Published: July 4, 2025
"Abel, foolish actions can be brushed off as a joke if done twice, but doing it three times makes you an idiot."
"Ryo, even doing it twice is enough to be called a fool."
This is a tea shop facing the square.
Ryo and Abel have become a pair of gluttons, taking a day off for the third consecutive day following the day before yesterday and yesterday.
Indeed, they have overindulged again.
"Even though we avoided 'Joyful Dining Hall' and went to another restaurant..."
"Wasn't it called 'Eat Till You Drop'? Both of you have indeed eaten too much."
"This Free City has too many delicious restaurants, doesn't it?"
"That said, avoiding bad food to not get full is..."
"Yeah, that's a bit different, isn't it?"
Both Abel and Ryo have given up, accepting their fate.
They are in the same seat as yesterday, absentmindedly gazing outside while drinking green tea and waiting for their food to digest.
After a while, the same trio from the seat next to theirs arrived again.
The assistant to the vice minister of the Port and Harbor Department, Ronfan.
The assistant to the minister of ports and harbors, Zoe.
The assistant to the minister of foreign affairs, Juze.
Today, there is one more woman with them.
"You might know her, but this is Larsa, ourๅๆ, the assistant to the vice minister of internal affairs."
Zoe introduced her, and each of them gave a brief self-introduction.
"When it comes to Larsa, she's the one who created the original plan for the training we discussed yesterday..."
"Yes, that was me. I created it during the first-year training."
"That's impressive."
Ronfan said as if recalling something, Larsa answered with a slight smile, and Juze praised her.
It's quite rare for something created in the first year after joining to be recognized at the country's defense center and become part of it.
"After hearing from Zoe yesterday, I was quite surprised. The minister of ports, the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of finance... all suffered from severe headaches. And..."
"Could it be...?"
"Yes, even the minister of internal affairs."
At Larsa's words, the three were surprised but also thought, 'It figures.'
"There's no doubt about it. It's some sort of manipulation."
"Yeah. Either drugs or magic..."
"Thereโs also the possibility of sorcery."
Ronfan, Juze, and Zoe didn't consider it just a coincidence or an outbreak of illness.
Given that they all mentioned 'severe headaches' so precisely, there must be a reason, and they should be considered targets.
"Since yesterday, I've been asking people connected to the minister of internal affairs, and they said they often feel dazed along with their severe headaches, and their thinking is dull."
"Dull thinking? When it comes to the minister of internal affairs, he's known for his sharpness, right?"
"Now that you mention it... I feel like our minister of ports has become less responsive. Well, to be honest, he wasn't that sharp to begin with, but he seemed better than now."
"Yeah, our minister of foreign affairs might be the same. He often has his head in his hands, so..."
At Larsa's words, Ronfan, Zoe, and Juze expressed their thoughts.
At least things seem slightly different from before.
"Is it just the ministers? What about the vice ministers?"
"Our side is as usual."
"Same here."
Ronfan from the Port Department and Larsa from the Ministry of Internal Affairs nodded in response.
It seems that only the ministers have fallen into a concerning situation.
"I want to confirm how far this has spread."
"Other ministers or even the prime minister."
"Yes, and the naval admiral or the commander of the garrison."
At that moment.
"[Ice Wall Level 20]"
Clang. Kakakakaka...
A translucent roof was stretched above the four.
There was a sound of something invisible striking repeatedly.
Upon closer inspection, a talisman was floating near the ceiling, and from it, an attack resembling an air slash was being unleashed toward the four.
An attack from the talisman that had suddenly appeared above them.
And the translucent covering that was erected to protect the four without them noticing.