Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Deep within the magic beast forest, Ron used his short sword like a machete to clear a path.
“Isis, are your injuries really okay?”
Behind him, Lifa and Isis were on high alert, scanning their surroundings.
“It’s fine. Besides, Lifa already helped treat them, didn’t she?”
Isis was still wearing the cloak that concealed her figure. While talking with Lifa, she occasionally glanced at Ron, who was leading the way at the front.
Two days had passed since their first sparring match in this save file. Today was the first time Isis, Ron, and Lifa had entered the magic beast forest together to search for the origin crystal.
“I meant the wounds on your body… they look truly terrifying…”
Lifa recalled what she had seen that day. Beneath Isis’s cloak, apart from her clothes, the exposed skin was almost entirely covered in wounds and scars that were painful to look at.
“It’s fine.”
With her white hair and cool, beautiful demeanor, the gentle smile that Isis wore created a striking contrast that was hard to ignore.
“Miss Ash, have you been resisting the curse through self-harm all this time?”
The question came from Ron. He had no mind to appreciate Isis’s smile; instead, he was worried about the pain and suffering hidden beneath it.
Over the past two days, the relationship between Isis and Lifa had developed since their spar and the subsequent incident. Because they were both swordsmen, Isis had also taken the initiative to get closer to Lifa.
So, Ron, who seemed indifferent on the surface, had watched helplessly as his disciple and Isis grew increasingly close.
Just yesterday, even while resting her injured ankle, Isis had still taken the time to diligently teach Lifa her sword techniques and insights.
“Yes, for now, there’s no better way.”
Isis casually pushed aside a branch blocking the path. Her answer carried no particular emotional weight.
“I see…”
The brief conversation between Ron and Isis ended there.
Once, to orchestrate the script that would push Isis to a higher level of strength, he had fabricated an ambition for her: ‘to devour both the Hero’s and the Demon King’s power and dominate the world.’
The result, however, was that after he left, Isis had actually chosen to fuse with the Demon King’s power.
Although Enid was located in a remote part of the continent, Rosalyn, as a future Countess, was quite knowledgeable about major events in the royal capital and across the continent.
According to the information Rosalyn provided, after Isis and he defeated the original ‘Ashen Demon King,’ Casalima, she had gone on to kill two other demon race beings of Demon King level.
The last human Hero to achieve such a feat in the continent’s history dated back almost to the era of ancient myths.
And the price for using that power was evident.
“Teacher, is there any way you can help Isis? Is there really no way to treat the demonic curse?”
Lifa wasn’t aware of the true situation; she was simply asking out of concern and worry for Isis.
“Well, perhaps Miss Ash could seek out a sage or high-ranking clergy member from the Church.”
Ron knew this suggestion was practically impossible. In fact, in the eyes of some high-ranking holy figures, Isis’s condition was only one step away from falling and becoming a Demon King.
“Is that so? Then, Isis, after we find that origin crystal, Lifa and Teacher will go with you to find someone from the Church!”
Lifa stepped forward and grabbed Isis’s arm. Fully believing the treatment method Ron had suggested, she smiled at Isis, whose gaze was now evasive.
Yesterday, Lifa had never expected that Isis, whom she had just met, would be willing to entrust her with her sword techniques and secrets.
‘I’m sorry, Isis… I, I already have a teacher, and I don’t have any intention of following you for now.’
Lifa clearly understood that besides adventuring and getting stronger, she had another important task: protecting Ron.
So she had refused Isis’s request to take her as a disciple and train under her. However, Isis had still diligently instructed her and shared everything she knew, saying something that left a deep impression on Lifa.
‘It’s fine. Even if we’re not teacher and student, can’t friends share experiences and insights with each other?’
‘Friends? You and me…?’
‘Yes. You and I, we can be friends.’
“Okay~”
Isis imitated Ron’s action from that day, stroking Lifa’s golden hair.
Isis was the first new friend Lifa had made since embarking on her adventure.
But for Isis.
This special friendship also held a unique weight.
“Lifa, Miss Ash, we’re here.”
Ron hacked through the obstructing bushes, let out a long sigh, and checked the map in his hand.
The open area before them was a water source within the magic beast forest. It was both their planned campsite and an excellent location where they could utilize the water and wait for their target.
“Good. I’ll take a look around.”
Isis nodded to Ron, signaling to Lifa not to follow her.
“Lifa, take out all the things we prepared for camping.”
Ron didn’t pay attention to Isis, who vanished into the jungle in an instant. Instead, he called for Lifa to take out various camping items from the storage necklace.
“Ah, yes, Teacher!”
Lifa was full of enthusiasm. Among the three of them, she was the only one who felt purely novel and excited about this adventure into the magic beast forest.
“This tent is made from magically treated alchemical fabric. Lifa, if you pour your magic power into it, it will automatically deploy.”
Lifa took out items one by one. Soon, she was struggling with the tent, which was compressed to the size of a water bottle. Seeing her tugging at it forcefully, Ron quickly explained and reminded her.
“So that’s how it works! How amazing!”
Besides being surprised, Lifa felt a bit disappointed. She actually thought the process of building a simple tent with her teacher on their way to Gaderade was more fun.
***
Back then, she could sleep next to her teacher…
“Um, Lifa, do you remember what Teacher told you about the radiant set?”
Ron organized the camping items one by one. After checking that Isis hadn’t returned, he lowered his voice and asked Lifa about this important matter.
As they advanced deeper into the magic beast forest for exploration, to best protect herself, Lifa would eventually have to change into the radiant set.
But this would inevitably make Isis see it and have doubts. Ron clearly remembered that this was the starting point from which Isis had discovered something was off in the previous save file.
“Of course. It’s the equipment passed down through Teacher’s family.”
Lifa directly gave the answer Ron had taught her.
“Very good.”
Ron didn’t say more, because Isis was already walking towards them, dragging the corpse of a magic beast.
He silently used the stones around the water source to build a circular pit and placed a magic tool for generating fire in the center.
Click.
With a sound, the cube that had originally been the size of a sugar cube burst into flames.