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“Yep, just like always—nothing unusual today!”

I said aloud, though not really to anyone in particular.

“Well, it’s hard to imagine anything happening at this point…”

Katy replied while polishing the magic gem attached to her glove.

No doubt she wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Of course, I—Millie—as well as Ilta and Aria, all felt the same. Every single one of us in Team Aria surely thought so.

“But still! Don’t let your guard down, you hear me?! Our job isn’t done until we bring the young lady home safe and sound! We see this through to the very end! Don’t let your guard down!”

“Yeah!” everyone shouted back in response to Aria’s rallying cry.

Today marked the sixth day since our Team Aria began guarding Lady Susie. Tomorrow morning, her trial would be over without incident, and our duty would finally be complete.

Truth be told, the young lady had made it through the trial so far without even the slightest hitch. Hardly anyone in the past had ever progressed this smoothly.

Of course, there were always children who broke the mold. The Haggard siblings were prime examples, and so was our very own leader, Aria.

But those sorts relied purely on brute strength—wild children, you might say—so you couldn’t measure them in terms of “smooth progress” or “struggles.”

Lady Susie, however… I felt she surpassed even that.

On the very first day, when she set out into the forest with a backpack nearly twice her size, I had honestly been nothing but worried.

Yes, it was something I and every other village child had done before, and yes, I was aware she possessed powers far beyond the norm. But even so, seeing her carrying such a massive load, I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

That worry was quickly blown away and replaced with astonishment. Despite the huge pack on her back, the young lady advanced through the forest at an incredible pace!

She wove between the trees where there was no path, walking as if it were open ground!

I panicked. I nearly lost sight of her.

And me, of all people! I was Team Aria’s scout, and I prided myself on being that! Losing track of someone—even someone as extraordinary as the young lady—especially while they were hauling such baggage, would be unforgivable! I pushed myself hard to keep up.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one. The others nearly got left behind, too, and were just as frantic. Somehow, we managed to keep face.

I believed the young lady was scouting for a campsite.

We passed plenty of suitable spots along the way, but none seemed to please her. In the end, she chose the top of a small hill overgrown with brush.

Again, we were amazed watching her climb the uneven slope so effortlessly. Even without luggage, it was no simple feat.

But the true shock came afterward. In just half a day, the young lady transformed that densely wooded hilltop into a proper campsite!

Her sheer amount of Mana was staggering! Even though the area wasn’t that large,
to clear it all in half a day would normally take the strength of at least five full-grown men.

And on top of that, she went straight into chopping firewood. And as soon as she was done—despite the sun nearly setting—she even went out hunting! How hardworking could one person be?!

And the way she hunted was nothing ordinary either.

It was as though she already knew exactly where the prey was hiding. She dashed straight down the slope at a breathtaking speed and, from a distance, felled a Jackalope—with a single thrown knife!

Even I, a hunter myself, hadn’t realized the Jackalope was lurking there until the very moment she threw her blade.

That first day alone was enough to make me witness once more just how utterly extraordinary the young lady is.

… Yes, “extraordinary” truly described her. It was still fresh in my memory—last year, during the fifth Blue Moon.
That day, when Demonic Beasts flooded the village.

A crimson blur streaked across the battlefield, scattering Shadow Dogs and Brutal Bats alike. With a single dazzling strike of her sword, she blew away several bats, and in the next instant, she cleaved a Shadow Dog in two.

With twin blades flashing as though she were dancing, her pale-green skirt fluttering, she moved with elegance and ferocity—an image of Lady Susie that remained burned into my eyes even now.

That day, countless villagers who witnessed her became her admirers. And of course—I was one of them!!

Even so, though I knew of her brilliance, seeing it again firsthand never ceased to amaze me.

But—but! That same extraordinary young lady also shed tears on the first night. Seeing her like that… I couldn’t help but feel relief in my heart. She was still just a girl after all.

“Ahhh! Damn it!! I should have flown over and hugged her back then!”
“Stop it, Aria! You’d have ruined her trial!!”
“But Ilta, isn’t it our duty to step in when the need arises?!”
“That was not what ‘when the need arises’ means.”
“At the very least, I should’ve stayed with her until she fell asleep!”
“Please don’t, Aria. You’re starting to sound like a criminal.”
“T-That’s a bit harsh, Millie!”
“Aria’s just bitter because men don’t flock to her, so she turned her sights on women.”
“Katy?!”

As usual, our team treated our leader pretty roughly.

“T-That aside… Millie! You are keeping up with your report, aren’t you?”
“No need to worry! I’m on top of it!”
“You understand, right? That report is what the newsletter’s latest article will be based on!”
“Of course, Aria! I won’t overlook a single detail!”

I gave her a firm thumbs-up.

After all, there was no way I would miss recording the young lady’s every move! I then strapped on the goggle-type telescope on my forehead, adjusting the dial until Lady Susie came into focus. These goggles were my prized possession, made by Marybell of the Causburt Workshop!

Normally priced at 25 Awl, but after relentless bargaining, I got them for 15 Awl on installment! Sixteen times magnification, with night vision in the left lens and Mana-sight in the right—these were the workshop’s proud craftsmanship!! With this, I could keep track of the young lady’s every action!

Why, just the other day, I even happened to w-witness her while she was bathing!! Of course, I already knew she had a fine figure from fitting her clothes at the shop… And lately she’d been showing more definition, her curves growing more feminine. But to actually see her in person like that… I never imagined it would be to this extent…!