The road to Palmo Lake was strangely quiet from morning on. How long had they been walking since leaving Velg Canyon? The trees of the Great Forest Jura rustled their leaves overhead, and dappled sunlight fell in scattered dots across the stone path. Only the sound of birds drifted from far away. For Tempe Storm, that silence was becoming a problem. "Um..." Benimar spoke without turning around. Long red hair—still in a female form since last night. Her cool profile looked somehow tense. "Please forget about last night." Tempe Storm walked several steps in silence. (Last night?) Honestly, during last night's camp, all she could remember was the two of them bumping together while sleeping because there weren't enough blankets. And then the conversation by the fire... oh, that's right—when Benimar suddenly offered her shoulder. "[surprised]What do you mean?" "The... the blanket situation." The moment she said it, Benimar's face clearly showed regret. Tempe Storm held back the urge to stop walking and kept moving forward. (Oh, the blanket. Yeah, that was...) Heat crept into her cheeks. "[serious]Just to be clear, you're talking about the two of us sleeping under one blanket, correct?" "So please don't bring it up again!" "But you're the one who brought it up." Benimar fell silent. The two of them walked on without speaking again. The Great Sage cut into her thoughts at exactly that moment. 《Current conversation volume between the two parties has decreased to 23% of normal levels.》 (...I know. Shut up.) Tempe Storm shot back at the Great Sage in her mind. Where the path narrowed slightly, Benimar nearly stepped on a stone and her arm reflexively touched Tempe Storm's shoulder. Both of them instantly pulled away in opposite directions with all their strength. "S-sorry!" "N-no, I'm the one who—" After that, both of them somehow started walking faster. --- Palmo Lake came into view in the early afternoon. The water surface was more transparent than imagined. This freshwater lake, located 70 kilometers west of the capital Rimuls, had a diameter of about 8 kilometers. With high clarity, on this clear day, the outline of the lake bottom was faintly visible from the surface. The deeper areas had a blue tint, and water plants could be seen swaying gently from above. And at the bottom of that water, in the depths of the blue—there was the shadow of an old building. Shizul's Water Shrine. An ancient temple submerged at a depth of 40 meters. The scroll of the second verse of the Words of Reversal lay sleeping in its innermost sanctuary chamber. "[serious]Then I'll go first." Tempe Storm quietly shook her head. "[gentle]Benimar, you have flame-type magical essence, don't you?" "That's true, but..." "If you go in the water, it'll be like spraying a fire extinguisher on you. I'll go." Benimar's face clouded over. She wasn't convinced, but she couldn't argue either. She glared at the lake surface with frustration. "[serious]Then I'll procure waterproof magical tools." "...This is the middle of a lake shore. Where exactly are you going to get them?" "..." "Come on, don't make that face. I'll come back safely." Tempe Storm forced a smile and stepped into the lake. The water was cold. At the end of summer, the lake was warm only on the surface—below the ankles, it suddenly turned freezing. She activated her underwater movement skill. Magical essence wrapped around her body, deploying breathing assistance and pressure resistance... but. (Huh?) Something felt weak. The Great Sage immediately produced an analysis. 《Feminization fixation is progressing. Estimated 40 minutes remaining until skill output stability limit.》 (This is the worst.) Tempe Storm looked back at Benimar on the shore. Benimar had a face like she'd sensed something. But she said nothing. Tempe Storm said nothing either. 《Resolve this within 40 minutes.》 (I know. I'm going.) She submerged her body beneath the surface. --- The underwater world was silent. Light passed through the water and filtered down in wavering rays. A single fish darted past Tempe Storm and fled. The deeper she sank, the less light reached her. The water temperature dropped. Pressure increased. Even though the skill was supposed to be protecting her body, she felt resistance creeping in from somewhere. Around 40 meters deep, the temple entrance came into view. Shizul's Water Shrine. Stone gate pillars, buried in the seafloor sand, yet still standing after more than a thousand years. Inside was dark. The bedrock ceiling pressed down overhead. The structure had three connected chambers, and the sanctuary she sought was at the very back. As she passed through the first chamber. The water current changed. The moment Tempe Storm turned around—a massive shadow peeled away from the wall. A Nargia. A water-serpent type monster, 15 meters long. Scales dark blue-black, eyes glowing golden. Its movements in water were terrifyingly fast. The sound of its tail striking the wall echoed through the entire temple. Stone fragments scattered. Tempe Storm immediately tried to activate magic. The output wavered. (The skill—!) The spell formation collapsed midway. The Nargia didn't miss that moment. Its massive body coiled and drove Tempe Storm against the temple wall. One sweep of its tail brought down stone blocks. Reconstruct. Focus. Try again—. The output trembled. The skill began to cut out. (This is bad. How much time left—) The breathing assistance cut off. Water seeped in. Her lungs burned. Her vision blurred. (Stay calm. Stay—) But consciousness was fading. In the dark water, only the Nargia's golden eyes were visible. Then. The water shook with a heavy impact. A black shadow plunged into the water at tremendous speed. It was instantaneous. That shadow seized the Nargia's neck with both arms and squeezed with such force that ripples spread through the water. Before the Nargia could even struggle, its long body went limp and sank. Tempe Storm was pulled upward. The moment she broke the surface, light blinded her. She gasped for air. Coughed. Again and again, coughing seized her. Someone was beside her. Black hood. Tall. Wet long black hair fell across her cheek. The face—couldn't be seen. In the shadow of the hood, the expression was hidden. "[serious]...Who?" She asked in a hoarse voice. The figure didn't show her face. Her voice was calm. Emotionless. "[cold]I'm relieved you're safe." With only that, she ran across the water surface. Soundlessly. As if the water were solid ground, her feet didn't sink. Not even a ripple formed as she disappeared toward the opposite shore. Tempe Storm floated on the surface, watching the direction where that back had vanished. (...Who was that?) As she spat out water, that voice lingered in her mind. Emotionless. Cold. "I'm relieved you're safe"—an odd way to speak for someone who'd come to help. Yet she had been saved. And with a speed that suggested she'd known exactly where Tempe Storm would be. --- She reached the sanctuary chamber only after stabilizing her skill again. On the altar's pedestal lay a scroll. Made of ancient materials, it hadn't crumbled despite centuries submerged underwater. Probably because sealing magic remained. Tempe Storm picked up the scroll and asked the Great Sage to analyze it. The second verse's incantation was inscribed. Alongside it was a short passage. 《This vessel, crafted by the heartless mage Azaria. The vessel mirrors the heart of its user.》 Azaria. Tempe Storm repeated the name in her mind before the stone altar. The characters carved on the back of the stone tablet in Velg Canyon surfaced in her memory. 《One who seeks the vessel has already awakened.》 Someone had created the Reversal Pot. Azaria. If that person was still moving now? (It might not have been an accident.) For the first time, that possibility crystallized clearly in Tempe Storm's mind. The pot didn't malfunction by chance—someone with intent had set it in motion? Faint light filtered down from the temple ceiling. She tucked the scroll into her clothes and headed toward the surface. --- When she reached the shore, the first thing she saw was—Benimar. About three meters from the lake edge. Knee-deep in water, desperately peering at the surface. "[surprised]Huh...?" The moment Benimar saw Tempe Storm's figure, her face changed. "[sad]Lady Tempe Storm!!" She splashed through the water toward her at incredible speed. Tempe Storm understood what it cost a flame-type oni to wade knee-deep in cold water. Yet she came. "[scared]C-c-cold... no, it's nothing!" Benimar reached her, trembling violently while forcing a straight face. But it wasn't hidden. "[surprised]Why are you in the water like that?" "[serious]...Just in case. I judged it better to wait nearby." Tempe Storm was quiet for a moment. "That's not 'just in case' at all." "..." Benimar trembled again. Her lips were slightly blue. For a flame-type body, cold water wasn't just cold. It disrupted magical flow. She was genuinely exhausted. Tempe Storm removed the cloak draped over her shoulders. "[gentle]Here, warm up." Benimar froze. "[serious]Take it quickly. You'll catch a cold, even as a flame-type." She pressed the cloak toward her, and Benimar received it with both hands. Slowly. Like handling something precious. Then she turned her face—gently away. Her ears were red. Tempe Storm saw that and started to say something, then stopped. Without another word, they climbed onto the shore together. Evening light stretched long across Palmo Lake's surface. --- Night fell. They sat on either side of a campfire. The full moon reflected on the water surface. The water was mirror-still. For a while, neither spoke. Only the crackling of flames filled the silence. Benimar kept the cloak around her shoulders, gazing at the lake. Tempe Storm also gazed at the lake. Both looked straight ahead. Benimar spoke softly. "[gentle]Lady Tempe Storm." "...Yes?" "Even if I return to my original body..." The sound of the fire. "My feelings won't change." Her voice was quiet. Not angry, not crying, not demanding. Just stating a fact as it was. Warmth bloomed in the center of Tempe Storm's chest. At the same time, something felt stuck. "[surprised]Does that mean...?" Words wouldn't come. She tried to continue, but they caught in her throat. Benimar continued quietly. "I'm not asking for an answer. I just wanted you to know." She said nothing more and returned to tending the fire. She added another log, watching the flames. Her profile was peaceful. Tempe Storm hugged her knees and gazed at the lake surface. (What do I do?) Whether it was her feelings for Benimar, confusion, or something else—Tempe Storm herself didn't know. The mysterious woman lingered in the corner of her mind. The name Azaria too. The time limit. Everything swirled in her head. But right now, what occupied Tempe Storm's chest most was Benimar's profile, quiet and still in the firelight, watching the flames. --- When she woke the next morning, Benimar was sleeping beside her. She found herself staring at her sleeping face. (...Again.) Realizing she was doing exactly the same thing as last night, Tempe Storm quietly looked away. The sky was brightening. Birds were singing. Palmo Lake's surface sparkled in the morning light. (What am I going to do about this...?) The true nature of her feelings for Benimar. The identity of the mysterious woman. The name Azaria and the words 《The vessel mirrors the heart of its user.》 Holding two unanswered questions, Tempe Storm quietly stood up. Next was Kagutsu Sand Dunes. 150 kilometers south of the capital, a land of sandstorms. Still no answers had come.