Chapter 13: Overnight

With Rosasys as a collector, things became much simpler.

Vilan led her along the path, picking up all the fragments he couldn’t collect himself.

Then, following the map with Rosasys, they quickly swept through other villages.

“Vilan-nii, there’s another fragment here.”

Rosasys picked up a fragment from a corner Vilan hadn’t noticed.

“Rosasys-chan is amazing.”

Vilan ruffled her hair.

Along the way, they kept calling each other brother and sister, and it felt just right.

Even though they’d only just met, there was no distance between them thanks to Vilan’s kindness and the goodness in Rosasys’s heart.

Rosasys closed her eyes, enjoying Vilan’s touch.

Vilan could tell the girl loved having her head patted.

“Rosasys-chan, do you really like it when I pat your head?”

At Vilan’s words, Rosasys’s face instantly turned red.

She softly answered, “Mm,” then explained, “Because I grew up with Grandmother, and as an elder she loved to pat my head. So when you did it, Nii-san, I…”

“I see. I understand.”

Vilan nodded.

The little pink-haired girl’s face was crimson, her pink eyes shyly looking at him, making him feel a criminal urge.

“Let’s keep moving.”

“Mm.”

After finishing another village, the two had collected ten complete Certificates and a scattered Fragment—a pretty good haul.

Vilan avoided fighting as much as possible.

After all, battles were unnecessary for now.

He’d wait until the second or third day to ambush others.

The first day was better spent gathering Fragments.

They crossed a wooden Bridge, when suddenly a flash appeared.

Vilan quickly pulled Rosasys aside, barely dodging.

Vilan looked sideways.

It was a Magic attack—light-based—from across the Bridge.

“Hey, not bad. You dodged my spell.”

“But if you know what’s good for you, hand over all your Fragments. Otherwise, I’ll eliminate you both myself!”

As he spoke, fire flared in the man’s hand, his threat obvious.

But if his flames hit the Bridge, the collapse could drop them into the Valley below.

Even so, Vilan showed no hesitation.

He took out the Metal Pen and activated Arcane: Time, speeding both of them up.

“Stay close.”

Vilan gripped Rosasys’s hand.

“Mm.”

Rosasys didn’t hesitate.

They’d met enemies before, but Vilan defeated them all.

The boy gave her an unprecedented sense of security.

“Fools.”

The man’s face twisted.

He’d guarded this spot all day, threatening anyone who passed.

If they refused to hand over Fragments, he blew up the Bridge, and deaths from falling into the deep gorge counted as his kills.

All the final points went to him.

He repaired the broken Bridge afterward with Wood Magic.

He’d never failed.

After a while, it became boring—maybe that’s why he didn’t blow up the Bridge immediately but chatted with Vilan’s group instead.

But unfortunately, among everyone he’d threatened, none had ever handed over their Fragments at the start.

Maybe they realized that even if they did, he wouldn’t let them go.

Scorching flames swept over, radiating heat and Magic.

Vilan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He could sense the strong Magic power—a guy with almost nine-star Mage strength—yet he resorted to such a cowardly ambush.

“Strike.”

Starlight instantly collided with the flames, unleashing a powerful shockwave.

Vilan rushed forward, but the force of the explosion still broke the wooden Bridge.

“Vilan-nii, what should we do?”

“Don’t worry. I’m here.”

Vilan noticed they weren’t too far from the other side and unleashed Space.

A glowing portal appeared.

He warned quickly, “This is a Space Spell. When we land, attack that guy right away.”

“Understood.”

Rosasys wasn’t shocked by Vilan’s use of Space Magic; she simply agreed.

The portal swallowed them, scattering starlight everywhere.

A moment later, the heat engulfed the area.

When the heat faded, the man looked at the broken gorge and laughed.

“Another team down. I’m so smart—I really belong in the Academy!”

But before he finished speaking, a cold wind rose behind him.

As a longtime schemer, he immediately sensed danger and turned.

“No!”

A silver blade stabbed toward him.

He hurriedly raised his staff to block.

Rosasys, born in poverty, didn’t have the resources to be a Mage—she was a hardworking swordswoman.

Through years of hardship, she’d reached the level of a five-star Knight.

She could hold her own in close combat.

Flames wreathed the man’s staff as he fended off her attacks.

His first goal was to create distance—how could a Mage fight up close?

He unleashed a burst of Fire Magic at close range.

It exploded, forcing Rosasys to retreat.

She dodged the blast, and the man thought he’d regained the advantage.

But countless stars transformed into meteors and crashed down on him.

“Damn it!”

Rosasys didn’t hesitate—she charged, her blade slicing a crescent of silver through the wounded man.

She left a fatal wound.

Seeing the man gravely injured, Vilan lowered his hand, intending to give Rosasys a chance to grow.

The man gritted his teeth, barely standing.

He didn’t know why the other man had stopped attacking, but saw a chance to escape.

He swung his staff, launching several Fireballs.

But Rosasys dodged with ease and struck down.

A pillar of fire erupted from beneath her, forcing her to abandon the attack and evade.

Flames shot up, filling the sky.

Thankfully, Rosasys avoided a critical hit.

The man gasped, his staff burning with fire again.

It spread along the ground, forming a Fire Serpent that lunged at Rosasys, trying to entangle her.

Vilan watched her fighting style and sighed with a bitter smile.

The girl’s attacks were too straightforward—no sword skills or battle techniques, just wild slashes.

Meanwhile, the enemy kept unleashing all kinds of Fire Magic.

He had to help Rosasys.

Vilan used Sorrow.

A wave of mental shock pulsed through the ground, bypassing Rosasys and striking the man directly.

Rosasys knew this was Vilan’s attack.

She seized the opportunity.

The instant the impact hit the man’s mind, he froze.

Even the Fire Serpent vanished.

By the time he recovered, Rosasys was already in front of him.

“No!”

Her sword fell.

The man’s body shattered into countless points of light.

Fifteen Certificates transferred into Rosasys’s body.

Rosasys breathed a sigh of relief.

If Vilan-nii hadn’t helped, she might have let the guy escape.

She gripped the Silver Sword tightly.

They’d found this sword while searching, and Vilan-nii had given it to her without hesitation.

She couldn’t let him down.

“I’m sorry, Vilan-nii.”

“It’s fine.”

Vilan gently rubbed her head, comforting her softly.

“There will be many chances to improve after entering the Academy. Don’t worry.”

“Mm.”

Light filled Rosasys’s eyes, burning with fighting spirit.

They set off again.

After passing another Town, the sky of the entire Subspace turned completely dark.

They’d need to find a place to rest.

“It’s getting late. Let’s find somewhere to spend the night.”

Rosasys’s face flushed, but she didn’t protest.

She nodded quietly.

“I’ll listen to you, Nii-san.”