Feeling a sense of crisis from Aspeiran’s words, I slept in late that day until morning.

From the moment I woke up, I was very busy. I ate a hearty meal so as not to lose energy while climbing the mountain, took care of our three memmers, and had to pack my luggage.

Of course, I didn’t forget to hide the most important compass and watch deep inside my clothes.

As soon as it became 2 PM, 15 expedition members including me and Aspeiran set out toward the door.

It took about four hours to move to near the door. In fact, since the door had disappeared now, it was more accurate to say near where the door should be rather than near the door.

Around where the door should be, there was a transparent barrier. I was fascinated by how it sparkled with aurora light when touched and kept poking it, when Akla passing by said.

“It’s a barrier in case monsters come out from beyond the door. If a monster hits the barrier, an alert goes to the expedition branch.”

“I, I see.”

I hope it didn’t malfunction because of me…

I quietly withdrew my finger and hurriedly ran to Aspeiran’s side to avoid causing any accidents.

Now that we had arrived at the door, all that was left was to wait.

We pitched tents outside the barrier and passed the time taking turns napping. We finished our meals quickly as we had to move immediately upon entering Beltraum.

And so the time became 11:30 PM. About 30 minutes left until the door opens again.

Having finished folding the tent and cleaning up, I looked at the watch in my hand, embracing a bundle of tension. My heart kept pounding.

Once we enter Beltraum, the royal guard centered on Canis will protect Aspeiran, while the expedition team and Elkin will focus on investigating Beltraum.

I had an important mission too. Namely, to take good care of the three memmers while not interfering with the exploration. It was a goal I had secretly set for myself.

‘Please let me successfully complete my goal and may everyone return safely.’

I frantically petted the three memmers sitting surrounding me while offering an earnest prayer. Even as I did so, the hand of the watch in my hand steadily moved to the next mark.

When there was 1 minute left until midnight, everyone was looking at their watches. 60 seconds, 50 seconds, 40 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds…

And, 10 seconds.

Everyone here raised their heads at the same time.

Inside the barrier, a long yellow line of light appeared. It looked as if the air had been slashed by a sharp knife.

The line, which was only about half my height, gradually grew thicker and longer, soaring up to the sky. It pierces through the clouds and stretches endlessly.

“Wow…”

An exclamation escaped me without realizing. It was an overwhelming sight like a god descending.

The fully formed door soon began to slowly turn white. Eventually, when the blinding white light had consumed all the yellow light.

Click.

The hand of the watch I was holding arrived in front of the 0 mark.

Aspeiran, who was standing closest to the door with unwavering eyes, turned around. He didn’t say much.

“We’re going in.”

Now truly, the life-risking journey had begun.

Since I had fainted immediately after crossing the door when I jumped into Beltraum to meet Aspeiran, this could be considered my first visit to Beltraum, strictly speaking.

I looked around without losing my vigilance. An endless snowfield stretched out under the blue sky.

“…It doesn’t seem much different from Roakin. Is it because it’s a snowfield?”

“Do you really think so?”

Elkin, who had crossed the door after me, suddenly thrust his face in. I was so startled I almost struck his face.

“You scared me!”

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh my, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. To apologize, let me show you something interesting.”

Elkin pointed to the sky with his finger. Or more precisely, it was the sun.

My face reflexively scrunches up from the glare even though I’m wearing protective goggles. I endure it for a moment, examining the sun, then slap Elkin’s forearm.

“It’s just the sun. Are you teasing me?”

“How could I? Now, look over there.”

I obediently looked up at the opposite sky. But there was a sun there too.

“…Huh?”

I frantically turned my head back and forth, looking at both sides of the sky alternately. No matter how many times I looked, it was the same. This world… had two suns!

As I gaped, Elkin smiled proudly.

“Isn’t it fascinating?”

“T-two suns. How is this possible?”

“I’m embarrassed to say we don’t know the exact cause yet. We only know that Beltraum has two suns, and night never comes.”

Night never comes, huh. So that’s why they said it’s hard to gauge time in Beltraum.

While I was admiring Beltraum’s mysterious sky, all personnel had entered Beltraum. Aspeiran raised his hand.

“Gather here.”

Except for the three memmers who were extremely excited, perhaps because they had returned to their homeland, everyone gathered in front of Aspeiran.

Akla took out a compass from her bosom and said.

“Everyone check if your compass is working properly.”

Everyone became busy checking their compasses. I checked my compass too, following others. The black needle was pointing straight in the direction of the door I had come through.

When everyone confirmed there were no issues, Aspeiran said.

“As I said before entry, our goal this time is to search for the habitat of the monster Bonacow. We will mainly use spatial movement as we need to find the habitat within 3 days at least. Any questions?”

“No sir!”

“Then stand by until spatial movement is prepared.”

Aspeiran spread both hands. Above them, I see complex magic formulas I couldn’t understand being woven.

Usually he would perform spatial movement with just a snap of his fingers, but spatial magic seemed to be tricky in Beltraum for sure. I whispered to Elkin next to me.

“How do you find this Bonacow?”

“We left Captain Akla’s magic power on the Bonacow herd we encountered. We’ll follow that magic power.”

“Oho…”

When I glanced at Akla, a small pink pearl was floating above her palm. A beam of light was spurting from the pearl, pointing somewhere.

‘How far do we have to go before we reach Bonacow’s habitat?’

My head was filled with Bonacows whose appearance I didn’t even know properly. Then I realized this was the timing to ask about what I had been curious about since yesterday.

“Elkin, about the names of monsters. How are they decided?”

Looking at things like moonlight wolf dogs, blind cave rats, or elephant rats, they seem to be usually named based on appearance and characteristics, but I have no idea about Bonacow.

To my question, Elkin answered simply.

“The names? Usually the person who first discovers the monster names it.”

“Then Bonacow…?”

“Mr. Bonak, who first discovered Bonacow and was the first to be hit by the sleep fragrance it emits, named it. He named it after himself, isn’t it quite splendid?”

“Oh…”

No.

Honestly, it’s in poor taste to give your name to a monster species that will continue to be on people’s lips in the future.

With monsters, there will probably be more occasions for cursing, and every time that happens, it will feel like he himself is being cursed.

But I couldn’t say it out loud. Because Mr. Bonak, hearing his name, was smiling and waving his hand from over there.

‘As long as he’s happy, I guess…’

I gave a thumbs up to Mr. Bonak and said to Elkin.

“Th-that’s cool. To have my name known to future generations continuously…”

Of course, I didn’t really think it was cool. It was what you might call a white lie.

But Elkin’s eyes sparkled at my words.

“That’s right! Isn’t it a wonderful thing that traces of once having devoted my life to Beltraum will be passed down for generations? That’s right, later when a new monster is discovered, I’ll name it after you, Shuria…”

“Ah, no!”

I jumped up in alarm. Name a monster after me? I’d rather die!

Just as Elkin was about to say something with a puzzled expression at my sharp reaction, news that the magic circle was completed came from over there.

Perfect timing. I gathered the three memmers who were playing excitedly and made a run for it to Aspeiran’s side.

Since I couldn’t reveal it was a white lie and didn’t want my name attached to a monster either, fleeing was the best option in this situation.

The journey afterwards was peaceful if you put it nicely, and boring if you put it badly.

That’s because there were no particular events other than endless movement. In open areas, Aspeiran would use spatial movement, and in places with many visual obstructions like forests, it was an infinite repetition of walking.

Monsters appeared occasionally, but they all ran away with their tails between their legs at the momentum of our three memmers before even approaching closely. An expedition member laughed refreshingly and said.

“The monsters can’t approach! As expected, moonlight wolf dogs are the rulers of snowy terrain. Miss Shuria, can’t you send one of these three to our 3rd Expedition Branch?”

She was Ms. Bonak, the very person who had named the Bonacow. Before I could answer, Awesome blew out fierce nose breath towards Ms. Bonak.

Ms. Bonak staggered for a moment and made a playful sad face.

“Oh my… It seems to dislike me. I’ve been rejected.”

“Don’t be sad. Our kids dislike all people equally.”

Just then, Cutie came up to me and rubbed her head affectionately. The knights who had been listening to Ms. Bonak and my conversation in front laughed at that sight.

“That’s right. The moonlight wolf dogs only like Miss Shuria. They’re very loyal.”

“They were quite affectionate towards the lord though.”

“Hey, friend. Shall I tell you an interesting story? In our house, you see, there was a cat that only stuck close to my mother. It hated people so much that even I got scratched by those claws a few times. But strangely, it allowed my father to approach to some extent?”

“Aha…!”

Everyone except me nodded as if they had gained a great realization. It seemed I was the only one who didn’t understand the hidden meaning in this story.

Feeling somewhat frustrated, I was carefully going over the story again when Akla, who was walking at the very front, raised her hand.

“Let’s camp here for today!”

As soon as the captain’s order fell, everyone took their places and busily took out and spread camping equipment.

This marked the second night in Beltraum. I gazed up at the sky blankly. A night spent under two suns was still unfamiliar.

“How is it?”

“Ah, my lord!”

At that moment, Aspeiran, who had been giving camping instructions, approached me.

Because Aspeiran had to lead the expedition at the very front and use movement magic, I hadn’t been able to have a proper conversation with him since entering Beltraum. So I was even more glad to see him.

I answered while now quite skillfully pitching a tent.

“It’s good! Honestly, I think it’s more comfortable than riding a horse or climbing a mountain.”

“Seems like you had a hard time. We’ll have to go through the same path on the way back, this is trouble.”

“Don’t worry. The return journey is usually about 10 times lighter on the feet. How are you, my lord?”

He must have been tired from using magic all day long. Sure enough, Aspeiran roughly rubbed his face, which had become sharper than usual.

“Not so good. Will you help me for a moment?”

“Of course!”

“Sit here.”

As sat me down in front of the tent. Then he sat down next to me and rested his head on mine.

His breathing can be heard steadily in my ear. My body stiffened.

Aspeiran, you…