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“Your footing is unstable. Don’t bring the sword down with so much force. It will mess with your alignment.”

Georg’s words were business as usual, and that was the problem. He’d been dropping knights with a smile since his marriage, but he was back to his old self today. He’d only been married for a few weeks and was already arguing with his wife. Even as they harbored unkind suspicions, the knights swung their swords at Georg’s command.

“Stand firm! Keep your wrists flexible.”

Georg weaved in and out of the knights’ ranks, correcting their disheveled postures. Their speculation slowly dissipated, leaving only dry tension. Any more disorientation, and the knights were sure they would hear the call.

“Again! Don’t swing without purpose. Imagine a monster standing before you.”

With that, Georg walked back to the front of the line. As he passed, the knights straightened their stances. He started to open his mouth to continue but stopped himself. Anything more would be unnecessary. In fact, he was already being too harsh.

“That’s enough for today. Dismissed. I’ll lend you a key if you want to stay and train.”

“”Thank you!””

The knights’ faces lit up. Georg waved his hand, and the knights filed out of the training hall in groups. Georg sighed, and a knight came up beside him.

“Master.”

Just as Georg began wondering if he’d gone too far and regretted his behavior a little, the knight spoke up.

“Is your marriage in jeopardy already?”

“Shout your bloody mouth.”

Georg’s hand, the size of a pot lid, slapped the back of his head. He uttered a shrill scream as he was knocked to the floor. He rubbed the back of his head, which throbbed with pain, and looked at Georg resentfully.

“Then why did you bully us so much? Are you going to be like all the other retired assholes, or are you thinking about it soon?”

“Forget it. Go home and don’t bother me. Otherwise, it won’t end with today.”

The puzzlement on his face didn’t fade, but he seemed relieved to hear that they wouldn’t be harassed. Georg patted him on the back and led him out of the room.

The hall was empty. Georg stood alone in the center of it, looking up at the sky. His mind was racing. He was in his mid-thirties, and he hadn’t expected to be this upset over a dispute with a party member. Georg barked out a laugh and gripped his sword. Swinging without thinking was the best way to clear his head.

The practice sword sliced through the air. It was clumsy, but it was still stronger than all his knights. Georg swung the blade up and down aimlessly. He must have done this for an hour before his posture slipped and the sword’s trajectory changed. Georg put it down and wiped the sweat from his brow. He felt as if his thoughts had been blown away.

“Yes, it was bound to happen. I’m the one who pushed him to change, and I got what I wanted.”

Georg shook his head nervously. It helped to take a step back and look at it. Maybe he shouldn’t have argued with Elroy. He smiled bitterly.

“I’m still young.”

It was only the body that grew up, after all. Georg felt the ring on his left hand. He couldn’t face his wife in this state. Maybe he should stop by headquarters and tell Daphne something. Georg stepped outside.

Then, he was met by a flurry of blades.

***

By the time Bishop Andrei had returned to the Holy Land and Arjen’s bounty had spread across the continent, Marianne had returned to the Hero’s Party in the Kairos Kingdom. The summer of fear had passed, the spring wheat harvest had begun, and a sense of abundance and generosity had settled over the kingdom. Somehow, the Meteor didn’t affect them as much as everyone thought.

People stole glances at Marianne. Some even bowed slightly to show their appreciation. They recognized that she was a member of the Hero’s Party. Marianne returned their greetings, feeling an unfamiliar emotion. She couldn’t focus on it right now.

Hero Party Headquarters. Marianne opened the door and stepped inside quietly.

“I’m back.”

Marianne said out of habit. The headquarters was quieter than usual. Marianne glanced around the lobby, which was barely a hive of activity, before returning to her room.

“…Welcome home.”

Back in her room, a dazed Daphne sat on her bed. Marianne narrowed her eyes and sat down next to her. Daphne turned her head and stared at Marianne, then opened her mouth. The room was chilly. The chill of autumn was creeping up the floor.

“Georg isn’t here now and probably won’t return for a while.”

“What happened?”

Daphne let out a long sigh.

“Elroy left to go after Mr. Arjen on his own. Of course, there was friction, and Georg was furious, probably because he wanted to help Elroy.”

Marianne was able to imagine the conversation. Daphne, caught in the middle, had every right to be tired. ‘But why was Daphne still here?’

“Why didn’t you try to convince Elroy?”

“Because he gave me the ‘don’t ask, it’s complicated’ look. I don’t think he’s forgotten the promise we made in the stars, and I’m sure he has his reasons.”

Daphne glanced out the window. Marianne looked into Daphne’s quiet, worried eyes.

“Has there been any other news from the Holy Land?”

“The Paladins have been busy for a while, but nothing of concern has happened, though the loss of so many Inquisitors is… heartbreaking.”

There was a rare note of emotion in Marianne’s voice. Her clenched fists turned white.

“The Bishop, who has been transported to the Holy Land, has given me orders not to make light of the situation and to wait for Elroy to take charge. Though I have decided to listen to his orders for now….”

“How is the Bishop doing?”

“The Saintess helped him, and he said he’d step up to the plate as soon as he was healed, but… the Pope put him on probation right away, so he’s probably stuck in the Holy Land right now.”

Marianne placed the Holy Spear on the floor.

“The Bishop seems to feel a great deal of responsibility for what has happened, given what has become of the man he took into his care. I heard the Paladins surround his chambers to prevent him from doing anything unreasonable.”

Marianne concluded that even Bishop Andrei could not act in such a situation. Daphne nodded and sank back into bed.

“I suppose we’ll just have to wait and hope for more information rather than jumping into action and making things worse.”

Archwizard of the Seventh Circle. A title worn by only two people on the entire continent. And she believed it was better to believe in someone else’s power. Elroy has obviously thought it through. No one can stand in her way, yet he didn’t take her because…

Knock

Daphne was suddenly jolted awake by the faint sound at the door. Marianne turned her head quickly to look at it, and Daphne frowned slightly. It came from the front door. Another shortly followed. Marianne turned to Daphne.

“Did you have a visitor?”

Daphne shook her head slowly. No visitors were scheduled. Perhaps a messenger from the palace or a visitor from the Holy Land.

“I don’t know… maybe there’s news?”

Daphne rose from her seat, followed by Marianne. As they deliberated, there was another knock on the door. Whoever it was, it must have been someone who knew someone was at the headquarters, judging by their persistence. Daphne walked to the front door while Marianne scratched her head in thought.

Of all the people who would know, she wondered who had come to see her.

“Let’s see who it is.”

Daphne put her hand on the doorknob. Marianne stretched her senses as far as they would go. But there was no presence nearby. Discomfort crawled like a worm from the soles of her feet, up her legs, and into her entire body.

“Yes.”

Daphne approached the front door. Still nothing. Yet Marianne’s action was swift. She jumped toward Daphne and pushed her out of the way.

The door was burst open by a flurry of sword strikes.

It hit Marianne, but a protective spell protected her.

A shattering sound rang out. A Seventh Circle wizard’s protective spell cracked.

Daphne’s consciousness accelerated. Marianne raised her Holy Mana in her free hand.

Daphne’s mana exploded.

The lobby was destroyed, and a cloud of dust rose. After the impact, Daphne and Marianne bounced off and landed in a heap in the corner of the lobby. The wood floor cracked, and glass panes shattered.

“…Are you okay?!”

Marianne shouted. Daphne nodded her head. Her pink hair was completely disheveled, but it flowed with mana. So much had happened in less than three seconds. Daphne immediately increased the size of her shielding magic, and the wind blew the dust away.

“Why the hell is he here…!”

Daphne turned to face the figure standing on the porch in horror. Marianne searched the floor with trembling eyes. The dark-haired mercenary smiled at the tense pair. It was disguised as a wry smile but more like a grin no human could ever produce.

“Long time no see.”

Arjen said, lowering his sword. His gaze was fixed on Daphne. It was almost as if he was pleased to see her, and Daphne tensed, drawing her magic. She fired it, and Arjen deflected it with a swing of his sword.

“I see, persuasion won’t work.”

Arjen shook his head as if it were truly a shame.