Sunlight is clear here, keeping this area well lit, but the same cannot be said of the temple's interior behind the imposing pillars. A narrow corridor reaches down into darkness. It's actually impressive the zombies came up two abreast.

"Um... what formation shall we use?" Kiku asks Aria.

"Kiku is the best tactician, so why don't you organise us?" I say.

"Uuuu... um... if you say so, Nii. D-did you want to go first, Aria? If the revenants charge again..."

"...They will land on my spear tip. Understood."

"Kaede. Will you go next to her? You can... throw around her?"

"...yes."

"In the middle, we need Rishya, then Nii, and Seria-sama. I will stand at the rear to protect us from ambushes."

"Sounds sensible. I don't need much space to direct a spell forwards, as long as the target can be seen." Seria agrees.

Rishya is giving me a death glare as we go into formation.

"I-if y-you do anything! I'll...! Hmmph!" She mumbles.

I feel a mild sense of danger.

"Don't worry, groping you from behind is not a priority right now..." I smirk.

She blushes and protects her chest as she back-steps with a shocked expression. This ojou is so easy sometimes.

"A-are you saying you find me repugnant! I...!"

Girls and their ability to misconstrue is without equal.

"On the contrary, I find you exceptionally cute, but I will restrain myself, mi'lady."

Her mouth gapes and her eyes are wide.

"So shameless!" She shouts, looking away. To her chagrin, Aria starts laughing, setting everyone else off. Even Kaede manages a snicker. Poor Rishya pouts and goes meek.

...

...

The expedition begins in earnest. Rishya has suspended floating wisp-like lights above us, allowing us to see ahead a dozen feet or so, and we reach a wider chamber after a while, which has an intersection left as well as straight on.

"There are boot-prints going inwards, recent, yes..." Kaede points out.

We stop and form a circle around her.

I didn't even notice the impressions in the dust layer, reminding me that Kaede's eyesight is astonishing.

"There are others here? Nee-chan said no royal guards were scheduled here a while..." Kiku informs us.

"It is not unusual for periodic mercenary parties to be here." Aria says.

"Likely... yes. A set of... three others. Two lighter, one heavier." Kaede agrees, crouched and inspecting the floor closely. Her gorgeous legs are on full display. She apparently becomes aware of my gaze, and looks at me quizzically, before giving a slight blush and standing up rapidly.

"Is it... Yuuzu?" Rishya mutters under her breath.

"Your cousin is here as well?!" Aria exclaims.

So Yuuzu was Rishya's cousin after all.

Rishya covers her mouth, grimaces, but then replies.

"I do not know. But she left the city as a new mercenary three months ago. Assuming nothing untoward..."

"...a regular training programme would bring her here at this time. Un..." Kiku finishes.

"Is there a set training menu, then?" I question, looking back at Kiku. Her eyes goggle and she face-palms with a clank.

"Fucking hell Nii! Did you forget the first route I told you? The Fire Sage is not that far from here." Rowdy Kiku appears from hibernation.

"Oh right... sorry... this is the path that would have taken a few months...? We sure jumped ahead..." I apologise.

"Ufufufu... it is understandable the boy is disoriented by Leygating. It is difficult to relate to such instant transportation." Seria slaps my back jovially.

"It ~is~ weird that we ended up in the warmer south-west so quickly. It makes me nostalgic. Perhaps we'll visit Hal-Castemour's harbour at some point... Ah... that is a big southern city of Jeraldine, Elijah." Aria states.

"Oho? It has developed from a few fishing shacks whilst I wasn't looking then..." Seria guffaws.

Aria, Rishya and Kiku look incredulous and gape, making Seria flick a twin-tail and look away. They continue to be forgetful about Seria's age.

"Hmmph... I see my knowledge is lacking in this area. That may have been from... hmm... around... oh... hehe... perhaps... one hundred and eighty years ago? Ahaha... hehe..."

An embarrassed Seria is a new thing entirely! I don't dislike it.

"You're as much a fish out of water as me, sometimes, Seria. It makes me glad." I grin.

"Uuuu... there are things you should not say to a learned sage, boy!" she stamps her foot and puffs her cheeks.

That kind of gesture really makes her seem her visual age.

The other girls laugh as she pouts.

Unfortunately, we are interrupted by a vicious distant echoing scream from the left. It makes my ears hurt and is pretty scary. Merriment ends immediately, and the girls professionally reform formation.

I wonder what's coming this time.