At the rooftop of the royal palace's Loop distillery.
Falcoa, chewing on the strongest Loop with a blank expression, seemed to have lost focus.
Falcoa: "Those bastards. Do they think I'll let this slide?"
Jis, watching from behind, felt his heart race. He knew Falcoa wasn't in his right mind, but today was worse than usual.
'What is he planning? Why did he call me here?'
It had been a day since Shirone's group caused trouble, but Falcoa's anger showed no signs of subsiding.
Falcoa: "Jis, we need to go back."
Jis: "Huh? Wh-where to?"
Falcoa: "Bring them here. Not to this place, but to the hideout. I'll mobilize the entire organization to crush them."
He was serious about killing Shirone's group.
'He's insane.'
Jis panicked.
Jis: "B-but they'll know it's a trap now. They won't believe me."
Falcoa: "That's why you'll use this."
Falcoa handed him a bottle containing powdered Loop.
Jis: "You're not… planning to poison her, are you?"
Falcoa: "Poison? You idiot. That woman can't be poisoned. That's what Karmis is."
Jis: "Then why…?"
Falcoa: "Can't you think? The fact that she can't be poisoned is exactly why this plan will work."
Falcoa opened the bottle and mixed the Loop powder into water. The colorless, odorless powder dissolved.
Normally, one root would take about two hours to chew, but the amount Falcoa had prepared was three times that. Moreover, since it was in liquid form, the effects would hit all at once.
Jis: "You're not…?"
Falcoa: "Yes. Go and make her drink this. She'll confidently take it and drink it. With this amount, she'll die without a doubt. When her friends see her corpse, they'll lose their minds. Then, when they come to the hideout, I'll kill them all."
Jis: "Wh-why would you do that? What if they retaliate later?"
Falcoa: "Heh, that's why we kill them all."
Falcoa grabbed another bottle of Loop powder from the distillery and handed it to Jis.
Jis: "..."
Jis's eyes turned bloodshot as he stared at the glass bottle.
'This man… he's really planning to kill them.'
Falcoa: "What are you doing? Take it. Or do you want to drink it yourself?"
Feeling the murderous intent, Jis's heart sank. The fear was so overwhelming it clouded his mind.
He silently took the bottle. Falcoa turned back to continue distilling Loop.
Falcoa: "Make sure you handle this properly. Give them the exact location of the hideout. Those bastards humiliated me."
Jis couldn't hear anything.
Between the rapid beats of his heart, images of Amy and Shirone flashed in his mind.
'If only I could stand up to them, even once…'
Jis: "Stop."
Falcoa turned around.
Falcoa: "Huh? What did you say?"
The moment their eyes met, Jis felt like his heart had stopped. But he had already made his decision and blurted out.
Jis: "Stop it, you trash."
Falcoa couldn't believe his ears. Was he hearing things because of the Loop?
But Jis's glare and expression left no room for doubt.
Falcoa: "What did you say? Say it again."
Falcoa's voice was calm. It seemed that when faced with something absurd, he became eerily composed.
Perhaps… Jis thought he could stop here. If he apologized and took the beating, he might at least survive.
'Amy.'
The reason she got on that carriage…
'I'm not a thug.'
Jis clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination.
Jis: "Cut it out, you filthy scum. You're not even human. You're so drugged up you can't even think straight! How many people have to die because of trash like you?"
Jis spat out everything he had been holding back. His mind grew hazy from the shock, and his legs trembled.
What would happen now?
'Am I going to die? Will I die?'
Falcoa showed no expression.
Looking into his dilated pupils, Jis felt like crying.
Falcoa: "Jis."
Falcoa approached.
Jis: "I… I'll never…"
Before Jis could finish, Falcoa's fist slammed into his face, crushing it.
Jis heard something crack.
Blood gushed from his nose as he crashed into the wall. In his blurry vision, he saw Falcoa approaching.
No, it was a demon.
After finishing their exploration of the ruins, Shirone's group had a late dinner at a restaurant near their lodgings.
By the time they left, chatting animatedly, it was close to midnight.
Shirone: "Should we walk? It's not far."
As they walked under the moonlight, they naturally split into groups of boys and girls.
While Shirone and Rian walked ahead, Amy and Tess continued their unfinished conversation.
Tess: "Wait, you're joining the military?"
Tess looked surprised.
Of course, as a fire-element mage specializing in sniper mode, becoming a combat mage was the standard path. But the Amy Tess knew was, despite appearances, tender-hearted and emotional.
Amy: "Yeah. Why? Does it not suit me?"
Tess: "No, it's not that. Honestly, I think you'd do well. It's just that the military is so rigid and closed off. I thought you'd choose a freer career."
Amy understood Tess's point.
Amy: "Honestly, I'm not sure. I chose sniper because I'm good at target-based magic, and that led me to the most advantageous career path. Of course, I think positively about being a soldier, but…"
Tess: "Well, we can't always do what we want. I'm in the same boat. The Elzan family only offers two career paths: diplomat or spy. My dad did both, which is annoying."
Tess suddenly clapped her hands.
Tess: "Oh, I know! How about this?"
Amy: "Huh?"
Tess: "Being a spy. You have excellent problem-solving skills and specialize in long-range attacks. Plus, you'd get to travel the world, so you'd never be bored."
Amy: "That's true, but… I'm not as confident as you think. And I'm not as open-minded either. I'm good at fighting, but I can't act."
Tess: "Hoho! It's fine. Trust my judgment—I grew up in a spy family. Besides, you have a huge advantage."
Amy: "An advantage? What's that?"
Tess smirked as Amy's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Tess: "Your pretty face. It's a must for spies. No man dislikes a beautiful woman."
Amy's face turned red, and she looked away.
Amy: "Oh, come on. That's not helpful."
Tess: "I'm serious. Looks are part of the selection criteria for the kingdom's intelligence agency. In a people-oriented job, your face is a total asset. So think about it seriously. I'll recommend you to my family."
Amy: "N-no thanks. I'll rely on my magic skills."
Tess's smile widened. She knew Amy was bad at handling compliments, but this was even more amusing than she expected.
'So cute. Why do I want to tease her so much?'
As the conversation paused, Tess glanced at the boys walking ahead.
When she first heard about Rian's knightly oath, she couldn't believe it. But after getting to know Shirone, she began to understand.
'Amy and Shirone… they're such good people. I hope they end up together. Someday…'
Tess suddenly stopped her thoughts and asked.
Tess: "By the way, what happens after graduation?"
Amy: "Huh? Of course, we'll take the official exams and find jobs."
Tess: "No, I mean you and Shirone."
Amy: "Me and Shirone?"
Amy blinked.
Amy: "Ah…"
She realized what Tess was implying and turned her head, flustered.
Amy: "Why are you saying such strange things? What does Shirone have to do with my graduation?"
Tess: "But it's true. Shirone's still in Class Four, and you're in the graduating class. With your skills, you'll definitely graduate next year. Then you'll leave for the capital, right?"
Amy hadn't thought that far ahead, but hearing it from Tess made her heart race.
If she graduated, she wouldn't see Shirone for at least a year.
'When that time comes… what choice will I make?'
Nothing might change, or perhaps everything would.
Amy shook her head. She felt like her inner thoughts would be exposed if she thought too deeply.
Amy: "It's none of my business."
Tess: "Oh, really?"
Tess didn't seem convinced by Amy's forced cold tone.
Finally, Amy spoke again.
Amy: "But… we made a promise. He said he'd catch up to me no matter what. That's why we can talk so comfortably."
Tess: "Ah, so you're staying friends for now."
This was another surprise for Tess.
She thought Amy was completely clueless, but it seemed she was struggling in her own way.
Tess: "Shirone's amazing, though. He climbed to Class Four in just half a year. But graduation is a different story. Do you really think it's possible?"
Amy: "..."
Amy couldn't answer.
Shirone's achievements so far were things ordinary people couldn't even dream of.
Was it greed to want more from him?
Amy suddenly wondered.
Had Shirone ever thought the same? Was that why he kept pushing forward, even among those who gave their all?
'Hurry up and catch up. I don't want to think about this. If you leave me behind…'
Just then, Tess spoke.
Tess: "Amy."
Her serious tone made Amy stop walking.
Tess then whistled a bird-like sound.
Hearing it, Shirone and Rian quickly turned back and joined them.
Amy: "Tess, what's wrong?"
At first, she thought Tess was joking, but her expression was unusually serious.
Tess: "There's someone near our lodgings."
Amy: "..."
Tess, who specialized in sensory-type magic, had an exceptional ability to detect presences.
Knowing this, Rian also scanned the area with a serious expression, but in the darkness, he couldn't spot anything unusual.
Tess: "There's someone at the entrance. Judging by their lung capacity, it's a man. If he's of average build, he's between 170 and 175 cm tall. Of course, this is based on statistical data…"
If he had an unusual physique, his lung capacity might be larger than his size suggested.
But for Rian, that wasn't the main concern. He gripped the hilt of the greatsword on his back.
'Was it that guy from yesterday?'
Given the chaos they had caused at the Drunken Palace last night, it was entirely possible that the thugs were lying low.
Tess: "I don't sense any hostility, but stay alert. For professionals, hiding their killing intent is child's play."
Tess drew her rapier and took the lead, with the other three following cautiously behind.
When they arrived at the villa, they saw someone standing under the faint moonlight.
From the silhouette alone, it was clear the figure was leaning motionlessly against the wall.
Amy: "That guy…"
Just as Amy was about to speak, the silhouette lost strength and collapsed to the ground.
Shirone: "Jis?"
Shirone rushed over in a panic.
Even after seeing his face, Shirone couldn't be sure it was Jis because of how brutally beaten he was. His entire body was covered in blood.