Zaraf slowly opened his eyes.

  The same ceiling.

  The same room.

  The same bandages wrapped around his body.

  “…Again.”

  He sighed lightly.

  But this time something was different.

  On the table beside his bed, there was breakfast… and a folded letter.

  Zaraf picked it up and opened it.

  For Zaraf,

  I am going to another city for some work, so today you can take a break.

  — From Ben

  Zaraf stared at the letter for a moment.

  “…A break, huh?”

  He leaned back slightly.

  Then he spoke quietly.

  “Anyway… what happened yesterday, Bell?”

  A small portal opened beside him.

  Bell floated out from her dimension with her usual lazy expression.

  “As you suspected,” she said calmly. “Someone treated your injuries.”

  Zaraf frowned.

  “So who was it? Who can heal broken bones in one night?”

  Bell crossed her arms.

  “…Makima.”

  Zaraf froze.

  “?!!…”

  Bell continued.

  “When you lost consciousness, Ben carried you home. After that, Makima came and started healing you.”

  “She spent almost half the night treating your injuries.”

  Bell looked at him carefully.

  “…She looked really tired.”

  Zaraf’s fists slowly tightened.

  His teeth clenched.

  “Why… did she do this?”

  Bell shrugged lightly.

  “You should ask her yourself.”

  Zaraf finished the breakfast quietly.

  After that, he stepped outside the room.

  In the living room, he saw Makima and Antie talking together.

  Antie noticed him first.

  “Oh, Zaraf! You’re awake.”

  She smiled warmly.

  “I heard today you got a break.”

  “…Yes.”

  Zaraf answered softly.

  His eyes moved toward Makima.

  Makima also looked at him.

  For a moment—

  Their eyes met.

  But Zaraf immediately lowered his gaze.

  A feeling of guilt weighed on his chest.

  “I’m just burdening her…” he thought.

  Makima noticed his expression.

  Antie noticed it too.

  She clapped her hands suddenly.

  “How about we spend today together?” she said cheerfully. “Let’s have a party!”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Zaraf blinked.

  “.! Party?”

  Makima looked slightly embarrassed.

  “Mom… maybe he has something to do. Don’t bother him.”

  Antie turned toward Zaraf.

  “So? Are you busy today?”

  Zaraf shook his head.

  “No. I’m free.”

  He thought for a moment.

  “And I was wondering what I should do today anyway… so joining you sounds good, if you don’t mind my presence.”

  Antie smiled warmly.

  “It never bothers us.”

  She patted his shoulder gently.

  “You’re like a son to me.”

  Zaraf looked surprised.

  Antie clapped again.

  “So! What should we cook for the party?”

  Makima looked toward Zaraf.

  “…What do you like?”

  Zaraf thought for a second.

  “…I liked what I ate on my first day.”

  Antie nodded immediately.

  “You mean takoyaki!”

  She smiled brightly.

  “Very well. Today we’ll prepare your favorite food.”

  “Let’s start!”

  Later — Kitchen

  Antie was checking ingredients.

  Then she frowned slightly.

  “No… we’re missing some things.”

  She turned to Zaraf.

  “Zaraf, can you go with Makima to buy groceries?”

  Zaraf stiffened.

  “!?!! …Okay. It’s not a problem.”

  Antie nodded.

  “Good. Go ask her in her room. She knows what to buy and where to get it.”

  Zaraf walked toward Makima’s room.

  He raised his hand to knock.

  But the door was slightly open.

  By accident… he saw inside.

  Makima was sitting near the window.

  She was cleaning her magic staff carefully.

  Her movements were slow and gentle.

  Almost loving.

  But…

  There was sadness in her expression.

  Zaraf quickly stepped back.

  He made a small sound while approaching again so she could notice him.

  Then he knocked.

  “Hello.”

  Makima looked up.

  “Yes?”

  “Antie asked me to go buy groceries with you. So… are you free?”

  Makima stood up quickly.

  “Huh— y-yes. Wait a moment.”

  Town

  They walked together through the streets.

  Silence followed them for a while.

  Zaraf was deep in thought.

  (Should I ask her about healing me…?)

  (No… maybe Master asked her to do it.)

  (But I don’t want her to get tired because of me…)

  (And that staff… she’s probably an adventurer too.)

  Makima glanced at him.

  She noticed his worried expression again.

  “So… how is your training going?”

  Zaraf snapped out of his thoughts.

  “?! …It’s going good.”

  Makima nodded softly.

  “I know my father is hard to understand.”

  “But he’s kind at heart.”

  “He cares deeply… even if he doesn’t show it.”

  Zaraf smiled faintly.

  “I know.”

  “Talking to him isn’t scary anymore.”

  He looked forward.

  “…And somehow… I like the time I spend with him.”

  Makima looked at his face.

  A small smile appeared on her lips.

  After walking a little further, they reached the market.

  Makima pointed toward two different shops.

  “We need a lot of things. Let’s split up.”

  “You go to that shop and buy these ingredients.”

  “I’ll go to the other one.”

  “Let’s meet later on the bridge.”

  “Okay,” Zaraf replied.

  They separated.

  Zaraf finished buying the ingredients.

  When he stepped outside—

  A flash of light caught his attention.

  Sunlight reflected off a small stone in a nearby shop.

  He walked closer.

  Inside the shop, a gem was displayed.

  Its color…

  Was exactly the same as Makima’s eyes.

  Zaraf stared at it quietly.

  (Maybe… I should buy it.)

  (As thanks.)

  Bell’s voice echoed in his mind.

  “Oh? Buying her a gift?”

  Zaraf frowned.

  “No… I just think it suits her.”

  Bell chuckled.

  “Hoho… suits her, huh?”

  “Be careful with those feelings.”

  Zaraf looked down.

  “…I don’t deserve her.”

  Bell didn’t hear that part.

  Suddenly—

  He heard Makima’s voice nearby.

  She was talking to someone.

  Zaraf followed the sound.

  He saw her speaking with a guild receptionist.

  “…We need adventurers!” the receptionist said urgently.

  Makima looked troubled.

  Zaraf walked closer.

  “What happened?”

  The receptionist noticed him.

  “You’re the student of the Guild Master!”

  “We need your help!”

  Zaraf frowned.

  “What kind of help?”

  The receptionist spoke quickly.

  “A party has been missing for three days.”

  “Today we received information that they’re trapped inside a dungeon.”

  “A deep dungeon.”

  Zaraf’s expression darkened.

  “For three days?”

  Makima spoke quietly.

  “…Are they…?”

  The receptionist nodded.

  “Yes.”

  “They are the ones you’re thinking about.”

  Makima’s hands tightened.

  Zaraf noticed immediately.

  “I’ll go,” he said firmly.

  “When do we leave?”

  Makima looked surprised.

  “?!! …Then I’ll go too.”

  The receptionist hesitated.

  “Makima… you don’t have to force yourself.”

  “If you don’t want to—”

  Makima shook her head.

  “No.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  The receptionist nodded.

  “…Alright.”

  “I’ll prepare two more members for your party.”

  “You can inform anyone else you need.”

  Makima looked at Zaraf.

  “It’s your break day… you don’t have to—”

  Zaraf shook his head.

  “Life is more important than my break.”

  Makima quietly looked at him.

  In that moment…

  She understood why Ben chose him as a student.

  “We should tell Mother first,” she said softly.

  Later—

  Two more adventurers joined them.

  An archer girl.

  And a large man carrying a massive shield.

  The receptionist spoke again.

  “You must form a party before entering the dungeon.”

  Zaraf scratched his head slightly.

  “So… what do I need to do?”

  “We need approval from the Vice Guild Master.”

  They arrived at the guild.

  The receptionist led them upstairs.

  Inside the office—

  A woman sat behind a desk buried under piles of paperwork.

  Dark circles were visible under her eyes.

  She looked like she hadn’t slept for days.

  She looked up.

  Her eyes stopped on Zaraf.

  “So… you are Ben’s student.”

  Zaraf blinked.

  “?!! You know me?”

  Inside her mind—

  (Of course I know you.)

  (Because of you, Master gave all his work to me…)

  (I don’t even remember when I last slept…)

  But outwardly she simply said—

  “You’re quite famous.”

  “So… have you gathered your party?”

  The receptionist nodded.

  “Yes. An archer, a tanker, and—”

  Makima stepped forward.

  “I’ll be the healer.”

  The Vice Guild Master looked at her carefully.

  “…Makima.”

  “If you insist.”

  Her eyes shifted to Zaraf.

  “And you will be the main attacker?”

  Zaraf looked around.

  Everyone was staring at him.

  He sighed slightly.

  “…Then I’ll be the main attacker.”

  The Vice Guild Master nodded.

  “Permission granted.”

  “You will lead this party into the deep dungeon.”

  “Your objective is to rescue the missing adventurers.”

  Zaraf bowed slightly.

  “I’ll do my best.”

  They began leaving the room.

  But Makima stayed behind for a moment.

  She spoke quietly with the Vice Guild Master.

  Her expression looked… worried.

  Zaraf didn’t interrupt.

  He waited outside.

  Soon—

  They gathered again.

  The party was ready.

  Their destination—

  The deep dungeon.