“Where did the ‘X’ come from?” Raphtalia asked.

“The staff power-up method allows you to spend points to boost the effects of skills and abilities. I put some into magic and gained access to the X. It’s the spell I mentioned when I told you about how we defeated Takt,” I explained.

“I see. That’s quite incredible. I can see the curse fading even as I watch,” Raphtalia replied.

“Even so, it seems to be rooted pretty deep. It’s going to need multiple treatments to fully heal up,” I said. After we worked out it had curse-healing properties, I had tried it on Motoyasu too, but it had done nothing at all to him. I wondered what was going on there.

Itsuki, meanwhile, was probably easier to handle in his current state, so I hadn’t even tried it on him. I didn’t need him to start frothing at the mouth about justice and have us end up on opposite sides again. Maybe I’d be able to get through to him this time, but he wasn’t causing any trouble at the moment. He was fine for now. If he got badly injured, of course I’d use it.

“Wow, I feel so much better! I think I’m seeing the light at the end of this tunnel, thanks to you, Naofumi!” L’Arc enthused. He swung his arms around, proving how improved his condition was, a grin on his face. “Not sure how to thank you!”

“Don’t worry about it. There are other people who need treatment too, right? I’ll heal them later. Finish your explanation of what’s going on here first,” I told him. From what we’d been told so far, I still didn’t know how Raphtalia had gotten involved or how Ethnobalt’s ship had been stolen.

“Right, okay. Back on track. It was while we were forming up a party to go save Kizuna—although my injuries made it hard for me to do anything. Glass can probably explain this a bit better,” L’Arc said, looking over at her.

“We had the rescue party ready and set out to save Kizuna while L’Arc and the others were healing up,” Glass said, picking up the story. “On the way, however, we were attacked by a group who looked to be adventurers. I’d never seen anything like them before, from the magic they incanted to the attack styles they used.” The first phrase that came to mind was “when it rains, it pours.”

“Ethnobalt, you gave me the lowdown on that, right?” I confirmed with him.

“That’s right. These new enemies also have the power to steal vassal weapons, and they were targeting Glass’s weapon and my own,” Ethnobalt replied.

“We faced unknown attacks and with inferior fighting strength. As a trump card, I used some soul-healing water and unleashed an attack, but they were highly skilled themselves. Finding ourselves in dire straits, Ethnobalt’s vassal weapon was stolen. I barely escaped with my fan.” That all matched up with what Ethnobalt had already told me. “Losing Ethnobalt meant our means of quick travel was gone, which comprised a major setback to our plans to rescue Kizuna,” Glass continued. “We also had to fight to quell another one of the waves. And then, while we were fighting off an attack from the traitors—”