The monkeys they encountered in the demon king’s castle were afraid of fire, just like the werewolves. However, the snake was different. Magic did not affect its tail, which had been its weakness.
If they only encountered werewolves in the future, Rita and Cain’s fire magic would be useful. But what if other monsters appeared? What if, like the monster snake, fire magic didn’t work and they had to fight with swords? What if the monster was too strong to be defeated by one or two people?
As Satin was speaking, Edward asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Other monsters might appear,” Satin replied.
“Other monsters?” Edward tilted his head.
Satin explained carefully, “What if a monster appears that Cain and Rita’s magic can’t affect? We might need another plan.”
Edward nodded in agreement. “That’s possible. We can’t assume there’s only one type of monster.”
Rita sighed, “This makes being a magician feel pointless!”
Ignoring Rita’s complaint, Edward said, “Let’s seek help from others. Since monsters won’t just appear where we go, it’s better for everyone in the long run.”
Satin understood what Edward was implying. Soon, an extermination squad led by the government and the Bureau of Order would be formed, but before that, it would be beneficial to share strategies for defeating the monsters through the adventurers’ union. Not everyone had access to magicians, and more people would want to learn physical ways to defeat monsters.
“Looks like I won’t have to do anything,” Cain said.
Before Rita could respond, Edward quickly added, “Cain is good with his hands, so he’ll be a valuable asset even without using magic.”
Cain scoffed and turned his head away, determined not to be swayed by Edward’s words. However, his resolve didn’t last long.
“So, Cain, you can focus on protecting Satin,” Edward suggested.
Cain’s expression changed, and he seemed to be trying to suppress a smile. Satin facepalmed, thinking, ‘What is this?’
Not only Rita but also Edward had figured out how to motivate Cain.
***
Experienced travelers are always keen on rumors, especially those related to danger. Whether for safe travel or thrilling adventures, they never miss out on such information.
News that the adventurers’ union was recruiting people to travel north together spread quickly. Those who had heard about the battle beyond the southern wall of Midland could easily guess why a large travel group was being formed.
“Twenty-eight people, that’s quite a lot,” Edward remarked, surprised by the number of people gathered at the designated meeting spot near the north gate. He had expected only about a dozen.
Rita, however, was not impressed. “It’s not every day you find a group like ours. Everyone must think they’re lucky.”
Edward nodded, knowing her confidence was not unfounded. When they requested the adventurers’ union to gather people, they didn’t provide detailed information about their group. Simply mentioning that they included magicians and clerics was enough.
People knew little about monsters and magic. They didn’t consider that magic might not work against monsters.
‘This feels a bit like deceiving them,’ Edward thought. Under different circumstances, he wouldn’t have used such tactics to attract people. However, they needed a larger group for safety, and it wasn’t entirely a bad thing for these people to travel together.
‘Besides, magic doesn’t always fail against monsters,’ he reassured himself.
There was still some time before departure. While Edward and Rita checked on the people who would be joining them, Satin and Cain briefly left to take care of other business.
“They should have bought what they needed yesterday. They’ve been idle all this time,” Edward muttered to himself.
Rita grumbled, feeling resentful that she couldn’t go shopping because Cain strongly disliked it. Edward chuckled and tried to soothe her.
“Cain can be a bit childish sometimes, so it can’t be helped,” he said.
“Isn’t he so different from your first impression of him?” Rita asked.
“Well, I’m not sure. Didn’t you two have a childish argument the first time you met?” Edward replied.
“What are you talking about? Who argued childishly?” Rita retorted.
“Learning to see yourself objectively can be a great asset in the future,” Edward advised.
“Oh, come on!” Rita exclaimed, frowning, and playfully punched Edward in the side. It didn’t hurt much, and Rita didn’t seem to expect it to.
“By the way, what was that thing you mentioned earlier?” Rita asked.
“What thing?” Edward responded.
“You said you’d tell me later. Something about a complaint letter with magic written on it. What did it say? What was the complaint about?” she inquired.
“Ah, that,” Edward recalled. He hadn’t had a chance to discuss it because it seemed inappropriate to bring up in front of Cain and Satin. Now, he decided it was a good time to share the story with Rita.
“Remember the Black Magician who appeared in Cloverland four years ago?” Edward began.
“Yeah, what about it?” Rita asked.
“The person who sent the letter to report the Black Magician was Cain. Well, technically, it was Satin’s idea,” Edward explained.
Rita’s eyes widened in surprise. She grabbed Edward’s collar and shook him, demanding more information. “Is that true? If Cain reported the Black Magician, does that mean Cain is connected to him? But why is Satin involved?”
“Cain and Satin were among the children held captive by the Black Magician. Remember when Cain mentioned that he thought Satin had died in a fire while saving him?” Edward reminded her.
“Oh, you mean that fire…?” Rita recalled an earlier conversation with Edward. He nodded in confirmation.
“Yes, the child who was presumed dead in the fire during the raid on the Black Magician was actually Satin. It turns out he wasn’t really the magician’s apprentice; that was just a lie spread by the Bureau of Order,” Edward clarified.
“Wow…” Rita sighed, trying to process the information. Then, she seemed to realize something and her eyes sparkled. Edward anticipated her next thought and spoke first.
“The magic Cain uses now is the same magic used by the Black Magician who died. It seems Cain must have thought Satin was dead and gave up hope,” Edward explained.
“Now that you mention it, it makes sense why Cain is so overprotective of Satin…” Rita murmured, then shook her head. “No, it’s still too much. Even long-lost parents and children wouldn’t act like that.”
Edward smiled at Rita’s blunt assessment. “Anyway, that’s their story,” he concluded.
The conversation ended, and Edward gently removed Rita’s hand from his collar. Their hands briefly touched in the process.
“Oh,” they both said, suddenly aware of the moment. An awkward silence fell between them. Edward quickly let go and searched for something to say.
“Rita, do you really believe that a demon god exists?” he asked, genuinely curious.
Rita thought for a moment before answering, “About fifty percent.”
Edward was surprised; he had expected her to be more certain. He decided to let it go and asked another question. “If the demon god does exist, do you think Satin could help defeat it?”
“Probably not,” Rita replied immediately. Then she added, “Unless defeating the demon god requires something other than magic or strength.”
“Do you think there might be another way?” Edward asked.
“We don’t know what kind of being the demon god is. If magic and strength don’t work, then you and I would be useless. Maybe Satin’s abilities will be crucial in that situation,” Rita speculated.
“You mean his ability to see magical energy?” Edward asked. That was the only special ability they knew Satin possessed. However, Rita shook her head.
“No, something else.”
“Does Satin have another ability?” Edward was unaware of any other abilities Satin might have. He felt a bit left out, wondering if this had been discussed when he wasn’t around.
Rita laughed and said, “I don’t know either.”
“What do you mean?” Edward asked, confused.
Rita had a feeling, almost a conviction, that Satin possessed something very important. Although Rita often made far-fetched statements and was known for her boundless optimism, this time her words carried a different weight.
Edward looked at her intently, trying to understand. Rita, however, seemed puzzled by his reaction.
“Aren’t you a cleric?” she asked. “Can’t you sense it?”
Edward was confused. What was he supposed to sense? Was she talking about intuition or a sixth sense? But there was no evidence that clerics had heightened intuition.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Rita,” he admitted.
“Oh, it’s hard to explain,” Rita said, furrowing her brow slightly as she began to elaborate. “In the innermost part of the Grand Temple, there’s a room called the Chamber of Whispers. The High Priest can hear the voice of the gods there.”
Edward had never been to the Grand Temple, but he knew how oracles were delivered. He was surprised that Rita, who didn’t seem very devout, knew about the Chamber of Whispers.
“I’ve been in there before,” Rita confessed.
“You’ve been in the Chamber of Whispers?” Edward asked, astonished.
“Yes, a long time ago. I didn’t hear anything because I’m not a cleric, but I remember feeling something strange—not in a bad way, but mysterious and almost… magical.”
Rita’s expression grew distant as she recalled the memory.
“When I’m with Satin, I get a similar feeling. It’s faint, but it’s there,” she said.
Edward pondered what it must have felt like for Rita in the Chamber of Whispers. Seeing him deep in thought, Rita urged him with a glance to say something.
“That’s quite interesting,” Edward finally responded.
“Isn’t it?” Rita grinned.
Edward smiled back, then added, “It’s also interesting how you managed to enter the Chamber of Whispers, considering only the High Priest, their successor, or direct royalty are allowed inside.”
“…Oops.” Rita exclaimed, realizing she had revealed too much.
