After selecting their new weapons and armor, Ramon and the others were nearly ready to depart.
"So, you'll be heading out again soon?" I asked, watching them prepare.
Ramon gave a firm nod. "As the Hero, I have a duty to protect the kingdom. We'll be departing with the knights once everything is loaded. Probably in a few hours."
Lily added, "I've already confirmed the supplies and accommodations. The carriages are being packed."
Before they left, I turned to Emma.
"Hey… could I take a look at the magic scroll you used during my summoning? I've been reading up on magic in my free time."
She blinked, surprised for a moment, then smiled. "Sure. I've been meaning to study it myself, but things have been too hectic. If you figure anything out, let me know."
She handed me the scroll. I took it gently, but my reason for asking wasn't just idle curiosity.
This scroll… it was given to the Hero Party by the Viscount Ironhart family. Why exactly was _I_ summoned by that specific magic circle?
Ramon turned to me, slinging his new blade across his back.
"Well then, we'll be heading out now, Alve."
I smiled. "Yeah. Take care of the battle. I'll hold the fort here at the palace."
He looked serious—as expected—but I kept my smile steady. Better to send them off with light hearts than heavy ones.
With a final nod, the Hero Party and Miss Sera departed to make final preparations.
I watched them go, a lingering sense of unease taking root.
Now that I think about it... this world really _is_ in danger. As long as the Demon Lord exists, attacks like this will only increase. The longer it takes to defeat him, the more destruction and suffering will follow.
"It feels strange," I murmured, "seeing something like a Demon Lord—something that felt so cliché in stories—play out for real."
Unlike reading a fantasy novel… living through one is an entirely different experience.
I sighed. "Maybe I'll take a stroll. Clear my head a bit."
---
The streets were alive with movement. Market stalls bustled, merchants shouted their wares, and children ran past with carefree laughter. But as I passed the Adventurer's Guild, the mood shifted.
I could see it. The urgency. The adventurers inside looked tense, alert—no doubt reacting to the recent call to arms.
Continuing down the road, my steps eventually brought me to the steps of the **Central Church**.
I stared up at its familiar stone walls, weathered but still serene.
"...I wonder if Lady Saya, the Oracle, is still inside."
It had been a while since I last saw her.
"Should I go in…?"
Without another thought, I pushed open the doors and stepped inside.