“Indeed. Looking only at familiar situations and excluding other possibilities could lead to misjudgment. After all, even those conditions for rifts disappearing were determined by us, weren’t they?”

Mishuan pondered their words carefully before suddenly raising his voice.

“…Wait. Come to think of it, hasn’t something like this happened before? When Doctor Aristena encountered a monster that appeared alone without any warning at the Magic Department…”

Mishuan, who had been voicing out his sudden realization, stopped mid-sentence as he realized his mistake. Kalaian narrowed his eyes and glared at him.

And sure enough, Aris looked at him with a questioning expression.

“How do you know about that…? My presence there should have been kept secret…”

“Ah, that’s…”

Mishuan wore an uncharacteristically bewildered expression, while Aris tilted her head in suspicion. Although the incident had been reported to the Knights Order as a precautionary measure…

Andre had taken full responsibility for it, concealing the fact that Aris and Belle were present. They couldn’t predict what kind of damage or criticism might emerge.

So the detailed circumstances of that incident were known only to the Minister of Magic and some high-ranking officials in the Magic Department. Of course, her sponsor, whom Aris had personally informed, couldn’t be left out.

Mishuan put on an extremely awkward smile and said with forced lightness,

“Haha… His Highness is acquainted with the Minister of Magic, you know? He learned about it to protect potential victims. And I came to know about it when I asked His Highness about points to be mindful of while guarding you this time.”

“…Is that so?”

Aris looked at Mishuan and Kalaian with meaningful eyes. Since there wasn’t really any problem with that information being known, Aris withdrew her interest there.

It was already from five years ago, and he had learned about it for the sake of guarding her.

Suddenly, Mishuan bowed deeply toward Aris.

“In that regard, I must apologize. Even though I was entrusted with your protection, and knowing you might have trauma from experiencing such an incident, I neglected my duty. I’m sorry.”

Aris waved her hands in surprise at his apology.

“No, Sir Mishuan…! You were separated from me because I gave you permission to look for a camping spot. Rather, at that time, you were going out to do the difficult work. We can’t blame anyone.”

“Thank you, Doctor… They say beautiful people have kind hearts too, and you’re truly generous.”

“B-Beautiful…?”

Mishuan’s eyes sparkled, seemingly sincerely moved. Aris fidgeted with her hands in embarrassment.

He was grinning at Aris, but when his eyes met Kalaian’s across from him, his expression stiffened. Eventually, Mishuan reverently lowered his gaze with his hands on his knees as if he had committed a grave crime.

Aris thought that even someone like Sir Mishuan couldn’t help but freeze up in front of that person.

Kalaian, who had been quiet all along, suddenly spoke.

“You said the monster came from underground, so the first place we should investigate is beneath where the rift was.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I think so too. So tomorrow when we climb the mountain again…”

“…Tomorrow? I won’t allow it.”

“What?”

Kalaian looked at Aris with stern eyes. His disapproval was evident.

“Miss Aristena, have you forgotten that you’re injured? No matter how much treatment you’ve received, you can’t heal perfectly in just one session. Shouldn’t we observe your progress for a while?”

“But we don’t know how long the future investigation will take… we need to move quickly as soon as possible…”

Uncomfortable with his unexpected response, Aris glanced up at Kalaian as she spoke. Meeting her gaze, he made a slightly troubled face. There was no sense of reproach in it.

“…It seems my saying I would join has unintentionally caused great pressure. I’m sure I told you earlier not to worry about it.”

Aris remained silent and responded only in her mind to his words.

‘No matter what you say, how could I not worry about my superior….’

Kalaian leaned back against the sofa and spoke firmly as if there was no room for compromise.

“You need to rest for at least three days.”

“What? Three whole days? But– but I’m fine now…!”

“That’s because I cast pain-relieving magic on you, yesterday.”

His words made Aris’s face flush slightly as she opened and closed her mouth. Though it was nothing special, remembering the warmth of his hands suddenly made her lose her words.

Watching the two of them, Mishuan clapped his hands once perfunctorily and summarized.

“Then, shall we move in three days? Doctor, you need to take care of your health too. Let’s plan to climb the mountain again in three days and investigate mainly underground where the rift was.”

The meeting ended with Mishuan’s declaration. Aris was quite bewildered by how abruptly it seemed to reach a conclusion.

“Shouldn’t we prepare more specifically?”

“Isn’t it already specific enough?”

Mishuan showed a puzzled expression, wondering what more detailed preparation was needed here. As the situation of mutual misunderstanding continued, Mishuan smoothly excused himself saying he would see them later.

‘The plan is too rough…. Will it be alright….’

Aris looked at the door Mishuan had left through, then shifted her gaze to Kalaian, who was still sitting and holding his tea. He too stood up, having apparently finished his tea as he set down his cup.

“You should rest now. It would be best to minimize movement for today, and gradually increase activity from tomorrow. If you feel the pain relief wearing off, call me anytime.”

Then he too left without looking back. In the end, only Aris was left alone in the bedroom.

‘…Do they really think this plan is specific enough?’

Aris was somewhat appalled. Finally, she lay in bed alone thinking about when they would climb the mountain, what roles each would take, and when they should come down the mountain.

Then, while planning, she suddenly recalled yesterday’s events.

About Kalaian saving her, and how he, who never lost his composure even in front of monsters, had acted more frightened than she was…

‘He seemed different from the person I knew….’

In Aris’s memories, he was always a hero of the battlefield who never showed weakness.

‘Was he not feeling well yesterday?’

Was that why he showed such behavior?

Aris carefully recalled and compared his appearance from her last life with what she saw yesterday. No matter how she thought about it, they were different.

His steadfast appearance even in front of countless monsters and that trembling fear yesterday…

‘…He must have had his reasons.’

Aris deliberately cut off her deepening thoughts about him. In fact, there was something else that bothered her more.

‘I heard the voice again yesterday.’

It was after five years, and this was the third time. At the racecourse, at the hall, and now here in the Altre Mountains…

‘What could that voice be?’

An androgynous voice whose gender couldn’t be determined, with a subtle timbre whose pitch couldn’t be felt. That voice seemed to have a strange, irresistible power.

So when she heard that voice, her thoughts would stop and she would unconsciously follow what it commanded. Just when and why did that voice come?

Aris was deep in thought when she suddenly sat up in bed.

“There’s a common point…!”

Whether deep or shallow, weren’t all three times related to monsters?

However, even after realizing this, Aris’s questions fell deeper into a maze. Why on earth did she hear such a voice?

‘It would be nice if I could communicate with that voice, but it always only lasted a moment…’

But thinking about it carefully, Aris had never tried speaking back to that voice when it came.

Then perhaps, if she spoke to it, would she receive a response?

Lost in contemplation, she lay back down on the bed with determined, shining eyes. Then, pulling up the cozy blanket, she resolved,

‘Next time the voice comes, I’ll try speaking to it.’

To ask who they are.

* * *

Aris, who had been lying in bed all day as advised to rest, went out for a walk around late lunch. She felt she needed to move her body somewhat.

Fortunately, her fatigue had completely disappeared, thanks to getting proper rest. If she were to go out investigating again, her physical condition and mindset would be very good.

As Aris was about to walk along the short hiking trail open near the inn, she spotted a familiar back.

“Sir Mishuan?”

Mishuan turned at Aris’s call. Instead of his usual crisp uniform worn during investigations, he was dressed in quite comfortable casual clothes. Though he looked as if he had thrown on whatever clothes were lying around, any clothing under his face became as holy as what angels from heaven would wear.

So Aris couldn’t help but let out a short gasp of admiration. She could understand why he received strings of love letters.

“Doctor? Why are you out when you’re not well?”

“You’re treating me too much like a patient. I received treatment, and there’s no problem with moving around.”

Aris spoke curtly with a slight pout. Both Kalaian and Mishuan were treating her too much like an invalid.

She lifted her head haughtily and walked past Mishuan.

“I came out for a walk.”

“Ah, rehabilitation is important too. I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re wise indeed. I was just wondering if I should carry you back to your room like a princess.”

Mishuan grinned as he followed behind Aris.

“Are you coming along?”

“It’s my duty to guard you, Doctor.”