On the other side, Glen, having fully recharged the Magical - Guide Telephone, listened intently to the faint sobbing coming from the other end.

  Beside him were Lila and Tia. They were currently in Glen's basement.

  "Describe the situation on your side. This is not the time for weeping," Glen broke the silence after a brief wait.

  After what seemed like wiping away snot and tears, a hoarse, choked voice replied, "There are trees everywhere. I've no idea where I am. I can hear wolf howls in the distance. I'm terrified..."

  "Fear not. I'll ensure your safety. First, take a deep breath," Glen's voice remained as composed as ever.

  The person on the other end complied, and the sounds of inhalation and exhalation were distinctly audible.

  "Good. Now that night has fallen, you must find a place to spend the night. Try to describe the surroundings as comprehensively as possible."

  Upon hearing Glen's words, Pernas surveyed the nearly pitch - black forest around her, her heart filled with a mix of fear and anxiety.

  "There are only trees here; nothing else," she said, her voice still quivering.

  "Is the ground you're traversing flat or steep?"

  "It's steep. I've been running uphill," she answered.

  Glen began to recall the detailed map of the Zeon Kingdom he had seen at the Comber Ridge Ruins, which depicted the areas surrounding the main city of Bartshire in great detail.

  He then asked Pernas about the characteristics of the surrounding vegetation and trees. After hearing her responses, he formed several hypotheses.

  "Pernas, have you retrieved all the items I told you to bring?" Glen inquired abruptly.

  "Yes, I have," the blond - haired young lady promptly picked up the bundle she had with her.

  "Apply those spices to your body. Besides repelling mosquitoes, they'll keep wolves at bay," Glen instructed.

  While at the magic house, Glen had smelled some of the spices used by Meko, which contained an odor abhorred by many wild beasts, wolves included.

  Later, when he took Leaves and the others out, he had examined other spices, and almost all of them had that same scent. He surmised that these spices were originally formulated to drive away wild beasts and insects.

  Upon learning that the spices could ward off wolves, Pernas immediately smeared them haphazardly on herself.

  "What follows will be rather challenging. I'll guide you in constructing a makeshift shelter. Let's proceed step by step," Glen said, coaxing her like a patient father teaching his child.

  To Glen's relief, the noble young lady, accustomed to a life of luxury, did not complain like most in similar distressing situations.

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  She heeded Glen's instructions, though occasional sobs still reached his ears.

  Lila, instead of going home, chose to stay, knowing that Pernas, alone on the other end, must be frightened. At least she could talk to her and ease her stress.

  They were fated to remain awake throughout the night.

  The next day, Glen picked up the Magical - Guide Telephone, now replenished with magic energy, and contacted Pernas.

  Almost instantly upon connection, she exclaimed, "I've just spotted a road, but no carriages have passed by. What should I do?"

  "Don't be hasty. How much rations do you have left?"

  "I just ate a small piece of bread. I know I need to conserve, so I didn't dare eat more."

  "That's prudent," Glen commended. "Now, go onto the road and check for horse - hoof prints or wheel - track marks."

  Just as the blond - haired young lady was about to do so, she noticed a figure approaching slowly in the distance.

  Overjoyed, she cried out, "I see someone coming!"

  As she was about to rush towards the approaching person, Glen shouted, "Wait!"

  The sudden shout startled her. Glen usually spoke in a calm tone, and this outburst was quite unexpected.

  "What's wrong?" Pernas asked, puzzled.

  "We don't know if the person is friend or foe. How can you approach so rashly?"

  Glen's words instantly jolted her back to her senses. Prolonged stress had made her forget caution in the excitement of seeing another person.

  "What should I do then?"

  "How's your eyesight? Can you make out the person's attire?" Glen asked.

  As Glen spoke, Lila, who had just been awakened by the shout, was about to ask something. Glen simply made a shushing gesture, and she understood. The previous night, they had stayed up until 5 a.m. when Pernas finally fell asleep, and Lila had only then been able to rest on the experimental bench. Although awake now, she was still extremely drowsy.

  The blond - haired young lady, though confused about Glen's question, answered obediently, "My eyesight is quite good. I can see clearly even from a great distance."

  "Then describe the appearance of the approaching person in detail. Don't overlook any details of their clothing or accessories," Glen said, picking up a pen and waiting for her description.

  "He's a dark - skinned man, perhaps in his forties or fifties. He's wearing a brown hat that resembles a cloth - wrapped one. He has on common civilian clothing. I can't see his eyes as they're hidden by the hat, but he seems to be smiling constantly, giving me an impression of being rather sly. He has a horse trailing behind him..."

  After listening, Glen stopped writing. The noble young lady's eyesight was truly remarkable. By Glen's estimation, Pernas was approximately a hundred meters from the stranger, yet she could discern so many details.

  Shaking his head, he looked at the image he had copied onto the drawing paper and began to analyze.

  Inferring a person's character from their appearance had always seemed unreliable to Glen, as he'd thought during his previous life while learning such skills. However, it had to be admitted that it could be quite accurate at times.

  As long as one didn't conceal their true nature too deeply, it was often possible to glean something about their character and even life experiences from their appearance.

  Comparing with the various people he and his original self had encountered in this world, Glen could only conclude that the person on the drawing paper was an ordinary civilian who had toiled for half a lifetime.

  If one were to encounter an evil mastermind masquerading as a civilian, it could only be considered bad luck... With a sigh, Glen said into the Magical - Guide Telephone, "How much Zeon currency do you have on you?"

  "I have a substantial amount of silver coins and three gold coins."

  "Can you ride a horse?"

  "I learned to ride when I was ten."

  "Excellent! It's time to put your acting skills to the test, Pernas."

  ...

  Anjo was an ordinary farmer - turned - laborer who had spent most of his life engaged in agricultural work. His family had finally amassed a relatively comfortable fortune.

  Each day, he would follow a moderately - sized road in the forest to set up a stall in the town.

  He was a shrewd individual, and on occasion, he would seek minor advantages.

  Recently, due to difficult economic times, he intended to take the only horse in his family to the city to sell it and tide over this period.

  Suddenly, a figure crouched on the ground emerged ahead.

  The person was disheveled, dressed in rags, and resembled a beggar.

  This sight startled Anjo greatly.