Chapter 58

"Ouchie"

The next day of the expedition, Viela, who had lightly bumped her head against the backrest due to the carriage's jolts, rubbed the back of her head. Clement, sitting in the front seat, wore a worried expression.

"Senior Viela, are you okay?"

"Hehe, no problem. It just resonated a bit where I hit it this morning due to my carelessness."

Viela, who had completely forgotten about sleeping with Lukas, was surprised to find the black-haired beauty sleeping next to her upon waking and hastily tried to put some distance between them, resulting in her falling off the bed backward.

Then, the black-haired beauty, who was her fiancée, worried about the back of her head, declared with a serious expression, "I should have hugged you and slept. Next time, I'll do that to prevent you from falling." This made her head hurt both inside and out.

(Next time, next time...!)

Feeling the crisis in her sleeping situation, Viela clutched her head with both hands.

"Senior Viela, are you really okay? Should we call a doctor when we get to the hotel?"

Startled, she raised her head to find not only Clement but also the boundary magic user who was riding in the carriage with them looking worried.

"No need for that! I wouldn't cause an incident that requires changing the boundary magic formula. I'm really troubled by the criminal."

She laughed wryly and tried to brush it off. The boundary magic user nodded deeply.

Even Clement's amber eyes clouded over.

"Relearning a magic formula that you've practiced hard is quite painful. Moreover, once the new magic formula is completed, we have to teach it to all the team members. After that, there will be an expedition to update all the boundary stones... It could be a long-term project... hehe."

The boundary magic formula must be directly applied; it cannot simply be written down like a written formula. Therefore, one must memorize the long formula from beginning to end and understand its content.

The boundary magic user also let out a dry laugh.

"Can we, who are responsible for removing the boundary magic, handle a highly advanced new magic formula that even the team leader Clement is unsure about?"

"We have no choice. Fortunately, we have a wonderful example to follow, so let's burn the techniques into our minds."

The two boundary magic users looked at Viela as if she were a savior.

She wanted to help, but her skills came from her extensive experience in removing all kinds of magic formulas. If they could accumulate enough experience...

"That's right. If the team leaders of the boundary department and Director Dressel are okay with it, would you like to come to the technical department for practice? There are many failed magic artifacts, so you can gain experience in removing magic formulas that you don't usually touch, which could improve your skills. I became good at removing them this way."

After Viela left, Director Dressel was concerned about the loss of profit from the disposal of failed magic artifacts. However, if the boundary magic users could practice on them, it might sufficiently fill the gap left by Viela's departure. Both the boundary and technical departments would benefit.

Clement, impressed, folded his arms.

"Until now, the focus has been on applying magic, but with the overwriting of the monster attraction magic formula, the level of boundary magic users specializing in removal needs to be improved. If we can get close to Senior Viela's skills, other team leaders might be interested. After the experimental expedition, I'll talk to the other team leaders, and Senior Viela can ask Director Dressel."

"Understood. I'll leave it to you."

Regarding Director Dressel, she could imagine him being overjoyed. He would likely consider the proposal positively.

If more magic users with removal skills on par with hers were to appear, the king or the upper echelons of the magic bureau would lose their pretext for using her. The path to retirement would surely be closer.

The only thing left was to hope that no further problems arose.

(Still, who is the culprit, and what is their purpose?)

She analyzed the paper with the boundary stone's magic formula—transcription magic paper—but it was a very efficient and clean formula. It was the work of a high-level magic user who was familiar with the boundary magic formula and could directly apply the monster attraction magic formula.

The magic bureau suspected not only the former palace magic users but also the involvement of the neighboring country's palace magic users.

In fact, the monster attraction magic formula in question was used by the enemy country during the war five years ago to weaken Tresstia's forces by guiding monsters into the kingdom. They had overwritten the boundary stone's magic formula several times.

Several boundary magic users who went to restore the boundary stones were attacked and killed by monsters.

However, the neighboring country, after losing the war, had a new king, and the new king's efforts had improved relations with Tresstia. It seemed unlikely that the neighboring country would do something to undo those efforts, and to avoid worsening relations, a gag order was imposed on everyone except the investigation team.

(Lord Lukas, as the special knight commander, knew about this, but he was also skeptical about the involvement of the neighboring country's magic users.)

According to Lukas, the scale was too small. The eastern region was far from both the capital and the nearest town. The town itself was small, and it was a poor location for causing chaos in Tresstia with the monster attraction magic formula. Moreover, only one boundary stone was overwritten.

(Although it caused a problem, it didn't result in injuries during the expedition. If they really wanted to trouble Tresstia, they would have overwritten multiple boundary stones or targeted large towns or major trade routes. Why was it only one boundary stone in the eastern region?)

She thought about it, but Viela couldn't figure it out. She decided to leave the investigation of the culprit and their motives to the experts.

Since she and Clement, as well as the removal magic users, had attended the magic school at the same time, they reminisced about their student days while moving and arrived at their accommodation hotel in the evening. The building, though not ornate, was as large as the Duke Ambroch's mansion. The first floor had a restaurant, game room, spa, and other entertainment spaces, while the floors above were all guest rooms. Due to the sudden expedition, they couldn't secure an entire floor, so the rooms were scattered.

After having dinner together in the restaurant, they dispersed, and everyone headed to their respective rooms.

"Senior Viela, you're on the second floor, right?"

Clement, walking next to her, peeked at the key in Viela's hand.

"Yes. It's lucky that there's less stair climbing. What about you, Lord Clement?"

"The top floor, the fifth floor."

"…That must be tough."

Unlike the palace, this hotel didn't have an automatic elevator magic artifact. She sympathized with the junior magic user who would have to go up and down for a week.

However, Clement's expression was bright.

"But the night view of the city is supposed to be beautiful. Would you like to come see it sometime during our stay? I'd welcome you."

She was tempted to nod but resisted, remembering Lukas's repeated advice.

"…I'll pass."

"Hehe, you seem well-trained. Oh, we're already on the second floor."

Viela was on this floor, and Clement was on the fifth, so they parted ways here.

She smiled at her junior.

"Let's work hard together from tomorrow! Good night, Lord Clement."

"…"

For some reason, Clement stared at Viela with a serious face and froze.

When she tilted her head and called out, "Lord Clement?" he snapped out of it, smiled, and said, "Let's work hard. Good night," before heading up the stairs.

Feeling something melancholic in his smile, Viela entered her room.

The room had a small bed, a desk, a shower room, and even a warm air device for drying hair. Though small, it was well-equipped. She could spend a week comfortably here.

Following Lukas's instructions, she checked the locks on the door and windows, prepared for bed, and lay down.

Her head still hurt a bit.

She chuckled and pressed the necklace at her chest through her nightgown.

It wasn't a communication device, but she had imbued the pink diamond with magic and given it to him, saying, "We're connected."

"Lord Lukas, good night."

Wishing it would reach him, Viela whispered.

For the next seven days until they met again, she decided to say good night to the necklace and fell asleep.

However, it didn't happen the next day.