Chapter 249

Chapter 249: Gathering (2)

Jing ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍and Ria only faced Mona calmly despite his threat.

They ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did not even show fighting spirit or wariness toward him.

Together ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍with the fact that they knew his name, which he had never revealed, this made Mona’s mood sink even lower.

If ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that man’s companions knew his name, it meant that the man had known everything even before following him into the cave.

Mona ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍could vaguely give a new name to the strange feeling he had felt the moment he first saw the black-haired human.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍must have been a warning from instinct.

A warning that this unknown bastard would become more dangerous than anything he could imagine in the future, and that Mona should just kill him on the spot.

“So this was all planned up to this point, is that it? And we danced right along.”

“You don’t need to feel too bad. It’s not as if we know that much either.”

Ria offered comfort that was not much help.

“He was already someone with many secrets, but this time, he seemed to be especially sparing with his words. As if he was hiding something.”

“He is not someone who reveals his inner thoughts normally either, is he?”

When Jing quietly corrected her, Ria groaned and scratched the back of her hand.

“That’s true, but still. This time he was more tense than usual, and also, it felt like he really wanted to go alone.”

Mona did not have enough patience left to endure any more of the peaceful and carefree conversation between the two.

“How little you bastards trust each other is none of my business. What you bastards need to do right now is resolve the mess that the damned black-haired bastard made, or make that bastard put everything back.”

“I will need to hear what exactly happened inside to know, but we do not have the strength to stop what he does.”

Jing answered calmly.

“Then your use has been decided. If I cut off the necks of his companions in front of him, that bastard’s mind might change a little.”

“Haha, I do not know whether such a threat will work, but in any case, there is no need to bare your edge so much. We cannot accept a request to become hostages, though.”

Jing spoke in a tone that still held not even the slightest tension.

If Mona had even a quarter of half his usual reason left, perhaps the moment he faced Jing, he might have withdrawn his clumsy plan to kidnap them and stop Ran Abalan.

Mona, whose every plan had fallen apart overnight and who had even lost his base, could see nothing.

“Does it look like I am making a request of you right now?”

“No, I said there is no need to be so angry. We were going to......”

Jing tried to calm him, but before he could stop him, Mona charged at Jing and Ria.

And so those words of anger that resembled a sneer became Mona’s last words.

Because the next moment, he was struck in the solar plexus by the handle of Jing’s sword and lost consciousness.

***

By the time Mona regained his senses, he had arrived near the cave together with Jing and Ria.

In a sense, his plan to bring Ran’s companions to the cave had succeeded.

Only the subject of the action had changed slightly.

When he opened his eyes, he found the two exchanging words with each other while leaving him abandoned in one corner like a piece of luggage.

“Damn it......”

After recognizing even the unsightly state he had collapsed in, he muttered a curse and raised himself.

“You’re awake? That’s a relief. You needed to wake up soon.”

Ria, who had noticed him, spoke to him.

“Are you all right? Since you are not human, I was a little clumsy with controlling my strength. I am glad your recovery is fast.”

With a slightly awkward face, Jing held out a hand to Mona.

Though he withdrew it obediently at Mona’s fierce expression.

“That is why you should have heard me out to the end. Even if you had not attacked us like that, we were going to follow you anyway.”

At the small rebuke, Mona glared.

“You were not going to follow me. You were planning to ambush us. What I need is a hostage, not an intruder.”

“Neither sounds very pleasant. Could you not think of us as guests instead?”

“Not after your companion threatened us.”

Mona spoke with a growl.

“......He probably only had a little ill will.”

“That’s right. I’m sure he didn’t intend more than making you angry.”

Jing and Ria’s excuses were neither comfort nor anything else.

“You’re saying he did this merely to make us angry?”

“Ah, no. That was because it was necessary.”

Ria hurriedly shook her head.

“Yes, our original plan was to go inside and deliver this to Lord Ran.”

Jing carefully took out the greave from within his clothes.

At the appearance of the protective gear, which looked ordinary at a glance, Mona felt chills rise along his spine and stood.

“What on earth is that?”

“It’s too complicated to explain. But for now, it’s certain that it will help with your plan.”

Ria, who had received the grief from Jing, answered, and Mona narrowed his eyes.

“How do you know what our plan is? Just how much did that black-haired human bastard know and tell you?”

“He said he could not know exactly. But the one who gave him certainty was you.”

Glancing toward the inside of the cave, where nothing but darkness could be seen, Jing spoke.

“He said if a Werewolf named Mona left the cave chasing after us, then we could take it to mean that at the very least, he had no intention of killing the humans.”

“What does that......”

“He also said we could take it as you coming out to meet us. Though we were not told that we would meet Adol first.”

Jing added an explanation to Mona, who was so bewildered that he could not hide his blank expression.

But Mona still could not completely understand the situation.

“Meet you? No, more importantly, did you say Adol? Is that kid alive right now?”

“He is hiding with other people in the ruined village right now. He seemed quite close to Naria.”

At Jing’s answer, a faint trace of relief flashed over Mona’s face.

“You look as though you are not on as bad terms with him as I had heard.”

When Jing asked while narrowing his eyes, Mona shook his head.

“I do not think Naria would have spoken well of me. We are as distant as she explained.”

“For that, it looked like you were worried about Adol.”

When Ria asked carefully, a fishy smile appeared at the corner of Mona’s mouth.

“Do not be ridiculous. If I were worried about that child, I would have gone to save him instead of coming to find you bastards. That bastard is just something I had no choice but to take on......”

Mona, who had been muttering self-mockingly, belatedly realized he had said too much and closed his mouth.

But neither Ria nor Jing missed that gap.

“That means you’ll protect Adol if necessary, right? The other humans too. So, in necessary situations.”

“......Do not misunderstand. I decide the value of humans.”

“So that means they do have value.”

This time, caught on his words by Jing, Mona ground his teeth.

But he did not argue any further.

Whether he had accepted Jing and Ria’s words, or whether he had judged that there was no chance of winning in a two-on-one situation if he dealt with them any longer, was unclear.

Jing and Ria decided to believe it was the former.

“You asked what this is. This is an object containing the Imperial Family’s curse. We came to destroy it. That’s why we’re trying to go inside.”

Ria spoke as she carefully lifted the greave she was holding.

“Because we can destroy it inside there.”

“What does that have to do with us?”

“Because you won’t need to fight humans anymore.”

Ria quickly answered.

“This is the second time we’re destroying something like this. The first time, we destroyed one in the orcs’ cave. And after we destroyed it, we confirmed with our own eyes that everyone’s aggression toward humans decreased.”

At the unrealistic words, Mona looked back and forth between Ria and Jing with suspicious eyes.

“I am not threatening you, but there will not be much time to think. We need to destroy that to stop what Lord Ran is doing inside as well.”

When his hesitation seemed about to grow long, Jing kindly helped shorten that time.

Thanks to that, Mona was able to make a quick judgment.

Though what little affection for Jing and Ria he had, which had already been crawling across the floor, dug into the earth and crashed underground.

“......Fine. You are saying I only need to guide you two inside and let you meet that damned bastard?”

“You only need to take Ria with you. I must keep watch outside.”

Jing corrected his understanding.

After looking Jing over once, Mona immediately understood this decision.

Judging by appearances, that one had not killed only one or two humans.

Even if not for the reason of keeping watch, he would not be able to take even one step inside.

Mona already knew through experience that he was not an opponent who could be forcibly dragged inside.

Pretending not to notice Mona’s gaze, Jing patted Ria’s shoulder.

“I am sorry I cannot go with you.”

“No, I know it’s more dangerous for you outside. We don’t know when the Imperial Family members might follow us either.”

Ria, who had been watching behind him with anxious eyes, bit her lip.

“......He might come soon. He’ll think we ran away somewhere else anyway, so......”

“Ria, do not worry. I will be fine. I may not seem trustworthy, but despite how I look, I do have a record of once escaping from an Imperial Family member.”

He did not bother saying that he had almost lost one leg, and that if it had not been for other people’s help, he would have been destined to die on the spot.

Because it would only increase Ria’s anxiety.

Ria looked back and forth between the greave and Jing with anxious eyes, then soon showed a faint smile.

“How tearful. If you are done saying goodbye, hurry and follow me.”

Unable to keep watching, Mona grabbed Ria’s arm and dragged her.

“By now, a fight will have broken out inside. Your companion made a mess of the village. The darkness that should only have been inside the cave has covered the entire village.”

“You’re right, we have to hurry and go. Ratel will be anxious inside too.”

Ria, who had been dragged along by Mona’s hurried steps, shook off his arm and began running.

Mona, who had been looking down at his hand that had been shaken off more easily than expected, also came to his senses and followed behind her.

“When you go inside, give Lord Ran my regards. And you must come back as quickly as possible. Something may happen to Ratel as well.”

When Jing shouted after the two, Ria tightened her arms around the greave and nodded.

At that tragic resolve, as if she would even lay down her life, Jing smiled gently.

Jing was a person who could skillfully hide his emotions in dangerous situations, and such experience was always something one could rely on.

Though sometimes that very point instead fueled greater unease.

But Ria deliberately erased such unease and stepped into the cave together with Mona.

Fortunately for Jing, the moment Ria disappeared into the darkness with Mona, a huge arrow flew in and embedded itself where her footprint had been.

“Can you not come back at once?!”

Renin’s urgent voice rang out after it.

But Ria, who had already disappeared into the darkness, did not hear that either.

Jing lowered the corners of his mouth, which he had been deliberately keeping raised, and drew his sword.

To greet Renin Abalan, who was approaching at a frightening speed.

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