Chapter 107
"What? No-Ridge is covered in thick steam?"
"Yes, an abnormally dense amount—enough to call it an emergency."
Though we'd had the trouble with Ares, once we entered the ducal estate, there was no further pursuit.
Lotus's sudden return after just a few days surprised the staff, but we managed to meet with His Grace and deliver our report.
"No-Ridge is under direct royal jurisdiction, but the situation is urgent. We intend to investigate ourselves first, so we request the use of the scrolls in Your Grace's possession."
"Scrolls? If the situation is as dire as you say, I'll inform the King. Which scrolls do you need?"
"Air Clean and Thermo Control."
"...Another unusual request."
"Oh, and if you have any Daily Life Magic scrolls, we'd like to purchase those too!"
"I can guess who they're for, but are you certain these will resolve No-Ridge's crisis?"
"Yes. Lord Liberta assured us they would suffice."
I stood silently in the back, letting Lotus explain, but the Duke had been glancing at me since earlier.
So, when I raised my hand to chime in, His Grace's gaze finally settled on me.
"Liberta."
"Yes."
After confirming the details, the Duke sighed deeply and motioned me forward.
"Let me ask this once—you have no involvement in this incident, do you?"
"None."
"...Good. Frankly, with all the recent troubles, this news alone is enough to give me heartburn. I won't demand an immediate resolution, but handle it as swiftly as possible."
"Understood."
"Lotus, you may take the scrolls if they're in stock. Request anything else you need—I'll inform the quartermaster. And if reinforcements are required, send word immediately. I can mobilize a company at once. Depending on your report, I'll seek the King's permission to dispatch more."
"Understood."
Being asked if I was involved felt like being falsely accused—I genuinely had no clue about this incident.
So, I could answer truthfully.
This wasn't an event I recognized from the game, meaning I had no prior knowledge.
Thankfully, the Duke only seemed to be checking and quickly accepted my answer.
Given the Stampede, the western adventurers, and other recent troubles, nobles tasked with crisis management must be at their wits' end.
---
"Liberta, what do you make of that steam?"
"At best, wild speculation. At worst, baseless conjecture."
As we left the office for the warehouse, Claudia asked about the mist engulfing No-Ridge.
Honestly, having only briefly entered it, I couldn't say much.
"Even so, I'd like to hear it."
"The lack of evacuees and reports from nearby towns suggests the incident happened very recently—likely during a quiet time when few would notice. Otherwise, we'd have seen people fleeing in panic."
No-Ridge was a hot spring town built along a mountain gorge.
The deeper you went, the closer to the mountains, with inns lining the abundant hot springs. Its long, narrow layout—stretching vertically along the gorge—was unique.
Given that, escaping should've been simple if you headed the right way.
Yet, despite the steam, there wasn't a single person near the exits.
"I wondered if the steam itself was a trap, but neither of us were affected, right?"
"Yes, it felt like ordinary hot spring vapor. The only oddity was the lingering heat."
"Worst-case scenario? A powerful monster caused instant, scorching temperatures that wiped out the entire town."
"..."
The most plausible theory was a hostile entity—a monster I didn't know about—suddenly appearing and annihilating the town with its abilities.
Though my game knowledge was extensive, unknown monsters could exist in this world.
This was a strong possibility, but not absolute.
Hence, I always remained wary of unfamiliar creatures.
Still, I considered this unlikely.
If such a monster existed, it would've reacted when we entered its territory.
The steam might've been its domain, but even passive monsters usually respond to intruders.
One capable of wiping out a town would surely be sensitive to outsiders.
Ambush-type monsters would've left traps.
Since there were none, the monster theory seemed weak.
"Another possibility is the town being swallowed by a dungeon."
"A dungeon consuming a town?"
"If a Stampede is left unchecked, the area eventually warps into an otherworldly space—a dungeon's final form, in a sense."
If the entire town had been warped, it could align with the phenomenon of world erosion—the final stage of dungeon expansion.
But this only occurs in high-tier dungeons left neglected for over a decade, requiring repeated Stampedes.
"But I've heard no reports of Stampedes there."
"Exactly. So, that's also improbable."
This was pure speculation without evidence.
Claudia seemed to think I knew everything, but I couldn't possibly be aware of every pre-canon event.
Even with game lore and official materials, some gaps remained.
"Then what is that steam?"
"No idea. With just 'steam' as a clue, narrowing it down is impossible."
No matches came to mind.
Every theory I considered didn't quite fit.
"For now, a natural disaster seems most likely."
"A natural disaster causing that?"
"Nature's terrifying like that—anything can happen."
Completely stumped, I shrugged at Amina with a wry smile.
Lotus, listening behind us, also seemed at a loss due to the lack of information.
---
"Lotus."
Then, a voice like a silver bell called the steward's name.
I froze.
I knew that voice—there was no mistaking it.
"Lady Iris! Should you be out of bed?"
"I heard our lifesaver was here. The physician cleared me to walk."
At the foot of a staircase, a figure stood above us.
Lotus stopped and bowed gracefully.
Following his lead, we turned toward the voice.
Dressed in a blue gown, with straight golden hair (unlike Esmeralda's curls), stood a girl whose delicate features mirrored her sister's—yet retained a youthful innocence.
"You must be Liberta, correct?"
Iris Edelgard!?
She's not jaded!
Not even a little!
In the original story, hardened by noble society's darkness and her family's estrangement, Iris had been cynical from the start.
Yet here she was—pure, untarnished, smiling softly as she descended the stairs with two maids in tow.
In the game, she trusted no one, walking alone or with sycophants she controlled through power.
And she never used names unless affinity reached the third tier!
Yet here she was, calling mine outright—leaving me stunned.
"Sister spoke of you, but you truly seem... ordinary."
"...Uh?"
Close—too close!
Instead of stopping at the base of the stairs, she stepped closer, peering at my face with open curiosity.
"My Lady, it's improper to approach a gentleman so boldly."
"Oh, Lotus, it's fine. I simply wanted to see the face of the hero who saved my sister and me."
"Even so, rumors would trouble His Grace."
"Oh, very well. But at least allow me this."
Chastised, she stepped back—but not before taking my hand in hers.
Soft. Warm.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I can walk under the sun again. I'll never forget this kindness."
It took seconds to process—her touch, her smile, her words.
"Ahem, My Lady. Staring so intently is hardly proper. It's time to let go."
"Oh, Lotus, you're so stiff."
"Please refrain from willfulness."
"Fine."
As quickly as it came, the warmth faded.
"Let's talk more next time. Farewell."
"Ah, yes."
From start to finish, she did all the talking—I just nodded.
Only after she vanished up the stairs did I snap back to reality.
"She was cute, wasn't she?"
"Yeah, very ladylike."
Nel and Amina's dry remarks snapped me out of it.
"You seemed quite taken, Lord Liberta."
Ingrid's tone felt colder than usual.
"Liberta, unrequited love is a dangerous distraction. At the very least, wipe that dazed look off your face."
Claudia's exasperated sigh sent a chill down my spine.
I slapped my cheeks to refocus.
"Hahaha! Youth truly is something, Liberta."
"Uh, sorry about that."
"No need. Lady Iris shares the blame. Now, let's hurry—we've lost enough time."
Lotus's chuckle eased the awkwardness.
Under Nel and Amina's deadpan stares, we pressed on to the warehouse.
---
"Here are the scrolls as promised: Air Clean, Thermo Control, and Daily Life Magic. Please verify."
The ducal warehouse—I'd always wanted to see inside, but outsiders clearly weren't allowed.
Two soldiers stood guard outside, while a bespectacled, scholarly-looking man waited within.
Lotus spoke to him briefly, and the scrolls were produced swiftly—proof of impeccable management.
"Confirmed. Ingrid, learn Air Clean and Thermo Control first."
"Understood."
The scrolls were exactly what we needed.
Of course nobles would have what the market lacked.
"...I've learned them. Please verify."
Ingrid used the scrolls immediately, and they vanished after fulfilling their purpose.
She angled her status screen—visible only to me—for confirmation.
"Ingrid Grulé | Class 2 / Level 92
- HP: 147 | MP: 147
- BP: 0 | EXBP: 0
- Skills (6/6 Slots):
- Staff Arts: Class 10 / Level 100
- Sword Arts: Class 10 / Level 100
- Cooking: Class 10 / Level 100
- Dismantling: Class 10 / Level 100
- Air Clean: Class 1 / Level 1
- Thermo Control: Class 1 / Level 1"
"Looks good."
With these support skills, we could finally breach the steam.
"This should do it."
Time to return to No-Ridge.