Chapter 124 – First Encounter

Spencer-san and Morris-san had relayed a message: Diane-san, the commander of the Magic Corps, awaited us in her office within the castle.

Before embarking on our journey to acquire Hurricane Garlic, we decided to pay our respects to Diane-san.

Given that Kiara had a prior acquaintance with Diane-san, our conversation was expected to flow smoothly.

Soon, guided by a member of the Magic Corps, we halted before a lavishly adorned room.

There, at the room’s far end, stood Diane-san.

At least that’s what they told us before we knocked on the door.

And then,

「Eh!?」

I shouted as soon as I saw Diane-san.

And I wasn’t alone.

Martina, Hanon, and Simone—all them were as surprised as I was.

Furthermore,

「Eeeehhhh!?」

Perhaps the most surprised among all of us is Kiara.

…..so, why are we all surprised—

「I’ve been expecting you.」

Commander Diane says so in a calm tone.

Yet her appearance—startlingly youthful—defied reason.

She looked far too young!

She even looks much younger than us.

Judging from how she looks, she’s around 10 years old……

Even for a prodigious mage, there must be limits. But why, I wondered, was Kiara, who had met Commander Diane before, equally taken aback?

The reason was immediately said by Kiara herself.

「W-what’s this!? You were around 30 when we first met!?」

「EH?」

What in the world was happening?

Could it be that the Commander Diane Kiara had encountered was an imposter? A shadow clone? No, if that is the case, this commander before us should be the clone……

「It’s been a while, Kiara. I haven’t seen you since that party, have I?」

Commander Diane (or so we assumed) knew Kiara’s name and even remembered the party.

…..I’m getting more and more confused.

「Wait! Could it be!」

We were in a light panic but Kiara seemed to have noticed something.

「Is it magic!?」

「Correct! A witch acquaintance taught me this. Although, that acquaintance perpetually maintains the appearance of a young girl.」

So, this was a spell to preserve youth?

「But…such magic…」

「Of course, it’s not that simple. It requires quite strict restrictions and—I digress.」

Commander Diane interrupted deliberately cough.

「Nice to meet you. I am Diane, Commander of the Krentz Kingdom’s Magic Corps.」

She introduced herself.

Despite her childlike appearance, her manner of speaking and the aura she exuded were undeniably adult. So, was this—no, wait. Was this person the genuine Commander Diane?