I nodded.

“Yeah. Remember that room beneath the Imperial Palace, the one with the magic circle drawn past a sealed door?”

The first time we had gone down there, it had been to rescue Serein’s parents, but while we were at it, we had also taken a look at the chamber bearing Beyond’s magic circle.

Neril nodded slowly.

“I get what you’re thinking. That spell needs a set clue to define what you want to find.”

The truth was, the wide range search circle had been monopolized by the Empire the moment it was developed.

Only its name and basic effect were known to the public.

But Neril had a deep connection with the Beyond family, so deep that she even carried around their heirloom grimoire.

It wasn’t surprising that she would catch on to my plan.

Instead, she asked me curiously,

“But Mide, how did you even know about that spell? You must have known about it when you told Pirensha to bite her tongue.”

“I once had a mercenary job involving a missing person.”

“……?”

“No matter how much I searched, there were no leads. As a last resort, I thought of that spell and gathered what information I could back then.”

“Hah. So you were planning to infiltrate the Imperial underground since way back then?”

“I said it was a last resort. We found the missing person right before carrying it out, so I cancelled it.”

Everyone looked at me with something like admiration.

‘That’s… embarrassing.’

[No. That’s the look of people exhausted by your recklessness.]

‘Whatever. That’s not the point.’

I turned to Neril.

“If Pirensha spits blood, we can use that to pinpoint their exact location, right?”

“That’s right, but we will need Pirensha’s blood first. The core of that spell is ‘Find whatever best matches this condition.’”

“Then Serein will have to do the hard part.”

Serein flinched.

“Me?”

“She is your sister.”

“Ah… So that’s why you told Pirensha, not the other fingers, to bite her tongue.”

“Yeah. You okay with that?”

“I don’t like pain, but given the situation, I can’t complain.”

Good.

I nodded and looked to Offense.

“When we first went below the Imperial Palace, Neril said the circle alone wasn’t enough, it needed long-term research.”

“Mm.”

“But that’s no longer the case, is it, Neril?”

She nodded confidently.

The Neril of that time, the Witch of Carnage, was now the Saint of Compulsion, and her magic had advanced so far that she was practically a different person.

I turned back to Offense.

“In other words, if we want to, we can find your parents right now.”

“Wouldn’t we need my parents’ blood for that?”

“The clue doesn’t have to be blood. Like Neril said, the essence of the spell is ‘Find what best fits this condition.’”

“……”

“For example, if you placed a dagger as the clue, it would search for the dagger most similar in sharpness, markings, and design. Anything come to mind?”

Offense turned away. “Wait a moment.”

He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a worn piece of paper from the bottom.

“This was found with me in my cradle.”

On the paper, hastily written, were the words: Please take care of this child.

I nodded.

“If we use that as the condition, the spell will find documents or letters written in the same handwriting. Follow that trail, and it might eventually lead to your parents.”

Offense’s expression grew complicated.

Neril interjected.

“Want to try it right now? We could.”

“…No. Not yet.”

“Why not?”

“Our journey isn’t over. If anything, it’s only beginning.”

“……”

“I can look for my past once everything is finished.”

There was sincerity in his eyes.

It was a wish worthy of being called a lifelong desire yet he was choosing to wait for our sake.

Neril’s tone softened, slightly teasing.

“Better not put it off too long. My power only lasts three more weeks.”

“Even without that, it’s just a matter of time, not impossibility. I will ask you later.”

“Heh. Fine.”

Serein’s nose crinkled as if she were holding back tears.

“That was really touching. I’m sorry for teasing you all this time, Mr. Offense.”

“So you knew you were teasing me.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop, though.”

“Do as you please. I gave up on that ages ago.”

I chuckled.

“Alright, let’s get to the main topic.”

“Huh. We just did, didn’t we?”

“All we did was decide to use magic to find Idria and the others. That’s not the main point.”

“But… Velosian is asleep, and Aktion is gone.”

“That’s no reason to let our guard down.”

I took a quiet breath.

“I have got an idea.”

It was a rather improvised plan, even I wasn’t sure it would work.

But still, I began explaining slowly.

When I finished, silence settled over the group.

Lisel was the first to speak.

“Mime.”

Shff.

As if he had been there all along, Mime perched lightly on Lisel’s shoulder.

“Yes, Lady Lisel.”

“Is what Mide said even possible?”

“It is. In fact, I’m more surprised that he knows about such things at all. Knowledge about spirits is exceedingly rare in this age.”

That was thanks to my memories from before regression.

Back then, when I had fought Sobius, I had torn open space itself to get my companions to safety.

They had hidden on the other side, but there was a problem.

[What kind of problem?]

‘Not knowing when it was safe to come out.’

[Ah.]

‘If Idria or Sobius were waiting outside, stepping out would have been suicide. But from inside the space, we couldn’t see out.’

While I was fretting over that, Lisel had said,

“Mr. Mide, could you open just a tiny hole?”

“I can, but even if we peek through, it’s pointless if they’re hiding beyond our line of sight.”

“No, it only needs to be big enough for a spirit to pass through.”

“……?”

“Please, just trust me.”

I had done as she asked, opened a small tear.

And through it, we had learned that no one was outside.

[How did she manage that?]

Before I could explain, Lisel spoke again.

“Then please split, Mime.”

“Yes.”

And then, we witnessed something truly strange.

Perched on Lisel’s shoulder, Mime divided itself cleanly down the middle.

Each half reformed its own body until, before our eyes, there stood two Mimes.

Adwin blinked and muttered,

“What in the world…”

“When the wind blows and you hold your hand edgewise against it, the air splits around your hand, right? It’s like that.”

“No, that doesn’t help at all.”

“These two Mimes are linked. One Mime can share what the other sees.”

Meaning, if Mime A scouted the special room from above, we could observe what he saw through Mime B.

It was the most suitable way to explore that unknown space.

The problem was, such an exploration couldn’t be called stealth.

If we wanted to approach Idria without being detected by anyone, one more condition had to be met.

All of us turned toward Offense at the same time.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke.

“So, we are carrying out the plan tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Then give me just one night.”

“Alright.”

And with that, the strategy meeting was over.

To break the heavy mood, Xenia stretched with a yawn.

“Then how about a midnight snack…”

“Everyone has worked hard today. Let’s get some sleep.”

“You cut me off so bluntly.”

We all stood up to head back to our rooms.

That’s when Offense spoke.

“Mide, got a moment?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s have a drink.”

I shrugged.

“You’re buying, right?”

Offense and I clinked glasses lightly.

I had drinks with him before, back before my regression.

That time, he had told me why he had joined forces with Kaeld.

It had been a heavy topic even then, but tonight’s conversation would be on a entirely different level.

Clack.

Offense set his glass down and said,

“My role in this operation is quite significant.”

“Yeah. We can’t let Aktion catch on. For a job like that, no one is better suited than you.”

“Heh. But with my current ability, it’s impossible. I can’t grant your request.”

“I’m not forcing you.”

I picked at the side dish and continued.

“Honestly, I felt uneasy even asking. I know how important finding your parents is to you.”

“……”

“Even as leader, asking you to give that up didn’t sit right with me.”

Offense shook his head.

“With the Branch of Corruption, I can convert all my fame into power without paying a price.”

“Still…”

“What I’m worried about is what happens after.”

“Huh?”

“Its effect lasts only a month. If we can kill Velosian and Aktion within that time, fine… but if not?”

I fell silent.

I had assumed he was hesitating because he didn’t want to give up his wish.

Offense went on.

“When that time comes, I won’t be able to use my fame as power anymore. I will be useless to this party. That’s what I really hate.”

“You’re overthinking it.”

“It’s the truth. So… when that day comes, I intend to truly give up my wish.”

“……!”

“And you were wrong earlier. My wish isn’t to find my parents.”

I thought I had misheard him.

Offense downed his drink and kept talking.

“That’s probably my second wish, if anything.”

“What? Didn’t you join Kaeld in the first place to find them?”

“At that time, yes, it was the only wish I had. But after traveling with this party, I started thinking differently.”

He looked up at the ceiling.

“I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

“……”

“After things ended badly with Hyran’s daughter, I always worked alone. I figured the more I got close to people, the more it hurt when they betrayed me.”

“……”

“But this party is different. We grow stronger by caring for one another. Watching you all protect and cherish each other without hesitation… I envied that.”

I hadn’t realized he had been thinking that way.

I didn’t know what to say.

[Just listen.]

‘What?’

[Offense isn’t talking because he wants comfort. He just needs someone to hear him out.]

‘……’

[Take it as advice from your senior.]

I thanked Trail inwardly, then quietly stayed silent.

Offense’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol as he continued.

“At first, I planned to leave once our journey was over. No point in being in a party that has already fulfilled its goal, right?”

“……”

“But somewhere along the way, I got too used to this. The thought of going back to that empty solitude… it’s terrifying. That’s why I have got a new wish now.”

“I see.”

“But don’t worry. Like I said, once the Branch’s effect expires, I will resolve myself for real.”

He poured himself another drink, signaling the end of his confession.

‘Can I talk now, senior?’

[Yeah, go ahead.]

‘Got it.’

I spoke.

“When that time comes, commission me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Send me a request, to reclaim the wish the laws of the world took from you.”

“……”

“I have given up retirement, remember? But that doesn’t mean I intend to honor that decision quietly.”

Offense’s eyes widened.

Creaaak.

I leaned back in my chair.

“Impelium must have given something up too, to gain that ridiculous power. But did he look miserable to you at that banquet?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Exactly. Somehow, he found a way to reclaim his greatest desire he had lost. I’m certain of it.”

“……!”

“If Impelium could do it, why can’t I? So don’t worry, even if a month passes.”

“Mide…”

“Troublesome stuff like this is what heroes are for. Let me handle it.”

Shff.

Offense covered his face with one hand.

I made a bit of noise on purpose as I downed the rest of my drink.

Clack.

Then I set the cup down and said,

“Pour me another.”

“…You sure? You’re not great with alcohol.”

“Who is spreading such nonsense?”

“Heh. Fine. But just one more. I don’t want Neril chewing me out.”

Offense refilled my glass.

I raised it lightly, smiling.

“To you, not ending up alone.”

“To you, making it to retirement safely.”

We clinked glasses.

“Cheers.”

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