After parting ways with the dragons, we headed to Melphis’s house.

As soon as I entered the house, I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.

“Phew, thank goodness we weren’t caught.”

Seeing me rubbing my chest, Melphis asked.

“About what?”

“About the fact that we’re not actually lovers. Do you know how scared I was when the dragons were flocking to us earlier, thinking we’d get caught? I’m already terrible at acting.”

Melphis shrugged his shoulders as if he had no idea.

“You did well enough to fool them, didn’t you? I was so excited for a moment, thinking you and Vivian had really become lovers.”

“Ugh. Again, again, again! You’re saying that again.”

When I glanced at him, he gave me a nasty smile.

“That just means you acted well. It would be troublesome for me too if it was revealed that Vivian isn’t actually your companion. Anyway, come sit here.”

Melphis tapped the sofa in the center of the living room.

Tired from the long journey, I didn’t refuse and promptly sat down.

“It must have been hard coming all the way here. I’ll prepare the bed soon, so just wait a bit.”

“I’ll help too!”

I couldn’t just sit idly and let him help me when I was already in a situation where I was receiving his help.

I quickly got up and followed him, but he had already finished most of the work.

Just a moment ago, the room was clearly empty, but now there was an antique bed in the center of it.

It seemed to have been summoned by magic.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Ah, it’s fine. It’s quick when I use magic.”

Feeling like I would only be a hindrance if I stepped in, I just stood by and watched his actions.

Magic really seemed convenient.

“It would be nice if I could use magic too…”

I already have a special power called an ability, but seeing Melphis made me a bit greedy.

If I could also wield that power, it would be of more help in future fights against demons, and things would be much easier.

My ability is related to speed, strength, so I mainly had to fight using close combat methods.

Close combat is simple, but it comes with its own risks.

If I took my eyes off the enemy for a moment, there was no telling how they would attack.

Above all, I had shallow common sense about combat and lacked experience.

In close combat where every second counts, this would be a huge weakness.

‘If I could use magic instead of an ability, I could have fought from a distance.’

I already knew it was impossible, having been told by both Ludovica and Melphis that I had no talent related to magic, but I couldn’t help but feel regretful.

But then, as if he had heard my muttering, Melphis, who had finished his work, tilted his head and asked.

“Vivian, do you want to become a wizard?”

“What, did you hear that? How embarrassing. I know it’s impossible, but… I’m just envious.”

Feeling ashamed that my inner thoughts had been revealed, I slightly averted my eyes from his.

But I couldn’t help but focus my gaze back on him at his next words.

“It’s not impossible. There is a way. A way for even humans without talent to instantly become excellent wizards.”

“What? Is that true?”

Unable to hide my excitement, I grabbed his hand.

Wizards are valuable in battle.

Unlike knights, they can attack from a distance and set up various barriers. There are countless other ways to utilize them.

‘But there’s a way to quickly turn someone without talent into a wizard?’

That meant we could increase the number of wizards on our side in a short period of time.

I asked Melphis for a detailed explanation, my eyes sparkling.

But soon I was disappointed.

It was a method that was practically impossible to utilize.

“You can do it by forming an engraving with a dragon. Then your souls will be connected and you’ll be able to freely control the mana of the dragon you’re paired with.”

“What, so in the end, you have to become a companion?”

“That’s… right.”

I sighed in disappointment. It seemed I had gotten my hopes up for nothing.

Becoming a companion is no joke, it was a method that absolutely could not be used.

‘I guess… things can’t go that smoothly.’

I felt foolish for having hoped, even if just for a moment.

“That method is impossible to use.”

“Why is it impossible? It may be difficult to turn other people into wizards, but…”

Melphis paused for a moment before continuing.

“Vivian, you can become one anytime you want.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Melphis slightly twisted his wrist and interlocked his fingers with mine.

His eyes, which resembled a clear sky, looked down at me.

Then, in a low voice, Melphis said,

“I’m saying… it’s okay for Vivian to become my companion.”

I slightly tilted my head up to look at his expression. There was a faint smile on his lips.

‘He’s joking around again, just like before.’

Normally I would lightly refuse with a snort, but today it seemed I couldn’t end it with just that.

“Sigh, don’t say things you don’t mean. Say that when you really find someone you like.”

The moment I said that and was about to turn around, I saw Melphis’s face harden slightly.

“…Someone I like, you say.”

He muttered softly.

Sensing an unusual atmosphere, I was about to examine his expression, but fortunately, he quickly returned to his usual smile.

“I understand. Next time, I’ll say it to someone I like. Ah, it’s getting late. You can freely use this room. I’ll wake you up in the morning. Sleep well.”

Until just a moment ago, it seemed like he would stay and chat a bit more, but he quickly wrapped things up and left the room.

I watched his receding back, changed my clothes, and lay down on the bed.

Although I was pretending to be fine, I was already at my limit with accumulated fatigue.

‘It’s only natural.’

It’s been almost two days already. It took more than a day just to get here.

‘It’s been nearly two months in human world time. I wonder if everyone is doing well.’

Closing my eyes, the faces of those dear to me came to mind one by one.

The worries I had tried to push aside took over my mind.

‘Please, I hope they’re safe and sound…’

With that small wish, I fell asleep.

Veronica sighed wearily.

Although only two days had passed in Vivian’s time, many things had happened in the human world during that period.

Two months, a long time if you think about it.

‘It was a truly chaotic period.’

From using demons to cut off military supply routes to attacking various villages.

Siegfried had orchestrated a variety of incidents.

It was an unprecedented situation where not only monsters were running rampant, but an intelligent enemy had appeared.

The imperial family had taken immediate action, but they were not the ones who mainly dealt with demons.

Veronica pictured the faces of Dietrich, Ludovica, and Ren in turn.

‘How did Vivian Schmidt manage to gather such people in one place?’

High-ranking demons are incredibly powerful beings.

There were strong individuals in the Imperial Army as well, but no wizard or swordsman could face a high-ranking demon alone.

The only ones who could stand against them were likely those three that Vivian had gathered.

Veronica’s role was to predict the next invasion site of the demons based on the prophecy Vivian had told her and the information from across the empire, and inform them.

Fortunately, there had been no incidents outside of the places Vivian had mentioned so far, so it wasn’t difficult to guess the invasion sites.

‘But there’s no telling how long things will go this smoothly…’

According to Vivian, the prophecy she saw could change anytime as the future changed.

In other words, a major event could unfold in a place they hadn’t predicted at all.

So even if they had a rough idea of where the next invasion site would be, they couldn’t let their guard down.

Veronica was looking at the map spread out in front of her with a serious expression. While preparing the related documents, three people entered through the door.

Ren, Ludovica, and Dietrich made their appearance.

The reason they had gathered today was none other than to prepare for the next battle.

The three who entered in order naturally took their seats. There were no separate greetings.

The situation was always urgent, so there was no time even for greetings.

This applied to Veronica as well.

As soon as she confirmed that all the necessary personnel for the meeting had arrived, she immediately got to the point.

“We have confirmed that Siegfried’s right-hand man is heading north. The destination is the Pfalz region.”

At the familiar name, Dietrich flinched for a moment.

It was a place mentioned in the prophecy Vivian had told them about.

“The count of Pfalz in the north is set to depart with his knight order in a fortnight.”

“Do you believe they will target the Pfalz territory?”

Amidst everyone’s silence and attentiveness to her words, Ludovica actively asked a question.

To this, Veronica nodded.

“We received a report of suspicious movement in the monster habitat closest to the Pfalz territory.”

“…That means a demon may have appeared.”

“That’s right.”

“I will prepare to depart immediately.”

Ludovica stood up from her seat as if there was nothing more to hear.

But then, Dietrich spoke in a calm and low voice.

“Wait.”

“Why?”

“What if… they’re deliberately luring us there?”

In response to Dietrich’s question, Ludovica answered nonchalantly.

“It doesn’t change anything. If we don’t go, we’ll only be at a disadvantage.”

“No, wait. The problem may become bigger than we think.”

Dietrich began to speak with a truly serious expression.

“The Pfalz territory is far from the capital. Even if they find out something has happened here, there’s no way for us to resolve it.”

“The viscount is right, Lady Ludovica. I have also pondered this issue, but it is difficult to reach a conclusion.”

Veronica fell silent for a moment.

There was a concerning problem with immediately sending them off to protect the north.

Unlike before, this time it was easy to track Siegfried’s movements.

They couldn’t simply think his guard had momentarily weakened and overlook it. Siegfried was truly a meticulous bastard.

Rather, it was more reasonable to think he was diabolically setting a trap and waiting, as a demon would.

Now that his schemes had turned to dust several times, he must be gritting his teeth, trying to kill them somehow.

Dietrich, Ludovica, and even Ren.

All three were precious forces, so Veronica didn’t want to drive them into an obvious trap.

‘But the people of the Pfalz region may be in danger. We can’t not prepare for it.’

Veronica already felt like she had fallen into Siegfried’s trap.

No matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t find the right answer, as if she had fallen into a swamp.