Most of the research on the new types of essences had actually been completed back when I was still in the underground first floor, but despite that, I handed over all the essences I had to Raven.

In my view, all wizards were perverts.

Sure, they get a thrill from uncovering the unknown, but they also genuinely enjoy the research process itself.

It’s like chewing gum.

Some people spit it out as soon as the sweetness is gone, but others just love the act of chewing and go on all day.

So...

“Then I’ll do my best to research this.”

Rather than expecting something new to be revealed from additional research, I decided to think of it simply as entrusting the essences to Raven.

Well, it would be great if some research results came out eventually.

Like this.

“Oh, by the way, what was that thing written in the letter? You said you had something to tell me.”

“That’s right, how could I forget? It’s the essence of the Hiphramagent that Ainard obtained during the expedition. I think I figured out the latent ability we hadn’t been able to fully understand.”

“Oh, really?”

“After returning to the city, I compared the numerical data we collected then with other existing data and found some similarities.”

“So what exactly is this latent ability?”

Raven crossed his arms, puffed out his small chest, and said...

“Do you know the grade 3 monster called ‘Lamansis’?”

He asked me with an overly confident tone, but honestly, I didn’t get it. How can someone that short look down on me?

Maybe the answer to this mystery lies in how far his chin is tilted back—

“Oh, it’s natural not to know.”

What’s he talking about now?

“Well, the ‘Lamansis’ is—”

“A rare monster that appears in the 9th floor rift?”

Raven shrugged as if his words were taken away.

“...Huh?”

It seemed the tilt of his chin had decreased compared to earlier.

“You knew... about that...?”

Yeah, of course.

I chuckled at how cute his behavior was, then Raven returned to his usual tone.

“But you only know half of it! The Lamansis can’t be found through normal means even in the 9th floor rift.”

“Well, that makes sense. It’s a monster you can only encounter by using Gavrilius’s hidden arrangements within the rift, right?”

Nodding like a social barbarian, I replied.

But then...

“...”

For some reason, the usually talkative Raven went quiet again.

The tilt of his chin, previously tilted way back, decreased even more so that the feeling of looking down on me vanished entirely.

In that state, Raven carefully spoke.

“By any chance... Baron Yandel, do you even know what that arrangement is...?”

“So?”

I answered with a tone implying it was a natural question, and Raven’s eyes opened wide.

From his expression, I understood something.

“Don’t tell me... you don’t know?”

“......”

As usual, my silence served as the answer.

“Hmph.”

Not even mad.

What? He looked down on me like that without knowing that?

“W-Well! Of course I don’t know! Could such high-level info be in a book...? Even the data on essence abilities is so valuable! And historically, only a handful of people have possessed this essence... why are you looking at me like that...?”

“Hmm...”

“......”

Suddenly realizing, our positions had reversed.

I was looking down with arms crossed, and Raven looked somewhat dejected, staring at the ground.

Still, Raven strained to raise his voice.

“So...”

“...?”

“...So, what exactly is that arrangement?”

Only a wizard would still be curious about that.

After explaining the hidden piece within the 9th floor rift, Raven described the passive skill of the Lamansis as a sort of reward.

Honestly, I already knew about it...

‘This is just part of social life.’

This time I listened carefully without cutting him off.

“The Lamansis’s latent ability is called [Best Friend]. The name might sound trivial, but looking deeper, it’s quite a peculiar ability.”

Hmm...

Rather than calling [Best Friend] a peculiar ability, it’s more accurate to say it has unusual activation conditions.

“According to our guesses, it’s a support-type ability. It grants a very strong blessing to one nearby target and to the user themselves.”

“Oh?”

“However, this latent ability cannot be activated at will. It’s not active normally. A special condition must be met...”

“Such as...?”

“I don’t know the details. But in records of past owners, it overwhelmingly activated between male and female pairs... Also, they had the common trait of having spent a very long time together.”

That makes sense.

To activate [Best Friend], the essence’s owner must max out affection with one target.

So when I got this essence, I fed it to a female companion and bought flowers daily to raise affection.

By the way, it was an essence the player character couldn’t use.

The system prevented players from gaining affection toward NPCs.

‘So does that mean I can now use this essence directly?’

As a gamer, my curiosity was piqued, but I had no intention of using [Best Friend] myself.

There was no slot for it to begin with...

And from an efficiency standpoint, it’s much better to feed it to companions and raise affection...

‘...Saying it out loud makes it sound pretty trashy.’

Anyway, after knowing the passive skill, I just felt it was a bit of a burden.

How to put it...

It’s a good skill with performance above its grade once activated...

‘But is triggering it even possible?’

In-game, maxing affection to 100% is not easy.

In fact, it’s almost impossible between same-sex pairs.

When raising affection, it always locks once at 90%, and only after certain sweet events between opposite sexes can it rise slowly.

But...

‘Ainard...?’

I can’t imagine Ainard in that kind of relationship with another man.

Including me, it’s just male friends all around.

“So I guess it only activates between lovers of opposite sexes is my guess... Hey, I’m trying to explain here, why are you thinking about that?”

“Oh, I was just wondering how to activate that ability.”

“...That makes sense.”

It’s quite a complicated problem.

It’d be a shame to waste the skill...

But I can’t go around buying cream buns and flirting daily just to activate [Best Friend].

‘...Better to just consider this skill nonexistent.’

So I decided to seal [Best Friend] in my mind.

After all, it’s an essence already performing well without the passive skill.

“Anyway, thanks, Raven.”

“No need to thank me. I ended up not really helping much.”

“But at least we found out the latent ability isn’t a negative one. That alone eased my worries.”

“Hmm... I guess that’s true.”

I can’t tell if he wants gratitude or just wants to be humble.

I didn’t know, but after finishing the main topic, we spent time chatting casually.

Then somehow, since I was there anyway, I ended up sitting in that chair I often sat in before and became a test subject again...

I even had a meal in the mage tower cafeteria because I got hungry.

“Wow, it’s already this late. It must be dark outside.”

“There are no windows, so I wouldn’t know. Oh, by the way, Raven, can I borrow your communication crystal for a bit?”

“Who are you trying to contact?”

“I want to contact the holy land. If I get through later, could you tell them for me that I’m sleeping in your lab tonight and going straight to tomorrow’s schedule?”

Raven tilted his head.

“...There’s no research you need today.”

He really is clueless when it comes to important things.

“But just do as I say.”

“Okay? Sure... that’s not difficult...”

Raven looked at me with curious eyes and asked,

“What exactly is going on?”

Not wanting to stir up trouble by bringing up the marriage topic, I only told half the truth.

“Just...”

“...Just?”

“I just don’t want to go home today.”

“...Huh?”

“Let me stay here overnight.”

I was too lazy even to find an inn.

The next morning, after sleeping roughly on a blanket, Raven woke up first and nudged me awake.

“...Get up. How long are you going to sleep? You might miss your schedule. You said you had an important appointment today.”

“Ah...”

“Was it uncomfortable sleeping here?”

“Not at all. The floor was warm, just perfect. Oh? Did you already wash up?”

“...Well, of course. Do you expect me to get up dirty?”

Hmm... I always looked worn out and unwashed when leaving the lab...

Maybe he got sensitive after becoming a soldier?

“Anyway, thanks for letting me stay overnight. I’ll come again.”

“No, don’t come. You just make me tired.”

“Huh? You were asleep early yesterday too, right?”

“That’s not what I meant. I have to research, so hurry and go.”

Pushed by Raven’s pressure from the morning, I left the mage tower like being kicked out, then took a carriage from the nearby station to my destination—Eldorado Karnon.

Today was the day.

Leaders of the six races forming the great city of Rapdonia—human, dwarf, elf, barbarian, beastfolk, and dragonkin—gathered for the racial conference.

‘This is my first time coming here despite being chief for a long time.’

The conference building was one I’d passed many times before.

Its six columns supporting the roof made it look like a Roman temple, quite eye-catching.

‘...Got some time to spare.’

Having been kicked out early, I went to a nearby restaurant to eat and pass time.

Since it was in Karnon, the meal cost much more than expected, which surprised me...

Well, what could I do? When you’re hungry, you have to eat.

‘They probably won’t pay for this meal.’

After finishing, patting my belly, I entered the building where the conference was held.

“...Baron Bjorn Yandel, are you here alone?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No... none. Please come in. The others are waiting.”

The guards at the entrance were all from other races, but strangely no barbarians were among them.

‘Are they guarding their own mercenaries separately?’

I hadn’t heard that from the previous chief...

Could they have forgotten to tell me? But if it was him, it wouldn’t surprise me.

“Good work.”

After encouraging the guards, I walked in and saw the heavyweights gathered at the center.

Representatives of each of the six races.

What surprised me was that two familiar faces were among them.

The leader of the dragonkin—the Dragon Elder.

And...

‘Looks like the beastfolk sent a pure-blood noble from the Red Cat tribe this time.’

The head of the Kalstain family and Misha’s...

‘Strictly speaking, not her biological father?’

Anyway, the man listed as her father in the genealogy.

“Long time no see. I never imagined I’d see you again at a place like this.”

“I understand. I’ve known your lack of imagination for a long time.”

“...I guess you still hold a grudge against me?”

“Not at all.”

There’s really no grudge.

Back then, I was just a clueless kid.

Now, this guy isn’t someone who can casually speak informally anymore.

“Enough with the private talk. Bjorn’s son, Bjorn, please have a seat.”

The elf representative spoke, and I slowly scanned around.

Though it was a gathering of heavyweights, I didn’t feel uncomfortable.

For a very simple reason.

‘They use a round table here too...?’

The conference room had a large round table.

I took the empty seat that seemed to be mine, resting my chin on one arm and tapping the armrest with my index finger.

Although it was my first conference,

Tap tap.

For some reason, confidence began to rise inside me.