At the moment the giant serpent appeared before her eyes, Klaha had already drawn her sword.

Ziel wasn’t here. That meant she had to take the vanguard herself—no, she wanted to. With that resolve, she unsheathed her sword and stepped forward, shielding the other five behind her.

However, the magical beast before her was overwhelmingly powerful, far beyond what her own physical strength could handle.

So, she relied on the technique that had been devised specifically for her.

“—〈Blow, strong and fierce〉—”

She uttered the incantation in a single breath. A spell to strengthen her body. A spell to sharpen her weapon. A spell to cloak herself in wind and use it for propulsion. Yet, all of them were still incomplete. Without a proper incantation, this crude, hastily constructed chant wasn’t anywhere near refined enough to be seen as legitimate magic.

Even so.

Her first goal was to draw the serpent’s attention. That was supposed to be the starting point.

With that thought, she dashed forward—

“Mi—ke—!?”

Halfway through, she realized something.

The magic surging through her was far beyond what she had invoked.

Not twice or three times as much. Not even ten or twenty times.

Perhaps even more.

Why? She turned back in surprise—and the answer became clear.

Lililia, the expert in holy magic.

Wilae, the vice director of the Great Library, who was surely well-versed in wind magic.

The two of them were standing behind her.

“You got this!”

“We’re counting on you.”

Klaha could barely react to their words.

The immense magic. The sheer brilliance that enveloped her, making it hard to believe it was the same spell she had cast.

From here, things were simple.

“Uwah—!”

With an utterly clumsy motion, her sword sliced through the summer air.

“It’s amazing. To be able to wield an Unfinished Sword technique that well in such a short time… That’s truly incredible. No, really… it’s unbelievable. It took me three years, you know?”

“No, really, it was just luck.”

Ever since then, Ziel had been like this. Klaha had long passed the point of embarrassment or jotting things down in her “Good Things Notebook.” Instead, she was simply coming to terms with the fact that, “This guy is really something else…”

Time passed, and the sun began to set.

After a full day of exploration, they stopped in the sea of trees. Roylen cast a spell related to the surrounding trees, turning a slightly open space into a much larger clearing where the eight of them could set up camp.

Roylen and Lililia worked together to fortify the area, reinforcing their defenses.

Dewey and Ney, at the center of the camp, were tending to the fire, pulling out cooking utensils, and bickering.

Wilae and Eunice were on the outskirts of the camp, preparing the ingredients—

And Klaha, too, was at the camp’s edge.

Following Roylen’s instructions, she was cutting up the gathered ingredients with practiced precision.

Right beside her, someone kept talking.

“I’ve thought this for a while, but your growth rate is incredible. You already had a foundation, so I figured things would click into place and expand rapidly, but this is beyond my expectations—oh, and Chikano said the same thing, so it’s not just my personal impression. Still, it’s more than I imagined. It’s not just swordsmanship; you can use a bow, magic, and even holy magic. It’s like you have a talent for making the most of what you have. That kind of ability takes time to develop later on, so having it polished to this extent already is really impressive—”

It was Ziel.

Klaha was nervous, wondering if he was really okay.

He was using a knife, slicing ingredients just like her.

He had said, “Using blades is the only thing I’m good at,” and, “That’s why I’ll handle the chopping.” Indeed, his technique was impeccable. (In fact, if he could do this step so well, wouldn’t he be able to cook certain dishes just fine? Like simple salads.)

But he was clearly too focused on talking. Watching from the side, Klaha couldn’t help but feel uneasy. She kept picturing the knife suddenly slipping and slicing into his fingers, and she couldn’t shake the constant image of a blade dropping straight onto his hand. She wondered which would win—his knife-handling skills or his sheer physical resilience.

“Um, Ziel…”

And, also—

“The wind came from Wilae, and the sharpness of the blade was thanks to Lililia… so…”

She was simply getting too embarrassed from all the praise.

Klaha had already learned in the eastern country that this was just the kind of person Ziel was.

It wasn’t that he only spoke this way to her—he was like this with everyone.

He was the textbook example of someone who encouraged people through praise. When he helped instruct at the dojo, Chikano once muttered, “When he’s around, our student retention rate is way better…” Klaha also remembered how their eyes met right after that, and how Chikano had patted her shoulders, saying, “Well, it works out, doesn’t it? As long as we balance each other out.”

Even though they had only spent a few months together, Klaha felt like Ziel had already praised every aspect of her existence.

And that’s exactly why she had something on her mind.

“It wasn’t really my own achievement, so… let’s leave it at that.”

She reminded herself not to let it go to her head.

Being praised felt nice, and understanding her strengths helped with her swordsmanship—helped with discovering the Secret Sword in both Ziel’s and her own style.

But because of that—

Because of that, she had to clearly distinguish between what he was genuinely praising as her strength and what he was just saying out of kindness.

“No, I think you’re seriously underestimating yourself.”

“Huh?”

As she was thinking that, Ziel countered without hesitation.

“Sure, it was a bit unpolished, but the fact that you managed to integrate all that support magic into an attack at all—that’s purely your own ability. You should be proud of that.”

That Unfinished Sword is a technique where balance is crucial, after all.

With an argument that left little room for rebuttal, I was given a solid, high evaluation.

“Besides, as long as you continue working as an adventurer, there will be many situations where you won’t be alone—where you’ll have to fight as part of a team. Being able to cooperate well with your allies at those times is an important skill in itself. Receiving what is given to you is actually incredibly difficult.”

And on top of that, I was given a very convincing explanation.

“…Understood. Thank you.”

“Good. Well, I’ve finished cutting this side, but is the next one okay?”

“Ah, no. Depending on the order, the cutting board could get dirty. Ziel-san, could you handle this fine chopping instead?”

“Got it.”

“…………”

Receiving what is given to you is difficult. However, Klaha—

The words that told her she should rightfully take pride in it,

She decided to take them in slowly, letting them settle within her heart.

“I ran out of things to do. Is there anything that needs washing—oh, Klaha-san! You were amazing today, that swoosh—like that!”

“Huh? Ah! Thank you, it’s all thanks to everyone’s support.”

“No, no. That was all you, Klaha-san. Ziel-kun would rather die than do that kind of thing. You have a broad heart, Klaha-san. At the very least, it’s wider than a cat’s forehead.”

“Doesn’t that mean my heart is smaller than a cat’s forehead, no matter how you look at it?”

“When you directly translate indirect remarks, that’s how conflicts arise between people, Ziel-kun.”

“The conflict already started long before that step.”

“…………”

And just like that, it was immediately brought up again.

Well, there were eight of them, after all.

Today was a good day, Ziel thought.

The investigation had progressed smoothly as planned. His companion—though he still wasn’t entirely comfortable calling her his apprentice—had displayed strength that matched her effort and ability. It was an ideal moment.

And on top of that—

“This is delicious.”

Even the food was exceptionally good.

The sun had completely set.

In the darkness of the forest, the crackling campfire at the center of their gathering was bright enough to make the summer night feel hot. The smoke rose in thin streams, slipping through the gaps between the trees’ branches, ascending into the star-filled sky where the moon was hidden.

Not only could they see each other’s faces clearly, but they could also see their hands well.

So, as Ziel moved his spoon, he carefully observed the contents of his plate.

Everything in it should have been ordinary.

Since he had helped prepare it, he knew—roots, leafy greens, a vividly colored fruit, and bird meat. All mundane ingredients—though, of course, the bird, once plucked of its feathers, was a familiar sight.

So when Roylen said, “We’re making a stew,” Ziel had a general idea of what to expect.

Yet what was served was different from what he had imagined.

“This has quite a complex aroma. The mix of spices…”

“Yes. I actually enjoy experimenting with things like this. Since we’ll be camping out frequently, I made a few adjustments.”

Roylen claimed he had only used ingredients readily available in the area, but the taste of the stew before them suggested something beyond mere foraging.

The deep reddish-brown color likely came from the red fruit they had picked. However, its scent was not dominated by that fruit alone. A blend of multiple spices had created a flavor so intricate that it was impossible to guess how it had been made.

It was not a taste one could achieve overnight.

Glancing up from his plate, Ziel saw that almost everyone was silently focused on their meal, as if appreciating its depth.

There was only one exception.

As soon as their eyes met, she made a displeased face and spoke.

“…Could you not let this get to his head?”

Ney.

Roylen’s assistant, and probably the person closest to him among the group. She pointed at him with genuine annoyance.

“This guy will throw anything into a pot as long as it’s not poisonous. Today we were near the shallows, so we only had familiar ingredients, but sometimes it’s truly a nightmare…”

“Failure and experimentation are what make a mage, Ney-kun.”

“I’m fine, thanks. I have no intention of becoming a mage like you.”

As long as she could eat safe and delicious meals every day, that was enough.

“You don’t understand,” Roylen muttered, trying to explain, but Ziel, listening to their exchange, simply assumed Ney must have a lot to deal with.

He turned his attention back to his plate.

“I’ll have another.”

“Same here.”

But before he could take another bite, two of them had already stood up and walked toward the pot a short distance away.

Eunice and Lililia.

They quickly scooped up more servings, their plates filling up with hearty portions. Even Klaha, whose plate was nearly empty, was noticed by Lililia, who eagerly served her another helping. Klaha looked quite pleased.

Watching them, Ziel felt a small sense of relief.

“What about you?”

And when you’re watching someone, there’s always someone watching you.

It was Dewey, sitting on Roylen’s other side.

His golden-haired companion didn’t seem particularly curious but still asked, “You’re still eating so little? I don’t get how you manage to keep up your strength.”

“Huh, Ziel-san eats small portions? That’s unexpected.”

The one who joined in was Wilae, sitting even farther down the row.

Unlike Dewey, she seemed genuinely curious, so Ziel gave the usual explanation he always did upon meeting someone new.

“Well… it’s not that I can’t eat more. If I wanted to, I could eat endlessly, but there’s no point. I just eat as much as I need.”

“The reason you don’t eat much is because ‘there’s no point’!? That’s hilarious.”

“Don’t laugh.”

“I suppose you have a high energy efficiency. Considering how much you moved around today, that amount should barely sustain you.”

“Actually, I’ve been starving for a while now,” Wilae added with a chuckle, patting her stomach.

"That being the case, I think I'll have another serving. Before it’s all gone."

"I’ll eat too. Not that I did any work today or anything."

"Ah, Dewey. Get me some too."

"Serve yourself."

"Not popular."

"At least say 'doesn't seem popular.' Don’t declare the result with a single move."

"Ah, Dewey. While you're at it, get me some too."

"You… well, fine. I'm the head cook, after all."

"And the assistant cook?"

The lively chatter.

That one phrase was enough to make the area around the fire even more animated.

Quite a lot, actually.

As Ziel scooped up the last remnants of the meal, he thought—

Today is a good day.

"I'm back~. Oh, Ziel-kun, looks like your plate’s about to be empty. Want me to refill it?"

"There's still plenty left. Should I get some for you?"

"No, I’m good. Thanks."

The two of them returned, gazing absentmindedly at the fire.

For a while, days like this would probably continue—

"Ziel-san,"

As he was thinking that,

"You're someone who smiles very gently."

Roylen suddenly said something like that.

"Huh,"

He hadn't expected it, so the sound just slipped out.

Because of that, it stood out even more, and all eight of them turned their attention to the statement.

"What…?"

"Ah, sorry. I blurted it out without thinking too deeply."

Like a pick-up line, huh.

The one who said it didn’t seem particularly embarrassed. Ney, sitting next to him, just looked exasperated, making it clear this was a regular occurrence. Lililia, on the other side, teased, "So popular~," and then there was Eunice—

Eunice, staring intently,

"Now that you mention it, Ziel’s casual smile is pretty nice."

"……"

"Look, he turned away."

"I can still see you. Want me to give live commentary?"

"……"

"Now he’s looking down."

"And thus, a tragic life begins."

"Don’t start that," Ziel said, pulling himself together a little. He tried to put on as stern an expression as he could and scraped up the last bite left on his plate with the tip of his spoon. He considered changing the subject, but since he wasn't particularly skilled in conversation, naturally, he went with—

"The 'Tremor'—could it be referring to a large magical beast?"

He steered the topic directly toward the investigation.

"You're guessing that from the giant serpent we saw this afternoon, right?"

Whether Roylen realized Ziel’s intent or not, he responded to the question head-on.

"It’s not impossible. However, based on my personal research so far, magical beasts of that size don’t cause the observed 'Tremor.'"

"It's that big of a difference?"

In the end, Ziel listened as Roylen spoke.

That deep, resounding tremor wasn't the phenomenon they were investigating. It wasn't on the same level. Which meant that even though they had come to investigate the 'Tremor,' they hadn’t actually encountered it at all today.

"Originally, it happened maybe once or twice every ten days. But lately, the frequency has increased, so I think it won’t be long before Ziel-san experiences it firsthand. Something much bigger and—"

"Bigger and?"

"Hmm," Roylen paused for a moment before continuing.

"If I had to describe it… an ominous feeling, perhaps? Though, I don’t have the power of foresight, so this is just my personal impression."

"But if Roylen is sensing that, there’s probably some truth to it. The church must have had their reasons for sending one of the Four Saints—Lililia, after all."

Wilae turned to Lililia.

Both of them continued chewing their food, never speaking while eating. As a result, their conversation had a unique, refined rhythm.

"Or maybe they just saw how hard I was working and decided to give me a vacation."

"Haha. If that’s the case, then at least it means we’re on a safe journey. That’s good news."

"By the way," Eunice whispered from the side.

"The Magic Federation also has people with the power of foresight, but unfortunately, they haven’t been functioning properly lately. With all the Apocryphal Beasts appearing everywhere, it’s hard to tell which predictions correspond to which crises."

"Well, whatever the case—"

The man who had just finished the last drop of his soup—Dewey—spoke as if his meal’s end also marked the conversation’s end.

"We won’t know unless we investigate. The terrain and bedrock here are already complicated enough, plus we’ve got a ton of mana spots. On top of that, there's even a Prehistoric Grand Ruin. Too many variables—there’s no way to make a solid conclusion at this stage."

"Personally," he added,

"If it's related to ruins, that’s exciting for a technician like me. And since the Vice Director of the Great Library is here, it looks like it'll be worth investigating."

He glanced at Wilae. She shrugged. Ziel repeated the words in his mind.

Ruins.

The remnants of an ancient civilization, hidden deep within this southern forest.

With that, the conversation naturally branched off in different directions.

Roylen spoke with Klaha and Ney—about continuing at this pace for now, about small improvements, practical matters, all discussed carefully.

Dewey talked with Wilae—about how much they could handle when it came to prehistoric artifacts, aligning their understandings, exchanging fragmented technical terms that outsiders wouldn’t understand.

"Ziel, Lililia."

And then, the three who remained.

Eunice tapped Ziel’s shoulder. Ziel looked at him. Without a word, Eunice raised his index finger toward the sky. He wasn’t looking at Ziel. He was looking up. So Ziel followed his gaze. Lililia probably did the same.

"Ah," "Oh."

That’s why they surely saw the same thing.

"Did you see it? A shooting star."

Ziel nodded. Eunice smiled.

Summer was sinking deep into the night.