"Wind!"

As soon as the spell left, magical energy rippled through the room. A gentle breeze swept past us, lifting the stale air and pushing it toward the open windows. The unbearable stench was carried away with it, dispersing outside like smoke.

I inhaled carefully.

…Yeah. Much better.

There was still a faint trace lingering in the air, but it was finally at a level a human could tolerate. Around me, people slowly lowered their hands from their noses, a few even letting out relieved sighs.

But then a different kind of silence settled in.

"…Huh?"

I followed the flow of everyone's gaze and turned my head.

Viola.

She stood there stiffly, shoulders slightly hunched, her hands clasped in front of her as if she'd just committed a terrible crime.

"I-I'm sorry…" she said softly. "I just… couldn't bear it anymore…"

Her voice was so small it nearly vanished into the room.

Honestly, I couldn't blame her. If anything, I was impressed she held out as long as she did. Casting magic without warning—especially in someone else's home—could definitely be taken as rude, even offensive.

That's why my attention immediately shifted to one person.

Grundar.

If the homeowner took offense, things could get messy very quickly. Being thrown out would be the best outcome.

I watched him carefully, my body tense.

But contrary to my worries, Grundar didn't react at all.

He didn't glare.

He didn't scold her.

He didn't even pause for long.

Instead, he took another swig from his bottle, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and spoke casually.

"The second floor's empty," he said. "Use it however you like."

That was it.

With those few words, he turned around and headed toward the kitchen, his heavy footsteps fading as he disappeared from sight.

"…Eh?"

For a moment, no one moved.

Then—

"Whew…"

"Thank goodness…"

"I thought we were done for…"

Quiet murmurs of relief spread through the room. Viola looked up, clearly surprised, her eyes blinking as if she hadn't expected things to end so easily.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

Looks like Grundar isn't the petty type.

If anything, he probably appreciated the fresh air himself.

I glanced at Viola again. She still looked a little embarrassed, but there was relief there too—along with a faint gratitude she hadn't put into words.

"…Good call," I muttered under my breath.

Thanks to her quick thinking, this situation didn't spiral into something worse.

And now, at the very least, we could breathe.

"Alright, everyone. Let's head upstairs."

Vermut, having grasped the situation almost instantly, took the lead and guided us to the second floor.

The structure was simple—very much in line with typical Imperial architecture. A long, straight corridor stretched ahead, its stone floor worn smooth by time. Four rooms lined each side, their wooden doors evenly spaced.

One of the rooms was already packed with various unidentifiable objects—broken furniture, old crates, and what looked like discarded equipment—so we ruled that one out immediately. That left three rooms.

But the moment we opened the doors, a thick layer of dust greeted us.

"…Looks like no one's been here in a while," Viola muttered.

In the end, Vermut and Viola used magic to deal with the problem. A gentle gust swept through each room, lifting dust into the air before dispersing it out the windows. A thin layer of mana shimmered briefly, and just like that, the rooms were presentable enough to use.

After settling on who would take which room, we agreed to rest for the night.

---

Later, after washing away the day's grime with a quick bath, I lay back on the bed and let out a slow breath. The mattress was firmer than I was used to, but after everything that had happened, it felt more than adequate.

Knock.

Before I could respond, Vermut stepped inside and bowed his head slightly.

"Louis, thank you—for today."

His tone was sincere, without even a trace of formality.

I raised myself slightly and waved a hand. "You don't need to thank me. If anything, I should be the one saying that. I received plenty of help from you."

That was the truth.

There had been a few tense moments—moments that could've turned dangerous if things had gone wrong—but overall, meeting Vermut had been a stroke of luck. If not for him, we would've been wandering around with nowhere to stay for the night.

Vermut straightened and gave a small, relieved smile. "Still, I'm glad things worked out."

"Me too."

Silence settled for a moment, not awkward, just calm.

"By the way… what kind of relationship do you two have?"

After a short stretch of silence, I finally asked the question that had been lingering in my mind.

The eccentric dwarf, Grundar.

Considering his personality—as depicted in the comic—letting complete strangers stay under his roof should have been unthinkable. He wasn't exactly known for hospitality, let alone generosity.

That was why it bothered me.

What kind of connection did Vermut have with him for Grundar to allow this so easily?

Especially when Vermut had mentioned that their last meeting was nearly ten years ago.

They didn't look particularly close. There was no warmth, no nostalgia, no friendly banter. If anything, their interaction felt… restrained.

At my question, Vermut paused briefly before answering.

"We were in the same guild for a short time. Long ago."

That simple reply made something click in my head.

The platinum badge.

I glanced at the emblem Vermut carried, memories from the comic lining up neatly in my thoughts.

Ah. I see.

Former comrades.

That explained a lot.

Not close friends who shared drinks and laughter, but not enemies either. The kind of relationship forged through necessity—fighting side by side, trusting each other with their lives because the job demanded it.

A professional bond.

In modern terms…

Former workplace colleagues.

"Grundar was the kind of man you could rely on when things went wrong," Vermut continued calmly. "Stubborn, foul-mouthed, difficult… but when it mattered, he never abandoned his post."

That actually sounded exactly like Grundar.

Someone unpleasant to be around, but dependable in battle.

"So that's why," I muttered quietly.

Vermut gave a faint nod. "He doesn't open his doors easily. But once he acknowledges someone, even slightly, he doesn't forget."

I glanced toward the other room, where the sound of heavy footsteps and metallic clanking echoed faintly.

"…That dwarf sure has his own way of showing kindness," I said.

Vermut let out a small, almost amused breath. "You could call it that."

At the very least, I understood now.

This wasn't hospitality.

It was acknowledgment.

And coming from Grundar, that alone was worth more than any warm welcome.

I could roughly understand why he'd been especially lenient with Vermut.

"Um… may I ask you something?"

"What is it? Go ahead. Ask anything."

This was the question I'd been most curious about.

"I recently gained a new ability. I was hoping you could give me some advice."

"A new ability?" Vermut's brows lifted slightly. "You've grown while I wasn't looking. What kind of ability is it?"

Thankfully, he didn't dismiss me and listened attentively.

"I can manipulate something similar to magnetic force," I explained carefully. "You know… attraction and repulsion. I'm trying to figure out how to use it more efficiently, but I've started hitting limits on my own."

"Magnetic force…" Vermut murmured. "Like magnets?"

"Yes. That exact principle."

"Hm." He leaned back slightly, fingers tapping against his arm as he thought. "You can already use electrical techniques, correct? If that's the case…"

Oh?

As expected of a platinum-badge magician, his mind immediately started connecting concepts I hadn't fully considered yet. His gaze sharpened, clearly deep in thought.

Just as he was about to say something—

"What? You can use magnetic force?!"

"Aah—!"

Bang!

The door flew open without warning, and I jumped so hard I lost my balance, falling backward onto the floor.

"Ugh—!"

That really hurt.

"Is that true, boy?!"

Grundar stormed in, his massive frame practically filling the doorway. His eyes were blazing with excitement as he stared straight at me.

"H-huh? Ah—y-yes, it is."

Before I could even finish answering, he crossed the room in a few long strides and grabbed me by the collar, lifting me halfway off the floor.

"Damn it… it is true!" he bellowed. "This is insane!"

"H-Hey! P-Please put me down—!"

What is wrong with him?!

I looked between the overly excited Grundar and the calm-but-curious Vermut, completely lost.

"Come with me. Right now," Grundar said decisively.

"…Me?" I blinked.

"Yes!"

"Should I come as well?" Vermut asked, already standing up.

"Of course!" Grundar snapped, as if the question itself were strange. "You too. Follow me!"

He finally released me, then turned on his heel and marched out as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

I hurriedly scrambled to my feet, rubbing my sore back.

"What is even happening…?" I muttered under my breath.

Vermut gave me a small, amused smile as he walked past. "Looks like you've caught his interest."

That… did not make me feel any better.

With no real choice, I followed the two of them downstairs, my head full of questions—and a growing sense that I'd just stepped into something far bigger than I'd expected.

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