World in the Painting Ishruna: The Expected and the Unexpected

What appeared before them was not the shriveled corpse they had expected, but a handsome young man who did not look particularly old.

He had long, brilliant golden hair combed smooth. His hands were folded over his lower abdomen, and his fair, well-proportioned face made him look like a work of art. The slight rise and fall of his chest proved that he was still breathing.

If that had been all, it would not have surprised them so much. What truly shocked them was the young man's appearance.

As though he had been awakened, the young man's eyelids trembled lightly before slowly opening. His magnificent emerald eyes resembled a tranquil lake. After a brief daze, they regained their vitality.

He propped himself up into a sitting position and saw Gray and the others. His eyes filled with surprise as well. Then he looked around, growing increasingly confused.

"Miss Olga Marie, Sakura, Aya, and Gray, why are you here? And where exactly is this place?"

"Teacher...?"

Sakura looked at the young man before her and called out uncertainly.

"Hm? Is something wrong?"

The blond young man froze slightly, clearly not yet understanding what had happened.

"I..."

"Mmgh... You were comrades on the same side, yet he treated you like that..."

"Yes, that was a long time ago..."

"Enough, stop flirting."

"Teacher Gray Talia, did you experience something like that too?"

"How about asking him a question?"

Gray Talia spoke vaguely, as though avoiding something. Sakura simply walked to his side, hooked her arm around one of his, and gave it a slight shake.

"By the way, how did you all come to this world?"

Olga Marie stepped forward, positioning herself in front of the others as her Mage Crest began to operate.

"If I'm not mistaken, this should be another