Having entered the National Museum, Rest and Primula made their way along the designated route, examining the exhibits as they went.
"This staff is the 'Lamius Magical Staff.' It was crafted approximately one hundred and fifty years ago by the sage Lamius Lahitt, who was a member of the Council of Sages. It is said to greatly amplify ice-attribute magic."
"Oh."
"And that stone over there is the 'Luzroot Magic Stone.' It was extracted from the body of a magic beast — a magic ape that once rampaged through the southern reaches of the kingdom. It appears to contain exceptionally high-purity mana, but no practical use was ever found for it, so it's been locked away in the royal family's treasure vault, essentially gathering dust."
"I see."
"Oh, look — there's the 'Schwal Sword!' It's the blade once wielded by Lord Schwal Dero, one of the Five Dragon Generals who fought alongside the kingdom's founding king, known as the Sword Saint! Apparently Lord Schwal had no mana whatsoever, yet through his extraordinary swordsmanship alone he came to be called the strongest in the kingdom. Some even say he was the child of a demon!"
"I see."
Primula's cheeks flushed with excitement as she shared her knowledge.
The exhibits were interesting enough on their own, but honestly, watching Primula enthusiastically explain everything was even more enjoyable.
Seeing Primula — normally so quiet and reserved — so passionately absorbed in something felt like discovering an entirely new side of her that he had never witnessed before.
(Well, how should I put this... it almost feels like I'm getting a bonus. You don't get to see Primula like this very often.)
"Ah... I'm sorry! It's just me going on and on, getting so excited like this... You must have been bored, right!?"
"No, quite the opposite. I'm having a really great time."
Rest spoke his true feelings to Primula, who looked flustered.
"I've been interested in magic items too, so having you explain them is really helpful. Come on, keep telling me more about everything."
"R-Really? Then...!"
Primula beamed happily and grabbed Rest's arm, pulling him along.
Unable to resist — and not wanting to — Rest let himself be led by the unusually cheerful Primula.
"This way is... oh!"
"Oh?"
As they ventured deeper into the Royal Museum, a familiar exhibit came into view.
"Sabnock...!"
It was a taxidermy of the monster that had once ruled the plains east of the royal capital — the magic beast Sabnock.
The colossal magic beast's body was far too large to fit inside a building, so only the portion from the neck up was on display.
The magic beast that had been offered to the royal family had been reduced to nothing but its head, put on display for all to see.
Even just the head was far larger than an elephant.
Its lifeless eyes looked full of regret, and from its slightly parted jaws, fearsome fangs were visible.
"Even the lord of the plains who once terrorized the land with his wrath — this is how it ends up, huh?"
"You... you fought against a monster like this, Lord Rest...?"
Primula tugged on Rest's arm and hugged it tightly against her chest.
Her soft swells enveloped his forearm, but — before he could dwell on that sensation, Primula looked up at him with a gaze caught somewhere between anger and worry.
"Please, stop putting yourself in danger... Both my sister and I worry about you...!"
"I... will be careful."
Rest averted his gaze, turning his face off in a random direction to escape Primula's stare.
If he ever laid eyes on the Elder Worm he had fought on commission from House Lavender, how would she react?
(She'd either scold me or worry about me... Either way, I'm getting an earful...)
"Lord Rest..."
Primula called out to Rest in a sullen tone and pinched his arm.
"Ow, Primula."
"I'm holding you to that promise, you know?"
"......"
Ideally, he would have just agreed straightforwardly, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to.
(He had a feeling he'd be fighting powerful enemies like this again and again... No, that was probably just his imagination.)
The chance to battle magic beasts as formidable as Sabnock shouldn't come up more than once or twice in a lifetime.
Yet despite that, a mysterious premonition gnawed at his chest, and Rest's face twisted into a grimace.