Rumors Awaken Ambitions
Just as I was starting to tense up at Nis's meaningful smile, my owner spoke up with a firm expression.
"Nis, let's talk for a moment."
"Oh? Very well."
What?
My owner pointed toward the passage leading to the deepest level. Nis's pitch-black dress hem fluttered elegantly. As the two disappeared, an eerie silence settled in.
'Did... did I mess up somehow...?'
The bugs looked at me curiously. The girl butterfly circled around me anxiously.
'Is it because of the talk about Seraphina and Beatrice...'?
For some reason, a corner of my heart felt uneasy. My owner seemed to dislike humans, so were the saint and warrior—humanity's guardians—her enemies? And... Nis's final smile kept coming back to me. That smile, sweet like honey laced with poison, yet so dangerously alluring.
Cecilia flew over and landed beside me. A warm glow enveloped me.
'It'll be fine... right?'
I tried to reassure myself, but worry kept creeping in. Even the bugs were quieter than usual.
'Guys, did I talk too much?'
The girl butterfly shook her head. But the motion was slower than normal.
At that moment—
BOOM!!!
A vibration rumbled from deep within, like someone slamming into a wall.
'Huh...?'
All the bugs whipped their heads toward the deepest level. Cecilia's wings trembled tensely.
In the small city of the Apron Kingdom, the Rain Inn was rowdier than ever. Adventurers had flocked there to escape the midwinter chill.
"It's true! I saw it with my own eyes!"
A drunken adventurer at the window table raised his voice. His face was flushed red from the booze.
"The saint's holy power has completely changed! It used to be just a healing light... but now..."
He paused, taking a deep breath. The surrounding adventurers eyed him with curiosity.
"Spill it—what's different?"
A young sword-wielding adventurer asked impatiently.
"Destructive power... massive destructive power! The light of peace has become the light of judgment. Rumors say she even cleaved a mountain in half with holy power!"
"That's nonsense!"
"If that's nonsense, what about the silver warrior? Don't you know she's gotten even stronger since returning from Sia Kalt?"
The inn fell quiet for a moment. Everyone knew it. Beatrice, the silver warrior, had grown far more powerful lately.
"Yeah... they say she's using techniques we couldn't even imagine before."
A seasoned adventurer with a white beard chimed in from the corner. His armor bore the scars of countless battles.
"I saw it myself when she fought the corrupted knights recently. The light pouring from her holy sword was different. And the power... it tore through those corrupted knights' armor like paper."
Only the occasional clink of glasses echoed through the inn.
"All because of Sia Kalt?"
"Yeah, they say she got something there. Some mysterious flower..."
"Ha! A flower? Telling us—who can't even cross Set Hanryeong—to go flower-picking in Sia Kalt?"
Laughter filled the inn. But in one dim corner, the mirth didn't reach.
*
"Interesting story."
Rain muttered lowly, downing the last of his drink. A faint spark of electricity danced between his fingers.
His companion, the alchemist Adrian, flashed a knowing smile. The potion pouch at his waist glimmered in the moonlight.
"What do you say, Rain? Shall we give it a shot...?"
"You're insane? You know how dangerous Set Hanryeong and Sia Kalt are."
The archer Hawin shook his head. In his hand was a black bow that had felled hundreds of monsters.
But Rain had already made up his mind.
"Let's go."
"What?!"
The two shouted in unison.
"You're not getting cocky just because we hit A-rank, are you?"
Adrian asked with worried eyes. His white alchemist robe glowed softly in the candlelight.
A blizzard howled outside the window. In the distance, the Sia Kalt mountains gleamed coldly under the moon.
"It's not cockiness. It's our chance."
Sparks flickered along Rain's sword. It had always been like this—lightning responding whenever he got excited.
"Rain..."
Hawin sighed.
"Listen. How long have we been preparing for this?"
Strength filled Rain's voice. An old memory surfaced in his mind.
He was ten. The first time he'd awakened to the power of lightning on the hill behind the village. Shocked, Rain had been held by Adrian, soothed by Hawin.
At fifteen, when they'd sworn to become real adventurers. Adrian started studying alchemy, Hawin the bow.
At twenty, on their first expedition. Clumsy, but trusting each other, they'd survived.
And now, finally, A-rank.
"We've dreamed of this since we were kids. Becoming the greatest adventurers."
Rain pressed on.
"Your lightning clears the path, my alchemy keeps us alive..."
Adrian interjected.
"My arrows take out the enemies."
Hawin added his part.
The three shared a look, then burst into laughter.
"Ha... if you're that set on it, no helping it."
Adrian grinned. Potions shimmering with iridescent light jingled in his pouch.
"I've got new elixirs ready too. Won't fail this time."
"Yeah, let's go. Nothing we three can't handle, right?"
Hawin fiddled with his bowstring. His quiver was stocked with specially crafted silver arrows.
"Alright! We leave at dawn tomorrow. To Sia Kalt, and..."
Rain paused, then grinned.
"...we'll claim the power the warrior has for ourselves."
The night deepened. Through the inn window, the distant snowcapped peaks glowed white in the moonlight.
In the royal castle of the Jenes Kingdom, the circular conference hall. Morning sunlight filtered through columns adorned with blue jade.
"Ahem, I have something important to report."
Duke Crosby stood. His seasoned eyes gleamed sharply.
"Speak, Duke."
King Adelheit III nodded.
"There are unusual rumors about Sia Kalt lately. After the silver warrior and saint visited..."
Crosby chose his words carefully before continuing.
"...they've become astonishingly stronger. Especially the saint's holy power—it's shown a completely different nature now."
"Intriguing."
Adelheit III stroked his goatee.
"Indeed."
Count Valter rose.
"My knight witnessed it personally. The saint battling monsters... it was like the light of judgment."
"Hold on."
Duke Reinhardt shot to his feet. Deep wrinkles creased his face.
"Set Hanryeong is the grave of countless knights. Have you forgotten the knights we've lost these past twenty years?"
The hall buzzed.
"Exactly."
Another noble added.
"Didn't we lose an entire knight order last year?"
Duke Crosby cut in coldly.
"So we just sit idle? Before the Heshet Empire makes a move...?"
"The Empire?"
Nobles exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes."
Crosby nodded.
"The Empire's movements are suspicious. They've surely heard these rumors too."
The king rose from his throne. The hall fell silent instantly.
"I share the same thoughts."
His voice carried weight.
"I'll dispatch a knight order myself."
The nobles stirred at the king's declaration.
"As Duke Crosby says, this is crucial. If Sia Kalt holds such power..."
The king's eyes sharpened.
"...our kingdom must claim it first, no?"
*
Jenes Kingdom knight training grounds. A cold winter wind whipped the flags.
"Vice Captain of the 2nd Knights."
Prime Minister Valerius approached slowly. His black robe fluttered in the breeze.
"The Prime Minister himself..."
Rowen bowed humbly. But his eyes were sharp.
'Finally... the opportunity has come.'
"A direct order from His Majesty."
Valerius glanced around, lowering his voice.
"Investigate Sia Kalt, correct?"
"Sia Kalt..."
A faint smile tugged at Rowen's lips. He'd risen not by merit, but deals with nobles. But if this succeeded...
"No need to worry. The 2nd Knights can handle it."
The prime minister stepped closer.
"Pay special attention to one thing. Rumors say there's a mysterious flower there—the reason the warrior and saint grew stronger."
"Bring back that flower... I see."
Greed flashed in Rowen's eyes.
"Yes. If you find it..."
"Of course."
Rowen cut him off.
'With that power... no more pandering to high nobles.'
"One caution."
"Speak."
"This mission is top secret. No matter who you encounter..."
"Understood. Keep it from everyone, even them."
As the prime minister left, Rowen stood.
"Klaus."
"Yes, Captain!"
"Select 60 elite knights."
Then, a knight stepped forward swiftly.
"Captain."
A cold voice rang across the grounds. Edgar, the prodigy of the Haind barony, youngest knight ever.
"If you'll allow it, I'd like to lead the vanguard."
Rowen eyed him.
'Prodigy? Just an arrogant punk.'
But he needed such overconfident types. Perfect cannon fodder for a dangerous mission.
"I need a knight as capable as you."
A confident smile spread on Edgar's face. But his cold eyes flickered briefly.
Sia Kalt... Seven years ago, the brother he despised most had left for there, claiming to be an adventurer.
'Family disgrace...'
Born to nobility, yet abandoning it all for adventuring. He'd surely died failing to cross Set Hanryeong.
From then on, Edgar had honed himself mercilessly. Unlike his worthless brother, he had to succeed.
"Don't worry."
Coldness edged Edgar's voice.
"I... won't fail. Ever."
'Unlike brother.'
Rowen smiled, pleased by the chill in Edgar's gaze.
"Good. You'll lead the vanguard."
Ambitious smiles curved both men's lips. Power for Rowen, honor for Edgar.