Sahel Region.
The driest climate and harshest environment in the West—this was also the place Camilla had always wished to come.
Because this was where Mother had been assassinated.
Now she finally understood why Father—no, the Iron-Blooded Duke—had strictly forbidden her from approaching this place.
It hadn't been out of concern for her safety.
He had simply feared that she might find even the smallest shred of evidence here.
I will uncover it no matter what.
Monsters? Bandits?
Let them come.
No obstacle could stand against the flames of her vengeance.
With such resolve, Camilla set foot in the Sahel Region. It had already been a week.
"Huff, huff…"
Her mouth was filled with the bitter taste of iron.
Panting heavily, Camilla forced herself to continue forward.
"Come on, we're almost there! The boss room is just ahead. Let's hang in there!"
The cause of this merciless pace needed no guessing—the man at the front urging everyone onward.
"B-Brother, let's rest for just a bit…"
"No. How could you even think about resting at this level? With that lazy mindset, how do you expect to obtain Resonance?"
"We've already cleared two of them!"
When had he grown familiar enough to speak so casually with the Saintess?
Camilla was so exhausted that even such questions only crossed her mind much later.
"What kind of dungeon is this?! I'd prefer just monsters! First we're nearly flattened by a giant rolling boulder, then arrows start flying out of nowhere!"
"This dungeon is trap-oriented. That's why the final monster is a little weaker. Come on, Miss, this is the last set—just push through."
"Cut it out with that weird tone of yours!"
Even Lady Frontal's complaints could not slow Hans, who relentlessly pushed the party onward.
"…Don't you think it's better to rest here?"
"Haha, Lady Freesia, you jest. How could we rest at such a time?"
"You're trembling on your feet too, you know."
In truth, Hans was just as exhausted as the others he drove forward.
Sweat streamed down his neck like rain, evidence of his fatigue.
The only one still composed was Lady Evergreen, who had chided him.
"You'll damage your body. My mother always said—even in training, you must rest regularly."
"Of course. For long-term growth, that would be wise."
He suddenly noticed her gaze.
When Camilla looked up, she saw him staring intently at her.
"…What?"
"I was just wondering if Lady Roberc also wished to rest."
"Do you really need me to say it?"
Did she even need to answer?
If her heart could speak, she would knock that grinning face flat and collapse herself.
"Whoa, whoa. I can already tell by your eyes. Don't take that anger out on me."
Hans Byron waved his hands in exaggerated defense, even stepping back.
But his mouth, of course, did not stay shut.
"But are you truly fine with this? You'll have to overcome the assassins the Iron-Blooded Duke has placed in your way, after all."
"..."
"And beyond that… you may even have to face the Iron-Blooded Duke himself."
He knew her wish all too well.
And he knew how to exploit her desperation.
"If you don't at least aim for short-term growth here, will you ever be able to defeat him?"
"…Just shut up and lead."
"As you command."
The words burst out in anger, but then another thought struck her.
Was she dragging her companions—including the Saintess—into her obsession?
"You really are cruel, Brother."
"…Interesting. If I follow your method, then I could also communicate with Luciana, couldn't I?"
Rene and Elizabeth both began to show expressions similar to her own earlier.
Clearly he had whispered to them as well, using their hopes to mold their resolve.
A terrifying man. Lucky he's an ally. To imagine him as an enemy…
Camilla shivered, rubbing her arm against the goosebumps rising there.
"Shall we put it to a vote? Anyone who wishes to rest, raise your hand."
Naturally, not a single hand rose.
"Unanimous. Then let's go deal with the boss, shall we?"
"…This is the last one, right?"
"Tsk, really. For a Saintess with such talent, you sure whine a lot. Fine. Once we beat this one, we'll call it a day."
The way he said it—like granting them a favor—was infuriating.
But no one could protest.
If not for him, we never would've achieved this much in the first place.
Three unexplored dungeons cleared in a single day?
If her Academy friends heard it, they would laugh in disbelief.
Her own relatives in House Roberc would only shake their heads.
Even if it were possible, could anyone endure the mental and physical strain?
It was only thanks to Hans that they had been pushed so far.
"A giant mummy has appeared! Don't be afraid—it's nothing more than a huge sandbag."
Slipping past its legs, Hans slashed at the rotten flesh with his dagger.
-Gwoooaaarrr!
The mummy roared, chasing after him.
"I've got its attention! Lady Frontal, prepare Phoenix Beam! Rene, as always, bless us with support!"
"Are you sure?! That's a wide-area spell—you might get caught in it!"
"No worries. Lady Roberc will restrain it with Earth magic."
His mastery of every school of magic, his unhesitating commands—
She found herself moving like a well-oiled machine under his direction.
"…May the sands swallow your legs."
As her incantation bound its feet, flames engulfed the mummy's body.
-Guuuaaaargh…
The blazing monster groaned in agony.
Hans, of course, seized the opening.
"Now, our lucky charm—Freesia, finish it off!"
"…You really… Fine, I should target that purple orb in its chest, right?"
"Sharp as always. That's its core. The flames burned away its bandages, leaving it exposed."
Minimal effort, maximum results—
This was how Hans had led them through three dungeons in a single day.
"…I can't anymore! Blessings cost mana too! I'm exhausted—let me rest…"
The Saintess now whined like a child throwing a tantrum.
Well, after all that, who could blame her?
"…But where exactly are we supposed to rest?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. You're from the West too, aren't you?"
People often misunderstood the desert.
By day it burned hot, but the sand could not hold the heat, and the dry air didn't help.
By night, the desert was deathly cold.
As a Westerner, Hans surely knew this.
"If you want to freeze to death, I won't stop you from sleeping outside."
"Such a scary joke. Don't worry. Did you think I wouldn't have prepared lodgings for the ladies? I already have a place arranged."
Of course.
Camilla let out a quiet sigh of relief at his glib assurance.
"So, you really had ties to the Sahel Region after all."
"Mm… well, you could call it a connection. I swindled some criminals here, after all."
Apparently he had conned some local outlaws before.
"Can we really trust them to host us?"
She glanced at her companions.
Even covered in sweat and dust, their noble beauty still shone.
Could one trust criminals to host such women? Especially those who owed Hans a debt?
"Ah, that's no worry. They're not the type to be swayed by appearances."
"…Is that so? But if they hold a grudge, mightn't they take revenge on you?"
"Oh, that won't be an issue. Because the swindle is still ongoing. They'll be glad to welcome us."
"What are you talking about…?"
She tilted her head in disbelief.
Hans only grinned.
"Let's go. Ah, don't be too surprised when you meet them. They're perfectly harmless."
"Sorry, but Hans—are you insane?"
"…Please, mind your manners with your fiancé."
He knew very well how ridiculous he looked.
Marching through a dungeon corridor with an incense burner balanced on his head.
"It's a necessary ritual."
"If you say so. But didn't you just say that was the last dungeon? This is another one!"
At her exasperated look, he smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. This is the lodging."
"…For a dungeon, it is clean. But we're really supposed to sleep where monsters swarm more than outside?"
-Clatter, clatter.
No sooner had she spoken than several skeletons approached.
"…Those monsters are carrying quite splendid weapons."
"Whoa there, don't attack them. We're guests here."
"…Guests? What are you saying?"
Elizabeth had been about to unleash flame, but at Hans' words, she held back.
-Clack, clack.
The skeletons split into two ranks with crisp precision.
"Did… did the monsters just make way for us?"
Normally, dungeon monsters existed only to protect the boss.
This bizarre sight left Elizabeth and the others speechless.
"…Brother, don't tell me—"
Only one person seemed to recognize it.
Her shock quickly spread to the rest of the party.
-...
On a golden throne sat a massive mummy radiating an oppressive presence.
"…What power. I never imagined such a being existed in the West."
"W-we should run."
Even Freesia, the strongest among them, was shaken.
"It has been a long time, Your Majesty."
-…Indeed. To me, it was but an instant, yet because of the hope you gave me, it felt an eternity.
That Hans could converse with it so casually left Camilla gaping in disbelief.
"I told you, didn't I? What you feared won't happen."
The dead had no lust.
-So then, why have you come? To finally grant me death?
"Forgive me. I'm not yet prepared."
-…Hmm.
"Instead, I've come today to report our progress."
He spread his arms toward the companions peeking nervously from behind the golden door.
"Allow me to introduce them—the ones who will grant you death!"
""What are you saying?!""
The protests from behind were ignored.
What mattered was the reaction of the indigenous king.
The blue light in the mummy's eyes dimmed with disinterest.
-…They look far too weak.
Come now—starting with such blunt honesty?
Impatient skeleton, aren't you.
"For now, yes. But consider their potential."
-…Hmmm.
"They are carefully chosen warriors. Once they grow, they'll be more than capable of granting you death. However…"
This was the king of the Western natives, famed for his mastery of magic.
Even aside from the relics Hans had already taken, his value remained.
"Share your power with them."
-What do you mean?
"Most of them are mages. If they could learn from your wisdom, drawn from the truth of magic, it would greatly strengthen them."
Those who bite the bait will keep pouring resources endlessly.
The indigenous king was no different.
-…Very well. I don't know if they'll understand my teachings, but if they can contribute to my death, so be it.
A truly generous king, wasn't he?
"Ah, while we're at it, I too—"
-...
For the first time, Hans saw the blue glow in those eyes twist in such a strange way.