The Hound and the Troublemaker
H-her mother?
YOU'RE her mother?!
Her biological genetic contributor?!
Wow! You're Asherah's mommy! Hello!
It's [Amora].
Don't get it wrong.
...W-what do I do?
I think I've been really rude to her this whole time...
S-Smile! Say something...
...
We agreed Luna would handle conversations with outsiders.
Luna should take responsibility for her assigned duty.
You traitor!
Hmm? What are you whispering about?
N-nothing! Nothing at all!
So... um, ma'am?
I said it's [Amora], didn't I?
Don't get it wrong.
Wow! Omega just detected a huge burst of energy! Omega's pretty sure she learned about this before...
That's right! Daddy called that energy [killing intent]! Amazing!
Y-yes, [Amora]...
So could you put the weapon down first, please?
Anyway, to sum up everything you've told us...
You're pursuing the [Witch of Favoritism] at Grand Witch Alicia's request, right?
Yes, exactly.
That's just like my daughter to make such clever friends.
Seeing such a clever child makes me want another drink.
Whew...
Anyway, you understand now that I'm not your enemy, don't you?
The one you should be worried about isn't me, but that [witch].
She planned everything, from abducting your companions to all the strange events in the Western lands.
If all of this was orchestrated by the [Witch of Favoritism], it is unclear why she separated Captain and Asherah from this space.
That's probably because of... the [Journey].
The Journey?
The Journey is merely a type of administrative examination conducted by NOA.
Unclear how the Journey could be related to an abnormal being like the [Witch of Favoritism].
Oh...? It seems you still don't know.
Don't know what?
The [Journey] isn't simply a test.
Rather than a test, it's closer to a kind of [ritual].
A [ritual]...?
Yes.
By following in the footsteps of the [Star Savior]...
And by retracing the path of the Journey he once walked, one gathers his power scattered throughout Lavistar...
A [Grand Ritual] that reinforces the very structure of the world.
That's what the [Journey] truly is.
W-wait a second!
I know a thing or two about magic and rituals myself.
But the Journey isn't particularly restricted by place or time.
The format itself is far too free-form for such an intricate Grand Ritual.
And more importantly, the ritual doesn't actually change anything, does it?
Doesn't change anything?
Aren't all of you much stronger now than you were before starting the Journey?
Uh... well...
Agreed. The Journey members are significantly stronger than before.
...Omega doesn't really know.
Omega was hungry before, and Omega is still hungry now...
Oh...
Emergency reserve energy is extracted separately and stored within Palace...
Huh?! What did you say?!
Cube was secretly stealing Omega's energy!
Correction requested! Correction requested! It is strictly for emergency situations...
But that can just be attributed to us training really hard!
Training? What sort of training, I wonder?
Well... running, for example?
Punching machines, alchemy lessons, blocking cannon fire with a shield, and so on.
A collection of varied, unnecessary activities with no clear training purpose.
And yet... they work.
Now that I think about it, this is unscientific... Confusion! Unable to compute!
Exactly. For Saviors like you, ordinary strength training is actually rather pointless.
But it worked, didn't it? And with extraordinary efficiency.
That's because... every one of those exercises was created by the [Star Savior].
And through the ritual known as the [Journey], the power left by the Star Savior is gathered within the participating Journey members.
When you put it that way, it does sound convincing...
Right around now... I imagine they're undergoing the [Void Trial].
Aside from the final trial, it's effectively the last trial of the Journey.
Which means the amount of power gathered through the [Void Trial] is enormous.
And the stronger the Voidborn they face, the more that power will be amplified.
And finally, the most important part.
The fewer Saviors there are taking part in the trial and receiving that power...
The more of it will be concentrated into the remaining Savior—Asherah.
Ugh... You're suddenly throwing so much huge stuff at me that my head hurts...
So you're saying the witch abducted them to concentrate more power into Asherah?
Most likely. That's what I think.
But why would she go out of her way to make her enemy stronger?
Even I don't know what drives every action of the [Witch of Favoritism].
But if it's Asherah... I'm certain she'll pass the [Void Trial].
So if we wait just a little longer...
I'm sure she'll destroy this Void Core and return to reality—Hmm?!
Amora casually raised her spear.
A deep, explosive sound burst from the spear and reverberated across the land, like the tolling of a bell.
Almost simultaneously, the shockwave sent the red sand surging outward in a massive circular ripple.
Ggh...!
Th-this sandstorm is huge!
Both of you, get behind me!
Through the dispersing cloud of sand, two figures were locked in place, their weapons clashing as neither gave an inch.
Even at the epicenter of the earth-shaking shockwave, the two stood, their expressions as calm as the eye of a hurricane.
Luna! Look! Someone showed up!
The person who appeared in Aganon...!
That's... the [Witch of Favoritism] Amora was talking about...
...Huh? What's this?
Somehow... she smells familiar...
Oh my. You've finally shown yourself.
I've been searching everywhere for you, you little troublemaker.
...How bothersome.
Countess Stranis.
Are you still playing the Grand Witch's hound?
Hmm, it seems you know who I am.
As for me being her hound... Well, you're not exactly wrong, but...
I prefer to call our relationship a [friendship].
Friendship?
Friendship is an emotion that can only exist in a relationship built on truth.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as truth within the Cycle.
And therefore, no such thing as friendship.
...I don't know exactly what you are, but you must've lived a pretty miserable life.
In any case, my duty is to drive you out.
Out of this world, I mean.
...
If you don't like that... then yes, you're welcome to run away.
Or, if we can settle this through conversation, there's no need to draw our weapons.
It's a much more grown-up way of doing things.
What do you say, [Shifter]?
Shifter? What's that?
Unknown. First time hearing the term.
To put it simply, it's a being that comes from a world different from ours.
Of course, that's an oversimplification... but for now, that's all you need to know.
...
Well? Think we can come to an amicable agreement?
...
Unfortunately, I'm not that grown-up.
If anything, I'm closer to a spoiled child throwing a tantrum.
Hmm...
That's why...
Negotiations are over.