No one's POV

A week has passed since Sora and the others had challenged the Raisen Gorge Labyrinth. The Brooke adventurer's guild's door opened with a cheerful clang. 5 people walked inside. Sora, Aishia, Hajime, Yue, and Shea, who had grown famous around the town.

As always, there were a few people sitting around inside the guild. A few of them raised a hand in greeting as Hajime and the others walked by. Many of the guys still gazed at Aishia, Yue and Shea with longing, and glared at Sora and Hajime with burning envy, but there was a distinct lack of malice in their stares.

In the week they'd spent back in Brooke, countless scores of men had tried to profess their love to Aishia, Yue and Shea, but they'd all been shot down. Some of them still remembered Yue's ball crushing incident, so instead of going to her directly, they had tried to get on Sora's and Hajime's good side first.

Hajime had, of course, ignored them entirely. The truly desperate ones had tried to challenge Sora and Hajime to a duel, only to find themselves on the receiving end of Hajime's rubber bullets. Many an unfortunate soul had found themselves spinning through the air and kissing the dirt by Sora's fist before they'd even drawn their weapon.

Catherine: Oh. You're that lads from way back. What brings you here today?

Old lady Catherine was manning the reception desk. The reason for Catherine's surprise was that this past week, Sora and Hajime had either come alone, or Aishia, Yue and Shea had visited as a trio.

Sora: Yeah. We're heading out tomorrow, but we wanted to come thank you for everything you've done for us first. Oh, and to see if there's any requests related to our destination.

That "everything" had included lending Sora and Hajime one of the guild's rooms for free. They had wanted to see what kind of stuff they could do by combining their newfound gravity magic with their creation magic, but they'd needed a wide open space for that. When Sora had come to Catherine to ask where he could find one of those, she'd offered to let him use one of the guild's rooms for free.

In the meantime, Aishia, Yue and Shea had been spending time outside the town training their gravity manipulation abilities.

Catherine: I see. Leaving already? Guess it'll get lonely here again. The town's been a lot livelier since you five returned.

Sora: Give me a break. I've had enough of peeping perverts, clothing store perverts, perverts begging Aishia, Yue and Shea to step on them, perverts stalking them and calling them 'onee-sama,' and idiots challenging me and Hajime to duels... This town's full of nothing but them. Seventy percent of the people I've met are perverts, and the other thirty are idiots... There's something seriously wrong with this place.

Sora complaints were more or less on the mark. Sona was one thing, but every time he'd gone to Crystabel's shop, he could feel a hungry gaze devouring him. There were also three factions in Brooke that were constantly feuding with each other. The first was the "I want to be stepped on by Yue-chan" faction, the second was the "I want to be Shea-chan's slave" faction, and the last was the "I want to become Aishia,-chan Onee-sama's apprentice" faction. Their names were rather self-explanatory, and the three factions were constantly competing for members.

Catherine: Now now, you can't deny things were interesting at least.

Sora: Interesting in a bad way, maybe.

Catherine: So, where are you headed next?

Sora: Fuhren.

They continued chatting idly while Catherine rifled through the requests, looking to see if any involved Fuhren. Fuhren was the independent merchant state Sora had read about when he'd first arrived. Sora's next destination was the Grand Gruen Volcano, which was located within the Gruen Desert. As the desert lay on the western edge of the continent, the trio had decided to make a quick stop in Fuhren, as it was on the way. Once they cleared the volcano, their next destination was the labyrinth located at the bottom of the sea, the Sunken Ruins of Melusine. Those were even further to the west, past the desert.

Catherine: Hmmm, oh, here we are. Found something. There's a merchant convoy looking for guards. They've got room for one more person... What do you think? Want to accept it?

Sora and Hajime scanned the document Catherine handed to them. Like she'd said, it seemed to be an escort mission. Their job would be to escort a medium-sized caravan, and it looked like they wanted around 15 guards. As Aishia, Yue and Shea still weren't registered adventurers, having one slot open was just perfect.

Sora: It's fine if I bring these three with us still, right?

Catherine: It should be alright. Bringing a large crowd with you would be a different story, but most adventurers bring along a porter or slave to carry their luggage anyway. Besides, Aishia-chan, Yue-chan and Shea-chan are quite strong. They're getting a steal, hiring all of you for the price of one. I'm sure they'd happily let them tag along.

Hajime: I see. Hmmm, what do you guys think?

Hajime turned around, seeking input from the three girls behind him. He'd personally been hoping for a delivery request. That way he'd be able to use his magic motorcycle to get them to Fuhren way faster than any caravan could. Purposely slowing down his pace just for a quest didn't really sound all that appealing.

Yue: We're not in any hurry.

Aishia: Yeah. Besides, it might be fun to travel with other adventurers for once.

Shea: And who knows, some of the veterans might be able to teach us a few things.

Sora: I suppose it's true we're not in any real hurry, and it might not be so bad traveling with others...

Sora nodded pensively and accepted the request. Like Yue had said, they were in no rush to conquer the labyrinths. Hurrying too much could lead to a fatal mistake, and Shea was right that some of the adventurers might be able to teach them useful tricks for the road ahead.

Catherine: Very well. I'll let them know, so make sure you're at the main gate first thing tomorrow morning.

Sora: You got it.

While Sora and Hajime was filling out the paperwork, Catherine shifted her gaze to Aishia, Yue and Shea.

Catherine: Make sure you take care of yourselves, alright? If this brat ever makes you cry, then make sure you drag him back here. I'll wallop him good for you.

Yue: Okay, we will.

Aishia: Thanks.

Shea: Bye, Catherine-san. Thanks for everything!

Aishia, Yue and Shea smiled at Catherine. Shea's smile especially was dazzling. The way Catherine and the people of this town had treated her had almost made her forget how beastmen were usually treated in human settlements. Naturally, not everyone had been so accepting, but Catherine, Sona, Crystabel, and even her fans had treated her like a normal girl. She wasn't sure whether more tolerant people just gravitated toward this town in particular, but to her this place had felt like a second home.

Catherine: You better not do anything that'd make these girls cry, you hear? Even if you manage to escape my wrath, God will surely punish you if you do.

Sora: Don't worry, I know.

Sora smiled wryly. Catherine handed him a piece of paper. Puzzled, Sora took it.

Catherine: I see some potential in you, so here you go.

Sora: What's this?

Catherine: A letter. If you get in trouble with a Guild in other towns, show it to them. It look like you five have got a huge burden to bear. Think of this as my apology for all the trouble the townspeople caused you. If you ever get into any trouble with the guild branches in the other towns, just show that letter to them. It'll help you out.

Catherine winked conspiratorially at Sora.

Sora(mind): Just who is this lady? One letter from her and even the adventurer's guild's upper management will fold?

Catherine: Oh, and don't ask me why. Every girl's entitled to a few secrets, don't you think?

Sora: Alright. Thanks for the help.

Catherine: Girls like an obedient man. I don't know what your future's got in store for you, but you better not die on me.

For an old guild receptionist working in a small town in the middle of nowhere, Catherine sure had a lot of mystery surrounding her. A contented smile split her lips as she watched Sora and the others leave.

(Timeskip)

The next morning. Reminiscing about the "pleasant" memories they'd had in this town, Sora and the others made their way to the main gate. They found the caravan manager waiting for them, along with the other adventurers who'd accepted the request. It appeared they were the last to arrive, so when they got there the other adventurers all broke into a clamor.

Asventurer 1: H-Hey, don't tell me the smashers are coming with us!?

Adventurer 2: No way! Man, I don't know whether to be happy or terrified.

Adventurer 3: God, my hand won't stop trembling.

Adventurer 4: That's just your withdrawal symptoms, man.

Some people were happy to see Aishia, Yue and Shea, others reflexively covered their balls, and yet others tried to blame their alcohol addiction on Sora and Hajime. Sora frowned as he approached. Once he was closer, the caravan manager called out to him.

???: You're the last guard, right?

Sora: Yep, here's the request paper.

Sora pulled out the form he'd filled out. The caravan manager glanced at it, nodded, and introduced himself.

More: My name is More Nos. I'm the leader of this expedition. I've heard from Catherine that you're a very accomplished adventurer even though your rank is still blue. I'm expecting good things from you.

Hajime: More Nos? Must be exhausting work, managing a caravan...

The caravan manager's name reminded Hajime of a certain energy drink. More tilted his head in confusion, but then replied with a smile.

More: I suppose, but I'm used to it now.

Hajime: Well, I'll try to live up to your expectations at least. The name's Hajime.

Sora : I am Sora. The three behind me are Aishia, Yue and Shea.

More: Glad to hear it... By the way, that rabbit girl of yours... you wouldn't happen to be interested in selling her, would you? I'd be willing to pay more than a fair price for her.

More looked over Shea appraisingly. Not only did she have pale hair, a rarity for the rabbitmen, she was quite the beauty. As a merchant, it was in his nature to try and obtain rare goods whenever possible. And he was quite the excellent businessman, discerning instantly that Shea must have been Sora's slave and moving right into negotiations.

Sora: You want me to sell Shea?

More: Yes. A demi-human with unusual blue hair and beautiful face... It's my first time seeing a product this rare.

Shea scowled unhappily and hid behind Sora. Aishia and Yue glared daggers at More. But from an objective viewpoint, More was simply doing what was natural for a businessman. Normally, one would assume any beastmen living outside the sea of trees had to be someone's slave. More wasn't to blame for his misconception.

More: Oh, she seems quite attached to you... I see that you must treat her well. I promise to treat her just as nicely, so what do you say?

Sora: You look like a shrewd businessman... I'm sure you already know what my answer is.

More tried to press onward, his hungry gaze fixated on Shea, but Sora curtly turned him down. A good judge of people, More could already tell Sora wouldn't part with her, but the thought of the profits he could reap made him unwilling to give up so easily. He thought frantically for anything he could use as a bargaining chip.

Sora could see where he was going with this, and repeated himself more firmly.

Sora: Even if the gods themselves asked, I wouldn't part with her... Understand?

More: Alright, I get it. I give up. Still, if you ever change your mind, please come to Nos' trading company first. Anyway, it's about time we set off. Ask the adventurer over there to fill you in on the details on the way.

Sora's words had been quite dangerous. Had the Holy Church heard his declaration, they would have branded him a heretic. Technically, even the Holy Church admitted there were gods other than the supreme ruler, Ehit, and that the demons worshiped a different one, so simply mentioning that there were other gods wasn't a heretical statement.

But the way Sora had phrased it, that all the gods were somehow equal, was borderline at best. That was why More had realized Sora was serious about never letting Shea go. But his enterprising spirit led him to still try one last futile attempt, and he urged Sora to come to his business first if he ever changed his mind.

Sora trudged over to the wagon where all the other adventurers were gathered. They were all watching him in awe as he approached.

Sora(mind): Everyone living in Brooke is a moron.

Suddenly, he felt something squishy press up against his back, and found himself being hugged from behind. When he looked behind him, he saw Shea resting her chin on his shoulder. She was blushing bright red and smiling triumphantly.

Sora: Look, there's no special meaning behind that, okay? Don't misunderstand.

Shea: Ufufufufu... I know. Ufufufu~

Sora had just meant that he would never abandon anyone important to him, but even when he said as much to Shea she didn't look convinced. After all, the man she loved had just said he'd fight the gods to keep her. Regardless of his intentions, that would still make any girl happy.

Aishia: Shea, are you happy?

Shea: Yes! Of course!

Aishia: Is that so... Thank you, Sora.

Sora: A promise is a promise...

(Timeskip)

Four days have passed since Sora and the others had left Brooke and on their way to Fuhren. During the way, some adventurers that accepted the Guild Request had tried to ask Aishia, Yue, and Shea to go out with them, only for them to got their balls crushed by Yue. More on the other hand was quite persistent in buying Sora's Time Space Cache, being a merchant and all, but Sora just turned him down. A mere day before they reached the safety of the city, some brigands interrupted their travels. Shea was the first to spot them. Or hear them, rather. Her rabbit ears picked up the sounds of movement coming from the forest that bordered the path, and she quickly called out a warning.

Shea: Enemy attack! They're coming from the forest! There's more than a hundred of them!

The adventurers all stiffened up. It was true that their path took them right next to the forest, but it shouldn't have been that dangerous a place. Especially considering that it led to the most renowned trading city on the continent. They would have taken pains to make sure the highways heading to it remained safe. True, people still encountered monsters on the path, but they usually didn't run into hordes of more than twenty, maybe forty at worst.

Gatirma: Shit, more than a hundred? I'd heard there hadn't been any monster attacks the past few weeks on the road... Could they just have been gathering their strength? Sheesh, you'd think the patrols would at least check the forest!

The captain of the guards, Gartima, grimaced and spat out a curse. They only had fifteen guards. Even if he counted Aishia Yue and Shea, that only brought the numbers up to eighteen. It didn't seem likely that they'd get out of the fight unscathed. They'd just get overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

Gartima called for all the guards to halt, hoping that if they tried to hold the horde back here the merchants at least might manage to escape. However, Hajime proposed an alternative solution.

Hajime: If you're worried, how about letting us kill them all?

Gatirma: Huh?

Hajime spoke casually, as if he was simply offering to go buy groceries. Stunned by how unbelievable a suggestion it was, Gartima could only manage a foolish questioning sound.

Sora: Like he said, just leave them to us. We'll wipe em all out.

Gatirma: B-But it'll be difficult just to protect the caravan as is... Umm, are you sure you can do it? The monsters that show up around these parts aren't that strong, but with that many...

Hajime: The numbers are no problem for us. Don't worry, Yue and Aishia will finish them in an instant.

Hajime put a hand on Yue's shoulder. Niether Yue nor Aishia didn't look very concerned either, choosing to simply affirm Hajime's statement. Gartima hesitated. He had heard the rumors about Aishia's and Yue's powerful sorcery. He presumed that even if they couldn't annihilate them all, with how confident Sora and Hajime looked they'd at least be able to whittle down their numbers a good deal. Perhaps it was worth letting them try instead of risking splitting their forces.

Gatirma: Alright. We'll do it your way. It's alright if you can't get them all, as long as you lower their numbers enough. We'll get as many as we can with our own magic after that, and hopefully there'll be few enough left that we can take them down. Got that, guys?

Adventurers: Yes sir!

The adventurers all shouted in unison. None of them believed Aishia and Yue could actually wipe them all out. There really isn't anything to worry about, though. Well I guess it makes sense from their perspective, since mages like Aishia and Yue aren't all that common.

The adventurers formed a defensive wall in front of the caravan. A mixture of determination and nervousness settled over their faces. There was no light banter to be had among them right now. Hajime had heard a lot about these veteran adventurers' travels, but it was only now that he fully appreciated how long they must have been doing this. The merchants were all timidly hiding inside their carriages, occasionally peeking out to see what

Sora: Aishia, Yue, I know you don't need to, but chant the spell. It'll be a pain to explain otherwise.

Yue: Chant... the spell?

Sora: Uhh, do you not know how to?

Aishia: Don't worry, it'll be fine.

Sora: That's only making me more worried...

Shea: Ten seconds until they reach us.

Sora had wanted to avoid any unnecessary questions, but as neither Aishia and Yue had never needed to chant a spell before, they weren't even aware of what the words were. It would have been fine if she'd just mumbled something random in a quiet voice, but the problem stemmed even deeper than that. It looked like she didn't even know that spells came with chants.

Shea's warning cut Sora off before he could explain. Aishia and Yue raised her right hand and pointed it at the forest.

Aishia and Yue: Illuminate the darkness with blinding crimson. Shatter the fetters of my eternal prison and break through all in thine path. We who would be the strongest call upon this power, and together we rend the heavens— Draconic Thunder!

The clouds that had gathered split apart as Aishia and Yue finished chanting. A fearsome dragon forged entirely of yellow and blue lightning descending from opening. It resembled a serpent as it snaked its way down to earth.

Adventurer 1: Wh-What the...

The adventurers whispered in awe. The adventurers ignored the incoming onslaught of monsters, their attention entirely focused on the lightning dragon. Even the mages in the party had never seen nor heard of a spell like this. Their mouths were hanging open in wonder as they watched. It wasn't just the adventurers who were looking up in awe, however. Even the bloodthirsty monsters stopped in their tracks and looked up, frozen in place by the sheer majesty of the dragon bearing down upon them. At Yue's signal, it opened its jaws wide and hurtled toward the army of monsters.

*Roooooooooooooooooar!*

The dragon's bore down onto a clump of monsters, swallowing them whole. Without even an opportunity to fight back, they were all incinerated. Then, at Aishia's command, the dragon coiled around itself, surrounding all of the monsters.

Any who tried to flee were consumed by the wall of lightning, leaving only ashes behind. The dragon opened its massive jaws once more. The monsters didn't even have time to feel pain before they were obliterated, some of them seemingly jumping into its maw of their own volition when they realized escape was impossible. The last thing they saw was the majestic dragon bearing down on them. Once they were annihilated, the dragon let out a thunderclap of a howl and dispersed into a thousand lightning bolts.

Fearing for their lives, the adventurers and merchants all screamed and dove to the ground. When the danger was finally past, they tentatively opened their eyes and looked around. Nothing remained. Only the charred ground gave any indication of the battle that had taken place here, if it could even be called that.

Yue: Hm. We overdid it.

Hajime: 😓 Oi, Oi...

Sora: -_- The hell, this is our the first time seeing a magic like that.

Yue: It's me and Big Sister's original spell.

Aishia: We combined lightning attribute magic with the one we got from Raisen, Gravity Magic.

Sora: -_- Okay... And about the chants.

Yue: Yeah... we modeled it after our meeting, and our future.

The area near its jaw was a gravitational field, which sucked in anything nearby. That was why it had looked like the monsters had leaped into it earlier. It took more mana than even the strongest advanced level spells to cast, but its power was proportionally more massive as well. It was clear Yue was proud of her achievement.

(Timeskip)

After a long day of journey, Sora and the others finally made it to Fuhren.

Shea: Sora, Hajime, we can see our destination.

Sora: Finally.

More: Sora-dono, Hajime-dono, can we talk before we arrive. Are you sure you don't want to sell that demihuman and the "Time Space Cache "?

Sora: Again with that. You are getting annoying.

More: I'd be willing to pay you enough to live out the rest of your days in luxury for even one of them. Most merchants would kill to get their hands on your artifacts.

More wasn't exaggerating, merchants really would kill for that. Not only would it ensure the safety of their goods, it would make them easier to transport. The two problems that constantly plagued all traders. Hell, they'd slaughter an entire town for it if they had to.

When More had first seen Hajime take things out of the Treasure Trove, he'd looked like a starved dog that had just been shown a bone. Tired of his constant pestering, Sora had used Intimidation to get More to reluctantly back off.

However, he hadn't given up. He had returned once more to negotiate for Sora artifacts, including Kanshou and Bakuya.

Hajime: How many times do we have to say it? These aren't for sale. Give it up.

More: But these artifacts are too valuable for just one person to have. Once others learn of their abilities, they'll come after you for sure. Surely you don't want to deal with the hassle that comes with carrying such precious equipment around... What if someone tried to kidnap those three girls to try and coerce you?"

There was a hint of madness in More's eyes as he looked up with manic zeal at Aishia, Yue and Shea. The moment he did so, however, something cold and hard was pressed against his forehead. Bloodlust oozed from both Hajime's and Sora's every pore. But they kept it focused, so no one else felt it. They were hidden in the shadow of the carriage as well, so no one was watching.

Sora: Is that a threat?

Sora's voice was barely a whisper. But it chilled More to the bone. Sora's single eye bored into More, his gaze a physical force. Cold sweat poured down More's back.

More: N-No. Please... I... just... thought... maybe you should... be more cautious... is all...

More did have a point. Hajime hadn't bothered trying to hide the power of his artifacts at all. Sora had taken some precautions, in that he'd asked Aishia amd Yue to chant their spells, but only just that bare minimum. He had no intention of exercising prudence if it called for any real effort on his or the girls' part. He saw no reason to conform to the expectations of this world. Anyone that got in his way, he'd kill. That was what he'd sworn he'd do back in the abyss.

Hajime: I see. We'll leave it at that, then.

Hajime holstered Donner, his bloodlust vanishing. More crumpled to the ground. Rivulets of sweat cascaded from his forehead as he panted heavily.

Sora: You're welcome to do whatever you want. You can even spread rumors about me if you'd like. I don't really care what anyone else does, either. Just know that anything that stands against us... won't live to tell the tale. Whether that be a person, a country, or the entire world. We'll drown everything in a sea of blood if we have to.

More: I-I see. I suppose this isn't a trade worth dying over...

More was still pale-faced, but he still managed to squeak out a reply. He had a surprisingly strong will. Hajime had noted he was respected among the other merchants. Normally, More wouldn't have been so insistent about Sora's artifacts. It was just that their allure had been so great that it had overridden his good sense.

Hajime: Anyway, we'll let you go this once, but there won't be a next time. Are we clear?

More: Crystal. I apologize, I let my greed blind me. Only a fool kicks a dragon's arse, after all.

(Timeskip)

The moment Sora and the others had arrived at Fuhren, the three of them just checked in for an inn. But the moment they entered, Aishia, Yue and Shea already took the attention of so much people. And as Sora and Hajime were about to check in, Sora turned to see who was staring and saw... a pig.

There was no other way to describe him. He easily weighed over a hundred kilograms, his face was greasy, he had pig snout for a nose, and his blonde hair was slick with oil. The only thing positive about his appearance was the fancy clothes he was wearing. Said pig was glaring hungrily at Yue and Shea.

Sora(mind): God, what a pain.

At the same time, the fat pig started slowly lumbering over to where they were sitting. Looks like it was too late to make a stealthy escape. Not that Sora would ever run. He stopped next to their table and leered at Aishia, Yue and Shea. When he saw Shea's slave collar he frowned. He looked over at Sora, as if just noticing him for the first time, and demanded the following in a haughty voice.

Noble: H-Hey, brat. I-I'll give you a million Luta, s-so hand over that bunny girl. And you, Pinky and Blondie. C-Come with me. You two are going to be my concubine.

His stutter didn't match his arrogant tone. He reached out to take Aishia and Yue by the arm, thinking she was already his.

That instant, a wave of bloodlust unlike any other washed over him. Even people sitting a few tables away balked. Some fell out of their chairs in their haste to get away from Sora.

Noble: Hiii!!

The walking pig, who had taken that bloodlust head on, screamed incoherently and fell on his ass. He wet himself on the spot, unable to muster the presence of mind to even crawl away. Had Sora activated his Intimidation at full power, the pig would have fallen unconscious instantly, so he made sure to hold back.

Hajime: Yue, Aishia, Shea, let's go. I don't feel like staying here.

Sora: Same.

As he didn't want his meal to be tainted by the smell of piss, Hajime opted to leave. Sora had honestly wanted to kill the bastard, but as he hadn't done anything more than talk to them yet, he wouldn't really be able to justify it to the authorities. And no city would let a murderer roam free. Unless he could reasonably say it was in self-defense, Sora wanted to avoid killing people as long as he was in a city. The three of them stood up, leaving.

Shea: Is that ok? To release that much killing intent in the middle of the city...

Sora: Yeah, all those gaze are getting annoying.

Still, the moment Sora left the guild and released his Intimidation, a huge man blocked his path. He too looked to weigh over one hundred kilograms, but for a completely different reason. His entire body was corded muscle, and a long sword that looked like it had seen its fair share of battles was strapped to his waist. Suddenly, Sora heard the fat pig's stuttering voice again.

Noble: H-He's the one, Reganid! Kill that brat! H-He tried to kill me! Tear his limbs off!

Reganid: Young Master, I cannot just kill someone in broad daylight. I'll leave him barely alive.

Noble: Get him! I-I don't care if you don't kill him, just get him! B-But don't hurt the girls. They're mine!

Reganid: Very well, but I expect to be well compensated.

Noble: I-I'll give you as much as you want. Just get him!

It appeared that this Reganid fellow was one of the pig's hired guards. He kept his eyes on Sora the entire time he was talking, then smiled in satisfaction when the matter of money was settled. It was rare for someone to take no notice of Aishia or Yue or Shea. He was more interested in the money than the three beauties standing before him.

Reganid: Sorry about this, kid. But I'm being paid to beat you up. Don't worry, I won't kill you at least. And well... sorry, but you probably won't get to see your three friends ever again.

Reganid cracked his knuckles. They were in the middle of the street, so naturally he couldn't use his sword. Many of the spectators started murmuring amongst themselves when they heard the name Reganid.

Citizen: B-By Reganid, does he mean Reganid the Black?

Citizen 2: R-Reganid the Gale!? Why's a guy like that working as a guard...

Citizen 3: Isn't it for the money? They say Reganid'll do anything for gold.

Judging from the surrounding people's conversations, Sora more or less figured out what kind of person Reganid was. He didn't know if Reganid had a combat class or not, but if, as his name suggested, he'd risen to the third-highest adventurer rank, black, he must be quite the experienced adventurer. Reganid settled into a battle stance. Reasoning that he could justifiable beat to him to within an inch of his life in the name of self-defense.

The next moment, Reganid tried to close the distance between him and Sora to attack with his sword. In respond, Sora closed in on him instead surprising Reganid and everyone else by how fast Sora just moved. Sora clenched his fist tightly and did a punch on Reganid face with all his might.

Reganid flew across the door and crashing into the wall. His nose was twisted rather unnaturally, blood flowing out. He seemed to have cut the inside of his mouth too, as a fair amount of blood was streaming from there as well. After Reganid was flung around in the air like a rag doll, he fell to the ground with a wet thud and lay there unmoving. He had, in fact, lost consciousness.

Noble: Wha-?!

The onlookers had just witnessed an impossible events. Silence reigned on the street. No one dared to so much as twitch. Some of the guild staff that had come out to stop the fight were frozen in place, their hands outstretched. Even the veteran adventurers were too shocked to say anything.

Finally, the silence was broken. Sora's footsteps echoed across the cobblestones as he walked forward. Everyone's eyes followed him. He stopped right in front of the pig.

Poom: Hiii! S-Stay back! Wh-Who do you think I am!? I'm Poom Min! You think you'll be able to get away after harming a member of the Min family!?

Sora: Apologize to all the pig mascot fans in the world, you damn hog.

Sora grimaced as he thought about how the Poom's name resembled a certain famous mascot character back on earth, as he stepped angrily on Poom's face.

Poom: Oink!?

He even let out a pig-like squeal when he screamed. Sora bore down harder, until he could hear Poom's skull cracking. The more Poom screamed, the harder Sora pushed. His face was a mess now, his nose broken and his eyes pushed into his skull. Poom finally quieted down when he realized his screaming was only making it worse. Or maybe he'd just exhausted himself.

Sora: Hey, pig. Don't ever show your face to me again. You ever try to do anything to me again, directly or not... and I'll kill you.

Poom desperately tried to nod, his face still stuck underneath Sora's foot. He didn't even try to act tough. His pride had been completely shattered.

However, Hajime wasn't satisfied with just that. Letting this pig live happily once this incident was past was just too lenient for his taste. Since Hajime couldn't just kill him, he'd just have to carve terror so deeply into his soul that the pig would never recover. And so, he raised his foot a little, transmuting his soles into spikes. Then, he drove his foot into Poom's face once more.

Poom: Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

The spikes drilled countless holes into Poom's face. Poom let out a single high-pitched squeal before losing consciousness. After Hajime moved his foot, Poom's ugly face was exposed for all to see... Well, his face had already been ugly, but now it was covered in blood too.

Finally satisfied, Hajime walked back to Sora, Aishia, Yue and Shea. They were waiting for him with a smile, seemingly unaffected by the carnage all around them. Sora smiled at his tour guide, Rithy, as well.

Sora: Now then, shall we head somewhere else?

Rithy: Hiii! U-Umm, I, well...

Terrified, Rithy tried to compose herself. It was obvious from her expression that she wanted nothing to do with them any longer. That was how intimidating Sora and Hajime and the others' display of force had been.

Hajime understood that he'd probably scarred their current tour guide, but he didn't really feel like searching for a new one after all the commotion that had happened. Realizing Hajime didn't want to let this guide escape, Aishia and Yue causally walked to either side of her and took her by the arms. Rithy let out another terrified scream. But then her savior, the guild attendant, finally showed up.

Guild member: Umm, excuse me, but would you be willing to answer a few questions for us?

Three other guild attendants warily surrounded Sora and Hajime. None of them looked eager to get close. The crowd had begun to grow, as more people came to look at what had happened to Poom and Reganid.

Sora: Well, that pig over there tried to kidnap my companions. When I tried to stop him he went crazy and ordered his guard to attack us, so we fought back. That's all there is to it. This tour guide and all those spectators are witnesses. Especially those guys sitting at the tables over there, they seem to enjoy eavesdropping.

Sora glared at the men that had been listening in earlier, and they all nodded vigorously, fearing Sora might tear their heads off.

Guild member: I understand, but as this happened on guild property, we need to go through the proper procedure. Both sides need to present their case so justice can be dispensed... Those are the rules, so if you would just be so kind as to...

Hajime: Both sides, huh?

Hajime glanced over to where Poom and Reganid were lying. It didn't look like either of them would regain consciousness anytime soon. The guild had sent some medics over to treat them, but he doubted they'd wake up for another few days at least.

Hajime: You want us to wait in the guild until they wake up? Even though we were the victims...? You've gotta be kidding me. Maybe I should just drag them out of the city and kill them there.

Hajime glared angrily at the guild attendant.

Guild member: Please don't glare at me like that, I'm just doing my job.

The attendant said in a panicked voice. But when Hajime suggested killing them, he still diligently tried to stop him. Grumbling to himself, Hajime decided to try and forcibly wake the two up. The guild attendants were in the middle of trying to stop him when a new voice cut through the crowd.

???: What are you doing? What's going on here?

A slender man in glasses stared sternly down at Sora and Hajime.

Guild member: Chief Secretary Tod! Perfect timing! You see...

The attendants all rejoiced at the appearance of this man called Tod. After he listened to their explanation of what happened, he returned his sharp gaze to Sora and Hajime.

Sora(mind): Looks like things are just getting more and more complicated.

Sora sighed to himself. Tod adjusted his glasses with his middle finger and calmly addressed Sora and Hajime.

Tod: I more or less understand the situation now. And it appears there really are quite a few witnesses. I do think you might have overdone it a little, but... well, they're still alive, so it's fine. I was hoping you would at least be willing to stay inside Fuhren until they wake up. May I at least ask for your identification and the address you're be staying at... I'm sure that's not too much to ask, right?

His tone was surprisingly firm. Hajime shrugged his shoulders.

Hajime: Yeah, that's fine. In fact, if that pig starts causing trouble again, I'd like you to contact me. I'll be gentler next time, don't worry.

Hajime and Sora tiredly handed over their status plate.

Sora: As for where we're staying, we haven't decided yet, so... ask that tour guide over there. We were planning on staying wherever she recommended.

Rithy got a little startled when Sora mentioned her name, then sadly muttered a few words.

Rithy: I guess I'm stuck guiding you after all...

Tod: Hmm, very well... I see your rank is blue. That man lying on ground over there is black... May I ask for your three companions' status plates as well?

Tod raised his eyebrows when he saw Sora's and  Hajime's rank was only blue, the lowest rank. But since the eyewitnesses had said Sora had defeated Reganid, he thought maybe they were a lot stronger.

Sora: Well, Aishia, Yue and Shea both lost their status plates, and we haven't been able to get replacements yet. I mean, they're pretty expensive, aren't they?

Sora lied without batting an eyelid. Hiding their strength after they'd displayed so much of it already was pointless, but Sora still wanted to avoid letting anyone know exactly what they were capable of.

Tod: However, we must confirm their identities. In the event that you start constantly causing trouble for the guild, regardless of whether you're the victim or the aggressor, we will need to blacklist you. Thus, we need a record. If you would like, the guild will pay for their replacements.

It appeared Tod wished to confirm their identity no matter what. But if Sora got them new status plates now, he wouldn't have time to hide their stats and skills column. Everyone would see they could use special magic. Worse, they'd know they both could use magic from the age of the gods. There was no doubt in his mind that it would cause a huge uproar. Even if that did happen, Sora and Hajime wouldn't mind killing everyone that came after them. The problem was that it would make it impossible for them to stay in towns anymore.

Sora(mind): Man, this whole thing's turning into more of a pain than I'd have liked.

As if reading his thoughts, Aishia offered a suggestion.

Aishia: Sora, the letter.

Sora: Huh? Oh yeah, that letter...

Aishia was, of course, talking about the letter Catherine had given them before they'd left Brooke. The one Catherine had said would help them out if they ever got into any trouble with other adventurer's guild branches.

Not like we have anything to lose. Sora pulled the letter out of his pocket and gave it to Tod, thinking they could just flee town if things really turned south. After all, while Catherine had explained what it would do, he had no idea what was actually written in it. He regretted not checking the contents now.

Sora: I'm not sure if this will work in place of identification, but a friend of ours from another guild branch told us to show this to someone high ranking if we found ourselves in any trouble.

Tod: Hm? A friend from another guild branch...? Let me take a look.

Tod found it somewhat suspicious that Sora was unwilling to pay for new status plates considering he and his companions were rather well dressed and didn't seem strapped for money. However, he still obediently took the letter and skimmed through his contents. When he reached the end, he let out a startled gasp.

His gaze shifted from the letter to the quints multiple times. With the way he kept poring over the words, it looked like he was trying to determine the authenticity of the letter. Finally, he folded it back up and placed it neatly into the envelope it had come in.

Tod: If this letter is authentic, then it will indeed serve as identification... However, I myself am unable to determine whether the sender is really who she claims she is. I shall confirm the details with our branch chief, so could you please wait inside the guild until? I promise it won't take long. Ten, fifteen minutes at most.

Hajime(mind): Who on earth is Catherine, really?

Hajime: Alright, if it's only that long I don't mind. We'll wait.

Tod: The attendants can guide you to a waiting room. I'll be back shortly.

Tod called an attendant over and instructed him to guide them before vanishing inside the guild building. The attendant motioned for Hajime and the others to follow him. As Sora and the others followed after him, Rithy asked him a question in a confused, but somewhat hopeful voice.

Rithy: Umm, what should I do?

Since they were now entangled with the guild, she was hoping she wouldn't have to guide them anymore. With how dangerous they seemed, she wanted to be free of them as soon as possible. Sora nodded and replied to her question with some questions of his own.

Sora: Wait for us... You won't run, right? You're a professional, right?

Rithy: Okay...

Rithy drooped her head sadly and went to sit down on one of the empty chairs in the cafe. No matter what world one was in, employees had to take on unpleasant jobs for their company. But Sora's next words changed her completely.

Sora: If you wait, I will reward you handsomely~

Rithy their tour guide blush instantly and answer with a straight voice.

Rithy: I'll wait forever if I have too!!

Yue and Shea: -_- You really are a chick magnet...

Aishia: That's just Sora's charm. He's such a smooth talker...

Sora: Shut it!

Ten minutes after Hajime and the others were led to the waiting room, there was a knock on the door. Hajime called for whoever it was to come in, and the door opened. Tod entered the room, accompanied by a man in his late thirties. He had slicked back blond hair and a discerning look in his eyes.

Illwa: It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am the head of the Fuhren branch's adventurer's guild, Ilwa Chang. You five are... Sora, Hajime, Aishia, Yue, and Shea, correct?

Ilwa introduced himself and offered his hand to Sora. He shook it and responded.

Sora: Yeah, that's right. Were our names in that letter?

Ilwa: They were indeed. My old master's letter told... or rather, warned me about you five. She said that you show a great deal of promise, but that you're rather troublesome kids, so we should keep an eye on you.

Hajime: Troublesome, huh? I guess Brooke was nothing but trouble. Well, whatever. Does that letter settle our identification issues or no?

Ilwa: Yes, she said that you five aren't a threat to the guild, so that's good enough for me. She's a very good judge of character. If it's a letter from her, it'll serve as sufficient identification. After all, she wouldn't write one for people of dubious character.

It seemed Catherine really did hold a lot of clout with the guild.

Sora(mind): Everyone really trusts her. Since Ilwa called her his master, they must know each other pretty well.

Shea seemed especially curious about Ilwa's relationship with Catherine. She'd gotten along rather well with the old lady, so it made sense.

Shea: Who exactly is Catherine?

Ilwa: You didn't ask her yourself? She used to be the chief secretary of the adventurer's guild's main branch. After that she became a guild instructor. More than half of all the branch chiefs learned their trade from her.

Hajime looked up in surprise. Smiling wryly, Ilwa continued.

Hajime: Who is this?

Ilwa: What do you mean? Obviously it's Catherine sensei.

Everyone:...

Ilwa: I was one of them. Though I'm nowhere near her level. Back then her unparalleled beauty and skill captivated everyone who studied under her. Later she ended up getting married and transferred to the Brooke branch. She said she preferred to raise her kids in the countryside. Her marriage announcement was really sudden too. I was pretty shocked when I heard it. In fact, the whole guild, no the whole capital was.

Hajime: Haah, I didn't realize she was such an amazing person.

Ilwa: Yeah... Catherine's incredible.

Sora: I knew she wasn't just some ordinary old lady... but to think she was that important. So if she was so good looking back then, how come... Actually, never mind.

Hajime: The passage of time sure is cruel...

Sora: Now your the one who said it!!

Girls: So rude!!

Hajime: Oops...

Aishia, Yue and Shea were astounded to discover just how impressive Catherine had been. Even Sora was impressed. Only Hajime looked away wistfully, lamenting what the ravages of time had done.

Sora: Well anyway, if there's no problem with identification then we're free to go right?

Hajime had only agreed to wait so that they could get their identification issues resolved, and now that they had been, he saw no reason to stay. However, Ilwa's eyes sparkled mischievously as he called out to them.

Ilwa: There will be no issues regarding the girls's Status Plates. But there's something I'd like to clearly first. Tod.

Tod: Yes.

Ilwa gestured to Tod, who handed Sora a certain request flyer.

Ilwa: Look at this please.

Hajime: Is this quest?

Ilwa: That's right. It's the one I'd like you both to accept.

Sora: No thanks.

Sora refused instantly and made to leave. Hajime, Aishia, Yue and Shea followed suit, but Ilwa's next words brought them back.

Ilwa: Hmm, are you sure you won't even listen to what it is? We'll overlook this whole incident if you agree to just listen.

Hajime. You just said a minute you'd resolve it.

Ilwa: That's with respect to your party's identification. I do not recall stating anything about the Baron's son, the man who's face you kicked in. I'm a firm believer in hear both sides of the story. I wonder how long it'll take for him to recover to hear his side.

Everyone:......

That of course had the unsaid implication that they would make this whole affair far more of a pain than it had to be if he didn't stay to listen. Thanks to all of the eyewitness testimony, Sora and the others wouldn't be charged with a crime. But because of how overboard they'd gone, the guild could force them into a long and tedious hearing about what had happened and require an account from both sides.

In the end, they'd still probably not be punished, but it would still waste a great deal of their time. And if they ignored the guild's orders, they'd be blacklisted everywhere. Not being able to access the information at various guild branches would be rather inconvenient.

Hajime glared at Ilwa for a moment. He'd only asked that they hear him out, not that they accept the request. If that was all it took to avoid weeks of legal proceedings, then it wasn't such a bad deal. Sora and Hajime sat back down.

Ilwa: So you'll listen. Thank you.

Sora: You're not a branch chief for nothing I see. You're pretty gutsy.

Ilwa: I could say the same to you. Now then, as you can see on the flyer, this particular request is to search for some missing people. Some time back, a party of adventurers set off to investigate the northern mountain range. When they didn't return, one of the adventurers' family put out a search request. The goal is to find one of then. Specifically, Will, the 3rd son of Kudeta. Despite protests, he was very insistent on going and only barely acquired to having others accompany him. In addition, he doesn't have the necessary skills to survive there. The northern zone is one that is yet unexplored. It's a location where many powerful monsters dwell. Normal adventurers can't even come close to that place. And so I had no one to turn to...

Sora: I thought you needed people of considerable skill? Sadly me and him are just a blue rank adventurer.

Ilwa didn't fall for Sora's feeble attempt at feigning weakness.

Ilwa: You just took out Reganid, a black rank adventurer without even breaking a sweat.

Sora(mind) Dammit! It didn't work.

Ilwa: Besides... anyone who can survive down at the bottom of the Reisen Gorge can't be that weak.

Sora: How did you... The letter? But I never told Catherine...

Sora nor Hajime hadn't told anyone they'd gone to explore the Reisen Gorge. The only way Ilwa would have known that was if it was written in the letter. But then that begged the question of how Catherine had learned of their trip. As Sora was scratching his head in confusion, Shea timidly raised her hand. Sora looked suspiciously at Shea.

Sora: What is it?

Shea: Well, I may have accidentally told her... Tehe?

Sora: Looks like I'll need to punish you later.

Shea: Y-Yue was with me too!

Yue: Shea, you traitor.

Hajime: Guess we're punishing both of you.

Shea: Please don't! Me and Yue already got a handful by Aishia.

Yue: Y-Yeah! Big Sister is scary!

Aishia: Its because the two of you never listen to me.

Yue and Shea: Ugh... Sorry...

Sora(mind): So it was Yue and Shea's fault.

While both of them looked outwardly calm, they were sweating at the thought of what Hajime might do to them. Ilwa smiled knowingly and continued.

Ilwa: It's unlikely any of them are still alive, but the possibility isn't zero. The count is a personal friend of mine, so I'd like to begin the search as soon as possible. Please. There's no one else I can ask. Will you please accept the request?

It was obvious from his tone that Ilwa was very personally invested in this particular request. If he was friends with the count, it was quite possible he was close to the missing Will as well. He was probably just as worried for their safety.

Sora: I get that, but we're in the middle of our own journey too. We only stopped here because it was on our way. The northern mountains are pretty far out of our way, so I'm afraid I'll have to refuse.

Sora refuse politely. Hajime could care less about some noble's brat. Ilwa must have realized that as well, since he headed Hajime off before he could get up.

Ilwa: I promise you'll be rewarded handsomely. There'll be a bonus from me waiting for you along with the reward already offered. I'll even raise your rank. Considering your skills, I could even bump you up to black in one go.

Sora: To be honest, I don't need that much money, and we don't really care about our rank.

Ilwa: Then how about this? If you ever get into any trouble with the guild from here on out, I'll personally vouch for all of you. The title of Fuhren's branch chief holds a lot of clout you know. And I have a lot of personal connections within the guild as well. You five seem to attract quite a lot of trouble so it's not a bad deal, right?

Sora: Isn't that a bit too generous of you. I can't imagine it's worth going that far just for your friend's son.

For the first time, Ilwa's facade of calm crumbled. He looked deeply remorseful.

Ilwa: Personally, I get along very well with the count. I was the one who suggested the group who accompanied Will. I believed that the group I recommended had high enough skill. But at the time, I wasn't aware of exactly how difficult it would actually be... As a result, the worst case scenario has happened...

Sora lapsed into thought as he listened to Ilwa pour his heart out.

Sora(mind): Ilwa and Will are even closer than I thought then. He tried to look calm, but it's obvious he's really desperate.

After all, the longer it took to find them, the greater the likelihood that they had died in the meantime. The fact that he'd offered such an extravagant reward was proof that Ilwa was starting to run out of options.

Sora and Hajime was starting to get tired of making excuses for Aishia, Yue and Shea's lack of status plates, and having the support of an influential guild member would make their future town visits a lot less of a hassle.

Especially since neither Sora nor Hajime had no interest in playing pretend believer for the Holy Church, so there was no telling when they'd brand them a heretic. When that did inevitably happen, it would make traveling between towns rather inconvenient. But if they had guild connections, they might be able to help with that issue as well.

After weighing his options, Sora decided it would be more beneficial to explain his circumstances to Ilwa, make sure he wouldn't speak about them to others, and use his influence to deal with any problems that might arise.

Sora(mind): Considering how much he seems to care for this Will guy, he probably wouldn't turn on us if we brought him back alive.

Sora: Very well. If you're willing to go that far for him, I guess I might be willing to do it... but we have two conditions.

Ilwa: Conditions?

Sora: Yeah. They're nothing huge. First, I'd like you to get status plates for Aishia, Yue and Shea. And I want you to swear not to tell anyone what you see displayed there. Second, regardless of whether they're part of the guild or not, I want access to all of your connections. Those are my two conditions.

Ilwa: You're asking quite a lot...

Hajime: If you can't do it, then the deal's off. We'll be continuing on our way.

Sora and Hajime stood up for the third time, and Ilwa and Tod held their heads in anguish. The first condition wasn't a big deal, but the second one would effectively turn a branch chief into adventurer's lackey. Considering his position, it wasn't a request he could easily acquiesce to.

Ilwa: What exactly would you ask for using my connections?

Sora: Don't look so worried. I'm not going to ask for anything crazy. It's just we're a bit... special, I guess, so the Holy Church won't think too kindly of us if they find out. And they'll probably find out eventually, so it'd help to have someone on our side when that happens. I just want you to help us out if we ever get stuck in any trouble is all. Basically let us use your facilities and the like even if we become wanted.

Ilwa: You're certain you'll be wanted by the Holy Church eventually? Hmm, I'm beginning to grow interested in just what secrets you five bear. Since Master Catherine has taken a liking to you I doubt you're bad people, but... come to think of it, the eyewitness reports did say that you possessed monstrous strength. Are the secrets you're hiding related to that...? And they are the reason you're so sure the Holy Church will probably try and purge you... Judging by how little pains you seem to be taking to hiding them, you were prepared for a confrontation from the start. If that really is the case, I can see why you'd need my assistance to move freely between cities... hence your request...

Sora(mind): I guess he's not a branch chief just for show. He's sharp.

After contemplating for a while, Ilwa finally came to a decision and turned to Sora.

Ilwa: We absolutely cannot support you in any potentially criminal endeavors. I will personally need to hear the particulars of each request and decide then whether or not we will aid you. But I do promise that we will help you in any other way possible... That's the most I can offer. What do you say?

Sora: That's fine. As for the reward, we'll take it once we complete the mission. I just have to bring the kid back, right? Or his remains if he's dead.

Sora's main goal had just been getting status plates for Aishia, Yue and Shea. He was getting tired of making up excuses for why they didn't have any, so it would be more convenient for any future stops in towns if they both got one.

The problem was making sure whoever issued them didn't cause a fuss when they first saw both of their stats... but Ilwa's appearance had solved that issue.
Of course, even if Ilwa did promise not to say anything, there was no guarantee he'd keep his word. Eventually their unique traits would become public knowledge, but Sora preferred to keep them secret for as long as possible. Hence why he had decided to claim his reward once the request was complete. Whether for good or ill, Sora would give Ilwa closure on the matter that had been tormenting him thus far. Hopefully that would make him feel indebted to Sora and therefore more likely to keep his mouth shut.

Ilwa had of course guessed Sora's aim in offering to wait until he completed the request. He smiled wryly, but internally he was relieved just to have found someone both capable and willing to take on the request.

Ilwa: I'm growing more curious about your secrets by the minute, but... I suppose I'll leave it for when you return. As you said, Sora, all you need to do is find any traces of Will, regardless of whether he's alive or dead... Sora, Aishia, Hajime, Yue, Shea. Please find him.

With a serious expression, Ilwa bowed his head. The head of a major city's guild branch, lowering his head to an adventurer. Not a sight you saw every day. It looked like he'd learned proper manners from Catherine too. Hajime and the others stood up and said casually

Sora: Then it's a pleasure working with you.

Hajime: Sure.

Yue: Okay.

Shea: We will.

Aishia: Leave it to us.

They received a token amount of funds to get supplies, a letter of invitation to the guild branch to the nearby lake town that rested at the foot of the mountain, and documents detailing the request the previous adventurer party had taken on from Ilwa, and then left the guild room. The door closed with a soft thud. Ilwa breathed a long sigh as he stared at the door. Tod, who'd been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice full of concern.

Tod: Was that... really alright, Chief? Agreeing to those conditions?

Ilwa: Will's life is at stake. And there's no one else we can rely on. I had no other choice. Besides, they agreed to let me ultimately be the one to decide whether or not to assist them for each matter. There's no problem there. And most importantly, I'm curious about what they're hiding...

Tod: You mean the information their status plates would reveal, the stuff they would find 'inconvenient' if it was publicly known?

Ilwa: Mhmm. Tod. Did you hear about how the heroes summoned in the Heiligh Kingdom all had ridiculous stats?

Tod suddenly opened his eyes wide.

Tod: Chief, do you mean to suggest that they're one of the heroes summoned by god? But they sounded as if they were practically at war with the Holy Church. I thought the heroes were all under the Holy Church's supervision?

Ilwa: Indeed they are. However... I heard that around four months ago, two member of their party died within the Orcus Labyrinth. Or more specifically that they fell to its depths along with a fearsome monster.

Tod: Do you mean to suggest that perhaps they survived? Four months ago even the hero's party was still inexperienced when it came to combat. I'm not sure what kind of place the bottom of Orcus is like, but I can't imagine a those kids surviving through all that.

Tod shook his head in disbelief. However Ilwa continued staring at the door Sora and Hajime had left through, an amused expression on his face.

Ilwa: True. But, if that really did happen... why wouldn't they return to their comrades? Why embark on a separate journey? What did they see at the bottom of the abyss? What did they learn in that bottomless darkness?

Tod: You mean... perhaps...

Ilwa: Yes. Whatever it was, it seems to have convinced them to oppose the Holy Church. That is to say, oppose this world itself. Their goal are worth that much.

Tod: The world itself...

Ilwa: Personally, I would like to be on the side of someone like that. Even if that means pitting myself against the Holy Church or the royal kingdom. I have no doubt my master noticed the same thing, which is why she gave him that letter.

Tod: Sir... Please be very careful from now on...

Ilwa: Of course...

Ilwa said while looking out at the window where he saw Sora and Hajime walking out.

They were talking about events on a scale they could scarcely imagine, but Tod still had the presence of mind to warn his boss not to bite off more than he could chew. However, Ilwa was deep in thought and only gave an absentminded reply.