The group integrated back into the settlement's rhythm. Construction continued with sustained energy, more buildings rising, streets becoming defined, and the community taking permanent shape.

Vlad assigned new missions leveraging their capabilities. The first one was to venture to Seeker Headquarters, assess what survived the crimson-black flames, and retrieve anything salvageable.

The trip revealed disappointment.

The building stood, but the interior was ruined such as documents rotted beyond recovery, equipment corroded, and nothing was worth transporting back. They returned empty-handed but having confirmed suspicions.

The second mission was to visit the submerged villages and towns and search for surviving artifacts or materials. They traveled to multiple locations, but each one showed similar devastation to what they saw in Naraku Town. Water covered everything, structures collapsed, and animals made it their home.

The reality saddened Precursor people and Seekers alike. But they recovered quickly, channeling grief into a construction effort. If the past was gone, the future demanded building with renewed purpose.

The pattern continued throughout the week. In addition, Reinhard wrote down the names, appearance, and situation of those people he saw in the Towering Tree. Vlad was surprised at this, but before thanking him immensely.

And when they visited Old Melo City, they saw the Memorial Pillar had the names of the Eastern Hesod people who died, making them smile. Reinhard took the names of those who weren't on it before using the Star Jewel to help change the Memorial Pillar.

Now it accepts everyone who protects and considers themselves Eastern Hesod people.

The next couple of days were filled with exploration, and the nights were spent around communal fires. Pioneer Village expanded steadily, gaining permanence, suggesting it would outlast the temporary crisis that spawned it.

Marie's eyes lit suddenly on the seventh day. She stood from carpentry work, hand rising to wave enthusiastically at a figure approaching from the forest edge.

"Rosaria!"

Reinhard's lips twitched. The expression mixed resignation with something approaching affection despite circumstances. He turned to see the extremely beautiful woman emerging from the road path between various buildings.

Rosaria's flowing silvery-lavender hair flowed behind her black buttoned shirt, black coat with silver patterns, black pants, and polished black boots. Her crimson gaze swept across the group, glancing at Marie first, lingering briefly on her enthusiasm.

Moved to nervous Joseph, noting tension in posture. Touched by Brunhilde's faint smile, which held amusement, and then stayed on Reinhard, whose lips continued twitching involuntarily.

"This is the third time on your third mission." Her voice carried flat observation rather than accusation, but the implication was clear.

Reinhard flinched despite himself. "Bad timing?"

Rosaria's brow raised slightly. "You sure had a lot of bad timing. At least this time, you weren't sent to dreamland."

Marie laughed as she clutched her stomach. "See, Rosaria! Improvement! Maybe next time we won't be involved in such a big incident!"

Joseph covered mouth with hand, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. Brunhilde's head shook lightly, smile growing slightly wider.

Rosaria sighed, and then she glanced over them once more and asked softly. "Are you guys really okay?"

Reinhard and the others nodded simultaneously, with Marie giving a thumbs up.

"That's good." Rosaria's tone softened fractionally. "Now I'm sure there are things you didn't tell Vanna or downplayed a lot."

Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph flinched visibly, recognizing that their edited report had been transparent to someone who knew them well.

Brunhilde laughed openly at their reactions while Rosaria continued without pause, expression remaining neutral.

"But you can tell me all the details on the ride back. Right now, where is Vlad? I need to make sure to tell him to downplay your involvement or, at the very least, not say you guys have a large contribution."

Brunhilde's expression shifted. "You don't want the Mori Empire and other forces to get suspicious?"

Rosaria nodded with a slight frown. "Having our students appear in one massive incident is an issue, but manageable. But having them appear in not only another one but one about Eastern Hesod?" Her crimson eyes narrowed. "This will rattle some of those old bastards and make some unpleasant forces pay more attention to you."

Reinhard held his chin thoughtfully. "Good thing we had Vlad promise to keep most things secret. Who knows what they would do if they found out I killed the Saint?"

The statement emerged casually as if discussing the weather rather than a confession of killing one of the Aya continent leaders.

Rosaria's entire body froze, expression shifting from neutral calculation to blank incomprehension. She turned slowly, crimson gaze fixing on Reinhard with intensity suggesting the world had suddenly tilted sideways.

She stared for three seconds without blinking. Then spoke, voice carrying careful control, suggesting emotions being forcibly suppressed.

"You did what?"

…

They found Vlad standing before the partially completed building. The structure showed promise, with a stone foundation laid properly, timber framing rising toward the eventual roof. Workers moved around him, carrying materials and consulting with each other about next steps.

Vlad's weathered face turned as they approached. His expression transformed immediately, eyes crinkling with amusement poorly concealed, lips pulling into a grin suggesting he'd been anticipating this conversation.

He laughed openly. "So, I'm guessing they told you?"

Rosaria sighed deeply as her hand rose to hold her forehead. "Not everything, but enough to give me a headache."

Vlad hummed acknowledgment, and his posture remained relaxed despite serious undertones. "I can't say I understand your feelings completely. I am grateful to them."

Rosaria nodded and then said. "I am sure you already know what I am going to say."

"I promise to downplay their involvement." Vlad's faint smile appeared.

Rosaria nodded before her next statement emerged, before Vlad could continue. "And no, you can't have them join."

Vlad's smile grew wider, his crimson eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh? You figured I was going to ask?"

Marie, Joseph, and Reinhard blinked in surprise simultaneously. But then, when he thought about it, it does make sense, especially considering he became the Supreme Commander of a Forerunner City.

Brunhilde hummed knowingly while Rosaria delivered a response with blunt certainty. "Considering what they did, I would be surprised if you didn't want to take them away."

Vlad nodded without shame at the accurate assessment. "Each of them has the spirit of the Forerunners and carries their will and belief. How could I not want them?" His gesture encompassed Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph. "I really think they would be an amazing addition to the new Eastern Hesod."

Rosaria hummed before saying. "The answer is still no."

Vlad's expression shifted with a smirk appearing as he prepared a counter-proposal. "Then how about them doing missions and expeditions for us?"

Rosaria gave him an annoyed look. "You just want to meet them more often to seduce them over to your side."

Vlad's grin was unapologetic. "So is the answer a yes?"

Rosaria sighed. "It will be their decision, and you have to get Klaus's approval."

Vlad laughed, leading to Marie giggling at the exchange, Joseph chuckled, and Reinhard hummed in amusement.

Rosaria's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Now, about the favors you owe all of them."

Vlad nodded, posture straightening as conversation moved to binding obligations. "Name it, and all of Eastern Hesod will gladly help them with it."

"We don't need Mythic Keys from you." Rosaria's response came immediately, having clearly prepared a position beforehand. "Instead, I want you to be willing to step up for them if something happens."

Reinhard frowned slightly, his brows drew together as implications registered. "You think someone will really find out about our involvement?"

Rosaria's expression remained unchanged. "There is always a possibility, so it's best to have a lot of support and help on the side."

Vlad nodded immediately. "Of course. How can Eastern Hesod let our benefactors suffer or be hurt?"

Rosaria accepted the agreement with a simple nod. "That's all."

Vlad's brow raised, surprise showing at minimal request. "Are you sure?"

Rosaria's response emerged bluntly. "A certain someone has shitty luck, so it will be enough. I wouldn't be surprised if the favor surpassed ending the Dark Silence."

Reinhard's lips twitched while Brunhilde's hand moved to gently hold Reinhard's hand with a faint smile. Marie and Joseph covered their mouths with their hands, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

Vlad laughed before observation shifted. "I am surprised you aren't angry. From the way they seemed to flinch when you arrived, I would think..."

Rosaria fell silent for a couple of seconds before saying softly. "I will never be angry at my students for helping out their friends and stepping up to help others. I would only be pissed if they did it and got themselves killed."

Reinhard, Joseph, and Janus blinked in surprise. The distinction was clear but unexpected, not anger at danger but at preventable death through recklessness.

Marie giggled before moving close and wrapping her arms around Rosaria in an embrace. "I love you too, Rose!"

Rosaria's hand flicked against Marie's forehead. "Stop being annoying."

Vlad laughed at the dynamic displayed. "Then that's great. Now, Rosaria, could you help us out with the settlement? It seems I am not very good at this."

Rosaria sighed again but nodded acceptance. "Let me see."

Days passed with Rosaria managing settlement expansion. Her organizational skills proved exceptional as she was identifying bottlenecks, optimizing resource distribution, and coordinating between different groups with efficiency that suggested extensive experience.

Pioneer Village grew rapidly under her guidance.

Buildings appeared more quickly, streets gained proper planning, and infrastructure developed with an eye toward long-term sustainability rather than immediate needs alone.

Finally, the departure day arrived.

The group assembled, with Rosaria, Reinhard, Marie, Joseph, Brunhilde, and Janus. They gathered belongings, made final preparations, and exchanged last words with those remaining.

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