A Fateful Journey Begins

No matter his status, Shirone was still his master. As an aspiring knight, he couldn't afford to be careless in how he treated him.

'He's a righteous man.'

Shirone could grasp Tess's personality. As expected, he was someone Rian had brought along.

"Thanks for saying that. I've heard a lot about you. You're Rian's lover, right?"

"Oh my, what are you talking about? Do we really look like lovers? Do we match that well? Hohoho!"

Tess was starting to take a liking to Shirone, while Rian frowned.

Though it was a misunderstanding he absolutely had to correct, he kept his mouth shut since he appreciated Tess's kindness toward Shirone.

Amy observed Rian with mild surprise.

When she first heard about the plan to visit the island, she assumed some lecherous person had proposed it. But to her surprise, he was more straightforward and considerate than expected.

'The Ozent family, famed for their swordsmanship. I heard there's one genius among their black-haired members, but this guy has blue hair.'

While she pondered, Tess alternated glances between Shirone and Amy.

Both had youthful appearances, intelligent eyes, and, more than anything, an air of stubbornness despite their delicate features.

"By the way, what's the relationship between you two? Now that I look at you, you really do suit each other. Are you lovers?"

Amy nearly choked on her breath. She knew Tess had no ill intentions, but it felt like they were being lumped together as 'little kids sticking with their own kind.'

The reason was clear—standing next to Rian, Tess had an impressive physique.

Her limbs were long, her height imposing, and her waistline was sharply defined. In contrast, Amy, unmistakably a mage, was of average height and had a slim build compared to her peers.

Of course, looks weren't everything, but standing in front of Tess's overwhelming presence made her feel uneasy.

"No, we're just friends. I'm only going because Shirone asked me to."

"Ah, I see."

But Tess didn't fully believe it.

For a noble girl of the Carmis family to accompany a commoner partner—it was more than just casual camaraderie.

Rian shared the same thought.

In fact, the biggest concern he had when planning the trip was whether Shirone would be able to bring a partner.

Yet when the time came, Shirone showed up with a petite, beautiful girl, even catching the eye of someone as uninterested in romance as Rian.

'Do your best, Shirone. I'll support you all the way.'

Just as their brief conversation ended, the carriage they had arranged arrived, ready for departure.

Rian glanced around warily before suddenly rushing toward the carriage, as if something was chasing him.

"It's here! Let's go, quickly!"

Then it happened.

"YOU SCOUNDREL! RIAN!"

A thunderous voice erupted from the mansion.

The sheer bloodlust in the voice was enough for Rian to realize—his report card had finally reached his father's hands.

"Damn it! Run, guys!"

"What? What about the carriage?"

"If we get in, it'll be too late! Look behind you! We have to climb the wall!"

As the three turned toward the mansion, a massive ochre whirlwind surged toward them.

"Huh? Huh?!"

Even before understanding the situation, Shirone and the others started running.

"Rian! What the hell is happening?!"

"Damn it! My report card arrived! I actually ranked last! My dad is going to kill us!"

"For real? He'll actually kill you? Can't you just tell him the truth and go? We're going on a trip, this is ridiculous!"

"If you think you can, go ahead! I'm running. Oh, and for the record, my dad is a certified Rank 4 swordsman."

All three of them paled.

Tess opened her Schema, taking the lead, with Amy following close behind.

Shirone, lagging at the rear, felt his heart pound.

They were running forward, yet the wind was pushing from behind.

That meant Bischoff, Rian's father, was moving at an inhuman speed, displacing the air itself.

"Rian! We're gonna get caught!"

Rian made a decision.

"There's no choice! I'll sacrifice myself! You guys go ahead to the island and have fun!"

Although it was completely in character for Rian, abandoning a friend wasn't an option.

Even in the chaos, Shirone came up with a solution.

"Amy! Let's teleport! Rian, don't move!"

Grabbing Rian, Shirone activated Photonization magic, and in an instant, they burst forth like streaks of light.

'Hup!'

Experiencing teleportation for the first time, Rian felt disoriented.

His vision narrowed, and it seemed as if the scenery was rushing toward his face.

'So this is a mage's perspective.'

Amy was already teleporting Tess as well.

Two streaks of light streaked across the estate, avoiding every obstacle without fail.

"Hah… Hah…"

Thinking they had gained enough distance, Shirone stopped and looked back. His heart sank.

The whirlwind was even closer. It was tearing through everything in its path—obstacles meant nothing.

The massive winds reminded him of the Ozent family's signature Greatsword Technique.

"Amy! This way!"

Deep within the forest, Shirone shouted, and Amy adjusted course, closing the distance between them.

The whirlwind was now only 200 meters behind them.

Tess stomped in frustration.

"Now what? Are we just gonna get caught?!"

"Grab onto me!"

Expanding his Spirit Zone to its maximum range, Shirone locked onto a safe location and activated Spatial Movement.

A technique he had planned to avoid using until he mastered it—but the battlefield left no choice.

The moment they teleported toward the outskirts of the forest, an immense gust of wind swept over where they had just been.

"Tch!"

Bischoff clenched his fists in frustration. He had missed Rian by a hair's breadth.

As he skidded to a halt, dirt and debris piled up behind his heels—a testament to the sheer kinetic energy he had been carrying.

"Haa…"

Bischoff surveyed the destruction caused by his own pursuit.

The ground was torn, trees snapped in half.

All because of Rian.

"A Schema illusion?"

He pulled out the crumpled report card again, sighing deeply.

"..."

But in the end, despite his disappointment, he felt a trace of sympathy for his hopeless son.

Just how much had Rian trained to develop such physical strength that it could be mistaken for Schema?

'At least he deserves an effort award.'

Calming himself, he reflected on what had happened.

Shirone had already mastered Spatial Movement.

A spell so difficult that even professionals struggled with it—an achievement nothing short of astounding in just half a year.

Shirone and Rian. Rian and Shirone.

Bischoff couldn't help but envision their intertwined fates.

Their talents were vastly different, yet had they not walked the same number of steps?

"This will be a good memory for them, too."

With that, he tossed the report card over his shoulder and walked back toward the mansion.