Published: August 10, 2026
At midday, at the demonic bird cavalry's camp.
Nahas, who had been patrolling the sky to keep the surrounding area under watch, noticed that his demonic bird suddenly lost focus.
Gliding along, the bird stared fixedly off to one side, opening and closing its beak restlessly.
"What's wrong?"
It didn't answer. But it was a feeling too distinct to dismiss as mere whim.
Nahas found it suspicious and gave the signal to descend back to camp.
Some time after noon, Lizel left his room at the inn alone.
He then made his way to the dining hall, where he quickly found the person he had been looking for.
"Thank you very much, Grandma."
"Oh? All done already?"
"Yes."
"You weren't using magic in your room, were you?"
"I didn't use any magic."
At the elderly woman's teasing words, Lizel laughed a little and glanced at her.
Across from the table where the inn's elderly couple sat side by side, a familiar face was seated. It was the old gentleman—an information broker called "the Spider," and one of the great merchants associated with Insai. He looked over at Lizel with a calm smile.
"Sorry. Did I interrupt your conversation?"
"No, not at all. We weren't discussing anything important. Just killing time like old folks do."
The old gentleman raised a hand and indicated the seat beside him.
It seemed he was inviting Lizel for tea. Lizel accepted the invitation and sat down next to him as prompted.
He thanked the old woman, who was heading to the kitchen to prepare a fresh pot of tea.
"What about magic?"
"I had something I wanted to try in my room. I told Grandma earlier that it might cause a large mana reaction. She probably would notice, so I didn't want to worry her."
"Mana and all that stuff, I don't really get it."
"How curious. You've fought people who use magic, haven't you?"
"When you're fighting, you figure it out. Just look at their movements and the like."
At the old gentleman's request for agreement, Lizel nodded as if to say the same.
Gill and Eleven were the same. They dodged and cut down attacks without hesitation. They would read an opponent's tells and strike first to interrupt spellcasting, or move instantly if a magic circle appeared that looked offensive in nature. In other words, they fought based on visual information.
Magic generally required some sort of buildup, so it was rare to be hit by something with absolutely no motion at all.
"I wouldn't know if invisible mana is moving from here to there."
"Oh, I see. So people with a lot of mana are easier to sense, I've heard."
"That's right. And also, experience."
As they spoke, the old woman returned with the tea set.
From the teapot, a faint steam rose from the spout, carrying the sweet fragrance of black tea.
A warmed cup was placed before Lizel. The tea poured into it was a beautiful red.
"It smells wonderful."
"It was a gift. Tea leaves from the west."
Lizel and the old woman exchanged smiles and took sips from their cups.
Then, suddenly, the elderly man beside them pointed his thumb at the old gentleman.
"By the way, this guy's got business with you."
"With me?"
Lizel looked to the side in surprise.
Considering the old man's remark about killing time, it didn't sound like anything especially important. Perhaps it was only the sort of favor he might ask if the opportunity came up in conversation. Still, it didn't seem like the old gentleman to bring it up in front of the elderly couple on purpose.
The old gentleman was a consummate merchant. Beneath his soft manner and gentle tone, he always steered conversations in whatever direction would maximize profit. But the elderly couple were jokers to him. They might bring him more profit than expected, but none of their words or actions could be predicted.
Lizel's impression of the old gentleman was that he was so thorough he could even run an information brokerage as a side business.
If he wanted to ask Lizel for something, Lizel had assumed he would choose a time when the two old friends were not present.
"These two caused trouble a long time ago."
"These two?"
"Yeah. Him and Insai."