If only he and the others were with her now. “…You liar. I knew I shouldn’t trust anyone ever again,” she muttered resentfully. Karan didn’t know where those words had come from, but she knew they meant there was someone she’d decided to trust. She also knew that, despite her resentment, she would continue to trust and wait for him, or search for him herself. It would be so much easier to just hate whoever it was for leaving her. But Karan was no longer the kind of person who could live a simple life fearing and resenting everything. She couldn’t remember her love for him, nor could she erase it. “You’re damn right. Trusting people is for chumps.” There was a famous priest in Wegna. He was a mysterious and handsome man who had drifted there from Labyrinth City. His skill with healing was real, he treated all people equally, and he kept all confessions he heard to himself. There were rumors he had been promoted to high priest, but no one believed them. Zem had one major flaw that overshadowed all his virtues. “Do I have this right, chief priest? You don’t want me to return until I become a silver-rank explorer?” Zem asked. “No, you fool! I’m telling you to quit all your philandering! I’m saying if you can’t manage that, then you should take up another profession, such as exploring!” yelled the chief priest. “Oh, heavens. You might as well ask me to grow gills and become a fish. Becoming an explorer would be much easier than giving up my hobbies.” “You idiot!” They were in a room of the Sanctuary of Medora in Cavern City. The chief priest was red-faced from yelling, but Zem, the man on the other end of it, didn’t seem the least bit bothered. “What a headache,” the chief priest continued. “I placed my confidence in you because you came from Teran, just like the hero, and because you had the approval of the head of the Dineez Sanctuary… However, I did not expect you to be so debaucherous! This is a scam!” “No, not in the least. I have nothing to feel ashamed of as a priest,” Zem said. “Wha…what did you just say?!” “Epidemics are on the rise lately, likely because of the great influx of people. Studying the red-light district is the quickest way for me to counteract that. Epidemics often spread from such locations, and the anguish those people share makes it easy to obtain information.” “Let’s say—for the sake of argument—I do acknowledge your right to enter that district. You’re still spending all your time chasing after women!” Zem hadn’t been sure what excuse to give the chief priest. All of the man’s accusations were flat out true, after all. So he had decided to claim he’d been spending time in the red-light district for work. “Did you know that some explorers have begun catching an illness similar to yellow demon fever?” Zem asked. “What does this have to do with anything?” snapped the chief priest. “I suspect the illness spread from the vassals of the Behemoth that lives in the Behemoth King Pit. Explorers catch it in the labyrinth and spread it to women in the red-light district. Symptoms have been mild so far, but…epidemics are ever-changing. Is this truly something you think the sanctuary should ignore?” Only half of what Zem had just said was true. He was concerned about an epidemic, and he had been visiting nighttime establishments to give medical examinations to women who wouldn’t go to a sanctuary or hospital. However, he was only guessing about how the illness was spreading. “Could you please treat this as a temporary transfer rather than an excommunication? If I become a successful explorer and put a stop to this epidemic, the credit will go to you,” Zem said. “Hmm…” The chief priest was an honest man, but he wasn’t free of ambition. He also hated his priests doing extra work that was not given to them by the sanctuary. Zem thought he was a good man, but they couldn’t have been less compatible. Fortunately, the chief priest could at least recognize Zem’s skill. “…Fine. I won’t confiscate your medal, but you had better not cause a scandal,” he said. “Thank you for your understanding. In that case, I best be off,” Zem said. He casually left the sanctuary, unbothered by the chief priest’s cold glare. “You weren’t fired? Really? Why don’t you just quit and work as an explorer full-time?” Zem had gone straight from the sanctuary to the Mine Seekers Explorers Guild. He already had a decent amount of explorer friends because of his work healing people in the streets, so although this was his first time at the guild, he was welcomed like a regular. This place felt oddly familiar to him, even though he had no explorer experience. “I wouldn’t miss my medal… But I feel like losing it again would be rude to the person who got it back for me,” Zem said. “Huh… Were they a friend?” the explorer woman he was talking to asked. “No, they… Huh. Now that I think about it, I don’t remember them…,” Zem said. “That’s a little weird,” the woman teased. Zem smiled and shook his head. “I don’t think ‘friend’ is quite the right word… They were more of a…companion…” “…You wouldn’t happen to be the Survivors, would you?” the woman asked. “Oh, please,” Zem said with a grin. The woman smiled back as if to say it was a silly question. “Oh, right,” Zem continued. “Speaking of companions, are you looking for anyone to join your party, Ada?” “Not a chance, bud. Lettin’ an indecent man like you into the party would spell the end for us. My party members are way too naive to handle your shenanigans,” Ada said. “Oh dear. I thought that would work,” replied Zem. He gave a strained laugh, but he was disappointed. Priests and clerics were irreplaceable positions; he thought it would be easy to find a party. “I have a few other parties I could recommend, but why not try forming one with other people from Labyrinth City?” Ada asked. “Hmm… That’s not a bad idea, but I’m worried about distancing myself from other explorers,” Zem said. “It might actually be for the best. You’re a popular man, Zem. If you team up with some locals, people will get jealous. That’ll only cause you trouble.” “Ha-ha-ha… That would be a problem.” “On that note… See the girl at that table? I recommend people like her. I think she ended up alone after startin’ some kinda trouble. She looks pretty down, so why don’t you try talking to her?” Ada pointed at a dragonian girl. She looked battle-hardened…yet also strangely lonely. Something about her compelled Zem to approach. There was a young mage who had risen to the position of branch manager at the Thunderbolt Corporation. With its main office in Labyrinth City, it was a company that produced magic items and was known for its great contributions during the Demon God War. It was currently trying to use its expertise gained during the war to increase its presence in Cavern City, and it had dispatched a gifted young employee—the last apprentice of the genius Bellocchio—to accomplish the task. “This is a demotion in disguise, isn’t it?! I don’t have a single subordinate or colleague! This makes no sense!” The future of the Wegna Branch had been placed entirely on Tiana’s shoulders. “Hey, don’t get so upset. All the greatest success stories start from humble beginnings,” said a man with a shrug. He wore a button-down shirt with suspenders and carried himself with a somewhat smug attitude. Named Hector, the man was a detective who Tiana had hired with the branch’s money to gather information in the city. Cavern City was prosperous, but it was located outside the Holy Kingdom of Dineez. Few in the Thunderbolt Corporation knew much about the city or its culture. Tiana wouldn’t have known where to start without hiring someone who was familiar with this foreign country and its subtleties. “…Hector. Was this really the best property you could find? The roof leaks when it rains too hard, and the neighborhood is so loud… How am I supposed to focus on my research here?” Tiana complained. “Cavern City welcomes visitors from Labyrinth City, but it’s not so kind toward people who wanna move here for work. You’re gonna have to deal with this place for now. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a nicer place once you make a name for yourself,” Hector said. “Easier said than done.” “You’d face the same problem in any other city. People will start to respect you once you show them that you’re tough and that you’ve got guts.” “I hope you’re right.” Exasperated, Tiana leaned back in her chair. “Plus, losing a little money won’t kill you. Or would you rather quit and join my detective business?” Hector asked. “Don’t you spend all your time investigating extramarital affairs and looking for lost dogs?” Tiana said. “It’s more fun than you’d think,” Hector said, sounding carefree. Tiana gave him an annoyed look. “It’s not like you have some great duty to the company. Losing money will only affect your salary and the ability to pay your rent. It won’t put a dent in the larger workings of the company.” “I can’t just not try. It would make me feel guilty after the way President Havok hired me when I lost my memory… And besides, I know what people expect of me. My instructor worked for the Thunderbolt Corporation, too. Its future is in my hands.” “H-huh.” “Why are you looking at me like that?” “I-it’s just… I heard you insulted the company president by saying you have no interest in joining a company that’s strapped for cash and has no future.” “What?! I would never say anything so rude!” Tiana’s temper flared, but then she realized that she may actually have said those things before she lost her memory. Maybe she’d been sent to Cavern City as punishment. “…Wait. Did I actually say that?” she asked. “Well, I didn’t hear it firsthand, but…” Hector didn’t seem like he was lying. Tiana was beginning to fear this was actually a demotion meant to spite her when a loud knock came at the door. “Who the heck…? Oh crap, it’s the landlady,” Tiana cursed. “What do you mean, ‘Oh crap’?! Do you not have this month’s rent?!” an old woman asked after letting herself in. She was the owner of the building. The landlady was a successful property owner who managed a variety of apartment buildings and corporate properties in the surrounding area. She wore rings on all ten fingers, and standing there smoking her cigar, she looked so intimidating that Tiana shrank back. “I-it’s not that I don’t have the money. Well, I don’t, but you know how money works. It’s always, uh, in motion…,” Tiana said falteringly. The landlady smirked in response. “…Fine. I’ll wait one month.” “Thank you so much!” “But if next month comes around and you’re not able to pay for both months’ rent…you know what the consequences will be, right?” The woman pointed at Tiana like the wicked witch out of a children’s story. “Wh-what’ll happen?” Tiana asked. “There are plenty of jobs for a beauty like you. I manage a bar. The kind that adults visit to socialize after a long day. If you ever need work, let me know. Ah-ha-ha!” The landlady left the office, laughing so threateningly that even crows would flee. Tiana and Hector were scared speechless and only pulled themselves together once they were sure she was gone. “Wh-what should I do?!” Tiana asked. “Nothin’ you can do but make money… Unfortunately, the explorers here don’t trust magic items from Labyrinth City. A lot of ’em are stuck in their ways when it comes to their labyrinth expeditions,” Hector said. “Yeah, that’s the problem…” The Thunderbolt Corporation was struggling in Cavern City. Other companies already dominated the market for everyday magic items, making it nearly impenetrable. All the idol agencies Tiana had approached to sell acoustics and lighting equipment already had equipment supplied from other companies, and the agencies took care of transport and installation themselves. That sort of equipment was built to last, so they wouldn’t need to replace it for a while. Having hit a dead end, Tiana had shifted to combat magic items made for adventurers, assuming she would have better luck there. She imported magic helmets for illuminating dark places without using your hands, tools that used Magic Search to notify the user of approaching monsters, magic items that shot small Fire Bullets, magic items that could defeat spirit-type monsters with no physical body, and more. These were all essential items for an adventurers’ party with no mage and were also valued by parties with mages in order to conserve mana and increase their range of options in battle… Yet frustratingly, they weren’t selling. The main reason for that was because Cavern City didn’t have adventurers, but explorers. Not all explorers fought monsters or risked venturing into unknown spaces. Many of them stuck to floors they were good at dealing with and made a living by killing behemoth vassals that were no threat to them or by collecting materials and mining. Few people were in need of new types of weapons. The explorers were also prideful and balked at the idea of using items from Labyrinth City. The adventurers of Labyrinth City had distinguished themselves by repelling the demon god. In fact, there had probably never been a Demon God War in history with so few victims. Yet a terrible threat slumbered in Cavern City as well, in the form of the Behemoth King at the bottom of the Behemoth King Pit, and the explorers had been fighting for centuries to prevent its revival. “If you can show them how good your magic items are, they’ll put aside their pride and use them,” Hector said. “You might not be able to get through to the explorers who only wade into the higher floors for enough money to get by, but the ones fighting on the front lines of the middle and deeper floors are risking their lives.” “How can I do that?” Tiana asked. “Hmm, if only there was a heavyweight adventurer from Labyrinth City who could become an explorer and show everyone how it’s done… If you made it to the middle floors of the labyrinth using your magic items, no one would be able to ignore you.” “I am pretty confident in my abilities, but please don’t just assume I can pull that off.” “It’d be a cinch for you. There’s a secret market and casino somewhere in the middle floors, too.” Tiana had also heard that rumor. People claimed that explorers and behemoth soldiers had created a buffer zone in the middle of the labyrinth where they could do business. There were apparently contraband goods and other products that were unobtainable in human society, and even an illegal casino. “I’ve heard you can buy weapons made by behemoth soldiers. There’s also a beast ring where behemoth soldiers and humans fight and spectators bet on the winners. You can even perform derivatives trading using the energy difference between humans’ mana and the behemoth soldiers’ star power. Magic items from Labyrinth City would fit right in.” “…Are you telling me to go there? That sounds like a dream, but that doesn’t mean I can do it!” Tiana protested Hector’s advice, but she ended up doing as he suggested and going to the Mine Seekers Explorers Guild to become an explorer. She realized that she couldn’t argue with his point that no one would be convinced to use her weapons and armor without seeing someone use them first. Hector stayed behind to focus on his work. He had no trouble finding jobs in Cavern City. Tiana didn’t know what connections he had here, but he seemed to be very popular for jobs ranging from extramarital affair investigations to company credit checks, and despite his easygoing air, he was always working. She wanted to complain about him not coming, given that it was his idea, but she knew how busy he was and restrained herself. “…Huh. I think I’m gonna fit right in,” Tiana mumbled. Smoking was allowed in the guild. The wooden interior was a little smoky, suggesting that there were more heavy smokers here than in the typical Labyrinth City guild. Figuring no one would complain, Tiana lit her pipe as well and puffed smoke as she studied the job and recruitment posters on the wall. “Let’s see…,” Tiana muttered to herself. “‘Seeking applicants for the Sun Knight Wegna Branch. Gold-rank adventurers and above are exempt from the first stage of testing.’ I don’t feel like working for the government… ‘The Calligraphers Guild is seeking explorers who appreciate art and song. Beginners and idol fans are welcome. Talismans and art materials will be supplied’… That sounds intense.” “Umm, are you new here?” a guild employee asked timidly. “You don’t seem like a rookie, but I haven’t seen you before.” “Yes, I’m clearly new,” Tiana answered, completely unaware of how experienced she looked as she smoked her pipe and appraised the job board. “Well, we don’t allow people to start solo, so we’ll need you to form a party…” “…Figures. Why am I getting déjà vu?” Tiana said. She looked around the guild. A few people looked back at her, but it didn’t seem like any of them were looking for a party member. Just when she thought she’d have no choice but to pay her way into a party or just focus on selling magic items, a table caught her eye. Sitting there was a dragonian woman with a dark expression on her face. The sight gave Tiana a surprising sense of nostalgia, and she found herself wandering toward the table and taking an open seat. What the heck am I doing? She’ll think I’m a creep, Tiana thought with derision, but then she noticed two more creeps at the table. Both of them had also sat down, seemingly unsure of what they were doing. A skilled light warrior was making a name for himself in Cavern City. He wielded an aura blade without a single nick in it, and his martial arts mastery gave him greater versatility in combat. People whispered that he might be the legendary adventurer known as the Survivors. He denied it, however, and the people who had met him were convinced he was telling the truth. Most accounts from the Demon God War described the hero as a silver-haired swordsman of ambiguous gender who wore dazzling white armor. One rumor claimed they were a black-haired young man with green leather armor, but this light warrior’s behavior was hardly as saintly as one would expect from the hero. “What is it, Nick?” “There’re ten monsters ahead. Five have spears, and five have bows. One of the monsters with a spear has a horn.” “That one is the leader. Be careful.” Nick was speaking to the two swords at his waist. One was the Sword of Bonds, and the other, the Sword of Might. They were both extremely strong holy swords. “Let’s go!” Nick said, charging into the darkness. The behemoth soldiers hiding there quickly turned from the hunters to the hunted. Nick’s sharp senses allowed him to locate them without seeing them, and he took out the monsters without using any kind of surprise attack. Whether or not Nick was the hero, his strength was formidable. He ventured into the Behemoth King Pit by himself, earning him the praise—and jealousy—of many explorers. “I might head up. That feels like enough hunting for today,” Nick said. “You have plenty of strength left…but I suppose it is best to be safe,” said Bond. “Hmm…,” murmured the Sword of Might. “What is it, Mighty? You wanna go a little deeper?” Nick asked. “Stop calling me that!” “‘Sword of Might’ is too much of a mouthful. Let’s give you a name like Bond. I’ll call you ‘Powpow’ if you don’t come up with anything better.” “Anything but ‘Powpow’! Something like ‘Valorie’ would be much better… Anyway, I think it would be a shame to stop when we can keep going. It’s about time you found some party members.” “You think so?” “It might be a good idea to make up for your weaknesses by adding a couple of members who can support us from the rear, plus maybe a warrior who can pack some real punch. Bond and I both have mana saved up to use Parallel, but our party formation is lopsided.” “You’re not wrong, but I don’t do well with other people.” “Oh, Nick. Are you still upset about Leon stealing your wallet?” Bond asked. “Of course I am!” Nick had lost his memories after the Demon God War and quickly decided to leave Labyrinth City for Cavern City. He was currently working as a solo explorer and had already made a decent name for himself. He had moved to Cavern City for a few reasons. The first was that he had no desire to take up a profession other than adventuring or exploring, which left him with no choice but to leave Teran. The second was that his two holy swords made people suspect he had something to do with the Survivors, or that he was the Survivors. He had no memory of having defeated the demon god, however, and the two holy swords had also lost their memories. It was clear that in Labyrinth City he would be unable to avoid people sucking up to him or growing jealous, and wanting no part of that trouble, he’d decided to flee to a place where no one knew him. The third and final reason was that the man he’d been traveling with had stolen his wallet, and Nick had received word that he’d fled deep into the Behemoth King Pit. Sorry, Nick. I’m taking all the money we’ve made killing monsters and completing jobs on the road. It’s not that much if you think of it as a reward for guiding you this far. Be well. Leon had left that note before he ran away, giving Nick no choice but to hunt him down and give him a drubbing he’d never forget. But moving here hadn’t been the answer. Nick felt like something was missing from his life. Nothing he ate or drank satisfied him, and he was only at peace when he was fighting deep in a labyrinth. Or when he was listening to music. Nick left the Behemoth King Pit, playing his favorite song in his head on repeat. Right when he reached the city, a light rain began to fall. He dashed under the eaves of a nearby building in an alley and opened an umbrella, when someone spoke to him. “Do you have your memories back, stray dog?” “Not a single one.” “You’re so nonchalant about it. Oh, can you let me walk under your umbrella? You only have to take me partway to the guild.” It was an idol who had moved here from Labyrinth City, just like Nick. Her idol agency was trying to establish bases throughout the continent, and Diamond—the agency’s most popular idol—and the other young idols were performing in Cavern City as a part of that effort. The music culture here differed greatly from Labyrinth City’s, so while they had gained some passionate fans, they were having a hard time growing their popularity. “That’s just how explorers are. What are you doing loitering out here, Aggie?” Nick asked. Nick and Agate had quickly become friends. It almost felt as if they’d already known each other, but Agate denied having ever met him, and that was good enough for Nick. She said she was a popular idol, and her songs were really good, so maybe he’d been to one of her concerts. He wouldn’t have been surprised to learn he’d once waved around her magic glow stick; that was how much he liked her music. “I’m famous in Labyrinth City, but I’m still a no-name here. I’m spending all my time on the road singing at bars and restaurants to get new fans to come to our concerts, which makes me feel like I’m just starting out again. It’s so much fun. Oh, that reminds me. I need to hit my ticket quota. How many people do you think you could sell to?” Agate asked. “Wait, when did I agree to sell tickets for you?!” responded Nick. “You haven’t even asked if I wanna buy one myself yet!” “I have something I want to talk to you about,” Agate said. “Other than your tickets?!” “A friend of mine is becoming an explorer.” Nick’s expression turned serious. “Is that a good idea? Exploring is dangerous for a novice with no fighting experience.” “Oh, she’s not a novice. She’s super strong. She could defeat a silver-rank explorer with one hand tied behind her back. No idol stans get into our dressing room on her watch.” “Well then, she certainly sounds strong enough. It takes more than that to make it as an explorer, though. You also need a healthy amount of caution.” “She plans our routes through the city so we won’t be stalked. She also schedules our carriage rides and forms the best security plans she can within our budget. There are civil officials who aren’t as cautious as her.” “Yeah, she’ll be just fine. If I had one concern, it’s that I don’t know why someone as skilled as her would need to become an explorer.” “I’m still worried about her being alone. No matter how strong you are, exploring by yourself is dangerous. That goes for you, too.” “I’m not really alone, though.” “I know you’re looking for someone. That’s why you haven’t let anyone join you.” It was as if Agate had read his mind. Nick opened his mouth to argue, but then he noticed her lonely expression and stopped. “…Honestly, I was thinking of taking you for myself,” she said. “Huh? What do you mean?” Nick asked. “I might have done so if I could’ve been sure your memories would never return. I thought if you came to see me as more than a friend, that would be the time to leave my life as an idol behind. But that’s not going to happen, is it?” Agate spun away from Nick and waved good-bye. “…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nick said. “And gimme back my umbrella.” “Your special someone is waiting at the guild,” Agate said as she began to walk away. Nick was unsure why, but he didn’t call after her. He felt like it was a very important decision. A hunch told him that if he did call out to her, there was someone else he would never find. So, thinking that, he just watched Agate and his stolen umbrella grow smaller and smaller until they passed out of sight. He wanted to apologize, but the words caught in his throat. When she vanished into the rain, he muttered, “Thank you.” “Oh, welcome back, Nick.” “You’re still going solo? You need to join a party, man.” “You make some good money? Buy me a drink!” “Tch, you act big for a labyrinth rat.” Nick was slowly getting to know the people at the guild. Some explorers truly worried about him, others treated him as a simple acquaintance, and some showed him open jealousy. He felt like he both fit in and didn’t, which actually suited him just fine. “Yo, Nick. A newbie from Labyrinth City has killed the mood in here. Can you do somethin’ about it?” an explorer said. “I’ll bet someone tried to scam them and failed miserably,” Nick guessed. “Whoa, that’s spot on,” the explorer said, whistling. Nick told them to stop watching them and do something to help, but the explorer just shrugged. “Maybe you should help her, as a fellow person from Labyrinth City,” Bond suggested. “Who knows, you might become friends.” “Eh, I’ll check them out first… Why have you guys been nagging me so much lately to make friends anyway?” Nick asked. “Have we?” Bond said. Nick walked through the guild and quickly found the newbie everyone was talking about. She wore one of the meanest scowls he’d ever seen and was young but battle-hardened. Her murderous aura said, “Touch me and I’ll kill you”; she had clearly been through more than a few life-or-death experiences. He could see why the explorers were so scared of her. Nick watched as she lashed out at a guild employee and threatened those around her. She said the explorers who’d tried to trick her were pathetically weak, that she’d knocked them out with a flick of her finger, and that they had been a million times weaker than Labyrinth City adventurers. The girl was essentially threatening everyone in the guild to a fight, and the effect was obvious. Her taunts brought out the true feelings of those around her, identifying them as friend or foe. Everything she said seemed to be half serious and half an act. Nick’s interest was piqued as he watched her. He heard her mumble to herself, and the despair in her voice was clear. She voiced a complaint that he thought wasn’t a threat but instead came from a place of genuine sadness. “I knew I shouldn’t trust anyone ever again.” Those words spurred Nick to action. “Nick?” “What are you doing, Nick?” He ignored the two holy swords and plopped himself down at the newbie’s table. “You’re damn right. Trusting people is for chumps,” he said. “Huh? Who are…you…?” the dragonian girl asked, looking up suspiciously. She froze when she saw him. “That said, do you really think it’s a good idea to adventure alone without a single person to watch your back?” Nick asked. The girl looked at Nick with a stunned expression. It was as if she had seen a ghost. Nick felt the same way. He didn’t fully understand what he was saying, but the words welled up from his heart like water from a fountain. “I found working alone fun, personally,” he said. “Lotta truly disgusting bastards out there, and I want nothing to do with them. I think it was easier for me to ignore or hit anyone who approached me. But I still thought it would be a good idea to get over my suspicious nature and form another party, and I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t have been able to fight on otherwise. That would’ve been the end of my adventure.” “I… I know you…,” the girl said. “I know you, too.” “I made a promise with you. I think you’re the person I’ve been missing. I’ve been searching for you all this time. I thought I would never see you again.” “That was never gonna happen. I was looking for you, too.” Two other people sat at the table. One of them was a young female mage who looked just as skilled as the dragonian—yet in a totally different way. The other was a young male priest who looked somewhat flippant but also tenacious. “Geez, you stole my line. I was looking for you all, as well,” the mage said. “I could say the same thing. I walked so much, my legs have turned to jelly,” added the priest. Nick and the dragonian looked up in surprise at the two new arrivals. They all ended up talking and laughing at the same table as if it was the most natural thing in the world. And Nick no longer had the sense that something was missing from his life. Tiana, Zem, and Karan were all here. They had found each other. He now knew what he had been doing, and what he had been missing, all this time. “Bond, Valorie. You knew all along, didn’t you? You lied about losing your memory,” Nick said. “I have no idea what you are talking about. The blame lies with you four fools for forgetting such important experiences,” Bond said. “That’s right. You should be thanking us. I admit we kept things from you to observe the aftereffects of Union. We didn’t influence or guide you in any way. Well, that’s not true, but we only gave you a little push here and there,” the Sword of Might—Valorie—said. “So you did know…,” Nick said. “W-we only did what we thought was best. We wanted to prevent any trouble that regaining your memories might have caused, and we wanted to make sure you could support yourselves in case they didn’t,” Valorie said. “You two worry way too much,” Nick said with a shrug. “But I can say one thing for sure. Your reunion here is entirely of your own doing,” Valorie added. She and Bond both materialized into their human forms with a pop. It dawned on Nick that they probably weren’t the only two watching over them. He immediately thought of Agate, which made his heart ache. Even so, he didn’t regret getting his memories back. “I still don’t like it,” Nick said. “Details, details. Let us put that behind us,” Bond said, now in his usual silver-haired form. Valorie had taken a form that resembled a slightly younger Olivia. “So that’s what you look like. You’re so cute,” Tiana said. “You seem quite pleasant without Olivia’s brazen personality,” Zem said. “I’m not sure I like you insulting who is essentially my parent, but I agree completely,” Valorie said, blushing in response to their praise. “…You liar,” Karan said, glaring at Nick. “Sorry,” he replied. “You said you’d never leave me.” “You said the same thing.” “Sure, but…!” “We took a detour, but we’re back together now. Not even amnesia or distance can keep us apart. Let’s start again.” Nick smiled kindly, and Karan looked away, embarrassed. “…You’d better not forget me again,” she said. “Otherwise I’ll make you regret it.” “I’d hope so. I give you permission to beat me to a pulp if I do,” Nick said. “I want you to get really mad at me if I forget you again.” “I’ll drag you by the collar to Daffodil and your dad so they can yell at you.” “Don’t bring my family into this. That’s not fair. Still…” Karan blushed, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I take back my claim that I’ll never trust anyone again… I trust you all.” Nick and the others smiled happily at those words. “What are you two lovebirds gonna do? Get married and retire?” Tiana asked. “I’d support you, but do you want to keep this going for a little longer first? I kinda need money.” “Keep what going?” Nick asked. Tiana looked at him like he was an idiot, making Zem snicker. “What else? The Survivors, obviously.” “Oh, I thought that went without saying… Using that name’s only gonna cause us problems, though. Should we change it?” Nick asked. It was no exaggeration to say the Survivors were being targeted. They could seek the protection of one country or another and receive a massive reward, but that would bring its own dangers. But none of them feared that. Nick had just felt like getting a rise out of the others. “What’s the big deal? The world might call us heroes or whatever, but that name is ours. Sneaking around isn’t my style,” Karan said, puffing out her chest proudly. Nick nodded firmly. “Sounds good to me. Here’s to the reunion of the Survivors!” They cheered, drawing curious looks from the explorers. Some lost interest once they saw they were celebrating the formation of a new party, some teasingly applauded them, while others gave them words of congratulations. The Survivors thumped their six beer mugs together. Never had they heard such a happy sound.
Chapter 107
31 min read