"A memory fragment as a reward?"
The moment Kurose Akira saw the special reward listed beneath the first commission, his gaze sharpened instantly.
From the involvement of the key figure Roxia, it was clear that this commission had branched directly from the special mission he had just completed. What surprised him even more was the difficulty rating—it had broken convention and reached E-rank. The remaining four commissions were all only F+.
Naturally, the rewards were on an entirely different level.
Beyond the commissions, there were also two character quests available.
One belonged to Ivsha—her character quest titled:
[The Succubus Nun of the Church!]
The newly unlocked character quest, however, came from Loserine.
That quest had not fully opened yet. Because Loserine's favorability sat at only 60, further increases were required before the character quest could be unlocked.
What puzzled Akira was that Loserine's quest seemed to be connected to her family.
And the name that kept appearing—Roxia—seemed to share an inseparable bond with Loserine, as though their fates were tightly entwined.
"If there's a time limit, then this one takes priority."
After scanning through all available commissions, Akira decided to focus on the E-rank mission first.
He glanced toward the sky outside the window. There were still two or three hours before nightfall.
Judging by the description, this was clearly a long-duration commission—not something that could be resolved by simply slaying a monster or collecting materials.
"Let's gather some preliminary information first."
With that decision made, Akira planned to head to the mission location for a basic investigation and reconnaissance, laying the groundwork for what was to come.
Before setting out, however, there was something else to take care of.
The experience pool still held 700 EXP—just enough to raise Ivsha to Level 5.
Level up.
The moment Akira confirmed the upgrade, Ivsha's level jumped to LV5.
A soft white glow washed over her skin, and her eyes shimmered with a faintly intoxicating light. Her lips curved upward into a smile that was both elegant and seductive, as if she were savoring the pleasure of growth itself.
Akira frowned slightly.
…Was that really a normal reaction to leveling up?
Ivsha was becoming more and more succubus-like.
No—That was wrong.
She was a succubus.
"Thank you~"
She even thanked him deliberately.
The way she shifted so effortlessly between alluring temptation and graceful composure made Akira's throat dry up instinctively. For a brief moment, he found himself wanting something—anything—to moisten his lips.
"Cough—!"
He cleared his throat sharply and said, "While it's still light out, let's go scout the next mission location."
"As you wish~"
Following closely behind him, Ivsha and Loserine stepped into the teleportation circle together with Akira.
Light flared.
In the next instant, they were transported to the mission area.
This destination was completely different from anything they had seen before.
The previous areas had all been desolate and lifeless—
Shallows.Deserts.Villages swallowed by flames.
But now—
They stood within a thriving city.
Buildings of various styles stretched out before them. The streets were crowded and lively, filled with pedestrians and passing carriages.
Occasionally, armored soldiers patrolled the area, but none paid attention to Akira and his companions standing quietly at the corner of the street.
"So this is Sunset City… It really is prosperous," Akira muttered as he stepped onto the main road.
Though the city followed a Western medieval aesthetic and lacked modern technology, it radiated a powerful sense of culture and civilization.
And with magic integrated into daily life, productivity clearly hadn't fallen behind.
"Akira," Ivsha said softly while gazing at the crowds, "the target of this mission—Knight Roxia—is the heir of the Yerman Family. We should be able to locate her easily by asking around."
"Commissions like this usually have a contractor already," Akira shook his head. "We just need to wait at the agreed meeting point."
"I see. Then where is it?"
"A café on the west side of the city. It should be nearby."
As they spoke, Akira had already spotted the café and began walking toward it.
They entered, chose a quiet corner, and sat down to wait for the contractor.
However, their arrival immediately drew attention.
Curious glances came from all directions, and whispers spread among the patrons.
Akira felt puzzled.
They hadn't been particularly conspicuous.
He had even changed into period-appropriate clothing.
Loserine was fully encased in armor, concealing her undead nature completely. Ivsha looked like nothing more than an ordinary nun.
So why were they being stared at?
Just as Akira was questioning this, a beautiful noblewoman in a layered dress entered the café, gently waving a rose-patterned folding fan.
This café catered primarily to the city's wealthy elite. Akira's group, with their unusual presence, was immediately identifiable.
But when the noblewoman reached their table and saw Loserine seated beside Akira—
Her eyes widened.
She froze in place.
"Excuse me? Ma'am?" Akira frowned.
The contractor standing there in stunned silence, like a statue, left him deeply confused.
…Was this because of Loserine?
"Lo—Loserine? Is that you? Loserine?!"
The noblewoman stared at her in disbelief, her voice trembling. Someone who had been declared dead for years was now sitting before her.
Shock, excitement, and confusion all surfaced in her expression.
Yet Loserine offered no response.
She sat silently, her gaze fixed on the cup of coffee on the table, seemingly lost in thought. In her current state, she clearly couldn't eat or drink—anything consumed would likely just spill out.
"Loserine…"
The woman furrowed her brows, confused by the knight's cold silence.
"Ma'am," Akira said calmly, "this is not the Loserine you once knew."
"I suppose you're right…" The woman sighed softly and took a seat across from him. "Loserine passed away ten years ago. Even if the armor resembles hers, the dead do not simply return."
She composed herself and continued, "My name is Natasha. I was close friends with Roxia's mother. I issued this commission because I want you to help Roxia succeed in becoming a Vowbound Knight."
"What exactly do you need me to do?" Akira asked directly.
He knew nothing about the selection process and needed clarity.
"Simply protect Roxia during the selection tournament the day after tomorrow," Natasha explained. "I'm worried someone may attempt to harm her during the event."
"Do you know who might be behind it?" Akira asked.
"I don't," Natasha replied gravely. "But I do know this—they've issued commissions of their own."
"…Commissions meant to prevent Roxia from becoming a Vowbound Knight."