The Azul River flows from the massive Azul Lake past the western side of Esaia, the capital of the Celuroa Kingdom.
Together with the Torres River to the east, it acted as a natural moat for the city.
Since there were no bridges, crossing required a boat. Just as in Telurus, it took three to four days to secure a booking and make the passage.
Having parted ways with Jin and Elsa, Reinhard was held up at the checkpoint on April 10th; he finally reached Dali on April 11th and began his wait for a ferry.
The following day, the 12th, Reinhard was out sightseeing in Dali.
"Oh, Lord Reinhard."
When Reinhard turned toward the voice, he found Stearena Gamma standing there—one of the Celuroa Kingdom’s preeminent magi craftmen, a woman with captivating copper hair and reddish-brown eyes.
"Why, it is Stearena-dono."
As Reinhard offered his greeting, Stearena looked up at him with a playful pout.
"Oh, such formal language makes me feel so lonely."
Her gestures were flirtatious, but Reinhard remained unfazed.
"My apologies, Stearena-san."
"Yes, I suppose I can forgive that."
Stearena glanced around the area before questioning him.
"Are you alone today? Is Jin-kun not with you?"
"Yes, Jin and I are operating separately for a while," Reinhard answered somewhat vaguely.
Hearing this, Stearena’s shoulders slumped. "Is that so? How disappointing. I wanted to have a long talk with him."
Reinhard gave a wry smile. "I am sorry that you are stuck with only me."
At that, Stearena laughed and gave him a polite bow.
"I am only joking, Lord Reinhard. Are you free today? If you have the time, would you care to keep me company?"
Since he had no particular plans, Reinhard nodded. "Certainly. Do you know of somewhere interesting?"
"Hehe, that’s a surprise for when we get there."
With those words, Stearena naturally linked her left arm through Reinhard's right and led him away.
"Please, come in."
The place Stearena led him to was an ordinary residence.
It was a two-story stone building, typical of the Celuroa Kingdom’s architectural style. The windows were fairly large, and some were fitted with glass. A waterway ran behind the house, seemingly leading out to the Azul River.
"This is my second home."
Stearena’s primary residence was on the other side of the Azul River, but since she was always made to wait three or four days for the return trip whenever she visited the capital, she had rented this house.
"I use it more than fifty days a year, so it ends up being cheaper than staying at an inn."
She opened the door and invited Reinhard inside.
"Welcome home, Milady."
They were greeted by an automata designed to look like an elderly butler.
"I’m back. Zafio, this is a guest, so please look after him. Also, stop with that 'Milady' business."
"Understood, Milady."
The automata acknowledged her and disappeared into the back of the house to make preparations.
"Honestly!" Stearena huffed.
The butler-type automata seemed to be named Zafio.
"Truly. No matter how many times I tell him, he insists on calling me 'Milady,' even though I’m a thirty-something old woman. Don't you agree?"
However, Reinhard shook his head. "No, no. Stearena-san, you are very much still a 'Milady' to me."
Reinhard had seen right through it. Zafio calling her "Milady" was surely part of his core specifications, existing only because Stearena herself had programmed him that way. Even so, he played along with her banter.
"My, my, aren't you a smooth talker. Unlike Jin-kun, I wonder if you are accustomed to wooing women, Lord Reinhard?"
"Now, I wonder about that," Reinhard parried smoothly.
Stearena gave him a light, mock-glare. "Oh, how cheeky."
As they exchanged pleasantries, Zafio returned.
"Preparations are complete, Milady. Guest, please come this way."
Stearena and Reinhard followed after the automata. Zafio opened the door to a room at the end of the hallway and stepped aside.
"Please," he said, inviting them in.
It was a spacious room with a large window at the far end, offering a view of a well-maintained garden. Facing south, the room was bathed in ample, bright sunlight.
In the center stood a simple but elegantly shaped round table, where two cups of Te-e sat with faint steam rising from them.
"Please, tell me everything. Back in the Kingdom of Egerea, there were too many ears around for us to speak freely, weren't there?"
Reinhard, unable to gauge her true intent, kept his response vague. "Well, it wasn't as if we were that close, though I recall we spoke a fair amount."
Stearena gave a mischievous smile. "Oh, are you being cautious?"
She leaned in slightly. "We haven't really talked about Unifilar yet, have we?"
Reinhard was genuinely taken aback.
"The other day, I mentioned that I had been invited to join Unifilar, didn't I?"
"Yes, but you only mentioned that to the people from the Kingdom of Egerea."
"That’s right. But I thought it would be best to tell you and Jin-kun as well. This is the Celuroa Kingdom, after all, so there’s no need to worry about the Kingdom of Egerea’s sensibilities here."
Since Stearena was speaking so openly, Reinhard decided to listen.
"Unifilar first contacted me about a year ago. I remember them telling me they wanted me to lend them my strength because they wanted to change this world."
Stearena sipped her Te-e, took a moment, and continued.
"When I told them I needed to think about it, they left for a while. But they returned about five days later, and after that, they started coming every single day."
If Jin had heard this, he likely would have compared it to recruitment for a cult.
"Each time, their pitch was different. 'Money,' 'power,' and... oh yes, they even dangled 'men' in front of me as a reward. I certainly don't need a man as a bounty," Stearena laughed.
"I finally gave them a flat refusal around the fifth visit. After that, the recruiter stopped coming, but as they were leaving, they told me, 'You'll regret this'..."
"A textbook threat," Reinhard noted, taking a sip of his Te-e. It had a lovely aroma.
"After that, I was nearly kidnapped once."
"What?"
"The details are embarrassing, so please spare me the specifics. I was saved by the kingdom ritters, which is why I’m safe here now."
"I see..."
Having dealt with Elsa’s situation, this felt personal to Reinhard.
"Even today, two kingdom ritters should be protecting me from the shadows."
"I didn't notice them."
For Reinhard, who was not a combatant, such a feat was likely impossible.
"Therefore, Lord Reinhard, please be a bit more aware of your own position as well."
"I suppose... you're right."
After that, they moved on to more trivial conversation. In the subtext of everything she said, it was clear that Stearena was eager to meet Jin again to discuss various matters.
＊ ＊ ＊
"And that's the long and short of it," Reinhard concluded.
"Be careful, okay?" Jin replied.
"Yeah, I won't go out alone from now on."
"Good. See that you don't."
The hotline to Reinhard was cut for the time being.