"Shiroi! Answer if you can hear me!"
"Shiroi! Where are you?"
A short while later, Yugo and Presia were calling out the boy's name at the top of their lungs. They had branched off from the main ingredient-gathering group to search for Shiroi, the local runaway. Fee walked between them, scanning the brush with a sharp eye, eager to be of use to his older brother.
"He’s not going to be easy to find," Yugo muttered. "This forest is massive."
"But if we keep calling, he might eventually respond," Presia said, her voice full of determination. "Let’s not give up yet."
Yugo nodded. Even in a world saturated with magic, the methods for finding a lost person remained largely the same. He glanced at his younger brother and saw the deep lines of worry etched into Fee’s face.
"Do you think he's okay?" Fee asked. "I really hope nothing bad has happened."
Presia tried to reassure him. "I’m sure he’s fine. The innkeeper didn't seem concerned at all. There’s probably some local reason why it’s safer than it looks—something we just don't understand as outsiders."
"But isn't it weird?" Fee countered. "A kid is alone in these woods, yet nobody seems to care. Isn't that a bit... much?"
"U-Um... that might be true, but still..."
Presia trailed off. She had spoken to encourage Fee, but even she couldn't deny that Serel's casual attitude was unsettling. It wasn't just the innkeeper, either; the entire village was eerily calm about the child’s disappearance. Even Shiroi’s parents hadn't shown the slightest hint of panic.
Yugo’s brow furrowed. He had been chewing on that same thought since they arrived.
"I’m curious too," Presia admitted, "but Shiroi might just be a habitual runaway. Maybe the villagers are just used to his antics. Either way, finding him takes priority over solving the mystery of their behavior."
"You're right," Yugo agreed. "There’s no point overthinking it now. We find the kid, we solve the problem."
Just then, a light breeze tickled his ear. He caught a faint sound within the wind and spun around instantly.
"Yugo? What is it?"
"I think I heard something moving..."
It wasn't the sound of trees swaying. Something was out there. Yugo narrowed his eyes at a patch of dense trees and caught sight of a small figure peering out from the shadows. Before Yugo could even call out, the boy realized he'd been spotted and bolted.
"Wait! Stop!"
"Brother!"
"Yugo, wait a minute—!"
Ignoring the calls from Fee and Presia, Yugo took off. He closed the gap in seconds. With a powerful leap, he cleared the boy and landed directly in his path. The boy yelped and fell back as Yugo cut him off. Yugo dropped to one knee, bringing himself level with the child.
"Are you Shiroi?"
"Y-Yeah..."
The boy gave a hesitant, shaky nod. Yugo took in his state: his clothes were caked in mud, and his face was gaunt with exhaustion. This didn't look like a kid playing pretend in a secret base. Why would he stay out here if he were this miserable?
"Are you from the village?" Shiroi asked, his voice trembling. "W-Where did you come from?"
"I'm a student from Luminous Academy," Yugo replied gently. "We're here to gather ingredients. I heard you ran away after a fight with your parents."
Shiroi’s eyes went wide. "No! That’s a lie! You’re being tricked! I didn't fight with anyone! I didn't run away!"
"What...?"
Yugo froze, stunned by the boy's desperate plea. Before he could press for more details, a hostile presence spiked nearby. He lunged forward, scooped Shiroi up, and dove to the side just as a beastly roar tore through the air.
"GUGYAAAAA!"
"Uwaaah!"
A beat later, the roar of a beast and Shiroi's scream echoed through the trees. Yugo rolled and came up in a defensive crouch, shielding the terrified boy. Ahead of them stood a hideous creature with razor-sharp claws.
"An Arachlaw? I thought the Security Force cleared this area!"
The monster hissed, its eyes locked onto them like a predator onto its next meal. It was a twisted fusion of a goblin and a giant spider, a creature Yugo remembered well from his first battle in this world. It radiated killing intent, clearly viewing them as its next dinner.
Yugo prepared to move, but Presia’s voice rang out from behind.
"Yugo, get down! Battle Cooking: Rare Flare!"
Yugo hit the dirt. A massive ball of flame roared over him, slamming into the Arachlaw with a deafening explosion. The beast shrieked as the blast scorched its hide.
"Yugo, are you okay?" Presia rushed forward, her frying pan glowing with intense heat.
"I'm fine! Thanks for the save!"
"Is that thing a survivor from the earlier subjugation?" Fee asked, catching up. "Nowhere is safe!"
Yugo handed Shiroi over to Presia and Fee. "Take him and get back. I've got this."
The Arachlaw lunged, its battle spirit still intact despite the burns. It seemed even more enraged now that its hunt had been interrupted. Yugo sidestepped a swipe of its claws, delivered a crushing elbow to its throat, and followed up with a kick that sent the creature skidding backward.
He needed space. Once clear, he channeled his magic into the Blaster on his left arm.
"Transform!"
A crimson radiance enveloped him, and from the light stepped a knight in black armor. He pointed a finger at the snarling beast.
"Sorry, but I’m in a hurry. I won't be holding back—so don't take it personally!"