I spent several hours trekking along the mountain path, my gaze fixed on the stark, desolate landscape. Just as I was beginning to tire of the endless rocks and sparse greenery, I finally arrived at the Town of Teressa. I decided to stay the night, though the question remained: should I find an inn or simply sleep in my Dimension Home?
Thanks to daily expansions and the hard work of my slimes, the space within my Dimension Home had evolved into something that could genuinely be called a house with a large garden. It was far more comfortable than any mediocre inn I was likely to find.
Still, since I had traveled this far, it wasn't a bad idea to experience a local establishment. I figured I would walk around the town first, find a place to eat, and make my decision then.
With those thoughts in mind, I entered the town and began to wander. Before long, a particular carriage caught my eye.
"Hm? Is that..."
The building nearby appeared to be a high-end inn, complete with a private carriage house. Although a tall iron fence separated me from the courtyard, I stepped closer to confirm what I was seeing. I hadn't been mistaken.
The carriage bore the crest of the Jamil Ducal House. It wasn't the one I had used recently; rather, it looked like the very carriage I had ridden when I first left the Gana Forest.
What was it doing here? I was certain Sebas-san usually kept it stored inside his Dimension Home. That meant Sebas-san had to be here. Or perhaps it was someone else from the family, but—
"Oh, you noticed me, did you?"
Sensing a presence behind me, I spun around. A woman with brown skin and glasses stood there, her silver, shoulder-length hair fluttering in the wind. She wore a playful smile. She was only about three meters away; I hadn't realized anyone was there until she spoke.
"You have quite the sharp intuition."
"...And who might you be?" I asked.
"Oh dear, did I startle you? My apologies. I only meant to surprise you a little. You were staring so intently at that carriage that I couldn't help but watch you, wondering what you were up to. A bit of a mischievous impulse got the better of me."
She didn't seem to harbor any ill intent, but...
"Remily-sama, so this is where you’ve wandered off to."
A familiar male voice called out from behind her. I turned to see—
"The preparations for lunch are... Oh? Could it be, Ryoma-sama?"
"Sebas-san!"
"Eh? Are you an acquaintance of Sebas-chan's?" the woman asked.
Sebas-chan? The way she addressed him caught me off guard. Regardless, since Sebas-san clearly knew her, I figured I was safe for now.
"Remily-sama, this boy is a friend of ours," Sebas-san explained. "I never dreamed we would reunite in a place like this."
"A friend? And by 'ours,' you mean not just Sebas-chan, but Reinbach-chan too? Heh..."
Everything seemed to be in order, but I still couldn't place her. She appeared quite young—possibly in her early twenties or even late teens—yet she referred to Sebas-san and Reinbach-sama with such familiarity. Despite my confusion, I couldn't help but notice how striking she was.
She was taller than me but somewhat petite for an adult woman. Her robe was open, revealing a toned, healthy physique. Her bust seemed somewhat out of proportion with her height, paired with a remarkably slender waist—she had the kind of physique you’d expect on a gravure idol from Earth. While she looked fit, she didn't have the build of a front-line warrior, leading me to assume she was a mage.
"Sorry for startling you earlier," she said. "I am Remily Cremis. A mage."
"I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Ryoma Takebayashi."
"I'm sure you both have much to discuss," Sebas-san interrupted. "Why don't we move to a more comfortable location?"
"Good idea. Is that alright with you, Ryoma-kun?"
"Yes. No problem at all."
Since Sebas-san was here, I was happy to follow. I assumed that if Reinbach-sama was also present, Sebas-san was acting as his escort.
Sebas-san led us to a room within the inn. He moved to knock on the door, but before he could, Remily opened it herself and pulled me inside by the hand.
"Reinbach-chan, we have a guest!"
"Wait—Lord Reinbach, it has been a long time."
Reinbach-sama looked just as healthy as he had the previous year. Another man roughly his age was also in the room; the two of them had likely been relaxing on the sofa before our sudden intrusion. Both stared at us in surprise.
"Is that Ryoma-kun? You’ve grown since we parted in Gimul. But what brings you here?"
"I'm currently traveling for my training. I happened to see the Ducal House carriage, and while I was trying to figure out why it was here..."
My gaze drifted toward Remily-san. Reinbach-sama and the other man followed my lead, prompting Remily-san to give a remarkably brief explanation.
"The boy looked like he knew you, so I brought him along."
Naturally, that didn't explain much. After a round of formal introductions, we sat down to clarify our respective situations. As it turned out, Reinbach-sama was on a trip with friends, and Sebas-san was indeed his escort.
"I heard about what happened at the end of last year," Reinbach-sama said. "I feel terrible that we left the burden of our family's past mistakes on your shoulders, but I am truly grateful. Thank you for everything you did for my son and his wife."
His voice held a mixture of deep sorrow and genuine gratitude. I couldn't truly fathom the weight of the worries he had carried, but it was clear he had been agonizing over the situation.
Reinbach-sama had already retired, passing the title of Duke to Reinhardt-san. Consequently, any public response to the crisis in Gimul had to be led by Reinhardt-san. If the retired Duke had been too active, it would have sparked scandalous rumors that the current lord was immature or unfit for his position.
It was a frustrating political reality, but Reinbach-sama had prioritized his son’s reputation and the long-term stability of the Ducal House. He had been unable to take a public stand, choosing instead to work tirelessly behind the scenes to provide support where he could.
"The gratitude is mine," I replied. "Thanks to the foundations you laid, the city's reconstruction is proceeding smoothly."
"Hearing you say that lightens my heart. Actually, these two helped me quite a bit as well. I’ve known them a long time and trust them implicitly. They have many connections, so they acted on my behalf."
"Is that so? Thank you very much."
"Don't worry about it," Remily-san said with a grin. "In exchange, Reinbach-chan is going to help us out properly."
"Acting for the sake of the people is the duty of a knight. Even more so when a friend asks," the other man added.
His name was Sieber Galdak. To my surprise, he was the former Knight Commander Reinbach-sama had once suggested I hire as a guard for my shop. Sieber-san claimed he had retired due to the "decline of old age," but his physique was still robust and muscular. He clearly possessed immense skill, though he didn't give off an overbearing aura. I had always imagined a Knight Commander would be a terrifying, solemn figure, so his approachable nature allowed me to relax.
As for Remily-san, she was apparently a former Court Mage. More surprisingly, she was likely the oldest person in the room. She was a Dark Elf, a race known for their longevity and youthful appearance. I say "likely" because I didn't dare ask for her exact age. When Sieber-san had almost let it slip earlier, she had directed such a terrifying wave of bloodlust and mana toward him that I immediately swore off the subject.
I ended up addressing the two of them as "-san." At first, I had tried to use "-sama," but Remily-san hated it, and Sieber-san insisted he was just a retired old man. Since Sebas-san said it was fine, I decided not to worry about the breach in etiquette.
I still had one question, however.
"Why this town? My research didn't mention any major tourist attractions nearby."
"We're here to visit the labyrinth known as the 'Town of Ghosts,'" Reinbach-sama explained. "Remily needs something from there, and we've agreed to help her retrieve it. That was the 'reward' we discussed."
"That's right. Do you know of a medicinal herb called Everdark Grass?" Remily-san asked.
"It’s primarily used for mental stabilizers and sleeping pills. It can also be a dangerous poison if handled incorrectly, making it a difficult herb to work with."
"You certainly know your stuff. But Everdark Grass has other uses as well."
Remily-san held out a black staff.
"This staff was crafted in a Dark Elf village. The wood is soaked in Everdark Grass juice and dried repeatedly during the process. This allows the finished staff to resonate much better with Dark Attribute magic."
"I see... is it alright to tell me that?"
"It’s no secret. Anyone in the village who gets Everdark Grass does the same thing at home."
It wasn't a hidden technique after all.
"This staff was a gift for my coming-of-age ceremony. I’ve taken good care of it, but it's finally reaching its limit."
"So you came to gather Everdark Grass to craft a new one."
"Exactly. But why are you here, Ryoma-kun? I assumed you were still busy in Gimul."
"Actually, my goal is also the Everdark Grass in the Town of Ghosts."
While the herb was used for medicine, I wanted to use it to create a potent insect repellent. The Shulls Great Forest was hot and humid, teeming with both monsters and insects. Standard repellents wouldn't be enough. Furthermore, the Town of Ghosts was infested with Undead-type monsters. While the Great Forest didn't have many undead, adventurers who died there often rose again, so I wanted the experience of fighting them beforehand.
"I see. A village in the Shulls Great Forest, then..."
"You'll definitely need repellent and undead countermeasures for that," Remily-san agreed, nodding thoughtfully.
"Yes. I can use Light Magic, but I lack experience fighting monsters without physical bodies. I want to remedy that in the Town of Ghosts."
"Oh? You can use Light Magic?"
"Yes. I’ve learned the beginner attack magic, Light Ball, and the anti-undead defense magic, Holy Curtain."
"Impressive for your age," Sieber-san noted. "But you might struggle if you encounter a horde. You’d be much safer if you could use Intermediate Light Magic."
"In that case, why don't I teach you?" Remily-san offered. "You’re clearly one of Reinbach-chan’s favorites, and if you're perceptive enough to notice my 'Hide' spell, you'll be a fast learner. Since we're going to the same place for the same thing, we might as well go together."
Hide? It hadn't been in any of my magic books. Based on the name, it was a concealment spell. If she had used it when we met...
"Was that how you appeared behind me?"
"Yes. It’s an Intermediate Dark Magic that masks your presence. It doesn't make you invisible, so it’s not particularly famous, but it’s useful."
"Remily-sama is a master of both Light and Dark magic," Sebas-san added. "She was considered one of the most elite Court Mages. You won't find a better instructor."
"She has a bit of a difficult personality, but her skill is undeniable," Reinbach-sama noted.
"How rude! My personality is perfectly fine."
"You certainly have 'a' personality," Sieber-san muttered.
Reinbach-sama and Sieber-san looked at her skeptically, while Sebas-san remained neutral. I was thrilled at the chance to learn Light Magic, though I wondered what I was getting myself into.
"Now that you've met her, you're in for a rough time whether she teaches you or not," Reinbach-sama said. "If you're willing, Ryoma-kun, you should take her up on the offer."
I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but I didn't want to let such a rare opportunity pass.
"I would be very grateful if you would teach me," I said.
"Then it's settled! From now on, you have to call me 'Shishou'."
"Shishou? I underst—"
"Or 'Onee-chan' is also acceptable."
I had been about to agree, but that second option was out of the question.
"I’ll stick with Shishou, thank you."
"Aww, that's no fun. My motivation is slipping already~"
Remily-san pouted, prompting amused reactions from the others.
"You were the one who told him to call you Shishou," Reinbach-sama pointed out.
"Dealing with Remily is exhausting, but all you can do is endure it. Good luck," Sieber-san added.
"Ryoma-sama, her skills are the real deal, so please don't worry about that part," Sebas-san reassured me.
Remily-san certainly seemed like a free spirit. Just as I was processing all this, Reinbach-sama made another suggestion.
"Oh, and Ryoma-kun? I’d quite like to see how you fight."
"Of course. Should I show you once we're in the Town of Ghosts?"
"That too, but I was thinking of a match right now. Against Sieber."
Me? Against a former Knight Commander? Sieber-san looked just as surprised as I was. He asked Reinbach-sama for his reasoning, and the former Duke explained that he wanted to gauge my strength before I headed into the Great Forest. Sieber-san, as a neutral third party and a master of combat, could provide an objective assessment.
Sieber-san agreed. He had only been surprised by the suddenness of the request, not the idea itself. He noted that fighting without any prior information on his opponent would show my true, raw ability. While preparation was vital, a warrior had to be able to survive when caught off guard.
It was decided that the match would happen immediately. Sebas-san and I headed to a rocky clearing outside of town to prepare. Since Sieber-san had just arrived from his journey, he went to fetch his weapons and equipment first.
The clearing was an ordinary, secluded spot—perfect for a duel without bystanders. As I waited for Sebas-san to return with the others, I began my preparations. My opponent was a former Knight Commander; there was no doubt he was incredibly strong. It was a sudden challenge, but I would approach this duel as an opportunity to learn from a master, putting everything I had into the fight to put Reinbach-sama’s mind at ease.