Chapter 162

01 What is the source of fear? For the Gold Lion General Leonhardt, leader of an army that faced powerful monsters with sword, magic, and his own flesh, fear was nothing but an emotion to conquer. Leonhardt’s skill, Lion’s Roar, bolstered the fighting strength of the troops he commanded. If the commander of valorous and mighty soldiers was trembling in fear, it would be impossible for him to make use of that power. For this reason, Leonhardt asked himself what he was afraid of in order to always be strong and calm. For example, the Fell Forest. A dark place even in the daytime where fiendish monsters lived beyond the trees. How many monsters lived there? How many powerful enemies lurked there? It was the kind of place where, even if lovely flowers bloomed at your feet, they might hold poison that would send you into eternal sleep if you took but the smallest taste of their nectar. Another example: the Aqueduct flowing under the Labyrinth City. The vast water vein, into which the City’s drainage flowed, conjured images of fearsome monsters. Even the ground underfoot there felt like it was on the verge of collapse. Facing a powerful opponent whose capabilities can’t be guessed at—the unknown—can certainly elicit fear. This was the very reason the Labyrinth Suppression Forces had a scout unit with the task of investigating the Labyrinth. They explored new strata, ensured the safety of routes, and surveyed the types, numbers, and weaknesses of the monsters inhabiting them. Even if there were monsters that exceeded the strength of the incursion, it was possible to defeat the creatures if there was enough information to formulate an appropriate strategy. That was what the Gold Lion General Leonhardt believed. Beyond the effects of his own skill—Lion’s Roar—it was human wisdom that would overcome difficulties, quell fear, and clear a path to the future. He couldn’t have known that a being who surpassed his understanding, who would cause a paradigm shift, had just awakened from the deep, barren earth of the Fell Forest. He couldn’t have known that the powerful A-Rank earth dragons had attacked the being extolled as a “Calamity,” nor that this entity had recently finished turning them into charred pieces of meat as a reprisal. Leonhardt didn’t yet know the Labyrinth City had caught the fearsome mage’s eye, or the distance between that mage and the City was closing rapidly. 02 I am the Calamity. Now, I stand atop scorched earth. I remember. I overslept just a little. Well, I don’t really know if it was just a little. Good morning, everybody! It’s a fine day for some outdoor grilling. Mm, nothing’s wrong with my magical power. In fact, it’s perfect. So perfect, I overcooked three dragons with my Good Morning Fire, and now I dunno what to do for breakfast. Well, I guess it’s not breakfast time. The sun’s quite high in the sky. Anyhoo, I’m starving. That girl’s probably awake by now, too, so I’ll wish her a “bad morning” and we can eat together. I bet she’ll be delighted to cook for me if I bring some tasty meat. Oh, there’s an earth dragon in the perfect spot. I may have overcooked those three from earlier, but this’s a new one. Earth dragons sure have excellent technique for their size. They shoot out those stone lances real quick; makes them incredibly annoying. They’re like hedgehogs. Anyhoo, I’ll toss some flame blast magic into its mouth and blow its head off. Ah, this time it worked much better. The meat from the neck down is still fresh, so I’ve got some cooking ingredients. It’s bad not to drain the blood from your prey after killing it, but that’s too much trouble. I’ll just carry it like this. Mm. I thought I was gonna carry it, but turns out it’s huge and heavy. I can’t. I’ll just cut off the back, the most delicious part, with a wind blade, wrap that in some leaves, and carry it. I’ll incinerate the rest. Too bad I have to waste it. Monsters can evolve by eating the flesh of something powerful like an earth dragon, so it’s good manners to burn up the corpse and return its magical power to the ley line. I’ll take only what I can eat and release the rest. I was gonna sing my own praises for my exemplary deed, but I guess I shouldn’t have done that. Seems like the smell of delicious cooked meat lured in a swarm of small fries from the Fell Forest. I didn’t send any invitations to a barbecue party. What the heck? Has the monster population exploded recently? Are people slacking off on culling them? “Grant me nourishment. Consume and burn the many foes that defy me. Flame Pillar Chaos.” Fire! Every last one of the whelps facing me caught fire, and the flame pillar swept them skyward. Ahh, they’re really burning. These monsters are great to eat. They have so much fat, they burned reeeal well. I wonder if someone’ll come to get me after that big pillar of fire. I hate walking. 03 The wall surrounding the Labyrinth City was protected by the City Defense Squad. In this City, where subjugating the Labyrinth took top priority, the strongest people were assigned to the Labyrinth Suppression Forces. As a result, the overall combat strength of the City Defense Squad was barely enough to defeat swarms led by C-Rank orc kings. To account for this, soldiers who excelled in sensing magical power would always be stationed among those keeping watch, and they were to report to the Labyrinth Suppression Forces as soon as they sensed the approach of powerful monsters. Nevertheless, day and night they guarded the wall separating the Fell Forest from the Labyrinth City. They bore witness to the Labyrinth Suppression Forces as they took down fearsome monsters from the Fell Forest on countless occasions. Each member was a gutsy soldier in their own right, and no matter what kind of monsters appeared, they had been sufficiently trained to deal with them in a calm and orderly manner. One of those normally staunch guards of the City Defense Squad rushed into their unit’s station in a great panic and pale-faced. “R-reporting in! We have confirmed a tremendously powerful magical reaction approximately six miles away in the southwest part of the Fell Forest!” Kyte, the captain of the City Defense Squad, listened to the report, and although the guard’s unusual behavior had startled him, he maintained an outward calm and asked for more information on the situation. “The southwest area of the forest…… Earth dragons?” “No, sir, it was a far more powerful response! That kind of sensation of magical power was most likely from a human……” A person would have to train vigorously to effectively imitate the voice of a beast. Magical power was the same way, as the type of source could be discerned to some extent. But a human with more powerful magic than an earth dragon’s wasn’t something you encountered every day. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Captain Kyte hurriedly reported to his boss, the colonel. “Who could it be? A departing adventurer?!” “That isn’t possible. No adventurers above B Rank have departed today, sir!” Nothing but thick trees filled the southwest part of the Fell Forest, and there shouldn’t have been any villages or the like in that region. So if no adventurers had left the Labyrinth City, who had used such powerful magic, and for what purpose? As Captain Kyte was making his report regarding the adventurers who departed from the City, another messenger burst into the room. This one was even paler than the last. “Reporting in! We have confirmed another powerful magical reaction approximately five miles away in the southwest part of the Fell Forest!” “What?! So it’s getting closer… Continue to observe. I will report to the Labyrinth Suppression Forces. Captain Kyte, strengthen the southwestern gate’s defenses.” “Sir!” With a firm salute, Captain Kyte headed for the southwestern gate with his subordinate in tow. This was no doubt the most serious incident they’d seen since the giant slime’s rampage. No, even more serious than that. The City Defense Squad wasn’t especially powerful. However, the strength of their desire to protect the Labyrinth City was no less than that of the Labyrinth Suppression Forces. Due to the low risk of the Squad’s duties, many people from good families and with lower combat strength comprised its ranks. However, if what defined the group was the idea that “the City Defense Squad consists of weak people,” both the will and morale of its members would falter. In time, the residents of the City would look down on them, hindering their duties. Therefore, the City Defense Squad was defined as “a force that demands character and intelligence.” In particular, the current colonel, Telluther’s successor, had set forth a policy for the Squad to be “the shield of the people,” and he fully enforced courteous and exemplary conduct toward commoners and adventurers alike. As a result, the City Defense Squad garnered a surprising amount of popularity. Plus, the City Defense Squad had more points of contact with the City’s residents compared to the Labyrinth Suppression Forces, who only appeared in public for the large-scale expedition parades or when something major occurred. Otherwise, they continued their expeditions into the Labyrinth in secret. Although many people couldn’t read or write very well, the well-bred soldiers of City Defense treated them with respect. It was almost a task for them not to become well liked. In particular, they had caught the eye of a group of young women. The salary of a soldier in their ranks was low compared to one in the Labyrinth Suppression Forces, but it was a stable job that carried few risks. Unlike soldiers in the Forces, who were immersed in vows and secrets, and who were awkward when it came to conversation, the gentlemanly Squad soldiers had a wealth of topics they could talk about. They were a real bargain. Being well-liked by pretty young girls made things all the easier. Whether or not they were truly gentlemen or intelligent, all of them were simple at the core. If the key to popularity was gentlemanly conduct, they would strive to act in such a manner. As such, the soldiers of the City Defense Squad immediately acted as the citizens’ shield in this crisis and basked in the lovely praises of those cute girls. Under the direction of Captain Kyte, they immediately strengthened defenses at the southwestern gate, sent the gathering of young ladies assembled nearby to their homes, and observed the movements of the approaching mystery person without missing a beat. On the opposite side of things, there was Adviser Telluther. “The Labyrinth Suppression Forces? That’s where His Excellency General Leonhardt is, right? I-I’ll go, too! Take me with you!” “……Adviser Telluther, you do understand we’re in a state of emergency?” “Of course, of course! If memory serves, at this time of day His Excellency General Leonhardt should be with His Excellency Lieutenant General Weishardt in a regular liaison council meeting at the base of the Labyrinth Suppression Forces!” Telluther was one who latched on to the chance to meet General Leonhardt, the object of his admiration. His starry-eyed fondness for exceptional people was truly impressive, still going strong even at a time like this. Perhaps someone should have ordered him not to come in direct contact with Leonhardt? It took a moment for the colonel of the City Defense Squad to regain his composure after Telluther’s inability to read the mood. Having done so, he made for the Labyrinth Suppression Forces’ base along with Telluther, who insisted, “There’s no time to waste.” 04 I am the Calamity. I have emerged from the river. I recognize this river. It’s a branch of the Kingdom of Endalsia’s underground Aqueduct and flows into the rivers on the south side. I’ll get there soon; magic has made progress quite smooth. Well, I say I used magic, but stride length is important. I love having long legs! There should’ve been a bridge across this river, but I sure couldn’t find it. Seems like people haven’t been in this area for a long time. How careless. The fruit you can get around here makes some of the best booze you’ll ever have, but it doesn’t look like anyone has been to harvest it. I can’t believe they gave it up! The lack of a bridge pissed me off, so I cut down several big trees nearby to make one myself. I noticed, after felling them, that the strength of the monsters around here differs depending on the side of the river. Powerful monsters might cross my bridge and gain access to the Kingdom of Endalsia, but oh well. Surely the fruit and the alcohol you can get from it are more important. Pleasant drink and tasty snacks—the pickings she made were fantastic. Oh, come to think of it, I just realized something. If powerful monsters stray onto the kingdom’s side of the river, she’ll be super angry. She always lectured me not to cause trouble for others ever since she was a little squirt. Way back when, I used daidara snail mucus to make bumps appear all over my face and pretended to be sick as a little joke, but she got real mad at me afterward. What would I do if she prepared something with those pseudo-snails as the only ingredient again? I mean, it wasn’t bad, but if I ate daidara snail for every meal day after day, I’d be escar-gone. She forgave me for that gag back then, but I bet she won’t next time. Monsters gathered around me again while I pondered such things. They look much weaker than the ones around the scorched earth, but there sure are a lot of B-Rankers, like frenzied bears. These guys have parts that make good materials, like their livers, but beating them one by one takes a lot of time, and I’ve already got the earth dragon meat as a present. Mm. I’ll cook them all in one go. “Flame Pillar Chaos.” Fire! My smoke signals are clearly visible, and I hit the bull’s-eye on all of those bad boys. I pinpointed the monsters when I fired the pillars; otherwise, I might’ve burned down the whole forest, and then I’d have to wait on the meat. I think I deserve a pat on the back for my control. Feels good to have my intuition back, but I’m still pretty hungry. The fire pillars should be visible from the kingdom now, though. I wonder when they’ll come to welcome me. 05 “What of the unidentified person randomly firing off high-level magic as they approach the Labyrinth City?” As Telluther and the colonel of the City Defense Squad were making their report to Leonhardt and the others, a messenger under Captain Kyte arrived to provide a progress report. “Reporting in! We have confirmed another major magical reaction about three miles to the southwest! We’ve also confirmed from the watchtower at the top of the wall that a large number of fire pillars are visible near the rivers!” “About how many?” “Many, sir. At least a few dozen.” Normally, when attacking multiple enemies with magic, you could specify the spell’s targeting coordinates. Some spells targeted in a line, like Wall, while others targeted an area, like Storm. If you didn’t, the magic likely wouldn’t connect. It was easy to understand if you thought of it like throwing stones at a moving target and then considering how many of the stones would actually hit. However, the wider the range, the weaker the magic’s attack power. One could say that striking enemies with perfectly aimed magic was an exemplary method of attack, but… “Dozens of fire pillars at once?!” Weishardt was astonished. Even if there were an adventurer with such incredible skill and accuracy, how high would their rank have to be? Not to mention they were using fire pillars. Even casting a Fireball was much more difficult than launching a simple projectile because it was an embodiment of fire. Fixing coordinates ought to be necessary to activate far stronger fire magic. And there had been dozens of those pillars all at once. If this was the work of just one person, they’d have to exceed A Rank. However, there had been no word of the likes of an S-Ranker who could control fire in the surrounding countries, let alone the Empire itself. “Who could it be……? Are they even human……?” Only one thing was certain: A creature in possession of truly fearsome power was heading for the Labyrinth City. “We haven’t yet determined if they’re an enemy. Call the insect summoner. We’ll try to use his insects to scout, and discover the identity of this person undetected. Gather the Labyrinth Suppression Forces at the southwestern gate, just in case. Have them hide and mask their presences. The City Defense Squad’s station is the closest place to the southwestern gate. We’ll go as well.” The Labyrinth Suppression Forces began to move immediately at Leonhardt’s orders. Telluther caught a messenger who was leaving ahead of the others to send word to the Squad of the general’s visit. “Hey, you can tidy up my room, right? Please check my toilet and water basin, too! And decorate it with flowers to make it smell nice! And then, after that……! There’s some first-class tea in my room I’ve been saving for a special occasion, so get that ready, please!” “……Understood.” Is he a girl inviting her boyfriend to her room for the first time? the messenger wondered, but he kept a straight face and hurried back to the City Defense Squad’s station. 06 I am the Calamity. I can see the ramparts. I’ve walked so far, yet I haven’t even come across a single adventurer, let alone received any kind of welcome. What’s the deal? No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than I realized I was looking at the protective wall. The Stampede destroyed the Kingdom of Endalsia, didn’t it? Their lovely white wall’s been repaired with stones from around the area. The barricade’s been overrun by daigis ivy, too. Well, it feels a little more lived in this way than back when they were so picky just about the white wall’s look. As I pondered, I was approached by some little buzzing gnats. Magic insects. Just when I thought I was finally receiving a proper welcome: magic insects. They stopped right in front of my eyes and nose. Are they mocking me? This is just rude, you know? I thought I’d try burning them up a little, but I needed to be an adult about this. Calm down, calm down. If they think I’m an enemy and won’t let me inside the wall, I’d be in a real bind. Because she’s probably in there. I could blow away this wall no problem, but then I’d have to deal with the aftermath. And if I don’t give her this meat soon, I’ll miss dinner. That girl’s so clueless that, even with her skills, someone might be exploiting her. She could be living in poverty, barely anything to eat. Dang, I’m hungry. So these’re probably magic insects, but I would’ve liked a friendlier greeting. I’ll turn on my chummy mode, smile, and address the likes of these bugs. “It’s an honor to be welcomed. Now, lead the way.” Yet the magic insects just buzzed about and then flew off high into the sky. Grr, so rude! As I surveyed my surroundings and wondered if I should turn the whole area into a sea of fire and kill the bugs, a pack of forest wolves gathered around. Woof, woof. Ahh, so that’s why you ran? More importantly, why are these doggies appearing so close to the City? They should be using monster-warding potions out here. She’s not slacking off in her work, is she? I’ll have to scold her. Anyhoo, this barking’s annoying me. Time to roast the doggies. “Flame Pillar Chaos.” Fire! Now, then. It’s just a little farther to the City. 07 “Ack!!!” “What is it?” Weishardt asked the insect summoner, who had broken into a cold sweat and stiffened with a start. “I was spotted……” “What?!” The magic insects sent out by insect summoners were used to investigate the Labyrinth, a place crawling with monsters. At first glance they looked like normal insects, they were small, and they only made a faint sound, so they excelled at spying by blending into the scenery. Without them, the Forces wouldn’t have been able to investigate the Labyrinth, which contained over fifty strata. Spotting a magic insect at first glance was no small feat… “It wasn’t merely your imagination?” “With all due respect, sir… She turned toward my insect and asked it to lead the way, so I don’t think I’m mistaken.” “I see. And what kind of person was she?” Weishardt asked, still doubtful of what he was hearing. The summoner replied, “I think it would be faster to see for yourself, sir.” I am the Calamity. I am in front of the gate. She had trudged all this way and finally made it to the City, only to find the gate was shut tight. Moreover, a group that appeared to be soldiers were clustered inside. Do they think they’re hiding? That I can’t see them? Come on, it’s not like fire pillars are that uncommon, so what’s all this fuss about? Well, I miiight have made a lot of them, I guess. Thinking it over while staring at the closed gate, a small door next to the larger entrance into the City opened, and a lone soldier stepped toward her. “My name is Kyte. I’m the captain of the City Defense Squad. I can gather from your appearance that you’re a famous adventurer, but I’d like to hear your name and the reason for your visit.” As one might’ve expected, Captain Kyte drew the short straw. He didn’t know whether she was friend or foe, but according to Weishardt, even if she was human, she commanded a dangerous amount of power. He’d understood what the insect summoner had said, but this was first contact with a stranger who had produced pillars of fire in the Fell Forest as she rapidly approached the City. This was an encounter with the unknown. If she wasn’t an enemy, any rudeness would adversely affect subsequent interactions, so someone who held a position suited to the occasion was required to respond to her. However, if she was an enemy, it would be a touch-and-go situation that promised sudden death. It was quite the difficult mission, but Captain Kyte was believed capable of showing a calm response under the conditions because of the bravery he’d shown back when confronting the enormous slime. There was no doubt he was a courageous man. But even so, the man was relieved when he saw exactly who the curious visitor to the southwestern gate of the Labyrinth City was. If he were a soldier of the Labyrinth Suppression Forces who had fought the fake mermaids in the fifty-fourth stratum of the Labyrinth, he wouldn’t have been so likely to judge someone on appearances alone, but Kyte belonged to the City Defense Squad. One could say he was still a greenhorn, in some respects. “I’m Freyja. I came to visit my pupil. Could you let me in?” The owner of this voice was probably around twenty-five years old, judging from her sprightly and voluptuous body. Her golden eyes were full of strong will, and her red lips were turned up in a grin. The long hair trailing behind her caught the light and shone golden, or orange. No, it was as if red, orange, and yellow blended together like a flickering flame. This person calling herself Freyja was a beautiful woman. “Who is your pupil?” “Ugh, I hate bureaucracy. You don’t want to let me in, do you?” The golden eyes glinted like a carnivorous animal’s as she glared at him, and for an instant the beautiful woman before him resembled an enormous fire beast. Cold sweat ran down Kyte’s back. “F-far from it. However, I assume from your appearance that you’re quite a high-ranking adventurer. Our city is glad to host such adventurers. I’m simply asking questions so we may welcome you to the fullest extent possible and not be discourteous…” Kyte’s incoherent excuse wasn’t a lie. The Labyrinth City tended to treat high-ranking adventurers more cordially. Even penal laborers could be set free should they ever reach A Rank. Nothing would have been more welcome than this woman named Freyja joining the fight down in the Labyrinth. The dangerous glint vanished from Freyja’s eyes as she realized he was telling the truth, and she gave him an answer. “I don’t intend to bring harm to this city. My pupil’s name is Mariela.” “Wha—? The alchemist?!” Through the spells Wind’s Whispers and Telepathy, the conversation between Captain Kyte and Freyja was being immediately transmitted to Leonhardt and Weishardt. The mage named Freyja who’d come to the City, loosing fearsome fire pillars all the while, appeared civil enough to hold a conversation. And although seemingly short-tempered, she apparently was not inclined toward hostilities. That, at least, was a good thing, but… “It is possible she means somebody else with the same name.” “……Do you really believe that, Weis?” The privacy of Leonhardt and Weishardt’s conversation was protected by soundproofing magic. In a corner of the room, the adventurer-loving Telluther said to himself, “Freyja? That’s the first time I’ve heard that name. Maybe she’s an adventurer from a far-off foreign country.” If Telluther didn’t know her, then there was no mistaking it. No A-Rank or higher adventurers like Freyja existed in the countries surrounding the Empire. At least, not until now. The high-ranking mage who’d suddenly appeared at their doorstep had addressed the Alchemist Pact-Bearer, who shouldn’t exist in the Labyrinth City, as her pupil. It would be strange to believe those two weren’t acquainted. If they were truly master and pupil, there would be no problem. However, Leonhardt and Weishardt found it hard to believe such a high-ranking mage of unknown character was an alchemist’s master. “Where is Lady Mariela?” “Today she is in Sunlight’s Canopy.” “Tell her to close the shop and not to set foot outside. Lead Lady Freyja to the best lodgings and show her the utmost hospitality. Say we’re looking for her pupil and try to get more information out of her.” “Sir!” Leonhardt’s orders reached Kyte immediately, and the southwestern gate of the Labyrinth City was opened to Freyja. “Lady Freyja. The Labyrinth City is immense. We will prepare the best lodgings for you in the City, so please make yourself at home there. And we will provide you with the finest meal. We shall find your pupil, Lady Mariela, and bring her to you.” Captain Kyte bowed his head very deeply. “Thanks, but no thanks. I want to eat with Mariela today. If you don’t know where she is, I can find her.” Freyja passed through the gate, turned down Kyte’s offer, and chanted a spell unfamiliar to him. “I search for thee, kin of my soul. Answer my call. Soul Signal.” The man had never heard of that spell before. Captain Kyte was a shield knight, and his level wasn’t particularly high. It wasn’t right to say he was well acquainted with magic, but as captain he’d received basic training on its systems. Despite his instruction, this was the first time he’d ever heard of this spell. Moreover, he’d never heard of any magic that could find the whereabouts of a specific person. “Found you. So you did wake up.” Freyja let out a laugh, and although Captain Kyte tried to detain her, she smoothly slipped away from him and began walking toward her goal without hesitation. She surveyed how the landscape of the City had changed over time, and she gave hardly a single thought to the soldiers lurking in the alleys. The fire-haired woman’s actions sent Leonhardt and Weishardt into a panic. They’d tried to be courteous to her so she wouldn’t take offense, and to ascertain if she was someone who would harm the alchemist, but they hadn’t been able to buy enough time. “I will go, Brother. I have a greater affinity with mages,” Weishardt said. He stood up and hurriedly made for Sunlight’s Canopy along with several mages under his command. For some reason, Telluther followed. It was reckless of him to want to get a peek at the newly appeared high-ranking adventurer, but the emergency of the situation had all but shrouded his presence. Was the man completely unaware of what the Labyrinth Suppression Forces were dealing with? Freyja hummed some unknown tune to herself as she appeared to glide along the main road of the Labyrinth City. Although she was taking her time and enjoying the sights, Captain Kyte was just barely able to keep pace behind her at a jog. And following farther behind the two in a great hurry was Weishardt. It was a mistake to travel to the City Defense Squad’s station. If we were at the base of the Labyrinth Suppression Forces, we probably could have cut through underground and arrived there first. Praying that the messenger delivering the warning had made it in time and the door to Sunlight’s Canopy was closed, Weishardt’s group ran through narrow alleys on their way to the shop. 08 I am the Calamity. I am in front of the door. Far removed from the panic of Weishardt and the others, Mariela and Sieg fed off each other’s sadness from the loss of Lynx, and the gloom around them dampened the mood so heavily that mushrooms could have popped up around them. No, they hadn’t changed their jobs to farmer, and no actual mushrooms had grown so far. Mariela had received a message from the Labyrinth Suppression Forces to close the shop and firmly shut the door. She’d approached the door to lock it, and she turned her head to look at Sieg with tears in her eyes. “Sieg… Thanks to Merle, we were able to close up without any trouble, but why would they suddenly tell us to close and to not go outside? Something’s probably happened… I wonder if it’s something bad again…” “Don’t worry, Mariela. I’ll protect you no matter what.” Drip, drop, drip, drop. Although the rainy season had ended, it was still quite damp. It was only a matter of time before mushrooms started to sprout. No doubt some kind of fungus was taking root already. Some damp, moist kind. Mariela and Sieg needed to be disinfected, and only way to do so was with blazing flames. Incidentally, Mariela had been so preoccupied with the weepy conversation that she had completely forgotten to lock the door. Bang! The unlocked door of Sunlight’s Canopy flew open. Mariela was standing with her back to the door. And behind her was… “Marieeelaaa!” “H-huwhaaaaaaaaaaaa??!” Mariela panicked at the sudden hug from behind, and Sieg floundered, unable to assess the situation. “Marielaaa, it’s been so, so long. How many years has it been? Have you gotten bigger?” “Wha—? W-wait. Could it really be?” “H-hey, who the hell are you, lady?!” The mystery woman was embracing Mariela and vigorously rubbing her own cheek against the startled alchemist’s. In a panic, Sieg tore the woman away from Mariela. Freed at last, Mariela turned around, and both her eyes and her mouth widened in surprise and disbelief. “M…Master???!!! How?!” “Ah-ha-ha, I overslept a bit. Bet you did, too, right? You always were suuuch a scatterbrain!” Her master belted out a hearty laugh, while Mariela’s mouth remained agape. Sh-she really is her master……? So that means she’s the second……?! But that attack power… Weishardt, watching the whole thing from the back of the building, was relieved at realizing there was no danger to the alchemist. However, the situation still proved to be quite puzzling to him.