"C-Captain, are you done hunting?"
Lei's voice came out strained. The man who was always cold and harsh was actually smiling nervously in front of Liam. His cheeks stiffened, as if he was forcing himself to look friendly.
"W-wow, look at that. Isn't that deer huge? Captain is amazing…!"
Eve who usually gentle but firm, also put on a stiff smile while nodding rapidly. "Haha… Captain is great…!"
Seeing Lei, who normally barked at me, suddenly act like this made me confused. Was the captain's position in the Ziert Group really that dominant?
Liam finally turned toward me, his eyes narrowing as if trying to recognize me. It took him one second before he gasped.
"Eh?! You're the lady we rescued earlier?!"
I gave him a polite smile. "That's right. Thank you very much for saving me."
His grin widened with excitement. "That's no big deal! Helping weak civilians is our duty."
Weak civilians. Well… objectively he wasn't wrong. But why did that sting my pride so much?
"My name is Liam." He extended his hand, warm, confident.
I shook it without hesitation. "Kim."
"Nice to meet you, Kim." Liam swung our joined hands up and down energetically.
"You're welcome to join us. Our organization always accepts anyone who needs help!"
I glanced toward Lei and Eve. Their reactions were different, Lei glaring at me like usual, Eve smiling gently like usual.
I stretched my smile wider and pulled my hand away. "Of course. And I brought someone else who will be joining us. He's very strong, you know."
"Really?!" Liam's expression brightened instantly. "Where is he now?"
"He's the bastard who killed all our companions," Lei cut in sharply.
My jaw tightened. I knew this wouldn't go smoothly. Lei's hatred ran deeper than I thought. Eve wasn't on my side either this time, which was understandable.
So… I had to handle this myself, huh?
Fear crept in becausd Liam still gave no clear reaction. Should I check his status?
[Special Skill 'Character Insight' activated!]
+
[NAME] Liam Verdan
[AGE] 24
[LEVEL] 30 — Swordmaster Class
STR : 75
AGI : 82
VIT : 58
ARC : 40
WIL : 95
ATTRIBUTES:
• Sword Aura
• Will of Steel
• Sacred Discipline
SKILLS:
• Luminous Blade
• Radiant Slash
• Sword Aura Manifest
• Guardian's Oath
+
Among the three of them, Liam had the highest level. His abilities carried holy energy too, similar to Elena's. They would've been the perfect combination for the sixth disaster.
It was such a waste that Liam was a character destined to die at Kael's hands later. His abilities were so promising. But well, since when did Kael care about anything like that?
"Kim, is that true?" Liam suddenly spoke, startling me. "Is the man you mentioned the same person who killed all of our companions?"
His tone was soft—yet icy. Completely different from before.
I exhaled slowly. "Yes, that's right."
I felt his aura surge violently. He must be furious, maybe even more than Lei.
"Where is this person now?" His gaze stabbed straight into me.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
If not for that skill, I would've been trembling from his killing intent. I wouldn't have been able to withstand that aura at all.
But fortunately… I had another card to play.
"He's someone you know."
Liam froze. Lei and Eve also widened their eyes.
"What did you say? Captain knows a man named Kael?" Eve spoke up, stunned.
"K-Kael, you said?" Liam's eyes bulged.
I gave him a thin smile. "Yes, his name is Kael."
In the novel, their past was explained briefly. After Kael cleared the first disaster and wiped out Ziert's members, he met Liam again for the first time in years. They were once classmates at the academy.
But because their principles clashed, they parted ways upon graduation.
Kael joined the Holy Fortress Organization, while Liam became the leader of Ziert—the head of a bandit organization.
One of my reasons for stopping Kael from killing Ziert completely… was this.
I wanted to see them stand side by side again.
"Leave me alone," Liam said quietly as he turned around and left the tent.
Even with just a glance, I could see it, the pain and sadness on his face.
"Captain!" Lei tried to follow, but Eve held him back.
"Let Captain be."
She's right. Liam needed time to accept Kael's return. Kael was probably doing the same, which explained why he hadn't returned yet.
That idiot… such a tsundere.
"The more I think about it, the more suspicious you are." Lei shot me another hateful glare. "How did you know Captain knew that murderer?"
"Why should I tell you?" I responded just as coldly.
"You…!" Lei balled his fist, ready to punch me again, and as usual Eve stopped him immediately.
"Please stop. I'm tired." Eve let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Kim, I'm sorry for suspecting you. But… we're in a difficult position right now. Please help us."
I gave a faint smile. Eve's personality was truly the exact opposite of Lei's, how were they even in the same group?
"Evelynn Lawyen. Age 21. You joined the organization at 18. You weren't accepted into the academy because of tuition issues. You entered Ziert because you admired Liam, who saved you from those disgusting uncles, right?"
Eve's eyes widened. Her hands flew to her mouth. She unconsciously stepped back, shaking.
"H-How…?!"
"I'm sorry, Eve. But I needed to say that to earn your trust."
Lei clicked his tongue, glaring at me with even more anger. "Bullshit. Don't believe a word she says, Eve. That information is easy to dig up."
"W-Who are you exactly?"
"I can't explain everything. But one of my abilities is gathering information."
Not a lie. Not the whole truth either.
"Listen. The second disaster won't be too difficult, but we need to start building power now."
Even if there were only ten Cataclysm. The monsters far surpassed human limits. Even Kael couldn't handle all of them alone. There was a reason they were called Cataclysm.
My goal was to clear all of them, and reach a happy ending.
"Do you know anything about the next disaster?" Eve asked.
"Yes. I'll explain later."
Eve smiled gently, surprising me. "Alright then."
Lei sighed heavily. "Why do I have to follow this idiot…"
Bastard…
[Eve's trust in you: 20%]
…?!
"Anyway, it's already night." Eve peeked outside. "Shouldn't we prepare dinner?"
"Yeah, you're right."
________________________
___________
The night was silent. The cool breeze swept across the grassland, carrying a sharp chill. In the middle of the plains, Kael sat alone. He wiped his sword slowly, rhythmically, as if the blade was the only thing left that made sense in his life.
"So it really is you."
A familiar voice broke the quiet. Kael turned, his expression unchanged, cold and sharp as always.
"Liam."
Liam gave a bitter smile. "It's been a long time, Kael. I didn't expect to meet you again here."
Kael said nothing, his focus returning to the blade in his hand. "Seeing you like this… I guess your left companions haven't told you yet."
Liam sighed. "About you killing my companions?"
Kael fell silent.
"I don't know," Liam said. "I don't know if I should be angry. Maybe… maybe my loyalty to you is stronger than my loyalty to those who died."
He smiled bitterly, eyes drifting to Kael's sword. "Where's the relic the academy gave you?"
"I threw it away."
"What— Pfft…" Liam let out a short laugh. "You really haven't changed."
Again—Kael didn't respond.
"What will you do now?" Liam asked quietly.
Kael stood and turned to face him, expression unchanged. "Nothing has changed. My goal remains the same."
"To kill and become the strongest?" Liam's eyes sharpened.
"I can't kill whoever I want anymore." Kael averted his gaze, brow twitching with annoyance. He would never admit it, that he formed a contract with a woman and now had to obey her.
"Damn contract…" he muttered under his breath.
"Contract?" Liam raised an eyebrow.
Kael let out a frustrated exhale. "Forget it. I'm going hunting."
Without another word, Kael shot off into the darkness.