"Are you okay, Merika?"
As everyone dispersed on the spot and began preparing for departure, Vivian gathered her squad beside a carriage, in a secluded corner, and gently checked on Merika.
"I'm fine. Thank you, Sister Vivian."
Merika shook her head and smiled at everyone, though the smile looked rather forced.
"I never thought things would turn out like this."
Tier's voice was filled with displeasure. It was clear that she held absolute disgust toward Lyon's squad's arrival.
"Waaah... I want to go home..."
Lumya even murmured those words as though she were on the verge of tears, showing just how much pressure she was under.
Shien felt like his curiosity was about to explode.
"What? Do you have a grudge against them?"
Not one for subtlety, Shien bluntly asked everyone what was going on.
The others immediately wore expressions that were difficult to describe.
In the end, Vivian answered for them.
"It's not exactly a grudge." Vivian said so, yet she continued to sigh. "But there is indeed some friction between our squad and theirs."
"I figured as much." Shien shrugged. "Putting everything else aside, that nouveau riche young master clearly knows you all well. His eyes were practically glued to Merika."
"Uh..." Merika immediately lowered her head, rendered speechless. She looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
Tier's voice grew increasingly cold as she said, "It seems he still hasn't given up on Merika."
The situation was painfully obvious.
Vivian patted Merika's head in comfort, then looked at Shien. "Young Master Magray once spent around half a month in our squad, back when he had just become an adventurer and had yet to pass his assessment."
That one sentence made Shien understand something at once.
He remembered that, earlier, when Tier, Lumya, Merika, and