Part 1
The sun was beginning to set as the group ventured deeper into the heart of Mareen Forest.
The treetops intertwined above their heads, forming a natural dome that filtered the light into irregular shafts.
The air was cooler here, and the birdsong had given way to an unsettling silence… broken only by the crunch of dry leaves beneath their feet.
"Are we sure this is the right path?" Seri asked—for the fourth time in the past hour.
"If you ask me that again, I swear I'll activate Eve's combat mode," Kaito replied, without looking back, the map floating in front of him.
"Combat mode confirmed. Should I eliminate verbal or actual threat?" Eve asked with complete seriousness.
"It was a joke!!" Seri shouted, jumping to the side.
Kaito sighed, a tired smile tugging at his lips.
Despite the exhaustion, it was hard not to enjoy moments like these. Even if they were in the middle of a forest full of wild beasts, there was something comforting about the routine… about having company.
"Eve," Kaito said, closing the panel, "can you scan for nearby threats?"
"Analyzing…
…
No threats detected within the next three hundred meters. However, spiritual energy density has increased by 27% since we entered the forest."
"That sounds like bad news," Kaito muttered, lowering his voice.
"Not necessarily," Seri said thoughtfully. "In Mythara, that could mean we're close to a spiritual source… like an ancient shrine or a protected zone."
"And is that good or bad?"
"It depends," Seri added, shrugging. "If we run into a guardian spirit, it'll let us pass. But if it's territorial… well, we'd have no choice but to fight."
"Anti-entity protocol engaged," Eve said, raising her right fist slightly, as if ready to punch a ghost.
Seri let out a short laugh.
"If the spirits knew you were with us, they'd probably migrate to another continent."
Kaito looked ahead, and for a moment, he paused.
A soft murmur drifted through the air. It wasn't wind, or rustling leaves. It was something more delicate. Like a forgotten melody.
"Did you hear that?" he asked.
"Hear what?" Seri replied, stopping as well.
Eve turned her head toward him.
"No recent audio matches found in anomaly patterns. Would you like me to check your hearing?"
"No… it was just for a second. Like a… distant song."
Seri furrowed her brow.
"In Mythara, they say that if you hear singing in the forest and don't know where it's coming from, you should run in the opposite direction."
"And what happens if you run toward the song?"
"Then you're probably a protagonist with a tragic death."
Kaito let out a small laugh, though his gaze drifted back into the trees.
Something about that song didn't feel threatening. On the contrary… it felt familiar.
As if he had heard it before—in another life.
They kept walking a bit farther until Eve came to a halt.
"Suitable campsite detected. Nearby water source, acceptable visibility, moderate risk."
"Perfect. I'm not taking another step today," Seri said, flopping to the ground with a sigh.
"Alright, let's get the camp set up," Kaito replied.
"I'll handle perimeter surveillance," Eve added, activating small floating sensors that zipped from her pocket like glowing insects.
While Kaito began setting up the campfire, he couldn't help but glance back toward the path they had come from.
Seri, meanwhile, was pitching the tents and organizing the rest of the camp. Her memories of Mythara returned in fleeting flashes.
"What are you thinking about?" Kaito asked, noticing how serious she looked. "You're usually not this quiet."
"Hmph… how rude," she replied—though she knew he was right.
"I was just thinking… how strange this all feels. And yet… how familiar."
"What do you mean?"
Seri's eyes turned melancholic as she gazed at the sky through the branches.
"Fire elves are trained in solitude—surviving alone in the forest. The idea is to strengthen body, mind, and spirit."
"From a young age, we're sent to a remote area, and we have to survive alone for two years."
"That must've been rough," Kaito murmured.
"It was. Especially if you're not a warrior. Mages rely on teamwork. If we run out of mana, we're completely exposed."
"In my tribe, most are warriors. For a fire elf, strength is everything. Magic… is just a tool to complement it."
"But…" she added, her usual smile returning, "now I have someone to camp with. I'm not alone anymore.
It's the first time in years that I feel like I'm in the right place."
He returned a gentle smile.
"Well… if it makes you feel better, this is my first time camping." He paused for a moment. "Or having friends."
She stepped closer and sat on a nearby log.
"What do you mean you don't have friends? Someone as kind as you should be surrounded by them."
"Well… in my world, making friends is trickier than it sounds. Being kind usually just means people take advantage of you."
"I don't think that's true," she said firmly. "You were summoned as a hero. And in the forest, we say: 'Mizuki never makes a mistake.'"
"Oh yeah? Then why did she give me a broken sword?"
"I don't know. But I'm sure there's a reason. Maybe you can't see it now, but… a kind heart is what the world needs. That's what makes you a hero—not your strength."
She gently pointed at his chest with her hand.
"You know… for someone who's kind of an airhead, you say some pretty nice things," Kaito said with a smile.
"Humph! That's the last time I get sentimental!" she huffed, turning away dramatically.
"Would you like me to leave you two alone in the tent? I can go for a walk if my presence is… inconvenient," said Eve, in her usual deadpan tone.
"Shut up, Eve! Don't say weird stuff like that... I'll go gather firewood instead," Kaito said, walking off with his face bright red.
Seri watched him go with a mix of fondness and mild exasperation, crossing her arms and puffing her cheeks slightly.
"Idiot…" she muttered under her breath. "I'm not that sensitive."
Eve, on the other hand, remained silent, her eyes following Kaito as he disappeared between the trees.
"Are you analyzing something?" Seri asked, noticing her expression.
"Just monitoring vitals. The master is in good physical condition, but his temperature rose by 8% after being accused of romantic behavior."
"Are you making fun of him?!" Seri gasped.
"I call it clinical observation."
Seri sighed, giving up on reason.
She walked to the tent and began checking the supplies while Eve resumed her silent patrol.
The campfire crackled with moderate strength, casting orange light that danced across the canvas walls.
Kaito walked a bit deeper into the forest, searching for dry branches. The night breeze carried the earthy scent of damp soil and wildflowers. He couldn't say why, but… something had changed.
Beyond the rustle of leaves, he heard… a voice. Faint. Feminine. A melody.
He turned abruptly—but saw no one.
"...Seri?"
Nothing.
Only the whisper of wind between the branches.
He heard it again. Clearer this time. A sad tune, like someone singing softly to themselves, never intending to be heard.
Kaito swallowed hard.
It wasn't fear he felt. It was something else. Like… nostalgia.
He stepped closer, parting through a patch of low bushes.
There, he found a small rise in the terrain, and just beyond it—a stream reflecting the light of the moon.
And by the shore… nothing. No one.
But a single leaf floated gently down the water. A white leaf, folded like a talisman.
Kaito knelt beside the stream, watching as the current slowly carried it away. He didn't know why, but something about the moment stirred him deeply.
He closed his eyes for a second.
And then, like a whisper lost in the wind, a soft voice reached his mind.
"Why are you alone… when you carry so many souls with you?"
His eyes snapped open. But the song was gone. And so was the leaf. Only the moon's reflection… and the murmur of the water remained.
"Who…?" he whispered, but his voice dissolved into the breeze.
Kaito gathered the firewood he had found and made his way back to camp, still deep in thought.
He said nothing when he returned.
He simply placed the logs next to the fire and sat down in silence, watching the flames dance.
Seri glanced at him for a moment but said nothing.
Eve simply noted in a low voice:
"Master returned with sixteen branches. Silence level: 83%. Potential spiritual contact unconfirmed."
Kaito closed his eyes quietly.
"Are you alright?" Seri asked, seeing how thoughtful he looked in front of the fire.
"Yeah… I just have this feeling that someone—or something—is following us."
"Do you think the Church is tracking us?"
Kaito's face hardened for a moment.
"This was all planned. We knew an ambush was coming… but I didn't think it would happen this soon."
"According to Zarakov's records, the Estelaris nobility has always tried to manipulate the government from the shadows," Seri added seriously. "So what you're saying makes sense."
"Did Francheszca deal with the same thing?"
Eve nodded. For the first time, something close to emotion crossed her face.
"According to my database, over the years, several nobles attempted to assassinate my creator to claim her inventions. I was originally designed as a defense and surveillance automaton..."
Seri and Kaito exchanged a silent glance. Eve's words carried more weight than expected. That the Church and the nobility had tried to kill the kingdom's greatest scientist… was hard to process. But now, they understood better how cruelty could be aimed even at a chosen hero.
After all, powerful people are the same in every world—always chasing more status, more control.
And Kaito… was nothing more than a threat to their plans.