Lura: Lets make camp around here. Well need to let the horses rest.

As evening approaches, Lura stopped the carriage.

Iris: Are we not going into town, Miss Lura?

Lura: I understand what youre saying, Iris. Youre wondering why were not stopping at an Inn, right?

Iris: Yes. Lura: Yeah, its definitely safer if you spend your nights at an inn rather than outside. Youll be able to recover from your fatigue better too. But we have our reasons why were not doing that. Can you guess why, Edward?

Edward: Because were transporting a weapon.

Lura: Yes! Thats right! So thats why an Inn wouldnt necessarily be safer. What if someone steals the carriage? What if someone finds out whats inside? With that in mind, thats why itll be better if we can always be next to the carriage to ensure its safety.

Iris: I see.!

With Luras clear explanation, Iris nods her head up and down.

Igni: Then lets go ahead and determine the guard rotation for tonight.

Lilly: I prefer to be with Captain Lura!!

And immediately, Lilly, who hasnt spoken a word up until now, raises her hand.

Igni: (..wow, she must REALLY not like humans.)

Lura: No Lilly. Like I said before, we have to start getting along better for the sake of our mission. Oh! Then lets pair you and Igni together!

Lilly: Wai?! Captain Lura?!?!

Lura: Is that alright, Igni?

Igni: Yes, thats fine with me.

Igni smiles.

This man...hell smile as long as its a girl. Hes being Igni as usual.

Lura: Then Edward and I will handle the first shift, and Iris, you can have a break from guard duty tonight. Alright, its settled!

Lilly: Noooooooooo!! I dont want to!! Why do I have to be with a human?!?!

Lura: Igni is a [Ultimate Specialized Spellcaster Spell One] though.

Igni: Yeah, Im a [Ultimate Specialized Spellcaster Spell One].

Igni parrots Luras words and a wide smile spreads across his face.

Lilly: So what if youre a [Ultimate Specialized Spellcaster Spell One]?!?! Youre just a good-for-nothing who can only use a single Spell!!

Igni: Oof

Igni took one straight to the heart and fell.

Lura: Lilly, it also doesnt really matter then if you can use a lot of different kinds of Spells then, right?

Lilly: .............but Captain..

Lura: This is a direct command from your Captain. Alright! Lets collect firewood! Its almost nightfall! Pick up the ones that are dried out on the ground, okay? I wont forgive you if you break branches off trees!!

And with an unusually strict glare from Captain Lura, Igni and his group began collecting firewood.

The firewood crackles inside the campfire.

Edward: Igni, its time for the shift-change.

Igni: Hm..? Oh, its you, Edward.

Edward wakes Igni from his sleep, and Igni sits up.

Igni: Did anything happen, Edward? Edward: 2 Goblins appeared. Thats all.

Edward yawns and lays down to sleep. Igni rotates and swings his arm and shoulder around in circles as he wakes up and sits besides the campfire.

Igni: ........good morning, Miss Lilly.

Lilly: HMPH!!

Lilly comes over while Igni is sitting by the fire.

He tries to greet her kindly, but Lilly looks away.

Igni lets out a deep sigh and looks at the campfire.

Igni: (........this brings back some memories)

<<<<>>>>

[SLAP!!!]

[OW!! WHAT?! I DIDNT EVEN SAY ANYTHING!!]

[Igni, I bet you just thought, man, I want to be so popular that I dont even have to do anything and women would just start swarming around me.]

[Ium...yeah, I did think that but...how did you know?!?!]

[Your face said it all.]

[.....really?]

Igni touches his face.

[Oye, Igni. If you were at my level, then yes, that may be possible, but for you, its an impossibility!!]

[Iimpossible..?!]

Igni feels his confidence snap in half, but holds the two pieces barely together as he awaits his grandfathers next words.

[YES..! AND THATS BECAUSE! <NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT YOU>!!]

[No one knows about me..?! But what do you mean by that..?!]

[A man whos not well-known..cannot be popular.!!]

[Nno..! That cant be!! You said in your Ultimate Secret to Popularity Rules that Women love mysterious men!!]

[Think about it from their perspective.! Youre walking down a street inside a city and pass by a woman..! Would they immediately fall in love with you.??]

[Nno, that wont happen..]

[Yes, being mysterious is <only to get your foot in the door>......!!]

[.........?! Ththe door?!]

[And once you catch their attention, you show them your charm and THATS when you start becoming popular..!!]

[......................!!!!!!!!]

[OYE, IGNI!! LISTEN WELL!! Ultimate Secret to Popularity Number 4Women love mysterious men!!]

[.......women.love.mysterious men!]

[But from that point, men with charm will be even more popular.!!!!]

[...................?!?!]

[You cannot fall in love with a man you do not know.!! But you can still catch their attention even if they do not know you!!]

[WHWHAT FLAWLESS LOGIC.!!]

[YOU ENTICE THEM WITH CURIOSITY AND THEN IF YOU CAN CHARM THEM, YOULL BE POPULAR!! THAT IS THE <ULTIMATE SECRET>!!]

[YYOURE AMAZING, GRANDPAAAAAA!!!!]

And all that was left was Lucas with an overly gloating, self-satisfied smile stretched across his face.

<<<<>>>>

Igni: (..I still have a long way to go.)

Igni lets out a sigh and a small chuckle to himself.

Yes, Igni has not spoken anything with Lilly!

From Lillys perspective, Igni is just another unknown human being!!

This is the opposite of popularity..!

He is just another face in the crowd!!

In order to become popular, he must <let himself be better known>.......!! In short, talk about himself!!

But the problem is timing..!!

Its now!!

THE TIME IS NOW.!!

Igni: Miss Lilly?

Lillsy: ..............hmph.

Lilly turns to look the other way.

Igni: ...........?! LILLY!!

Igni pushes Lilly to the side.

The next moment, a giant monstrous bird swooped by!!

Lilly: Whwhat was that for..!

In the sky, the Monster Bird starts to turn around.

Igni: Its an Abductor Owl!!

Lilly: Wh........?!

An Abductor Owl is a 2 meter (6 5) monster.

They love human children, and they abduct children from towns and feed on them.

Lilly: Whwhy is it coming after me?!

Igni: They were planning to eat you.

Lilly: Aare you kidding me?!

Igni: Its true! Ive been kidnapped once before!!

But in the [Demon Kings Realm], the Abductor Owls were actually 3 times this size but

Igni: [EQUIP FLAME] {IGNITION} : [SNIPER MODE] {SNIPE}!!

Igni has several {FIREBALL}s created around him, and they begin to spin and rotate.

The Abductor Owl finishes turning around and comes down for Lilly once more.

Igni: [LAUNCH] {FIRE}!!

DON!! (*sfx impact)

The owl had its head pierced and fell to the ground.

Igni: Youre okay now.

Lilly: .....................

Lilly looked at Igni, and then the Abductor Owls remains, and then Igni once more.

Lilly: .................ththank you

Igni: Youre welcome.

Igni smiles at Lilly.

Ignis mood is up and up after being able to protect a girl.

Lilly: ........hhey

Igni: Hm?

Lilly: Do you mind if I sit over there?

Lilly was sitting across from Igni and points at a spot closer to Igni.

Lilly: DDont get me wrong! Its not that I thought that youll protect me if Im sitting next to you, but I just thought itll be safer, okay?!

Igni: ..................thats fine.

Igni didnt know how to respond and patted the seat next to him.

Igni: (........yup, shes a tsundere.)

Ignis joy peaked at this moment.