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“Do you all enjoy being made to sit on your knees?”
“N-no, it’s not like that… I was worried about you, so I invited Momo…”
“If Master hadn’t noticed, we could’ve gotten away with it peacefully…”
“So why did I get dragged into this…?”
“Zzz…”

I picked up the glass cup placed in front of the idiots sitting on their knees on the floor. This wasn’t just any cup; a thin magic circle adorned its surface. It was likely enhanced with a spell for eavesdropping.

Such a finely crafted item wasn’t something you’d find in a store, meaning it was the work of a guild staff present here.

“As expected of little Laika… So, what are you going to do…?”
“My course of action doesn’t change. In fact, I’m proud of myself for not punching that face.”
“No, no, let’s not. If you hit her, Master, you’d probably break your—ow!”
“Is it this mouth that’s being insolent? Huh?”
“I-I’m sorry…!”
“Good grief… Now, wake up, Stell.”
“Mmm… Teach…?”

I let go of Momo’s cheek and instead shook Stell’s shoulder to wake her up. Thanks to some makeshift treatment, her sleep was light, and she woke up quickly.

“Stell, I have something important to discuss. It might take a while, but can you stay awake?”
“……I’ll try… my best…”
“Good answer. Now, do you understand the situation you’re in?”

After taking about five seconds to digest the question, Stell nodded slowly.

A sharp child. The expression of worry on her face wasn’t just due to sleepiness; It was distress from clearly understanding the gravity of the situation.

“You have two options: ‘fight’ or ‘flee.’ Honestly, you don’t need to get involved in parents’ ugly quarrels. You could escape to a faraway place with your mother.”
“…Mgh.”

Stell immediately rejected this suggestion. This might have been the first time she showed such strong emotion. It showed just how much she abhorred the idea of running away.

“Because… if I run away… mom will be… sad…”
“She wanted you to be safe. I’m sure she’d understand if you persuaded her.”
“…Don’t wanna.”
“I see, got it. Could you tell me your specific reason?”
“They made fun of…my teacher’s and mom’s… magecraft…”
“…I see.”

So, this child had been eavesdropping on our conversation earlier. And when that lady pointed a gun at me, calling magecraft outdated, it infuriated her.

Ah, in that case, it was impossible. I couldn’t stop her. Even if only for a short time, as her tutor, I couldn’t disregard her feelings of anger on my behalf.

“Even if you were to fight with that thing, your body puts you in a huge handicap. Even if I heal you, you lack time. It will be a terrible experience, but are you willing?”
“Yes.”

This time, she answered immediately, without a moment’s hesitation. Her resolve was already firm. If it had come to this, no amount of persuasion from me would make her change her mind. Thus, there was only one choice.

I needed to cure Stell’s Magic Crystallization Syndrome quickly and demonstrate her strength, befitting the next head of the Umravolf family.

“Momo, could you protect Stell for a while? Nova, continue your training.”
“Yes! But, Master, where are you going?”
“I need to prepare the ingredients for the cure of Magic Crystallization Syndrome. Stell’s mother will gather the more troublesome materials, but I need to handle the rest.”
“Teach… I want to help too…”

“No, the opponents are more extreme than you think. It’s one thing inside the guild, but I can’t take you outside.”
“Ugh…”
“And I have one task for you. Train in magic power control. You should be able to handle about the same amount of magic power as Momo now.”

I gathered magic power in my index finger and created a tiny water sphere, smaller than the tip of my nail. With the magic power within her body loosened, Stell should be able to do at least this much.

Then, I rolled the water sphere along my fingertip. It was a perfect exercise to get accustomed to handling magic power.

“Wow… it’s beautiful…”
“Hey, aren’t you treating her way better than me?”
“Of course. Stell is my guarding target, and you’re a criminal. Know your place.”
“Damn it, I can’t argue with that!”

While Nova sulked, Stell, glancing at her own palm, immediately began trying to create a water sphere.

Though her Magic Crystallization Syndrome had started to loosen a little, it was still far from cured. If she could form the water sphere by the end of the day, it would be a success.

“So, that’s the situation. If you don’t want me to report your eavesdropping to the guild, you better cooperate, guild staff.”
“Agggh, don’t whisper in my ear! It’s turning me on!!”
“Shouldn’t she just get fired at this point?”
“Well, she’s a type you sometimes see in Japan…”

✦✧✦✧✦

“Oh, are you heading out?”
“What, have you already gathered all the information?”

As I opened the guild door, I ran into the Saint, as if she had been waiting for my departure.

Though I took time talking in the VIP room, I thought it would still take more time for her to verify the background of the Umravolf family.

“I’ve left it to my trustworthy subordinates for now. I was more concerned that you might be short on protection.”
“Princess, what is happening? You brought me here without explanation… Oh well, I’ve gotten used to this already…”
“You have it tough, don’t you?”

The one being carried by the Saint was her attendant, a halfling named Astera.

I see, the prowess she displayed on the airship was certainly trustworthy. However, was it really wise to entrust her own protection to someone else so readily?

“Ah, you can ask Momo and the others inside about the situation. If you need a headache remedy, I can arrange one along the way?”
“No, I have my own… Do you need stomach medicine?”
“I’ll take it. You’re a good person.”
“Hehe, I’m glad to see you two getting along.”

At that moment, I could confidently say our glares could have killed someone.

“So, what exactly is your task?”
“I need to make a cure for the Magic Crystallization Syndrome, right? I am going to gather the ingredients. Most of it is just cheap herbs, so it shouldn’t be too much trouble…”
“Ah, I see. In that case, you’ve been outmaneuvered. All the herbs are sold out.”
“…What did you say?”