**"Wait! Don’t panic!"**

There’s no way this illegitimate brat would have two holy relics of such power!

"A lowlife trying to play tricks—"  

The dark sorcerer Gusra’s thoughts lifted him from the pit of despair.  

"Ugh—"

Dares and Tophin’s thoughts weren’t all that different. They had just witnessed the true power of that “coin.”

To so effectively nullify the black magic of someone on the verge of reaching the 6th level… it was a relic that would only be found in the possession of the Church’s priests or paladins charged with heavy duties.

The idea that a mere illegitimate child could possess not just one, but two of such relics?  
An almost impossible story.  
Far easier to believe it was a bluff to escape the crisis.

...But.

The second coin Risir pulled out still had an undeniable effect.

Gusra, Dares, and Tophin all halted their actions, captivated by the coin’s presence.

They were all uncertain, unable to trust their own assumptions.

Could it really be a genuine relic? Or was it a bluff?

**"Risir, hold onto that! Keep it aimed at him!"**

Just before the final clash, they entered an unexpected stalemate.  
The intensity of the atmosphere, reaching a breaking point, was once again diluted by Risir’s presence.

**"You miserable wretch—I should tear you to pieces!"**  

A guttural noise escaped Gusra’s lips, as though his insides were boiling.

All his years of preparation had come undone, and in the process of destroying the relic, he had sustained irreparable, permanent damage.

The 6th level…  
That long-held dream, almost within his grasp, had slipped away like a mirage.

How much time would it take to reach that point again?  
How much effort?

Did he even have the time or strength left for such a struggle?

The more he thought about it, the angrier and hotter his mind became.

The previously hollow, emotionless dark sorcerer’s heart was now roiling with anger.  
Finally, he came to a decision.

**"Dares! Hand over that brat. If you do, I’ll withdraw for now. I swear on my magic that I won’t come near you again!"**

Though their situation was far better than before, it was still precarious.  
The dark sorcerer, wounded in pride, seemed blind to everything but his revenge.

If he committed himself to a fight to the finish, neither Dares, Tophin, nor those in the carriage—Tophin’s assistant and Todina—could be guaranteed safety.

And now, all this could be resolved by simply surrendering an unrelated illegitimate child?  
There was no reason to refuse.

There was no reason to risk their lives for a stranger.

"..."

But—Risir had done so much for them, despite being a stranger. Tophin couldn’t bring himself to voice his agreement.

Finally, it was Dares who broke the silence.

**"Tophin."**  
**"Speak."**  
**"There’s an opportunity here."**  
**"It’s too soon to make a decision."**  
**"That’s not what I’m talking about."**

Dares gave Tophin a determined look.

**"I’ll hold him off. While I do, lead everyone out of here."**  
**"Dares!"**  
**"This is the best way."**  
**"There might still be a better option!"**  
**"Please, just don’t tell me to hand over Risir."**  
**"He’s a stranger to you! An illegitimate nobody!"**  
**"And yet he handed over that relic for Todina."**  
**"Only because he didn’t know its true value!"**  
**"He could have run off in the confusion, but he chose to stay and help us."**  
**"Because he didn’t understand the gravity of the situation..."**  
**"Maybe he’s ignorant, as you say. But that doesn’t lessen the weight of my debt to him."**  
"..."

The elderly noble couldn’t meet the younger mage’s eyes.

**"Go directly to Durayeg’s territory. Tell my father what happened here. Make sure he understands the help you provided to Todina and me, and get the reward you deserve. Ensure Risir is also compensated. Can you promise me this?"**

It was a short but deep deliberation. Tophin reluctantly spoke.

**"I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did that. Tell Risir."**  
**"What do you mean—"**  
**"Look at him—he’s injured. Push him a bit further, and he may sense the danger and back down."**  
**"And how can you be sure of that?"**  
**"That’s why I suggested Risir lead the others out while we hold him off."**  
**"But you—"**  
**"You’d surely die alone. At least with me here, there’s a sliver of a chance."**

After a brief exchange of glances, they nodded in agreement and turned their focus back to the dark sorcerer.

---

**"Risir! Take the carriage and head to Durayeg’s lands now! We’ll hold him here!"**

Dares shouted, never breaking eye contact with Gusra.  
Gusra’s face twisted into a wicked smile before he burst into a fit of maniacal laughter.

**"All of you—fine! If that’s what you want, I’ll grant your wish!"**

With a sickening squelch, Gusra’s left arm melted and reformed, becoming one of his ghastly creations—a ghoul.

It pounded the ground, launching toward the carriage where Dares and Tophin had left Todina. It was clear he meant to take her as a hostage.

"...!"  

Dares and Tophin quickly moved to intercept, positioning themselves between the ghoul and the carriage.

Just as it seemed Gusra would merge with his ghoul, he abruptly changed direction.

With a sudden gust, Gusra darted in the opposite direction at an inhuman speed.  
His left arm melted back into his body, reformed, and his true target came into focus—Risir.

**"A dual-wielding magic user!?"**  
**"Risir! Run!!!"**

Both Dares and Tophin raced towards Risir, desperate to protect him.

**"Risir!?"**

Even Pean, who had been indifferent, reacted with alarm. But Gusra, wielding wind magic, had already closed in on Risir.

'Isn’t he… in trouble against him!?'

In desperation, Pean sent her power to him.

**"Today, I’ll take your worthless life, you bastard illegitimate child!!!"**

Gusra wasn’t purely a dark sorcerer. Originally a practitioner of wind magic, he had turned to dark sorcery when he hit a limit in his original power.

He chose wind magic to finish off this detestable brat, both for its element of surprise and as a safeguard.

**"Let’s see if that precious relic will save you from this!!!"**

A triumphant smile curled on Gusra’s lips.  
Without his relic, Risir was nothing more than a low-level magician.

"...!!!"

The old sorcerer’s judgment was ultimately correct.

Pure wind magic, free from the influence of dark sorcery, emanated from Gusra’s hands. For the first time, Risir felt genuine threat.

A vortex of wind coalesced into the form of a blade.

‘This won’t work with purification... or wait.’

In the extreme danger, Risir’s unorthodox magical intuition surged.

Yes.  
That wind blade might not be dispelled by typical methods.

But—

**Ding!**

Risir flicked a coin toward Gusra. Though it hadn’t been imbued with the same power as the first coin, it was potent enough—

**"Ugh—"**

—to disturb the energy within Gusra. And in that moment, that was all Risir needed.

In an instant, the blade of wind lost its form. The sorcerer’s control over the wind faltered.

Risir seized the opportunity.

"...!?"

The dark sorcerer’s eyes widened, his face twisting in shock.  
The swirling wind in his hands was now under Risir’s control.

Gusra’s magic was now being overwhelmed by Risir’s power. The continued reckless use of his mana had left his energy in chaos. And Risir, supported by Pean’s blessing, was poised to capitalize on every advantage.

These factors alone didn’t fully explain it, but Gusra was beyond understanding.

'Did this kid just hijack my mana? A mere level 3?'

There was still time and room to counter. He could still take action against Risir.

**"How…?"**

But instead of reacting, Gusra demanded an answer. An answer to an impossible phenomenon.

This feat was beyond anything a level 3 could accomplish.  
It was the skill of a magician from a realm he had never experienced.

This brat couldn’t really be level 3. No, he *couldn’t* be. He must be hiding his true level.

A desperate, shattered sorcerer awaited Risir’s answer.

Risir murmured softly.

**"It’s done."**

In utter disbelief, Gusra finally understood.

**"Ah… A-Ahhh!!!"**

At last, he tried to reclaim control from Risir. But he was too slow and far too unprepared.

Instinctively, Gusra reached for his dark magic

.  
The next thing he knew, that very magic was gone without a trace, and a fist charged with wind energy struck his jaw.

**"Kuh—!"**

Madness.  
That was Gusra’s final thought as his broken body crumbled to the ground.

---

**"Risir!!!"**

Pean rushed to him.

**"Are you alright!? Are you hurt anywhere!? Who would’ve thought that bastard of a dark sorcerer could wield wind magic—I should’ve stayed closer…"**

Pean looked up at him, concerned, as she checked him over.  
Having someone half his height so earnestly worry about him felt odd.  
Risir chuckled and patted Pean’s head.

"...I was a fool to worry."

Embarrassed, Pean staggered back and buried her face in her hands.

---

Dares and Tophin, who had come rushing to help, stopped in shock.

**"Risir. What did you just do…?"**

The two mages demanded an answer, just as Gusra had.  
And Risir, picking up the coin near Gusra’s fallen form, confidently held up his thumb.

**"Lucky coin, as always."**  
"..."
"..."

What was that supposed to mean?  
They were at a loss.

---

**"Dares!"**  
**"Todina!?"**

Just as they were restraining Gusra’s body, Todina jumped out of the carriage, rushing over to Dares.

**"Are you hurt anywhere!? What happened to Damin!?"**  
**"Todina, shouldn’t you be—"**  
**"Todina! How many times did I tell you to stay still and rest!"**

Despite Dares and Tophin’s exasperation, Todina answered with a giddy expression.

**"I couldn’t just sit still!"**

She spun and jumped in place, arms open wide, brimming with unfamiliar energy.

**"Dares! I feel so—"**  
**"Todina!"**

Suddenly dizzy, Todina stumbled.  
Dares hurried over to support her as she giggled sheepishly, while Tophin checked her condition.

"..."
**"Tophin, what’s her condition?"**  
**"She’s greatly weakened."**  
**"And that means…?"**  
**"It means all she needs is rest now."**  
**"...!"**

Dares pulled her into a tight hug, his relief palpable.  
Todina startled but soon returned his embrace.

After a long moment, Dares finally spoke in a voice choked with gratitude.

**"Thank you, Tophin…"**  
**"Ahem, I don’t think I did anything particularly deserving of thanks."**

Tophin nodded towards Risir.

"..."

Dares approached Risir, who tried to brush off the gratitude but was quickly interrupted as Dares embraced him with intense emotion.

Risir remembered a key detail—that fire mages sometimes developed temperaments akin to their element.

Dares gripped Risir’s shoulders, looking him straight in the eye, his fiery gaze ablaze with intensity.

**"My friend!"**  
"...Yes?"  
**"No need for formality. I consider you my close friend. Can I count you as one?"**  
"...Yes? But—kugh!"

Before Risir could catch his breath, Dares embraced him again, just as fiercely as before.

**"Risir! I’ll never forget your kindness!"**  
**"It was nothing, really."**  
**"Nothing!? Don’t say that!"**  
**"Just a ride on your carriage would be plenty—"**  
**"Anywhere! Just say the destination, even if it’s to the world’s end!"**

Only much later did Risir manage to escape Dares’ grasp.

──────────  
▷Fate 41: Happiness Riddled with Worms - Deactivated.  
A special reward has been granted as a result.  
──────────  
──────────  
■ Risir  
Level: 15  
Race: Human  
Class: Mage  
──────────  
──────────  
[You’ve reached a specific level]  
[A unique trait for your class has been awarded]  

...

[An additional random trait has been granted]  
──────────  

[You’ve acquired a new specialization as a result of the obtained trait.]