Third Report On Fixing the New Recruit’s Weakness It’s been approximately two weeks since the party has arrived in Golem Valley. The situation is progressing extremely well. Pruflas Wrath, God of War—one of the sources of Toudou’s divine protection—is known to bestow Their divine protection only to someone who possesses the attributes of a refined warrior. It didn’t take Toudou any time at all to adapt to the newfound physical strength he’s acquired through training. From a protruding cliff, I observe Toudou on the training grounds leagues below. His eyes are closed and he’s breathing deeply, cyclically. This alone shows how profoundly he’s changed since beginning Wurtz’s training. Wurtz waits for an ample period before entering the training grounds. He has a single doll strapped to his back. It’s slim and looks a lot like a human being. Its armored shell is riddled with scrapes but has been polished to a shiny dark gray. This kind of doll resembles a metal golem and was created by a mage for training purposes. Metal golems are the strongest enemies in the entire area. They’re smaller than rock golems but more powerful and extremely agile. Their armored bodies are made from a special metal that is very hard and resistant to magic. As an added bonus, they can even attack with weapons. This special metal golem created for training use is weaker than its wild counterparts, but if one can face off against it easily, other golems will be a breeze. Toudou’s eyes open wide. Aria, Limis, and Glacia are watching him from a short distance. Wurtz puts the metal golem on the ground and looks at Toudou. “Today, you’ll be facing this thing here.” “Yes, sir.” “Even previous Holy Warriors struggled to hold their own against it. The recommended level for defeating one of these is…about fifty. It doesn’t have any special abilities—it’s just lightning quick, solid, and powerful. Also highly resistant to magic.” “Understood.” Toudou’s expression doesn’t change. He’s only staring incessantly at the golem, not looking nervous at all. “Okay—do you want to fight solo again today?” “…Yes. I’ll try.” Toudou’s answer hasn’t changed since the first time Wurtz asked. A mercenary obsessed with winning would have opted to fight as a whole party. This is further proof that Toudou is less of a mercenary and more of a knight who values a fair match. Another one of his qualities. “Very well.” The metal golem made for training grinds and creaks as it stands upright. Its head turns slowly toward Toudou. After checking that everything is in order, Wurtz retreats to stand beside Aria and the others. To tell the truth, Wurtz has a tendency to make reckless statements. Toudou likely understands this by now, but when Wurtz says the appropriate level is 50, he means level 50 battling as a party. And the appropriate level for a real metal golem is much higher than that. Per our faith, we priests cannot tell lies, but in truth, anything outside of a bald-faced lie is fair game. Toudou brandishes his training sword and shield and slowly circles the golem, encroaching on it. The metal golem launches toward him without warning. “You should come back here when your level is higher. This should be enough training for you at your current level.” “Pant, pant… Yes, sir. Thank you…very much.” Toudou and Aria look up from where they’re standing, bent over with their hands on their knees, breathing raggedly. The metal golem doesn’t have a single scratch. It’s fairly obvious how things turned out. Even as a whole party, they’re not at the appropriate level. Miracles don’t occur so readily. Yet, keeping that in mind, their results were actually quite impressive. Toudou couldn’t land any fatal blows, but he definitely lasted a long time against the metal golem. Aria managed to endure the golem’s fierce attacks while at the same time avoiding taking any serious damage. Both party members have grown to the point where they can hold their own against a metal golem, albeit for a relatively short period of time. If I’d had the same training at their level, I would likely be at my wit’s end. “You should be ready to take on wild golems. The only reason that you, Sir Holy Warrior, couldn’t defeat this opponent was simply because you still lack the ability. It’s nothing to beat yourself up over.” “Yes, I…know.” Toudou has to wring the words out of his mouth, and he bites his lip in frustration. He couldn’t bring down the metal golem, but the experience he’s gained over the past few days is invaluable. Wurtz continues to give advice on their tactics, and I turn on my heel to leave. I can say with confidence that Toudou is getting along exceptionally well. I have my own business I must attend to. I crumple up a letter I just received, then sigh deeply in an effort to quell the indignation and anxiety wracking my mind. The letter contains the results of Amelia’s survey on any strange occurrences within the region. There are five towns within Golem Valley, but they’re all connected by a series of networks: mercenaries, merchants, and the Church. As they all have different points of view, the information that can be garnered from each is also different. In my spare time, I’d worked to gather what information I could from all three networks. My feelings must be fairly obvious, as Amelia opens her mouth to speak. “Did something—?” “Did something happen, Ares?” We’ve ranked up—hitting a gold mine of veritable net worth—but Stey doesn’t seem to realize it at all, as she approaches me hesitantly. “No… It’s…nothing.” “…Huh?” “There’s absolutely nothing… This is unbelievable.” I go over each and every town rumor in my head, every slightly odd occurrence, but I can’t come up with anything. The report doesn’t mention anything unusual, just peace and harmony. How is that even possible? “…Ahem. Isn’t that…a good thing?” Amelia clears her throat softly and looks blankly at Stey after getting cut off. She’s right. It is a good thing—under normal circumstances. However, this quest to defeat the Demon Lord has been plagued with problems up until now. Is it reasonable to think that nothing could go wrong this time? No chance in hell. I stare at the massive klutz standing in front of me. She is a legitimate problem, but not a serious one. She slows us down, but she does have her merits. There must be something else headed our way—perhaps from the outside? I’ve entrusted Amelia with reporting back to the Church headquarters for the past several days, so I ask her, “Amelia, where is Gregorio right now?” “He’s still in Purif, I’m told.” “…Any signs of him coming this way?” “…Not particularly. Actually, I’d say it’s entirely unlikely. Spica’s still alive for the time being anyway.” Amelia is blunt, as always. Entirely unlikely, is it? Then where the hell is our problem gonna come from?! If something’s coming our way, then it’d better happen sooner rather than later. Otherwise—we’ll have no choice but to prepare ourselves for the next one!! Is that what you want?! Is that really what you want?! No—it’s useless. We can’t let our guard down. Remember everything that’s happened so far, Ares Crown. The second we let our guard down, they’ll be planning their next attack. “Ares… You’re exhausted. Why don’t you take a rest?” “Amelia’s right, Ares! You work too hard. She’s always talking about how you’re such a workaholic.” I hate to worry them… But I’m not insane, and I’m not tired, dammit. Honestly, I just wish something would happen right this second. It feels like I’m in the calm before the storm, and I can’t afford a second to relax. “No—not now. They get back to leveling up tomorrow. Something will happen—something unexpected.” But what will it be? Will Toudou…die? No, wait. That can’t happen. I won’t allow it. Given the trends in our previous problems, this one will be something far more…off the wall. “Please calm yourself, Ares. Deep breaths, deep breaths.” “…Psh. I’ve heard enough. Bring me a spear or a pistol.” “Ares?!” We’re completely prepared. As long as all our preparations are in order, there won’t be any issues. No matter what happens, I’ll drive right up the middle and pull through. Stey looks up at me shyly. For starters…I’ll begin with her. “Hmm… Maybe what Ares is saying is complicated, because I don’t really understand.” “Amelia. Booze. Bring me booze.” “Wha—?! Wh-why all of a sudden?” You should know. I’m gonna get Stey drunk and determine what kind of problem that creates. We still have the time. If I figure the problem out now, it’ll be easier to deal with if it happens again. I’ll smash every possible problem ahead of time—smash them to smithereens. Toudou hasn’t been outside the town for a while, and she’s in a peculiarly quiet mood. She passes through the mammoth gate and walks through the valley without an iota of the anxiety she felt coming through here the first day. Two weeks of constant training. Her actual level hasn’t increased, but she now understands how important it really was. Level is simply a measure of one’s authority in this world. As a result, having a high level gives you more possibilities. The flow and sound of the wind, previously unknown to Toudou, provide her with information. She can sense things beyond her field of vision, what lies unseen farther down the road. Now she knows why she lost to Wurtz in their first fight. After just a short period of practical training, Toudou’s body has adapted to her newfound abilities. The sights she now sees, and the stage she’s reached in life, are completely different. Anything that gets in her way doesn’t stand a chance. Up ahead, beyond a curve in the road, Toudou senses the presence of a ball golem. She draws her sword. Just as she anticipated, a ball golem appears from around the bend. It lunges forward on a trajectory Toudou could not perceive previously. Five golems approach her rapidly, and she steps out to face them. Although Toudou’s level hasn’t changed, she can now predict her opponents’ movements. Just what did she do in these situations before? This golem is less than half as fast as Wurtz, her instructor for the past two weeks. Toudou switches up her gait to match the golem’s rhythm, which is on a straight beeline. At the very least, it won’t stray from the same trajectory when it’s airborne. When the ball golem comes past her, she brings the holy sword Ex down on it and cleaves it in two with ease. Without stopping to confirm its demise, she slashes through the remaining four golems behind her. Five golems, and five slashes from the holy blade. The sound of their carcasses hitting the ground echoes throughout the valley well after the fact. Toudou is a completely different person than before her training. Seeing this, Limis says in bewilderment, “…You really ripped through them no sweat.” “Maybe, but this is a holy blade, after all. I was pretty surprised myself, but at this rate, I should be able to start leveling up.” “We’ll have to express our thanks to Wurtz.” Toudou gives a small nod in agreement. Training was brutal, and losing repeatedly had her at her wit’s end, but now, she knows only gratitude. Toudou collects the ball golems’ remains to be used for magical tools, and the party continues forward on the path. Wurtz told them to return for additional training when they hit level 30. Today, they’re heading for Second Town. Along the way, Toudou and the party slay innumerable golems and soon arrive at their destination. From this short trip alone, Toudou has already reached level 30. It feels like power is welling from deep within her body. Leveling up always causes that sort of sensation, but this time is unlike anything she’s ever experienced. Toudou closes her eyes and exhales deeply before opening them. “So this is…level thirty…” “Congratulations.” “Nice going, Nao!” As they ventured off to Second Town, Aria had reached level 28, and Limis 20—the greatest improvement of everyone—perhaps because they’d annihilated everything around them. They both offer words of congratulations to Toudou. She’s heard many times before that reaching level 30 is just one obstacle. However, having finally reached it herself, she can definitely feel a significant difference. At the same time, it’s a clear indicator of all the things she was previously incapable of. Toudou looks to her fellow party members, both of whom have yet to reach level 30—a fact that brings her great frustration. “We all need…to get stronger, as quickly as possible.” “I agree…” “We can make it happen here… Though not being able to perform the level-up ritual repeatedly might be tricky…” Toudou’s limited holy energy means that she can’t perform the level-up ritual in succession. She must look dejected, because Aria quickly approaches her and pats her on the shoulder in consolation. “Don’t worry, your holy energy will continue to climb as well… And I’ll need to remain diligent and avoid injury as much as possible.” “That’s right, Aria. Besides, the less holy energy you expend on being injured, the more you’ll have left over to level up…” “That’s irrelevant—we all need to conserve our holy energy as much as possible! You never know what’ll happen on the battlefield.” Limis and Aria start to bicker. Toudou says again, this time in a whisper to herself, “We all need…to get stronger.” Toudou has finally reached the bare minimum level, but there are still so many other things she must take care of: practice her magic, temper her swordsmanship, boost her amount of holy energy. They should even be able to improve their battle formation, too, now that Glacia is an active participant. Toudou is casting her eyes downward when Limis quickly interjects as if suddenly remembering something. “Oh, by the way, Nao—I feel like I should learn healing magic, too. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, but I finally got the necessary tools to learn… Well, I can’t cast any spells yet, but—” “H-hey! Are you listening to me?!” exclaims Aria, stunned by Limis changing the subject. Toudou’s party is doing everything they can. Looking at Limis and Aria, Toudou breaks into a smile. Defeating the Demon Lord. It would be a daunting task if she were on her own, but with her party’s support, nothing will throw them off their course. “So he’s finally at level thirty…” Golem Valley is packed with mercenaries. In particular, as you venture deeper into the valley, their numbers continue to increase. The bar at the inn in Second Town, where I’ve chosen to meet with Amelia, is chock-full of them. “We’re slightly behind our original schedule, but it’s not a problem. It won’t be too long before we can stop monitoring them.” We’d been observing them from above again today, just to be safe, but Toudou and his party have made leaps and bounds since their training began. They’ll only get more efficient at leveling up from here on out. Beaming ear to ear, Stey raises both hands up and gives her own opinion, sauce still covering her lips. “Toudou was soooo awesome! He took down that ball thing like fwoosh!” “I personally think that Ares, who’s still somehow managing to drag you all over Golem Valley, is the awesome one here.” Amelia spits pure venom with a completely deadpan look. Hey, all I’m doing is pulling Stey along by the hand. In any case… Moving on… Amelia must have realized what I wanted to say, even though I haven’t opened my mouth. She launches into her report. “Just as you asked, Ares, I’ve gathered some of the rumors floating around Second Town.” “Did you find anything out?” Double-check and triple-check and quadruple-check. I’ve left the survey of Second Town up to Amelia’s trusted footwork. She’s far better than I am at getting information out of strangers. I look toward her with anticipation in my eyes, but she only shakes her head briefly. “As expected, there are no rumors of anything out of the ordinary. Everything is peaceful.” “There’s really…nothing? …Seriously?” Every last piece of information we’ve gathered since arriving in Golem Valley indicates that nothing is out of place. As I groan, the corners of Amelia’s mouth turn up ever so slightly as she smiles. “Yes, really. Isn’t this how things usually are?” She’s absolutely right. But I’m still not convinced. As I’m vexed over the situation, Amelia follows up with a one-two punch. Pointing at Stey, she says, “Isn’t Stey more than enough trouble for you right now?” “…Hey. Just one question. How’d you two get so close anyway?” No matter which way I look at it, Amelia’s being particularly cold to Stey. It’s an honest question. Stey answers cheerfully, “Amelia used to sit next to me at the Church headquarters!” “…I also taught her how to be an operator.” Amelia sounds dead tired. She took her sweet time getting me connected back when she was the operator, so really, Amelia, you should’ve done a better job of teaching her… At least, that’s what I want to say. But I’m sure teaching her took a hell of a lot of effort, so I decide to hold my tongue. “Stey…causes trouble the second you let your eyes off her. It was extremely vexing.” “I see… Just like right now?” I point to Stey. Next to Amelia, she’s ordering a drink from the waiter. I gave her alcohol yesterday as a test and subsequently wasted no time in enacting a full-stop alcohol ban. “Yes, exactly like—Stey, no! I thought I told you no drinking!” “I’m not gonna drink it! I’m just ordering, that’s all!” Amelia grabs Stey by the cheek as she pouts. For the record, drunk Stey is just like drunk Amelia. I know I said they’re like sisters, but I wish they didn’t resemble each other quite this much. I clear my throat and decide to change locations, knocking Amelia’s hand off Stey’s cheek. “For now, we’ll continue monitoring Toudou a while longer, at least until everyone is around level thirty. Personally, I think we should keep an eye on them for longer, but Cardinal Creio is of the opinion that I’m being overprotective.” Having to keep my superior’s wishes in mind is an incredible nuisance. Well, at the very worst, if I’m not around, the party should be able to use Glacia as a tank to buy some time. I’ll persuade her to take the initiative and be their shield. “Keep up with the survey just in case. If you notice anything at all, let me know.” “I have a proposal.” “Tell me.” “Would you consider switching my role with Stey’s?” The hell is she talking about? Her job isn’t particularly difficult. All that’s required is to make snap decisions, think for yourself, and not get lost. But Amelia’s expression is dead serious. She’s not joking around when she looks like that. “And why is that?” “You and Stey together, exploring dangerous locations—I can hardly stand the thought of it.” “Well, I can’t stand the thought of Stey on her own. Proposal denied.” It’s not that I absolutely can’t understand where Amelia’s coming from, but it’s too late for such concerns. Stey’s eyes are wide as she looks between Amelia and me. I’m used to her shenanigans by now. Don’t overthink it, and if something goes awry, I’ll take the situation by force. As long as I stick to these two rules, we’ll manage somehow. Amelia looks at me with reproach. “I’ll be worried sick.” “Be sick, then.” I’m already fully aware of Amelia’s impudence. She’s tough—she’ll be fine. It would appear that Toudou and party have heeded Wurtz’s advice and are proceeding to focus on training and leveling up alternatively. After leveling up for two days, they’ll mix in a day of training. They’re using First Town and Second Town as bases in turn. Perhaps thanks to Wurtz’s training, Toudou’s now leveling up with such efficiency that her previous progress seems like a total joke. She’s already reached level 33, and Aria and Limis have made progress as well. They can defeat low-level golems easily now, without facing any real threat. Everything’s going quite smoothly, yet, I’m still gripped by an unknown sense of dread. The door to my room opens a crack. Stey sticks her head in, wearing a robe now adorned with wooden buttons, and announces casually, “Ares, it’s morning!” “Yes… I’m aware.” Having traveled together for a little while, I’m fully used to Stey by now, and I guess she feels the same way about me. There’s not a lick of worry on her face. Maybe I should try being that carefree. “Did you compile every type and number of monster Toudou’s party has defeated so far, like I asked you to?” “Yep! I have that here for you.” “You always look like you’re having so much fun.” “Oh? Do you think so?” Stey tilts her head to the side curiously and hands me the report she’s holding. I flip quickly through the pages and inspect it. This is a bit like a record of Toudou’s growth—the report includes his level-up pace as well as the type and number of monsters he’s encountered. This data will also prove invaluable for educating future generations of Holy Warriors. There don’t appear to be any glaring issues with the contents. Against all odds, this klutz seems to possess legitimate administrative skills. As I take my eyes off the papers for a moment, I realize that Stey is looking up at me, biding her time. “Oh, thanks for this. It’s a big help.” “! You’re very welcome!” “Seriously though, you always look like you’re enjoying yourself.” “That’s because I love working!” Sister Stey’s reply is full of cheer. She really does seem to enjoy it. Back at the Church headquarters, she was probably deemed too useless for anyone to give her real work. That doesn’t seem like a productive topic, so I decide not to pursue it further. “All party members are leveling up steadily. I’d like to resolve any and all fundamental issues as soon as possible.” “Fundamental…issues? What do you mean?” For example, Aria’s complete lack of magical energy. Or the fact that Limis has only entered a covenant with a fire spirit. There are so many issues that I’ve been putting off. I can’t tell if Stey understands me or not, but she decides to chime in. “I mean, sure, Aria seems to be having the hardest time in battle…” There’s nothing that can be done about Aria’s lack of magical energy, so we must simply leave that to the course of events. I sigh and continue. “There’s also Limis. The fact that she’s only contracted with a fire spirit is a huge problem.” “Ohhh… Yeah, that’s pretty rare, huh?” Can Stey think like a mage? She sure looks like she does, as she’s agreeing with me. “It’s not especially rare for an elementalist to only have a single contracted spirit, but…do you know why it’s a problem?” “Hmm… Well, individual monsters have strengths and weaknesses to specific attributes…” Stey looks a bit subdued as she answers, but she definitely seems to understand the general principle. “That’s right. Elementalists thrive when they exploit an enemy’s elemental weakness.” For example, glacial plants have a high resistance to all elemental attributes, but when it comes to water-based attack magic, they’re practically immune. Conversely, they are the weakest to fire-based attack magic, compared with the other elements. Although Limis is probably better off than Aria, this is still a major thorn in her side as an elementalist. But there’s still something here that defies my expectations. I had originally planned on using Golem Valley as a training grounds for Limis. “The majority of golems are highly resistant to fire. I knew that Limis would have a rough time here. At the very least, I knew she’d be way out of her league and wouldn’t be able to one-shot any of the monsters here. However, she’s now able to one-shot everything she confronts.” Limis’s growth has far exceeded my expectations. This isn’t normal, even for someone from a prestigious line of elementalists like the House of Friedia. I stare intently at Stey, and her cheeks flush bashfully. Quit it. “How is that possible?” Stey closes her eyes and grumbles softly to herself before quickly opening them. “Hmm, well, the most important thing for an elementalist is, above all else…the degree to which they establish a deep emotional bond with their spirit, so…” So it is possible… No, this isn’t a matter of possible versus impossible. It’s already happening. The difference between Limis’s problem and Aria’s problem is that Aria’s simply cannot be solved, whereas Limis’s still has the potential to be rectified. I don’t know why Limis has only entered into a covenant with a fire spirit, and I’ve never heard that she’s only capable of a single contract, either. For that reason, I’ve decided to give Limis a taste of reality—show her the severe limits of only establishing a covenant with a fire spirit, and get her to look at things with a fresh perspective. “Um, Ares? You look perplexed.” “…Not yet. Limis has yet to face off against a volcanic golem.” “A volcanic…golem?” Volcanic golems are some of the strongest monsters that inhabit Golem Valley, with nearly perfect resistance to all fire-based properties. They aren’t especially rare, so the party will definitely encounter them the deeper they progress into the valley. Just how will Limis react when she meets an enemy wholly unaffected by her magic attacks? “…Well, most mages are girls anyway, so I’d be able to replace her more easily than Aria.” “Don’t worry. I’m sure Limis will be just fine!” Without a shadow of doubt on her face, Stey makes a claim she can’t guarantee. A highly compressed burst of fire from the Flame Lance spell rips into the trunk of the rock golem, whose body is a few meters thick. The lance melts the golem’s chest and comes out the other side, obliterating its core and burning it to ash. Limis is currently level-23, but at this rate, she’ll match Toudou’s level in no time flat. Not to mention, as unlikely as it seems, Flame Lance is low-level attack magic. Even a level-23 elementalist can cast it in succession, and although some mages have trouble aiming it accurately, Limis never misses. The House of Friedia has a long lineage of powerful mages. I have a newfound appreciation of this fact. A strong rear guard entails a thriving vanguard. Toudou’s party is functioning like a well-oiled machine right now. Perhaps they’ve gained another level? I hear shouts of joy. There’s no sign of stopping Toudou and company’s battle march now. “The golems in this area no longer pose a threat. Our last day of monitoring the party may be closer than we think.” I had intended on observing them until every member reached level 30, but at this rate, there’s no need for any further concern. “You might be right… Wait… In that case, does that mean you won’t need me anymore?” Stey is teetering on her feet, and her eyes go wide at my statement. I look back at her wearily. Hmm… Keeping the future in mind, perhaps a bit more discipline is at hand while there’s still time. I’ve been pondering for a while now; it’s time to employ the Stephenne Veronide improvement strategy. Currently, Stey is my subordinate. I have an obligation to make sure she’s useful. That’s why I’ve been thoroughly prepared from day one. A bitter, cold wind buffets my body. Toudou and the others are far down the path, and judging from the sounds of battle, they aren’t having any problems. There aren’t any signs of other mercenaries nearby—just the right day to pull off the perfect crime. The thin yet sturdy chain in my hands jangles as I drag it along and address Stey. “Stey, are you ready?” The chain is connected to a metal clasp on Stey’s right ankle. It’s a special-order physical restraint. Stey must feel uncomfortable. She’s bent over with her finger pressed to her lips, head tilted. “Ummm, Ares, I’ve seen this thing somewhere before.” “It’s used to transport criminals. I can vouch for its strength. Even if your leg gets sliced off, it can’t be removed.” “Wooow, that’s incredible! …Huh? Why’s it on me, then?!” “You’re asking me this now? You put it on yourself.” “Um… But that’s because you told me to!” Stey doesn’t quite get what’s going on yet, and I sigh. She’s just a bit lacking. “Stey, you don’t have enough of a sense of danger. At least, I sure can’t see it.” “Um… Sense of danger?” “That’s right. Honestly, I can’t hold your hand and lead you around forever. I mean, I thought I’d only have to do that for a short amount of time, but enough’s enough. I’m done.” I don’t exactly have pity on her, but for Stey to remain this way her entire life isn’t exactly good for her, either. Many different people have tried to get her to change over the years, with no luck—but I haven’t tried yet. Stey is bewildered by the situation, and I cast a buff on her just to be safe. It’d be a real pain in my ass if she died. She must have decided to stop thinking too hard about it, as she grins shyly. “Um… Well… Thank you very much??” “You are quite welcome.” I put my arm around Stey. She must be taken aback, as her arms and legs flail wildly. “Wha—A-A-A-Ares?! Ares?!” “Bite your tongue.” “?!” With that, I toss Stey off the cliff into the depths below. Her scream trails into the sky before disappearing in the clouds. The chain in my hand pulls taut, and in the next moment I can hear Stey smacking into the cliff wall. I am hopeless. This is the only way I know to impress reason onto someone. I wait for some time before pulling the chain up against the cliff face. Before long, Stey appears, flapping about like a freshly caught fish. She has tears in her eyes and a red spot on her nose—probably from smacking into the cliff face. “Ugghhh… Owww…” “Don’t lie. You’re level seventy-two, and I put a buff on you. There’s no way you’re in pain.” She’s apparently not bothered that her skirt is upside down and starts to throw a tantrum, punching the ground repeatedly. “Is…is that…all you have to say?! After doing something so awful all of a sudden—” “No, there’s more.”
Chapter 22
26 min read