“Hey Mister, you got up early, huh.”

Sicia, who was sitting at the table, greeted me.

The first floor was cold and cheerless.

“You got up early too.”

I said that and sat at the table.

I was a bit worried that Sicia would be mad at what happened last night, but fortunately, she wasn’t.

“The other teams went out early this morning. The research area is far from here, so if they want to arrive there before it gets dark, they have to depart early.”

Sicia added that she would explain that in detail later.

I knew other teams left early.

Earlier in the morning, I heard someone walking around in a mess and packing bags. I thought something happened, so I took a glance.

The summoned contractors in other teams explained why they departed early roughly.

I told Sicia this.

“Really? Could you still sleep while hearing they were going to depart in the early morning?”

I couldn’t.

Although I have insomnia and I can’t sleep in the stage, but the bed here is far too uncomfortable.

Even lying quietly in bed, resting with closed eyes was impossible.

[The God of Adventure is looking at you.]

[The God of Light is looking at you.]

I didn’t know if these two Gods who annoyed me were congenial with each other, but they were both were having fun all night.

I sighed.

[The God of Adventure is urging you.]

[The God of Light is urging you!]

The hasty promise I made last night in order to solve the annoying message was the cause of the trouble.

The Gods kept pestering me so I gave in and made one promise with them. However, those gods learned that bothering me was a great way to force me to promise anything, so they did.

I endured and endured, and finally, they no longer asked for more promises, but now it seemed that I had to fulfill my promises.

“Sicia.”

“What?”

Although I didn’t want to say this, since it was necessary to say it, it was better to say it earlier.

I said to Sicia in a mood that I was forced to do the group presentation.

“I have to tell you something.”

“Well, what’s that.”

“I said that I contracted with the God of Slow, but actually I contracted with the God of Adventure and the God of Light. And I respect and love these two Gods. The God of Light is shining and the God of Adventure is… is… is kind.”

I finished talking as quickly as rap.

Sicia seemed to be asking what I was talking about and looked at me blankly due to my words.

[The God of Light is delighted!]

[The God of Adventure is relieved.]

It was exhausting to look at the messages that flashed like a knife.

They were actually Gods who enjoyed making others lie.

In the middle that talk, I didn’t immediately think of the words of praise for the God of Adventure. I felt a little overwhelmed.

[The God of Slow is a little unhappy.]

I don’t know who should I listen to.

I just want some unity in their opinions.

Sicia said with a surprised look.

“I thought we couldn’t sign a contract with a few gods. I heard that because of some proposal, it is impossible to sign multiple contracts.”

“Hah… Really?”

… She said it was impossible.

How could I have known?

Sicia was now looking at me doubtfully due to that lie.

[The God of Adventure feels funny.]

[The God of Light feels funny.]

These damn Gods.

I didn’t know if it was because I didn’t answer Sicia and dealt with it perfunctorily, the seat was shrouded in awkward silence.

Sicia played with the cup in her hands and awkwardly asked me.

“Well, maybe I misremembered.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Ah, is this a joke that I don’t know? Will you suddenly dance next?”

“No, please, just let it go.”

But Sicia didn’t do what I wanted. She questioned me for a long time and I had to rack my brain to muddle through.

During this, the messages that said that the God of Adventure and the God of Light felt funny appeared several times.

* * *

Breakfast was a whole rabbit that was steamed in the big petals.

Although I didn’t know when the meal was made, it was still warm, so it was Okay to eat it.

The taste and texture of the dish were like stewing chicken.

When I was licking rabbit meat, I was worried that KiriKiri might hate this behavior, but since it was so delicious, I quickly forgot about it.

“Lady Yata hasn’t arrived.”

Sicia said after wiping the meat off her mouth with her sleeve.

Yata was the other team member Sicia spoke of yesterday.

“Do we have we to pull her down?”

“When should we set off?”

“We still have a lot of time. It is fine to leave tomorrow.”

I asked Sicia if this had any effects on the schedule, why didn’t we just let her have a good rest?

Sleep is a blessing.

I didn’t know if it was because my insomnia was serious, I would feel bad if I disturbed people who were asleep.

“Can you tell me about her?”

Sicia nodded.

“Her name is Yata, like what I said yesterday. She is a magician, same as me, but we didn’t come from the same place.”

The first name was Yata, and I was curious about her last name.

“What is her last name?”

“The last name? She doesn’t have a last name. She was a slave.”

Her origin was quite intricate.

“This is not unusual. The magician from the magic tower slave is not uncommon.”

“Yes?”

“The manpower in the magic tower is never enough. Among the constantly accumulating number of slaves, there were some talented slaves that appeared by chance and became magicians.”

This is special enough.

Sicia said that she didn’t know any more details.

I also didn’t want to invade other people’s personal stories.

But if she was chosen as a magician from the slave, then she must be talented.

“How can someone who became a summoned contractor is not talented. Everyone is like that.”

This is true.

Sicia sitting in front of me is also a very talented magician.

I am looking forward to using this opportunity to learn some magic from both of them.

* * *

I had another conversation with Sicia after breakfast, but the magician who named Yata still hasn’t arrived.

Sicia reached the limit of her patience. She glanced up at the second floor from time to time and finally got up from her seat.

With the clacking sound of footsteps, Sicia went up to the second floor.

I suppressed the urge to peer on the second floor with magic and focused my ears to the sounds from the second floor.

I heard the door being suddenly opened and then some noises.

Judging by the sound I heard and the clamor after the door opened, Yata may not be sleeping in bed.

It appears that she was just in the room.

After that, Sicia hauled somebody out by the collar.

The female magician who seemed to be Yata was flailing her limbs in an attempt to break out from Sicia’s grasp, but Sicia firmly dragged her down.

From her appearance, she was a head shorter than Sicia, and only half of my height.

It seemed that she couldn’t withstand Sicia. She struggled but was inevitably dragged to the table on the first floor.

The woman, who was dragged like a disobedient cow, hid behind Sicia as soon as she saw me.

“I beg your pardon. She is shy with strangers.”

[To this extent, she’s not shy with strangers. She is just afraid of you.]

Whispered Ahbooboo, who has been silent.

However, why is she afraid of me?

Have I done something?

“Hey, follow me.”

“Huh?”

“Hello.”

Sicia suddenly greeted me with hello.

A voice came from behind Sicia after a pause.

Her voice was as small as her body.

“Hello.”

Sicia was getting Yata to greet me.

Sicia spoke first.

“My name.”

“My name.”

Yata repeated Sicia’s words.

It seemed harder than asking the children in the kindergarten to introduce themselves.

“My name is Yata.”

“…….”

Yata was quiet, so Sicia lost her patience because of Yata’s silence.

“Follow me. I am Yata.”

“I am Yata.”

Watching this ridiculous situation, I couldn’t utter a word.

I was speechless for a moment, so Sicia opened her mouth and whispered to me. “It’s your turn to introduce yourself.”

“… Nice to meet you, you can call me Hao.”

I greeted her in a hurry, but I didn’t hear the answer.

She didn’t say a word.

The quiet holy sword said.

[She resembles Miss Seregia.]

Indeed.

Seregia just says what she needs to say and closes her mouth for the rest of the conversation.

One difference was that Seregia occasionally convey something what she wanted what to say, but Yata only spoke because Sicia urged her.

Once again, Sicia spoke first.

“Come on, once again. I am also.”

“I am also.”

“Glad to see you.”

“Glad to……”

Looking at Sicia and Yata made me feel uncomfortable..

At this stage, I don’t think we should converse like this everytime.

Yata, who hid behind Sicia resolutely and never spoke unless Sicia led her, was stubborn. Sicia, who persisted to finish the greeting, was also stubborn.

“I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“… Yeah, well, me too.”

Ending this long greeting, I gently asked Sicia.

“Is she Okay? She seems to be awkward with strangers.”

I was very skeptical about whether she could perform her tasks well.

“It doesn’t matter, you can trust her, everyone has their own abilities.”

I nodded as a response to Sicia’s assurance.

Yata only greeted me by following Sicia’s instructions. Although she didn’t want to, she listened to Sicia’s words.

If Sicia could handle her, I had nothing to say.

After the greeting that was awkward and uncomfortable, Sicia took out a large map from her backpack and unfolded it on the table.

Even though Sicia kept walking around, Yata attached to Sicia like a tortoise shell, which made Sicia uncomfortable.

Sicia, who often gets annoyed quickly, acted unexpectedly this time. She didn’t drive away the annoying Yata or become enraged..

After finishing the setting of the table, Sicia cleared her throat and spoke.

“Now, let me give a simple explanation. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

So it was Sicia’s job to explain the tasks.

I nodded and said I got it.

Yata, who was still behind Sicia, wouldn’t ask any question, so I guessed she was explaining this mainly to me.

“Yata is familiar with space magic, so she is responsible for the setup and management of the teleport magic circle as well as communication with the research team.”

So, Yata can teleport.

Unlike her outward appearance, Yata was a fairly capable magician.

Sicia pointed at the map and continued.

The middle of the map displayed a lake and the point on the south side of the map showed the village we occupied.

“At dawn, two teams will search the west and east regions of the lake. What we have to do is to establish a stronghold on the south side of the lake and communicate with the research teams at both regions, which will be our main job.”

“We don’t have to research the southern portion of the lake?”

“The research of the south is finished.”

The research of the village’s immediate surrounding seems to be completed.

Or the mentioned research team mentioned had already finished the analysis on the south.

“Then we have nothing to do.”

“That’s right. In fact, it’s difficult for a team consists of two magicians and one warrior to conduct the search. But if there is a request from the east or west, we still need to help them. So we need to be stationed at the stronghold at the center of the south.”

And from then on, we had nothing to do as had Sicia said.

If there was no accident, we were likely to stay around the stronghold and the mission would complete without any effort.

However, that was impossible.

Then we discussed the battle strategy.

In the battle, I would be the vanguard to protect both of them and Sicia, who is familiar with the attack magic, would be rearguard while Yata behind her as support.

Sicia also told me about the road to the lake, the general schedule, and the composition of other research teams.

It might be because I did these things alone before, so now It felt outlandish to discuss future plans with others.

On the other hand, I felt that I would enjoy this stage.

Collaboration with –

https://lightnovelbastion.com/ (from Chapter 01 to Chapter 229)

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/EK8jK7s

Patreon: https://patreon.com/lightnovelbastion