Ronan raised a hand toward the road.
"Perfect timing."
A merchant carriage was rumbling past the rendezvous field, its wooden wheels creaking under the weight of bundled cargo. Two sturdy horses pulled it along the packed trade road that stretched across the plains.
The driver noticed the small group waving.
"Bandit mission?" the merchant called out.
Ronan nodded immediately.
"Yes, sir! Heading that way."
The merchant laughed with visible relief.
"Then climb aboard. Safer for both of us if you're riding along."
That was invitation enough.
The small party quickly climbed onto the back of the carriage, settling between crates of trade goods and bundled cloth.
The horses resumed their steady trot.
Warm wind brushed across the open plains beneath the afternoon sun.
For a while—no one spoke.
Mostly because everyone was sizing each other up. It was a common ritual among novice adventurers who had just formed temporary teams.
Ronan eventually broke the silence.
"So… Null, right?"
Null leaned back casually against a crate of spice sacks.
"Yep."
"You're with the Sanctum?"
"Sort of."
Ronan scratched his cheek. "Huh. Didn't know Sanctum trainees took missions like this."
"Training experience," Null replied lazily.
Derrik nodded approvingly. "Real combat's the best teacher."
Meanwhile—a few feet away—Mira leaned slowly toward Lyra. Very quietly.
"…Hey."
Lyra tilted her head. "…Yes?"
Mira covered her mouth slightly with her hand. "…Is it just me… or is he ridiculously handsome?"
Lyra blinked. Her gaze drifted briefly toward Null, then immediately returned to Mira.
"…You noticed too."
The two girls exchanged a quick look.
"…Right?!" Mira whispered urgently. "Where did Ronan even find a guy like that?"
Lyra nodded faintly. "His aura is also… unusual."
"Unusual how?" Mira asked.
Lyra hesitated. "…Calm. …Too calm."
Meanwhile—Null was completely unaware of the quiet investigation happening behind him. He was currently listening to Tobin enthusiastically explaining crossbow mechanics.
"…and then you adjust the tension here—see this lever?"
Null nodded politely. "Uh-huh."
Ronan leaned toward Derrik. "…Is it just me… or does that guy look like he walked out of some noble romance novel?"
Derrik snorted. "Yeah. Way too good-looking to be a normal adventurer."
Back on the other side—Mira continued whispering.
"…Also… did you see his eyes?"
Lyra nodded slowly. "…Deep red. …Very striking."
Mira placed a hand dramatically over her chest. "If we die today, at least I died after seeing such a beautiful man."
Lyra sighed. "…Please do not say such ominous things before a mission."
"…Right."
The carriage rolled steadily along the trade road.
The merchant driver called back over his shoulder. "Bandits usually show up about two miles ahead."
Ronan nodded. "Got it."
Then he glanced around the group. "Alright everyone, quick strategy talk."
But before that—Mira leaned close to Lyra again.
"…Do you think he has a girlfriend?"
Lyra paused. "…Why are you asking that during a bandit suppression mission?"
"…For important reasons."
Lyra sighed again. "…Focus, Mira."
Across the carriage—Null suddenly felt something strange.
Inside his mind—Fantasy Omniscience spoke quietly.
[Master. The probability of two female individuals developing romantic curiosity toward you has increased by 37%.]
Null blinked. "…What?"
Then he slowly looked toward the two whispering girls.
They immediately looked away. Very quickly.
Null stared for a moment, then sighed internally.
"…Fantasy Omniscience-san."
[Yes, Master.]
"…Please don't calculate things like that."
A brief pause.
[Understood.]
Inside his mind—the pink-haired avatar was once again covering her flushed face, processing yet another unfamiliar emotional phenomenon.
Embarrassment.
—
The carriage continued rolling across the plains.
Wheat fields swayed on both sides of the road as the distant walls of Lumeris slowly shrank behind them.
Null leaned back comfortably.
For once—things felt peaceful.
Ronan stretched his arms.
"Alright, introductions round two. If we're going to fight together, we should at least know what everyone does."
He tapped the pommel of his sword.
"My perk is Iron Tempo."
Null tilted his head. "Oh?"
Ronan grinned. "When I fight in rhythm—step, strike, breathe—I gradually get faster and stronger. Not by much, but the longer the fight goes, the better I perform."
Derrik whistled. "That's actually pretty solid."
Ronan shrugged modestly. "Works best when I don't panic."
Mira swung her legs lazily from the edge of the carriage.
"My turn."
She tapped the twin daggers at her hips.
"Perk: Ghoststep."
Null raised an eyebrow. "Sounds edgy."
Mira grinned. "I get quieter the faster I move." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "I can sprint past someone and they won't hear a thing."
Tobin blinked. "That sounds terrifying."
"Exactly," Mira said happily.
Derrik cleared his throat. "My perk is Stoneheart Channel."
He tapped the wooden staff resting beside him. "I can reinforce my body with earth mana. Makes me tougher and heavier."
Null looked him up and down. "Human battering ram."
Derrik chuckled. "Pretty much."
Lyra folded her hands neatly. "My perk is less exciting. Gentle Bloom."
Null glanced curiously. "And that does?"
"When someone near me is injured, my healing spells become more efficient." She smiled softly. "It's not very flashy."
"That's actually amazing," Ronan said immediately. "Healers are rare."
Tobin scratched his head. "My perk is True Aim." He lifted his crossbow slightly. "The first shot I fire in a fight never misses."
Null blinked. "That's… extremely useful."
Tobin nodded shyly. "Only the first one though."
Then—everyone looked at Null.
Ronan leaned forward. "Alright, mysterious Sanctum trainee. What's your perk?"
Null blinked. "…Uh."
Technically speaking—his perk was Fantasy Omniscience. A world-breaking ability capable of reading the flow of information across existence.
…Yeah. That wasn't something he could casually say on a bandit mission.
So he scratched his cheek. "…Basic sensory enhancement."
Inside his mind—Fantasy Omniscience immediately spoke.
[Master. That description is grossly inaccurate.]
Null ignored her.
Ronan nodded. "Ah. Awareness type."
Mira tilted her head. "Does that mean you can sense danger or something?"
Null shrugged. "Sometimes."
[Master. That statement is also inaccurate.]
Null mentally replied: Shhh.
Then he asked casually within his mind: Fantasy Omniscience-san, I have to ask. Is it normal for people to give out their fighting styles to strangers they just met?
Fantasy Omniscience responded calmly.
[Not necessarily, Master. Only novices tend to do so in order to increase team cooperation. After all, as novices, most of them would not yet possess true trump cards within their arsenal.]
Null hummed slightly to himself. That makes sense.
The mood on the carriage had relaxed now.
The merchant driver glanced back again. "You lot seem lively for people heading into a bandit zone."
Ronan laughed. "Nervous energy."
Mira leaned forward slightly, eyes drifting toward Null again. "…So."
Null looked up. "Yeah?"
"You said you're from the Sanctum."
"Mm-hm."
"Does that mean you're training under the Saintess?"
Null almost choked. "Wha—"
Lyra leaned forward slightly as well. "…We've heard rumors."
Ronan added casually. "Apparently the Saintess personally escorts a certain trainee sometimes."
Tobin nodded vigorously. "Yeah! People talk about it in the guild."
Null suddenly had a very bad feeling.
Mira narrowed her eyes playfully. "…You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
Inside his mind—Fantasy Omniscience calmly stated:
[Master. The probability that they are referring to you is 96%.]
Null sighed internally.
"…No idea."
Mira hummed suspiciously.
But before she could press further—the merchant driver slowed the horses.
"Alright," he said. "This is as far as I go."
The road ahead bent through a cluster of low hills and sparse woodland. A perfect ambush point.
Ronan stood immediately. "Looks like we're here."
The group climbed down from the carriage one by one.
The merchant tipped his hat. "Good luck. And try not to die."
Tobin gulped. "…We will. Thanks."