Mastermind
-2-

Chapter 51

Kellam, a wizard from the Green Tower, and the man who had witnessed Penia, once notorious as the “rogue” of the Blue Tower, behave like a meek lamb in front of Count Palatio, was still processing what he’d seen the day before.

Penia had even apologized to Milan, Kellam’s apprentice, and a fellow wizard.

But Kellam, a 5th-tier wizard, had his suspicions about Count Palatio from the beginning.

Specifically, he doubted the count’s strength.

Of course, Kellam hadn’t yet reached the 6th tier, where the “Eye” is opened, allowing one to fully grasp another’s strength with just a glance.

However, even at the 5th tier, his senses were sharp enough to detect a person’s magic power.

And in Kellam’s eyes, Count Palatio’s magical energy was too weak.

Kellam knew that knowledge was essential for wizards — no matter how large one’s mana pool, it meant nothing without the knowledge to wield magic.

However, no matter how exceptional one’s knowledge was, it wouldn’t be possible to use magic if their inherent magical power was too small.

Naturally, this raised questions in Kellam’s mind.

Was it possible that the rumors surrounding the count’s strength were all exaggerated, created by the man himself to elevate his own reputation?

Kellam had almost reconsidered his doubts after witnessing Penia’s sudden change in behavior, but today, at the arena, his suspicions were confirmed again.

There was no mistake.

Count Palatio’s magical power was far too meager to be the subject of such grandiose rumors.

And it wasn’t just Kellam who harbored these doubts.

“Hmm, no matter how I look at it, I can’t sense much strength from him. What do you think?”

“I feel the same way. His mana pool is… far too small for someone of a high tier.”

“Tch, so it was all nonsense. Looks like he fabricated it all to build up his prestige.”

“Pity. His reputation will be completely shattered after this friendly match reveals everything.”

Just as Kellam had thought, the other professor-level wizards at the 5th tier, gathered with him, expressed their doubts after sensing Count Palatio’s magic.

But before the arena was engulfed in the frozen wasteland, all the wizards fell silent.

Even the lower-tier wizards, who had been watching with curious expressions, became quiet.

On the contrary, the 5th-tier wizards who had been casting suspicious glances at Alon now stood dumbfounded with their mouths agape, watching the unfolding events.

Yet the emotions the wizards felt were not all the same.

The lower-tier wizards gazed at Alon’s magic with awe and reverence, while the higher-tier wizards were utterly shocked.

It all happened in an instant, but they knew exactly what Alon had done.

“Composite magic…! And more than three spells… at once!”

Kellam’s jaw dropped.

Of course, composite magic was something even he could perform, and any 5th-tier wizard present could do the same.

However, to flawlessly execute three or more spells at once, without a single error, was something no one could guarantee.

“How in the world did he do it?”

By now, the 5th-tier wizards had already erased the thought that Count Palatio’s magic was insignificant.

Instead, their minds were filled with the same curiosity and respect for Alon that had driven them to rise to the 5th tier.

And just as all eyes were focused on the arena:

“Crystal.”

Alon quietly muttered the word, forming a seal with his hand.

At that moment—

Crack—!

Dozens of small spheres, each about the size of a marble, began forming across the entire arena.

“Rotation.”

The spheres, which had been hovering in mid-air, began to slowly rotate clockwise.

Just as the wizards were wondering about the purpose of these spinning spheres—

“Eek!”

Baruch, who had been startled by Alon’s magic, finally snapped out of it and hurriedly began preparing his own spells.

If he failed to act now, he realized that not only would he fail to expand his influence, but he could end up embarrassing himself, so he hurriedly prepared a spell.

However, the other wizards either expressed confusion or frowned as they watched Baruch’s spell preparation.

“That’s—”

…Ke-Malan?

It was understandable, as the spell Baruch was preparing to use was one of the Violet Tower’s main offensive spells, a blatant killing spell not typically used in friendly matches.

Yet, Baruch never got to fire his spell.

Crack—!

In the next instant, Baruch was turned into an ice statue.

All the wizards stared blankly, recalling what had just happened.

In the very moment when Baruch had been preparing his spell, one of the rotating small spheres suddenly burst, turning Baruch into an ice statue.

And with that—

“…Uh, um… The winner of this friendly match is Alon Palatio…!”

The referee wizard announced in a bewildered voice.

***

“That was truly remarkable.”

“By the way, what was that seal you just used? Could it be an ancient spell?”

“He used composite magic, but how exactly did he structure that arrangement?”

Immediately after the friendly match ended, Alon, who had ascended to the stands leaving the dumbfounded Baruch behind, was bombarded with questions from the wizards.

Of course, there were no wizards who dared to break the unwritten rule of not asking about independent magic, but the flood of questions made Alon realize something surprising.

Through the conversation, he came to understand that the wizards had no knowledge of the seals or phrases he used.

‘…How curious.’

Alon had been aware that the seals and phrases he used were relics of a long-forgotten era.

However, he hadn’t expected there to be absolutely no information on them at all, which made the discovery even more intriguing.

As he absorbed this newfound realization while conversing with the wizards, Alon’s attention shifted.

“…Wait, what did you say? 3rd tier?”

“…Did you just say 3rd tier?”

“There’s no need for modesty, claiming to be at the 3rd tier.”

“That’s impossible.”

The wizards treated Alon’s admission of his tier as a joke.

Leaving behind the bemused wizards, Alon exited the arena with a sigh, though the moment was brief.

He began fiddling with the ring on his left index finger, an item in the Psychedelia game called “Memory of the Black Eye,” with a satisfied expression.

‘As expected, it’s quite useful.’

The ability of “Memory of the Black Eye” was simple.

It allowed the user to store one of their spells and use it later with a slight boost in power.

In short, it was like an enhanced memory-keeper spell, storing a spell for future use with added amplification, and for Alon, it was highly efficient.

Due to the restriction he faced, Alon could only cast five spells, and the harsh environment where he had to use one of those spells was a significant disadvantage.

After using that spell, he would be left with only two usable spells.

But by using “Memory of the Black Eye,” Alon could now use all five spells in combat situations.

‘And the spell amplification is quite strong as well.’

He recalled that when he had used a spell earlier, the effect of the harsh cold felt at least twice as powerful as usual, then quickly shifted his thoughts.

‘It seems that the [Glory of the Snowy Mountains] is quite good.’

Reflecting on the spell he had just used, based on the phrase “Glory of the Snowy Mountains,” Alon couldn’t help but think once again about the mysterious “thing.”

When “it” had first informed him of that phrase, Alon hadn’t fully grasped the meaning.

At the time, the phrases in his mind were understood only as tools to enhance his magic, without a deeper understanding.

However, after using the spell based on “Glory of the Snowy Mountains” several times since returning from the desert, he had recently come to understand what kind of effect that phrase generally had.

‘When the manifestation of the materialized magic ends, it freezes the surrounding air.’

Unlike twisting or distorting the nature of the magic itself, this effect seemed more like it was touching upon a fundamental law, and Alon had used this to implement his spell today.

‘Is this what ‘it’ was referring to?’

He recalled hearing that “a phrase is like a key that can open certain doors to the rules designated in this world.”

…He found this increasingly fascinating.

The more Alon learned about phrases and words, the more his magic advanced at a rapid pace, fueling his growing curiosity. Glancing outside the tower, he noticed the view.

The sun was just now hanging on the mountainside, casting the sky in the colors of sunset.

‘It’s about time, I suppose.’

As Alon watched the slowly sinking sun, he remembered the other item he needed to retrieve from the central tower today and turned to leave.

***

The first night of the society.

“That Count?”

“What is it?”

“Are you really… a 3rd-tier wizard?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… I’ll keep that in mind then.”

Liyan, who seemed utterly disbelieving of Alon’s words, left with a doubtful expression.

“Count… Count?”

“Penia?”

“I know for sure that you’re a 3rd-tier wizard.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, I absolutely know that you’re a 3rd-tier wizard… absolutely, without a doubt!”

“…?”

After Penia emphasized Alon’s tier three times and left, Alon noticed that it was late at night and headed to the library, confirming that the moon was already in the sky.

Wooooom~!

With a low, resonating hum, he arrived at the empty, silent library again.

The eerie atmosphere was enhanced by the absence of lights, with only the blue moon in the sky casting light over the library.

As he entered the library, a deep voice echoed in his ears:

[It seems that someone has managed to solve my riddle at just the right time.]

The voice’s solemn resonance caused Alon to shiver involuntarily.

It wasn’t that he sensed anything in particular—just an instinctual trembling.

Like how the weak naturally tremble before the strong, simply hearing the voice evoked a creeping fear from deep within.

“Yes.”

Alon answered, forcibly suppressing his rising fear.

After all, the item he needed could only be obtained by meeting her.

And then—

[Oh, impressive. Despite hearing my voice, you didn’t panic. You’ve held your ground.]

As the blue magical energy began gathering in front of Alon, slowly taking shape, he felt sweat forming on his palms.

He knew exactly who was about to appear before him.

‘The first human to reach the 8th tier after the Age of Forgotten Gods.’

‘A wizard whom every magician revered and admired during her lifetime, known as the “First Chalice.”‘

And to the beings who once wreaked havoc on the world, she was known as the “Eternal Terror,” a slayer feared and worshipped.

“…The Archmage Heinkel.”

As Alon muttered her name, the blue magical form solidified rapidly.

Before him stood a woman wearing a pure white pointed hat, her blue eyes visible underneath, and a relaxed smile on her face.

To the wizards, she was the “First Chalice.”

To the beings that had once thrown the world into chaos, she was the “Eternal Terror.”

Alon swallowed nervously behind his calm expression.

While Heinkel wasn’t an enemy, if he made even a slight mistake in his answers, he could trigger her infamous temper, which might result in his immediate death.

Thus, Alon mentally reviewed the things he absolutely must not say or bring up in front of her.

The first words the archmage, who exuded an overwhelming aura just by appearing with her relaxed smile, spoke as she gazed at Alon were:

[Wha…!?]

A sound of terror, as though she had seen something horrifying.

“…??”

A question formed in Alon’s mind.

Chapter 52

Archmage Heinkel.

She was the first archmage to appear among humanity since the forgotten age of the gods and was known to players in Psychedelia as the Witch of Rit. The reason she was called the Witch of Rit was simple. If you played as a mage, almost every player would inevitably meet her. Although she didn’t directly influence the story, the items you could obtain from her after a certain amount of time were incredibly useful for mage players.

However, the problem was her personality. Contrary to her doll-like appearance, she was extremely irritable. If you made the wrong choice during dialogue while trying to obtain an item, she’d kill you without hesitation. By the third meeting, you might be close enough that she would only insult you for a wrong choice instead of killing you, but in the first and second meetings, there was no mercy. Worse yet, if you chose to defend milk even a little in any of her suspicious dialogue choices, she’d get highly offended and kill you on the spot. This earned her the nickname “Milk Witch.”

Thanks to all this, Alon was very nervous. He knew the words and topics she disliked, but given her notoriously unpredictable personality, anything could happen. He had even made some preparations in case things went wrong.

But.

This situation was entirely unforeseen.

Alon stared blankly at Archmage Heinkel, who was looking at him with an expression of fear. He then realized one thing:

‘She’s really short.’

The white wizard’s pointy hat made her seem taller, but in reality, she was much shorter than Alon. Quite a bit shorter.

“Um… I want to solve your riddle…”

Since in the in-game illustrations, she was always seated, he had never noticed this fact. It wasn’t really useful information, but still, it was something new. With that in mind, Alon finally spoke to Heinkel. He needed to solve her first riddle to receive an item.

However.

[I’ll…]

“Huh?”

[I’ll give it to you… I’ll just give it…!]

Suddenly, Heinkel blurted out those words and handed Alon a jeweled box that had flown in from somewhere, even though he hadn’t solved the riddle yet.

Then.

[Good enough, right?]

For someone who had appeared so majestic and arrogant under the moonlight, she was now acting like a frightened mouse, nervously glancing at Alon.

[I… I’m leaving!]

With that, she quickly turned around and scurried away, disappearing in a burst of blue magic. It was an unexpectedly undignified exit compared to her entrance.

“…Uh, Heinkel?”

Alon called out in confusion, but there was no response, as if she had no intention of returning. Holding the jewel box, Alon stood there with a puzzled expression and decided to cancel the spell he had prepared for potential emergencies.

Ssss-

As soon as he undid the seal in his pocket, the magical power dissipated like dust.

After standing there bewildered for a while, Alon finally regained his composure and opened the box she had given him.

“…It’s here.”

Inside was the very item he had intended to get by solving the riddle.

‘What’s going on?’

Although it was supposed to be something he had to earn through solving the riddle, she simply handed it over and disappeared in a completely unexpected way. Thinking back to the moment, he recalled that she hadn’t been looking directly at him but slightly behind him.

‘Was she looking… behind me?’

He glanced over his shoulder but saw nothing but the library bathed in blue moonlight.

In the end, Alon had obtained the item he wanted. He was glad to have gotten it so easily, but at the same time, a small doubt began to form in his mind.

***

For the next few days, Alon attended the magical conference, listening to various presentations and satisfying his curiosity. The theories presented at the conference were quite helpful to Alon, who had been learning magic through self-study until then.

In addition, the nighttime discussions with Liyan about magic were a significant help in advancing his magical abilities. Unlike Alon, who had a deep understanding of mana control, she had a talent for constructing the magical frameworks needed to manifest magic itself. This gave Alon the confidence that he might soon be ready to attempt Fourth-Rank magic.

Of course, Fourth-Rank magic required so much mana that it was difficult to use even once properly, so he didn’t plan to attempt it immediately.

Then, on the fourth day of Alon’s stay at the magical conference, he heard the news:

“A foreign entity has appeared in the Labyrinth of Lartania?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that it caused mutations throughout the entire labyrinth.”

Alon learned about the appearance of the foreign entity in Lartania’s labyrinth.

“How much time has passed since the foreign entity was discovered?”

“It’s uncertain, but it’s believed to be about five days now. The information guild suspects that it’s been around a week since it first appeared.”

“How far is it to Lartania?”

“It’s not too far from here. It should take around… five days?”

After hearing Evan’s estimate, Alon thought for a moment, then quickly grabbed some paper and began writing a letter. It wasn’t long before he finished, and as soon as the letter was ready, he said:

“Send this to Lartania, and then I’m heading out immediately.”

“Immediately?”

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, he left the Central Magic Tower and began preparations to travel to Lartania.

***

After bidding farewell to Liyan, who was disappointed he was leaving earlier than expected, and Penia, who seemed to give off a strange energy of disappointment despite her lively response when she heard he was leaving, Alon headed straight to Lartania.

Five days passed.

Traveling nonstop by carriage, Alon finally arrived at the labyrinth city of Lartania.

“Wow… it’s changed a lot since the last time I was here. It’s even more fascinating now.”

Evan spoke with a tone of admiration, and indeed, Lartania was a much more impressive sight than any other territory Alon had passed through so far.

The city walls, which defined the interior and exterior of the city, were not particularly tall—short enough that you could easily see the buildings inside. The majority of the buildings within the city were unexpectedly luxurious and unique, quite at odds with the image of a city of mercenaries and adventurers.

It was as if architectural styles from all over the world had been gathered in one place. Because of that, the city didn’t evoke a mystical feeling but rather just seemed visually unusual.

‘Wasn’t the setting that people from across the continent, except the Empire, came together and built whatever buildings they wanted?’

Recalling Lartania’s background, Alon entered the city.

“It feels uneasy here.”

“Yeah.”

Just as Alon expected, the atmosphere in the city was somewhat chaotic. Rumors of the foreign entity emerging from the labyrinth had spread, and some mercenaries were already seen leaving the city.

After navigating through Lartania by carriage and reaching his destination in the southern district, Alon soon arrived at a shop called “Merde,” owned by Rine. Upon arriving, he couldn’t help but be amazed.

“…Is this really Merde?”

“Uh… yes, it seems like the right place…” Evan stammered in confusion. The reason was simple—the building was enormous. If you asked how big, well, compared to the surrounding four- or five-story buildings, they looked like mere toy houses in comparison.

“Isn’t this supposed to be a shop?”

“It should be,” Evan replied.

Alon, though maintaining a blank expression, was clearly taken aback as he looked at the building. It was so massive that it seemed more like a temple than a store. Seeing this, Evan spoke up.

“I… I had heard the shop was big… but honestly, I didn’t expect it to be ‘this’ big.”

Alon nodded in agreement. He had heard that the shop was doing extremely well, but he hadn’t expected it to be this successful.

‘To think a magical appraiser could hold so much power… Is this why she’s managed to gain influence in Lartania?’

Alon found himself nodding unconsciously. He knew the universal truth from both the previous world and this one: money could solve anything.

‘That’s one of the reasons I’m here to ask for a favor.’

Although his primary task was dealing with the foreign entity, Alon had come to see Rine, the magical appraiser, because he needed to borrow her influence.

“Let’s go inside,” Alon said, and together with Evan, he began walking up toward the Merde building. As they reached the massive front doors—

“Do you have an appointment?” asked a person, who appeared to be a receptionist, standing in front of the door.

“…Do we need one?” Alon asked.

“If it’s urgent, you can meet her right away by paying the fee.”

“A fee?”

“Yes, if you wish to meet Lady Rine without an appointment, it will cost 3,000 gold coins.”

“3,000 gold coins?!”

The price was enough to buy a mansion in one of the nearby territories, if not the capital of the Asterian Kingdom. Alon, stunned, responded with disbelief.

“…And if I make an appointment now, how long would the wait be?”

“If you make one now… let’s see… about 10…?”

“10?”

“10 months, approximately.”

The staggering time frame made Alon feel dizzy. After a moment of contemplation, he continued.

“Could you at least deliver a message to her? Tell her that Count Palatio is here.”

“Ugh, you’re so noisy. Get lost already.”

Before Alon could finish his sentence, a voice interrupted. A man who exuded an air of wealth—probably a noble—looked at him with disdain.

“Why is a penniless beggar loitering around?”

Behind the man were a group of mercenaries, and he spoke with such crude arrogance, it was as if he lacked any intelligence whatsoever. Alon’s expression turned incredulous, but the man, paying him no mind, approached the receptionist and casually tossed a pouch of money in front of her.

“Open the door,” the man said. The receptionist checked the pouch, nodded respectfully, and immediately began manipulating something. With a loud rumble, the massive doors started to open.

Before stepping inside, the man glanced back at Alon and smirked, clearly trying to provoke him. His sneer was blatant.

“Pathetic beggar,” he sneered.

The man walked into the building, and as Alon watched, he also noticed the mercenaries following him, their faces filled with mockery. They were so openly showing their contempt without even knowing who Alon was that he couldn’t help but frown.

Soon, Alon realized who the man was.

‘He’s the son of the lord of Lartania.’

Though he couldn’t recall the name, he remembered the man’s appearance from the illustrations in Psychedelia—a bloated figure with a sleazy mustache, the infamous son of the labyrinth city’s lord. In the game, he had acted like a scoundrel toward the player, but experiencing it in person was even more outrageous.

Just as Alon was about to speak—

“No need to go inside.”

A voice came from the now-open doorway. Rine emerged, her green eyes glowing as she walked out.

“Oh, Rine! You came all the way here for me?” The scoundrel’s face lit up with a bright smile as he approached her.

But.

“Get lost.”

Without hesitation, Rine pushed the scoundrel’s shoulder aside and cursed at him. She walked right past him and his mercenaries, heading outside. Ignoring the receptionist, who had bowed her head in embarrassment, Rine approached Alon.

Unlike how she had treated the scoundrel, Rine spoke to Alon with the utmost respect.

“I’ve been expecting you, Godfather.”

She bowed her head politely, and everyone present stared at Count Palatio in disbelief.

Chapter 53

The owner of Merde, known for her extraordinary magic appraisal skills in the Labyrinth City, and already serving as Rine’s secretary for over a year and a half, was her—Serenea. She constantly felt exhausted. Objectively speaking, her duties were limited to receiving guests and managing reservations, so there wasn’t any real reason for her to feel so worn out. However, it wasn’t physical fatigue; rather, it was severe mental exhaustion.

To be more precise, it was due to the numerous troublesome clients. Of course, because Merde’s status was quite high, there weren’t many people who caused real trouble. Yet, this didn’t mean there weren’t those who gnawed away at her mental peace. In fact, there were times when she thought dealing with the absolute worst troublemakers might have been better in some ways.

Today had been a relatively peaceful day for Serenea, and she was feeling rather good, at least until a man who looked like a noble entered with a knight. In truth, this man wasn’t particularly troublesome. Like many others, he boasted about how he knew Rine, but that was nothing she hadn’t heard hundreds of times before, so it didn’t even qualify as annoying anymore.

The reason her mood suddenly plummeted was because of the person who entered right after him. Or rather, ‘what’ entered. The man, no, noble, who followed him was the real reason for her mood swing.

Even Serenea, with her solid capitalistic smile, couldn’t help but feel her expression falter when facing him.

‘He’s back again.’

Lavalde Greystone, the son of Lucimore Greystone, the current lord of Labyrinth City Lartania, and a well-known piece of human garbage throughout the city. Despite the fact that all of his power came from his father, he wielded it as if it were his own and acted as though no one ranked higher than him except his father—a spoiled brat ignorant of the ways of the world.

He threw money arrogantly, showing no regard for the noble who had entered before him, insulting him without hesitation. Serenea almost frowned but barely managed to hold it in.

After all, she had no right to frown. No matter how troublesome the person was, he was still the lord’s only son in the Labyrinth City. Even the master of Merde, whom Serenea served, had to bow down to Lavalde, so Serenea quietly opened the door. But what happened next left her in stunned silence.

Rine, who had always maintained a smiling face despite the annoying provocations of the trashy lord’s son, suddenly said, “Get lost.”

It wasn’t just the fact that Rine had lightly tapped Lavalde’s shoulder, as if her previous attitude toward him had been a lie, that shocked her. What shocked her even more was what followed.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Godfather.”

Rine bowed her head respectfully to the man Serenea had thought was just another ordinary guest.

‘W-What’s going on?’

Serenea, confused, wondered if she was dreaming. After all, Serenea had observed Rine for nearly two years and knew this: even when the lord of the Labyrinth City came, even when high-ranking nobles from other countries arrived, even when the prince of the Ashtalon Kingdom visited, Rine had never bowed her head to anyone.

That’s why Serenea, unconsciously lowering her smile and leaving her mouth agape, soon saw the mercenaries and Lavalde doing the same. Their jaws dropped in disbelief.

“What… did you just say to me?” Lavalde, who had been frozen as if his brain had short-circuited, finally processed Rine’s words. His once dazed expression now contorted into clear displeasure.

However, Rine responded without hesitation, “I believe I told you to get lost.”

Rine spoke so naturally that Serenea’s expression now turned to one of utter shock.

The reason for this remark was clear to anyone watching: it was an outright declaration of hostility towards Lavalde. Lavalde let out a disbelieving scoff before his face twisted into a demonic expression.

“I don’t know what’s so important about that penniless noble, but I’ll make sure you regret turning your back on me.”

With those words, he turned and stormed out of Merde.

***

Shortly after Lavalde Greystone, the son of the lord of Labyrinth City, left with a demonic look on his face—one that hinted he could do anything—Alon finally had the chance to speak properly with Rine.

“I received your letter. It must have been a hard trip, Godfather. And you too, Uncle,” Rine said, speaking in a calm voice, in contrast to Deus, who remained silent as if silence were golden, and Seolrang, who talked too much.

Alon, who had been watching her, nodded slightly and asked, “…But is this really okay?”

“What exactly are you referring to?” she replied.

“Lavalde,” Alon answered, bringing up the name of the son of the lord of Labyrinth City, which had only just come back to him.

Alon was aware of the immense power the lord of this Labyrinth City, Lartania, held. He also knew that the lord often shielded his son, so he was concerned that Lavalde might cause trouble for Rine, who had settled here in Lartania.

“Oh, if that’s what you’re worried about, you don’t need to be concerned,” Rine responded.

“Really? But he’s the lord’s son. It seems like he might cause trouble for you.”

“He probably won’t show up again. Besides, I didn’t expect you to know that rascal.”

Alon paused for a moment at Rine’s words but replied naturally, “He’s well-known in Lartania, for his looks and his attitude.”

“Is that so? In any case, as I said before, there’s no need to worry.”

Although her voice was flat and emotionless, unlike the others he had met, there was a distinct sense of confidence in her words.

“Well, if you’re sure about that,” Alon nodded briefly before engaging in a casual conversation with Rine.

Naturally, there wasn’t much substance to their conversation. They exchanged pleasantries about how her work in Lartania had been going, whether she still kept in touch with the kids from the orphanage, and other simple matters.

However, as they continued with this light talk, Alon couldn’t help but feel unusually good. It might have seemed a bit amusing, but he felt that Rine had grown up well. Not that Deus or Seolrang hadn’t matured, but there was something about Rine that gave him the impression of a diligent daughter, even though he hadn’t paid much attention to her before.

Because of this, Alon found himself feeling oddly proud of her, enjoying their conversation in good spirits. After some time passed and their small talk came to a close, Alon brought up the main reason for his visit.

“The truth is, I came to see you today because I have a favor to ask.”

“Feel free to ask.”

“Is there by any chance a subjugation force being formed against the Outer God?”

At Alon’s question, Rine thought for a moment before responding, “Hmm—yes, I believe a subjugation force is being formed right now.”

“Would you be able to help me join that subjugation force?”

The reason Alon had sought out Rine, who held significant influence in Labyrinth City, as soon as he arrived, was so that he could join the subjugation force against the Outer God. It was difficult to join without being somewhat famous within Lartania.

Of course, given his reputation from outside the city, he might have been able to join on his own, but he wanted to be absolutely sure, which is why he sought her out.

‘After what happened earlier, it might be a bit difficult now.’

“Of course, it might be a little difficult…,” Alon started, recalling Lavalde’s behavior and realizing that relying on Rine’s help might indeed be challenging. But then Rine spoke up.

“That should be doable.”

“…Hmm? Really?” Alon asked, a bit surprised.

“Yes.”

“…But didn’t things get a little tense between you and the lord’s son earlier?” Alon hesitated to say that the situation seemed more than just tense, but he looked at her, waiting for her response.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not something I can’t handle. Besides, is he really that much of a concern to you?” she asked.

“Are you talking about Lavalde?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he is the lord’s precious son, so I thought he might cause you some trouble,” Alon replied.

Rine nodded slightly before responding, “In any case, you don’t need to worry about that.”

“Hmm… Alright, I’ll leave it to you then.”

Despite her blunt manner of speaking, her words carried a strong sense of reassurance, which made Alon feel oddly proud again. After a bit more conversation, Alon suddenly thought of something and asked.

“By the way, why do you call me Godfather?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, Deus and Seolrang refer to me as their benefactor or Master, but why do you call me Godfather? I was just curious.”

Rine paused for a moment, thinking, before replying, “Because Godfather seemed like the most fitting word.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

After a brief silence, Rine added, “For now, you should rest. You must be tired from the long journey.”

With that, Rine assigned rooms for Alon and Evan within Merde and then disappeared somewhere.

As soon as she left, Evan, who had been waiting, spoke up, “Wow, she’s really matured, hasn’t she?”

“Has she?” Alon asked.

“Yes, she’s still a bit blunt, but she’s always been like that. But aside from that… out of all the kids we’ve met, I think she’s grown up the most.”

Alon nodded in agreement. “Indeed, she feels like she grew up in the most textbook manner.”

Rine had mentioned she would inform them of further plans, and since not much time had passed since they had gone north, Alon decided it would be best to rest and review their plans. With that in mind, he headed to the room Rine had provided. By the time he entered, it was already late in the evening.

***

The next day.

Having barely rested after rushing to Lartania by carriage, Alon awoke feeling groggy, even though he had slept for quite a while. Noticing that the sun had risen, he slowly got out of bed, dressed, and left his room. He soon met Rine, who was having lunch, with Serenea, her secretary, guiding him there.

And then.

“I’ve taken care of the matter you mentioned yesterday,” Rine said.

“…So quickly?”

“Yes. There’s a regular meeting today, so you can attend it.”

Alon was briefly taken aback by how efficiently Rine had handled things. But before he could dwell on it, she continued.

“Oh, and about Lavalde Greystone, the matter has been taken care of as well. I killed him cleanly, so you won’t have to worry about him anymore.”

She said it so casually, as if commenting on the weather, all while taking a bite of her sausage. Her tone sounded like she was saying, “The sun is shining brightly today,” despite delivering such shocking news.

Alon, who had almost responded nonchalantly, suddenly stopped. “Uh… what?”

Staring at her, his mind filled with countless question marks.

Chapter 54

Lavalde Greystone was indeed a character whose very existence was harmful.

Among the many characters you could encounter while playing ‘Psychedelia’, he was one of the most notorious scoundrels ever created.

The massacre at the 30th level mercenary camp.

The monster abyss absorption incident.

The chimera biological experiments.

Nearly every malicious side story that took place in Lartania during the game happened because of him.

In other words, considering Lartania’s future, it was certainly better for the city if he didn’t exist rather than simply being alive.

However, Lavalde Greystone remained alive because he was the son of the lord of the labyrinth city.

The position of being the lord’s son, within the city, meant he wielded virtually unlimited power.

It essentially allowed him to reign like a king within the city.

In short, by killing Lavalde, Rine had, in effect, committed regicide, which made Alon, who was in disbelief, question in a daze.

“You killed him?”

“Yes.”

“Lavalde Greystone…?”

“Yes.”

Rine answered as casually as if she were discussing what she had for breakfast, and Alon felt dizzy from the reply.

“Truly…?”

“Yes, godfather. Was there an issue?”

“…Why did you kill him?”

“Well… because you said he was an inconvenience?”

“…?”

“…??”

Alon and Rine exchanged confused looks.

“Still, isn’t killing him a bit much?”

“But if he were alive, wouldn’t he continue to bother you, godfather…?”

Talking with Rine, Alon suddenly realized one important fact.

‘Ah, right… she’s one of the five great sins.’

Though he had momentarily forgotten, because of her image as a daughter who had grown up well without needing much care, Alon remembered that Rine was destined to become one of the seeds of the five great sins in the future.

Without realizing it, cold sweat trickled down his back.

‘But before that… how on earth did she manage to kill him?’

Lavalde Greystone himself wasn’t all that strong.

However, the mercenaries that followed him everywhere were, as far as Alon knew, not the kind of people that could easily be taken down.

They were mercenaries of at least A-rank caliber.

That’s why Alon found it puzzling that Rine, who wasn’t a fighter but simply someone who worked as an appraiser, managed to deal with them.

As Alon wore a perplexed expression, Rine cautiously spoke up.

“Was there a problem?”

Perhaps due to his repeated questioning, Rine now seemed to be wondering if she had unknowingly made a mistake, her expression turning slightly dejected.

“Not so much a problem… more like… is it really alright?”

“Which part?”

“Mostly concerning your personal safety.”

“If it’s about that, you don’t need to worry, godfather.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yes. I made sure to disguise myself as someone else.”

Although her expression remained neutral, Rine nodded confidently.

Watching her, Alon couldn’t help but recall a phrase he’d seen in an old community.

‘So this is what they mean by having a different mindset…’

Clearing his throat, Alon spoke again.

“Anyway, thanks for your concern. Don’t feel too down about it.”

“I’m not feeling down, godfather.”

‘She looked a bit dejected just a moment ago though…’  

“I’m really not.”

‘How can she commit regicide so easily and yet be embarrassed about something like this?’  

Alon looked at Rine with a mixture of amazement and fascination as he continued speaking.

“Anyway, try to avoid putting yourself in danger if you can.”

“…Why, godfather?”

“Well, all sorts of problems could arise.

First, you could be put in danger, and all the hard work you’ve put in could come crumbling down in an instant, right?”

“…?”

“…?”

Rine made a puzzled expression at Alon’s words, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.

Though it shouldn’t have been a difficult statement, she tilted her head slightly, as if she couldn’t quite grasp his meaning.

After thinking seriously for a moment, she suddenly said, “Ah,” as if she had realized something, and gave a small nod.

“Don’t worry too much, godfather. I understand my duties well,” she added, before resuming her meal.

Alon was left a little dumbfounded as he watched her.

Even though they were having a conversation, it felt as if something was slightly off.

However, continuing the conversation didn’t seem like a good option, so Alon closed his mouth.

After all, regardless of everything, she had dealt with Lavalde for his sake.

A bit… no, actually far too excessive, but still, she had acted on his behalf, so Alon decided not to press the matter further.

‘But no matter how much she considers me her godfather, was this really necessary…?’

As Alon absentmindedly ate his sausage, pondering such thoughts, Rine suddenly spoke up.

“Oh, I’ve been wanting to show you the Eye of the Tracker, godfather. Would you come with me?”

“The Eye of the Tracker?”

“Yes.”

Alon nodded at Rine’s words, and soon, after finishing their meal, he followed her into a room.

Inside, Alon saw it—a golden eye floating in the small room.

It was surrounded by a halo of blue light, and anyone who saw it could immediately tell it was no ordinary object.

As Alon stared at it, Rine’s earlier words came to mind.

She had said she would show him the Eye of the Tracker.

‘This is the Eye of the Tracker…?’

Alon couldn’t help but look dumbfounded.

***

Originally, the Eye of the Tracker that Alon had given Rine was just an artifact—a round sphere with a small eye-shaped jewel embedded in it.

Its effect was simply to appraise artifacts from lower levels with a bit more detail.

In other words, it wasn’t a particularly remarkable item.

Even in the settings of the artifact itself, there was no special description, much like the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe.

Thus, Alon had never imagined that the Eye of the Tracker could be hiding such a secret.

“The engravings are gathering smoothly,” Rine said.

It didn’t take long for Alon to deduce that this Eye of the Tracker could enhance certain relics by engraving them, but he didn’t bother to confirm it.

He had already realized why Rine had shown him such favor.

‘Was it because of this…?’

The reason Rine’s company, Merde, had gained widespread fame was because of her ability to create engravings.

It turned out that her success was, to some extent, due to the Eye of the Tracker, so it was only natural for her to feel gratitude toward Alon.

Of course, Alon had never imagined the Eye had such a function.

Still, given that Rine was feeling grateful to him, it would have been awkward if Alon remained oblivious to this fact.

“I see. You’re using it well,” Alon said, nodding as if he had known all along about the true nature of the Eye of the Tracker.

“Yes, although the engravings have slowed down a bit after 400, they’re still gathering. I think I’ll have them all within a few years.”

“I see.”

Alon felt a growing curiosity about what exactly was being gathered, but he didn’t ask, fearing it might raise suspicion in Rine.

So, he just nodded slightly, and a bit of time passed once more.

“Then let’s head there right away, godfather,” Rine said.

Alon, along with Evan, followed Rine to the location of the regular meeting.

***

Alon had two reasons for wanting to participate in the extermination of the Outer God.

The first was because it was clear that the current mercenaries alone would never be able to defeat the Outer God.

Of course, the mercenaries gathered from the five major guilds to defeat the Outer God possessed superhuman strength, like Baba Yaga or the Master Knights.

However, Alon knew that even that wouldn’t be enough to take down the Outer God.

The second reason was that, in order to exterminate the Outer God, Alon absolutely needed the strength of powerful mercenaries who would follow his commands. This was why he was determined to join the Outer God Extermination Squad.

However, the problem was—

“Tch.”

“You’re bringing this weak-looking guy along?”

“Ha, he looks like someone who just rides on his reputation. Are you here to tag along and take credit?”

—the mercenaries didn’t seem like they would follow Alon’s orders at all.

In the meeting room where Alon had entered, four men and women were glaring at him with extremely displeased expressions.

Maverick, the guild master of the Terranomad Guild, clicked his tongue, looking irritated as he fiddled with his sword.

Himan, the guild master of the Arcadia Guild, lifted his pointed hat with a sneer and spoke with blatant disdain.

Myaon, a beastwoman and the guild master of the Ancient Trackers, spun a dagger on the table in front of her, letting out a derisive laugh with her slitted, feline eyes.

And among them, the strongest of the mercenary guild leaders, Argonia, the guild master of the Kalimadra Guild and a half-dragon with a dragon ancestor that had disappeared long ago, simply stared at him in silence.

Naturally, her gaze wasn’t particularly welcoming either.

‘I expected some hostility, but this is worse than I thought.’

As soon as he entered the meeting room, Alon quickly assessed the situation and noted the overt hostility and mocking glares from the guild leaders.

He had somewhat anticipated this scenario.

The people present were powerful enough to gauge Alon’s magical abilities, and more importantly, they were all mercenaries.

Mercenaries, who prioritized strength above all else.

Alon knew that if he wanted to have a conversation with them, let alone gain any respect, he first had to avoid being dismissed and earn their acknowledgment.

“Noble lord, I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been poking your nose into places you don’t belong. But seeing you in person, you don’t seem like someone worth talking to. Why don’t you just leave?”

“Ha—”

Without hesitation, Alon raised his left hand, which was clad in his gauntlet, and formed a seal.

At that moment—

Crackle!

With no warning, the once ordinary meeting room was filled with ice.

Myaon, who was about to rise in surprise at the sudden event, was caught off guard.

“Concentration.”

As soon as Alon spoke, the surrounding atmosphere and magical energy gathered around Myaon.

“Freeze.”

At his next word, the air and magic that had gathered around Myaon reacted instantly, forming frost. It quickly multiplied and—

Crackle!

—encased her in ice.

Myaon, bewildered and unaware of how she had been attacked, was frozen solid inside the ice.

There was no particular reason for freezing her.

According to the settings Alon knew, Myaon was the weakest in terms of combat power among the mercenaries present, unable to reach the level of a superhuman.

That’s why she couldn’t react to the sudden attack and ended up frozen.

After briefly glancing at the immobilized Myaon, Alon calmly walked past the mercenaries who had rushed into the room, realizing something was wrong.

Step, step.

Not too fast, but not too slow either, he moved at a steady pace, as if nothing had happened.

He soon sat down in a chair opposite Argonia and—

“I think now we’re at a level where we can talk.”

—crossed his legs.

“What do you think?”

A heavy silence descended upon the meeting room.

Chapter 55

Silence falls in the meeting room.

The mercenaries who entered late all wore tense expressions, and Maverick, Himan, and Argonia, who were seated, looked at Alon in the same way.

Yet, even in that moment when everyone’s gaze focused on him, Alon’s expression remained calm.

To be precise, only his outward appearance seemed calm.

‘Did I miscalculate?’  

Behind his expressionless face, Alon thought nervously as sweat beaded on his skin.

‘Should I have used a different method? No, there wouldn’t have been another impactful way. Freezing Myaon was only possible because I caught her off guard.’  

While staring intently at Argonia, Alon also kept Myaon, visible from the corner of his eye, in mind.

‘She’s still frozen.’  

He had used all of his magic power, casting ice magic five times with his enchanted armor, so Myaon remained in that frozen state.

… He hoped the conversation would move forward before the magic broke.

Knowing Myaon’s personality, Alon was certain she would go on a rampage as soon as she was freed from the magic, and with growing anxiety, he looked at Argonia.

If Argonia, the strongest among those present, acknowledged Alon, there would be no further conflict.

Besides, the reason Alon had confidently cast the spell was that he trusted Argonia.

Through the game, Alon had seen several times that Argonia would coolly assess situations and make rational decisions rather than stubbornly holding onto unnecessary pride.

… Specifically, it was because a situation in a particular quest was very similar to the current one, and each time, Argonia had reacted the same way.

In the silence, Alon wanted to open his mouth and prompt a response, but he held back.

Since he had already cast the spell, it didn’t matter what he said now.

From this point, it was up to the mercenaries to make their judgment, and to earn their approval, he needed to maintain his composure.

A short while later…

“So, you’re challenging us?”

The silence was broken by Maverick’s voice, his expression twisted in displeasure.

Seeing Maverick almost ready to draw his sword, upset by the sudden attack, Alon thought, “I’m done for.”

But…

“Stop.”

To Alon’s immense relief, just as Maverick was about to draw his sword, Argonia intervened.

“What? Are you telling me to just let this go after what happened?”

“We were the ones who ignored him.”

“Even so!”

“I told you to stop, didn’t I?”

Argonia’s expression slightly darkened.

Maverick glared at Argonia, clearly displeased.

“Tch.”

Eventually, Maverick clicked his tongue and sat back down as if he had no other choice.

Himan also remained silent, indicating that he had no objection to Argonia’s decision.

Seeing the situation settle, Alon breathed a sigh of relief and spoke up again.

“When do you plan to descend into the labyrinth?”

“We plan to descend in two days,” Argonia replied politely.

…?

For a moment, Alon wondered, ‘Was Argonia always the kind of character to speak so politely to someone?’ but he continued.

“Then let’s continue the meeting tomorrow. With one person like this, we can’t really hold a meeting anyway.”

Alon subtly shifted his gaze to Myaon.

Once the freezing spell ended, the magic would be undone in an instant, and Myaon would certainly throw a tantrum. For now, Alon decided to make his exit.

“…Let’s do that.”

As Argonia accepted, Alon stood up without hesitation, turned around, and passed by the mercenaries.

Creak—  

He exited the meeting room.

With that, silence filled the room.

And then.

‘This is bad for my heart. I swear I’m never doing anything like this again.’  

Finally outside, Alon clutched his pounding heart, let out a small breath, and hurriedly left the mansion.

***

Shortly after Alon left the meeting room.

Maverick, after sending the soldiers away, spoke with an irritated expression.

“Ha, I really don’t like that guy, no matter how I think about it. Is it because he’s a noble and never got smacked around?”

It was obvious to anyone that his words were directed at Alon.

However.

“Shut up, would you?”

“What?”

“I said, shut up.”

“Did you just say…?”

Maverick, who had been glaring silently at Himan, furrowed his brow. The two never got along.

“Ha, seriously… Why is this guy still acting up after being spared?”

“What?”

“Don’t you get it? Argonia spared you, you idiot.”

At those words, Maverick, who seemed not to understand, made a displeased face.

“…Stop, Maverick. Himan’s right.”

“What did you say?”

“If you had drawn your sword earlier, you might have really died.”

“What? How does that even—”

When Argonia added his words, Maverick, who had been scowling, fell silent.

He had been too irritated earlier to notice his surroundings properly, but now he saw it.

The beads of sweat trickling down Argonia’s body.

…What the hell?

Maverick cursed under his breath, startled.

He had never seen Argonia sweat like that before.

Even Himan, whom Maverick grudgingly acknowledged as stronger than himself, was also sweating.

Maverick couldn’t help but stay quiet.

“…Argonia.”

“What is it?”

“What was that, anyway?”

Himan, aware that Argonia had lived for hundreds of years, asked, hoping he might know something. Argonia remained silent.

In truth, he had a vague idea.

But that knowledge wasn’t his own; it came from the Red Dragon, his mother, who had long since disappeared from this world.

He recalled the warning from his mother, who had claimed there was nothing in this world to fear—except one thing.

Long ago.

‘Remember this. If ever a black eye appears in the night sky, avert your gaze immediately and do not look at it.’

‘If you do happen to see it, turn away. Do not acknowledge it. Do not remember it. If you grow to be a powerful mage someday, erase that memory from your mind.’

‘Remember this, my beloved child. Never, ever look directly at “the one who consumes boundaries.”’

Recalling his mother’s words, Argonia thought back to the earlier moment.

The blue eye that had appeared behind Count Palatio.

—An eye that felt endlessly ominous.

Just gazing at it made one feel as if their soul was being sucked out.

Creep~!  

The black eye that had glared at him with a sly smile.

‘Who… is that man, really?’  

Argonia swallowed his breath quietly.

***

The next day.

Contrary to Alon’s worries that they might still refuse to accept his plans and continue to argue, the meeting proceeded smoothly, and Alon realized two things.

The first was that the otherworldly being was on the 12th floor.

The second was that they intended to block it on the 5th floor.

As soon as he heard this, Alon immediately explained his prearranged plan in detail and also briefed them on the information he had gathered about the otherworldly being.

That took about 30 minutes.

Alon, who had even shared the knowledge of the otherworldly being, disguised as information from an ancient book, watched the gathered mercenaries with slight tension, wondering if they would object.

‘In the end, we’ll have to compromise, right?’  

The strategy Alon had laid out was one he was confident in, a plan to capture the otherworldly being with minimal damage.

But that was only his own thinking.

He knew full well that the mercenaries weren’t under his command.

He couldn’t order them to follow the strategy, only suggest it. That’s why he was so nervous.

“…Let’s go with that.”

“I agree.”

“No objections.”

“Me neither.”

“…??”

Without a single complaint, the plan was instantly accepted, and Alon stood there, bewildered.

Really, no one had any issues?

He asked again, just to make sure.

“None.”

“Me neither.”

“Same here.”

“Me too.”

Hearing the four of them respond with no objections, Alon couldn’t help but think to himself.

‘Was yesterday’s impact really that strong?’  

Alon shook his head slightly.

Even though the events of yesterday were impactful, there was no way it was enough to make Argonia and the mercenaries of the Five Great Guilds this obedient.

Which led him to wonder.

‘Could it be…?’  

Alon glanced over at Rine, who had accompanied them to today’s meeting.

But.

‘…?’

Rine, with her usual indifferent expression, still showed a clear hint of confusion, which made Alon even more puzzled by the situation.

‘Something feels off…’  

The mercenaries were much more obedient than they had been in the game, even going so far as to use polite language, and Alon tilted his head in bewilderment.

Even Myaon, who should have still harbored some resentment after being frozen by Alon, remained quiet, which was strange. But it would have been odd for Alon to directly ask why there were no complaints.

“Then, let’s head down tomorrow. It’ll take some time to prepare.”

With that, Alon wrapped up the meeting.

***

And so, the day of the decisive battle arrived.

Leaving Evan behind, Alon set off with Rine—who insisted on accompanying him—and the Outer God subjugation team, heading toward the 5th floor.

‘…It’s much more oppressive.’  

Even though Alon had seen the labyrinth dozens of times in the game, the real thing was far more ominous.

In the darkness where nothing could be seen without torches, monsters would leap out at any moment.

The deep, abyss-like darkness that the light couldn’t reach naturally stirred fear in people’s hearts.

Of course, because of the number of mercenaries, the area around Alon was relatively bright, but the darkness didn’t completely vanish.

‘I should never come here alone.’  

With that thought, Alon continued descending into the labyrinth, and after some time passed, when they had gone beyond the 2nd floor, a break was given.

Resting in the safe zone that the mercenaries had created inside the labyrinth, Alon heard a voice.

“Hey, do you have a minute?”

It was Myaon, who had approached him without him noticing.

“…Why?”

Alon, a bit tense, thought she might be looking to pick a fight.

“I just wanted to talk, that’s all.”

But surprisingly, Myaon sat next to him with a light smile, almost making Alon feel foolish for being so cautious, and she started chatting casually.

Alon, who listened in bewilderment, soon heard Myaon ask.

“By the way, does the Count have any aversion to beastfolk?”

“No, not really.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Why is that a relief?”

Alon, puzzled by her answer, gave her a questioning look.

“Hey, Count, by any chance…”

With a sly smile, Myaon continued.

“Do you have any interest in mating with me?”

She casually dropped an outrageous remark.

“…?”

Alon’s brain momentarily shut down.

Chapter 56

Alon knew quite a bit more about a character named Myaon than the other mercenaries.

This was because Myaon was a companion character that could be recruited into the protagonist’s party in ‘Psychedelia’ after clearing a certain level of the labyrinth.

In the early stages of the game, many players frequently recruited her, even at a low level, as she would join the party at a much higher level.

Alon, having played through several personal events with her, couldn’t help but know her well.

“……”

However, despite this familiarity, Myaon’s suggestion caught him completely off guard, and Alon maintained his silence.

“Got something on your mind?”

Myaon smiled subtly.

Alon, who was staring at her face, which remained radiant despite the scars, slowly asked back, “Suddenly…?”

“Suddenly? This is already our third time meeting.”

Myaon, her cat-like ears twitching, continued, “By now, we’ve figured each other out, haven’t we? I know you’re strong.”

“Ah.”

Alon let out a small sigh at her words, finally breaking free from his halted thoughts.

He could now guess why she was making such a proposal.

He remembered that Myaon’s tribe had a tradition of revering the strong.

Though it was a distant memory and not entirely clear, he recalled that her tribe held a strong sense of admiration for those more powerful than themselves.

‘Worshipping strength… They feel a profound attraction to those stronger than them.’

Alon looked at the numerous scars scattered across Myaon’s body, almost like the marks of her tribe, and spoke, “Sorry, but I have to decline.”

“Huh?”

Myaon’s expression showed slight disappointment at his words.

However, it wasn’t long before she let out a sigh, as if it were unbelievable that she had been showing such a face just moments before.

“Well, nothing I can do about it then. I was really thrilled when I got overpowered in one move…”

Her tone was full of disappointment, but her expression resembled that of a saleswoman who had just failed to close a deal.

Watching her, Alon thought to himself again.

‘I knew that the way beastfolk and humans think is clearly different, but this part… is really something else.’

As Alon was thinking, Myaon spoke up again, “Well, still, let me know if you change your mind. I’m pretty charming, you know?”

Like a persistent salesperson, she said her piece and left.

As Alon stared blankly at her retreating figure, he suddenly heard Rine’s voice, who had been silent until now.

“Shall I take care of it, Sir?”

“…Huh? No need for that.”

“She spoke rudely to you, Sir.”

Rine, who hadn’t taken her eyes off Myaon as she walked away, uttered this chilling statement.

Alon pressed his lips together tightly.

“No… you’re not thinking of killing her just because of a few words, right?”

Alon, realizing that there was someone even more unusual than Myaon nearby, quickly responded, “There’s no need for that. She didn’t actually cause any harm.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Rine nodded immediately and shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Alon felt a strange sensation.

‘Something feels off.’

He tilted his head, feeling that the way Rine treated him was a bit too excessive compared to how others, like Deus and Seolrang, treated him.

Just then—

“Break’s over! Everyone, move out!”

Argonia’s sharp voice announced the end of their rest, and Alon, halting his thoughts, got up and started walking into the darkness once more.

***

About a day passed.

The expedition to exterminate the foreign invader had spent a night in the labyrinth, a place akin to the abyss, and continued to move forward.

They had now reached the 4th layer.

‘As expected, it’s really different from the game.’

Alon clicked his tongue as they had only reached the 4th layer despite traveling for more than an entire day.