It was a damp place. It’s surrounding was quite dark. Yet the place was dried even if they were in a place far from any sunlight. And within such a dried place, a sound of dripping liquid can be heard.

The liquid’s sound was heavy. Quite an amount of liquid was dripping off, and it certainly wasn’t pure water. The weight of the liquid makes stain everywhere, and the color itself was nauseating.

It was blood. A blood was dripping out of what was seemed to be a primate with white fur, and in front of it was someone whom looked so ragged that it was hard to not notice what kinds of trouble she had been through. With all her clothes tattered, her weary legs, her bruised arms, and her messy hair.

[DAMN IT!] [Of all people, to think that that monster just goes ahead and went straight toward me!!] [And all of them didn’t even do their job properly!] [After all I do for them…!!!]

[*Kikii….]

[SHUT UP!] [I DON’T NEED FOR YOUR CONCERN, AND I CAN’T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO SAY!!!]

[*KII….!]

[Ah….] [I… I’m sorry, Hanna…!] [It’s not your fault, I know….] [I mean, you’ve been protecting me from all of those monsters….] [How could I even blame you…?]

[*Kii~~~….]

[*giggle*….] [You really are kind.]

It was Mariabelle together with Hanna. They were also a member of the frontier unit, and were assigned to fill some quota to hunt. But one way or another, her days weren’t that fruitful. Such situation leads her to this condition, where she was trapped inside some kind of a cave, already ragged together with Hanna, and was also separated from her companions.

[*sigh*… I guess I have no choice….] Maria then pulled something from her already-torn sleeves and chanted a magic on it. The mentioned item then turned into some kinds of fairy and starts to fly away from that place.

[*Kii??]

[I actually dislike asking help from others, but I can’t take any more risks.] [Your condition is deteriorating, Hanna.] [Your safety is my first priority.]

Maria was softly stroking Hanna’s fur on its head while Hanna was just clinging closely toward Maria. Though its head was already dirty and sticky with its blood, Maria just keeps stroking them softly like a mother whom was trying to pamper her child. She also starts to sing lullaby to calm Hanna down.

[*KII…!?]

Suddenly Hanna wakes up after sensing something.

[Hanna?] [… Is something’s coming?]

Maria was just about to prepare for another battle and readied her magic. But Hanna had different reaction. Without even trying to reconfirm its intention, Hanna just grabbed Maria, hugged her tightly on its chest, and starts to run with its hand and feet at full speed.

[Hanna?!] [Why are you running?!] [If it’s a monster, we couldn’t just turn our back against them!!]

[*KII KII!!!!]

Maria then tried to look behind Hanna’s back, and what she saw was something so dreadful that Maria regret almost choosing to fight back. It was a monster. But there’s no shape of it. Or rather, the monster was shaped like a shadow hands that were crawling on the walls. The shadow hands were too many that it’s almost infinite. Maria realized that, if by any chance one of those shadow hands touching them, it’ll be the end of their lives. That’s why Hanna quickly runs from those places.

[HUGH!!!]

*BLAAAAARRRRRRRR

Maria then throws her fireball onto the ceiling, hoping that the rubble that falls from it were able to halt their movements.

But it was a fleeting hope.

[Wha...?!?!?]

Forget about the rubble, the ceiling wasn’t even scratched from her attacks. She then realized that this whole cave was actually covered in some kinds of mineral that nullify the effect of magic and absorbed it onto the mineral. It can also be seen that some of the shadow hands were already absorbed onto the mineral, but it still wasn’t enough to halt its movement.

[Hanna, find the places where these mineral originated from!]

[*KIII!!!!!!!]

Hanna then swiftly moves between the caves and crevices, using its nose and sharp eyes to identify the mineral and find its original location. As both of them keeps running and searching, they haven’t realized that they’ve dwelled far inside the cave.

{The amount of the shadow hands looked thinner… that means…!} [Just a little bit more, Hanna!!]

[*KIIII!!!]

Hearing Maria’s voice, Hanna’s forcefully running forward, using every inch of strength it had. As they finally reached a place where the majority of the wall was covered in that same mineral.

[THERE’S THE EXIT!!!!!!]

With all of its strength, Hanna jumped toward the hole where the mineral was originated.

***

[Unggh….] [Hanna… are you… okay?]

[*Ki… Kikii~~….]

[*giggle*….] [Don’t lie.] [With your wound, there’s no way you’re fine after taking such fall.] [Thank you….]

Maria then moves her body away from Hanna, whom tensed a bit after falling from the hole where they came from. The hole which they came from was too far away from their current location that they couldn’t even see the ceiling.

[Oh no….] [How are we supposed to get out of here then…?] [If we’re moving carelessly, those shadow hands will undoubtedly swarming us….]

Maria started to observe her current location while tending Hanna’s wound with her magic.

[Still, this place’s somehow has an abundant amount of mana.] [If we’re managed to secure the roadway, we may be able to uses this place to farm more mana for our villages.] [But those shadow hands were quite a nuisance….]

[Ki ki?]

After finished tending to its wound, Hanna was able to move again, though not as energetic as before. The two then started to walk around the area as they finally reached a giant room with some kind of altar in the middle of it.

[What’s that…?]

[Ki! ki ki ki!]

Hanna somehow sensed something dangerous from the altar, and trying to warn Maria for its danger.

[Hmm….] [But if we don’t investigate it, we wouldn’t be able to come out….] [I think we should walk closely toward it….]

Maria and Hanna, completely tensing their muscle and instinct, started to gets closer toward the altar. And in the center of it, there are a pedestal which holding something. A book.

[Hmm?] [What’s a magic book doing in a place like this…?] [And it was protected with many layers of magic barrier no less.] [It’ll be hard to decipher it by myself….]

Just when Maria was starting to gets closer toward it….

[“Pray.”]

[Huh?]

[“Pray thy wish.”]

[Something’s talking…?] [Who is it!?!]

Maria was trying to question the voice’s origin, but it hadn’t replied much, and only repeating the same words over and over again.

[“Pray thy wish.”]

[Wish….] [What do you mean by that…?]

[“I see it.”]

[“An Image of a woman.”]

[“Stronger than many, different than others”]

[“The wish, to overcome.”]

[“The female, the brown haired girl.”]

[Huh?!?]

Maria surprised hearing such words. It was what was being hidden deep inside her hearts. A feeling of wanting to prove herself better than others, to be acknowledged by others, and to be looked up to by others.

But it has all been for naught, as the one whom received such treatment was standing before her.

[I…!]

In fact, she was hoping that she could contribute better for others. But one way or another, her contribution hadn’t been acknowledged properly by others. It’s all because one woman had a better contribution more than her. Thus born a feeling of jealousy inside of her, of wanting to overcome her, and even as far as to harm those around her.

[I WAS BETTER THAN HER!!] [I HAVE STUDIED MORE THAN HER!] [I HAVE BEEN HELPING MORE PEOPLE THAN HER!!!] [YET, WHY NOBODY PRAISES ME!?] [WHY NOBODY CARES ABOUT ME!?!] [Why….]

[“But you lost against her.”]

[Huh…?!]

[“Yeah, you did better than her.”] [“Yet, how come you’re still losing to her.”]

[“You cannot defeat her, even if you do better than her.”]

[Wha… what are you saying…?] Despair starts to fill her eyes. She couldn’t even fathom the truth behind the words leaving behind by the mysterious words.

[“Pray thy Wish.”]

[“Wish for your happiness, for your sake.”]

[“Then you shall find salvation there.”]

[I… I…!!!]

[*KII!!!!]

[SHUT UP, HANNA!!] [I… I don’t want to lose to her anymore!] [Grant me power!] [A power to completely show her who’s superior!!!]

*KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!

The book start to glow so bright that it blinded the whole room. Without her realizing it, she was already engulfed in a bright light from the book.

[“Very well, the Grimoire shall grant thy wish.”] [“Thy shall obtain salvation.”]

[*KIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!]

Hanna quickly jumped toward Maria as it senses something dangerous. Before long, the two was finally engulfed in a bright, green light.

*** ***

It was a dark. Though the sun has been shining so bright, the dark cloud interfere the light, making the whole land becomes dark. Below the darkened sky, there exists a town, full and bustling with people. But the town was silent. Even if the road were filled with people, the people’s mood was devastating. In the center of the town, many people were weeping in front of a coffin. A mourning priest can be seen near the coffin as many families are crying besides it. All of it was seen from a person’s eye far from there.

The people passing through that person were somehow glaring. Many negative eyes were being shot toward the person. But the person didn’t say anything. And even if he did say anything, nothing can be understood from it.

As the mourning goes on, another person went toward the person. She was different. She sees the person with eyes of sadness, as if empathizing with the person. “This is not your fault” was what she’s trying to tell the person. But the person just brushed it off lightly and started to see the sky, and begun to murmur to itself.

[“Then why am I alive?”]

***

[*groan*….]

Josephine wakes up from her sleep abruptly. Her expression is telling that she doesn’t feel too well even after some sleep. With here half-opened eyes and grumbled mouth that doesn’t even fit her tight, smooth skins.

[That dream again….] [Just what was that dream actually….]

Though looked depressed and feeling sick, Josephine just got up from her bed and walked toward the living room half-nakedly, where she sees Rud and Yohn, still away on the dreamlands.

[Is he outside?]

Josephine then started to walk out of her home, as she was trying to look for someone. Someone she could rely on and someone whom always be there when she needs him.

[Oh, already wake up, Master?] [I was in the middle of my daily exercise, do you need something.]

Vram hurriedly goes toward Josephine. Though he’s breathing roughly, he still calmly greets his master. But weirdly, Josephine didn’t answer his greetings and just went closer toward Vram.

[Master?] [… Are you feeling unwell, Josephine?]

The moment Vram said his master’s name; Josephine started to hug Vram tightly as possible. She looked afraid. Her whole body starts to tremble. But she refuses to talk. Realizing that, Vram just goes to tap her back lightly while stroking her head.

[You don’t have to be so scared.] [I’m here.]

[Mmm….]

After a while they hugged each others, Josephine moves herself away from Vram and started to scratch her cheek lightly with her finger, as she’s feeling a little bit embarrassed after tried to remember what was happened to her.

[I… I’m sorry… guess I was too tired, and….]

[It’s fine.] [I’m just glad that you’re feeling well enough now.]

[Uh… umm….] Josephine’s face somehow started to turns red. [I… I guess I’ll go back to sleep now, I think I’m not feeling well enough now.]

[Well considering what had happened these days, that’s a given.] [I should tell Hilda and the others regarding your condition, so just rest easy, Master.]

[Mm….] [Thank you, Vram….]

After saying that, Josephine returns to her room while Vram was just standing there motionlessly, looking at the sky.

[… I need to get myself together. Shouldn’t let my past haunted me.] [Still, somehow I started to dream about that time over and over again.] [Why is it…?]

As Vram avert his eyes from the sky toward his hands as he clenched his fist. It’s as if he was lamenting something, though nobody knew what he’s been lamenting off.

[What are you doing over there?] [Standing there while not taking notice of your surrounding is not like you at all.]

Vram was a little bit surprised after a voice called him out of nowhere like that. It was Hildegarde, together with her newly revived familiar, Hougo.

[I’m sorry….] [I wasn’t pay attention….]

[No, it’s not something you need to apologize though….] [Did something happen?] [I know that last week was quite hectic, but it’s not like you to be so out of it.]

[Last week, huh…?] [Come to think of it, I started seeing that dream again from last week….]

***

[WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?!?!]

Endrossa was having a fit. Or to be exact, she was out-rightfully angry. As she shouted her voice out, Josephine and Hilda can only cower in front of her as both of them were sitting with their feet below their hips and arms on their thighs. A formal sitting style to respect their elder.

[HAVE YOU REALIZED WHAT KIND OF ANOMALY YOU’VE JUST FACES?!?!] [HOW COULD YOU NOT TRYING TO THINK WHY WOULD I DECLARE THAT PLACE FORBIDDEN?!?!?]

[But… I thought I could do it, since I have Vram and Rud…!]

[SILENCE!!!!]

[U….] Josephine can only bite her lips when Endrossa shouted.

[And Hilda, Why didn’t you stopped her?!] [I told you to take care of her because of this!!!]

[I’m sorry….] [I was preoccupied with my own experiments that….]

[THAT’S NO REASON!] [I LET YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER BECAUSE YOU ASKED FOR IT!] [BUT IF YOU COULDN’T EVEN DO THAT, THEN FOR WHAT REASON I ASSIGN YOU TO SUPERVISE HER?!?!]

As Endrossa letting out all her rage, Hilda can only lowered her head while biting her lips, as if she was trying to say something but decided to hold back.

[Wait, Elder…!] [It… it wasn’t Senior Hilda’s fault….]

[So what?!] [Just because I was blaming Hilda, it doesn’t mean that you’re blameless also!] [The moment you decided to fought against Bastrios, it was your mistake!]

[But…!]

[Enough of this!] [Hildegarde, I’m going to revoke your class ascensions to 6th tier, together with your Instructor License.]

[WAIT, ELDER?!] Josephine suddenly screams in desperation after hearing her decision regarding Hilda’s punishments.

[And Josephine, I also revoked your Frontier License, and from today onward, you will be placed as a Gallant Unit under Yohana’s supervision.] [That is all, no further discussion is needed!]

As Endrossa said that, she just furiously flipped her back and disappear somewhere, left Josephine and Hildegarde at loss, unable to say anything in her defense.

[… Guess it can’t be helped.]

[Senior….] [I… I’m so sorry!!] [I… I never thought this would’ve happen… I…!!!]

Josephine lowered her head as she keeps apologizing over and over again toward Hilda. But Hilda just smiled lightly and stroked her heads.

[It’s fine.] [Not being able to teach you about anything else is kinda lonely, but it’s not like I was helpless.]

[Senior….]

[Yohana.] Hilda tilted her head as she sees where Yohana is. [It’s your turn now; make sure you take great care of her, alright?]

With pained face, Yohana started to gets near Josephine and hugged her, while looking at Hilda.

[What are you going to do now, Hilda?]

[What are you talking about?] [Since my license has been revoked, the only thing I could do now is to do my job as a proper “Frontier” unit, aren’t I?]

[But your…!]

[Let me get this straight, Yohana.] [Hougo’s more than capable of protecting me now.] [Don’t worry, he’s gotten stronger since last time he destroyed.]

Striking a bewitching smiles to both of her junior, she quietly walking away from there and start to wave her hands, calling Hougo, whom now looked like a clump of rolling big rock.

[Josephine.] [Stay strong, okay~?]

***

[So how’s your condition, Lady Hilda?]

[Never been better~❤!] [I actually grown quite fond of my newly revived Hougo, to think that I could easily filled my quota in less than a week.] [Also, I don’t really have to instruct the other kids anymore, which left me with so many free times.]

[You looked lonely, though.]

[Vram.] With dreadful face, she started to get closer to Vram. [I’ve been thinking about this all the time.] [Even if you’re trying to be polite, the way you use your words feels like you’re humiliating me all this time.]

[Then I should apologize for that, for it was not my own intention.]

[Urgh…!] Hilda started to gets a little bit pissed each time she listening to Vram’s talk. [You’re really… alright fine, I’m going to get straight to my point.]

After taking long breath for a bit, Hilda started to stare at Vram seriously.

[Vram, please have a mock battle against Hougo.]

[What?!] Even Vram shocked after hearing Hilda’s exclamation. A request that no one, even Vram, would even imagine.

[*sigh*… I know you’re quite confused….] [It’s just that, you see, I’ve been bonding a lot with Hougo now, and I kind of able to tell everything that he desires.] [Though he rarely desires many thing, but somehow… He wants to have a match with you now.]

[Why?]

[That… I don’t know….]

The moment Hilda said that as she dropped her shoulder while looking at the ground, Hougo starts to roll toward Vram.

[Hmm?]

As if he’s trying to understand something, Vram tried to puts his hand on Hougo’s body. He started to went silent while still touching Hougo’s body for a long time.

[I see….] [If you’re prepared, then I shall accept your challenge, Hougo.]

[Wait, you understand what Hougo’s saying, Vram?]

[I kinda understand it a bit.] [Guess it was because we’re both a Familiar.] [Then should I wake up Josephine now?]

[Ah, you don’t have to.] [I won’t disturb the battle; you’re going to fought Hougo himself.]

[I see.] [Then I just write her some notes that I’ll be away for a bit.] [Where are we going to fight anyway?]

[The Outfield far from this village.] [I don’t really want to attract some attention, so I prefer doing this in secrecy.]

[Understood.]

***

[Hurrmm….]

While munching some hamburger while stroking her head roughly, Yohana was deep in her own thoughts, uncaring of how she looked like right now.

[Hrmm…… *munch* *munch*….]

[Uh… ] [Yohana, your face’s a mess there.]

[*Muguh*!!] as she let a weird voice that almost choked her, she was surprised of someone she familiar of calling out her name.

[Chris!] [What are you two doing here?] [And Hilda’s not with you??]

[Well we’re having a break, since we finished our quota faster than usual.]

[Wha…?] [Faster than usual?] [But you’re literally clearing the quota at the same speed as Josephine!!]

[Well, it’s just show that our Lady Hilda’s really gotten stronger than before~❤]

Hearing such facts from Christine herself makes Yohana’s expression turned funny, as in she’s raising her left eyebrow, but twisting her right eyebrow while making a surprised yet confused face.

[Umm… Just how much stronger Hougo gets, actually?]

[Let’s see… I think he’s currently stronger than Vram without his weapon, I guess?]

[Wha…?!]

[In fact, she was in the middle of challenging him and Hougo into a duel right now~❤]

[FOR WHAT PURPOSE??]

[I don’t really know about that.] [She just said that Hougo wanted to test his abilities against Vram it seems.] [You know that Hilda and Hougo has the closest bond between us witches and familiars, right?] [It seems that Hougo himself that asked Hilda to challenge Vram himself.]

[Wow….] [Coming from that Familiar whom I remember quite a humble and timid guy, he’s quite brave to challenge Vram.]

[Power and Love can change people.] [The saying that has been passed down since generation before.]

As the two has been exchanging pleasantries with each other, Yohn somehow popped out from Chris’ valley, or to put it simply, her cleavage. The sight of such image puts Yohana silent as she unable to express her reaction.

[What is that mouse doing over there…?] by stroke of luck, Yohana had already equipped the translating earrings that was used to translate Yohn’s language.

[Ahahahah~] [Well long story short, it is our way to pay Lady Hilda back.]

[Meaning?]

[These last weeks were pretty hectic for me, you know~] [Forget about what had happened to Josephine and Vram, I have been worked to the death by Hilda that my hair started to get bald.] As Yohn tried to complain about everything that happened to him.

[While actually for the compensation for him helping Lady Hilda was that this mouse can do everything he wants to her….] [I volunteer myself to satisfying him with his demands.]

[You rotten mouse.] As Yohana start to glare at Yohn for his lecherous personality.

[AH!] [YOHN, WHY ARE YOU HIDING UNDER CHRIS’ VALLEY AGAIN!?]

And just like that, Rosa starting to appear to while bringing Chris and Yohn some food.

[Sorry, but….] [This place is really the best~.]

[What, so you don’t need to eat?] [Then let me eat all of these by myself~]

[Noooo, feed me hereeeee!]

[No~pe~] [Here, if you want to eat, come here~] Chris waving out the food right in front of Yohn, yet not letting him take a single bite.

[Uuuu.] Yohn started to take his stance while trying to get out of Chris’ valley. [TOOOOOOOH!!] And jumped toward the food Rosa had held.

[Ehehe~ Good boy~ good boy~] as Rosa said while gently grabbing him and patting his head while rubbing her cheek, as Yohn blissfully enjoying his meal.

[Uh… Is she also volunteer to….] As Yohana worriedly pointing toward both Rosa and Yohn.

[Nhah, not her.] [She already took a liking to Yohn somehow that she only wants to play together with him.]

[… Sometimes I don’t understand what’s going on inside her head….]

[I agree with that.]

After contemplating for a bit, Yohana starts to ask another question.

[By the way….] [What can this mouse even do that Hilda dare to propose such a thing, like compensate it with her own body…?]

[Well the thing is….] [It’s because of that mouse itself that Hougo become so strong….]

[Eh?]

[I was surprised myself, but he has quite vast knowledge regarding magic.] [No, I think he might be once a magician himself.] [As for how he ended up in that state, nobody knew….]

[I… I see….] [So their journey was to one day to return to their body.]

[In a sense, that might be right.] [And thanks to that knowledge he shares to Hilda, Hougo started to become something entirely different.] [Also us too.]

[Hmm….] [Now I’m interested….]

[What?] [You want to offer your body to him also, Yohana?]

[I’ll pass on that, thank you.]

[*giggle* You’re welcome~❤]

***

[*huft*… *huft*…*huft*…] [That’s quite a pleasant surprise there, Hougo.] [To think that you’re “that” strong now….]

*GRK

As if it’s happy and agreed with Vram, Hougo’s jumping back and forth while still in his boulder rock form.

[HMPH~!]

And Hilda was sitting besides Hougo, pouting and looked dissatisfied.

[Why are you so angry, Lady Hilda?]

[I’m not.] [I already knew that Hougo would lose in the end, that’s why I’m not feeling anything about it.]

[Guess you’re upset that I’m still a bit stronger than Hougo, I presume.]

[I AM NOT!!]

Hilda’s face started to redden as she glared back at Vram. A bit of tears can be seen on her eyes, feeling depressed that her newly revived familiar still lost against her junior’s.

[But I’d say that in terms of firepower, we’re evenly matched.] [What makes the difference is in our skills and experience.] [I mean, before this, Hougo’s only mean to attack was to throw some stone and crushing enemies with his jumping power, right?] [Suddenly having “that” kind of attack would need him a lot of time to get used to.]

[Is that so…?] [I just equipping him any kind of technique I could fitted on to him, but I guess it strained him a lot….]

As she depresses over the fact that what she does making Hougo uncomfortable, Hougo then started to roll itself near Hilda and bumped into her a few times.

[Sigh… you’re really….] As she smiled warmly while stroking Hougo’s body for trying to cheer her up.

[Vraaaaa~m.] [Where are you~~???]

A familiar sound was heard a bit close to where Vram and Hilda’s rested.

[Master~!] [Over here~!!]

[Ah, so there you are… UWAH!?!?!]

As she went closer toward both Hilda and Vram, she was surprised. The reason was being of the scenery that appears in front of her. A burning field, with many holes that completely spreading through the whole field. Massive amounts of sword and shield that had been broken here and there. Vram’s body that had been scratched and burned, also Hougo’s crippled body. One could say that a massive war had just happening there.

[YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE ONLY GOING TO HAVE A LIGHT PRACTICE WITH HILDA?!?!]

[Well, somewhat or another, both of us gets so excited that we forgot to hold back a little bit.]

[SENIOR!] [EVEN IF YOU’RE STILL THE SENIOR THAT I LOVE AND RESPECT, AREN’T YOU BEING A LITTLE BIT OVERKILL HERE?!?]

[Uh… I know you’re upset, but hear me out first….] [I didn’t participate in this fight.]

[Huh? Then who…?]

[It’s Hougo and Vram.]

Josephine suddenly went silent while seeing Hougo’s crippled body.

[… Why…?]

[Master?]

[WHY YOU DIDN’T WAKE ME UP?!?!] [I WANNA SEE THAT FIGHT!!!!] With teary eyes and pouting face, Josephine was throwing a tantrum at both Vram and Hilda.

[Uh… Why would you want to see it, Master?]

[IF HOUGO BECOME SO STRONG, THEN I’D LIKE TO SEE IT!]

[No way~❤!] [I’ve finally able to caught up on you, there’s no way I’d ever tell you the secret of Hougo’s power.]

[MU!!] [SENIOR, YOU CHEAPSKATE!!]

[Mufufufu~❤] [I kinda like seeing Vram struggling so much when fighting against Hougo.]

[To tell the truth, that was quite an entertaining fight.]

[DON’T TEASE ME YOU TWO!!] [GO AND FIGHT AGAIN!!!!]

[No way, Master.] [I’m kinda tired, and my shield’s mostly wrecked, I need to repair them first.]

[IIIIIGH!!!]