil had apparently made no such effort in her letter, however, so the dragonians saw through most of his lies. “No need to hold anything back. She always hated studying.” “I was so worried she would be deceived by a vile man. I wrote a letter to Daffodil telling her that Karan was moving to the city, but I had no way of knowing where to send it to.” “We should have at least insisted on sending someone with Karan. Thank you for saving her for us.” The dragonians thanked Nick one after the other, then began to recount embarrassing stories from Karan’s childhood. Nick knew she would be upset if she found out, but he couldn’t help listening and laughing. “Where is Karan, by the way?” Nick asked. “Oh? Are you worried about your bride?” Chidori asked, causing Nick to choke. “Wait, did I misjudge your relationship? Why else would she have brought a man back to the village?” Nick couldn’t deny his reasoning. Given Karan’s age and the fact that they had come alone, it was only natural to assume she intended to marry him. “Come on, drink up, my new son-in-law!” Nick thought Karan’s father was a kindhearted man, but he could be startlingly frank when he was drinking. Chidori was intimidating in the exact opposite way Nick had expected, and spoke as if the marriage were a done deal. He told Nick that he didn’t expect a hero to settle down there but that he better visit, mentioned how many grandchildren he wanted, and said that Karan was popular among the young men of this village so Nick would have to put them in their place. All Nick could do was smile awkwardly. “S-sorry for the wait,” came Karan’s voice. “Karan, where have you—?” Nick’s voice caught in his throat before he could finish his sentence. “Wow, you look adorable! Doesn’t she, Chidori?” a dragonian woman said. “Yes… She looks positively radiant. It’s hard to believe she’s the same girl who used to chase dragonflies and fall in the river,” Chidori said. “Who would have thought the kid who nearly burned down the village practicing her fire breath would turn into such a beautiful woman?” another dragonian said. “I remember her fighting dragons and getting covered in blood like it was yesterday,” added an elderly dragonian. “Sh-shut up!” Karan shouted. “I’m a big deal in Labyrinth City! I’m a civil official in the Teran Lord Manor!” ““““““Yeah, right!”””””” the dragonians responded together. “I’m not lying! Back me up, Nick!” Karan said. Nick gave them a tight smile. “I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Uh, what’s her title again? She’s the head of the Ancient Culture Department at the Teran Lord Manor or something like that.” “That’s wrong. I’m Chief Karan Tsubaki of the Disaster Inspection Office, a division of the Ancient Culture Preservation Department of the Teran Lord Manor. I have business cards,” Karan said, indignantly producing a card. Chidori and her other relatives gathered around with great interest. “She’s killing it, from what I’ve heard,” Nick added. “She works with a detective named Hector, and she bosses him around like no one I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t let just anyone do that. Everyone else has praised her, too.” “Heh-heh,” Karan smirked. “I swear, this is hardly the time to talk about work.” A woman walked up from behind Karan. She had red hair and horns, just like most of the dragonians there, and looked like the person you would end up with if you combined Karan and Daffodil. Yet she also had a calmness about her that both of them lacked. “Oh, Mom,” Karan said. “What do you think of my daughter?” Karan’s mom asked. “I’m sure this look differs from the fashion of the city, but don’t you think she’s adorable?” Everyone looked at Nick. “Uh, yeah… She looks pretty,” he replied. Karan looked completely different from normal. He’d never seen her wear a skirt, but she was wearing a long white one. Above it was a tight white blouse and a pink sleeveless jacket designed to be worn with a dress. Flowers were embroidered on the jacket in graceful, curling patterns. They were red orchids. “…Thanks,” Karan said, blushing slightly. It didn’t take a genius to realize the implication of her clothes—this was a bridal outfit made specially for her. “Drink up, Mr. Hero! I won’t let you gawk at my daughter without having a drop of our alcohol!” Chidori said. “That’s right, you lucky bastard!” another dragonian man yelled. The other men were just as awestruck as Nick, but they also urged him to drink once they’d returned to their senses. Nick thought they were an annoying bunch, but he didn’t mind their behavior too much. They reminded him of adventurers. So Nick relented and drank. …Which turned out to be a major mistake. When Nick woke up, he was in a totally different place. “…Where am I?” he mumbled. He was in a cold, lifeless room that reminded him of the Labyrinth of Bonds. It couldn’t have looked any more different than the homey atmosphere from earlier. He couldn’t even imagine how this place had been built. He had a light headache, and he didn’t think it was just from the alcohol. This room looked like a jail cell; he must have been drugged and locked in here. At least his back didn’t hurt. The bed was much nicer than the one in his Sun Knight prison cell. That was one small mercy. “You’re awake,” someone said from the other side of the iron bars. It was Chidori, Karan’s father. “Not quite… Karan’s still out,” Nick said. He didn’t even have to look to know that the snoring next to him belonged to her. “…That girl’s a heavy sleeper. She never had any issues falling asleep growing up,” Chidori said, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “I’m not surprised at all to hear that,” Nick said. “So did you drug me?” “It’s nothing poisonous; just a herb that induces sleep and provides nourishment. Alcohol enhances the effect, though.” “Oh yeah?” “…I can tell you’ve been through your fair share of tough battles. You’re composed.” “So are you. I don’t wanna show off, but don’t assume I can’t escape from here.” That wasn’t a bluff. Nick had reached a high level of mastery with Stepping, so using Heavy Body to increase his weight and momentarily summon enough strength to tear down the iron bars would be a cinch. If there turned out to be a magical trap, he could ask Bond for help using Telepathy. But Karan’s father had been the one to imprison him. He didn’t want to do anything rash. “…I’m sure you can. But I want to talk first,” Chidori said. “Fine by me,” replied Nick. “Where should I start…? Well, aren’t you curious as to where we are?” Chidori asked. “Are you kidding? Of course I am,” Nick said irritably. Chidori was unfazed. “This is the basement of the assembly hall. It’s also the true dragonian village.” “…The true village? That makes it sound like the one up above is fake.” “The village aboveground was built to conceal this one.” “Excuse me?” Nick’s eyes went wide with surprise. “Dragonians in the time of the ancient civilization lived in expansive underground facilities that resembled labyrinths. It is difficult to live as comfortably as people did back then because the mana source was severed, but we still conceal its existence to prevent thievery,” Chidori explained. “Don’t ruins like this usually become labyrinths?” Nick asked. “Only when the facility loses its administrator and is contaminated by miasma. Every clan chief inherits the role of administrator and does the minimum required to maintain this place.” Nick just stared at him. He didn’t see what this grand secret had to do with him being drugged and kidnapped. “Are you sure you should be revealing this place to me? If you wanted to dispose of me, you could’ve tied me up and dropped me in a river,” he said. “Would you like to live here?” Chidori asked. “You…don’t just mean that as a son-in-law, do you?” “That’s part of it.” “Seriously?” “The mana source vanished, but we have reserves. Enough for ten households to live comfortably for ten years. You can’t tell from here, but this facility is large. It can easily fit the entire village.” Nick finally saw what this was all about. “You want me to take shelter here and protect Karan and the dragonians until the Demon God War is over. Is that it?” “No. You are the one I want protected,” Chidori replied. Nick was taken aback. “…Just so you know, I don’t have any special strength. I’ve only survived this long because I have a holy sword. I’m not one of the people who stopped the demon god’s resurrection, either.” “The term hero doesn’t just apply to people who fight the demon god. People who guide the next generation are also heroes.” “‘Next generation’? Where’d that come from?” “The heroes who fight the demon god will need superhuman strength. I’m sure you become significantly stronger when you take up your holy sword, but honestly, I do not think it will be enough.” Nick had no choice but to admit Chidori was right. He couldn’t claim to be inhumanly strong like Argus or Fifs, and although he was approaching the realm of Argus’s strength after his various trials and the battle against the Sword of Tasuki, it would take many more years to get there. “Sure, but I’m definitely not qualified to ‘guide the next generation,’ whatever that means,” Nick said. “I disagree,” responded Chidori. “You have a high opinion of me for someone you’ve only drunk with once.” “People who achieve incredible things without special powers possess something that others don’t. A kind of gravity that attracts other people.” “Karan’s the one who has that.” Nick had intended to hear Chidori out calmly. That said, he hadn’t expected to end up discussing grandiose topics like the future of the dragonians or the definition of the word hero. That was for the dragonian leaders to talk about, not him. He found himself getting annoyed; there were other topics he’d much rather discuss with Karan’s father. “Karan’s the real deal at her job. She’s gotten people far older than her to follow her orders, worked with some truly eccentric people, and tracked down a figure who had been slyly working from the shadows of society for centuries. You can’t do all that with brute force. She succeeded with her wit and soul, not by punching and stabbing.” Nick spoke of Karan. He told her father about the things she’d suffered and the adventures she’d been on. What she’d lost and what she’d learned. As he told her story, he thought it sounded braver and more impressive than any other adventurer’s tale he knew. He felt her father should know what she had been through. “Her pride was taken from her. But she got it back. She thought about everything she was missing, and she didn’t take the easy road of stealing from others the way she’d been stolen from. People used to ridicule her for not knowing how to do simple math, but now she’s doing a job that would impress even the most learned people in Labyrinth City. A job that you can’t do with a sword. We all respect her, truly.” “…Then that’s even more reason for you to stay here,” pressed Chidori. “She can protect you, and you can protect her. Heroes will be needed for the fight against the demon god, but one or two won’t make any difference.” “You’re saying they’ll be fine if one or two heroes sits out?” “Precisely. Wars have nothing in common with the battles you have experienced. They are nothing more than a ruthless clash of numbers. There is no pride in war. You are better off keeping hold of the pride you have regained and living peacefully here.” Nick scratched his head and sighed. They were getting nowhere with this conversation. Chidori was just as exhausting to speak to as a certain other person he knew. “Do you want to keep me and Karan from the battlefield that badly?” Nick asked. “Everyone will be happiest that way,” Chidori said. “You should worry about your own happiness. Karan’s not your only family; what about your wife and parents? Why worry about our happiness over your own?” Nick asked. “I can’t do that. Your achievement holds significance. I don’t have your right to survive,” Chidori said doubtfully. “I understand your reasoning. I’m sure you have the big picture in mind. But you’re using that as an excuse to have things your own way.” “Don’t misunderstand me. We were all unfortunate to be placed in this critical situation. It is inevitable that many will die. If you think I am wrong for trying to spare those I wish to live, then so be it. The true blame lies with the one who forced me to make that choice.” Nick stared fixedly at Chidori. “I never said you’re doing anything wrong. It’s admirable that you’re trying to protect your child. But you should be saying all this to the sleepyhead next to me. Why try so hard to make sure I don’t die?” he asked. “You don’t need to know. I’m not doing this for your gratitude. You can resent me if you want,” Chidori said. “And you’re satisfied with that?” “Yes. Do you have a better answer?” Nick fell silent. Then he started to laugh. It wasn’t a pleasant laugh, nor was it one of helpless defiance. It sounded cynical, and it echoed in the prisonlike room. Nick didn’t think he’d find himself trying to win over a person this stubborn again. The man whose approval he’d wanted to gain so badly was already gone from this world. “Man… I get it now. Oh, that’s just priceless.” “What’s funny?” Chidori asked. “…I just realized that bastard was probably trying to do the same thing.” “Hmm.” Chidori waited for Nick to continue without showing any sign of confusion. “He was an adventurer,” Nick began, dredging up old memories. “He was brilliant with any weapon. He made it through difficult labyrinths without relying on magic, using nothing but his own strength. He never reached S-rank, but S-ranks were in awe of him. No one could beat him in a bare-handed fight. I was proud to go on adventures with him. He put me through hellish sword and martial arts training. One small mistake, and I could’ve died. I’ve still got the scars.” He vividly remembered getting each and every mark. He actually had more scars from that man than he did from monsters. None of them were in vital spots, however; even the deepest wounds had avoided organs and blood vessels. “He was not talkative, but he always got all high-and-mighty whenever he did speak. He’d lecture me constantly about proper behavior for adventurers. I was probably always gonna be a little kid in his eyes, no matter how old I got. Knowing that frustrated me, and I started to defy him. Eventually, he told me I had become a full-fledged adventurer and kicked me out of his party. He said he wouldn’t stand for me criticizing his methods any longer.” “Strong people like him tend to be arrogant,” Chidori remarked. “They can struggle to convince their apprentices and children to adopt their ways.” “Yeah, just like you. You remind me of him.” “I do?” Nick ignored his question and continued, speaking from the heart. “…I was so happy. I’d wanted him to recognize me as an adult for so long. I thought I’d become a true adventurer, someone who could help people like me who had nowhere to go, just like he did. But I was wrong. To him, I was still a naive kid. He never stopped protecting me. He never told me the truth. I didn’t realize it until he died, but he was doing his best to ensure I survived while he was bound by the Sword of Tasuki.” “And thus, a hero survived. As a parent, I feel jealous of that man,” Chidori said. “Jealous? Why?” “The demon god’s appearance will lead to so much death that the natural law of parents dying before their children will be upset. Parents and children alike will die as the world comes to ruin. Can you blame me for wanting to avoid that?” “Do you really think Karan is going to sit back happily as you and her people all die?! Just because her daddy loves her and wants her to survive? There’s no chance in hell! What makes you think you have that sort of authority over her anyway?! You can’t just run off to die and expect us to live quiet lives here like you want us to!” Nick shouted. Chidori frowned at him, but Nick went on. “I wanted Argus to survive. Karan obviously wants the same for you. She’s not the kind of person to be grateful that a loved one died for her. You wouldn’t be trying so hard to protect her if she was. Am I wrong?” “…Answer me this, hero,” Chidori said. “What will you do? Wage a battle that you and Karan have no chance of winning? My actions may be wrong, but I’d rather that than see both of you die.” “I don’t wanna fight the demon god, either. I’d rather laze my days away and let someone else take care of it. Just the thought of it pisses me off. It feels like a weight on my back. The demon god hasn’t appeared for centuries, so why didn’t some order of knights spend all that time preparing for this fight? Why are we the ones who have to put our lives on the line?” “Exactly. You’ve already fought harder than anyone else. No one can blame you for withdrawing now,” Chidori said soothingly. “Yeah. But I made her a promise. I said I’d stay by her side forever.” “…Nick.” “It’s an appealing offer. Staying here and trying to repopulate the human race with Karan would probably be a happy life. Spending time with her is always fun. I never get tired of it. She’s honest and smart, brave and compassionate. And she doesn’t know it, but she’s beautiful. I couldn’t ask for a better wife.” “Then you can live here with her. One of you is likely to die if you return to the chaos of the battlefield. In fact, the likeliest outcome is that you’ll both die. If you promised to stay by her side forever, then you have to live. You would be breaking your promise if you were to die.” “You’re wrong.” “How?” “That’s not what staying by her side means. I spent the whole journey to this village thinking about what I should do. I wondered if getting married would fulfill that promise, and if that was what we both wanted.” “There would be nothing wrong with that.” “Being with Karan means living proudly like her. I’m sick of fighting. I don’t want to die. But I can’t fulfill my promise by saying we should turn our backs on the world’s suffering and live happily ever after.” It was true that Nick didn’t want to fight. He hadn’t left the Colosseum of Carnage with the satisfaction of a glorious victory. Instead, he now had a visceral fear of death and endless suffering. Even he was surprised he hadn’t retired as an adventurer. However, he didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of everyone who’d protected him or fallen in battle. He wanted to help them carry the burden that weighed them down. He wanted to remain with those who had supported him. Even if a terrible battle awaited him at the end of that road. “I’m gonna leave this place with Karan. We’re gonna fight the demon god, win, and get married,” Nick declared, and Chidori closed his eyes as he listened. “I love Karan. And knowing her, she’s not gonna be satisfied with a life trapped in this birdcage. She’s free-spirited and wild, but she’s also kind, and she shines brighter than any idol. So I’m not doing what you want. I’m taking her away from here.” “…So you’re stealing my daughter after all,” Chidori muttered, putting a hand to his forehead. He didn’t look distressed, however; there was a hint of an amused smile on his face. “If you don’t want that, you can try and stop me,” Nick said. “Hero… Or perhaps I should call you ‘son.’ There is one thing you need to know.” “You sure accepted that quickly…” “She’s awake,” Chidori said, smiling. “Huh? What are you…?” Nick trailed off, realizing Chidori was looking behind him. He turned around and saw Karan blushing furiously. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?!” “Y-y-you should’ve noticed, idiot! I’m right behind you!” Karan yelled. “I know, but you were sound asleep!” Nick shouted back. Karan looked at him with eyes that shifted quickly between reproach and embarrassment, and she eventually spoke in a whisper. “…I wanted to talk about that stuff when we were alone.” “Oh, uh, my bad,” Nick apologized weakly. Karan, however, was starting to get fired up. “How can you be totally open with an old man you’ve never met when you’re always so guarded around me? That makes no sense.” “Yeah. Sorry,” Nick said. “‘She’s kind, and she shines brighter than any idol’? Where the heck did that come from? You’ve always said Agate shines brighter than anyone in the world,” Karan said accusingly. “I’ve got no excuse for that,” Nick said, his earlier intensity gone without a trace. All he could do was agree and apologize in response to everything Karan said. “…But I forgive you,” Karan said when she was finally done complaining. She reached out and hugged Nick, although his shoulders were slouched after her barrage. “I’ll forgive you if you keep your promise. Because I…I love you, too.”