Chapter 4: Enjoyment

The company trip to Gaun was nearing its end. A lot had happened, from the unplanned entry into the Beast King Festival to being attacked by the Apostles to the development in my relationship with Ange. Although everything had been very sudden and touch and go at times, they now made for wonderful memories. However, the trip was not quite over yet. We still had a few days that we fully intended on making the most of.

That was why we were currently high up in the sky in the northwestern part of Gaun, riding on Boga, Mdofarak, and Rosalia. As for Dahak...let’s just say he was his usual self.

“We’ve gone pretty far,” Ange said. “What’s out here?”

I guffawed. “Ha! Ha! Ha! That’s a funny joke, Ange. There’s no way we wouldn’t come here, right? Since we’re in Gaun and all.”

“Huh? Uh...I really can’t recall there being any famous tourist spots in this area.”

“Come now, there’s no way you forgot about the Rank A dungeon known for being Gaun’s most dangerous, the Cavern of the Divine Beasts!”

I had been so occupied with the promotion ceremony and the Demon Lord commotion that it had been quite a while since I last visited a dungeon. I would forever regret forgetting to visit the dungeons in Trycen before returning to Parth. However, I was someone who learned from his mistakes! I would not commit the same blunder this time.

“This...is a trip, right? Like, for fun?”

It’s absolutely a trip for fun. Unfortunately, Sera made plans to hang out with Prettia and couldn’t come. It’s really, really unfortunate, but I do have Ange with me today, so we should have enough fighting strength. The dungeon probably won’t see any other visitors, being Rank A and all, so we can completely clean it out without worrying about causing trouble for other people.

“Of course, part of the aim in clearing this dungeon is to help Shutola level up. I did promise her during the Beast King Festival.”

“Thank you, dearest brother! I’ll do my best to become strong!”

Shutola was filled with enthusiasm. Never mind Trycen, everyone across the continent knew how capable she was. The frustration she felt from the tournament now served as a huge impetus that would surely push her to incredible heights.

“The tournament showed me that I had a lot to work on too,” Rion said. “I’ll show you how much I’ve grown, Kel-nii!”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Ah, that’s right, Rion’s also been hard at work.

After the Naming Ceremony, I had used Obsidian Fortress to rebuild the coliseum, making it much sturdier than before, and Dahak had used his Construction skill to replace all the houses and pavement that had been destroyed. Consequently, the Beast King had said he wanted to give us remuneration. We had not expected payment in the first place and turned him down, but he said he did not want to feel like he owed us a debt. So I requested that he hold practice matches with Rion several times during the remainder of our stay in the country.

Due to the underhanded tactics he employed, Rion had lost to him without fully utilizing her strength. While the memory of that was still fresh, I had her begin practice matches with the Beast King whenever they both had a spare moment. This was not training to develop her fighting techniques but rather to bolster her mental fortitude. Specifically, he fought her while looking like people that she treasured, such as Shutola and me, pretty much just repeating what he had done when they met in the tournament. It was so hard to watch that I found myself clenching my fists hard enough to draw blood multiple times. However, I repeated “This is for Rion’s sake” to myself like a mantra. Considering how many times my heart veered on the verge of breaking, my own mental fortitude got quite the tempering too.

After we passed a small mountain, Efil reported, “Master, the Cavern of the Divine Beasts has come into view.”

I placed a hand on her shoulder to borrow Farsight through Skill Eater. Sure enough, when I squinted, I could see the cave opening in the rocky face far ahead.

“All right. We’re arriving soon. Everyone, final equipment checks!”

A lively chorus of “Okay!” came from Shutola, Rion, and Ruka.

Although we were indeed concerned about what the Apostles would do next, raising the levels of my party members was a valid method of precaution. More than anything, my own level had not been going up much as of late. No matter how many low-ranked monsters I killed, it only amounted to a drop in the bucket. So I had set my eye on this Cavern of the Divine Beasts. I wasn’t here so much for the small fry wandering the interior of the dungeon. No, the reason I’d decided to make the trip was because I had heard that a Divine Pillar was supposed to be here.

We eventually descended in between two unadorned cliffs of bare rock. Following Rosalia and Mdofarak, Boga landed with a great crash, sending tremors through the ground and frightening nearby monsters into running like a flock of startled birds.

Hm? Even the Rank B monsters ran away. I guess it’s less an issue of levels as it is species.

“Let’s set up camp. This looks like a good place.”

I said “let’s,” but it’s mostly me doing the work! A quick cast of Obsidian Fortress and a bungalow seemingly rose from the ground. Done.

“Those in my party will head into the dungeon first. Shutola, you wait here with Ruka and the maids. Boga and Mdofarak, you two are staying behind also. That cave is too small for you to fit inside. Guard the campsite while I’m gone.”

“Rawr...”

“Roar...”

Come on, don’t look so disappointed. Clearing and destroying the dungeon at the same time is beyond even me. Instead, you two should focus on learning how to take human form. Your sizes really limit the places I can take you.

“I understand, dearest brother. I should go in only after my level rises high enough, right?”

A normal child would throw a tantrum and cry, “But I want to go too!” What a relief that Shutola is so mature and understanding. I mean, she actually is an adult, so...yeah, that might be it.

“That’s right. Since this is a Rank A dungeon, we should be done pretty quickly. We’ll fetch you when the time is right, so just rest up until then. Since you aren’t used to dungeon diving, the experience will probably be quite tiring.”

“Okay!”

◇ ◇ ◇

Darkness enveloped the interior of the cavern. Naturally, there were no braces on the walls for torches; a Rank A dungeon wasn’t going to be that easy. The monsters that live here probably have Night Vision. In fact, there we go; there’s a pair of red eyes glowing up ahead. Is it a feline-type monster?

“Efil.”

“Yes, Master. I will use Milliard Burning Birds to eliminate the monsters and illuminate our way.”

Efil’s magic took form as a flock of fire birds that burst into appearance in quick succession and blazed their way down the passage. Soon enough, yelps and wails of pain sounded up ahead as the cave filled with the awful stench of burned flesh.

Wait, no, this is the mouthwatering fragrance of steak sizzling on the grill. The more I smell it, the hungrier I get and the more I feel the saliva welling up inside my mouth.

“Uh, Efil, can you stop cooking while we’re fighting? Mostly for Mel’s sake.”

“My apologies, Master. I was attempting an idea that I had...”

That attitude of constantly trying new ideas is indeed wonderful, but the smell of grilled meat filling the passage is making Melfina drool a waterfall. There’s no choice; let’s have her stay at the back and focus on supporting us until she gets her appetite back under control.

“Wow, it’s so bright!” Ange exclaimed. “You really are amazing, Efil-chan!”

After attacking—or technically, cooking—the monsters in our way, instead of disappearing, Efil’s fire birds returned to circle around our party, lighting up our surroundings in lieu of torches. The ones that had gone ahead perched on the walls, casting more light along our way. Our visibility was as good as it could get.

“So these are the monsters you just killed,” I murmured, examining the forms that gradually came into view. “Panther, tiger, lion...”

“Is this dungeon mainly occupied by felines?” Ange asked curiously.

They’re all double the usual sizes and grilled to perfection.

“For now, let’s proceed with Gerard as the vanguard and Mel covering our rear. Mel, you know better than to eat what you pick up off the ground, right?”

“O-Of course I do! Do you even have to ask?”

Look me in the eyes and say it again, you gluttonous goddess. But ugh, I really do feel like having some steak now...

◇ ◇ ◇

“Hmph!”

A single swing of Gerard’s greatsword bisected all four hyena-like monsters that rushed our way. His blade converted all the blood sticking to its surface to MP, fueling the skill that continued to buff his stats. The fight turned even more one-sided as time went on.

“Gerard-san doesn’t let a single monster get past him, so there’s really nothing for us to do.”

“Om nom nom?” (Then you want to eat some of this too, Ange?)

“Ah...nah, I’m good. We are technically still in battle.”

We had continued deeper into the cave system, with Gerard making short work of the occasional monster that appeared. Before long, the passage opened up into a huge cavern that turned out to be a nesting ground for monsters. It was the home of the Rank A gray-furred hyenas called murder aces. The bare, exposed walls extended all the way into the distance, stretching so far that we couldn’t see the other end even in the fire birds’ light. Gerard stood at the entrance to the next passage, cheerfully taking care of all the monsters rushing over.

“Ga ha ha! I’m sure Shutola’s level is shooting through the roof at the moment! Shutola, your grandpa is doing his very best!”

My knight companion was slicing and dicing while laughing at the top of his lungs as the wave of monsters kept coming and coming. There was no end to their numbers. However, Gerard wasn’t particularly struggling, so there was no need for us to help. That left those of us in the back twiddling our thumbs. Mel was already digging into her lunch with gusto.

“Since there’s the word ‘ace’ in these monsters’ names, does it mean there are lower-ranked species that aren’t ‘aces’? What do you think, Alex?”

“Arf.” (I guess.)

It always impresses me how chill my party is even in the middle of battle. This place is great for earning XP for Shutola, but our time is limited. I do want to find that Divine Pillar today.

“It’s about time, Gerard. Let’s wrap things up.”

“What?! But I want to do more for Shutola, my king!”

Man, you sound like a desperate man obsessed with financially supporting a terrible girlfriend. Not that Shutola is terrible. She’s the absolute sweetest! And she’s definitely no one’s girlfriend!

“Mowing down inferior enemies is fun and all, but fights that don’t pose a challenge are only going to dull your skills. What’s more, we still have the fight with the Divine Pillar coming up. Bottle up your enthusiasm for when we find it.”

“Hm, you do make a fair point.”

After reluctantly acquiescing, Gerard fired off several rounds of Agito that wiped out all the monsters in view. Howls went up from deeper within the cavern, but our road had opened up.

“Master, should I also use my flames?”

“That would be efficient, but we’re in a closed environment. Use Merciless instead of Penumbra. All right, let’s go!”

◇ ◇ ◇

Around the time when Kelvin’s party started getting serious about fighting their way through the Cavern of the Divine Beasts, an elegant tea party was underway in the bungalow erected at the campsite outside of the dungeon. The maids Rosalia and Huba were serving, and the table was loaded with fragrant black tea and famous Gaunian confections. Sitting at the table was the close-knit pair of Shutola and Ruka, the latter of whom was supposed to be a maid herself.

“Auuugh...”

“Are you okay, Shutola-chan?”

“I’m okay...but I’m also not okay...”

Shutola was so flustered that the hand holding her teacup was trembling. She normally had no trouble keeping a clear head despite being dragged into crazy situations by those around her, but this moment was an exception. Right now, she was panicked, and there was a specific reason for it.

“Ugh, my head... The level-up fanfare just keeps going...”

Due to the efforts of the grandfather who was giving it his all for his grandchild’s sake, Shutola’s level, which used to be merely fourteen, was now increasing at light speed. Every time the fanfare for a level-up finished playing, it started up again, as if each repetition were lining up, waiting its turn. Shutola was keeping an eye on her Status window, watching the numbers climb higher and higher. The results of this tradition of power leveling unique to Kelvin’s party left her young mind bewildered.

“Ahh, it was like that for me too— Owwie!” Ruka crouched down, clutching the throbbing area at the top of her head where a fist had just landed.

“How much longer are you going to shirk your duties, Ruka?!” Ellie scolded her before turning to the princess. “I’m terribly sorry, Shutola-sama, for my daughter’s continued disres— I see you are quite occupied at the moment. May I suggest ignoring the level-up screens for the moment? It is only the final numbers that truly matter, after all.”

“I-Is that how it is?”

Both Ellie and Ruka had experienced power leveling before. As such, they could understand what Shutola was currently going through.

“That’s right, Shutola-sama!” Huba added, giving her a thumbs-up. “It’s not as if you’re duty bound to keep staring at your Status screen!”

“Look at you acting all cool now”—Rosalia smiled—“when you were just as flustered a short while ago.”

“Y-You didn’t need to bring that up, Rosalia!”

Rosalia held out two hands to placate her colleague. “All right, all right. But still, I have to wonder what spell Master is using to pull this off. Normally, the experience gained by being part of a party when staying this far away, without delivering the final blow, is almost negligible.”

“Don’t think I’ll let you off the hook just because you changed the subject!”

“Now, how about leaving it at that?” Ellie cut in. “Shutola-sama, would you like to read a book to pass the ti— Oh?”

Just as Ellie was about to reach towards the mini Clotho on the table to take out a book, the slime began vibrating.

“This appears to be the signal from Master. Shutola-sama, someone will be coming to fetch you soon.”

“Really? Um, where’s my teddy bear? I need to bring him along.”

Shutola hopped out of her chair and pattered around, getting her things in order.

◇ ◇ ◇

The first nest we discovered was soon followed by more of the same deeper within the dungeon. All of the nests were filled with overwhelming numbers of ferocious Rank A beasts. This was proving to be a dungeon that would be quite the challenge for any but the most disciplined party made up of the most powerful Rank A adventurers around. For us, however, it felt like taking a stroll through a safari park.

After all the ups and downs, we eventually reached an archway that led to a huge open area that was likely the deepest chamber in the dungeon. In sharp contrast to the bare rock that had lined the passages so far, the walls here were lined with polished gray blocks that gave it the feel of a temple. A large altar towered in the middle of the room.

“Yep, that’s the Divine Pillar’s altar,” Rion confirmed. “It looks exactly like the one we saw in Parth.”

“So that’s Elearis’s handiwork. It’s been a while since I last felt like I might level up!”

“Honey, I’m sorry to say this when you sound so excited, but please be careful. I mean it. Although she has lost her power, we are still facing something created by a goddess.”

“Don’t worry, I get it.”

I suppressed my rising excitement with an iron will as we covertly peered through the archway.

“It’s about time for Efil and Alex to reach the entrance, right?”

When the time had seemed right, I’d sent the two of them to fetch Shutola.

Even if she’s not going to directly participate in the fight—we’ll make sure she stays at a safe distance—her level should be high enough now for her to follow along with what’s happening. Hopefully, this will help her gain confidence.

“Are we going to wait here until they return?” Ange asked.

I shook my head. “Nah, let’s go in first to secure the place and make sure it’s safe. Make sure there are no traps or anything.”

At first glance, the cavern is entirely empty except for the altar, and there are no other monsters within. However, I feel a large presence distinct from that of the Divine Pillar. In all likelihood, it’s the dungeon boss—we haven’t encountered it yet, after all.

“Then let me go!” Ange said, enthusiastically raising one hand. “Scouting is my forte!”

That’s true; she’s definitely the best at it in our party.

“Okay, we’ll count on you, Ange. Mel and I will stay behind you to provide support. Gerard and Rion, ready yourselves so you can leap out at any time.”

“Yay, my first-ever mission! I’ll do my best!”

In contrast to her rising excitement, Ange’s presence paled until it seemed to fade away altogether. Without ado, she promptly stepped through the archway and approached the altar. Abruptly, the roof of the cavern started raining dust and sand as a sound similar to Boga munching rocks started up. The din grew closer and closer until all of a sudden, the blocks in the ceiling gave way and a giant form came crashing down right before the altar.

“Gugah gah gah gah! We found them! Found them! The hateful intruders who killed our brethren!”

“We did it! Found them!”

“Tear them apart! Rain blood! Have them for dinner!”

The huge cloud of dust blew away, revealing a gigantic monster with three heads all adorned with vicious fangs. The description “three-headed” first brought Mdofarak to mind, but all the heads on this creature were of differing species. In short, this was a chimera. The left head was a crocodile, the middle head was a lion, and the right head was a tiger. The crocodile head seemed really out of place, but the monster had a snake as a tail and a pair of wings—consistency clearly wasn’t something it prioritized.

“We will eat you first, puny girl! That will at least fill our stoma— Huh?”

When the chimera turned towards Ange, she was already gone. Instead, two of the heads saw something passing by.

“Ahh, this head... Yeah, I don’t want it,” Ange said from the monster’s back, her voice sounding heavily laden with disinterest and disappointment.

The tiger and crocodile heads turned around just in time to see the lion falling to the ground.

“Y-You vermin!”

“How dare you?! How dare you?!”

However, Ange was no longer on the chimera’s back. She was already walking back to us.

“So slow on the uptake,” she murmured to the beast without even turning back. “It’s already over and you still don’t know it.”

The tiger and crocodile heads both went, “Huh?” but before they could make another sound, the throwing knives tagged with talismans protruding from their foreheads exploded with the same amount of destructive force that had put Clive, a Rank S sword, out of commission. After losing all three heads, all that was left was the torso and snake tail— Apologies, that was a lie. The snake tail had been severed long ago.

With a resounding boom, the chimera’s huge form crashed to the ground, sounding Ange’s near-instant victory.

“Doesn’t look like there are any other monsters or traps in the room.”

“Uh...thanks, Ange. Good work.”

One wouldn’t have thought it from the way she came back to us humming like she had just returned from a stroll, but not only had Ange wiped the floor with the dungeon boss in the blink of an eye, she had also finished surveying the interior of the chamber during that same time.

That chimera is at least as strong as the evil dragon we fought in Toraj, right? Ange ran even faster than the knives she threw at the start. When buffed with Sonic Acceleration, she’s seriously a force to be reckoned with.

In addition to Uncontainable, Ange possessed one other Unique Skill, Assassin’s Strike, which enabled her to deal massive amounts of damage to enemies that were unaware of her presence. In simpler terms, any attack she landed on someone she caught off guard would be a critical hit. Her phenomenal speed had incredible synergy with this skill, creating a truly terrifying combination. I would know—I had been beheaded by her once.

I used Analyze Eye on the headless corpse. “High Beast Chimera. Yep, this is the dungeon boss.”

Although the fight had been over so fast—if it could even be called a fight—this was still a Rank S monster. It was rare enough, so I had Clotho retrieve the body in case we could make use of some of its parts.

Okay, that’s the quest from the guild done. Now we’re moving on to personal business.

“Ah, Kel-nii, looks like Efil-nee and Alex are back.”

“Impressive speed as always.” I turned around just in time to see Efil appearing from the passage.

“Apologies for keeping you waiting, Master.”

“Ha ha, don’t worry, you didn’t make us wait. Thank you for always appearing just when I need you. Good work to you too, Alex.”

When I expressed my gratitude towards Efil and her shadow, Alex’s face popped out. The rest of his body soon followed, revealing Shutola clinging to the soft, fluffy fur of his back.

“Arf?” (You okay?)

“It felt really nice!”

Alex was capable of dragging anyone holding on to his body into the shadows with him. The space inside the shadows was a cubic area, with the size and details being different depending on the source of the shadow. If it was a shadow cast by a lump of rock, the space would be rough, stony, and barren, whereas shadows cast by living beings reflected the beings’ mentalities. For example, Efil’s shadow was perfectly clean and entirely comfortable. It probably even came with room service, if I had to guess. I’d only enjoyed the experience a few times. According to Alex, the most comfortable shadow was Rion’s, which was to be expected.

“Arf, awoooohhh, huff.” (We were fast because Efil ran straight through. I can’t go that fast myself.)

Ange was the fastest in our party by far, but then next were Efil and Melfina. As coming here required passing many dangerous monsters, I had sent Alex along with the express purpose of bringing Shutola safely to us. Him keeping Shutola within Efil’s shadow guaranteed that the princess wouldn’t come to harm.

“What level are you now, Shutola?” I asked.

“Um...I’m Level 77,” she replied, clambering down.

“Nice, it went up quite a bit.” Looks like it paid off killing all those Rank A monsters and the boss just now. Experience Sharing proving its worth once again.

“My king, was there any need to bring Shutola here? Couldn’t she have watched through the Network?”

Gerard looked so fidgety and nervous that he reminded me of parents attending their child’s class for their first-ever Parents’ Day, worrying about how their child would perform.

“There’s a limit to how much can be seen secondhand. More importantly, what Shutola needs right now is to gain confidence in herself by following the fight with her own eyes. Even Rosalia gave her permission. We went over this yesterday, didn’t we?”

“Still...”

“Don’t worry, Grandpa Gerard!” Shutola cut in, her eyes sparkling with innocence. “If I’m ever in danger, you’ll save me, won’t you?”

Ah, she said it.

“What’s one measly Divine Pillar, right?! I can take it on myself! Ha ha ha!”

How reassuring. One word from Shutola is more effective than a thousand from me when it comes to convincing Gerard. All right, now that the opposition has been eliminated, let’s get the final briefing underway.

“Shutola, you’ll be staying in the back with Mel. Mel, erect a barrier to protect the two of you. This position is the safest out of all the locations that command a great view of the cavern. Efil, you and I will stand back a little as middle guard. Rion, Ange, Gerard, and Alex, you’ll be in the front as vanguard. I heard that when you secretly fought the Divine Pillar with Sera before my promotion ceremony, it was really powerful. To my absolute disappointment.”

“Honey, your personal emotions are leaking out. Return to talking about the strategy, please.”

“Oh, sorry. Couldn’t help it.” I mean, come on. They got to fight such a fun opponent by themselves! Without inviting m—

Melfina sighed. “Looks like Honey’s off in his own world again, so I’ll take it from here. What we are fighting today is a Divine Pillar, a fragment of an ancient goddess. You can think of the Pillars as minor deities. The Divine Pillar that you defeated in Parth with Sera and Goldiana-san was Galonzolf, the Divine Wolf. Similarly, this altar houses Diamante, the Divine Beast. When a Pillar is destroyed, its divine power is absorbed by the other remaining Pillars. That means Diamante will be stronger than Galonzolf was. We should have enough fighting strength on our side to handle it, but always stay sharp and on your toes!”

Both Rion and Shutola raised a hand and said, “Okay!” in unison.

As Melfina nodded with a “Very good,” I wondered if this was how parents felt on Parents’ Day. What do you think, Melfina-sensei?

“Everything else aside, I do have to give Elearis some credit,” I murmured, nodding with satisfaction. “This system where the remaining Pillars get more powerful the more you destroy is nothing short of wonderful.”

“A normal person facing them would consider it a problem, honey.”

Huh?

◇ ◇ ◇

The Divine Pillars were minor gods created by Elearis, the previous Goddess of Reincarnation, in order to wipe out the Demon Lord and demon race should the world fall into danger. Thankfully, not once in history had a summoned Hero lost to a Demon Lord, so the Pillars had never had to act. Even if they did, however, they did not possess the ability to overcome the skill characteristic of all Demon Lords, Mara Pisuna, which rendered the individual impervious to all damage dealt by beings of this world. As such, all they could do was buy time until the next Hero was summoned and trained. There were a total of ten, each possessing power rivaling that of a Demon Lord, scattered throughout the world.

I couldn’t have been happier to hear about all this. Aside from Galonzolf, who had been in Parth and was killed by Sera and the others, there were still four more on the Eastern Continent. Even after Melfina took up the mantle of Goddess of Reincarnation and they lost most of their power, they were still hibernating somewhere, waiting for the day when they would be needed. Maybe. Either way, there was a definite possibility that Elearis would use them for her own evil purposes should she come back. Since Melfina had given us express permission, we fully intended on using them to bolster our own levels.

“I guess it’s a bit late to ask this, but we aren’t going to get into trouble with Deramis for killing these Pillars, right?” They’re not still worshiped as holy beings, are they?

“It is true that the Divine Pillars are under the jurisdiction of Deramis. There are a few that they are aware of, and those locations have been established as holy sites. However, as you can tell with Galonzolf being in a newly discovered dungeon, Deramis doesn’t have information on all of them.”

“And this one is okay to fight?”

“I believe so. Due to it being located in the depths of such a high-ranked dungeon, I doubt that many are aware of its presence. However, it would be wise to pay Deramis a visit if we intend to go around destroying the other Pillars.”

Then to Deramis we must go. Honestly, if it’s Melfina doing the asking, Colette will probably happily help us get through whatever red tape might exist.

“By the way, how are we going to activate the altar without Sera-nee?” Rion asked suddenly.

Oh right, last time the altar activated when Sera touched it. If the trigger was her race...

“Wouldn’t Gerard do? Since he’s basically wearing a Demon Lord’s armor. He looks evil enough, at least.”

“What are you saying, my king? You won’t find another knight as purehearted as me even if you were to scour the entire world!”

“All right, all right. But still, it won’t hurt to give it a touch. If it doesn’t work, I’ll use my magic to beat it awake.”

“If you say so...”

Once everyone had assumed battle positions, Gerard stepped up and placed a hand on the altar. But there was no response, prompting him to sigh and shrug his shoulders.

“See? Nothing happens when I—”

“Gerard, behind you!” I barked.

At the same time, Rion exclaimed, “It’s glowing!”

“Uh...seriously?”

After a slight pause, the altar emanated a blinding light that filled the cavern. I thought I caught Gerard looking really down, but then the light enveloped everything.

Nope, I saw nothing.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Are you okay, Shutola?” Mel asked while throwing up a hand to protect me from the white light.

I nodded. “Th-Thank you, dearest sister Mel.”

Mel was usually an insatiable glutton, but she was also a kind big sister who could be relied on to pull through when needed. That didn’t offset her being a hopeless glutton, though.

“I confess, it’s my first time seeing one of the Divine Pillars in person too. Even I don’t know what to expect,” she said before chanting a spell that generated a barrier separating us from Kelvin. It expanded with cracks and crackling sounds, forming a beautiful dome made of ice with a high degree of transparency that made it easy to see what was going on outside. Soon, the light from the altar faded away.

“A mask?” I murmured.

“It is indeed a mask,” Mel agreed.

The fading light revealed a beast about as big as Alex that looked like a karajishi, a stylized depiction of a lion unique to Torajian culture. Its face was hidden behind a white mask, but I recognized its distinctive dull bronze body. It was like one of the ink drawings on the folding screens we saw in a souvenir shop in Toraj had come to life.

“Gurororuoaaahhhh!”

The fierce mouth behind the mask opened wide as the beast howled with a cry that I had never heard before. However, everyone on the front line had already leaped into action.

::Prison of Slashes...close!::

Just as I thought Rion was setting up a move, I noticed the space surrounding the karajishi warping and many invisible things flying its way. Metallic screeches rang out as slashes appeared on the bronze body.

::I can hurt it somewhat, but that mask is way too hard!::

::Don’t worry, Rion! I’ll attack it from the front, so you circle around!::

I could hear Grandpa Gerard’s and Rion’s voices directly in my head because of Kelvin’s power. Before I’d entered the dungeon, a small clone of Clotho had been given to me, which made me part of a telepathic network that was supposed to be between Kelvin and those Contracted with him as Followers. I recalled how I had been envious of Colette in the past when I saw her instructing those serving her without having to speak out loud. Now I could even talk with Alex. I never imagined this would be how one of my dreams would be granted.

::Shutola, how’re you finding the Network? Can you properly see what everyone’s doing?::

::Oh, dearest brother! Mm-hm, I can hear and see just fine. I’m still appreciating the effects of having leveled up so much!::

I could make out the fight with the karajishi better than I’d ever seen anything. Before, my eyes couldn’t keep up; now, Grandpa Gerard’s and Alex’s movements were as clear as day. Rion I could see as an afterima— Oh.

::I’m sorry, I still can’t see dearest sister Ange.::

::Her speed is like an outlier among outliers, so don’t worry about it. When she gets serious, there are times when I lose sight of her too.::

I suddenly realized there were kunai buried in all of the karajishi’s wounds. Those knives belonged to Ange, which meant she had thrown them in the brief moment I had looked away.

::Gouging wounds is the basics! Aha ha!::

Uh, it’s like a switch got flipped inside her.

::To explain,:: Mel said, ::Rion has Diamante trapped right now, so Ange is attacking it from behind. That attack just shaved off a fourth of its HP thanks to Assassin’s Strike. With so many possessing Flight and Sky Walk distracting the opponent, Ange is having a really easy time doing what she does best. Whenever there’s an opening, she’s throwing poisoned kunai into the same wounds with a very deft handling of her Throwing skill.::

::Annnd there you have Melfina-sensei’s much appreciated commentary,:: Kelvin joked.

::Th-Thank you, dearest sister Mel.::

I turned back just in time to see the very angry karajishi assume a charging position. My brother and I were directly in its path. At this rate—

::Worry not! I will stop it in its tracks!:: Grandpa Gerard shouted as he planted himself firmly in front of the monster. His usual silliness was gone, replaced by the figure of a knight who would throw himself in harm’s way to protect the weak. Strangely, he reminded me of Grandpa Dan.

“Gurorouuuhhhh!”

Even though its metallic appearance gave it the image of being stiff and slow, the karajishi managed to reach its top speed the instant it burst into motion. A moment later, it crashed into Grandpa Gerard like a massive bullet.

::HNGRH! It’s forceful, but it’s nowhere near pushing me to the ropes like Goldiana-dono does!::

Grandpa Gerard used the same black shield he had stopped the monster’s charge with to uppercut it, sending it flying straight up. Alex snuck in just then, unleashing more slashes than I could count using the purple blade in his mouth in the time it took our opponent to hit the ground. After Rion’s and Ange’s following attacks, the creature couldn’t even stand up anymore.

::Everyone’s so amazing!:: I clapped excitedly. ::You’re winning so easily!::

::Hmm, but at this rate, we’re going to have a problem,:: Kelvin said.

Mel agreed, ::We are indeed.::

I was confused. What’s the problem? Um, I don’t see it... They’re winning, right? My brother and sisters are all so amazing. They can pick up on so many things that I still don’t know about. I’ve got to study more!

::At this rate, I won’t get any of the action, will I?::

::At this rate, the meat’s going to get poisoned and won’t taste as good anymore.::

Uh...I’ve got to pull it together. What more can I do to help them? How can I contribute to thank everyone for everything they’ve done for me?

Before heading out to the dungeon that day, I had already picked up Double Growth Rate and Double Skill Points, the only two skills that Kelvin insisted on. It had cost almost all the Skill Points I had, but all the levels I gained today had made up—no, more than made up what I had spent many times over.

It surprised me so much that I got all flustered. I wonder if I made Ruka-chan and Huba worry about me? I should say sorry to them later.

To be honest, before Kelvin told me about those two skills, I had never even heard of them. Being able to get twice as many stat points and Skill Points from leveling up almost felt like breaking the rules.

I tried to save up as much SP as I could just in case I ever needed to use the points, but I can finally spend as much as I want, right? Hmm, I still don’t want to waste any, though, so I should really think carefully about it.

::Mel, I’m going in. Take care of Shutola.::

::She’s safe with me. Have fun, honey.::

Hearing his voice prompted me to look at Kelvin. He had his long, long scythe in hand and was just about to charge in. Mel was seeing him off with a gentle smile on her face.

They already seem to have the fight in hand. They don’t really need his help, do they?

::Unfortunately, your dearest brother is afflicted with an incurable condition that makes it so that he just has to fight when he sees a particularly powerful opponent,:: Mel answered me telepathically as if reading my mind. ::He’s already done a good job holding himself back for so long today. He was trying to give everyone their turn. Looks like he’s about reached the end of his rope, though.::

I know that dearest brother has a unique disposition, since it’s general knowledge, but his condition is much more severe than I thought. Still, this is a good opportunity. I should take a good look at what skills everyone else has. Maybe it’ll give me some ideas!

◇ ◇ ◇

The fight was in the middle of shifting into the next phase just as I prepared to join the fray.

“Guruoaaarororo!”

After losing all five of its senses due to the slashes Alex had landed with Lethal, Diamante let out a roar that it couldn’t even hear while flailing around violently. Its tail smashed craters into the ground as its huge jaws crushed stone with each resounding snap. However, while its power was truly incredible, there was no way such haphazard attacks could land on any of them. As such, we weren’t particularly bothered.

“Aha ha!” Ange ducked beneath the monster’s tail and unleashed another stab with her dagger, Vicious Sword Carnage, a Rank S weapon that poisoned anyone who touched its blade with a toxin far worse than any that could be naturally applied. The more Diamante thrashed, the more the poison circulated throughout its body, steadily chipping away at its HP.

::It’s almost dead!::

::Don’t let your guard down just yet, lass! Beasts are most dangerous when they’re cornered!::

::Grrrrr!:: (Speaking of which, it’s doing something!)

Ange just happened to have retreated as part of her hit-and-run technique when Alex noticed the monster’s mask glowing faintly and warned everyone through the Network. The next instant, the light it was giving off exploded in intensity and burst forward.

BWOOOOON!

It was a super thick laser beam. Diamante began spamming blasts wherever its mask turned, paying no mind to the damage it was doing to the structural integrity of the cave. Having lost all its senses, the beast was now relying solely on intuition and detection skills while bringing all its power to bear.

::Ah, it’s switched to indiscriminately shooting blasts of highly concentrated mana when its beast-like close-quarters fighting style proved useless,:: Melfina commented.

::Will we be all right here?:: Shutola asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Several beams of light had smashed into the Sub-Zero Rampart that Melfina had thrown up. All the shaking and rumbling was making her a little anxious.

::There’s nothing to worry about. The blasts are strong, but this is nothing compared to Efil’s bombardment.::

::R-Really?::

Seeing as she’s gnawing on a drumstick while maintaining the barrier, I guess the answer is yes, really. Dignity as a goddess and all that aside...

Of course, just because those in the back were safe, it did not mean we were going to let Diamante continue rampaging around.

::Sit!::

::What Rion-chan said, doggie!::

Rion and Ange, the first two to successfully close in on the monster while dodging the randomly flying beams, promptly attacked it from above. First, Ange smashed a flying kick bolstered by multiple accelerations using Sky Walk down onto the monster’s head. Its entire bulk slammed into the ground as the beams firing from its mask fizzled out. Rion was immediately on hand to deliver a follow-up attack, having switched her weapon out for Caladbolg. The lightning crackling furiously along its length indicated that she had already cast Thunderclap Edge on it. With terrifying speed, she shattered the armor on all four limbs of the beast laid out on the ground. And the tail too, for good measure.

::Lightning Skewer!::

Thanks to Residual Slice, each thrust with Caladbolg left an invisible blade that served as an electric stake nailing Diamante to the ground. The electricity searing the beast from within combined with the effect of the deadly poison from earlier left it unable to move a muscle. To top things off, Alex used his shadows to tie down the massive form.

::All that’s left is this mask!:: Gerard’s greatsword whistled down with the intention of finishing the monster off.

CLAAANG!

::What?!::

The large blade had bounced off, failing to leave a scratch even with the knight’s incredible strength. Just as I was wondering what material the mask could possibly have been made of to repel even him, it started glowing again.

::How is it so tough?! My hands are all numb!::

Leaving aside the question of whether an empty suit of armor could actually feel numbness, it was finally time for my turn.

If it was going to come down to this, I should have just stood in the front at the start. Oh, but I wanted to let Rion and the others gain experience. What a difficult call... But never mind! Gotta focus!

I strode forward. Gerard, let me.

::Mm? However— Ah, I see. Yes, please go ahead.::

After watching Gerard take a step back, I raised Boreas Death Scythe and swung it. The curved blade dug into the mask that had proven impervious to all other attacks so far.

“Guroooooh?!”

Like a knife through butter, my weapon bisected the mask with no resistance whatsoever, sending it flying through the air. To my surprise, the traditional karajishi face that was exposed had, in its forehead, a resplendent yellow gem. It looked entirely out of place.

Is that a Magical Jewel in its forehead? The highest quality ones are made from diamonds, but that doesn’t look like diamond. Is it something else?

::Kel-nii! Even without the mask, the jewel is glowing!::

Ah, maybe the beam wasn’t coming from the mask but from this Magical Jewel. That means the mask was actually a shield to protect this source—

::I just said the jewel’s glowing! There’s no time to calmly analyze it! It’s dangerous!::

Hm? Nah, don’t worry. Efil’s already finished making her preparations.

Right at that moment, Efil dispelled Covert Action, appearing at the edge of the wall where she had been lying in wait.

::Blessing of the Flame Dragon King for extra fire elemental damage, Blue Flame to negate all elemental resistance, Rank S Red Magic spell Bursting Heat to double the damage dealt upon impact, and concentrating the mana to increase the arrow’s penetrative capability— All ready. I can fire at any time, Master.::

The bow that Efil was drawing, Penumbra, was enveloped with fiercely roaring azure-colored flames. There was so much fire that it seemed to make the bow look much larger than it actually was. That’s not a bow anymore; it’s a ballista.

Efil, I’m grabbing the Jewel first, I said through the Network. Then feel free to serve it up however you want.

I swung my scythe to cut off the shining gem on Diamante’s forehead, then used Air Pressure to sink its face into the ground. Of course, I could have finished things then and there by myself, but I wanted to see how powerful Efil’s attack had become.

::Understood, Master. Tonight’s main dish will be meat loaf!::

Uh, that’s not really what I meant, but...it sounds delicious, so I’m all for it! Okay, time to back off. I need to tell everyone to retreat... Okay, done. Go for it, Efil!

::Melting Blaze Arrow.::

The attack that she immediately unleashed was the most powerful I had ever seen from her.

◇ ◇ ◇

Instead of going with Kelvin and the others, Sera went out to have a stroll around the capital of Gaun with Goldiana and Grostina. The trio of friends, composed of a beauty and two beasts, greatly enjoyed each other’s company as they shopped for clothes and checked out delicious pastries. And behind them was Dahak, following the group like a stalker, the last element of this curiously adolescent scene.

Or at least, that was how Dahak had expected the day to go when he came outside hoping to catch a glimpse of Goldiana in casual wear. However, his assumptions could not have been more wrong. As it turned out, Sera’s plan for the day did not involve playing.

“That’s good, Sera-chan. Keep going, keep circling that ki inside your body.”

“Sister dear, this girl really is a genius!”

“Dahak-chan, you need to calm your thoughts more. Your agitation and impatience is coming through.”

“R-Right, okay...”

Goldiana, Grostina, Sera, and Dahak were currently at the main dojo established by the Wild Beast Style School—the one that taught iai quick draw—in the capital. This was also the place where Roma, the man Kelvin had defeated in the first round of the tournament, taught students as a senior instructor. Naturally, there were plenty of Wild Beast Style students in a place like this. All of them were now sitting against the wall, staring closely at what was going on.

Sera, who didn’t seem to mind, was practicing forms in the middle of the room, clad in a gi. Even though her motions were slow and measured, rivulets of sweat were streaming down her face. Her eyes were dead serious, her concentration sharpened to the limit. It wasn’t that she didn’t mind the stares; she had simply banished them from her mind long ago.

Uh, why am I doing this right now? Dahak thought, confused. He was doing his best to imitate what he was seeing from his position next to Sera, but his movements were awkward and clumsy.

In the first place, he didn’t even understand the point of the display. This morning, he had taken the idea of Sera heading out to join Goldiana and Grostina at face value and started tailing her as soon as she left the inn. When he saw her walking into this place, he had snuck inside in pursuit. Everything was fine until Sera’s sharp intuition had picked up on his presence.

“Oh, you’re here for training too, Dahak?” she had asked.

“Y-Yeah! Actually, I am!”

The dragon deeply regretted the answer he had blurted out at the time. As the saying went, the mouth was the source of disasters; trying to get through a tricky situation with a random reply had blown up in his face. What had followed was a training session under Goldiana’s supervision that focused less on how to move one’s body and more on how to manipulate ki.

For Dahak, who never really relied on martial arts while fighting, all this talk was going in one ear and out the other. It was only through the power of love that he managed to stick it out until the very end. He still wasn’t actually learning anything, though.

But hey, I got to see Prettia-chan in a gi, so I’d call this a win!

He might not have learned anything, but he was satisfied.

“Sister dear, Sera-chan’s ki...”

“Mm-hm, I sense it too.”

Dahak’s struggles aside, Goldiana and Grostina had just noticed a change that Sera was undergoing. The ki that she was wearing had begun adopting a more vivid hue—a beautiful ruby red that throbbed with life as if it were blood. It was only a thin aura on her skin at the moment, but it was clear enough that even the Wild Beast Style students could see it.

“That...is not the basic red, is it, sister dear?”

“That’s right. It’s not just any red—it’s redder than red. It’s so vibrant! She’s shot right past the basics and has found her own color. Sera-chan has already made Goldia her own!”

Suddenly, Sera exhaled sharply and fell on her behind. “Phew! I can’t hold it any longer!” The red aura around her dissipated. “Gosh! It’s so hard! If I move fast, it just scatters! Maintaining it is so tiring!”

“Hon, being able to get that far in half a day is not just good, it’s so incredible that I want to admit you as a full master!” Goldiana exclaimed. “It takes normal people much, much longer just to develop a feel for ki.”

“Really?” Sera seemed to regain her confidence in the blink of an eye. “This training is quite similar to what Viktor taught me, so it’s pretty easy to follow!”

Goldiana smiled. “That’s a good teacher you had. Make sure to thank him properly!”

“You know how long it took me to move on from basic red and discover my color, Violet Fairy?” Grostina cut in, tears of emotion welling up in her eyes. “More than a decade! So what I mean to say is...Sera-chan, you’re just so wonderful!”

Sera smiled wryly. “I’m sure it isn’t that big a deal.”

“And Roma-chan, sorry for barging in and borrowing the place on such short notice,” Goldiana said, bowing towards the man sitting at the far end of the dojo.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Roma replied, waving a hand dismissively. “Rather, I should be thanking you. The world-famous Peach Ogre came to my dojo and held a lesson, allowing not only me but also my disciples to watch. I’m sure seeing so many finalists from the Beast King Festival gathered here has been quite a stimulating experience for them.”

“Thank you for saying so, dearie.”

“That said, I see they’re all looking where they’re not supposed to. Perhaps this has been a bit too stimulating.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“Are you really going to make me say it? Well, you know...it’s the...chest area. It’s pretty impactful, even behind the gi.”

Two rough, manly voices screamed girlishly as thick arms came up to cover even thicker pecs. The sight was so terrifying that one of the disciples dashed off to the washroom, hands clapped over his mouth. There was one person who leaned forward as if he enjoyed it, but he was definitely the outlier.

“That’s not what I meant. Impactful, true, but no.”

Sera suddenly tilted her head. A curious “Hm?” escaped her lips, prompting Goldiana to ask, “What happened?”

“Uh...I thought I just felt an incredible power northwest of here. It was like flames from hell...with really fragrant meat sizzling on the grill?”

“That sounds extremely specific, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Well...I’m sure I just imagined it! It’s about time for me to head back.”

Sera’s intuition was, most times, more accurate than even she herself knew. However, her attention had already moved on.

“That’s fine and all, but you’ll be heading out again tonight as soon as Kelvin-chan returns, right? Are you sure you don’t want to take a bath first? You’re all covered with sweat, Sera-chan.”

“Oh, you’re right. You want to join me, Goldiana?”

All the disciples and Dahak shot to their feet with a crash. Roma clutched his head, wondering if this overreaction was due to the abstemious way he ran the school.

“My! What a wonderful idea!” Grostina gushed. “Sister dear, do let’s all go in together! We can have a girls’ party in the hot spring!”

Goldiana, however, did not look as enthusiastic. “We truly appreciate the offer, Sera-chan, but Kelvin-chan might not. Grostina, as those aiming to become the perfect maidens, we have to always look beyond what’s ahead, seeing farther than anyone else.”

“Dear oh dear, how thoughtless of me! Sera-chan, on second thought, I’m afraid I have to harden my heart and say no. You belong to Kelvin-chan, after all!”

“O-Okay. That’s a pity.” Sera accepted the towel being proffered and wiped her sweat with it, blushing slightly from the last thing Grostina had said.

“By the way, where do you plan on going tomorrow?” Goldiana asked. “You’re returning to Parth the day after, aren’t you?”

There were only two days left on this “company trip” that seemed to have lasted so long. It was about time the group ran out of places to visit. However, Sera did not hesitate for a second. Their destination had been decided long ago.

“We’re going to the Village of Elves so that Efil can visit her family!”

“Oh my! That sounds wonderful! I’ve been in Elder Nellas’s care so many times. Tell him I said hi.”

“Will do. Ah, should I wash my gi before returning it?” Sera asked, pulling open the collar of her outfit a little.

Multiple disciples said in unison, “No need! We’ll wash it for you, so just return it as—”

“You can keep it,” Roma interrupted. “Feel free to use it when you train.”

“SIIIIIIRRRRRR!”

This heartrending cry apparently managed to compel a slight loosening in the previously strict, austere lifestyle of the Wild Beast Style School.

◇ ◇ ◇

After finishing off Diamante in the Cavern of the Divine Beasts, my party headed back to the capital to pick up Sera, then flew to the Village of Elves on the backs of the dragons.

As a visiting gift, we had Divine Pillar meat loaf within Clotho’s Storage, a truly one-of-a-kind delicacy. However, we could only travel part of the way by air. When the Forest of Crests drew near, we found a random place to land and switched to walking on foot.

“Brother, why’re we walking now?” Dahak asked in a slightly peeved tone. “I could have taken you straight there.”

Did he want to fly more or something? But nah, we can’t do that.

“The elves in this village fled here after the Flame Dragon King destroyed their old home. If giant dragons like you or Boga suddenly approached from the sky, it’d give them a fright, to put it mildly.”

The same consideration now had Boga and Mdofarak resting inside my magic pool.

“Whoa, he did that? From what my shitty old man told me, the Flame Dragon King does have a really short fuse.”

Oh right, Dahak’s father is the Darkness Dragon King. His home is in Abyssland, a place where demons live. That’s where Sera grew up, and it’s supposedly underground somewhere in this world. We’re visiting Efil’s home today, but maybe we should also make time to visit Sera’s too. Speaking of which, I wonder if Dahak’s father would be willing to fight me if I asked him to.

Rion patted Dahak’s back. “Efil-nee doesn’t get to come back all that often. Just think of this as a stroll and take in the sights.”

“Might as well, I guess. A little walking never hurt nobody.”

“Thank you, Hak-chan. I’ll make you whatever you want afterwards,” Efil promised.

“Brother, I’m going ahead! Right now, I feel like I could walk around the entire world!”

The dragon soon disappeared into the greenery ahead.

Dude, how impatient are you to eat Efil’s food? The monsters might not be as vicious anymore now that the Demon Lord is dead, but the barrier around the village should still be in place. If you get too far away, you’re gonna get lost.

“What?!” Rion exclaimed indignantly. “Why does only Hak-chan get a snack?! Efil-nee, what about me? I really feel like having a hamburger patty right now!”

“Then hamburger patty you will have.” Efil smiled. “I’ll even make you fried shrimp and omelet rice to go with it.”

“Really?! Yay! Watch me beat Hak-chan, then!”

After cheekily putting in her menu request, Rion took off after Dahak.

That’s basically the standard menu for a child’s meal, isn’t it? Then again, I suppose we do still treat her like one sometimes. She usually eats whatever is served and isn’t picky, so it wouldn’t hurt entertaining a little willfulness every once in a while. But where did the talk about enjoying the sights go? When did things turn into a race with Efil’s cooking as the prize?

As I gazed in the direction Dahak and Rion had gone with a wry smile on my face, I felt Ange tugging on my sleeve.

“Kelvin, may I join the race too?”

“Seriously? That’s a bit immature, isn’t it?”

Racing aside, you just have to ask and Efil will make whatever you want! Look at Melfina—she’s already gone to Efil in person. As always, our goddess sure is living life to the fullest.

◇ ◇ ◇

We made our way through the elves’ barrier the same way we had last time. The direction we picked was clearly correct as, after a short while, we reached the place just by going straight. The black walls that I had erected with Adamantite Rampart in preparation for repelling the Trycenian attack soon appeared up ahead.

“You there, stop!” shouted a voice from one of the watchtowers.

Wow, déjà vu.

“This forest is protected by mag— Wait, is that you, Kelvin-san and Efil-san?!”

“Hey there. It’s been a while. Is Elder Nellas in?”

“P-Please wait a moment! I’ll bring him out even if I have to drag him myself!”

“Um, we’re not in that much of a hur—”

“We’ll get him out here! Runner! To me, runner!”

“Uh, okay then.”

Is it me or is this guy’s treatment of the Elder a bit terrible?

“What?! Kelvin-dono came to visit?! And Efil-san is here too?! A feast! Everyone, drop what you’re doing! We’re having a feast tonight!”

Dude, your voice is so loud, I can hear it on the other side of your village walls. And just how fast do you run? Looks like there was no need to drag you out after all. Though it does seem like a weird switch was flipped inside him.

Boom boom boom!

Right after I heard Nellas’s shout, a furious rumbling went up behind the village gate. A sense of foreboding rose within me.

“Thank you for waiting! It’s been, what, a few days since we last met? We’re already done with the preparations for the feast! What a happy day it is today! Let’s drink till dawn!”

“Uh, there was almost no waiting. You pretty much came right out.”

Did your personality change again, Nellas-san? I was pretty surprised during the other Beast King Festival, but don’t you love alcohol a bit too much? And how on earth could the villagers prepare an entire feast so quickly?!

“The Elder has spoken! Everyone, bring out all the wine and food you have! It’s a festival! Tonight’s a festival!”

A roar of cheers rose from the village, indicating that the residents were very much looking forward to drinking. The faces that we could see through the open gates all bore broad grins of excitement.

Uh, have the elves always been like this? It’s not the Elder who’s just an anomaly? I normally only have Efil to interact with, so I’d gained an image of elves as being quiet and modest. All I’m seeing now is a group of people who love festivals way too much. You guys just want an excuse to drink, right? The sun’s still high up here!

“You! Make sure that Gerard-dono’s stage is ready too!”

“No need to tell me twice, Nellas-san! It’s not a proper party without it!”

Huh?! Stop it. Put that back.

Efil giggled. “Everyone looks so happy, Master.”

“R-Right, they sure do...”

Naturally, I snapped Efil’s angelic smile with my mental camera to commit it to permanent storage, but worry was my dominant feeling at the moment.

That stage and Gerard running his mouth is the main reason my entry in the Adventurer Directory included the stupid lie about me being called “War Poet,” right?!

“Well, there’s no point chatting out here! Come on in, Kelvin-san. Come on in.”

“Thank you. Go easy on me, yeah?”

“What are you saying?! We have to go all out, of course!”

Ugh! You craven, you really do plan on humiliating me after all!

“Coming in!” Rion said cheerfully as she walked past me.

“E-Excuse me, I’m coming in too,” Shutola mumbled shyly. “Ah, don’t leave me behind, Rion-chan!”

Sera frowned. “Strangely, I don’t really remember this place all that well. Was I feeling under the weather or something?”

Gerard cackled. “Oh no, lass, you were in top form!”

Everyone filed into the village, leaving me alone with my worries. The last one to pass me, Efil, turned around and held out a hand. “Let us head inside too, Master.”

“Yeeeaaaah. Okay, let’s go in.”

I headed in with trepidation as Efil pulled me along.

◇ ◇ ◇

The night deepened. Having somehow weathered the feast held in the village square, I was now taking a small break on top of the wall with Efil and Ange. Just like last time, Sera had been knocked out early on. Rion had tended to her for a while but then soon fell asleep with Shutola. Gerard was still very much in the middle of drinking and merrymaking in the crowd surrounding Elder Nellas. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the speech platform met an untimely demise and was gone without a trace. The cover-up work was perfect.

“I had so much fun!” Ange thrust out both hands, a slight blush and a blissful smile on her face. “I never knew the elves were all so friendly and nice!”

“I suppose you can call them friendly,” I laughed. “They’re very different now from when we first met them. Maybe this is their natural state.”

“I’m glad they liked the meat loaf I made.”

“I saw a few of them crying while renouncing vegetarianism.” I’m sure it’s fine, right? I mean, it’s not like all elves are vegetarians; it’s just a minority, really. Efil has no problem eating meat either. Well, let’s just say that meat, too, is natural providence. What a convenient term it is, heh.

“This trip is almost over...” Efil clenched a fist as if to psych herself up. “When we get home, I must first clean every last nook and cranny!”

“Aha ha, you’re so diligent, Efil-chan!” Ange giggled.

And the first thing I have to do when I get back is go with Ange to resign from the guild. Ugh, my stomach is hurting just thinking about it.

Just as the atmosphere relaxed, Ange adopted a serious face. “So...we’re returning to Parth through the teleportation gate, right?”

I blinked. “I mean, that’s the plan, yes. It’s a lot faster than riding the dragons, though I suppose I would have to be wary of the Beast King when we leave.”

“There’s someone else you should be even more wary of than the Beast King. It’s, well...there’s something I have to tell you about Guildmaster Rio.”