After a long talk, Perugius finally accepted the plan… though it was clear he didn't like the idea of relying on a demon.
"Don't misunderstand me," he said, crossing his arms. "Trusting the Demon Empress is a distasteful decision... I only hope you don't bring her here. I only accepted that girl for the sake of our cooperation."
"It won't happen," I replied.
That was the closest thing to a resounding 'yes' I was going to get from him.
The only remaining problem was finding her. Searching for Kishirika in the vastness of the Demon Continent was going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack of monsters, but it was a much safer bet than blindly tracking Orsted across the world.
With that decided, I headed to the guest lounge.
Upon arriving, I found everyone gathered in a semi-circle. Rudeus stood in front of the group, arms crossed. Around him were Sylphie, Roxy, Nanahoshi, Ariel, Elinalise, Zanoba, and Cliff. In a corner, watching, was Sylvaril.
It seemed they had already taken advantage of my absence to make the decisions.
"We already have the list, Arthur," Rudeus said, looking up as I entered.
The expedition team was formed: Rudeus, Roxy, Elinalise, and Zanoba.
Roxy had asked me to go to her village; besides, we were going with someone who knew the continent better than anyone. Elinalise was a veteran of the continent who feared nothing, and Zanoba had decided to go out of sheer curiosity.
"And the rest?" I asked, looking at Sylphie.
"We're staying," she replied, her ears drooping. "Cliff, Ariel, Nanahoshi, and I will remain in the fortress."
Sylphie obviously wanted to go; her eyes said it all. But Rudeus had convinced her to stay a few days in the fortress before returning to Sharia to look after Lucy.
It wasn't good for the child to be without both parents at the same time, especially during such an important stage of her growth. Even if her grandmothers were there to care for her, nothing replaced the warmth of a mother or a father.
"Now that I think about it… how are those two doing?"
Aisha and Norn.
Since we came to the fortress, I hadn't heard anything from them. I couldn't simply march off to the Demon Continent without even seeing them.
"Before we leave," I muttered to myself, "I have to go check on them."
Since I had the personal magic circle Perugius had given me a long time ago to travel back and forth from home, I could do it quickly. The other part of the seal was engraved on the floor of the master bedroom—my room and Roxy's.
Rudeus, who overheard me, asked me to check if everyone else was okay too.
"Please," he said. "If something is wrong, I'd rather know."
"I will," I replied, nodding.
Without further ado, I spread the scroll, infused it with mana, and in an instant, I vanished.
What appeared before my eyes was my cozy bedroom.
"Home sweet home…"
But before I could take a step toward the door, a shadow lunged at me. It knocked me to the floor and began licking my face enthusiastically.
"W-what?!
"Hey, Fenril! Wait—!"
I laughed, unable to help it, as the invisible wolf attacked me with licks.
"That tickles… stop it! Haha… alright, alright!"
After a few seconds, Fenrir pulled away and sat in front of me, wagging his tail so hard it seemed to shake the air. At that moment, he looked less like a legendary wolf and more like a huge, proud puppy.
"Did you miss me?" I whispered, stroking his head
Fenrir tilted his head slightly, as if affirming, and let out a soft, satisfied growl.
"Of course he did… I am well aware that I'm irresistible."
I stood up, brushing off my clothes, and went out into the hallway.
The house was spotless. Everything was tidy, clean, without a single object out of place.
"Aisha…" I murmured. "She never changes."
Even though Norn helped, Aisha always ended up organizing everything her way. I checked room by room but found no one but Fenrir, who followed me like a silent shadow.
"Hmm…"
"They must be at the academy…"
Norn had decided to be part of the student council, which kept her quite busy. Aisha, for her part, usually accompanied her or helped out at Rudeus's house.
As I crossed the front door to leave, I stopped.
"Wow…"
The arrangement of the plants at the entrance was beautiful. It wasn't just order; there was intention, aesthetics, and care.
"Definitely Aisha."
I smiled to myself.
First, I knocked on Paul's door.
"Hello?" I waited a few seconds. "Is anyone here?"
Silence.
"Well… I tried."
Then I headed to Rudeus's house. As soon as I knocked, the door opened.
"My, Master Arthur," Lilia said with a slight bow. "How quickly you've returned."
"Actually, it's just me," I replied. "I wanted to see if everyone was doing well."
"Lilia, who is it?" Zenith asked from inside.
She appeared carrying little Lucy in her arms. As soon as she saw me, her eyes lit up.
"Arthur!" she exclaimed. "Are you back? Where are the others?"
"Everyone else is still at the fortress," I explained. "We'll be staying there a bit longer."
"I see…" Zenith said, though her expression relaxed. "I thought something had happened to them…"
Lucy stared at me, then stretched her arms toward me.
"Ah… looks like someone wants to say hello," I said, smiling.
"She always gets happy when she sees you," Zenith commented with a soft laugh.
"It's better they don't know anything about Hitogami yet," I thought as we chatted for a while about everyday things: the academy, the house, Lucy's small milestones.
That normalcy… reassured me more than I expected.
After saying goodbye, I headed toward the Magic Academy.
I walked through the campus, traversing hallways, listening to the murmurs of students and the distant echo of ongoing classes
Turning a corner—
"Watch out!"
"Ah!"
I stopped just in time.
In front of me was Aisha, carrying a substantial pile of books. Beside her, Norn walked with her student council uniform impeccably arranged, just like Aisha, but Norn wore a blue cloak over her shoulders.
"How's it going?" I said, raising a hand with a smile.
"Arthur?!" Aisha exclaimed, nearly dropping the books.
"A-Arthur!" Norn's eyes widened in surprise. "When did you get here?"
"Just a moment ago," I replied. "I came to check that everything was alright."
Aisha looked me up and down, narrowing her eyes.
"Just that?"
"…Just that."
Norn looked down slightly but took a step closer.
"We're glad to see you," she said sincerely. "I thought you'd be busy for much longer."
"I am," I admitted. "But I couldn't leave without coming to see you."
Aisha pressed the books against her chest.
"Then," she said, "walk with us for a bit."
"Sure," I replied. "I was headed that way anyway."
We began walking across campus. Aisha was on my left, a bit too close to be a coincidence. Norn, on my right, kept a more formal distance, though occasionally her shoulder brushed against mine.
"How long will you stay this time?" Norn asked, adjusting her blue cloak
"Not long," I admitted. "As soon as we resolve something important, I'll be leaving for the Demon Continent."
"What are you going to do there?" Aisha frowned
"There are matters that cannot wait," I answered.
Norn nodded slowly
"That makes sense…" she whispered. "But still…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
We walked a few more steps in silence until Aisha shot me a quick, inquisitive look.
"So," she said suddenly. "How is Roxy?"
There it was. I knew that question was coming.
"She's fine," I replied. "Tired sometimes, but well cared for."
"Tired?" Aisha repeated, tilting her head. "That doesn't sound very normal for her."
Norn also looked at me, attentive.
I sighed.
"Well…" I scratched the back of my neck. "I suppose there's no point in hiding it anymore."
I stopped. They did too.
"Roxy is pregnant."
The silence was immediate.
"...…"
"...…"
Aisha stood frozen, the books still clutched to her chest, while Norn opened her eyes so wide I feared they might pop out.
"P-pregnant?" Norn stammered, covering her mouth with her hand. "Miss Roxy? That means... that you..."
"I'm going to be a father," I completed, feeling a strange knot of pride and nervousness in my stomach.
Aisha said nothing for several seconds. Her gaze, usually sparkling and full of energy, turned deep. She slowly lowered the books and placed them on a nearby bench. Then, she approached me with slow steps, stopping just inches away.
"Congratulations, Arthur," she said in an unusually soft voice. But then, she looked up, and her eyes burned with determination. "That only means the family is growing. And that I'll have to work twice as hard to be the best when my turn comes."
"Your turn?" I arched an eyebrow, somewhat confused.
"Fine, it's decided," she whispered, ignoring my question and crossing her arms with a smile full of confidence. "When you come back, I want you to listen to me until the end. I have something very important to tell you."
"Can't it be right now?" I asked, confused.
"No!" Norn intervened quickly, stepping forward and adjusting her blue cloak. "It's said to be bad luck to say such important things just when someone is going to a distant and dangerous place. It's a traveler's superstition."
Aisha nodded, agreeing with Norn for the first time today.
"Norn is right. Besides, what I have to tell you requires your full attention. Go to the Demon Continent, do whatever you have to do, and come back safe and sound. Only then will I tell you."
For a few seconds, none of us said anything.
Norn was the first to break the silence.
"So… when do you leave?"
"As soon as I finish some preparations," I replied. "It won't be today, but I won't be long either."
"I see…" she murmured.
Aisha picked the books back up from the bench and held them against her chest.
"In that case," she said, "walk us to the student council building. Norn has pending work, and I… well, someone has to make sure she doesn't faint from all the paperwork."
"Aisha!" Norn protested. "That only happened once!"
"Once is enough to make it a precedent," she retorted with a mischievous grin.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright," I said. "I'll escort you."
We resumed our walk. This time, Aisha was humming softly, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Norn walked a bit closer to me than before, though she didn't say anything.
Arriving at the council building, Norn stopped.
"Here we are," she said. "Thanks for coming, Arthur."
"Thanks for letting me."
Norn nodded and, after hesitating for a second, gave me a quick hug, hiding her blushing face before hurrying into the building. Aisha, however, stayed with me a moment longer on the steps, watching the door close behind her sister.
Then she approached and hugged me.
Aisha didn't settle for a quick hug like Norn's. She clung to my waist tightly, burying her face in my chest for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. I could feel her warm breath through my clothes and how her hands clenched firmly, as if she wanted to memorize this moment.
"I hope the trip goes well," she whispered, her voice sounding a bit more muffled than usual. "Take care of yourself, Arthur... because... well, someone has to be here to scold me when I get into mischief, right?"
She let out a small laugh, though as she looked up, I noticed her eyes shining with a different intensity. She stood on her tiptoes and, before I could react, gave me a quick kiss on the corner of my lips.
"It's for good luck," she said with a wink, regaining her usual mischievous air. "Go with Roxy and tell her to take care too."
She turned without giving me time to respond and walked up the steps of the council building with a light step, waving her hand in the air without looking back.
I stood still for a few seconds, with the feeling of the hug still present and the echo of her words resonating in my chest.
"…Good luck, huh?" I muttered, bringing two fingers to the corner of my lips.
Fenril appeared beside me, materializing just enough for me to see him. He looked at me with that expression of his that seemed to say, "This is getting out of hand."
"Not a word," I warned him.
The wolf let out an amused snort and faded away again.
I took a deep breath and activated the magic circle once more.
In a blink, I appeared right in the master bedroom. I walked out into the hallway and toward the guest lounge, where the others were.
As I entered, Rudeus looked at me and arched an eyebrow.
"You have a strange look on your face, Arthur. Did something happen at the academy?"
"Nothing I can't handle," I replied, adjusting my cloak and looking at Roxy, who was finishing checking the travel rations with Elinalise. "Are we ready?"
"Everything's prepared," Roxy said, approaching me with her staff in hand. "Perugius is waiting for us in the transport hall."
"Then let's not waste any more time," I declared, looking at Sylvaril.
She nodded with her usual imperturbable calm. "This way, please."
We followed the woman in the white mask, descending into the bowels of the structure.
The Floating Fortress didn't just extend toward the sky; its foundations sank deep, revealing an even more sophisticated underground architecture.
As we descended, the place became a labyrinth of stone corridors and ancient engravings.
"We are here."
Sylvaril stopped us in a room located three levels below the main floor. It was a place that, without a guide, would be impossible to find.
The room lacked torches, but it didn't need them: a massive magic circle on the floor, glowing a pale white, illuminated the walls.
"Lord Perugius has just completed this magic circle to reconnect it with one of the abandoned terminals on the Demon Continent," she explained.
"Abandoned?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It happens often with teleportation magic," Sylvaril replied. "If one end is damaged, the other will stop working as well. But they can be repaired and recalibrated if one possesses the proper knowledge."
I was impressed. Teleportation circles usually come in fixed pairs, but the "old man" was capable of hacking the world's magic network at will.
"Are these kinds of magic circles under Perugius's control?"
"Lord Perugius is indeed a great man," she affirmed with a pride that brought a bead of sweat to my brow. Her devotion knew no bounds.
"Lord Perugius believes this magic circle should get you close to the Great Demon Empress," she added.
I stopped in my tracks. "Wait... he knows where she is?"
"Of course."
"Then why didn't he say anything when I talked to him earlier?" I said, a twitch in my eyebrow.
"Master Arthur, it is because it is only a lead."
Well, at least that would make the job a bit easier. However, Rudeus intervened with a look of doubt.
"He could be wrong too. The Demon Empress I know is unpredictable. We could think she's in one place, but by the time we get there, she might have already vanished elsewhere. Her fiancé Badigadi is the same."
"Ah, right... Badigadi"..... "The last time we crossed paths, he gave me a beating I still remember. If I run into him again, there will definitely be a second round, and this time the result will be different." I thought
"I understand. We'll go investigate," I said, regaining my composure.
"The situation on the other side has not been confirmed yet," Sylvaril warned. "The exit might be sealed or even buried underground to stay hidden. If there is no visible entrance, it cannot be found by anyone else. Be careful."
"Sealed?" Roxy asked, adjusting her hat with concern.
"If it doesn't work, then we'll be back soon," Rudeus assured, trying to calm the atmosphere.
"May the fortune of war be with you."
With Sylvaril's blessing, we stepped into the teleportation magic circle. The world dissolved into a blinding white glare.
The journey to the Demon Continent had begun.
To be continued...