"When you say you'll help..."

"Have you forgotten? No other faction has as much information about Dreamland as our school. Of course, we also have information about the depths of Dreamland that you're looking for."

"Do you know much about the depths of Dreamland?"

"Not at all. But I've heard from the old folks until I'm sick of it that it's a very dangerous place."

Julia lightly twisted her long hair with her fingertip.

"The depths is a place that even those accustomed to Dreamland never dare to set foot in. The moment you enter, your unconscious devours your consciousness, making you endlessly wander between dream and reality. What's more surprising is that this is just a tiny fraction of what's known."

Julia's voice was notably more serious than usual.

"Of course, I've only heard about this, I haven't seen it myself."

"Weren't you ever curious?"

"I was at times. But I also directly accessed various documents and information, so I could understand. There are things that should never be touched out of mere curiosity. The depths of Dreamland was exactly that for me. So please don't dismiss my warning."

Rudger didn't bother responding to that.

Julia hadn't expected an answer anyway, so she shook her head as if it couldn't be helped.

"Even if I say this, you won't listen, will you?"

"I too am well aware of the dangers."

"Yes. I know. So I'll end this ceremonial warning here."

"Ceremonial..."

"When someone shows interest in this kind of information, our faction always unanimously warns them to be careful."

Julia really only delivered the warning message.

Rudger looked at Julia with a complex expression.

He wasn't sure whether to say if that could be called a warning, or to praise her for at least doing as told.

"So how do you plan to help me?"

"There's only one thing I can do. Introduce you to someone who knows the information you want."

"You mean the Dream School Faction mages."

"There's no one else, is there?"

"They would rather be angry if you brought someone looking for information about the depths."

"I gave the warning. My role ends there. Since there was no instruction to forcefully stop you, I won't get in trouble."

"That attitude might actually get you in more trouble."

Julia let out a light snort.

She showed no concern at all about disobeying the warnings of her faction seniors.

"Even if they say something about that, I can just let it go in one ear and out the other. It's not like they gave their sincere advice anyway. They might actually be happier if I introduce Professor Rudger."

Rudger couldn't help but be puzzled by Julia's words.

"What do you mean they'd be happy?"

"Those folks, they outwardly claim we must warn against dangerous acts and always be careful. But when they actually face such a person, they become cold."

"I don't quite understand. Are you saying they harbor different thoughts inside while warning you to be careful?"

"That's right. Everyone there is like that. They're all self-centered and somewhat mentally unstable, their words and actions differ."

"That..."

Rudger stared at Julia with an 'oh?' expression.

Perhaps detecting impure thoughts in that gaze, Julia frowned sharply.

"What is it?"

"...Nothing."

"Hmph. Of course, since I'm also part of the Dream School Faction, I know I'm not free from this assessment."

"So you do know."

Julia glared sharply at Rudger.

"...Anyway! All the mages in our Dream School Faction are idealists. From their perspective, Professor Rudger would be a precious guest they'd welcome rather than turn away. How could they resist someone willing to risk danger to study the depths?"

That was unexpected.

He thought he would be turned away at the door even with Julia's introduction, but they would welcome him instead.

Looking at how Julia spoke, she didn't seem to be lying.

Actually, the eccentricities of Dream School Faction mages were quietly known in the industry.

'I thought they were somewhat unrealistic and exaggerated, but if Julia is saying this directly, maybe there really are a lot of oddballs.'

Whatever the case, it was encouraging that an opportunity he thought he'd lost appeared again before his eyes.

"So, will you go? I'm asking one last time as a final warning."

Julia, who thought one warning was enough, warned again.

That's how serious this matter was, that it couldn't be approached lightly but even so this offer was hard to refuse.

"Let's go right away."

* * *

Sedina arrived at the Life Forest, homeland of the elves.

Unlike before when she was kidnapped or boarded an airship, this time she entered proudly through the forest entrance.

The scent of nature and voices of trees and grass from all around gave Sedina a sense of achievement that she had finally come home.

Perhaps because she had just come from a city full of smoke and steam, this freshness felt both welcome and unfamiliar.

'Huh?'

Sedina's eyes widened in surprise upon arriving at the forest.

Originally, elves should have come out to welcome her, but the forest was somehow quiet.

'What's going on?'

Sedina felt a strange unease.

Had something happened in between her leaving the forest and returning?

Sedina's steps toward the forest quickened.

The first place she needed to visit was the Burke family mansion where Aunt Ambella resided.

Those who protect the forest establish strongholds starting from the entrance, and among them, the Burke family was at the very front.

It's the most dangerous position in times of war, but conversely, it's also the place visitors can reach the fastest.

The forest wind lightly carried Sedina's body.

Just by Sedina's intention to head somewhere, the forest resonated with that will.

The trees and grass of the forest cleared the way, moving rocks aside.

At the same time, nature spirits pushed her back, adding to her speed.

It was no exaggeration to say she was loved by the forest itself.

'I hope nothing's wrong.'

Sedina quickly arrived at the Burke family mansion.

Perhaps because Burke always kept war in mind, the mansion boasted a scale and grandeur comparable to a fortress.

That's why it was named Forest Fort.

There were soldiers standing guard on the fort walls made of specially processed hardwood.

They spotted Sedina and their eyes widened.

"Oh, oh?"

"I'm coming through!"

Sedina charged straight toward the fort wall.

Before the elves could shout something to stop her.

-Crack.

The fort wall split left and right as if it were alive.

An extraordinary sight of walls that wouldn't burn even with napalm or break even with anti-aircraft guns opening a path on their own.

The elves standing guard could only watch in bewilderment.

Sedina ran through the path created between the fort walls toward the mansion interior.

Having visited once before, she had memorized the internal structure.

Sedina ran straight toward the space where she felt the strongest life force.

"Aunt Ambella!"

Sedina burst open the door and found Ambella inside, looking at her in surprise.

"Sedina? How did you come here...?"

"Are you alright? There was no one at the entrance so I came running."

"No one at the entrance?"

"I was worried something might have happened to Aunt Ambella..."

For Sedina, it was rather unexpected to find Ambella quietly sitting in her office.

She thought something serious had happened, but was that not the case?

"Didn't they tell you I was coming?"

"Yes. You said you were coming. But Sedina, didn't you check today's date?"

"What?"

"...The promised date was tomorrow."

"..."

Ah.

Sedina belatedly realized she had arrived one day earlier than she had said.

"I... came earlier than expected?"

Sedina's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as she spoke with an awkward smile.

Ambella looked at her in disbelief before breaking into a smile.

"Coming early is good. Welcome. I should let the Burke head know too. That our tomboy lady arrived a day early."

While Ambella spoke teasingly with a smile, inside she couldn't help but be impressed.

'That momentary reaction. Did she firmly believe I had encountered something unpleasant?'

Sedina probably felt the faint remaining energy the moment she arrived at the forest.

The traces left by the demon.

She must have felt uneasy from that and came straight here.

Unlike what she worried about, the situation ended as a minor happening but that was just the truth that appeared on the surface.

'That Zero Order fellow.'

Ambella remembered the conversation from that day.

The man who introduced himself as Zero Order appeared like a mirage before Vierano and Ambella.

The moment they faced him, they could feel that this being was definitely not human and possessed power they could hardly oppose.

If Zero Order wanted to, he could have killed the two heads right there.

'But he didn't.'

Rather, it was the opposite.

Zero Order had come to express his gratitude.

'Ventmin. To think that poisonous one would join hands with such a monster.'

Ventmin was Zero Order's subordinate, called First Order.

However, Ventmin did not fulfill her duties as First Order, and instead thought to betray Zero Order.

The reason was because she wanted to monopolize the World Tree's power and use it to rule this entire continent.

From Zero Order's position it was insubordination, and Ambella and Vierano had taken care of it for him.

Zero Order spoke of this lightly, but Ambella couldn't laugh at all.

'He's a being who even has the head of Lifrey under him.'

And Zero Order actually introduced himself as a demon.

It was quite surprising.

A demon who reveals himself to be a demon.

Considering how dangerous demons are in this continent, Zero Order should have faced attacks from elf soldiers rushing in from all directions.

Yet Ambella couldn't attack because of what Zero Order said next.

-Now you'll need to prepare for war.

Prepare for war.

It wasn't something to say to those who had just ended a civil war but Ambella and Vierano couldn't question or refute those words because Zero Order's voice was filled with certainty.

Moreover, they wondered why a demon like him would give them such a warning.

Weren't demons beings that brought chaos to the world?

Would warning them about future events somehow benefit him?

'What is he plotting, what is he aiming for?'

Ambella couldn't read Zero Order's intentions.

Even after he disappeared, Ambella stayed in her office for days focusing only on cleanup work.

Otherwise, Zero Order's words would keep haunting her.

A simple warning, or a lie to shake them up.

If only she could dismiss it as such.

The more she tried not to think about it, the more clearly it remained in her mind.

Ambella could understand why, because she too vaguely sensed that unstable situation.

'Prepare for war...is it.'

Ambella watched Sedina desperately making excuses out of embarrassment.

To protect the forest, the most important thing was ultimately Sedina's existence, who could handle the World Tree.

In the end, if war broke out, it meant Sedina would have to shoulder greater responsibilities.

'Don't be ridiculous.'

Ambella gritted her teeth.

It wouldn't matter if war broke out.

Instead, she would be the one to step forward and fight.

She desperately hoped that child would never have to fight again.

* * *

Rudger arrived at the Dream School Faction building with Julia.

The Dream School Faction was rooted in the Empire, and rather than residing in a magic tower, they borrowed a mansion in the city where they lived huddled together.

For mages who needed research space, it was quite an open environment.

The mansion was quite spacious with even a yard, but there seemed to be no one managing the mansion itself as the view from outside was quiet.

"Is no one here?"

While the number of Dream School Faction mages was said to be many, that was only in comparison to other special classes.

Compared to mages of other classes, they too were an extreme minority.

The mansion was too quiet, so anyone would think the same as Rudger.

"They're all here. No, they are definitely here."

Julia was certain.

"It's quiet though?"

"They're probably all sleeping."

"Sleeping..."

Since they were Dream Walkers, somehow it made sense when she said they were sleeping.

Julia stood in front of the mansion's large door and knocked lightly.

"Old folks. I'm here. Open up."

After a moment, a voice came from inside.

"Who is this?"

It was the slightly aged voice of an old man.

"It's me. Julia."

"Julia? Who's that?"

"Stop joking around and open up."

Julia frowned as she started getting annoyed.

"Hmm? Ah! I remember. That kid who hasn't shown her face to us since enrolling at Theon?"

"...What are you talking about? I'm not, so hurry and open up."

"Not? Well, if you're not the Julia we know, we can't open up."

Julia couldn't hold back and exploded.

-Bang!

"Ah, open up!"