"Since you agree, we're temporary partners now. And drop the 'Mr.'—just call me Zed."
Zed smiled, buoyed by the system's activation. He'd claim his reward tonight.
Erina and Hisako nodded. "Then call us by our first names too!"
Zed agreed. "Let's meet my master and senior brother. They'll want to know I've found partners."
The girls tensed—meeting Zed's mentors felt like meeting parents.
"Don't worry," Zed said. "Master Yosaku and Senior Brother Teppei are eccentric but kind."
"Eccentric how?" Erina asked.
"Yosaku's one of the Healing Country's top Saiseiya. Brilliant, but… unconventional. Once regrew a forest by accident while drunk. Teppei? He's a chatterbox. Won't shut up about Gourmet Luck and Food Fortunes."
As they approached the Mother Tree—the Saiseiya's base—Zed pointed out wonders: toxin-eating fish in hot springs, bioluminescent moss, and firewood laced with healing herbs that burned for months.
Inside the hollowed tree, Erina marveled. "It's crowded but… calming."
"The Mother Tree emits calming pheromones," Zed explained. "And the firepits burn Healing Logs—medicinal smoke soothes nerves."
He led them to his Regeneration Center, inherited from his late mentor, Cass. "You can stay here or in the city. But first—"
At Yosaku's center (higher up the trunk, befitting his status), Zed barged in without knocking.
Hisako whispered, "Shouldn't we—"
"Yosaku hates formalities," Zed said.
The grizzled Saiseiya glanced up from his workbench. "Back so soon? And with… guests?"