A human body was buried in the wall, or perhaps I should say sucked into it. Kalia Vardnick wrinkles her brow with a dubious expression and traces her white finger along the stone wall. There was no sign of the trap being triggered as before, only a natural feeling coming from it.

　Caria's mouth involuntarily clicked her tongue. What was she thinking, giving herself over to such a trivial trick? And with that woman, the sorceress who called herself Fialaat, no less.

Let's set a course. The situation is bad. The party's split up, there's no way to reunite. The best thing to do, of course, is to return to the city for help.

　This man, Heldt Stanley, is on the right track. That's exactly what he's saying. There's not a speck of doubt.

　It's too bad that the party was split up by a trap and then suffered a secondary disaster when they went for help. The best course of action is for the two of you to get out of here alone and go back for help. The next best thing is to stay here for a while and hope that those who have left will escape the trap. The next best thing is to stay here for a while and hope that those who have left escape the trap.

　Kalia Vadnick's silver eyes flickered narrowly, and for a moment the words writhed in her brain. Then the words rolled off her tongue.

No, we go forward. Retreating is too unrewarding. If you want results, you need the best.

What a coincidence. I feel the same way. We can't go back in time. The longer we delay, the less chance we have of rescue.

　Without pause, Heldt nodded as he shook his silver hair.

　Both of them declared that it was good to dare to choose a foolish plan. It was the result of emotional, yet rational calculation.

　Today, we do not have the equipment to camp here for days. Each of us has at most enough food and water for one day. And it's a day's ride from Galuamaria to this temple. Even if he used his legs to their fullest, it would take at least two days to call for help and return to this place.

　If you're in good health, that's no problem. People do not die from lack of food for a day or so at most. If you conserve well, you can last for two days.

　But if you're trapped, there's a good chance you won't be in perfect health. Injuries, severe injuries, loss of limbs, excessive bleeding. Then you don't know if you will survive even a day. If that is the case, then you should go. If you're worried about him. The best thing to do is to get to it as soon as possible.

"Besides, that guy's probably gone ahead of us into a trap. Yeah, that's who he is.

　With a sarcastic, inevitable tone of voice, Kalia let her words seep into the stone hallway. The surroundings were dark, and with the lights on, you could barely see what was going on. It was an underground temple, and the main hall must have been hidden deep within. It is extraordinary that a temple, originally a symbol of mystery, should be hidden underground. Only the persecuted and displaced heralds could have come up with such an illegal idea. The structure is completely beyond Caria's imagination.

　But that man, she thought, smiling and clearing her throat at the image of Lugis in her imagination.

"...... I know this is not the time for this kind of crisis, but perhaps you are of noble birth, Kalia?

　I'm sure you're not talking about a time of crisis like this, but perhaps you were born of noble birth," said Held, who was walking in front of us with a light, as if he had overheard the spill of emotion. When Kalia asks why he thinks so, Heldt replies in a soft tone.

　There is a natural disparity in skin tone, tone of voice, and language between the lowly commoner and the nobleman. Common people do not need sophisticated language, and when their bodies are subjected to hard physical labor, their skin becomes tanned and their body shape becomes distinctive.

　Herdt continued, saying that he had been curious about Kalia from the beginning because there was someone in the guild who stood out strangely from such people.

　I see. She nodded naturally as she stared at her white fingers. This hand could hold a sword, but it had never worked as a farmer, nor did it know how to pick wheat. It doesn't know how to grip a tool or squeeze a rag. When I thought about it, I felt as if my hands were unreliable. Yes, as I recall, his hands were oddly, well, sooty, if that's the right word.

So I have one more question. I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.

　He spoke strangely, as if he was choosing his words. This may have been a sign of the sincerity and integrity that existed in Heldt's heart.

I don't get it. You don't care who I am with, do you?

"Yes, of course. Yes, of course. But it's very rare for people of different origins to be together.

　That's as it should be. Kalia and Lugis. If you ask me if these two people are from the same background, their characteristics are too different. If Kalia's mannerisms and atmosphere are noble, then Rougis's is that of a commoner.

　Kalia stroked her chin. If, for example, Kalia was the master and Lugis was the servant, there would be no mystery. However, based on the dealings at the guild and the process leading up to this point, it was hard to say. First of all, Kalia herself did not have a good grasp of the relationship between herself and Lugis.

I'm not sure what to say. My relationship with him. ......

I'm not sure what to say. Mr. Kalia trusts Mr. Lugis very much. Yes, she trusts him. I've been wondering if the two of you are in love.



　At these words, Kalia's thoughts involuntarily went still. It was as if her brain had been grabbed by the hand of some unknown person.

　Love. Those who love each other and are in love with each other. Whispering and spinning love to each other. Me and him. No, that's not true. That's not true. We've only known each other a short time. Different identities, different ways of life. How is it possible for two people like that to be in love with each other? No, it's not possible.

　No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! But I've heard that love is a very fleeting thing that falls into your heart. If that's the case, then the length of time you've known someone is no proof of anything.

　But no, no, wait, while going through those two thoughts, Mmm, Kalia's soft lips formed a line, and then she answered.

"Friends. Yes, companions. That's the most appropriate.

　Yes. She thought back, wondering if she had said that. That's the most appropriate way to put it. Of course, it is strange that people of different origins are friends. But that's enough for now.

　Heldt murmured in a questioning voice, "I see. Then he continued.

To be honest, I don't have a very good impression of that man. I even consider him dangerous.

　A little darker than normal. His voice sounded as if it had dropped a notch or two. It's a little darker than normal.

　I think that's what Heldt was trying to say, after all. However, it was unfair and sometimes rude to ask this question in front of Karia, who was neither in love nor a friend of his. Therefore, he took the trouble to inquire about the relationship through Karia's mouth, and then revealed his feelings.

　Should we call it sincere? Or should I say earnest? In a way, he was the complete opposite of her, she thought as she put her hand on her head.

"Not quite vicious, perhaps. But he's definitely not a good guy. Are you aware of that, Mr. Kalia, and are you with him?

　So that's what he, Held Stanley, is like, Kalia understood as she looked at his handsome face as he turned to her.

　I can't help but say that what is not right is not right. You can't leave injustice as it is. We must continue to look squarely at the relationship between right and wrong. Someone who is straight to the core. That's who he is.

"I can't stop worrying about Fialaat right now. I feel like my heart is about to burst. If it weren't for your eyes, I might even be distraught. So I want to tell you something. If by any chance he harms Fialat, I will turn against him.

　And what will you do then, you're being asked. Kalia took in the implications of what was said without letting on.

　Even though it was a spur-of-the-moment combination, she was going up against someone who was in her party. Even if he assumed that the other party had already made the first move, it would be injustice not to tell him that the thought was in his heart. That's what he's thinking.
　Kalia blinked her silver eyes and let the words slowly form on her tongue.