“Looks like everyone had a lovely night.” I smiled at everyone.

They seemed raring to go, each armed with their respective tools and clustered in their allocated groups.

It was early in the morning, and the sun was yet to completely rise, but every team was ready for their respective journey

“Well, let’s all be careful, but also give it your best.”

I didn’t want a situation where they would be overly cautious and let an opportunity slip past them.

They were allowed to be reckless as long as they fulfilled their mission.

‘Of course, I won’t be allowing all of you to die.’

“If you encounter the swordsman from Neron’s description, flee immediately. As for other members of the Cult, act based on your discretion.”

To be honest, the version of Beruel I fought was stronger than most of the people on the mission.

“Beruel is the Fourth Seat, and a mere machine from him is strong enough to give a lot of you trouble. If you meet the real one, or any of the higher Seat Members, I’ll advice you to flee.”

At least, that would preserve their lives. In the advent that their Souls could be destroyed, it would take even more time and resources to get them back.

“I have no definite idea what the enemy is capable of. But, since I have ways of tracking everyone, I’ll come to the aid of anyone who is in danger.”

If there was anything I refused to happen, it would be the death of my allies.

“Let’s get those Arcanas and win.”

My speech was accompanied by cheers, and I happily split up the teams.

Granting each team an Automaton as a guard, I teleported them to the areas where I suspected the Arcanas to be.

Of course, retrieving them was completely left to them.

>VWUUUUSSSHHH<

“Are you ready?” I appeared out of the blue portal, meeting only Maria in the vast field.

Now that everyone else had gone, it was only me and her that was left.

“Yeah.”

“Alright then… let’s get this show on the road.” Patting her shoulders, I created a spatial distortion and moved us to the place where we would be having some time alone… together.

‘Hopefully this kills two birds with one stone.’

The portal swallowed the both of us, and I could feel everything shifting to our new location.

Before I finally arrived at the designated plane, a thought resonated in my head, and I smiled a little.

‘I wonder what Ana is doing now?’

*****************

Tense silence permeated the room as two people shared the vast space.

There was quite a distance separating the two of them, but a certain person’s reaction made it seem as though there wasn’t nearly enough space apart.

Her frown was evident, and her gaze was cold.

She was fiddling with a tool, completely ignoring the man who watched her at certain intervals.

“Are you really going to keep ignoring me?” His voice was calm.

The boy’s golden hair glowed, in the finely luxurious hall.

The short blond girl he was talking to didn’t even stare in his direction. She was busy in thought, and the whole things she was doing with the tool was to calm her nerves.

In actuality…

‘Urgh, I hate this.’

… She was very dissatisfied.

‘Damn that Jared. Even you, Kuzon. I don’t need any of you, after all.’

Not only did Kuzon call her dead weight, he also said her absence wouldn’t negatively impact the team.

Jared, whom she thought would argue on her behalf, actually sold her away because of his own loss.

It was annoying, to say the least.

‘I feel so stupid. Why was I deluded into thinking they had feelings for me?’

However, worse than that, she felt even more foolish for having feelings for them both—especially Jared.

‘He’s the worst…’ Gritting her teeth, she kept fiddling with the robotic construct—utterly ignoring Kuzon’s stare.

Ana and Kuzon were currently in a vast house made by Kuzon.

It was created from Magic Threads—Kuzon’s Original Magic.

Not only was the exterior incredibly dense, in case of an assault, the interior was very comfortable.

It has a warm, golden ambiance that made it seem no different from a finely furbished home—no, it was most likely even better.

Ana and Kuzon had been seated in the parlor for hours now, and the former was beginning to wonder what would happen next.

Ever since Kuzon took her from the rest of the team the previous day, she had not seen him do anything in particular.

He simply told her to rest and make herself at home. They had not left the house, and despite saying he was busy, Kuzon was idle.

It was probably because of this that Ana felt his gaze strongly concentrated on her.

“Urgh! Will you stop staring?” She couldn’t take it any longer.

“Hm? Did I do something wrong?”

“Yeah! It’s difficult to concentrate when you keep looking at me!”

“Well, why didn’t you go to your room then? That way, you won’t feel my stare or anything…”

Ana bit her lip.

Kuzon raised a valid point. Why didn’t she thought of that before now?

“Alright then. I’m off.”

“Wait.”

Ana paused and stared at the golden haired boy.

For some reason, his expression didn’t seem as cold as it was back when he was conversing with Jared and everyone else. There was something in his eyes that sucked her in, but Ana fought any form of feelings she had toward him.

“You don’t… have to go.” He spoke calmly.

“What was that?” Her voice was raised, and despite being of a much smaller build, Ana seemed domineering at this point.

“I said, you can stay if you want.” Kuzon sighed, resting back on the sofa he made.

“And why would I do that?”

“Because I asked?”

One raised brow from Ana told Kuzon that his assertion wasn’t even nearly enough to make her stay.

“Fine. I won’t stare again. You can do what you like.”

Ana stared at him with suspicion, and after a brief moment of internal debate, she decided to remain in the parlor.

“Hmph!” Now returning to her fiddling, Ana’s pout remained on her face.

“At least you’re not ignoring me anymore…” With that whisper, Kuzon closed his eyes and decided to simply use his perception to observe the girl.

‘… How cute.’