"Hey, Galamand! You’re always spoiling for a fight no matter where you go! Think I won’t deck you?"

  A voice suddenly boomed from the sky.

  The three glanced upward in unison.

  It was a petite young woman with green hair, green eyes, and pointed ears.

  Arms folded across her chest, she hovered mid-air, glaring down at Galamand with a condescending scowl.

  "Hah—?! Sylph, you little pest, say that again if you dare!"

  Whoosh!

  A fireball flared to life in Galamand’s right palm, and he looked ready to brawl at the slightest provocation.

  "Sylph! Long time no see!"

  But just then, someone completely tone-deaf to the tension popped out and tackled the green-haired young woman.

  Sylph, the green-haired young woman, patted Semiris on the head and grinned:

  "Haha, it really has been ages, Semiris! And Winnie—"

  She turned to Hulim and waved.

  "Long time no see too!"

  "Uh… hello?"

  "Haha, what’s with that awkward greeting~!"

  Sylph burst into peals of laughter.

  "……"

  Hulim was lost for words. By now, she’d realized these people were mistaking her for someone named Winnie.

  At that moment, Galamand felt equally awkward.

  With a "ferocious" snarl, he stood frozen, fireball in hand, but was left hanging and ignored.

  For a split second, he looked inexplicably lonely and pathetic……

  "Galamand, is this some new stunt of yours?"

  Finally, someone spoke to him.

  It was a young woman who had materialized beside Galamand without a sound.

  She sported a pair of black wings, pale skin, shoulder-length jet-black hair, and blood-red eyes that oozed arrogance and coldness.

  "What the hell, it’s Scherfil! Don’t get it twisted—I just wanna find someone to fight!"

  "I see. Perfectly fitting for a lowly barbarian."

  "Hah—?! You wanna throw down, huh?!"

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  "I have no interest in dueling lowly barbarians."

  Veins throbbed on Galamand’s forehead as he clenched his right fist and raised it high.

  "You’ve got some nerve—!"

  But Scherfil still regarded him with unbridled disdain.

  Just as tempers flared.

  "Scherfil—!"

  A figure slammed into her, wrapping her in a hug and pressing their cheek flush against hers.

  With her right cheek squashed out of shape, Scherfil was helplessly carted away by the fairy, crashing into the distance.

  "……"

  Once again, Galamand was left standing alone, fist raised in the air.

  "Ah, looks like everyone’s here~!"

  At that moment, three more figures emerged slowly on the lakeside grass.

  On the left stood a woman with a gentle smile, snow-white wings, silver hair, and mercury-colored eyes. Her feet hovered just above the ground.

  She was the one who’d greeted them.

  On the right was an enormous, burly man with bronze skin, his thick arms sheathed in rock armor.

  In the middle was a boy with a colorless halo above his head, his entire body swathed in a loose robe, his face expressionless.

  "Aurora! Ogrum! Avery! Long time no see~!"

  Semiris darted over to the trio, beaming as she greeted them.

  "Long time no see, Semiris~."

  Aurora, her wings fluttering softly, replied with a smile.

  "Long time no see."

  The burly Ogrum rumbled in response.

  As for Avery, the haloed boy, he merely nodded in acknowledgment.

  "Hey, you three are way too slow! Kept me waiting!"

  Galamand snapped at the newly arrived trio.

  "Sorry, sorry!"

  Aurora apologized at once.

  "Don’t apologize, Aurora! This idiot’s just looking for trouble—he only got here a few minutes ago!"

  Sylph unceremoniously called him out.

  "Huh—, really?"

  "Absolutely! So don’t waste an apology on this fool!"

  "Hey, Sylph! You really wanna fight, don’t you? Daring to call me a fool!"

  "Lowly brute—all bark and no bite? Why not swing first?"

  Scherfil sauntered over, rubbing her slightly reddened right cheek.

  "Hah?! Who’re you calling all bark and no bite?!"

  "Some lowly brute, obviously."

  "Hahaha, yeah! He’s a total brute!"

  "You two—"

  "Umm, umm… everyone, please stop fighting……"

  Chaos erupted among the group.

  Sylph, Scherfil, and Galamand looked ready to tear into each other, but never threw a punch. Aurora scurried back and forth, mediating. Ogrum chipped in with a fair comment now and then. Avery watched silently, his face blank. And Semiris? She cheered both sides on, relishing the drama.

  "These people……"

  Hulim watched the raucous group.

  Somehow, a wave of nostalgia welled up from deep within Winnie’s body……

  ……

  A light wind carried white clouds afar, and the snow line vanished into the mountains. At the summit of the towering peak.

  Eight figures stood, gazing out at the distant land.

  Hulim surveyed her surroundings. Though unfamiliar in spots, she could roughly guess where they were.

  After the initial chaos, she’d formed a hunch about her current predicament.

  Now she just needed confirmation.

  If her guess was right, all she had to do next was watch in silence……

  "What a breathtaking view."

  Aurora sighed softly, a warm smile playing on her lips.

  "Well, this is the heart of Himmler—Mirnabith~!"

  Sylph replied casually.

  "Ah, right! Since we’re all here, why not have a contest?"

  "A contest?"

  "What kind?"

  Everyone’s eyes fixed on Sylph.

  "Naturally, a race to see who’s the fastest~!"

  The proposal was met with immediate objections.

  "Tch! That’s it? If you ask me, we should compete to see who’s the strongest in a fight~!"

  "Crude and tedious."

  "Huh—?! Sylph’s a Storm Sylph, right? Speed’s her specialty! That’s cheating!"

  "……"

  Sylph’s lips twitched, and she shot a dangerously dark grin.

  "Heh, is that so! Semiris is right—after all, Lady Sylph is the fastest in the world~! Are you scared you’ll lose, so you’re backing out?"

  Her provocative words instantly angered two of them.

  "Hah—?! Little Sylph, you’ve got some gall!"

  Galamand cracked his knuckles, flames flickering at the corners of his mouth.

  "Today I’ll show you—I’m the absolute fastest in the world!"

  "Very well. Though it’s a trivial pastime, it might amuse me to let you mortals see the gap in skill."

  Scherfil said haughtily. Her expression remained calm, but her wings trembled slightly behind her.

  "Heh~, so that means—"

  "You’re in~?"

  "Of course! I’ll prove I’m the strongest!"

  "Hmm. Indulging a lowly barbarian’s whims once in a while isn’t entirely unbearable."