Medusa froze the moment he mentioned Jinki Mountain.
Sota's mouth slowly fell open.
His eyes widened in disbelief, and his entire expression twisted with shock.
"W-What…?"
"I thought that place was just a myth…"
Medusa placed a calm hand on Sota's shoulder and continued walking forward.
"Look around at the world we live in," he said quietly.
"Can anyone truly tell what's a myth… and what's real?"
Sota fell silent.
The wind brushed past the trees around them as his thoughts grew heavier.
"…He's right," Sota thought.
"In this world… nobody really knows what's true anymore."
He slowly looked up again.
"Then…"
"Why are we going there?"
The two of them eventually reached the outer edge of Ottar City.
The crowded noise of the city had already faded behind them.
Only dry wind and empty roads remained ahead.
Medusa suddenly stopped walking.
Sota looked at him in confusion.
Medusa slowly crouched down in front of him and placed a hand over Sota's chest.
"There's something special inside you," he said in a low voice.
Sota's eyes trembled slightly.
Medusa gently patted his head.
"And you want to become stronger… right?"
Sota closed his eyes tightly.
"…Yeah."
A few seconds later, he opened them again.
"This time…"
"I really want to become strong."
Then—
An irritatingly familiar voice suddenly echoed from behind them.
"Ahhh… haa…"
"Would you look at this?"
"Teacher and student…"
"You two actually look kind of adorable together."
Medusa's eyes shifted slightly toward the source of the voice.
"…Mike."
"What are you doing here?"
Mike was sitting casually on a large rock nearby, wearing his black knight uniform.
One leg rested over the other while a lazy grin spread across his face.
"Ahhh… I was just heading out for a journey," he replied.
"But then I saw something interesting."
Medusa slowly stood up.
For a brief moment, he lowered his head.
"…Thank you."
"For saving our lives back there."
Behind him, Sota immediately copied the gesture and bowed awkwardly.
"Ahh… thank you very much."
Mike stared at them silently for a second.
Then suddenly—
His eyes started shaking dramatically.
"…Finally…"
"Someone actually thanked me…"
"And this time…"
"…they meant it…"
Before either of them could react—
Mike suddenly grabbed Medusa and started crying against him.
"THANK YOU SO MUCH—!"
Medusa's face instantly turned expressionless.
Behind them, Sota stared in complete disbelief.
"…This guy is so weird…" he thought.
"We only said thank you…"
"So why is he crying like a child?"
Medusa awkwardly pushed Mike away.
"Ehhh… that's enough."
"Please move back."
Mike wiped the fake tears from the corner of his eyes and cleared his throat.
"…Right."
"Maybe I overdid it a little."
Both Medusa and Sota thought the exact same thing.
"A little?"
"That was WAY too much."
Mike quickly fixed his clothes and smiled again.
"So…"
"Are you two leaving Ottar City?"
Medusa gave a small nod.
"Hm."
Mike stared at him carefully.
"…Then where are you going?"
Medusa looked at him with a guarded expression.
"Sorry."
"I can't tell you that."
Behind them, Sota quietly watched the exchange.
"…Medusa doesn't trust him," he thought.
"…Well, can anyone really trust someone this strange?"
Medusa gently pulled Sota forward.
"Still," he said calmly,
"Thank you again."
Sota tried to hold back his curiosity…
…but failed.
"So…" he asked carefully,
"Where are you going?"
Mike suddenly burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHA…!"
"Why not tell you?"
He proudly placed a hand on his chest.
"I'm heading toward Jinki Mountain."
The world around them seemed to freeze.
Sota and Medusa's eyes widened instantly.
"…W-What?"
"Did he just say Jinki Mountain?"
Sota immediately stepped forward.
"Y-You're seriously going there?!"
Mike smirked proudly.
"Of course."
"That place isn't for ordinary people."
Sota slowly turned toward Medusa.
The two exchanged a silent look.
Then Medusa gave a slight nod.
Sota understood immediately.
"…Actually," Sota said carefully,
"We're going there too."
Mike's confident expression disappeared instantly.
"…WHAT?!"
"You two are going there as well?!"
Without answering properly, Medusa grabbed Sota's wrist and started walking away.
"Yeah," he replied calmly.
"We are."
For a few seconds, Mike stood there silently.
Then—
His voice suddenly became serious.
"…Then how about this?"
Medusa stopped walking.
Slowly, he turned his head back.
Mike's eyes locked onto his.
"…Why don't we form a team?"