The group quickly finished their breakfast and set off to hunt Krumo’s Shadow.

Daeun was left alone in Artisha's quarters.

With even the owner of the house absent, there was absolutely nothing for Daeun to do. Although Artisha had told her not to worry about it, Daeun couldn’t simply go poking around someone else's house unsupervised.

Sigh…

Sitting on the edge of the bed and staring blankly out the window, Daeun sighed deeply.

If her mother had seen her, she’d have smacked her on the back, exclaiming, "Keep sighing like that, and you’ll make a hole in the ground!"

"Because I’m weak…."

Daeun mulled over Kana’s words.

The person who held the title of the weakest among the Four Heavenly Kings—she knew that was her.

And she also understood that, even if she had tagged along, she likely wouldn’t have been of much help.

No, actually…

It would’ve been fortunate if she simply hadn’t been helpful. Her considerate comrades would undoubtedly have been distracted by worrying about her safety, unable to fight properly.

She’d be nothing but a burden.

A log soaked with water, weighing everyone down.

"But still… I just didn’t want to sit around and do nothing."

The thought of Kana—or anyone in the group, for that matter—getting injured while she stayed behind was unbearable. That’s why Daeun had insisted on going, even though she knew she wouldn’t be of much help.

"Now that I think about it, I do feel a little guilty…."

Daeun imagined how much of a nuisance her stubbornness must have been for Kana. She chuckled, remembering the way Kana subtly checked her expression, despite trying to look unaffected.

Her viewers in the chat were busy laughing at her misfortune.

Even the comments that seemed to console her were, upon closer inspection, actually teasing.

Daeun let out a short breath and switched the broadcast screen.

She played her outro.

“…I’ll end the stream here for today. I might stream again later if I feel like it.”

-Wait, what? -Seriously? -Didn’t you just start streaming? -No, don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave… -It’s cold, Mom, it’s cold! -Go on, end it. We’ll just hold our breath until you’re back~

“Alright then, goodbye.”

Despite the viewers’ complaints reaching new heights, Daeun paid them no mind and ended the broadcast.

Whether later or tomorrow, she knew there’d be an uproar whenever she streamed again.

Daeun could already picture the enraged viewers filling the chat.

'Good luck, future me!'

But that would be the future Daeun’s problem.

For now, she felt nothing but relief.

"Now, what should I do…?"

Having finished the stream, maybe she’d log out and do some chores?

As she contemplated, her hand brushed against a long, cold object.

It was her longsword.

She stared at the blade thoughtfully.

"Because I’m weak."

Kana’s voice replayed vividly in her head, as if a recorder had been turned on.

“How am I supposed to live with the shame of being weak?”

Daeun mumbled to herself, feeling a bit downhearted after even Selene had advised her against going.

"Maybe I should practice my swordsmanship."

Just you wait. I’ll practice hard and make Kana eat her words.

Though it was a resolve bordering on wishful thinking, if it kept her motivated, that was all that mattered.

With a fierce determination befitting a general heading into battle, Daeun grabbed her sword and left the quarters.

Rumors must have spread overnight because, unlike yesterday, the demons around her weren’t overly cautious.

If the previous day’s stares had been 20% curiosity and 80% wariness, today’s were 80% curiosity and 20% wariness.

She caught one of those curious demons to ask if there was an open field where she could train.

“Ah, that way? Thank you for letting me know.”

Thanks to the friendly demon, Daeun found a suitable open field.

It was, unsurprisingly, just an empty space.

"It’s only natural since I asked for an open area."

When a demon offered to direct her to a proper training ground, Daeun had politely declined.

"Practicing while being watched by strangers… that’s not ideal."

She still remembered the awkward stares from gym regulars when she first stepped into a fitness center.

Though not exactly the same, she didn’t care to endure those "That’s not how you’re supposed to do it" looks.

After all, she was used to swinging her sword in empty space.

"Right, it was like this… wasn’t it?"

Recalling the small hands that had once corrected her posture, Daeun readied herself.

The once-awkward grip of the sword now felt familiar.

To think that she’d come to practice on her own….

Her viewers would be surprised, her friends would be shocked, and Kana… wouldn’t be jealous.

Laughing at the silly thought, Daeun chuckled to herself.

Whoosh!

With a sharp sound, her sword sliced through the air.

It was an impressive strike that would have elicited admiration from an observer, yet Daeun frowned slightly.

“...I still don’t get it.”

How does one handle mana?

When using a skill, mana would naturally flow into her sword, but that wasn’t what Daeun wanted.

What she desired was the ability to control mana without relying on skills.

She remembered once asking Kana for advice.

‘Mana?’

‘Yeah, I want to wield mana like you do.’

‘You’re already using mana… Oh, right.’

After hearing her, Kana nodded as if she understood something.

‘I can teach you if you really want to know.’

‘-if?’

‘But start with basic sword practice.’

Kana had said that moving her body would naturally teach her.

‘If you still don’t get it, I’ll show you myself.’

‘O-okay… I’ll hold you to that.’

Although Daeun appreciated the offer, she couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling.

She’d accepted Kana’s help, yet she still felt restless.

Partly because she wanted to succeed on her own and show Kana.

“Maybe Yuki would know….”

Somehow, she had a feeling Yuki might understand.

Daeun mumbled to herself as she attempted to work with mana again.

Naturally, her attempt failed.

Sigh…

Daeun, who had been entirely focused on her training, finally noticed her shoulders and arms feeling stiff from wielding the sword. She sheathed her blade.

She wasn’t sure how long had passed.

Perhaps only minutes, or maybe hours.

Feeling accomplished after losing herself in her training, Daeun smiled, pleased.

After working this hard, maybe—just maybe—she’d taken at least half a step forward.

Growl—

"Ah."

As if mocking her optimism, her stomach grumbled at the perfect moment.

With no one around, she glanced around awkwardly, scratching her cheek.

"Already hungry… Guess I should head back for a meal. …But no, I don’t have to."

She remembered there was no one to eat with back at the quarters.

The food there was all tainted by miasma…

Eating here might be better.

"No, wait. Maybe they’ve already defeated Krumo’s Shadow and come back by now."

Yep, Kana’s strong, so it’s definitely possible.

Alright, I’ll head back to the quarters.

After some wavering, Daeun finally chose her destination, her footprints dotting the open field in indecision before setting off.

Just as she turned to head back, she noticed that the sky had darkened.

“…Huh?”

Is it about to rain?

“It’ll be a hassle if it does…”

Muttering, she looked up, her eyes widening.

Whooosh—

A fierce wind whipped through her hair.

But Daeun didn’t spare a thought to straighten it out.

A massive shadow loomed overhead, darkening the sky.

The scent of scorched ashes drifted in the breeze.

“That…”

What is that?

Just as Daeun began to question, a crimson flame poured down from the sky.

"Here we are."

Artisha, who had been leading the way, tilted her head.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure… See… traces left behind here….”

"Hmm."

I surveyed the massive claw marks and scattered monster corpses around us.

It certainly seemed like it.

But at what seemed to be the creature’s lair, there was no sign of Krumo’s Shadow—nor even the shadow of Krumo’s Shadow.

The shadow of a shadow… That sounds strange.

"Something’s bound to show up if we wait and search."

If it had dragon-like traits, it might sense intruders in its nest and return to check.

Our group searched the area, waiting for hours.

“…It’s not coming.”

“It’s not coming….”

“Not here, either.”

The creature still hadn’t shown so much as a glimpse.

“Could it have already relocated its nest?”

“That’d be a relief, but…”

Artisha muttered, sounding uneasy.

“Hm…”

Normally, I’d scold Artisha for saying something ominous.

But I felt the same sense of foreboding.

Still, I didn’t mention it out loud.

What good would that do besides lowering morale?

“By the way, it’s really close to the village.”

It’s almost surprising they haven’t had any conflict.

If I concentrated, I could probably spot the village.

Looking in that direction, I noticed something.

“…Artisha.”

“Hmm?”

“Is Krumo’s Shadow a monster that looks like a wyvern with black scales?”

“Yes… why?”

“Yeah.”

So this was the source of our ominous feeling.

I nodded, speaking quietly.

“We’re in trouble.”

It seems we weren’t the only ones who thought to attack first.