“Huh? You’re... Hulim!”

  “Lady Hulim?”

  Lore and Luigi recognized her identity in unison.

  The tense, sword-ready atmosphere melted away in an instant.

  Lore lowered her raised wand, and Luigi slid his sword back into its sheath without a sound.

  “I never thought I’d run into you here. Have you just arrived in Bongisto?” Lore asked, her sharp temper fading into surprise.

  “I have. I received a letter from the Central Headquarters, and I’ve come here for my High-Rank Advancement Certification.” Hulim answered calmly.

  “Ah, that’s it then!” Lore nodded in sudden realization, then added with a faint note of astonishment,

  “Though I’m a little surprised you’re only coming now for the certification. I thought you would have done it long ago.”

  “I’ve had a great many matters to attend to... But what of the two of you? What were you doing just now?”

  Hulim glanced between them curiously. She had sensed bad blood between the pair even at the Martial Arts Tournament, yet she had never imagined she would stumble upon them clashing like this on the road.

  “Ahem, it’s nothing at all...” Lore’s cheeks flushed with faint embarrassment, her gaze darting away awkwardly.

  “This cur’s conduct has long been contemptible, so I... I merely meant to teach him a small lesson, that’s all.”

  “...Is that truly the case?”

  Hulim fixed Lore with a faintly skeptical stare.

  Lore’s eyes flinched at once, her gaze skittering off to the side, unable to meet her eyes.

  It was then that Luigi spoke up, his voice steady and unhurried, offering a plain explanation for her sake:

  “It is nothing of the sort, Lady Hulim. This matter stems solely from Lady Lore’s refusal to accept her repeated defeats at my hand. She has come to challenge me for vengeance.”

  “What?! You filthy cur, what nonsense are you spouting?! When did I lose to you time and again?!”

  Lore flew into a spitting rage, shouting furiously at Luigi—yet her bluster rang hollow, her cheeks burning brighter with every word.

  Luigi paid her outburst no mind at all, his amber eyes fixed on Hulim as he spoke with sincere admiration:

  “It has been more than a year since we last met, Lady Hulim. I never imagined your strength would advance by such leaps and bounds in this time. Just now, you drew near to us until you were mere paces away, and yet neither I nor Lady Lore detected your presence in the slightest. I fear your power now far surpasses our own.”

  “It is a pity. I had once hoped to cross blades with you again one day, to test my strength against yours—but it seems that hope was nothing more than foolish overconfidence on my part.”

  “Mr. Luigi, there is no need for such modesty.” Hulim shook her head gently, her voice calm and humble, “I have merely undergone a little training and experience in the interim.”

  “Merely a little training, you say...”

  Luigi murmured softly, his gaze lingering on her, a thoughtful furrow creasing his brow. Whatever thoughts lingered in his heart, he kept them to himself, unspoken.

  On the other side, Lore, her petty excuses laid bare by Luigi’s honest words, scrambled to defend herself, her voice shrill and flustered:

  “...Hulim, don’t listen to a single word this cur says! I’ve never lost to him, not once! I was just caught off guard, unprepared for his cheap tricks—that’s all!”

  “I understand, Lady Lore.”

  Hulim replied simply, her tone warm and unjudgmental.

  “E-Er, you do? You understand... then that’s fine.”

  For some inexplicable reason, Lore’s face flushed a deeper shade of red as she spoke, her voice trailing off weakly.

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  It was plain to see—even she was ashamed of her own transparent lies.

  Fortunately for her, Hulim was kind enough to overlook her obvious embarrassment, and smoothly changed the subject, her gaze turning toward the distant spires of Bongisto:

  “Lady Lore, Mr. Luigi, I must be on my way to report to the Central Headquarters now. Are the two of you returning to the city... or will you continue this?”

  At her words, Luigi and Lore both turned to stare at each other, their eyes locking in a sharp, wordless glare.

  Silence hung between them for a heartbeat.

  Luigi’s amber eyes softened into an expression of pure exasperation, and he bowed his head slightly, his voice tinged with apology as he addressed Hulim:

  “I am truly sorry, Lady Hulim. I have an appointment to meet my senior brother outside the city this afternoon, so I will not be returning to Bongisto for the time being.”

  Lore shot Luigi a venomous glare, her fists clenched at her sides, before snorting and speaking in a sharp huff:

  “I’m staying too! I haven’t finished settling scores with this cur yet—now is not the time to head back!”

  “I see... Then I shall take my leave for Bongisto now.”

  “Farewell.” Luigi nodded his head in solemn farewell, then added quickly, as if remembering an important detail,

  “If you should have any questions about Bongisto, Lady Hulim, seek out the Golden Pavilion Tavern. My senior brother and I frequent the place often.”

  “The Golden Pavilion?”

  “Ah! That’s right!” Lore cut in at once, her anger fading into enthusiastic recommendation, “It’s one of the most popular taverns in Bongisto—the food there is absolutely delicious! Even if you don’t have business with this cur, it’s well worth a visit for a meal!”

  “I see. Thank you both for your kindness.”

  “You are most welcome.” Luigi replied gravely.

  “No need to thank us~!” Lore waved her hand dismissively, her cheeks still pink with lingering embarrassment.

  After bidding Lore and Luigi farewell, Hulim resumed her journey toward Bongisto, her footsteps steady and unhurried along the dirt road.

  As the fortress city drew closer, the crowds on the road swelled with every passing step.

  Fully equipped parties of adventurers tramped back and forth along the path, their armor glinting, their swords and staffs slung over their shoulders—some returning from the dungeons with loot in hand, others venturing out to seek their fortune in the labyrinths beyond the walls.

  Besides the adventurers, endless caravans of merchants from every corner of the Himmler Continent rumbled past, their wagons creaking under the weight of empty crates, come to trade for the rare materials and monster cores harvested from Bongisto’s countless labyrinths.

  And lining both sides of the road, at regular intervals, stood the official dungeon entrances built and maintained by the Adventurer’s Guild.

  For a small fee, any adventurer could venture into these labyrinths, to hunt monsters, gather treasure, and earn their keep with sword and spell.

  Of course, the dungeons visible along the road were but a tiny fraction of the labyrinths that sprawled across the land surrounding Bongisto.

  Far more lay hidden across the vast wilderness—ancient, twisting mazes, some sealed off for their unique magical properties, others deemed far too dangerous for mortal adventurers to explore, their depths barred to all but the strongest souls in the land.

  After roughly two hours of steady walking,

  Hulim finally reached the great gates of Bongisto.

  She tilted her head upward, her silver eyes sweeping across the towering stone walls that stretched endlessly into the sky. From every inch of that massive barrier, she could sense the faint, thrumming pulse of a Magic Circle—a powerful, unbroken weave of defensive magic that ran the entire length of the ramparts, no gaps, no weaknesses, no end to its reach.

  “Every inch of these walls is inscribed with an immensely powerful defensive formation...” she murmured softly, her voice filled with quiet awe.

  And that was not all.

  She lowered her gaze, her senses sinking into the earth beneath her feet—and there, too, she felt it: the faint hum of a Magic Circle, its power spreading outward to cover the entire city, its scale so vast it bordered on the incomprehensible.

  It was not hard to imagine. To attempt an invasion of Bongisto from beneath the earth would be just as impossible as storming its walls from above.

  “No wonder Bongisto is hailed as the strongest fortress in the world. With defenses of this caliber, not even an army of demons could hope to breach its walls...”

  She tore her gaze away from the impregnable ramparts, then stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the city proper.

  Bongisto was governed entirely by the Adventurer’s Guild, with no royal lords, no city guards, no tolls to pay for entry or exit.

  The only souls stationed at its gates were clerks from the Guild’s branch offices—their duty not to bar the way, but to offer aid and guidance to every adventurer who passed through, newcomer and veteran alike.

  “...While Bongisto has Guild branches in every district, you have come for your High-Rank Advancement Trial, Lady Hulim. For that, you must go to the Central Headquarters in the heart of the city. I have a map of Bongisto here for you—you will find the Headquarters marked clearly upon it.”

  “Thank you.” Hulim accepted the rolled parchment from the clerk’s outstretched hand, her fingers brushing the thick paper lightly.

  “You’re very welcome~!”

  The clerk smiled warmly, then added, leaning forward slightly as if sharing a pleasant secret:

  “This is your first time visiting Bongisto, is it not, Lady Hulim?”

  “It is.” Hulim nodded.

  “Then I suspect you have not yet secured lodgings for your stay?”

  “I have not.”

  “Perfect! For adventurers such as yourself, who come to our city for the High-Rank Advancement Certification, the Guild provides complimentary room and board at a designated inn. Once you reach the Central Headquarters, the clerks there will give you all the details of your accommodation.”

  “And rest assured, everything is provided free of charge—and the inn we offer is no humble tavern, but a luxurious establishment fit for High-Rank Adventurers, with the finest comforts and amenities~!”

  “You offer such generous treatment? Then I shall... accept your kindness gratefully.”

  The clerk beamed at her words, her smile bright and warm:

  “Please do not hesitate! It is our pleasure to assist those who seek to prove their worth as High-Rank Adventurers.”

  “I also wish you a pleasant stay during your trial, Lady Hulim. Bongisto is not only the Adventure Capital—it is also a city of endless entertainment and exquisite cuisine. I hope you will take the time to enjoy all that our great city has to offer~!”

  “I shall be sure to do so.”