“Cough, cough, thank you. Thanks to you, I’m alive.”

Accompanied by a light cough, Rosha finally opened her eyes as she responded.

The sea depths had been pitch-black, but upon emerging, the early dawn light was diffused all around.

‘What happened to the ice palace? Did it shatter?’

As her breathing steadied, curiosity about the unfolding situation arose.

…This position was also slightly awkward.

She slid out of his embrace, to which Froy merely raised an eyebrow without a word.

Only now did she notice he was partially soaked, likely from pulling her out of the water.

The pale pre-dawn glow glided across his straight forehead, revealed by his wet hair slicked back.

Catching sight of those lengthy, dark lashes clumped in strands over his violet irises, a natural thought arose:

‘He looks even more handsome than the face I envisioned underwater.’

He was a man who suited the night far better than day.

It was then that Koko fluttered over with a soft thud, gently perching atop Rosha’s head before immediately pecking at her crown.

“I told you to learn how to swim!”

“Ow! It was too cold for me to even move properly.”

It was true. The frigid temperature had made even flailing about difficult.

Achoo, she sneezed as she surveyed her surroundings, prompting Froy to provide the needed context in his typical frank manner.

“We’re currently on fragments of the shattered ice palace. Sir Joel and Lady Belice have already been escorted to shore.”

“Oh, so efficient.”

“Yes. They didn’t end up submerged in the sea, so their reflexes were likely a bit sharper than yours.”

“…Haha.”

“You claimed this would be a trial where most of the content was already known, so what is this situation?”

Confirming her safety, his reprimands seemed imminent, but a thunderous noise from the shoreline fortuitously intervened.

Kugugugung-

Seizing the opportunity, she swiftly changed the subject.

“So then… that must be the pet called ‘Vivian’ that the Queen was raising.”

The serpentine white being was already attacking the shoreline, its tail swipes demolishing buildings while beams from its horned head gouged deep into the cliffs.

More problematic was the presence of the monstrous Queen by its side.

Kwooooo-

The blue-skinned Queen, perched comfortably atop the serpent’s back, unleashed a powerful ice-based spell.

Out of nowhere, frost coated the previously mild Atica night sky, soon escalating into a ferocious blizzard.

Somewhat relieved to see the magicians among the assembled shore forces swiftly reacting, Rosha let out a sigh of relief.

‘Because of her transformation? At least she doesn’t seem to have retained her previous monstrous power level.’

While still wielding an immense mana reserve, the spells she could use appeared limited to the 6th-stage. At that level, Rosha could still put up a fight.

After assessing the Queen’s condition, as Rosha moved to stand, Froy spoke in a tone tinged with resigned acceptance.

“If you head towards the shore, you’ll be attacked for being the target.”

“I suppose that’s likely.”

While ideally they would jointly confront this, Rosha didn’t expect events to unfold so smoothly. Yet she couldn’t avoid going either.

Didn’t she need to defeat the trial’s master to remove this mark?

‘Moreover… a 6th-stage magician should be confronted by one of the same stage.’

Though not yet in the 6th-stage herself, Rosha had experienced that level before and could temporarily elevate her realm by borrowing the [Guiding Lantern’s] power.

Not intervening would only worsen the damage.

With a concerned gaze, Rosha briefly glanced towards Nardil at the vanguard.

It was then that a soft sigh accompanied a murmured remark.

“…I had hoped we could simply take your hand and flee together.”

“What?”

Questioning if she had misheard, the man’s expression remained unchanged as he brazenly made this demand instead:

“Then allow me to briefly borrow your ability as well – the one I experienced last time. With that, I too could aid in keeping you safe from harm, could I not?”

“Um…”

His words rang true. By this point, Froy had already made significant concessions.

‘I had intended to use that ability anyway, given the stage disparity.’

Extending her hand towards the man observing her intently, Rosha replied:

“Very well. Since you showed me your ability not too long ago, I’ll reveal a bit more as well.”

“A bit more?”

As he questioningly took her hand, no further response was necessary.

Faaah!

[The Guiding Lantern] overlay enveloped her vision as usual, but the emerging rays of light displayed an unfamiliar pattern.

“This is…”

Froy murmured in awe as he watched closely.

Amidst the pale pre-dawn glow filling the sky, the golden stars rising against the ebony sea backdrop elongated into trails, tracing trajectories.

These swiftly transformed into golden beams of varying thicknesses, collectively extending one end towards her feet as if beckoning her to follow.

It was the ‘Path Observation’ advanced function of [The Guiding Lantern], revealing the array of choices available to her and their priorities.

To temporarily elevate her magical stage, even fleetingly, this was a necessity.

‘Let’s finish this swiftly.’

Hand-in-hand with Froy, Rosha took a step onto the sea, intending to reach the shore and conclude this trial.

Yet at that very moment, the previously forgotten message from the Guide God resounded.

The ‘Guide God’ informs you that the penalty period has finally ended.

The ‘Guide God’ asks if it may borrow your eyes for a bit, as it owes Queen Arzhena a debt.

…Huh?

* * *

As a desert nation with half its territory occupied by arid expanses, the Atica Kingdom’s climate was understandably sweltering.

For Nardil, born and raised in such a land, the bitter chill and frigid ice before him were remarkably unfamiliar sights.

Wheeeeng!

A biting blizzard suddenly assailed the once-temperate shoreline, the sand rapidly piling with snow-like shards of ice.

“Magicians! Cast defensive barriers!”

“Breathe fire to weaken the blizzard!”

Desperate shouts rang out from all sides as people frantically evaded and retaliated.

However, the serpent that had appeared on the shore, along with the monstrous being astride it, remained largely unscathed.

Only one thought occupied Nardil’s mind amid this battle:

‘Did she fail?’

If so, where was she?

The face of Lady Roshanak, whom he had met the previous day, surfaced in his mind.

Though she hadn’t specified when she would infiltrate the ice palace, Nardil had surmised she would likely sneak in under the cover of night after sundown.

Hence, he had assembled the warriors and mercenaries slated to enter the palace at early dawn, positioning them on standby.

Of course, he hadn’t anticipated the sudden appearance of this massive white serpentine monster that had already shattered the palace.

“Your Highness! Here it comes again!”

There was no time for wandering thoughts.

Gripping his crescent-shaped sword, Nardil surveyed the battlefield’s developments.

Indeed, an immense mana was coalescing around the monster atop the serpent’s back – undoubtedly channeling an ice-based grand spell.

‘Oh no…!’

Pristine white clouds began filling the sky, gradually forming nearly a hundred slender icicle lances.

If those all rained down, casualties would be inevitable.

Observing the spellcasting monster, Nardil braced his stance as he declared:

“If we slay that monster, such magic will cease. I’ll go and deal with it.”

“Your Highness!”

The warriors protested, but he couldn’t stand by and allow further harm.

However, before he could make a move, flames suddenly flared to life in midair.

Like an overhead canopy, crimson and azure flames swiftly spread, enveloping a vast expanse.

Soon after, the icicle lances descended.

Upon contact with those flames, brilliant explosions erupted amidst billowing steam, a dazzling spectacle.

Strange as it may sound, the chaotic intermingling of conflicting elemental magics was breathtakingly beautiful, captivating all who witnessed it.

“Woooow…”

“Who cast such magic…”

“Do we have anyone capable of such spells?”

It was then that someone intently observing the sea exclaimed:

“Oh! It’s the target!”

At that loud declaration, everyone turned towards the ocean without exception.

There, as if the very cause of this crisis, a woman bearing the diamond-shaped mark stood impossibly atop the surface.

By her side, a man with golden flecks in his eyes softly muttered:

“I knew you would do something like this.”