Pearlcity, the pier.

Behind the large passenger ship that ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Des Hound had bought up, an even more enormous “sailboat” of Tie cut through the water and entered.

They were returning after completely assaulting a medium Magic Stone that had risen from the sea.

On the deck alone there were more than a full sack of Magical Beast cores.

“It is Agavert! Agavert has returned!”

People who had come back to the village crowded the pier.

“Thank you! Thank you so much......!”

Crying openly, people rushed toward Tie and the others as they disembarked.

The sailors who had fallen into the water or nearly died at the hands of Des Hound did the same.

Tie stood blinking in confusion with a stunned expression when Nordix, who had come to greet them, stepped forward.

“Please calm yourselves. The King of the Dead has expended much strength and must rest.”

With regret, the people stepped back.

Tie scratched the back of her head, feeling something strange.

‘......Tie is normal though.’

It was the first time someone had thanked her so sincerely.

She wanted to go up to each of them and say, “Tie is okay!”, but Basto approached.

“Squad Leader. You need to go inside and rest now.”

Tie thought for a moment and nodded.

“Mm. Feels li-little sleepy.”

So this is magic exhaustion?

Ever since she became a mercenary, the squad members had repeated the same thing to her.

Mages like Tie must always beware of complete magic exhaustion.

But Tie still did not know how much magic she had.

So she did not understand how many “super strong techniques” she would need to use for her magic to run out.

Today it had not been that hard, so it was difficult to imagine.

‘Like arms and legs are a bit fwish fwish strange.......’

She did not understand whether it was simply from lack of sleep or because she had used too many techniques.

Just as she was seriously thinking about it, a splash sounded behind her.

Turning around, Tie saw her “sailboat” returning to the sea.

The enormous ghost ship quickly disappeared beneath the water—a sight that overwhelmed the crowd.

But while everyone, enchanted, watched it,

something leapt out of the foam and shot through the people.

It moved so fast that no one noticed how that something slipped beneath Tie’s cloak.

Even Tie herself felt nothing.

Agavert headed not to the inn, but to the administration building.

Ruler Marianne invited them into the finest chambers of the building.

Tie, barely touching the pillow, instantly fell into a deep sleep.

Basto, Bale, and Nordix gathered in the sitting room.

The cores needed to be sorted and the weapons put in order.

Raul and Enzo came to them the next day closer to noon.

“You want to join Agavert?”

Bale, sitting at the head of the table, lazily crossed one leg over the other.

His strict appearance made Raul and Enzo swallow.

Enzo spoke first.

“Yes! Please let us meet the Squad Leader! I do not know how you evaluated us, but we know how to handle a sword.”

“Me too.”

Bale tilted his head with interest.

“From what I saw at sea, you could not even take a step. Do not forget that without me you would have died there.”

“We remember.”

Raul’s face became serious.

He had not been able to take his eyes off Bale since morning.

Because he had seen him fight Magical Beasts.

‘No matter how you look—he is a worthy person.’

Bale used two swords, and his movements clearly differed from the canon.

But that did not mean there were flaws in them.

‘His movements are efficient and fast.’

There was not a drop of unnecessary showmanship in his fencing.

To think—reaching such a level in a female body. It was hard to believe one’s eyes.

To be honest, Raul would have liked to make Bale his mentor.

Though Enzo seemed to admire Basto more.

“Did we not appeal to the Squad Leader?”

Enzo asked, recalling the King of the Dead.

The King of the Dead was a mage of terrifying strength.

Just remembering how he smiled and then abruptly changed and raised a wave of death......

Enzo’s voice lost a little confidence.

“Of course, we understand that in his eyes we still fall short.......”

“The King of the Dead will do as I say anyway.”

Bale interrupted him.

Satisfaction played on his face.

“In the squad I am the one who enjoys the greatest favor of the leader.”

Raul’s and Enzo’s eyes widened.

But at that moment,

“Speak properly, Bale.”

Not far away Basto interjected irritably.

He set aside his weapon and frowned.

“The one the Squad Leader relies on most and loves is me. In a difficult moment he always calls me.”

“What are you talking about, muscle pig.”

Bale snorted.

“The brat, that is, the leader, relies on you? Because of you we suffered so much. Basically, Kal Worben was finished by the leader himself.”

Basto pressed his lips tightly together.

“That is.......”

“Enough, both of you.”

Said Nordix, sitting at the end of the table with a thick book.

With a good-natured smile he looked at them.

“Is it not obvious that I am the most reliable? In other matters I will not boast, but experience cannot be ignored.”

Bale opened his mouth slightly.

“Old man, why are you butting in?”

“I am not butting in. I am merely stating the truth. Was it not I who saved the leader from grievous wounds during the assault on the Magic Stone in the Tenebraum cave?”

“That is unfair! The squad had not even been formed then!”

“Be that as it may, the leader owes me his life. In other words, my position is not the same as yours.”

“Nordix. I disagree with that. In battle it is I and Bale who fight. And today you were on land the entire time......”

Raul and Enzo stared at the three arguing men in shock.

One thing was clear.

‘They...... adore the King of the Dead.’

That was why they were fighting like concubines, trying to seize their lord’s favor.

Raul swallowed.

‘He is not only strong, but excellent as a leader.’

Remembering how the King of the Dead subdued the sea with dark magic, Raul involuntarily wanted to swear loyalty to him.

Enzo thought the same.

‘Then I will have to try hard.’

To become the one who receives the greatest favor of the leader.

Raul was somewhat straightforward and awkward, but Enzo was confident in his ability to handle people.

Even in the Order it was Enzo who most often enjoyed the affection of the elders.

‘What type of people does he like?’

He began to consider what kind of subordinates the King of the Dead preferred.

Silent and reliable?

Or flexible and quick-witted?

Strong people are usually lonely, so perhaps he needs a strategist capable of serious conversation.

‘What a bother, I can be all of that.’

A strange atmosphere hung in the sitting room between the five people.

And none of them knew that Tie, sprawled starfish-like on the bed, was dreaming.

‘Tie. Who do you like more?’

‘Answer, brat! Who do you like more?’

‘Astie. You are eating again with crumbs around your mouth.’

Sleeping, Tie’s brows furrowed.

She mumbled something indistinct in her sleep.

And no wonder—Basto was holding pizza, Bale chicken in sauce, Nordix a hamburger.

‘Ti, Tie.......’

She could not choose.

And at that moment.

[Benefactress.]

Someone gently called her.

When a hand touched her shoulder, Tie opened her eyes and saw iridescent eyes.

The gaze fixed on her soon curved softly.

[Sea god Seradin greets the savior of his life. You removed my shackles.]