Chapter 116

Following Yulia, Kaiel and Alex also gathered in the office.

A sweet aroma wafted through the air. They were cookies Alex had brought from Jean.

Crunch, crunch.

“…Slow down a little. Is someone going to steal them from you? If you want more, you can just ask Jean to bake another batch.”

“What are you talking about? I’m eating as slowly as I can.”

She retorted gruffly, shoving two more cookies into her mouth. Meanwhile, Yulia began her explanation.

“The Master of the Magic Tower and I were excitedly modifying some formulas when we detected a strange signal. There was a problem with the pocket barrier.”

“How did you know that?”

“We designed the formula to send a signal to the caster if any issues arose with the pocket barrier.”

“…Go on.”

Yulia scratched her head in frustration.

“Of course, all we knew was that there was a problem; we couldn’t grasp the exact details. So, I was about to ask the Constellations, hoping they could check on the situation over there.”

“And?”

“But I didn’t even have to ask. The chat window was already blowing up with posts on the public forum.”

She must have rushed to the public forum, seen a new post, and come running in a panic.

Finding it hard to believe, I asked again.

“So, it’s true that Bluebird abandoned the boss and ran away? It wasn’t a tactical retreat?”

“The First Prince was injured and returned to the imperial palace. I don’t think it was a tactical retreat.”

“From what I saw, he tripped and fell while making a fuss all by himself. Was it really that serious of an injury?”

“He’s probably never experienced that much pain in his entire life…”

“Wow… That’s something else.”

Alex gently brushed the crumbs from the corner of my mouth and let out a deep sigh.

“I saw that video too, and… phew… I was embarrassed for him.”

Alex, who had once thought well of Igrid and even tried to set us up, couldn’t hide his disappointment.

[Time remaining to join the raid: 06:45:16]

Not even half of the twelve hours allotted for the quest had passed. And yet, they not only gave up on the raid but also bolted, leaving the boss perfectly intact.

‘It won’t be long before the boss descends from the Gray Forest and starts attacking people.’

It had been a while since I’d seen Hunters this irresponsible.

Then again, the Hunters from Bluebird were mostly self-centered nobles, so I could almost let that slide.

‘But what the hell is Igrid’s deal?’

Doesn’t a prince have a duty to protect the empire? Am I thinking about this all wrong?

It was completely beyond my comprehension. Finally, I exploded, pacing back and forth in a rage.

“Isn’t he completely insane? Does he think the gate will just close on its own if he causes a mess and hides at home? They should have finished the raid, no matter what! How could he run away just because he scraped his knee?!”

If he were here, I’d want to grab him by the collar and shake him.

‘He’s worse than me, and I’m the villain!’

Even though I was openly cursing the prince, not a single person said a word. Not even Johan.

Yulia, who had been watching me nervously, gently tugged on my arm.

“G-Guild Master, please calm down.”

I slumped onto the sofa.

“…How long do you think the barrier will hold?”

“The core is D-rank, but the boss is S-rank, so it’s a bit…”

“Will it last for about six hours?”

“That would be difficult. Two or three hours at most, maybe… It’s barely holding on as it is.”

I pressed a hand to my feverish forehead.

“I’m going to lose my mind…”

The penalty for failing the quest wasn’t the issue. How much damage could Igrid really do even if he tried to get revenge?

I could get the Memory Fragment next time. But the Shop Exchange Coupon was another story.

With that, I could have reached the next level!

‘Do I have to take a loss just to clean up someone else’s mess?’

Johan spoke with a sense of urgency, his rear half-lifted from the sofa as if he were ready to sprint out the door.

“If it’s only two or three hours, then we have no time to lose. This is no time to be sitting around. Let’s go now!”

A chill passed through the gray eyes of Kaiel, who was sipping his tea on the sofa.

“Are you suggesting, Paladin, that we should help Bluebird?”

“…Surely, Master of the Magic Tower, you don’t intend to turn your back on them?”

“I am not particularly inclined to do so. Why should we help them?”

“This is an urgent situation. It’s not Bluebird’s fault that they are weak.”

“It is, however, their fault for stepping up when they lacked the strength. This is why one must know their place.”

“Even sinners are given a chance to repent. Besides, they are not evil people. They will be different in the future.”

At the cleric’s words, Kaiel arrogantly rested his chin on his hand. His thin lips curved into a cynical line.

“Do you think they will be grateful if we help them? Not a chance. They are not that kind of people.”

“But we can’t just leave them like this! They might all die!”

“Excellent. This could be our chance to get rid of Bluebird for good.”

Johan shot to his feet.

“Master of the Magic Tower!”

It was an issue where finding common ground was difficult from the start.

For Johan, a cleric, ignoring humans in crisis was simply impossible.

On the other hand, it was just as natural for the rational and cold-hearted Master of the Magic Tower, Kaiel, to oppose a decision that offered no benefit.

“Alex, what do you think?”

Alex swallowed his cookie with a serious expression.

“I think we’ll have to help them in the end. But not for free. I’d rather wait until they beg for our help. Astell, what about you?”

“Same here. I don’t think there’s any reason for us to step in…”

Maybe if it were at least six hours from now, but not before.

“Lady Astell?”

Johan looked at me pleadingly.

I subtly averted my gaze. But Johan scurried over to meet my eyes.

“Lady Astell…”

“…”

“You’re not going to just stand by and watch, are you?”

“…”

“I’m begging you. Please, find it in your good heart to help those in danger.”

His blue eyes were glistening with moisture, as if tears were about to fall at any moment.

‘Damn it, my Shop Exchange Coupon…’

Holding back my own tears, I stood up.

“Let’s go.”

Kaiel’s eyes turned icy, as if he had just witnessed a traitor.

“Weren’t you of the same mind as me?”

“When the barrier breaks, the first place in danger is the imperial palace. It’s directly connected to the Gray Forest. What do you think is next?”

“Well. Wouldn’t it head toward Hegea Grand Plaza? That’s where the most people are.”

“For your information, that thing has a habit of burrowing underground. It would prefer dirt paths over well-paved ground.”

The clever Kaiel immediately understood what I was getting at.

“It would head for the Ruthius estate.”

“Exactly. After the palace, the Ruthius estate is the closest to the Gray Forest and is connected by a dirt path.”

It would have to go around the palace, but that wouldn’t be a long journey for the boss.

By then, it would have devoured the entire palace and grown immensely powerful.

Alex’s large eyes widened.

“Gasp! Then what about our father?!”

“He’s a former Sword Master, his legs are weak now, and he can’t even hold a sword… If the boss attacks, he won’t even make it a few steps before he’s eaten.”

“Hey! How can you say something like that so easily?”

“That’s why I’m saying we should take care of it. I can’t just stand by and watch my family be put in danger.”

“…Family?”

For some reason, Alex’s expression went blank. I tapped his leg.

“Get up. We’re screwed if that thing attacks the palace and gets bigger.”

“Huh? Oh, right! Let’s go, quickly!”

I turned to the others, excluding Alex.

“Your situations are different from mine. You’re free to back out if you—.”

“I will go with you, Lady Astell!”

Before I could even finish, Johan beamed and stood close beside me.

I didn’t even look directly at him, but his halo was so bright it was blinding.

‘I was only planning on taking Alex… I’m more comfortable playing solo!’

While I was flustered, Kaiel stood up, his face radiating an icy chill.

“I will participate as well. However, I will be compensated for this trouble.”

Just compensated? He’s softer than I thought. I was planning on getting back at least three times the value.

“Then, Yulia…”

“Oh! You’d better not even think about leaving me behind! I’ll follow you wherever you go, Guild Master! Even if it’s to hell itself!”

I stared silently at Yulia’s face, which was gleaming with madness and obsession.

‘She has no idea what she’s saying.’

I am a villain.

One who hides a demon beneath a hypocritical mask, a demon that wishes for ruin to continue even if others suffer.

When a villain dies, it’s a one-way ticket to hell. Where does she think she’s following me?

‘How cute…’

The moment I realized I was finding Yulia cute, my mind snapped to attention as if doused with ice water.

‘Even after everything I went through in my past life, I still haven’t learned my lesson.’

Was the problem that it’s been a while since I met someone who acts like such an obsessive fan, so I found it endearing?

I must remember. One Zenia is more than enough. Not another Hunter.

‘I need to keep my distance.’

“You stay out of it. You won’t be any help.”

“The Gray Forest is huge! The children I summon will be helpful!”

“Have you forgotten? Mana is unstable in the Gray Forest.”

“I can summon them outside the forest! The initial summoning is difficult, but maintaining them is no problem! I’m not that weak!”

“I think she’d be pretty helpful. Why not just take her?”

Alex, that worthless idiot.

“Lady Astell, she wants to go so badly. Please let her.”

…Johan, you too?

“Yulia’s summons are quite useful. The problem is that she can’t use other magic while maintaining them, but that only puts her at risk, not her allies.”

With Kaiel’s cold-hearted analysis, the mood shifted even more toward bringing Yulia along.

Yulia clung to my arm, throwing a tantrum.

“Guild Maaasteeer, I promise I won’t get in the way. Please take meeee. Huh?”

Thinking about it, something felt strange.

It didn’t feel awkward when Yulia grabbed my arm, when Johan cupped my cheek without permission, or even when Alex brushed the crumbs from my mouth.

‘Since when did I become so comfortable with other people’s touch?’

I coolly pushed Yulia away.

“If you keep clinging to me like this, I won’t let you come.”

“Yes, yes! I absolutely won’t cling to youuuu.”

“And stop dragging out your words.”

“Got it!”

“Don’t talk like that. It’s cute.”

“Oh my!”

Yulia cupped her blushing cheeks.

“I will, Guild Master.”

Johan, Alex, and even Kaiel chuckled softly.

‘Why are they laughing?’

Hiding my unease, I turned away.

“…Let’s go.”