The moment the Ten Wizard Saints conferral ended, Weston and Mavis didn't linger; they left the Council branch that same day and set off back to the guild.
This time, however, they took the long way round.
On the way here they had headed straight west. Now, going back, they decided to head north for a stretch, then east, and finally south to Magnolia.
The reason was simple: they wanted to roam the Fiore Kingdom a little longer, see more of the scenery and enjoy a private date-trip for just the two of them.
They wandered from mountain to river, passing through many towns and villages, occasionally camping in the forest.
That day they arrived in a mountain forest.
After lunch Mavis lifted both arms high, gave a languid stretch, then flopped straight back, rubbing her food-rounded belly and smiling in satisfaction.
"So full~"
"Weston's cooking is always delicious!"
Watching the sprite-like, lively girl, Weston couldn't help smiling too.
"Let's nap a while and travel again this afternoon?"
"Sure~"
Since they were going to nap, they needed a comfy spot and a comfy position.
So, after tidying away the remains of lunch, Weston and Mavis moved under the shade of a tree.
There they cast a Barrier Spell:
[No human, beast or insect may enter this ground.]
Out in the wild you meet all kinds of creatures: mosquitoes, beasts, snakes, bugs, rats, and ants. Danger can come from anywhere, so best not let your guard down.
One careless moment and you might land yourself in trouble.
But by carving a rune boundary beforehand, you can sleep soundly inside it.
With the ward in place, they leaned against the trunk, snuggled together, breathing in each other's scent, and closed their eyes.
Just then a snore thundered from deep in the forest.
The sound shook the mountains, sending birds and beasts fleeing.
Weston and Mavis snapped their eyes open and stared toward the noise.
"What was that?"
"That racket, it sounds like some huge beast on the prowl."
In a remote mountain forest, the presence of beasts, or even magical beasts, was hardly surprising.
Their lunch had been a wild rabbit they'd caught and roasted.
"At this hour, maybe the local beasts are getting lunch too?"
"Could be!"
"But even if it's hunting, the noise is way too loud."
"From the sound, the hunter must be a colossal monster, and the prey something small and nimble."
"Looks like our nap's ruined."
Runes keep creatures out, but they can't stop light, sound, air, or ground-shaking snores.
"If we can't nap, how about reading?"
"With that racket? No way we can focus."
Strange, really.
In the guild they could read through any clamor, yet out here a beast's growling ruined their concentration.
Probably because the guild felt safe, while the wild demanded constant vigilance.
"Should we go see what beast it is?"
"Hm? Sure, let's go!"
Curiosity piqued, they brushed off the leaves, dispelled the rune, and crept toward the source of the noise.
But the closer they got, the more things felt off.
First, the noise hadn't stopped once.
A large beast should tire quickly; it couldn't keep this up so long.
Second, the sound had a steady rhythm.
A hunting beast's steps would be erratic, never this regular.
And third, the source hadn't moved at all.
That ruled out a hunt—
what beast hunts in place?
"Weston, did you notice? This sound—"
"I know. Doesn't feel like a hunt; it's a familiar noise."
"A snore?!"
"A snore?!"
They spoke together, stunned and puzzled.
"Thought my ears were wrong, but if you hear it too, good."
"But how can anyone snore that loudly?!"
Though two clever minds had reached the same guess, they still found it unbelievable.
"Let's get closer and see for sure!"
"Right!"
A few steps farther, a shaft of light broke through the trees and the snoring swelled.
They exchanged glances, quickened their pace, and stepped into the light.
They left the forest behind.
Before them lay a vast meadow, and on it a "small hill" that shook the earth with every snore.
No—
Not a hill!
But—
"A giant?!"
Mavis's eyes went wide with shock.
Weston froze, staring at the living mountain of flesh.
A giant?!
There were giants in this world—
Of course there were!
In the original story, the village that guarded the Hellfire Dragon's flame, home to the Giant Clan, frozen by Silver and later freed by Gray—
Sun Village!
"Weston, am I dreaming?"
"That's really a giant?!"
Her first glimpse of a non-human race sent Mavis's curiosity sky-high, stars sparkling in her widened eyes.
The girl hurried forward, circling left and right, eager to study the giant.
"No dream!"
"There's a Sun Village inside Fiore where a Giant Clan guards the S-Class Treasure Eternal Flame. He might have come from there."
They walked a full circle round the towering boy, then flew skyward on magic to examine him head to toe.
The giant was still a child, just a boy of perhaps eight or nine, yet already over six meters tall.
Sprawled in the grass, limbs flung wide, the Giant Boy slept on without a care.
Confirmed.
He was the source of the snores!