25-217

EP.217 [Vivian, Royal Blood, Arrives in Pangaea.] 

“What did you remember, Elizabeth?” 

Eugene and Jeanne immediately focused on Elizabeth and asked. 

“It was a symbol of a peculiar shape. I think it was formed by the energy the drake left in onii-chan’s body interacting with my energy and Priscilla’s.” 

Elizabeth’s answer was quite a high-level concept. 

The drake’s energy wasn’t just simple energy; when it interacted with Priscilla’s spirit energy, Elizabeth’s magic, and her holy power, it revealed itself. The way it appeared was as if a magical circuit was being drawn, almost like a prophecy. To Elizabeth, who was highly skilled in magic, it felt like an inspired hint. 

“Is it something we’d have a hard time understanding?” 

“Yes, honestly, onii-chan. It was so intuitive that I only got a feeling from it-I don’t think I could reproduce it.” 

“Hmm… then is there a chance it could have a negative effect on Eugene’s body, Elizabeth?” 

“The form in which the energy appeared to me wasn’t aggressive. It was more like it was trying to tell us something. If it was going to harm onii-chan, it would have manifested violently to him first, not sent a message to me.” 

Prophecy, code-that was the impression Elizabeth received. So while she couldn’t define exactly what it was, she could tell its nature. High-level magic acts almost like a living being with its own will. If its purpose was to harm Eugene, it would have done everything to avoid being detected by Elizabeth. 

“Well, that’s a bit of a relief… Actually, the drake also said it was helping me, as if it was doing me a favor.” 

“It said that?” 

“Yeah. It said I shouldn’t feel bad because it was helping me.” 

Hearing Elizabeth’s words, Eugene thought it matched what the drake said as it left, so he found it credible. 

“Thanks to this, I have a new task, onii-chan. I need to figure out what that mysterious symbol is. I’m pretty skilled in this area, but even I couldn’t identify it immediately, so I suspect it’s not an ordinary heretical symbol. Since it’s related to you, I can’t put it off.” 

With the special drake quest finished, Elizabeth was set to return to the Mage Tower, but now she had a new mission. Since the energy involved the Demon God, the prophetic symbol she sensed was surely not meaningless. Because it was related to her brother, Elizabeth was determined to uncover its true meaning. 

“Somehow, that sounds like you’re planning to go somewhere dangerous?” 

“Hohoho! Maybe so? There could be limits to what I can find at the Mage Tower, onii-chan.” 

Eugene Schneider looked worried at Elizabeth’s words, but she just smiled mischievously. 

And Jeanne watched them silently. 

“It was a meaningful collaboration. The results were perfect, and so was the process.” 

The next day. 

With the drake special quest cleared, the quest team disbanded and the camp was packed up. 

Victoria, captain of the Imperial Knights, shook hands with Jeanne, leader of the Red Fox Mercenaries, and shared her thoughts. 

“Likewise. And I learned a lot. I was really impressed by your ability to run such a huge party.” 

Jeanne, shaking Victoria’s hand, sincerely expressed her admiration. In this faraway place with so many people involved in the quest, not only the battles but all the detailed administration was handled by Victoria. While it was Eugene Schneider of the Red Fox Mercenaries who slew the drake, it was Victoria of the Imperial Knights who built the foundation. Jeanne saw this firsthand and thought Victoria, at just 21, was incredibly thorough and experienced. 

“You flatter me. My comrades were so great that I didn’t need to worry about anything else.” 

Victoria smiled-a rare sight. 

“And as for Captain Eugene…” 

After shaking hands with the other Red Fox Mercenaries, Victoria stood before Eugene. 

“I want to say again that we may meet again soon. Slaying the drake alone is no ordinary feat. Still, I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t have any trouble.” 

She spoke with meaningful nuance. The drake quest was over, but her connection with Eugene was not. 

There would be further investigation of the drake’s corpse by the Imperial Knights, and inevitably, Eugene would be involved. But as a member of Victoria’s joint party, she promised to personally ensure he wasn’t troubled. 

“I was prepared for this. If you don’t want to be a hero, you have to keep a low profile.” 

Eugene answered coolly. 

The easiest way to avoid stray trouble is to become famous. Having slain the drake, he could become famous as the mercenary who did so. But Eugene refused to put his name forward-he didn’t want people to know about his Sword Seeker abilities. 

“That’s true. But even the brightest light eventually gets revealed.” 

Victoria, no fool, had many suspicions. But for her, Eugene and the Red Fox Mercenaries were comrades who risked their lives on this quest, so she accepted his wishes. 

“Yes, I think so too.” 

Eugene replied with a gentle smile and glanced down. 

‘That’s not the same sword.’ 

He noticed the sword Victoria wore at her waist was not the one she’d summoned from her weapon inventory during the drake fight. 

“Whew~ I’m still not used to it, Priscilla~ You’re so tall and slender!” 

The Red Fox Mercenaries began their return to Pangaea. As they left Enclema and entered the wide plains, with no more danger, Marie couldn’t help but marvel at Priscilla. 

Whenever the Red Fox Mercenaries traveled, Priscilla would usually ride in a cart or sit atop a wagon. But now, in her true form, she rode gracefully on horseback. Marie just couldn’t get used to it. 

“Well, it’d be weird to act like before in this body, that’s all.” 

Priscilla answered Marie’s excitement in a dignified tone. 

“Look at that. It’s not just her appearance. Priscilla’s personality has changed too. She used to call me a loser, but now, since yesterday morning, she even waves hello.” 

Thomas joined in Marie’s excitement. Priscilla’s dignified tone wasn’t just for now-it was a change over the past few days. 

‘Of course, I got a mate. I’m an adult now, hehe…’ 

Priscilla’s mindset had shifted from a child to an adult after gaining a mate. Rather than an elf trait, it was a unique change due to her strong fantasies about having a mate. 

“.....” 

Listening to the lively chatter behind, Jeanne rode silently ahead. 

“.....” 

Eugene did the same. He now had two harem women in the group, but hadn’t revealed this to the other comrades. Since it was still early, he was a bit nervous. 

“I was surprised to see the mage looking so bright.” 

At that moment, Jeanne spoke first, referring to Elizabeth. 

“Yes?” 

Since they were now captain and assault leader, Eugene responded formally. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen her so innocent. Ever since she started serious magic study, it was rare. But after seeing how happy Elizabeth is now, I realized it’s fine. Just having a harem is one thing, but having your little sister in it is another level. But if she’s happy, that’s all that matters.” 

“Yes. I’ll make sure she has even more reasons to be happy, Captain.” 

Eugene gave a genuine, relieved smile at Jeanne’s words. After such an unexpected bombshell, the bond between the women of House Oblaing proved truly strong. 

“Wow~~! Sister and the uncles are here!!” 

After three days of travel, the Red Fox Mercenaries finally arrived at Pangaea. More precisely, at the mercenary village near Pangaea, which they had built themselves. About two days earlier, Mina had sent word of their return to the village children, who had been waiting eagerly since the morning of the third day. 

At last, as the Red Fox Mercenary procession came into view, Margaret let out a bright cheer, unable to contain her excitement. 

“Haha! You rascals! Uncle Eugene is back!” 

The children’s cheers rang out, and they began jumping around. They were home. There’s nothing happier for a mercenary than clearing a quest and feeling the warmth of home. 

Eugene, energized despite three days of hard travel, responded to the children’s cheers. 

“Margaret, did you play well with the others?” 

“Yeah! Uncle! I helped out here and had fun!” 

“Uncle Eugene, I got taller! I think I grow better sleeping here!” 

“Sister Jeanne, let me carry that for you!” 

“It’s okay… It’s heavy, Charlotte.” 

The group headed toward the stables and storage, surrounded by children as the Red Fox Mercenary officers moved deeper into the village. 

“Huh?” 

When Eugene and his companions reached the inner part of the village, their eyes went wide. 

“Something’s been built up a lot more than before?!” 

The village facilities had been completed far more than expected. 

“So this pretty lady with hair like this came and brought a ton of people, and they built that, and that, and that!” 

Margaret excitedly gestured as she explained. A stranger had arrived and, like the wind, had overseen a flurry of construction. 

“Hair like this…?” 

Eugene thought of someone from Margaret’s hand gesture. 

“It’s been a while, Red Fox Mercenaries.” 

When they got closer to the village hall, a very familiar face greeted Eugene’s group together with Mina. 

“Master Vivian!” 

It was Vivian Saint-Pierre, the head of the Alexandria Pieta Trading Company.