Lilly looks at the remaining members and lets out a deep sigh.

She had a bad feeling for a while now.

Her chest has been hurting since Igni and Kurara left together.

Lilly: Captain Lula.. Lura: Whats wrong, Lilly? Lilly: .......no, its nothing.

Im not feeling well, is what she wanted to say but couldnt.

So although she was the one who started the conversation, she fell silent.

Iris: Miss Lilly, is something the matter? Are you not feeling well? Lilly: No, Im fine. Its really nothing.

Lilly shakes her head in denial to Iris question.

Lilly: (Yes, its nothing. Nothing at all.)

Lilly was trying to convince herself that she was just feeling off.

Edward: Iris, why not you and Lilly go out into town together? You have plenty of time before Igni comes back this evening.

Just hearing the word, Igni made her heart flutter.

Iris: Huh? Im fine with that but what will you do?

Edward: Me? I dont have any business with the town. But Lilly looked like she wanted to go.

Lilly: NNo I didnt!

She outright denies Edwards words.

Lura: Why not go, Lilly? We dont have anything to do until Lady Kurara returns. Besides, this place is different from Alelimenia, so it will be a good learning experience to walk around a city different from ours.

Lilly: But Captain.. Lura: Go on and have fun.

Lilly nodded.

She didnt understand why, but the hope of going into town made the pain vanish.

Lilly: (Did I really want to go to town?)

Recently, she has been understanding herself less and less, and it left her feeling confused and frustrated.

Iris: Then Miss Lilly, you ready to go?

Lilly: YYes.

And with Iris tugging at her sleeves, they leave for town.

And after coming to town, her heart wouldnt stop beating quickly.

Iris: Wow look at all these people!

Lilly: Does the Kingdoms Capital have more or less people than here?

Iris: Um well, Im sure the Kingdoms Capital has more people, but theres not a whole lot of places where this many people gather!

In the Principalitys Market Place, many people are coming and going. It would be easy to pass by someone you know in this sea of people.

Iris: You think we can find Sir Igni?

Lilly: Hey, why are you looking for him?!

Iris looked around curiously, and Lilly felt a pang of annoyance. She tugs at Iris clothes. Iris is very capable overall but just on the subject of Igni alone, she becomes practically blinded by his presence.

Iris: Hehehe, Im kidding! Sir Igni wouldnt be close by in a place like..

The next moment.

<DON!!> (sfx impact)

Something crashed into the City Walls, and the impact echoed across the area.

Lilly: ..........what was that?

A bad feeling crept over Lilly as she glanced at Iris. Iris was also looking back at Lilly.

Iris: We need to go. With those words, they sprang into action and located the source of the sound.

With just four people left on Main Street, Lilly saw Igni talking in the distance. A deep relief crossed her mind as soon as she caught sight of him.

Lilly: (Good. Hes okay.)

But she tilted her head in confusion at the thought.

Lilly: (.........Im glad hes okay? But Igni is stronger than I am.)

Lilly: (Next to Igni is Lady Kurara.)

Lilly saw that Kurara had her sword drawn and was talking to 2 others.

Lilly: (Wait...why.why am I not relieved to see her?)

She places a hand on her chest. Nothings changed.

Lilly: (Why did it change with Igni, but not with Lady Kurara..?)

And in the next moment, after an intense collision between Kurara and someone elses Spell..Lilly saw a girl drop into the ground.

Iris: ........Alicia?

Iris who was standing next to Lilly looked up into the sky and mumbled something quietly.

Iris: Why.is she here?

The next moment, the wind carried Ignis voice.

Igni: Ill go after her! Alicia, follow me!

Alicia: Understood!

Lilly saw that just with those few words, the two understood each other completely, and this time, an excruciating pain gripped her heart.

Lilly: (.......what is this..)

.........but there was no one here to answer her question.

<<<<>>>>

Igni used the [Equip Flame Engine] {Accel Boot} and looked down from the sky, and from there, he saw that someone was taking Rose away underground like a mole.

Alicia: Igni, listen carefully. The [Principality] sold intel about the [Saint]s location to many countries. So there are many countries right now trying to capture the [Saint] for themselves.

Igni: ........so the Ruler Marionette is..

Alicia: A mercenary of the Southern Union! Hes weaker than me in a direct fight, but hes annoyingly clever!

Igni: .........the [Southern Union]. Its that place where slavery is still legal, right?

Alicia: Yes! Thats why we have to stop them here, or the [Saint] will be drugged to the bones and used as a puppet!

Igni: Dammit! Then well just have to find her!

Igni holds back his panicking brain, and traces the trail in the earth, but the trail disappears at a certain point.

Igni: .........did he dig to the depths from here?

Alicia: He got us.! It might have been a diversion this whole time.!

Yoori: LLeave it to me!

Yoori gets off the broom from behind Alicia and places a hand where the trail ended.

Yoori: [Those who swarm and crawl in the darkness...come out]

With Yooris incantation, a ball of darkness poofs out before him.

The strange ball of darkness wriggles and squirms as Igni and Alicias gaze falls upon it.

Igni: (.......what is this?)

Yoori: {Follow the magic residue}

The ball of darkness jiggles and shakes and suddenly screams, Peep! like a bird and begins to go in a different direction from what Ignis group was following previously.

Yoori: This way!

Igni: Youre a life-saver, Yoori!!

Alicia: Well fly there!!

Igni is reminded that Yoori is a Support Role Wizard.

He cant Heal like Edward, but his expertise falls in a Spy-like role such as reconnaissance, tracking, and disarming traps which are his specialties.

Igni: [Acceleration] {Burst}!

Igni explodes a [Fireball] beneath his feet and instantly accelerates his body into motion!

Igni chases down the dark mass created by Yoori!!

A few kilometers outside of town. There, the Dark Mass was hovering over the ground.

Yoori: Igni, there! Below it is the [Spell Workshop]! The [Saint] is held here!!

Igni: How deep?!

Yoori: Wait, give me some time. .okay, around 15 meters (49 ft)!

Igni: [Equip Flame] {Ignite} : [Molecular Size] {Minima}!

Behind Igni, he loads the Magic Power Accelerator, and a ring of light shines behind him. The molecular size [Fireball] is cast behind him as it begins its acceleration!

Igni: [Launch] {Fire}!!

<DOOOOOOOOOOOGHHH!!!!> (sfx ground exploding)

The [Fireball] Igni launches unearths the ground covering over the [Spell Workshop] and completely uncovers the workshop!

Igni: Im taking her back! [Equip Flame] {Ignite}!

Igni places a hand on the wall of the [Spell Workshop] and as he creates a [Fireball], he charges it with magic!

Igni: [Explode] {Fire}!!

And he sends the explosion in a single, unified direction!!

<DON!!!>

The wall crumbles with the explosive impact!

From there, Igni and his group jump inside the facility.

Igni: [Equip Flame] {Ignite}!

Ready to fight, Igni immediately prepares a [Fireball].

What Igni saw was Rose who was being surrounded and captured by Golems.

Rose: Igni! You came!!

And there was a middle-aged man with a fatigued expression with a cigarette in his mouth.

.......you already found this place? Arent you a little too fast??

His eyes widened just slightly with his surprise.

Alicia: Igni! Thats him, the [Marionette]!

Igni: [Launch] {Fire}!!

WHAAAAT?! HEY.?!?!

The [Marionette] hurriedly dodges. But at the same time, the Golems standing next to him shield him from Ignis Spell and protect him.

Geesh. You fired that without any warning. Youll scare the s*** out of old farts like me.

The [Marionette] spits out his cigarette and exhales a heavy sigh.

I cant believe you arrived here but.....I welcome you. You are..oh, I recognize the boy. Youre Igni, right?

Igni: .......how do you know my name?

Huh? Ohhh...yeah, Miss [Saint] here wouldnt stop talking about you.

Igni: Im honored.

The girl is..oh, I remember you. Youre the Aerial Weapon of the Empire, right? Sheesh. I just wanted to capture the [Saint] and get out of here but.you guys wont let me, huh

The [Marionette] claps his hands and <countless Golems rose from the ground>.

Well, I welcome you, Igni and Alicia. This is my castle. I only have Golems here, but..enjoy yourselves.

Alicia: IIgni! These Golems have great resistance to Spells!!

Igni: (So thats why Rose remains captured then.)

Igni: Rose, its going to be okay.

Igni laughs and smiles Rose to reassure her.

Igni: Havent I told you before? I prefer catching my girl.

Rose: ........huh?

Igni: Im going to definitely take you back myself.

Rose: Igni...............I love you

Roses face reddens with Ignis words.

Igni: [Equip Flame] {Ignite} : {Scatter Shot}!!

Igni surrounds himself with [Fireball] and applies just enough Magic Power to not place Rose in the radius of the blast and

Igni: [Launch] {Fire}!!!

<ZUDODODODODO!!> (sfx rapid impact)

The sound of countless Golems getting blown away echo throughout the [Workshop]!

............really?

The [Marionette]s jaws drop open with his voice.

Igni: Im going to take back Rose with me.

Igni drops the statement as a matter of fact.

The five [Fireball]s surrounding him begin to shine into a bright white.

All of them are directly aiming at the [Marionette].

Ohhhh.uhhhh.

The [Marionette] looks at Igni and Rose and exhales another exasperated sigh.

One of the Golems places a hand on the [Marionette]s shoulder as if to comfort him.

..........must be so nice..to be so young.

Wistful sorrow seemed to envelope his body.