After returning to the mansion and breaking for a while, I brought Luna to the garden on the estate grounds.
"So, it finally happened?"
"Yes. It’s exactly as you suspected, Master Orun. I’ll explain the day's events so we’re on the same page."
Luna confirmed my suspicion and began to recount what had transpired during my absence.
◇ ◇ ◇
During today’s investigation, Twilight Moonbow encountered a pack of five Cerberuses.
They are essentially the strongest monsters one can encounter in the current section of the labyrinth. Not that my disciples were in any real danger of losing, though.
They adopted a strategy where Carol and Log held the line, utilizing Luna’s Induction to draw focus, while Sophie and Luna picked the monsters off with magic. Carol took three, and Log took two—a reasonable distribution, considering Log also had his duties as an Enchanter to manage.
However, even with only two to deal with, a Cerberus has three heads. They are fierce, relentless attackers; to the person standing against them, it feels more like fighting six opponents at once. Consequently, Log had his hands full just withstanding their strikes while maintaining the party’s buffs.
Truthfully, for a B-Rank explorer to manage even that much is more than enough. They won the battle without anyone suffering a major injury.
Yet, Log was apparently unsatisfied with his performance.
The primary cause was likely the fact that Carol had managed to slay one of the beasts by herself while simultaneously fending off three. Log has been struggling with a sense of inadequacy lately. Luna’s talent is obvious, but Sophie and Carol have also been growing at a remarkable pace. Compared to the three of them, Log feels like he’s stagnating—even though that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In the middle of that tension, Carol spoke to him. "It’s amazing that you could pull two of them!" she’d said.
She meant it as a compliment—acknowledging that he did it while also keeping everyone's buffs active. Under normal circumstances, Log would have understood that.
But today, Log took her words at face value. He snapped, raising his voice. "Is that sarcasm?! I know I’m inferior to you! You don’t have to rub it in every single time!!"
Carol is generally attentive and good at managing her distance with others, but she isn't perfect. Her timing was unfortunate, and she pushed just a little too far. Furthermore, Carol tends to wither when someone directs negative emotions toward her—a reaction rooted in her past trauma.
As far as I know, Log has never raised his voice at her before. Being yelled at by him for the first time has left her frightened and unsure of how to act around him. Log, in turn, regrets hurting her but is currently being swallowed by his own messy emotions.
That was the reason for the heavy atmosphere I’d sensed when I got back.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Thank you, Luna. It unfolded pretty much as I anticipated."
"Master Orun... was this really for the best?" Luna asked, her eyes cast down.
"I’ve been doing just enough 'venting' to ensure their relationship didn't suffer a fatal fracture. This clash was a calculated risk."
"I understand that we avoided the worst-case scenario you envisioned. But surely, if we had intervened, we could have avoided the conflict entirely. We didn't have to let them reach this point."
"I don't believe that constantly paving the road for them is the right way to lead them."
If I cleared every obstacle from their path, they would never trip. But if they never fall, they’ll never learn how to pick themselves up. I won't be able to stay by their side forever. That’s why I want them to fall while they’re still within my reach, so they can learn to stand again.
Well, that's just my personal philosophy. I’m sure some would tell me I’m wrong.
"Besides, if their bond is so brittle that it shatters over something like this, then that party has no future anyway. Even if this hadn't happened, they would have eventually drifted apart."
"...Perhaps you’re right."
"Still, it doesn't change the fact that I made you do something you weren't comfortable with. Sorry, Luna."
"No, you’ve been entrusted with their education, Master Orun. I’ll follow your lead."
"Thanks. I’m sorry to pile more on you, but can I leave Carol to you?"
"Of course. That was my request from the beginning. I'll take care of Carol; you look after Log."
"Yeah, leave him to me. Oh, one more thing... it’s not really related to this, but can I ask you something else?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"This might sound even crazier than the things I told you back then, but... Luna, do you ever feel as if a spell formula is engraved on your body?"
"Engraved? A formula?"
"It’s a metaphor. It’s not actually carved into the skin, but more of a sensation—like there’s a formula integrated into your body, or maybe your soul?"
This was the true nature of the anomaly that had allowed me to establish Stacking.
Back when I was in the Hero Party, I had poured my efforts into developing magic that exceeded the effects of standard Support Magic. However, the more I studied Support Magic—specifically the Six Basic Types—the more I realized they were "optimal solutions." They were formulas where every shred of waste had been stripped away. Even now, I find it impossible to imagine a way to improve the spells themselves.
So, I changed my approach. Instead of changing the magic, what if I changed the person receiving the buff? If I could alter the recipient's state, the same Support Magic might yield greater results.
That led me to research the human body. In the process, I discovered a spell formula engraved on my own being. It was a formula unlike any I had ever seen, even with all my experience. By deciphering it with my grandfather’s knowledge, I found that tampering with this internal formula allowed me to receive far greater benefits from the same support spells.
The magic I perfected to efficiently alter that internal formula was the secret behind Stacking.
However, it had never worked on anyone else. My hypothesis at the time was that the caster had to be the recipient for the magic to take effect. Since I had no intention of making the technique public, I never bothered to verify that theory. Now, I know the hypothesis was wrong.
It likely only worked on me because I’m the only one with that formula engraved on me. Now that I know more about Ki, I find it impossible to believe that such a formula exists in every human being.
"N-no, I don't really understand... I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help," Luna apologized.
"No, don't worry about it. Sorry for the weird question."
If everyone had the same formula I did, it was unlikely that Luna—who understands the human body in a way entirely different from me—would be unaware of it. Her confusion was all the confirmation I needed. My conclusion wasn't a bullseye, but it was close.
That was the final piece of the puzzle. With this, I could finally say that magic was complete.
Now, I just had to deal with Log.
◇
"Hello there, Orun-kun."
I was approached while heading toward Log’s room. Turning, I saw Lazares Eddington dressed in casual clothes.
When we first left Tsutrail, the old man had stayed behind to finish some business. He must have wrapped things up, as he’d returned to the mansion a few days ago.
I turned and gave him a formal bow. "Lord Lazares, it has been a long time."
"Indeed. My apologies for the lack of a proper greeting; things were quite hectic when I arrived."
As he said, he’d been sequestered with his son, the Count, since the moment he stepped through the door.
"Please, think nothing of it. I should be the one apologizing for being so preoccupied with the investigation that I failed to pay my respects."
"Not at all. It’s merely proof that you’re taking our request seriously. I’ve seen the interim report, by the way. As expected of Tsutrail’s strongest explorer—a true hero. To think you’ve made this much progress already. I expected this to take until next year, yet now it looks like we’ll be finished before this year is out. Truly remarkable."
Something about the way the old man said that sat wrong with me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but his true intentions remained as opaque as ever.
"...I am honored. I promise to continue giving my all to the investigation."
"Yes, I’m counting on you."
"Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have matters to attend to."
I bowed again and walked away. As I did, I discreetly activated Hearing Up.
"Being too excellent is also a problem," I heard him mutter, his voice so low it would have been inaudible to anyone else. "I wish those folks over there would move a bit faster as well."
I couldn't tell what he meant by those words alone. He wasn't the type to show his hand so easily.
But one thing was now certain: the old man was definitely up to something.