Chapter 71

"Ahem."

Julien cracked open the wooden box with a mischievous look, peeked at what was inside, and snapped it shut.

The clack of wood striking wood drew Edwin's and the sky fox siblings' eyes straight to him.

"……."

Basking in the attention, Julien let a playful glint settle into his gaze and swept a slow look around.

Then he smiled and held the box out toward the seat across from him.

"Mikhail should have this one."

Mikhail stared at the box hovering in front of him, then lifted his eyes to Julien.

That was when Edwin lurched forward from the side.

"Huh? Why? Why's he the only one who gets something? What about meee?"

Julien answered as though the reason were obvious.

"What do you mean, 'why'? Mikhail played the biggest role in getting us through this mission in one piece."

"Hey, don't sell me short like that! I made a huge difference too! If I hadn't been holding onto that monster's tail, huh? You think Mikhail could've taken it down? Obviously he would've— gkghghk!"

Julien jabbed Edwin hard in the ribs, that carefree grin never leaving his face.

Edwin crumpled instantly, whimpering and rubbing his side.

Julien turned back to Mikhail. A gentle smile flickered across his violet eyes.

"Take it. Lord Joseph will love it."

Mikhail held Julien's gaze for a moment, then nodded slowly. He reached out, took the box, and lifted the lid.

Clink.

Inside sat a bottle of fine wine.

〈Consumable: Special Vintage Wine, Cuior Year 52〉

[An exceptionally rare wine of which Colton Winery produces only three or four bottles per year. Crafted exclusively from the finest grapes under the meticulous care of a master vintner. Regarded as one of the kingdom's finest delicacies by its most discerning connoisseurs.]

Mikhail closed the lid again before long and tilted his head slightly toward Julien.

"How'd you know my father likes this?"

Julien rolled his eyes as if sorting through his thoughts, then scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

"Well… apparently it was the only thing he ever drank when he visited our estate. I overheard the servants talking about it."

Mikhail narrowed his eyes and studied Julien.

His gaze lingered on Julien's fingertips as they rubbed the back of his neck.

But he pulled his eyes away just as quickly. Without adding a word, he gave a simple nod.

Then he turned his gaze toward the window.

"……."

A dusky twilight was creeping down from the horizon.

Like currents spilling from the most distant headwaters, the trailing edges of night flowed earthward.

Mikhail traced those dark, blue-black ribbons back to their origin.

Past the open wilderness and ocean currents, all the way to the uttermost reaches—the brutal frozen wasteland at the end of the world.

The eternal homeland of white, governed by the great mage Joseph Senit.

"……."

Mikhail lowered his eyelids and cast his mind back.

Come to think of it, he'd received a letter from Joseph not long ago.

…Considering what lay ahead, it wouldn't hurt to kill two birds with one stone.

Sending a reply along with the wine seemed like a fine idea.

---

"Uuuugh… finally back. I'm dead on my feet."

It was evening by the time they reached the academy.

Mikhail glanced at Edwin stretching and groaning in the opposite seat, then gathered his things.

The scenery drifting past the window was gradually slowing.

Clack.

The carriage rolled to a stop at the platform near the main gate. Mikhail grabbed his bags and stepped out first.

While Julien and Edwin climbed down one after the other, he took in the darkened grounds and let his thoughts run.

The first mission had wrapped up with solid growth and connections that would prove useful down the line.

And the same would be true for Ethan.

He'd gain elemental attributes for his mana, his stats would climb, and his bonds with his teammates would deepen.

His stats weren't so low that he couldn't fight. He'll have grown a decent amount by now.

Mikhail tilted his head and moved on to the next subject.

That aside, if I want the next mission to go smoothly, this week needs to be intense training. For me, for Julien, and for Edwin too.

He slid his eyes toward the presence beside him.

Edwin had stepped off the carriage loaded down with parcels and was inspecting each one, worried something inside might have gotten damaged.

Then, as if sensing the stare, Edwin turned his head.

"Wh-what? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Their eyes met and Edwin flinched, blinking rapidly.

A beat later, something seemed to click. He jolted, his face twisting with dread, and the words tumbled out in a panic.

"N-no! No! Don't tell me! You're about to say something crazy again, aren't you! Forget it! For the next day— no, two days, don't even think about making me do anything! I'm sleeping! I'm sleeping in as long as I want!"

Edwin stomped his feet and bolted. But he seemed to remember something almost immediately.

He spun around, stared back at them for a long moment, swallowed hard, and called out.

"—Anyway! Get home safe! See you later!"

With his farewell delivered, Edwin strode off toward the dormitory. The sound of his footsteps faded into the distance.

"……."

Mikhail watched him go, then tilted his head and folded his arms.

"Ah, haha. Edwin must be really exhausted."

Julien was the first to break the silence.

Mikhail shifted his gaze from straight ahead and found Julien smiling awkwardly beside him.

Julien darted his violet eyes sideways to gauge Mikhail's reaction, scratching his cheek as he added.

"Were you… going to say something to Edwin? If it's a little awkward for you to call him back, I could go grab him."

"No. It's fine. Let him rest for now."

Mikhail shook his head, then turned his gaze once more toward Edwin's retreating figure.

The small shape moving briskly through the dark had already vanished from sight.

Mikhail let out a thoughtful hum. He unfolded his arms and let the corner of his mouth curve upward.

"The thing I need him for won't come up for another three days anyway."

---

A night passed, and the following morning arrived.

Mikhail headed to the request office with Julien to file their mission completion report for Colton Winery.

"Hey, Mikhail."

They were a dozen paces or so from their destination.

Mikhail glanced toward Julien, who had leaned in and broached the topic carefully.

Julien wore an uneasy smile, his hand drifting to the back of his neck.

"So, um… would it be okay if I gave the report documents a final look-over and submitted them myself? I mean, you've been working so hard this whole time! You could just sit back and relax while I handle—"

The reason behind the offer was transparent. He didn't want a high score drawing unwanted attention.

Mikhail studied Julien for a moment, then looked away and answered flatly.

"You're trying to keep your name off anything worth big points. Right?"

"……."

"Don't worry about it. I've already taken care of it."

No reply came right away. But after a brief pause, a slightly husky voice followed.

"Yeah. Thanks."

Mikhail pushed open the door to the request office and stepped inside.

The room was quiet. Students returning from missions all arrived at different times, and it was still early morning on top of that.

Mikhail made a few adjustments to the report, then picked up the briefing document for their next mission.

〈58. Location: Lakeside City of Elfensia〉

[Twice a year, a prayer festival is held at the lake on the outskirts of Elfensia, offering wishes for peace and well-being. However, this year's festival is expected to draw larger crowds than usual, and additional personnel are needed to assist with operations.]

[1. Ensure smooth operations and safety from the preparation phase through the conclusion of the prayer festival.]

[Full Resolution Reward: 50pt]

Mikhail read the words on the page and thought.

About the useful footholds planted throughout Elfensia. The people he'd encounter. The enemies he'd need to defeat and the new rewards he'd earn, the elemental attributes that would be imbued into his mana. And—

"Elfensia. Departure's in a week. I wonder how exciting this one's going to be. Right?"

Mikhail turned toward Julien, who was reading through the same briefing beside him and chattering away.

"?"

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Julien soon looked up to meet his eyes.

Their gazes locked.

But Mikhail broke away before long. He let out a small sigh and dropped his head back to the documents.

"It's nothing."

Mikhail filled out the completion report and a new mission application, then submitted both at the desk.

Everything went through without a hitch.

All three of them—Mikhail included—were now registered for the new mission to Elfensia.

"……."

There was nothing left to take care of. Mikhail dipped his head to the clerk and turned from the counter.

He picked up one extra copy of the mission briefing, then looked at Julien standing beside him.

"Julien. You remember we promised to train together, right?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Good. Then let's start tomorrow. And also—"

Rustle.

Mikhail held out the document he'd just picked up.

Julien glanced between Mikhail's face and the paper, then cocked his head in puzzlement.

Mikhail spoke slowly.

"Could you take this to Edwin and let him know to be at the outdoor training grounds the day after tomorrow? I've got somewhere I need to be."

"Oh, sure. Got it."

Julien agreed without hesitation and took the document.

But then he paused mid-motion, shifted his gaze to Mikhail's face, and asked.

"By the way, where are you headed?"

Mikhail gave Julien a sidelong glance, hummed to himself, and tapped his chin.

Then, retracing the route in his head, he answered in an unhurried drawl.

"The facility rental office… and the stationery shop."

---

CRASH!

Amid dense undergrowth, Ethan hauled in ragged breaths and stared down the massive beast before him.

A deer with elongated, twisted horns warped beyond recognition and razor-sharp molars—it struggled to hold itself upright, a seething growl rumbling from deep in its throat.

Creak. Creak.

Ethan steadied his breathing and gripped his sword again.

He crushed shattered plant stems and golden crystals underfoot as he closed in on the beast.

His companions called out warnings from behind, one voice after another.

But Ethan knew the creature posed no further threat.

"……."

He stopped short of his enemy.

From the beast's heaving chest, small golden crystals were forcing their way through with a sickening crunch.

Ethan fixed his gaze on the crystals and raised his sword.

FWING!

It was over in an instant. The blade—its surface alive with countless flecks of silver light—fell.