Go to the Royal Capital of Falosa and lead a stable and fulfilling life in another world under the protection of the Royal Academy.
Nurture Lifa with care. With the talent that both he and Isis recognized, she would grow to provide him with the most solid protection.
Ron originally thought that after one save-loading, his current arrangement and planning would be without issue. He had even found a clear position for himself now that his level had returned to zero.
If the “Destiny” Isis spoke of referred to Lifa, then he happened to occupy the position of the portable mentor from a certain novel in his previous life, famous for the phrase about thirty years to the east of the river.
“Lifa, are you saying you can feel my sword calling out to you, wanting to challenge you?”
Isis silently moved her hand inside her robes, resting it on the hilt of the hero’s sword.
“Yep! Plus, I can feel that Sister Ash is really strong. Lifa just learned some new sword techniques from Teacher and was looking for someone to practice with~”
Lifa and Isis chatted and laughed along the way. Both being female swordswomen with traits that drew them to one another, they quickly became like friends who had known each other for a long time.
This scene gave Ron, who was following behind the servants, a massive headache.
“Ho ho, we meet again, Mr. Lorne and Miss Lifa.”
A short while later, the three of them entered a parlor within the Earl’s Mansion. As soon as they stepped through the door, President Falga of the Enid adventurer branch stood up to greet them.
“Hello, President Falga.”
There was actually only one permanent Adamantite-rank adventurer in the Enid region — Falga. Lifa’s rank-skipping exam had been conducted by him, so Ron naturally recognized him and greeted him politely.
“President, I have already met the two individuals responsible for the collaborative guiding work.”
While Ron and Falga were talking, Isis, who had already found the Child of Destiny, was unwilling to waste any more time.
“Moving through the magic beast forest and searching for targets takes a lot of time. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“I personally wish to set out immediately. Lifa and I will enter the magic beast forest for an initial exploration and reconnaissance.”
Isis stated her plan expressionlessly. She didn’t mention Ron, who was originally part of the team, as if she wasn’t asking for an opinion but rather delivering a notification.
‘This child is still so blunt and unlovable toward outsiders…’
“Lifa, and Miss Ash, there is no need for us to be in such a hurry, is there?”
Ron spoke up, suppressing his thoughts and emphasizing the word “us.”
“Rather than diving headfirst into a magic beast forest that spans multiple cities and territories, I think we should discuss and formulate a plan first.”
Ron absolutely did not agree with or feel at ease about Lifa staying by the dangerous Isis’s side. After all, everything from the last save-file was still fresh in his mind.
The Hero, who had lost her sanity and developed a twisted personality after being demonized, had attacked Lifa then with strikes meant to kill.
“Mm, I’ll listen to Teacher.”
Even though Lifa had a good impression of Isis and wanted to spar with this powerful fellow swordswoman, her stance was naturally aligned with Ron once her teacher spoke up.
“President Falga, I think what Mr. Lorne says makes sense.”
Rosalyn spoke up at the right time. The sudden shift in atmosphere caused Falga to cautiously cast an inquiring glance at Isis.
“President, take out the map I marked,” Isis commanded in a calm tone. Her blood-red eyes glanced at Ron, her expression unreadable.
“Oh?”
As a bystander, Rosalyn first looked at Falga and let out a meaningful chuckle. Then, she noticed that the look Ron cast toward her seemed to carry a trace of gloomy killing intent.
“Oops~”
Rosalyn blinked and acted as if she hadn’t noticed, picking up the map distributed by Falga to read.
Collaborative guides.
Ron, momentarily helpless, could only suppress his dissatisfaction and sense of crisis. He was highly attentive to Isis’s every word and action, so he naturally wouldn’t overlook the term just mentioned.
Coupled with Rosalyn’s guilty laughter as she dodged his gaze, Ron understood.
Aside from Isis’s sudden appearance, this young lady — who had said only the night before that she wanted to establish a closer connection with him — was also being dishonest.
“Well —”
“Most of the Earls of Enid, who built their reputations on military merit, developed their superb martial skills within the magic beast forest.”
Falga distributed copies of the marked map to everyone. Seeing that no one was speaking about their next move into the forest, he started with some polite filler.
Rosalyn listened with great interest, Lifa turned the map around with a face full of confusion, and Isis closed her eyes to rest.
After looking around, Ron merely glanced at the map. He now surmised that when Falga approached Rosalyn, he definitely hadn’t said anything about “to each their own, first come first served.”
Falga’s subsequent explanation made it clear. From the start, regarding the search for the origin crystal, Falga had asked Rosalyn, the local power, for help, hoping for convenience and staff collaboration.
In other words, there was no question of who the origin crystal belonged to. Rosalyn’s previous proposal might have had other intentions.
“Miss Ash, based on the map information, data, and records preserved in the Earl of Enid’s Mansion, I have marked several potential locations on the map with red circles.”
While listening to Falga’s explanation, Ron discreetly observed Isis.
Trouble. More trouble coming to his door.
In his view, the magic beast forest and the 8th rank demonic beast guarding the origin crystal were nothing. With Lifa and Isis working together, there was no danger to speak of.
The real problem was how Ron should handle matters related to Isis.
This time, she hadn’t discovered his identity, but what was her intention in getting close to Lifa? Could it really be for that line, ‘Please, kill me’?
That seemed too far-fetched. Lifa’s strength was only enough to parry a few of her moves. Couldn’t she just commit suicide or seek help from other experts?
This might very well be another crisis.
Ron watched as Isis opened her eyes. She also wasn’t paying attention to the map or Falga’s narrative; like Ron, she was observing Lifa, who was stifling a yawn.
“Mr. Lorne, do you have any suggestions or thoughts?”
Realizing he had been the only one talking, Falga took the initiative to ask for Ron’s opinion. Naturally, everyone else’s gaze shifted instantly, which caused Isis — previously focused on Lifa — to notice Ron’s stare.
*Crap.*
“Ah, sorry.”
Ron glanced at the map in his hand, pretending to have been lost in thought and only just reacting.
“I’m just a bit concerned. Lifa and I won’t have any issues dealing with most high-level demonic beasts in there.”
“However, the guardian beast of the origin crystal has a strength of at least the 6th tier. That point…”
He chose to meet Isis’s gaze openly, using his doubt about safety and her strength as a very reasonable explanation for his earlier prying eyes.
The wariness in Isis’s eyes faded after Ron finished speaking.
Ron broke into a cold sweat. If he had known that the matter of the origin crystal would involve Isis, he would have taken Lifa away from Enid no matter what.