Editor : Amethyst00



Hng hng hng—

Spinning a rope with a hook attached, Carl used centrifugal force to hurl the hook upward.

It soared high and hooked over the top of the fortress wall.

"You're really strong, huh?"

Kania said with a fascinated expression, and Carl grinned smugly.

"Hmph. This is a magic item. Let's call it the 'Carl's Everything-Mart Fortress Infiltration Set,' shall we?"

"Amazing."

Kania clapped in admiration.

Eliza, who had taken a step back and was observing, spoke.

"You really thought of making something like that?"

"I figured it'd come in handy for infiltration."

"You're definitely thorough in your preparations."

In the world of heroes, countless situations arise.

Sneaking over a fortress wall isn't that uncommon.

Carl had created the item through alchemy in preparation for such scenarios.

"Hmph, there's a reason they call me the master of preparation."

With a self-satisfied expression, Carl grabbed the rope and climbed up the wall.

Eliza and Kania followed behind him.

Carl, who reached the top first, carefully scanned the surroundings before climbing all the way up.

Since he had already scoped out a less guarded area, his movements were confident.

Carl hooked another grappling line from his belt over the wall to the outside.

As soon as Eliza and Kania reached the top, they descended down the rope on Carl's signal.

After retrieving the rope they had used to climb, Carl followed them down.

When Carl reached the ground, he pulled on a string attached to the hook, causing it to retract and drop down naturally.

Tak—!

Kania, with her sharp reflexes, caught it and handed it back to Carl.

Carl then pulled three sky-blue beads from the pouch on his belt and bit down on one.

He handed the remaining two to Eliza and Kania.

When the two followed Carl and bit down on their beads, he cautiously entered the water.

Eliza, following Carl into the water, was surprised when she felt almost no resistance underwater and looked at Carl in astonishment.

Holding her breath wasn't uncomfortable.

It was easy to open her eyes underwater, and everything was clearly visible.

'These beads… they're alchemical items.'

Once again, Eliza marveled at Carl's exceptional item crafting skills inherited from Dweno's alchemy.

Their swimsuits also helped reduce water resistance.

Kania, apparently surprised as well, waved her hands around before giving a big thumbs up.

Carl, smiling at her, returned the gesture and started moving ahead.

'They really get along.'

Thinking to herself, Eliza began to follow Carl.

Bubble-bubble—

The three moved stealthily without using aura, magic, or spiritual power.

When they reached the area Enniha had indicated, Carl spotted a manmade hole beneath the moat.

Carl's eyes gleamed as he entered the hole.

A moment later—

"Phewah!"

Carl took a breath and muttered.

"Man, fresh air really is the best. These underwater beads are great, but it's still stuffy."

He spat out the bead with a ptoo—, and it dissolved like water.

"Light."

Using magic, Carl conjured light and surfaced.

"Hmm. Two paths."

As Carl contemplated the paths, Eliza, shaking water from her hair, asked, "I'm curious—why are we moving so secretly like this?"

Though she had followed Carl's request, he hadn't explained the reason for such secrecy.

"Is this Leo Plov's plan?"

"No. Leo doesn't know. It's just me, Chelsea, and Enniha."

"Why?"

"There's a reason. I'll explain later. Right now, we need to find the entrance."

Eliza nodded and stepped forward.

"There are two paths. What do you want to do?"

"I'll take the left. You and Kania go right."

"You'll be okay alone?"

"Oh please. Sending a teenage boy with two girls in swimsuits down a dark tunnel? That's way too stimulating—I might not survive it."

With a playful smirk, Carl headed left.

"There shouldn't be any real danger anyway."

Leaving those words behind, Carl disappeared into the tunnel.

As Eliza watched him go, she turned and walked down the right path with Kania.

Kania, walking ahead with her hands clasped, said, "Isn't Carl kind of cool?"

"You really don't have an eye for men, do you?"

Kania blinked in surprise at Eliza's deadpan response.

"Why? He gets everything done smoothly."

"Not at all. Spend a little more time with him and you'll change your mind. You'll be disillusioned instead."

Kania stared into Eliza's faintly smiling eyes, then grinned.

"Liar."

"What?"

"You're trying to reduce your competition, aren't you?"

"Ridiculous. Why would I, the heir to House Hergin, tell lies over some commoner—"

Eliza, flaring up, suddenly made eye contact with Kania.

'What a mess.'

Eliza let out a dry laugh.

Internally admitting that Kania had a point, she sighed.

Kania smiled at the sight.

"I'm jealous."

"Of what?"

"Of not being honest about my feelings."

"What's there to be jealous about?"

"It means you'll get to spend more time with Carl."

"You could too, if you wanted."

"No… I don't think I can. I have a feeling."

"A feeling?"

"I don't think I have much time left."

"……"

"Carl too. He doesn't treat me like someone he'll be seeing for long."

"That's… probably because you're not close yet…"

"No, it's different. It's like he's preparing for goodbye. As if he knows what's coming."

Kania's tail swayed gently.

Raised in dark times, the beastkin girl had a remarkably sharp intuition born from living on the edge of life and death.

Watching Eliza remain silent, Kania smiled again.

"Someday, you'll be honest with your feelings. As long as it's not too late."

"I might fall out of love before then."

"There's that too!"

Kania burst out laughing.

"I never thought I'd fall for anyone. But I guess when your heart has room, these things happen. I like it. I'm satisfied."

She nodded cheerfully, then made a regretful face.

"But I do wish I could stay in Carl's memory a little longer. Hmm… maybe I should've just pounced on him earlier? Ah! Maybe I'll do it when we get back!"

"Don't be ridiculous."

Eliza's icy tone made Kania giggle.

"Fighting over prey—it's kind of fun too."

"I hate to admit it, but… I'll be honest with you. It's not fighting over prey. It's just an ugly love triangle."

"Oh? That's even more exciting! Want to be friends?"

"With someone in a love triangle?"

"Why not?"

"No reason we can't."

bl

"Why are these two here?"

Chelsea asked with crossed arms, and Carl just shrugged.

"They helped out. Anyway, was there an entrance on the maze side?"

"Judging from your question, I take it there wasn't anything at the moat either."

Chelsea sighed.

It looked like the maze had been a dead end too.

"I'm out of guesses at this point."

Just then, Enniha showed signs of growing anxious.

Seeing her, Kania asked, "What are you looking for?"

"A route to the underground city."

Kania blinked, then said, "Then there's Dweno's workshop, right?"

"What?"

Enniha's eyes widened.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw it on the first day when I followed Lord Dweno to check the fortress interior. There's a giant staircase to the underground right where his workshop is."

Everyone's eyes went wide at Kania's words.

"Come to think of it, Dweno built his personal workshop far away from the others!"

In Ivaldi, Dweno's workshop had been among the others, so at first, it hadn't seemed strange—but after hearing Kania, it definitely felt suspicious.

"Let's go!"

Enniha took the lead, heading toward Dweno's workshop—when suddenly—

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—!

The ground began to shake.

Everyone staggered as they lost their balance from the sudden tremor.

"An earthquake?!"

"W-What's going on all of a sudden?!"

bl

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—!

The fierce quake rocked the fortress walls.

Leo, who was sitting atop the wall, narrowed his eyes.

"W-What is this?"

Aru, who had been chatting beside him, wore a startled expression.

Despite the ominous quake, Leo didn't flinch. He muttered quietly.

"They've come."

"What?"

FLASH!

Beyond the horizon.

A black pillar of fire shot down from the sky.

FWOOSH—

As if to destroy the world, black flames spewed out from the pillar.

The blazing fire soon faded—and from within, massive demons, beasts, and devils began to pour out.

"The Giant King's legion…"

Aru gulped dryly.

WHOOSH—

As the black pillar of flame vanished, the Giant King, Giath, revealed himself.

'That's… Giath?'

Leo's face hardened slightly.

The aura Giath emitted was overwhelming.

"Aru."

"Yeah?"

"Spread the word to the other party members."

"Got it!"

Aru leapt down from the wall.

Now alone, Leo focused on Giath intently.

Staring at the grotesque armor Giath wore, Leo's eyes narrowed.

'…Two of them?'

"That thing… It's not the old Giath. It's the one I beheaded."

At the voice beside him, Leo turned.

Dweno stood there, stroking his beard.

Narrowing his eyes, Dweno said, "And that armor he's wearing."

"I've never seen it before either."

"He must've consumed his past self."

"…I see."

Leo now understood why he sensed two Giaths.

"Insane bastard."

As Leo muttered, clicking his tongue—

"Leo! The party's ready!"

Aru landed beside him again after rapidly spreading the word.

"Leo. I'll go get the gear from the workshop."

"…Please do."

"Is the Brave repaired?"

"Yes."

"Wow! As expected of Lord Dweno!"

Aru cheered in excitement.

"I'll be off, then."

Dweno leapt away.

Before fully taking off, he glanced back.

He looked for a moment at Leo and Aru, standing firm atop the wall.

To Dweno, the young man and woman seemed to transform into a silver-haired human youth and a white-haired wolf beastkin.

The Hero of Beginnings, Kyle, and the Brave, Aaron.

Watching their unfamiliar yet familiar backs, Dweno smiled faintly.

'You've found wonderful comrades, Kyle.'

He turned his gaze forward.

'I can entrust this to you.'

With his back to Leo, who stood facing the threat, Dweno ran toward the rear.