“Mmh.”

“And… Boss’s name?”

“Boss? You want to learn the boss’s name too?”

“Yes.”

Ekision, who had been looking at Rodi fondly, suddenly had a sparkle in his eyes.

Like someone who discovered something interesting.

“Rookie, give me the pen.”

Ekision straightened his posture and snatched the pen.

Then he started writing different letters diligently, very neatly.

“You said Brodi, right? Here, this is Brodi.”

“Bro…di.”

“That’s right, well done. Then this is Eclise Cheiles.”

“…Hey.”

Horas, who was watching from the side, suddenly nudged Ekision.

Ekision smiled brightly.

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

“See, you write it like this. Is it difficult?”

“No, I can do it!”

Rodi took the pen back from Ekision and started drawing letters diligently to receive praise from Eclise.

Then she looked up.

“How do you write Boss?”

“Ah, that? It’s easy. Want to learn other things too?”

“Yes.”

“Good. This is ‘boss.’ Isn’t this cooler?”

Ekision, chuckling to himself, held the pen and kindly taught Rodi again.

Beside them, Horas shook his head, but soon seemed to give up and lay comfortably on the sofa with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

Ekision was starting to enjoy teaching more and more.

“Rookie.”

“Yes?”

“But can you really use X-ray vision? Like seeing hidden things inside?”

“Yes.”

Ekision’s eyes sparkled once again.

He had heard about Rodi’s ability from Gemvil but hadn’t seen it himself, so he was curious.

Today there was no work, and they needed to continue her education, so it was perfect timing to check.

Ekision put his left hand inside his uniform and asked Rodi.

“Then can you tell me what I’m doing with this hand?”

Rodi’s eyes briefly touched Ekision’s clothes.

“A fist.”

“Hooh, then what about this? How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Two.”

“And now?”

“Five.”

“How about this time?”

“Still five.”

Then Horas, who was nearby, also got curious and asked various things.

Like Ekision, he hid his hands behind his back and asked

“Wow, you really can see. Then can you see that box? What’s inside it?”

Rodi slightly furrowed her brow and let out a deep sigh.

She wanted to learn letters, but Ekision and Horas kept asking about other things instead of teaching the letters they promised.

“Please stop bothering her and continue with the education.”

Padrid scolded while continuing to sign documents busily.

He had let them be since they were playing well together, but it seemed that wouldn’t do.

“No, this is also part of education. Come on, tell us, is that kind of thing difficult?”

“There’s a bundle of keys and two gem-like stones inside.”

At those words, Ekision looked at Padrid.

Whether by coincidence, Padrid had also raised his head and was looking at Ekision.

His face showed surprise, making Ekision’s eyes narrow.

“Padrid, can I check that?”

“Go ahead.”

Ekision immediately stood up and took out a wooden drawer placed on top of the bookshelf.

The exterior was lined with high-quality leather, making it look like a leather box.

Before opening it, Ekision unconsciously licked his lips.

And the moment he opened it.

“…Oh.”

Ekision’s eyes widened.

“It’s true. A bundle of keys and gems. No, not gems – magic stones. These are magic stones, right?”

“Yes.”

“Rookie, have you seen magic stones before?”

“What kind of gems are magic stones?”

“Huh? You don’t know, it’s nothing special. They’re just the same.”

Though they looked and sparkled like gems, magic stones contained magic inside, making them appear different as if they had cores of different colors.

But Rodi wouldn’t know that. She couldn’t even distinguish between magic stones and gems.

“Haha.”

Ekision burst out laughing.

It was amazing, almost unbelievable even after checking directly.

“If you wanted to learn letters, you could have learned by peeking like this. With such a good ability.”

Rodi had thought about that too.

“Looking too much makes me hungry.”

“Oh, there’s that problem. I didn’t know. You shouldn’t be hungry when you’re growing.”

As Ekision was returning to the sofa, Rodi suddenly stood up.

“Rookie, why? Did you finish?”

“I’m hungry.”

“Hmm? It’s not time yet… Ah, is it because I asked too many questions? Do you know where the dining hall is?”

“Yes, I remembered from yesterday. Boss said I could eat anytime.”

She had also memorized the way carefully when Bender took her to the dining hall this morning.

“Well, that’s true. Want me to take you?”

Rodi shook her head.

“I can go alone. Can I come back after eating and learn more of this?”

“Of course. Are there more letters you want to learn?”

Ekision leaned back on the sofa, casually placing his arm on the armrest.

“Um…. Ekision.”

“Huh?”

Ekision was visibly surprised, thinking she was calling him.

“And Padrid and Jin and Bender too. Horas and Gemvil too. I want to learn all the names.”

That’s why she had been working hard to memorize the names they told her yesterday and today.

She was going to keep enduring here, and then these people would all become her colleagues.

“Oh, oh, sure. Take your time eating.”

“Okay.”

Ekision suddenly made a dazed expression while gesturing toward the door for her to go.

Rodi nodded and left without hesitation, leaving the pen behind as she zipped out of the room.

Ekision stared blankly at the closed door, impressed by her bold movement.

“Padrid.”

“Yes?”

“…Should I get married soon and have a daughter?”

It was a serious question.

3. Full-scale! Cheiles Exploration

Rodi headed straight to the dining hall.

Even if she got confused about where her room was, she knew exactly how to get to the dining hall.

After all, they said she could eat as much as she wanted whenever she wanted.

Though hungry, Rodi walked while humming, her steps getting lighter.

Just as she was about to turn the corner right in front of the dining hall, someone in bright red clothes suddenly burst out of the nearest room.

Bang!

“Ah!”

Knocked off balance by someone rushing out, Rodi was sent tumbling backwards through the air.

While grimacing in pain and rubbing her bottom, she heard an irritated voice from above.

“Hah, why is there a kid here? Can’t you watch where you’re going?”

Then without apologizing, they just dusted off their clothes and stormed off.

As if they were hurriedly running away somewhere.

“Ugh, what’s their problem.”

As she was belatedly dusting herself off and trying to get up, she heard a voice calling “Rodi” from behind.

“Lexiard?”

Rodi quickly turned her head back while in the middle of getting up.

“What are you doing? Are you hurt somewhere again?”

She met Lexiard again, whom she had regretfully parted with yesterday.

Lexiard was wearing nice clothes like yesterday.

He said he was only three years older than Rodi, but to her eyes, he looked much more mature.

Unlike her, he always spoke calmly and was much more dignified.

He also helped her well, and yesterday when she asked many things, he seemed to know everything.

Rodi glanced at her own clothes.

Yesterday she had worn oversized clothes with rolled-up sleeves and pants, but today she was well-dressed like Lexiard.

They said there should be more of the same uniforms that the guild members wore yesterday.

As Rodi nodded, black smoke surrounded her and lifted her body up.

It was amazing when she first saw it, and it was still amazing seeing it again.

It seemed to move like Lexiard’s extra hand even without him speaking.

“I bumped into someone and fell.”

Rodi dusted off her clothes. She didn’t want to dirty her new clothes. Though the carpet was clean.

When Lexiard approached and held out both hands, Rodi, who was half-leaning on the black smoke, unconsciously reached out her hands too.

“With whom?”

“Some… older sister.”

“Older sister?”

“Yes, she was wearing red clothes….”

When she glanced in the direction where the woman had disappeared, Lexiard’s gaze also turned that way.

Unlike his eyes when looking at Rodi, they suddenly turned cold.

“Really? I wonder who could have been so impolite.”

“….”

“Does it hurt?”

“It’s fine now.”

“Where were you going? I’ll take you there.”

“I was going to the dining hall.”

“Let’s go.”

Since he had taken her hand earlier, Rodi’s hand remained held by Lexiard.

Rodi, who had been following along, looked up at Lexiard.

“Lexiard.”

After glancing around briefly, Rodi called his name and pulled on his hand.

“Yes?”

“Why did you leave early yesterday?”

Lexiard stopped walking. He made a short “Ah” sound and then looked at Rodi intently.

“Were you disappointed?”