After defeating the somewhat underwhelming sea monster bearing the title of Dragon King, and receiving assurance from Camilla, the island’s owner, that “I absolutely won’t bother you, so please rest comfortably and leave”.

The vacation of the Tin Knight’s party didn’t noticeably improve.

“Well, even when there were interfering forces, we ignored them all and rested as much as we wanted, so it’s not like much would change when the interfering forces disappear. Isn’t that obvious?”

Gale, who had heard about their recent experiences, said as if it were ridiculous, “So, what brings you here? Did Algind ask you to deliver a message or something?”

“No, it’s separate from that. More precisely, I deliberately came before Algind Goodwitch arrived.”

“What?”

To Dorothea’s question, Gale calmly replied, “My mentor has awakened, and she says she wants to meet you all.”

“Even if she wants to meet… Are you telling us to go back to the Tower of Protection now?”

The answer came not from Gale’s mouth, but from her chest.

《Don’t worry about that. I have no intention of telling my benefactors to come and go.》

Dorothea’s eyes turned to where the voice came from.

The pendant Gale was wearing around her neck emitted a soft light, and from that light, the figure of a young girl popped out like a hologram.

《Hello, is this the second time we’re properly greeting each other?》

The Witch of the North, Orin.

She said this while bowing her head slightly.

***

《Before anything else, I should say this first. I’m sorry for causing trouble. And thank you for helping.》

The atmosphere had changed.

That was the first impression the party felt when facing the Witch of the North Orin.

Not the kind but somehow immature and unstable appearance they had seen before, but a calm and intellectual attitude.

Compared to this change in atmosphere, the fact that her body was a translucent spiritual form rather than a physical body made of flesh and blood seemed like a minor issue.

Perhaps sensing the party’s bewilderment, Gale shrugged and added an explanation, “This is my mentor’s original self. What you all met before was her in her worst state.”

The Great Teacher.

Orin in her complete state, not mentally unstable from the aftermath of sealing the Witch Mombi.

Her appearance was still that of a young girl, looking more like Gale’s sister than her mentor, but the natural dignity felt in her expression and behavior was incomparable to before.

However, the party was also far from ordinary, so they didn’t cower or show an overly respectful attitude.

“It’s fine. We’ve already smashed the root cause and received all the compensation we wanted. There’s no need to accept thanks or apologies at this point. More importantly, what’s your business?” Dorothea asked in a straightforward manner that some might consider rude.

While relatively better than the Tin Knight, who would skip the conversation entirely, she, too, was equally impatient. Or perhaps she had been further influenced by traveling together.

At this, Orin gave a wry smile.

《You’re like your teacher.》

“…If you’re looking for a fight, I’d be happy to oblige.”

Dorothea became serious.

It wasn’t just words; the hand gripping her staff was tense, as if she might enter a combat stance at any moment.

At her reaction, as if she had heard something worse than any ordinary insult, the others were rather puzzled.

Is being told you resemble your teacher really such a horrifying thing?

Finding this reaction amusing, Orin giggled.

《If she heard it herself, she might be hurt… no, she probably wouldn’t care. I’d like to tease a bit more, but as I’m in a position of owing a debt, I’ll refrain.》

After meeting each gaze directed at her, Orin said.

《I’ve come to offer a small token of gratitude and some advice. It might be too late after Goodwitch arrives.》

“Didn’t you say we’ve already received all the compensation?”

《The balance of scales is important. But how much compensation is considered equal varies from person to person. You might have thought what you’ve received so far is enough, but in my view, it’s not.》

Dorothea narrowed her eyes and stared intently at Orin, but Orin calmly met her gaze.

In the end, it was Dorothea who clicked her tongue first.

“Fine, alright. As long as you’re not keeping it as a separate debt.”

《I won’t do such a petty thing. For a moment, could you give me your staff and the book I made?》

Dorothea and Adelaide hesitated for a moment, but then handed over the staff and game book.

The moment Orin’s translucent hands touched the two objects, an enormous amount of magic letters appeared in the air, then were sucked into the two objects.

《I’ve strengthened the barrier magic a bit. Since the output itself seems to be gradually getting stronger without needing to be touched, I focused on preparing against attacks that don’t involve physical force like miasma or curses, and I’ve also added a function that protects the owner automatically without consciously using magic.》

“What?”

At the content spoken as if it were nothing special, Dorothea made a dumbfounded face.

《The game book seems to have bugged a bit while absorbing information about the sacred treasures, so I improved that part and made it able to accept information about sacred treasures other than the belt. But don’t use it too often. Those contained in the sacred treasures are too powerful. Even mere shadows recreated from information could potentially threaten real lives if not careful.》

“Ah, um, yes.”

Adelaide, not being an expert, was slow to react, but even she could intuitively feel that “this is something amazing, isn’t it?”

Only then did the party truly realize again who was before them.

The Witch of Protection, Orin.

Just as the Witch of the East symbolized the school of Necromancy, she symbolized the school of Enchantress.

In other words, she was this era’s strongest enchanter.

Orin’s eyes now turned to Sophia.

《To you… before gratitude, I’d like to offer advice.》

With a much more polite tone than when addressing Dorothea or Adel, Orin said this.

Sophia nodded, as if to say she would listen attentively.

《Be careful of the Witch of the South, Glinda. She hates the heavenly realm. It wouldn’t be wrong to say she almost abhors it. And for a very long time, she has been looking for ways to fight against the heavens.》

“Does that mean her interest in me is related to that?”

《I think so. So, please don’t let your guard down.》

After saying this, Orin gave Gale a look.

Gale held out a small bracelet to Sophia.

《It’s a bracelet with neutralizing power. It will prevent the holy power you use from burning your body. However, it’s close to a consumable item, so be aware that it will gradually lose power as you use holy power and eventually break.》

Three of them received their respective gifts.

The only one left was the Tin Knight.

But before the Tin Knight, Orin hesitated for a long time, then finally opened her mouth with difficulty.

《…It seems my students have already done everything they can to strengthen the doll’s body. So, I will just leave these words.》

《Inheritor of the great knight’s power. Stranger from an unknown place.》

《That body is the only signpost connecting you to this world.》

《Just as a ship that has lost its course wanders aimlessly in the sea, you too, having lost your body, would wander in a vastness that is difficult for me to even imagine.》

《Reconnecting a thread once cut is an extremely difficult task.》

《I’m not sure if even I, let alone the one in the East, would be capable of such a thing.》

《So, please cherish your body.》

It was words filled with incredibly deep concern and affection.

The Tin Knight scratched the back of his head as if pondering how to respond, then nodded.

Seemingly satisfied with this response, Orin faded away with a faint smile.

Looking at the pendant that had gone dark and motionless, Dorothea asked suspiciously, “Why does she disappear in the middle of talking?”

“She’s pushed herself that much. Originally, she should have rested much longer, but she secretly snuck out to greet and repay you all before you went down to the Empire.”

“Secretly?”

“Yes, secretly.”

Dorothea put her hand to her forehead.

She could clearly imagine how the concerned parties who belatedly discovered the truth would have flipped out.

“Well then, it seems my job is done, so I’ll be going. I’m busy, you see.”

“Busy?”

“After escorting my mentor back to the tower, I need to go obtain the next sacred treasure.”

A smile appeared on Gale’s face.

With a face mixing mischief and competitiveness, she tapped the silver shoes she was wearing on the ground.

“I’m requesting a rematch, but it’s a bit much to demand all the other sacred treasures with just this one, isn’t it? While Dorothea struggles to get the Pouch of Lilium, I’m planning to get something else.”

“Aha.”

Dorothea also smiled a nasty smile.

“Well, there’s nothing bad about you going through the trouble for us. Work hard and bring them. I’ll take them all back at the end.”

Seeing this, the other companions whispered among themselves.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ evaluates that it’s like dialogue from a villain rival who’s destined to lose to the protagonist!]

“I-is that so? Certainly, Gale and Sir White Knight seem more suited to be the story’s protagonists.”

“That seems like Dorothea’s own way of communication, as they look close in their own way.”

“Hey!! I can hear you all!!” Dorothea shouted, and her companions acted like a flock of pigeons that had heard a loud noise from a person.

In other words, they pretended to scatter for a moment, then gathered back to their original spots as if nothing had happened.

Seeing a cross-shaped vein pop up on Dorothea’s forehead, Gale giggled. It was a laugh similar to her mentor’s.

“Then, next time we meet, it will be as rivals, not companions.”

Tap.

Just as the silver shoes touched the ground, the figure of the white girl had disappeared without a trace.

After watching this scene for a moment, Dorothea walked back to where her companions were.

“Hey, Tin Can.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks what’s wrong!]

“…We don’t know what kind of mess will unfold in the Empire, so don’t act too recklessly. Don’t just get excited and try to fight, take care of yourself sometimes. Got it?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ answers that no one reads the atmosphere and acts as well as he does!]

“You sure talk well, huh?”

Dorothea clicked her tongue, then looked up at the sky.

In the far distance, a shadow flying towards them could be seen.

The rest was over, and it was time to rush forward again.

***

[Noble lords and citizens who support the great Empire, hear this.

To prepare for the unsettling atmosphere drifting across the continent recently, the Imperial Family has recognized the need to implement more active and bold policies.

Stagnant water eventually rot. To bring a new wind to the Empire’s rigid personnel system, we will implement a large-scale talent recruitment.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a knight, mage, or possess other professions and specialties—all that matters is whether you pass the given test.

Among those who pass the test, those who achieve excellent results will be given the qualification to apply for the newly established Lydia Imperial Knights, and they will serve as the direct corps of the newly ascending Emperor, with no department under the Empire except His Majesty having the right to command them.

Loyal military and knights of the Empire, volunteer willingly for this glorious position to newly protect the Empire, and prove that your names are not just empty titles.

Undiscovered talents drifting in the world, reveal your skills against renowned strong ones and grasp fame.

Also, as soon as the test ends, there will be a coronation ceremony where His Highness the Crown Prince will officially ascend to the throne of this grand nation, so the civil and military nobles of the Empire must send at least one member of their family to participate.

– Empress. Meridia Haidern Arcturus

***

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