“My master, it seems no dangerous monsters are roaming about. However, there may be monsters specialized in disguise or concealment.”

Following Tori-chan’s warning, Li asked Andromeda to handle automatic interception.

As expected of a divine artifact of the Sun God Lufarsla.

She truly was a capable child.

“Is the map creation progressing smoothly?”

“Naturally. Shall I guide you?”

“Of cou—”

“There is no need! If we did that, it would waste the dungeon experience!”

Li declared firmly, cutting off the female instructor’s voice.

Seeing her face brimming with motivation, the female instructor swallowed her words.

At the same time, she felt a slight unease.

‘At this rate, I might end up just following along,’ she thought.

They were exploring an unexplored area.

That was entirely different from dungeon training.

In other words, the instructor should be the one leading.

However, Li had not considered such a thing in the slightest.

While the female instructor was thinking this, Li had already begun walking.

Humming lightly to herself, she appeared to be in excellent spirits.

The grassland area made it difficult to see one’s footing.

With grass reaching ankle height, it was hard to determine whether traps had been set beneath it.

Even for the female instructor, whose main profession was scout, this was the case.

In such situations, the basic principle is to proceed cautiously while confirming safety.

For example, using a long stick to tap or prod ahead to check for traps is the orthodox method.

Yet Li strode leisurely across the grassland.

Andromeda, the Chains of Lufa, occasionally hunted prey automatically.

Moreover, if there were traps, she deliberately triggered them.

At this point, it was nothing more than a stroll.

After walking for some time, the small birds that had completed their scouting returned to Li’s side.

Colorful little birds frolicked around the beautiful girl with slightly bluish silver hair.

It was a scene worthy of a painting.

While the female instructor was beginning to question what exactly an instructor even was, she heard Li’s voice.

“Instructor Megan, it seems An-chan has found something!”

Indeed.

For a while now, Andromeda had been tugging lightly at Li’s right arm.

Li judged that there must be something there.

“Huh?”

“My child is a capable one!”

“Naturally! Master, I am included in that as well, am I not?”

“…Tori-chan is questionable.”

“Questionable!? Master, I am useful! I am a capable child!”

“Then please redeem yourself.”

“Fuhahahaha! Leave it to me, Master. I shall demonstrate my true ability!”

Following Andromeda’s lead, Li and the others proceeded forward.

After a while, they reached a small hill within the grassland.

Atop the hill stood a white stone monument resembling a gravemarker.

“It’s ancient script, Master.”

“With this writing style, it dates to the Early Magic Empire period.”

Historically speaking, that ancient civilization flourished approximately three thousand years ago.

Because a distinctive script was used, it was surprisingly easy to identify.

Of course, this was not at a mere student level but at the level of a specialized researcher.

“Huh? Li-chan, you can read it?”

“Yes. I was taught about ancient civilizations by Professor Rübenellach Tsukmar.”

He was one of the foremost historians within the Amesverta Kingdom.

Naturally, arrangements had been made through connections of the Ducal House.

In exchange for funding his research.

For a time, he stayed at the ducal residence in the Royal Capital and taught Li specialized courses in history during her childhood.

It was a prime example of what happens when someone with a few loose screws teaches someone of the same disposition.

“The sequence of letters… this is a crossword puzzle.”

“Hmm,” Li placed a slender finger against her well-shaped chin.

“The answer is… right, red, left, blue, center, black… Instructor Megan, does that ring any bells?”

“Mm, wait a moment. Instructor is juuuust a little confused right now!”

Her emotions were unstable.

She was on the verge of breaking.

It was just as Li was about to concern herself with the female instructor’s state.

“Master, there are three holes lined up on the back of the monument.”

Tori-chan spoke as he drifted through the air.

“We simply need to find jewels that fit into these holes! I already know their location!”

“Then could you retrieve them?”

At Li’s words, the small birds flapped their wings and flew off.

Watching this, the female instructor decided to simply accept everything.