After leaving the castle, they met up with Gelda, M, Fate, and Eldrie.
Liebe said, "Let's head to HQ."
Gelda said, "Ok then."
Liebe said, "What's wrong, Gelda? Weren't you supposed to meet up with the supposed future Mrs. Eldrie?"
Gelda said, "That's the thing."
Liebe said, "What happened? Was she some kind of arrogant noble or something?"
Gelda said, "Worse."
Liebe said, "How can it be worse?"
Gelda said, "She was 6 feet 7."
Liebe said, "A little taller than Eldrie at 6 feet 5."
Gelda said, "You don't understand, Lord. Her height is 5 feet 6."
Liebe said, "How can she have two different heights? Does she have some kind of illusion magic?"
Gelda said, "No. She is 6 feet 7... horizontally."
Liebe said, "Sorry, what now?"
Fate said, "She is fat."
Gelda said, "She needed three chairs, and after our meal, the restaurant had to state they are out. Eldrie's and my entire month's salary vanished."
Liebe said, "I'm sorry I asked."
Licht said, "Now I'm scared."
Gelda said, "I was worried what to do if she eats us instead."
Liebe said, "Eldrie, how are you planning to maintain her?"
Eldrie said, "Money doesn't matter here, does it?"
Fate said, "But with the way she is, her heart is about 100% covered in fat, and I doubt he has time left before a heart attack."
Liebe said, "How did you take her mountain climbing?"
Gelda said, "Now I understand. He rolled her up. No wonder it helped."
Licht said, "Now I'm curious."
Alysa said, "Somehow I'm scared."
Liebe said, "Yeah, after hearing the description, I doubt you would even make a snack."
Then they reached the HQ, and after entering, Lara said, "Welcome back, Captain."
Liebe said, "Good to be back."
David said, "Finally."
Liebe said, "I hope you guys didn't mess this place up too badly."
David said, "Not even in the slightest. And Lara just got back yesterday herself."
Liebe said, "Good to see." Liebe said, "Lara, get Fate and M a uniform their size, same as what you did for the three of us."
Lara said, "Got it," as she used her String Magic to measure their sizes and made the uniforms in a few minutes. Lara said, "These should be your size. Now tell me if they fit."
As Fate and M changed into them, Liebe said, "You two look great. And Lara, how is Riruru doing?"
Lara said, "Better, but she is still in the Empire for testing and the trial medicine."
Liebe said, "Good to know."
M said, "Ok then."
Fate said, "Thank you, Maestro."
Liebe said, "Great. Now time to dive back into paperwork and tomorrow start classes again."
Licht said, "Yeah, that's the thing. We barely will get this week of class before year finals."
Liebe said, "Yeah, that's the thing. And not to mention, in a few months, Isurugi, Elizabeth, and Fate will be joining us." Liebe said, "So, David, how has he been doing?"
David said, "Fine, sir."
As Isurugi came in, Isurugi said, "Welcome back, sir."
Liebe said, "Good to be back. And Isurugi, a few days left till you join us. Make us proud."
Isurugi said, "Understood."
M said, "Have you been taking care of yourself?"
Isurugi said, "Yes, big sis, I have been."
M said, "Good to hear."
Liebe said, "Kinda hard to believe you have a soft spot."
M said, "Say that again and I will kill you, Faust."
Liebe said, "Good luck with everyone here."
Licht said, "Well, Liebe, want to use the same thing we always do before exams?"
Liebe said, "I don't see any other way."
Alysa said, "Let's do it."
Liebe said, "Ok then. Gelda, please help us study. We want to pass."
Gelda said, "Ok then, I will help you three study."
Fate said, "I don't mind joining you as well."
Liebe said, "Ok then."
Suddenly, in the Vaude estate, there was a knock at the door.
Jewel said, "Who is it today?"
Elodie opened the door. The man said, "Is Jewel Hope?"
Elodie said, "Yes, it is. And who might you be?"
The man said, "Oh, me? I'm just an old friend from two decades ago."
Elodie said, "He is sleeping; I will wake him up."
The man said, "No need. I will take care of it."
The next day at the academy, as they returned to class, Lumos said, "Liebe, how was our trip?"
Liebe said, "Great. Had fun, messed around."
Hedin said, "Great to know. And we read about you on the news. Apparently, you really got Valtia on the neck."
Liebe said, "Guess so. By the way, I got souvenirs for you guys."
Hedin said, "So what grand adventures are you planning now?"
Liebe said, "After all that, right now I'm looking for a few days of normal."
Hedin said, "Hearing that from you really is shocking."
Lumos said, "So what about year finals? What are you going to do?"
Liebe said, "Either fail or fail trying."
Lumos said, "Good luck."
Meanwhile, in the other room, Licht said, "Hey guys, I'm back."
Olivia said, "Oh, you are back."
Iris said, "So what happened? Heard you guys fought devils and stuff."
Licht said, "Actually, Alysa and I didn't do much of anything, but Liebe did do most of the fighting."
Iris said, "So what was it like seeing the 25 Princes of Hell and the Knights of the Round?"
Licht said, "They are strong to the point that, as of right now, none of us can even comprehend how strong they are. But Liebe fought them but lost. It was fun to see."
Iris said, "Kinda hard to believe they are so strong."
Licht said, "Guess so."
Alysa said, "It was fun."
Iris said, "So what do you all plan to do now?"
Licht said, "Actually, after all that, a little normal would be nice."
Alysa said, "Same."
Licht said, "And by the way, I got souvenirs for you guys."
Iris said, "Chocolates? Thanks."
Licht said, "Sure. These are from the Empire. I have some from Valtia, a few from Symphonics, and some from Harmonia."
Iris said, "How many places did you guys travel to?"
Licht said, "A lot."
Iris said, "In your journey, what was your favourite part?"
Licht said, "Easily the Empire."
Iris said, "Why is that?"
Alysa said, "For me, because I got to see my younger brother again."
Licht said, "Don't remind me of the dumbass. And because of the little dumbass, you two broke up in the end. Liebe had to save his ass from an Abyssal monster."
Iris said, "I'm sorry to hear that."
Licht said, "Nothing to do now, but they aren't together."
Iris said, "Does that mean Alysa is—"
Alysa said, "Of course not. I'm still a part of Team Liebe."
Iris said, "That's good to know."
Licht said, "But for me, I liked the Empire simply because I got to try the Abyssal Zone, and I even crossed 100 km."
Iris said, "Do you think it would be possible?"
Licht said, "Honestly, no. But if you had Olivia, then I guess you might be able to cross 25 km."
Iris said, "So what is it like?"
Licht said, "The air itself is different. The moment you cross the walls, you can feel it. And in order to just breathe after 50 km, you need to reinforce your internal organs with magic. And not to mention, healing magic is required; otherwise, you can't survive in the dense mana. Even the slightest papercut can turn into a life-threatening wound."
Iris said, "So how far did Liebe make it?"
Licht said, "Well, the thing is—well—"
Alysa said, "300 km into the mana tundra and killed Ice Fangs."
Olivia said, "Now you are lying."
Licht said, "Unfortunately, it's the truth, and it is confirmed by the Knight of One."
Iris said, "How did he make it so deep?"
Licht said, "Long story short, he asked Mr. Geno to help him train, and Geno threw him into the tundra, and thus he crossed 300 km and had to survive seven hours."
Olivia said, "So he didn't travel 300 km, but rather he was taken?"
Licht said, "Yeah, that about sums it up."
Alysa said, "I don't know how to say it, but the experience definitely changed him a bit, at least physically."
Licht said, "Yeah."
Iris said, "Now I want to go in there."
Licht said, "Seriously, don't. I doubt you can cross 10 km, especially with that genetic disease of yours. If you go deep enough, your voyage can take days, and there you won't get the luxury of blood transfusions."
Iris said, "I know."
Olivia said, "You act like you have already experienced it."
Alysa said, "Well, Licht was in the Abyssal Zone for more than five days."
Iris said, "How?"
Licht said, "I had help."
Meanwhile, in the Vaude estate, as Jewel sat down, Jewel said, "It has been far too long since I saw your ugly face, Alex."