Everyone was now looking at Orano. They appeared quite surprised to see him there, but despite their intense stares, he didn't turn around to acknowledge them. He simply walked towards the announcer, stopping in front of him.

The announcer was unsure how to react, as Orano remained silent. He nervously smiled and said, "Uh, and here is the silver medal for Orano Tatsumi! Thank you for your great service!"

The crowd was perplexed by Orano's unresponsive expression, discussing his mysterious behavior. "Hey, why isn't he talking?" "I don't know, but for some reason, he's acting weird." "I wonder what he's thinking about."

The Creature Hunters standing above the stage were also observing him, their gaze judgmental and ostracizing, almost predatory. Orano remained unaffected by their stares, simply taking the medal from the announcer's hand.

As he was about to walk away, Rai said with a sly smile, "So you're leaving without saying anything, huh?"

Orano stopped and listened to her.

She added in a more serious tone, "But I have to say, if you're aiming for the top, you have to do more than that. And when that time comes, we'll be waiting for you, Rookie."

Orano slightly turned his head to look at her, then turned back and continued walking.

“Yuma, Caitrin, let's go,” he said, walking away from the area with them.

------------------------

After they left, the celebration continued. The Creature Hunters began discussing Orano.

Kono said with a serious expression, "So he's the new Rookie, huh?"

Haruhi replied, "Yeah, and they say he climbed all the way here without any magical powers. It's amazing that he came all this way, relying solely on physical strength."

Everyone's expressions became more serious. They were all looking at each other.

Kono said in surprise, "With only physical strength?"

"Yeah, I heard that too," Rai said, still smiling. "He even killed dozens of Eirins and Citruses on his own in some missions. Nowadays, people call him the 'Soul of the Wind' or the 'Terror of the Desert.' He was the 'Sole Owner of the Desert,' taking care of all kinds of dangerous creatures on his own."

Poteus crossed his arms and admitted, "I have to admit, his willpower and success are quite respectable."

Haruhi looked at Orano and said, "It's true that he's become someone of interest among people, but we should keep an eye on him."

Valdis grinned widely and said in a loud voice, "Power or no power, he's a competitor to me anyway!"

Rai sighed and crossed her arms, "I wouldn't expect this bonehead to think such a thing, but Valdis is right. Either way, he's a competitor."

Kono looked up at the sky and thought to himself, "Orano Tatsumi, huh?"

----------------------

Yuma smiled nervously, "It was a little tense, wasn't it?"

Caitrin sighed sarcastically, "Yeah, it was. All those eyes staring at us, it was just... disturbing."

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Yuma took out the map again and said, "Let's go over the plan for now, shall we?"

He began explaining, pointing to the First Kingdom, "We started here and found the first rift, which led us to the Second Kingdom. But after we got separated, I found another rift in Ravaryn, and you guys found a rift in Aetas."

"Before moving on to the plan, can you tell me what you guys saw?" Yuma asked.

"We saw the fifth kingdom, Faye. We'll probably find that and move according to that," Orano replied, crossing his arms.

Caitrin said excitedly, "Oh! Yeah! I saw something in that rift too."

"You saw a vision too?" Yuma asked, surprised.

"Yes. It showed me a very luxurious place, but I didn't understand where it was. And Tatsumi said it would be dangerous for me to go there," Caitrin replied.

"I think I know that place," Yuma said, pointing to the sixth kingdom. "This is Emperal, the sixth kingdom. It's a powerful kingdom with rich mineral resources and a thriving culture. People here usually don't have economic difficulties and have highly developed cities. But what sets it apart from other kingdoms is that it's not ruled by a king but by Earls."

Caitrin asked confusedly, "Earls? What's wrong with that?"

"The problem is, as Tatsumi said, the people there are different from us," Yuma explained. "They have a rich culture and highly developed cities, but all the Earls only care about their wealth. They don't help people and look down on those who are less wealthy. They consider themselves superior to everyone else and view harming an Earl as a crime. For this reason, they have a defense unit called the 'Sniper Unit,' which is unique to the sixth kingdom."

Caitrin's expression turned angry as she listened. The words triggered memories, and her anger grew.

Orano said, "That's why they're nothing but a bunch of idiots."

Caitrin's anger dissipated, and she looked at Orano with surprised eyes.

"Indeed," Yuma affirmed, his tone laced with a hint of disdain. "We've never been particularly fond of them. And after your recent mission, it's safe to say that our feelings haven't changed."

Orano's brow furrowed as he recalled a previous conversation. "You mentioned seeing a rift in the letter you sent earlier. Where exactly was that?"

"Oh, right! How could I forget?" Yuma's expression softened before turning serious. "Actually, I was quite surprised by what I discovered in the First Kingdom. The rift showed us both a random location, and one of you stumbled upon it again. This confirms our theory that the rifts are connected to other places."

He paused, his gaze fixed on his companions. "However, the location I saw isn't easily accessible."

"Are you referring to the Black Forest in the Third Kingdom?" Orano inquired.

"Precisely. Besia. It's heavily guarded by powerful spells, making entry quite challenging."

Caitrin's voice was filled with urgency. "So, what's our plan?"

"I've already taken steps to address that. Before I arrived here, I sent a letter to a friend in the Fourth Kingdom. She's a powerful witch with knowledge of spells that can bypass such protections."

Yuma pointed to the map. "Now, let's review our plan one final time."

"Tatsumi began his journey in the First Kingdom, Ravaryn, and ventured to Aetas," Yuma explained. "Both of you encountered Faye and Emperal simultaneously, while I discovered Besia. Based on this pattern, you should explore Faye first and then head to the Sixth Kingdom. Once you find something significant, we'll need to reassess our plans."

"Assuming Tatsumi's route as a reference, there are five potential outcomes," he continued. "First, it could lead to the Sixth Kingdom, as Caitrin experienced. Be cautious in your words and actions there, as the Earls have eyes everywhere."

"Second, it might reveal Vurudora, the Seventh Kingdom. This kingdom is renowned for its warrior culture, hosting a monthly tournament that attracts everyone, including the King. The victor receives a substantial reward, but the competition is fierce, and you must be wary of your opponents."

"The third and fourth possibilities are Besia and Idrisud. Since I'm traveling to the Fourth Kingdom and the Third Kingdom isn't particularly dangerous, you should be relatively safe. However, there's one additional factor to consider."

Yuma paused dramatically. "If Caitrin encounters another rift, we'll need to devise a new strategy. It's imperative that we stay in constant communication."

Caitrin's face fell, her voice filled with melancholy. "That's right. We were only supposed to help each other for a month."

Orano's tone was resolute. "Let's not waste any more time. Let's start searching for the rift."

Yuma offered a reassuring smile. "Good luck finding it."

"You too," Orano replied.

As Orano turned to leave, he called to Caitrin. "Let's go."

Caitrin shook herself out of her thoughts and followed him. However, a sense of sadness lingered in her heart.