Meanwhile, a report was being delivered from an undisclosed location near the eastern slums of Green Springs. Elevated slabs of stone littered the candlelit chamber, which had no windows in sight.
Deep within the beast's den, Felix and two other mages knelt before a gaudy throne. Felix had just finished recounting the events at the inn and their encounter with an unknown pursuer.
Their master looked down at them with champagne-colored eyes. He listened in silence, brushed back his crimson locks, and clicked his tongue.
"How long have I made this meager town my personal den?"
Felix opened his mouth to answer, only to be cut off by a snarl from the throne.
"That was a rhetorical question, numbskull. Must I spell out that incompetence has never been tolerated in my presence?"
The Hell Hound abruptly rose to his feet, his frustration becoming more apparent.
"And yet, here you three stand before me, presenting such a pathetic display of incompetence that it's become an eyesore."
The mages remained on edge, watching his every movement and hanging on his every word.
They had expected their leader to be displeased by the uninvited guests and the minor uproar at the inn. But he seemed far more agitated than usual.
Realizing they still failed to comprehend their mistake, the Hell Hound reached for the gem-encrusted staff resting beside his throne.
"Your ankle…"
Felix hesitated, uncertain what he meant.
"…Excuse me, sir?"
"Check your damn ankle, you poor excuse for a mage!"
The Hell Hound turned his back on them in disgust.
With the tension tightening around him, Felix quickly lifted the hem of his dark cloak, exposing his bare ankle.
At first, he saw nothing unusual. Then he and his two companions noticed a tiny black insect, no larger than an ant, burrowed into his skin.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Embarrassment and shock mingled in Felix's voice as he plucked the insect from his ankle and examined it in his palm.
Ignoring their confusion, the Hell Hound traced several intricate, mana-infused lines along his staff. An image soon materialized above the purple gem embedded within it. A cloaked figure appeared in the projection, awaiting orders.
"It seems Base Zelta has been compromised by those escorting the 'package.' Gather everyone at the main base. At once."
"Understood."
The projection vanished.
Having overheard the exchange, Felix finally understood the gravity of his mistake. He crushed the blood centipede in his hand.
The Hell Hound turned back toward the three mages.
"You have permission to use this facility as you see fit. Deal with the intruders when they arrive."
"Yes, sir!"
He gave them one last look.
"Either this place becomes their grave—or yours. You decide."
With that, the Hell Hound stepped into the shadows. A flash of purplish light marked his departure.
The three mages bowed as he vanished, determined to redeem themselves.
Back at the inn, Zeke had just finished explaining his whereabouts to Haruto and the others.
As the group discussed their next move, Zeke suddenly felt his connection to the blood centipede disappear.
The centipede had been implanted in him when he left the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows. Using his rare Blood Physique, he had expelled it from his body and concealed it within his flame arrow.
Under cover of the raging inferno, he'd carefully guided the insect onto Felix's ankle without the mage noticing. It allowed him to track Felix's location without requiring the man to ingest the notorious creature.
That was faster than expected.
Zeke kept the nature of his tracking method to himself. Possessing an insect associated with demonic practices would only invite suspicion. Instead, he told the group that his surveillance had been discovered.
"What now?" Julep asked first.
"I can't say for certain," Zeke replied, "but they remained stationary for quite some time before the connection was severed. It's reasonable to assume they've led us to one of their hideouts."
Several of the others nodded in agreement.
"Then the question isn't where this might lead us," Haruto said. "It's whether we should act now."
Amber immediately bristled at his hesitation.
"What are we talking about? Of course we act now, before those filthy rats have a chance to scurry away!"
"I understand the urgency," Haruto replied calmly, "but we still don't know the full extent of what we're walking into."
"So you're telling us to sit idle with our hands tucked under our asses?"
"That's not what I'm saying—"
"Then tell me. What would the esteemed Haruto Namgung suggest?"
Haruto considered the question for a moment. A resolute glint appeared in his eyes.
"We'll leave town first thing in the morning. Once we reach the Red Mage Academy, we'll report the disturbance to the Martial Alliance from a more secure location."
Amber stared at him, unable to stomach his decision.
"You coward! How can you turn a blind eye to this injustice while these thugs run amok?"
"Don't be foolish. We aren't dealing with mere bandits. This Hell Hound is no ordinary character. The fact that he's controlled this town for years, despite its being under Martial Alliance jurisdiction, should tell you as much."
"More like it proves how inept the Martial Alliance has become…"
Smack!
The sound rang through the room.
Julep had struck Amber across the face. Her best friend's remark had belittled the Martial Alliance—the very institution led by Julep's beloved grandfather.
Amber stood frozen, one hand slowly rising to her flushed cheek.
Julep's glare lingered for a moment before giving way to regret. She knew she'd overreacted to Amber's careless words.
Zeke sighed. The confrontation had left everyone else in an awkward silence.
Haruto pressed on, making his position clear once more.
"You may think me a coward, or believe I don't care about these people's suffering. But my duty, first and foremost, is to ensure your safe arrival, Lady Amber. Whether you like it or not."
Still stinging from Julep's slap, Amber gritted her teeth and said nothing.
With Amber no longer arguing, Haruto assigned sleeping quarters and organized the night's guard rotations. He remained especially vigilant, aware that a counterattack could come during the night—or at any point along the rest of their journey.
Perhaps one day, if she's fortunate, she'll understand that justice is a weapon shaped by perception—one that must be forged before it can be wielded.
Haruto's thoughts lingered on Amber as the chaotic evening finally settled.
An hour later, a pair of dark-blue eyes gazed up at the full moon from the inn's rooftop.
Julep lay across the tiles, her folded arms serving as a makeshift pillow beneath her head.
She hadn't been able to rest since the confrontation with Amber. For their own reasons, neither had managed to approach the other.
"How could I be so impulsive…? It's not as if I don't understand her point of view."
She whispered the words to herself, then fell silent as she sensed a familiar presence approaching.
"What brings you up here?" she asked, keeping her eyes on the cloudless sky.
"I was making my rounds when I spotted someone sulking on the roof."
Zeke took a seat beside her. Julep didn't look amused.
"Very funny. But as you've so astutely observed, I'm not in the mood for jokes."
"Who said I was joking?"
"…"
They sat in silence for several minutes, the wind occasionally stirring around them. Finally, a question escaped her lips.
"Was I wrong?"
"Senior Sister, I think you already know the answer to that."
Julep glanced toward him in the moonlight. His reply seemed to ease some of the weight she'd been carrying.
"…You're right."
She exhaled. The burden on her shoulders felt a little lighter.
"Thanks for going out of your way to counsel me."
"…Sure."
That hadn't been his intention at all. He'd simply come across her during his first patrol. Still, Zeke accepted her gratitude without correcting the misunderstanding.
After a while, he excused himself.
Later that night, Zeke completed an uneventful shift and returned to the inn for some rest.
As he walked along the second-floor hallway, he stopped just short of his room. Someone was inside, lurking behind the blinds.
He shared the room with Miz, but they'd already crossed paths when Zeke was relieved from guard duty.
On alert, Zeke began drawing his sword.
"Relax, brat. It's me."
The voice from within had evidently sensed his killing intent.
Recognizing that unmistakably entitled tone, Zeke grunted and sheathed his blade.
He slid open the door. Amber stood near the half-open window, making herself at home as though the room belonged to her.
"What do you want?"
The question came out more sharply than the manner he'd usually adopted around her. He might inhabit a young body, but his soul was that of a cranky old man—and he already had plenty on his plate.
"Hmph. Is that any way to address your mentor?"
Mentor, my ass. You cheeky runt!
He kept the retort to himself and regained his composure.
"My apologies, but it's late…"
"Then tell me where those rotten bastards are hiding, and I'll gladly leave you to your beauty rest."
Amber cut straight to the point.
"Are you a glutton for trouble? Sensei Haruto's orders aren't to be taken lightly, Lady Amber."
"How can you be so heartless when we have the power to stop this depravity?"
Zeke was beside himself. He paced the room, struggling to reason with her.
"How can you call anyone heartless when you're willing to gamble with the lives of those who follow you without a second thought?"
Amber faltered. Her indignation caught in her throat.
She could present a tough, sometimes cold exterior, but Zeke could see through the façade.
"…You're right."
Man, these girls really are two peas in a pod.
The conversation gave him an unmistakable sense of déjà vu.
"Good. We'll be sure to send for help when—"
"You're right that I didn't consider the danger I'd put them in," Amber interrupted. "That's why I'll do it alone if I have to!"
Zeke stared at her, dumbfounded. He'd underestimated just how stubborn—and dense—she could be.
"The answer is still no."
With a sigh, he climbed into bed, thoroughly exhausted by her bullheaded naïveté.
"You little jerk! I thought you were someone who couldn't stand injustice!"
Zeke scoffed.
"Tsk. Whatever gave you that misguided idea?"
Without warning, Amber undid the top button of her clothing and drew out a thin chain from around her neck.
"Does this ring a bell, hmm?"
She smirked, holding up the ring Zeke had gifted her while using his flimsy alias: the Masked Panther.
At that moment, a translucent screen appeared, visible only to him.
[Immortal System]
Optional Quest
Lady Amber has asked for your assistance in ending the cruel reign of the Hell Hound of Green Springs. How will you proceed?
You will be graded S, A, B, C, D, or F based on your performance. Difficulty levels are ranked Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Difficulty: Platinum
Rewards:
S — Angelic Flute
A — Elemental Flame Affinity
B — Death
C — Death
D — Death
F — Death
Will you accept this task?
[Y/N]
"I don't know… maybe."