From a distance, Viloti and Adelina trailed the magical beast, watching through a Sixth-Grade Scouting Seal as Felyn and Zervanie had already engaged in battle.

They had carefully selected a few weak, old, and sick magical beasts—just strong enough to help Felyn raise his Divine Affinity without posing a real threat to his safety.

It had been a troublesome task. For some reason, the magical beasts in the area were unusually sparse.

“Felyn looks so happy,” Adelina murmured, eyes locked onto the image inside the Scouting Seal.

Onscreen, Felyn’s attacks were explosive. With Zervanie’s buffs, even a First-Grade Seal in his hands had the force of a Fourth or Fifth-Grade.

He was having the time of his life.

His usual Shaky Bomb Seals were unstable, and higher-grade ones were too expensive.

But with Zervanie around, Felyn didn’t have to worry about any of that.

Even so, fighting magical beasts alone was no easy task.

Those creatures, though weak, still had some fight in them. But after being driven here by Adelina and Viloti, their behavior had turned downright strange—like anxious monkeys.

The beasts would flee one moment, then charge back toward Felyn the next.

Their odd behavior went completely unnoticed by the two noble ladies.

They were too busy watching Felyn.

It had been so long since they’d seen him smile like this.

Coming here had been the right decision.

Both girls found themselves thinking the same thing:

If only I could be the one standing by his side…

“Viloti, are they heading our way?”

“Yeah.”

A magical beast ran past Viloti, Felyn chasing behind it, covered in bruises.

The two groups were now dangerously close. Realizing this, Adelina could already see the magical beast sprinting toward them.

“Quick, hide!”

If Felyn saw them, he’d be furious.

Viloti and Adelina split up—staying together would only make them easier to spot.

Hiding behind a tree some distance away, Adelina watched the beast run past and disappear into the distance.

“Thanks, Zervanie!”

Felyn’s voice drifted over from behind the magical beast, reaching Viloti’s ears.

With Zervanie’s buffs, he was moving far more swiftly, almost as fast as the creature he pursued.

Viloti pressed a hand gently to the tree trunk, watching Felyn’s figure pass right by.

If only I could be with this version of Felyn…

With the real Felyn…

She caressed the bark, biting her lip, letting her long pink hair fall over her face.

Though things had gotten better between her and Felyn lately, Viloti still felt a wall between them—an invisible barrier that kept their relationship from going deeper.

But why?

Felyn… is there something you're not telling me? Or… did I do something wrong?

Viloti would never ask.

If Felyn didn’t want to talk, she had no right to press him.

She didn’t want to burden or trouble him.

But if things stayed this way, she feared she’d never truly reach him.

What’s the truth?

Lost in thought, Viloti didn’t hear the footsteps behind her.

“Miss Viloti?”

She reacted instantly, drawing a Seal. The formation was nearly completed in an instant.

Being approached unnoticed was dangerous. She activated a Defensive Seal without hesitation.

A red barrier burst forth, forming a sphere around her.

Only then did she turn to look.

“Wait, it’s me!”

“Miss Zervanie?”

Viloti tilted her head slightly, frowning at the unexpected appearance.

If Zervanie was here… then Felyn might not be far behind…

Frantically, Viloti searched the area.

“Stop looking—Felyn’s not here,” Zervanie said, instantly seeing through her.

Who else could Viloti possibly care about?

“Judging by that reaction, you must know he’s with me! You’ve been spying on us, haven’t you?!”

“I-I haven’t…” Viloti blinked, averting her gaze.

“You can’t even look me in the eye! You’re such a terrible liar!” Zervanie pointed accusingly. “How much did you see?!”

She was mortified—what if Viloti had seen her awkward lunch moment with Felyn?

That would be beyond embarrassing!

“Just your fight with Felyn this morning.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Zervanie let out a long sigh of relief, running her fingers through her silver-white hair.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Viloti asked.

“I picked up your location using a Seal and came to check.”

During the earlier battle, Zervanie had stuck close to Felyn as they chased down the magical beast.

She didn’t want to ruin his mood, so she hadn’t said things like, “Felyn, it’s too dangerous to keep chasing.”

But she knew blindly chasing beasts came with risks. What if it had been a trap?

So she used a Sixth-Grade Seal:

Domain Scan.

It could detect all active creatures within several kilometers.

A perfect balance—keeping Felyn safe while letting him enjoy himself.

She didn’t spot any magical beasts… but she did find Viloti.

Normally, Viloti wouldn’t be detected so easily, but she had been deep in thought about Felyn and let her guard down.

“So he’s not here?”

“That beast died just now. Felyn’s busy looking for the magic crystal. I came ahead alone.”

Zervanie walked up beside her.

“What about you? You came to the dungeon for Felyn, didn’t you?”

“N-No! I’m here to train.”

“Look me in the eye when you say that, Miss Viloti!”

Zervanie waved a fist. The way this noble girl acted, she clearly came here for Felyn!

Why were there girls who knew him everywhere? Even in the dungeon?!

“Zervanie? There you are.”

Felyn peeked out from behind a tree near Viloti, spotting the silver-haired songstress—

And Viloti, standing right across from her.

“Viloti? What are you doing here?”

She froze, turning her head ever so slowly.

He’d seen her.

“Viloti’s here for training, right?” Zervanie quickly stepped up to cover for her.

“I spotted her using my Scouting Seal, so we met up.”

“You should be grateful, Miss Viloti!”

Of course, Zervanie’s kindness had an ulterior motive. If Felyn found out Viloti came here just for him, he might grow fonder of her.

And Zervanie wasn’t about to let anyone raise Felyn’s favorability score—not in front of her!

“I see.” Felyn didn’t press the issue.

“I found something strange over by that magical beast. Let’s check it out together.”

“Something strange?”

Zervanie walked past Viloti to stand beside him.

“Yeah. I don’t know what it is either.”

Viloti didn’t move.

She wasn’t sure… had Felyn actually invited her?

So she stood there beneath the tree, watching them walk away together.

A leaf landed on her shoulder. She didn’t even notice.

“Viloti? Aren’t you coming?”

Felyn had turned around. She was still standing there, watching him.

“C-Can I?”

She’d taken a small step forward—but needed to confirm.

“If you want to.”

Thump thump thump thump.

Viloti ran over, her heels tapping against the ground, until she reached his side.

“Did you come with anyone else? We can check it out together—I’m not really sure what that thing is either.”

She brushed a lock of hair from her lips and glanced to her left.

That was where Adelina was hiding.

If she said Adelina had come with her, Felyn would likely invite her too.

“…No. I’m alone.”

“I see.”

Felyn seemed to hear something faint from the left—like a tiny groan.

He turned in that direction, but saw nothing.

“…Was that just my imagination?” he muttered.

(End of Chapter)