Nordix could not hide his surprise.

He knew that Lucarion was Tie’s summon, but he had not even imagined it had been going on for so long.

After hesitating and choosing his words, he finally asked,

"Then you know Astie’s father well?"

"No."

Nordix frowned.

"You were beside Astie for four years. In that time you must have encountered the man who was her father more than once. How can you not know him?"

"Four years or more—it does not matter. That man was completely uninteresting to me. Only Astie interests me. And I remember only what interests me."

Saying that, Lucarion indifferently averted his gaze.

But his words were the pure truth.

For all four years that he slept in the resting chamber in Korea, he had focused his entire consciousness only on Astie.

So even now, trying to recall that man, he could summon almost nothing to memory.

"I never once saw his face, so I do not know."

He did not know his name either—the man had never spoken it.

The most familiar thing, perhaps, was the voice...

"I know only the voice he used when speaking to Astie."

When the man addressed others and when he spoke to Astie, they were entirely different voices.

With Astie he spoke much higher and brighter.

Sometimes he used the kind of words people use when talking to infants, and at times he amusingly acted out fairy tale characters.

"But now he most likely does not even know of Astie’s existence, so he would not use that voice."

In other words, Lucarion would never find himself in a situation where he could recognize him by voice.

Still feeling their gazes on him, Lucarion added evenly,

"No matter how you look at it, I will be of no use in searching for that man. So abandon that thought."

"...Ha."

Bale gave a dry laugh.

"Just a summon, yet acting full of himself. What a character."

Muttering that, he suddenly shifted his gaze to the other summon clinging to Astie’s head.

With high probability, it had emerged from Krazar’s core.

"Kyu... kyutaah..."

At least this strange and somewhat foolish looking summon resembled an ordinary summon more.

The creature with the long nose and large ears had, at some point, simply sat there staring at Tie and squeezing tears from its eyes.

It cried so pitifully that Bale himself felt his heart grow heavy.

He sighed and shook his head.

At that moment Enzo, who had been looking out the window, said,

"Looks like the old man was right. Rain..."

When they turned, they indeed saw the first drops beginning to fall outside.

Bale lowered the cloth at the window so the rain would not pour inside and looked at Tie.

"Let it at least be a short downpour."

Then at dawn they could quickly set out again.

"I’m an idiot. I did not even notice the kid was sick."

If he had realized the child’s condition was worsening, they would not have hurried like that.

They could have asked Berugon for permission and stayed in the Weapons District a few more days.

"Haa..."

Just as Basto seemed to be thinking the same thing and sighed—

"...Papa?"

A hoarse, raspy voice came from below.

Everyone hurriedly looked down—Tie had weakly opened her eyes.

"Kid! Are you all right?"

Her small lips barely parted.

Slowly looking around, she said,

"Kkamani... uncle... and big brothers... and grandpa..."

"Yes, yes, Tie."

Basto stepped closer and gently brushed her hair.

In the quiet carriage, the sound of Tie swallowing echoed several times—her throat hurt.

Soon she stretched out her hand as if asking to be lifted.

Bale quickly helped Tie sit up and folded the blanket behind her back to support her.

After taking several heavy breaths, Tie said,

"Tie’s throat sting very very much."

"Here, drink this. Quickly."

Bale handed her the warmed water he had been holding the entire time.

But when Tie saw the water, she frowned.

"Do not want water."

"Huh?"

"Do not want water, want milk. Or puporo strawberry taste..."

Whether from pain or hurt feelings, Tie’s eyes immediately turned red.

Bale looked around helplessly.

"M-milk is not here..."

And he did not even know what puporo strawberry was.

At his words, tears rolled down Tie’s cheeks.

"Give puporo strawberry! Give milk toooo...!"

The squad members stared in confusion at this unfamiliar side of Astie.

"Astie. You are sick, yet asking for junk food."

Lucarion cut her off sternly.

Tie opened her eyes wide, then pouted pitifully.

"Friends say not junk. Healthy drink."

"Liquid sugar and syrup—very healthy indeed. Stop whining and drink the water."

Tie wiggled her fingers.

But still took the bottle from Bale’s hand.

Lucarion immediately said,

"Drink all of it."

"Tie have no taste."

"When drinking water, taste is not required. Drink all of it and your throat will hurt less."

"...Kkamani bad."

"You may hate me as much as you wish. First drink all of it."

The squad silently watched as Tie forced herself to finish all the water.

After returning the empty bottle to Bale and letting out a small burp, she wrapped herself deeper in the blanket.

"Head spin and hurt..."

"You caught a cold. Your fever was burning."

"Really?"

"Yes. Wipe your nose."

Lucarion habitually wiped her nose and then wiped his hands on the damp cloth.

"If you want, sleep some more. At dawn we will go to the nearest village and stay a few days. Until you fully recover."

At those words, Tie’s nearly closed eyes snapped open.

"Cannot stay few days."

"Why."

"In two full moons must go to Cheonnyeonim house. Cannot be late."

Lucarion shook his head as if she was impossible to argue with.

And gently stroked her head as if telling her to sleep.

"Your squad members ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) will deliver you on time. So do not worry and just sleep."

Basto hurriedly nodded.

"Yes, Tie. We will never be late. Sleep a little more."

Only then did Tie calm down and close her eyes.

After a few seconds, she opened them again.

"You know, what if cannot sleep again. What do then...?"

Lucarion took a stuffed bear from the children’s backpack.

And handed it to Tie.

"Then hug this."

A faint smile appeared on Tie’s face.

She quickly pressed her favorite pink panda to her chest and chirped,

"When we reach the capital, will our mercenary squad have one more mage?"

Nordix asked with a slight smile,

"Why do you need another mage?"

"Tie cannot use orbs. Must learn from other mage. Need teacher."

"...Hm, I see."

Already a mage of the highest level, yet she speaks of finding a teacher.

Just the thought of who would dare agree to be her mentor was unsettling.

Meanwhile Tie played with the bear’s paws.

Watching her, Basto cautiously asked,

"Tie. Did your throat already hurt back in the Weapons District?"

Tie nodded as if it were nothing.

"Yeaah."

The squad members’ faces lengthened.

"Then why did you not say so?"

At that question Tie looked up at Bale.

And quietly answered,

"If hurt, papa... no, everyone worry... and always say go hospital."

"If you are sick, of course you must go to the hospital."

"But Tie no medical insurance, and hospital very very expensive..."