Tsch...

You did it, Lugina!

Of course I did!

I wouldn't lose to a piece of trash like that!

That's right. You're absolutely right!

...... Tsk...

I had heard that the demon could take on different shapes, but...

...to think it would turn into Lugina...

Whatcha say?!

I'm sorry! So sorry!

Please forget I said anything!!

Tsch... Whatever.

I don't have time to waste getting angry at each useless underling I meet anyway.

By the way, Lugina.

I gotta say, when there were two of you earlier, I couldn't believe my eyes. I was so shocked!

Hah! You shouldn't be shaken up by things like that!

Freaking out is not the smartest move to make on the battlefield.

I'm gonna make sure that the next time I see that old man Grahdens...

...I will let him know of our little conversation here.

*Yelp*

Though during that fight with that demon, I did a lot of thinking for myself too.

And now I've realized all over again...

...that I really am the strongest there is!!

Hey, operator!

Y-Yes?!

Our mission ends here. Am I right?

What?! O-Oh, y-yes!!

We have confirmed that the demon's presence has vanished.

So the mission has been labeled as complete.

Well then, I'm gonna go on ahead.

If I stay around you guys any longer...

...I'm scared your stupid face syndrome may start affecting me too.

Hans!

Until the next time we meet, you better do some serious training.

Even if you never get to reach my level of greatness...

...if I don't get you to at least become able to keep up with me, you're just gonna get in my way.

So make sure to step up your game!

He's gone.

I'm not sure, but I think his personality may have gotten worse than before...

Ha ha ha!

Aww, c'mon Lin. Don't say that.

As weird as it is, that's the personality that suits him best, don't you think?

Not really. I was hoping he'd become nicer, even if just a little bit...

Otherwise we'll never find other Summoners who'll be willing to pair up with him in the future...

O-Oh, you're right... I hadn't considered that...

But you know, I still think Lugina is fine just the way he is.

Right, Hans?

......

Is something the matter, Noel?

It would seem you are not in the greatest of moods.

I'm fine.

Hmmm...

Well, the plan was a success, and Lugina did partially grow.

However, I'm afraid it was not an incredibly eye opening experience for him...

...as it only served to make his already awful personality even worse.

I assume that's where your current dissatisfaction stems from?

Ugh...

If you already knew that, then stop asking me all these roundabout questions.

He he he. My apologies.

However, I believe there's no cause to make haste.

We should just wait for the next opportunity to help Lugina attain true enlightenment.

So, for the time being, we should just rejoice in the fact that he managed to grow somewhat.

......

Fine, fine.

I'll take whatever I can get this time.

Anyway, about the next plan...

Am I interrupting?

Y-You are...?!

Ho ho ho ho.

It has been quite some time since we last met. Noel, Rhynt.

Elder Grahdens...

I'm really sorry, but we're kinda busy right now.

Could we talk later?

You shouldn't be so cruel to your elders when they have such little time left to enjoy life.

In any case, I only came to discuss something with you.

And I'm telling you, I don't have that kind of time...

We have found evidence that the recent demon slaying mission requests from Summoners' Hall have been fabricated by someone.

...!

...really? That's pretty bad.

No, not at all.

It is thanks to those fabrications...

...that some of our most promising Summoners have been able to improve themselves.

I am quite satisfied with the results, actually.

However, the only reason why this is acceptable at all is because I was the one to find out about it.

If it had been Owen...

...the criminals who fabricated the requests would have earned themselves a good scolding.

......

Which makes me worry about them.

I'm hoping that while others remain unaware of their identities and misdoings, they stop committing such indiscretions...

......

Hmmm... Perhaps I'm boring you with all this?

N-No. Not at all.

I really hope you find them soon. Those criminals, I mean.

Ho ho ho.

We'll see.

Either way, sorry this old man took so much of your time by rambling off.

I shall excuse myself now.

Noel, Rhynt.

You are both very important members of the Hall. As always, I'll be counting on you.

......

......

It would be safest to assume that our plans have been discovered.

Looks that way.

Well, it looks like we should leave those requests alone for a little while.

Are you certain?

There's nothing else we can do.

Anyway, it's not like because we can't fabricate any more requests at the moment, we can't continue with our research.

I mean, we still have a million options to choose from, you know!