The food Lisa had prepared so carefully since early morning was laid out neatly on the table.

At a glance, it looked decent enough. A sandwich stuffed with various ingredients between thick slices of bread, and a bowl of soup that resembled bone broth—though I couldn't quite tell what it had been made from.

It was a simple, home-style meal. The kind of food commonly found in households across the Empire.

"How is it?" Lisa asked eagerly, her eyes shining. "It's good, right?"

"…Yes. It's good."

I nodded, matching her proud expression as best I could.

To be honest, though, it wasn't particularly tasty.

Too salty in some places, strangely sweet in others. The flavors clashed instead of blending. It had that unmistakable feel of a beginner's cooking—someone trying their best, but still lacking experience.

There were plenty of issues if I really thought about it.

But still…

It was warm. And filling.

More importantly, it was made with effort.

So I ate everything without complaint.

After finishing our simple meal, we packed up our belongings and stood from our seats.

"Well then," I said, adjusting my coat, "we should be going now."

Lisa hesitated, her expression tightening slightly. "Will you really be alright?"

She paused, then added more quietly, "I heard something happened at the Academy. A fire, wasn't it? Won't it be dangerous?"

"We don't really have a choice, do we? Besides, we can't keep imposing on you forever."

No matter how comfortable it was here, we couldn't stay indefinitely.

Sooner or later, we had to return to the Academy.

"By the way… are you sure it's fine for me to take this?"

I asked while lifting the Furion that Grundar had personally forged.

"Do whatever you want with it," he replied flatly. "No one else can use it anyway."

That was true.

The Furion wasn't a weapon just anyone could wield. Its balance, weight, and internal mana pathways were tailored entirely to me. In someone else's hands, it would be nothing more than an oddly shaped lump of metal.

I'd heard before that dwarves didn't grow particularly attached to their creations once they were finished, and Grundar seemed no different.

For them, the true value of crafting lay in the process itself—the countless strikes of the hammer, the careful control of heat, the moment when raw metal finally took form. Once the work was complete, their attachment faded, as if the weapon had already served its purpose.

Grundar's face said it all.

There was no reluctance, no lingering regret—only deep, unfiltered satisfaction. He had fulfilled one of his lifelong wishes, and that alone was enough.

"I'll come visit again," I said. "When I get the chance."

"Do that," he muttered, letting out a long yawn. "I'm turning in. My body's about had enough for today."

Considering he'd worked straight through the night, it was hardly surprising.

I should test this out more thoroughly—and come back to see him again later.

"H-Hii… are you leaving already?"

"Yes. I'll stop by the shop again sometime. We'll see each other then."

"Really?"

Rain looked up at me with watery eyes and, after a brief hesitation, slowly held out her tiny finger.

"Promise me."

I paused for a moment, staring at that small, trembling finger. Then I smiled faintly and hooked my pinky around hers.

"I promise."

Her face instantly lit up.

"You promised! We'll definitely meet again!"

Leaving behind Rain—who was now smiling as brightly as the sun—we stepped back out onto the street.

The city had regained some movement. Merchants reopened their stalls, people cautiously returned to the roads, and the noise of daily life slowly crept back in.

But no matter how much the city tried to pretend everything was normal…

"It's a complete mess."

The aftermath of the monsters' rampage was impossible to ignore.

Collapsed walls, shattered windows, scorched stone, and overturned carts littered the streets. Buildings that had stood proudly just yesterday were now half-destroyed, their owners staring blankly at the ruins of their livelihoods.

The damage was far worse than I'd anticipated.

Just yesterday, these streets had been filled with laughter, music, and excitement. Now, a heavy gloom hung in the air, pressing down on everyone who passed through. Conversations were muted, smiles rare.

At this rate, the festival planned for the upcoming holiday season would almost certainly be canceled. No one would have the heart—or the resources—to celebrate.

And all of this…

"The Bors Trading Company," I muttered quietly.

The true root of the chaos.

After what they'd caused, there was no way they'd survive this unscathed. No—finished would be more accurate. Once the investigation concluded, their name would become synonymous with disaster.

Still, as my gaze lingered on the ruined streets, a faint unease settled in my chest.

Why did they bring monsters into the city and cause a disaster like this?

So many people had suffered because of their foolish, careless actions. Homes were destroyed, lives were lost, and the streets were still thick with the smell of smoke and fear.

…Sure, I'd benefited from it in one way.

I'd obtained Furion.

But I couldn't honestly say that made everything worth it.

As we walked, Elena's gaze lingered on the ruined scenery—the collapsed buildings, the cracked roads, the exhausted citizens sitting numbly by the roadside.

"I wonder what happened at the Academy…?" she murmured, her voice tinged with confusion and concern.

"I'm not sure," I replied quietly. "It didn't seem like the monsters rushed the Academy or anything."

If anything, toward the end, all the monsters had charged toward us instead.

And Vermut had taken care of them.

Besides, even during holidays, the Academy was never left undefended. There should've been plenty of knights stationed there at all times.

So what exactly went wrong?

No matter how I thought about it, nothing added up.

"…Well," I said after a brief pause, shaking my head, "there's no point worrying about it now. We'll find out soon enough."

Elena nodded, though the unease in her eyes didn't fade.

We passed by groups of dejected people—some tending to the wounded, others staring blankly at what used to be their homes—and continued toward the Academy.

The familiar spires soon came into view.

For a moment, I felt a faint sense of relief.

But that feeling vanished the instant we passed through the main gate.

"Please stop right there."

The sharp, commanding voice cut through the air.

Several knights stepped forward, blocking our path. Their armor was scuffed and stained, clearly showing signs of recent battle, and their expressions were tense—nothing like the usual disciplined calm.

"Excuse me? What do you mean, entry isn't permitted?"

I asked again, certain I'd misheard him.

Normally, all it took was showing our student IDs. A quick glance, a nod, and we'd be waved through the gates without another word. That had always been the routine.

But today was different.

"Entry is not permitted at this time," the guard repeated, his tone rigid. "Please return later."

"What…?"

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

I had already presented my student ID. He had checked it. He had confirmed it. And yet, instead of stepping aside, he remained firmly planted in front of the entrance, blocking the way like an immovable wall.

What the hell is going on?

Around me, other students were beginning to gather, all wearing the same confused expressions. A few whispered among themselves, irritation slowly creeping into their voices.

"I'll vouch for these children's identities. Please let them in."

The firm, composed voice came from behind us.

"Y-Your Highness…!"

I turned in surprise to see Anna standing there, her posture straight and her expression calm but authoritative. The guards who had been blocking our way immediately stiffened, their earlier confidence wavering.

"But… we were given strict orders not to allow anyone entry," one of them said hesitantly.

Anna's gaze didn't falter. "Two of them are members of the student council. If any issues arise, I will take full responsibility. Now, let them pass."

Her words were measured, yet carried undeniable weight.

As she said, Elena and I were indeed members of the student council. Still, I hadn't expected that alone to be enough to override direct orders.

…Is this really going to work?

The guards exchanged uneasy glances. After a brief pause, one of them let out a quiet sigh.

"…Very well. However, we'll need to inspect your belongings first. This is an absolutely necessary procedure."

"Of course," Anna replied without hesitation.

I blinked.

This actually works?

The guards stepped aside, signaling for us to move forward. One of them gestured toward a small table set near the entrance.

"Please place all personal items here."

I did as instructed, setting my bag down while Elena followed suit beside me. The guard carefully checked the contents—books, stationery, a few personal effects—his movements thorough but respectful. I kept my expression neutral, though inside I was on edge.

If they find anything strange, this could still go sideways.

After a moment, the guard straightened and nodded. "Everything seems to be in order."

He stepped back, clearing the path.

"You may enter."

Just like that, the barrier was gone.

Elena let out a small, relieved breath, and I felt some of the tension drain from my shoulders as well. As we passed through, I glanced back at Anna.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

She gave a faint smile. "Try not to get into too much trouble."

That… didn't sound very reassuring.

As we moved further inside, I couldn't help but think about how smoothly that had gone. If Anna hadn't shown up, we'd probably still be standing outside, arguing with the guards.

Power really does change things.

And more importantly—

The deeper we went, the more certain I became.

Whatever lay ahead, there was no turning back now.

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