"Sensei lives here."

Megumin stopped in front of the door, turning around with a smile as she introduced the place to Frieren and the others.

I haven't been back in a few days. I wonder what Sensei's been up to.

He must be lonely without me, his beloved disciple, by his side… Hehehe~

When we meet, I'll greet him with some Explosion Magic!

Grinning, she reached out to knock on the door—only to realize it wasn't locked.

"Hmm?"

Forgot to lock it?

Megumin didn't think too much of it and turned back.

"You guys wait here. I'll go get Sensei."

After what happened last time, Megumin didn't dare just barge in again. She'd seen… things. Things that couldn't be unseen.

She led the three to a side room in the mansion and had them wait there.

"I'll be right back."

She shut the door gently behind her and made her way to Chishiya's master bedroom.

—

Inside the side room, Frieren and the others curiously looked around.

The room was spotless, practically sparkling.

"Frieren-sama, what kind of magic is this?" Fern asked, gently brushing her fingers across the surface of a table.

Not even a speck of dust.

Even with 24/7 staff, it'd be impossible to keep something this clean.

Frieren closed her eyes, focusing.

"Mm. There's definitely some kind of magic at work here."

She opened her eyes and nodded slowly.

Then she walked to the door, where a sunny doll hung from the frame.

She gently lifted it down.

"It seems to be coming from this doll."

"The material is special… and it's imbued with magical energy."

"Looks like someone inscribed a spell into it."

A faint glow pulsed from Frieren's palm.

She was analyzing the enchantment.

She had a hunch—this wasn't just any household spell. It had the feel of something legendary.

A few moments later, the corners of Frieren's lips lifted.

"Aha."

She turned excitedly to Fern.

"Fern, this doll has legendary magic carved into it!"

Fern blinked. "What?!"

"What kind of legendary magic, Frieren-sama?!"

"Hehe~, it's a spell that causes airborne dust to vanish~"

Frieren gave the doll a smug little shake, eyes half-lidded in satisfaction.

"Amazing!" Fern's face lit up.

Stark, on the other hand, looked completely lost.

How is that amazing?

Frieren studied the doll closely.

To think the homeowner here uses such a practical piece of legendary magic…

Could they be a magic collector too?

If possible… I wonder if they'd let me see their grimoire?

She stroked her chin thoughtfully.

Back in her world, asking something like that required a proper request contract.

But right now, they were guests in another world, and they were the ones in need of help.

Kind of awkward to just ask outright…

Meanwhile, Stark sat nearby, clearly uninterested in the magical excitement.

As a warrior, this kind of thing just didn't appeal to him.

Every time this happened, he ended up silently waiting it out.

Figuring he had time to kill, he turned to sit on the bed.

"Huh?"

His hand hit something hard beneath the blanket.

He looked down.

There was a suspicious bulge under the quilt.

He glanced nervously at Fern and Frieren, then carefully peeled back the edge of the blanket.

Underneath…

A pair of gleaming silver wrist guards.

Polished to a mirror shine, no scratches, no blemishes.

Just from the craftsmanship, Stark could tell this wasn't made by some run-of-the-mill blacksmith.

This was artisan-level.

His curiosity piqued, he pulled the blanket back further—and froze.

More wrist guards.

Rows and rows of them.

At least twenty, all neatly arranged beneath the quilt.

Each one glinting with identical silver light.

His jaw dropped.

These weren't just quality gear. They were identical.

Same mold? Same design? Same glow?!

It was as if the blacksmith had poured the exact same effort, the exact same emotion, into each one.

He reached out to touch one, stunned.

Only someone who really knows smithing would understand how absurd this is.

Even the best blacksmiths can't maintain identical quality forever.

Flame temperatures vary. Hammer swings get heavier. Timing changes.

But here…

Not just two.

Twenty.

All flawless.

Only one possibility came to mind.

Stark's eyes widened.

This… this is the unity of man and machine!

This blacksmith has achieved perfect harmony between mind, body, and forge!

"Amazing…" he whispered.

Just then, Frieren and Fern walked over.

"Oh my," Frieren said, crouching next to the bed.

"These are inscribed with magic too."

She placed a hand on one.

"Acceleration spells?"

"Frieren-sama, do you think Megumin's Sensei made these too?" Fern asked.

Frieren nodded.

She could sense it. The magical signature on these pieces was the same as the one on the sunny doll.

If she had to guess, they were all the work of the same person.

Most likely, Megumin's master.

Stark's eyes sparkled.

"Megumin's Sensei is a master magician and a blacksmith?!"

"Then he's gotta be some old man in his nineties."

And that was the optimistic take.

After all, magic and forging were two totally different disciplines.

It would take someone their entire life just to master one.

To reach the pinnacle of both?

Insane.

If Megumin's master really did pull that off before turning ninety, then that was already a miracle.

Frieren and Fern didn't argue.

They quietly accepted Stark's conclusion.

Especially given where this house was located.

Secluded. Peaceful. Far from town.

It was the kind of place someone elderly would retreat to.

That, and…

Megumin had been gone a while.

Maybe her master just couldn't walk anymore…

(To be continued.)

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