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Going back in time a bit.

Hans and the King were in their private meeting.

Bayard, despite her initial hostility, had retreated readily, understanding the weight of a conversation between leaders.

Helia had also retreated, but she and Bayard stood guard at the entrance to the office, ensuring Hans's safety.

The problem was that this had irritated the Royal Guard. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Moreover, the Royal Guard's duty was to protect the King and the palace.

Their openly vigilant stance implied a lack of trust in the Royal Guard, a silent declaration that they would handle the Commander's security themselves.

Melissa clicked her tongue.

Having been threatened by Bayard earlier, Melissa harbored resentment. Her words were naturally far from amicable.

"This is the royal palace. Please surrender your weapons."

"I cannot compromise the Commander's safety."

"Your safety is guaranteed with the Royal Guard present."

"I'm afraid I cannot comply."

"Ha...!"

Despite the provocative tone, Bayard remained impassive. They hadn't insulted Hans directly or undermined his authority in front of her.

Melissa, seeing Bayard's refusal, clicked her tongue again. She had found the woman irritating from the start, and now, she was even more so.

"I will not repeat myself. Surrender your weapons."

"I refuse."

"Very well."

"..."

"Now, now, let's all calm down."

As Melissa reached for her weapon and Bayard's eyes flashed dangerously, someone intervened, dispelling the tension like a sudden gust of wind.

His face was perpetually smiling, but his eyes were hidden behind narrowed lids. Instead, his pale blue hair drew attention.

He spoke with a smile.

"Commander, why don't we all calm down? These are the Royal Knights, after all."

"There are no exceptions, even for the Royal Knights."

"Oh? Is that so? I thought the Royal Knights were the exception."

"That's..."

Melissa fell silent, bewildered by the young man's seemingly genuine confusion.

To be precise, there was an exception to the rule, a matter not above the law, but separate from it entirely.

The right to bear arms.

The Royal Knights were often the target of envy and jealousy, facing numerous assassination attempts. Some had even lost their lives.

Enraged, the Royal Knights had forbidden surrendering their weapons under any circumstances. Their fury at the time had been so intense that most other races had conceded.

Realizing this, Melissa was left speechless.

She had known the rule, but her emotions had clouded her judgment, driving her to assert dominance.

"Who are you?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Rocazo, Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard."

"Rocazo? That's an unusual name."

"I hear that often."

Rocazo.

Even among the diverse Royal Guards, it was an unusual name. But that aside, Vice-Captain at such a young age?

Bayard was impressed.

"It's nothing special."

"It seems quite impressive to me. Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard."

"Oh, it's nothing compared to the lady beside you."

"..."

Rocazo's attention shifted to Helia, who stood next to Bayard.

They appeared to be around the same age, in reality, Helia was only a year younger than Rocazo.

But regardless of Rocazo's interest, Helia simply stared at the ceiling.

Bayard smiled wryly.

'This child only has eyes for the Commander.'

Helia at least acknowledged the other Royal Knights as comrades, showing some semblance of camaraderie. But she was utterly indifferent to everyone else.

"It seems I'm not even worth a glance."

"Don't take it personally. She only cares about the Commander."

"Hmm, the Commander of the Royal Knights, you say?"

"...Wait a minute, Rocazo."

Melissa, sensing something ominous, quickly intervened.

She remembered Rocazo's youthful tendency to create tension with his occasionally impertinent remarks.

"Now that you mention it, I've heard a certain rumor..."

"What rumor?"

"Captain Bayard, allow me...!"

"That the Commander of the Royal Knights only got his position through connections."

Finally, Helia reacted.

However, she didn't draw her sword because Rocazo's words were ambiguous. It wasn't an outright insult.

It was just a rumor, and it didn't directly disparage Hans's skill. It was a statement that was irritating but not quite enough to warrant a violent response.

"You seem to have something else to say."

"You're perceptive."

"Get to the point."

"How about a one-on-one duel?"

His intentions were obvious.

He had pretended to mediate the situation, positioning himself as an ally, then subtly planted the seed of the rumor to provoke a reaction.

Finally, he revealed his true objective.

Normally, she would have ignored such a petty tactic, but Helia wouldn't let it slide this time.

She wouldn't be satisfied until she wiped that smug grin off his face.

"Fine. I accept."

"Shall we proceed to the training grounds?"

'She fell for it.'

Rocazo inwardly celebrated as Helia accepted the challenge. He could finally put his hypnosis magic to use.

Of course, his crude magic was riddled with flaws compared to true hypnosis. It required the target to be vulnerable, a weakness he could exploit.

For example, a mental crack caused by the shock of defeat.

To create such a minor opening, he needed to humiliate her in a public duel.

'I was hesitant at first, but the down payment was substantial, and more importantly, she's my type.'

Her fiery red hair and cold crimson eyes were unexpectedly beautiful. Simply put, he had fallen for her at first sight.

He had been told by the one who had hired him and provided the hypnosis magic that Helia, despite being the youngest Royal Knight, had merely been a bystander.

In contrast, Rocazo, regardless of his true intentions, had undergone Royal Guard training and had extensive combat experience.

He believed he had a reasonable chance of winning.

"Helia, something feels off. It would be best to ignore this duel..."

"No, I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"I am the Commander's disciple. I will not back down from a challenge."

It was a matter of pride she wouldn't compromise on. Even if it was a trap, as the Commander's disciple, she would face it head-on.

As if everything had been prearranged, they arrived at the training grounds to find everything prepared. Even the Royal Guard and other knights were gathered, waiting.

Even Captain Melissa found it odd.

He had made all these preparations before even knowing if his challenge would be accepted?

'Just what is he planning?'

But she didn't intervene.

Aside from her animosity towards the Royal Knights, she was curious about the outcome of a duel between them and the Royal Guard.

'They're the renowned Royal Knights, but...our Royal Guard are no pushovers.'

"I will officiate the duel. Are you both ready?"

"Yes, I'm ready."

"As am I."

"Good, then let's begin."

With the preparations already in place, the duel commenced without delay.

Rocazo and Helia, each wielding a wooden practice sword, faced each other.

Then, the duel began.

In that instant, Helia's cold crimson eyes flashed.

She had been grappling with her own doubts.

'Is this enough? Am I content with simply following in the Commander's footsteps?'

The answer was a resounding no.

At first, being near him had been enough. But as time passed, her desires had grown. She wanted to walk beside him, hand in hand.

To achieve that, simply learning from him wasn't enough.

'This must be the task he has given me.'

'My own swordsmanship, refined and enhanced from the Thunder Dragon Swordsmanship he taught me.'

Helia Style Single Sword Advance Slash

The Thunder Dragon Child, already unmatched in speed, became even faster. Even for a promising talent like Rocazo, it was a speed he couldn't defend against.

Everyone has a plan...

Until they get punched in the face.

[=Chapter 122=]

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Let us speak for a moment of a certain boy.

In terms of talent alone, he was among the elite. Fortunate enough to be born a nobleman's son in these troubled times, he had grown up wanting for nothing.

He hadn't been abused or mistreated. On the contrary, his parents adored him. There were no apparent problems.

Yet, his nature was twisted.

He derived immense pleasure from taking what others cherished, feeling a sense of omnipotence, like a king.

Unfortunately, no one indulged his twisted desires.

Perhaps it would have been different in times of peace, but now, even nobles clinging to power could fall from grace in an instant. His parents stressed restraint, and their judgment was sound.

It simply didn't suit the boy.

'I want to take what's theirs. Only then do I feel alive. Otherwise, I'm just a corpse.'

It was almost inevitable that they would approach him. They promised him the freedom to take whatever he desired if he joined them.

The boy readily agreed.

[Offer a sacrifice to prove your faith.]

That day, the boy sacrificed everything.

His family, his house, even the people who had settled there, trusting his family. The sole survivor, he was rescued by the kingdom and hailed as the only remaining member of his house.

No one suspected that he had offered everything as a sacrifice to join them. He used this to his advantage, playing the role of the pitiful survivor.

Many sympathized with his story.

He longed to reveal the truth.

'I wonder how they would react? I can hardly wait.'

He displayed his talent without reservation, joining the Royal Guard at an unprecedented young age and even rising to the rank of Vice-Captain. The time was drawing near.

'I thought it would be easy.'

He had considered it a momentary diversion. Their power and influence were far greater than he had imagined. Though they had suffered a setback against the Royal Knights, they would soon rise again.

'I thought it would be a momentary diversion...'

Rocazo stared blankly at his hand.

The sword he had been holding was shattered, scattering into fragments.

'What just happened? How is this possible?'

His assumptions had crumbled. He had the crowd's support and had even rigged the duel. Yet, she had ignored it all and crushed him head-on. He hadn't even been able to react.

He had been utterly defeated.

Even the twisted Rocazo had to acknowledge her overwhelming skill.

"Perhaps now you understand your place."

"You're still hung up on that?"

"Of course. Especially with someone as presumptuous as you."

"..."

"So, what's your answer? Or do you want to be humiliated further?"

Her cold eyes blazed with intensity, a stark contrast to her initial demeanor.

Rocazo silently shook his head.

The duel had made one thing clear, he couldn't defeat her yet. He was pragmatic enough to admit it.

But he hadn't lost yet. His plan was still in motion.

"Damn... the Vice-Captain lost to a little girl?"

"Where are all these monsters coming from?"

"Well, she is a Royal Knight."

The Royal Guard who witnessed the duel were in awe. The level of skill displayed by two children was unbelievable. Rocazo had at least been able to move, anyone else would have been knocked unconscious.

They realized the immense gap between the Royal Knights and the Royal Guard.

Their gazes shifted from awe to fear.

Helia smiled.

'Any fool should understand the difference between us now.'

'"Who do you think we've been training under?"

"Well said, Helia."

"Of course."

We always follow in his footsteps. We know we can't match his pace, but we have never given up trying. Because we are the proud...

Royal Knights.

"You two really went all out. This is going to be a headache."

Helia and Bayard were summoned and reprimanded by Hans. It was inevitable.

They had utterly humiliated the Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard in front of everyone.

Everyone had their pride. They hadn't just spared his feelings, they had crushed him completely.

He would undoubtedly hold a grudge, and the Royal Guard would be wary of them.

Hans sighed.

They needed to cooperate, yet they had sown the seeds of discord.

"But we couldn't ignore it."

"What do you mean?"

"He insulted you, Commander. He insulted our pride."

Hans almost retorted, "What pride?" but he managed to restrain himself. Pride and honor were not to be underestimated.

People fought, and even died, for these intangible concepts.

In the past, such ideals had been used to send men to war. Without them, who would risk their lives on the front lines?

Especially in a world where knights valued honor and pride above all else, if Hans, the Commander of the Royal Knights, were to openly dismiss them...

"...Just the thought is horrifying."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. Anyway, we have new intel."

"Intel?"

"W-What kind of intel? I'm so excited..."

Bayard had regained her composure. She had regained her confidence after speaking with Yuren and accumulating numerous achievements.

But for some reason, she still lost her composure in front of Hans, blushing and averting her gaze as she wondered.

'Am I still so timid?'

Hans, meanwhile, was lost in thought.

The Royal Guard was a newly reorganized order, created by the current King. The Human Kingdom had previously had numerous knightly orders.

After Hans became Commander of the Royal Knights, and his influence grew, the King, empowered by Hans's success, had disbanded the other orders and integrated them into the Royal Guard.

He had left some private soldiers to appease the nobles and maintain minimal defense, but their numbers had drastically decreased. This had strengthened the King's authority.

'The King's newly reorganized Royal Guard is a force to be reckoned with, both in quantity and quality.'

Strictly speaking, they were still inferior to the Royal Knights, but they were no longer outmatched by other races. This was thanks to the revival of the Royal Knights and the weakening of the demons.

"So, what's this new intel?"

"Apparently, a Minotaur horde has been sighted in the northern regions of the Human Kingdom."

"Minotaurs... excellent ingredients."

"Indeed. Beastmen consider them a delicacy."

"Ah, thank you for understanding."

Hans was momentarily taken aback by the notion of eating Minotaurs but didn't show it. He had to be careful not to offend other races by reacting to their customs. As Commander of the Royal Knights, he had no intention of doing so.

'Minotaurs... I hope it's not the one I fought before.'

He quickly dismissed the idea with a chuckle.

'No way. I practically crippled it. It might have escaped, but...'

In the brutal world of monsters, where survival of the fittest reigned supreme, it would have been preyed upon. If it had survived, it would be a formidable foe, but that was unlikely.

"They're sending a subjugation force to the north."

"That's good to hear."

"Yes, we can focus on the expedition."

"E-Expedition..."

"Are you nervous?"

Hans, noticing Bayard's trembling, cautiously inquired.

'Is she afraid of the memories of that time?'

If so...

"No, I'm not afraid. On the contrary... I'm excited."

"Excited? Why?"

"Because we can crush those vermin in your name, Commander."

"...Oh."

Her trembling wasn't from fear.

It was closer to exhilaration.

She was reveling in the opportunity to eliminate their enemies in Hans's name.

[=Chapter 123=]

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Hans practically fled the palace, returning on the back of a wyvern.

He felt that staying any longer would only lead to further trouble. While pride in one's affiliation was commendable, excessive zeal could complicate matters.

He was fortunate that the King had smoothed things over; otherwise, the expedition plans could have been jeopardized.

This expedition was particularly crucial.

Beyond the resources and manpower involved, its success would determine whether they could maintain their momentum.

There's a saying, "It's better to do nothing than to do something wrong." Hans knew this well. But conversely, doing nothing meant achieving nothing.

He already knew the outcome of the original story.

After recovering, the demons who had annihilated the Royal Knights would launch a full-scale assault, shattering the barrier and advancing relentlessly.

The continent would be pushed back, clinging to their remaining territories.

The protagonist would eventually turn the tide, but that was due to their overpowered abilities.

The developers had revealed on social media that the continent was originally meant to fall completely to the demons.

In other words, there was no hope if they remained passive.

'Waiting for the protagonist to appear is an option, but...'

The protagonist's arrival was still years away, and there was no guarantee the demons wouldn't recover and attack before then.

'Could I even stop them?'

He honestly wasn't confident.

While the Royal Knights were all elite, brute force alone wouldn't be enough.

So, Hans made a bold decision.

They would seize this opportunity while the demons were weakened. The first victory was always the hardest, but once achieved, it would create a chain reaction.

The other races wouldn't pass up the chance for gains. If expeditions became more frequent, they could significantly weaken the demons.

That was Hans's vision.

Moreover, the King had mentioned planning an expedition of his own, providing valuable intel.

Hans returned with this information and immediately convened a meeting.

The Roundtable of Equality.

A symbol of the Royal Knights, created to facilitate open communication and unity among all races.

Everyone was present.

Hans inwardly marveled at the sight. He had started with the single-minded goal of restoring the Royal Knights.

'Could I really rebuild an order of heroes who defended the continent?'

He hadn't known the answer. He had simply done what he could.

His sincerity had resonated with them. His selfless actions had inspired them. He treated all races equally, showing genuine care and concern.

That was why these elite individuals trusted and followed him.

Of course, Hans, coming from modern society, was simply free of prejudice, but they didn't know that.

'Everyone's here. Let's begin.'

The very act of gathering everyone and sharing information equally was novel to them.

Discriminatory distribution of information based on race was surprisingly common.

Even during the Royal Knights' prime, different races had tended to stick together, maintaining relationships that benefited them and cutting off those that didn't.

While it hadn't started that way, it had become the norm. And their fate hadn't been pleasant.

"I've obtained intel from the Human King. We will be deployed to Ares' Bridge."

"What about the personnel?"

"Everyone will participate. Failure is not an option."

If this expedition failed, it would be the end.

Opposition to further expeditions would grow, and the already hesitant races would become even more reluctant.

There was a chance Lionheart Fortress could be attacked by monsters, but they could request reinforcements from the Beastmen or Dwarves.

There were ways to defend it.

It was better to go all-in than to hold back and risk irreversible failure.

Hans intended to commit their full strength.

Yuren raised her hand hesitantly.

"What if we fail?"

"It's our job to ensure that doesn't happen."

"That's true, but..."

Yuren, unusually, seemed to lack confidence.

She was forced to confront her past failure. Back then, they had had greater numbers and abundant resources.

Yet, the expedition had failed spectacularly, leading to the collapse of the Royal Knights.

Even now, after being rebuilt, they hadn't regained their former influence.

And Yuren, as their leader, bore some responsibility.

Hans, observing her, folded his arms and spoke.

"I know what you're worried about. And I understand how you feel."

"..."

"But that's why this is our chance. A chance to overcome our past failure and move forward. What do you think?"

"...I apologize. I allowed my doubts to get the better of me."

Yuren's eyes, once filled with uncertainty, now held a steely resolve.

Hans nodded.

Now, all that remained was to determine their objective.

"Our goal is to capture Ares' Bridge."

"That won't be easy, will it?"

"No. The Bloodkin guarding it is the problem."

"Ares' Bridge... I've heard of it."

Yuren and Cluna had seen Ares' Bridge firsthand, but the other members had no recollection of it.

This meant they had taken different routes during the previous expedition.

Hans nodded.

"Do you know anything about Ares' Bridge?"

"It's a fortress built by the Human Kingdom. I believe it was so well-constructed that it rivaled Dwarven craftsmanship, making them wary."

"So, we have to breach a fortress of that caliber."

"And if it's guarded by a Blood Demon, we can't afford to be careless."

While Blood Demons were weaker than True Demons, True Demons were rare and difficult to encounter.

The Blood Demon's posed the greatest threat to the Multi-Racial Alliance.

Unlike lesser demons and monsters, Blood Demon's possessed dangerous powers.

Comprachico who had controlled Yuren was a Blood Demon.

"Fortunately, we have the intel from the Human Kingdom. We can plan our siege accordingly."

"They went through quite a bit of trouble."

"Hmph, of course. How else would they secure our cooperation?"

Perhaps due to their past annihilation, the Royal Knights seemed to take this level of preparation for granted.

Hans was slightly concerned but decided to focus on the task at hand.

"The Blood Demon guarding Ares' Bridge is known as the Mud Guardian."

"Mud Guardian? I've never heard of it."

"I never thought I'd hear that name again."

"Mom? You know that name?"

"Yes, I've even fought it before."

Cluna had even fought the Mud Guardian.

Hans inwardly celebrated.

'As expected of someone who's lived for hundreds of years...!'

When it came to experience, there was no one more reliable.

"Mud Guardian is more of a metaphor. It earned the name because it drags its opponents into a quagmire, like a crocodile."

"A quagmire... what does that entail?"

"Nothing particularly special, but it has seven hearts. It's said that it cannot be killed unless all seven hearts are pierced."

"We have to destroy all seven hearts at once? That won't be easy."

A Blood Demon of that level was bound to be powerful. And they had to destroy all seven of its hearts simultaneously to prevent it from regenerating.

Hans clicked his tongue.

"Yuren's breath attack is the first thing that comes to mind."

"True, but I doubt a Blood Demon of that level would simply stand there and take it."

"I see."

Hans searched for alternative strategies.

He wanted to conserve his Time Stop ability and prepare for the possibility that it might not even work on the Mud Guardian.

It was always good to have multiple options.

[=Chapter 124=]◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Ares' Bridge.

A pathway and fortress built where the headwaters of the Beckden Mountain range converged, forming the lower reaches of the river.

Once a symbol of the kingdom's prosperity, it now stood as a mocking reminder of humanity's defeat, its fortified entrance blocking the way, its blade pointed towards the kingdom.

Whether due to the demons' twisted preferences or a complete lack of aesthetic sense, Ares' Bridge was covered in unidentifiable flesh and blood.

Hans, observing from afar, grimaced.

He had witnessed countless horrors, but the gore decorating Ares' Bridge surpassed them all, inducing nausea.

He forced himself to endure.

The Commander of the Royal Knights couldn't afford to show weakness. While he couldn't prevent his expression from twisting in disgust, fortunately, his unit members misinterpreted it.

'Even the Commander finds this sight horrific.'

'He must be thinking of the victims.'

'As you wish, Teacher... I will...!'

'I feel sick.'

Hans and his unit members' thoughts were starkly contrasting, but they shared a common goal, to slay the Mud Guardian and reclaim the fortress.

A month later, the joint expedition of the Human Kingdom and the Royal Knights commenced.

While the distance wasn't great, the kingdom's army moved first, deploying catapults and ballistae with practiced efficiency.

Massive rocks launched from the catapults slammed into Ares' Bridge, sending fragments scattering.

Perhaps provoked by the attack on their lair, monsters poured out of Ares' Bridge, charging towards them.

The kingdom's army responded swiftly, raising their shields in a unified defense.

'They're well-trained for ordinary soldiers.'

'They must have been preparing for this.'

'Indeed... the Human King is a formidable ally.'

Training soldiers to this level wasn't easy.

It implied constant, realistic training, and indeed, they had extensive experience in monster subjugation.

'They're proving more useful than I expected. A pleasant surprise.'

'And the Royal Guard seem quite competent as well.'

'Captain Melissa, was it? Not a bad fighter.'

Though she had been overwhelmed by Bayard's aura, Melissa was the Captain of the Royal Guard. Even Yuren acknowledged her skill.

Initially, things went smoothly.

While not perfect, the battle progressed according to plan. The well-trained soldiers slaughtered the monsters without suffering significant casualties.

It was going well, until something else emerged from Ares' Bridge. Something fell among the ranks of the soldiers.

Viscera.

"W-What is this?!"

"The entrails are moving?!"

"Aaaaagh!"

Even the most disciplined soldiers would struggle to maintain their composure under a rain of writhing entrails.

Their training and initial success had kept their formation intact, but their morale was faltering. If this continued, their lines would break.

Hans clicked his tongue.

He had wanted to assess the enemy's strength, but there was no point in delaying further.

He caught Yuren's eye, and she nodded, leaping into the air.

Her form shifted into that of a massive dragon, large enough to blot out the sky. She opened her maw and unleashed a torrent of flames.

Dragon breath slammed into the fortress.

'Not a bad start.'

'Few can withstand dragon breath.'

"Now's our chance! Press the attack!"

Yuren's breath attack had turned the tide. The soldiers, seeing the dragon on their side, were reinvigorated.

Melissa seized the opportunity, urging her troops forward.

She was a capable knight, leading from the front rather than simply observing from behind. While it wasn't ideal for a commander to be in the thick of battle, Melissa had her reasons.

She was confident in her ability to protect herself while commanding her troops. That was why she was the Captain of the Royal Guard. And she was performing her role admirably.

Soldiers quickly crossed the bridge and reached the fortress, preparing to scale the walls with ladders.

Hans, observing from a ship in the distance, nodded and called out to Yuren.

"It's time. We're infiltrating."

[Gladly.]

"Let's go."

While the soldiers assaulted the fortress from the front, the Royal Knights would infiltrate and attack from within. Yuren would facilitate their entry.

The unit members mounted the dragon.

Yuren soared into the sky. Even from this height, they could see the soldiers fighting fiercely below. Sacrifice was inevitable in war.

That's why they had to win.

To honor the sacrifices of their comrades. The dragon, like a meteor, descended towards Ares' Bridge.

Hans was momentarily startled.

'What's going on? Why are we doing this?'

The plan had been to fly in and infiltrate, not plummet like a cannonball. But his surprise was short-lived.

Yuren crashed into the ground.

"Is everyone alright?"

"This is nothing!"

"You think this is enough to stop me?!"

"Hmm! The training paid off."

"..."

'What kind of training did they even do?'

Hans almost blurted out, but he swallowed the words, focusing on hiding his trembling legs.

The unit members, seemingly unfazed, took their positions.

Hans looked up.

The interior of the fortress was even more grotesque. It felt less like a fortress and more like the inside of a living organism.

He had expected something unsettling after seeing the writhing entrails, but he hadn't imagined the fortress itself was alive.

He frowned.

'If that's the case, one of the seven hearts must be within this fortress...'

"Commander, what are you thinking?"

"This is going to be more troublesome than I thought."

"Did you discover something?"

"This fortress is alive. That means the seven hearts are likely scattered somewhere within it."

Hans's conclusion stemmed from his experience.

The game had featured maps with similar mechanics, requiring players to destroy pulsating flesh.

Ares' Bridge felt similar.

"That's not entirely unreasonable."

"Indeed."

"Should we split up and search?"

"...That's our best option."

Hans hesitated for a moment.

'Should I really send them off like this? Or should I use Time Stop now?'

He ultimately reached a decision.

"Go. Locate the seven hearts."

Using Time Stop to find the hearts would be nearly impossible. The penalty aside, the enemy wouldn't expose such a vital weakness unless engaged in combat.

Vwoom!

The sword at his hip vibrated intensely, but in the urgency of the moment, Hans didn't notice.

His unit members, upon receiving his command, dispersed into the fortress.

"We'll have to divide our forces."

"I'll take Helia with me."

"...I don't want to admit it, but it can't be helped."

"Clara, Ruby. I believe it's time you proved yourselves. Don't you agree?"

"Yeah! Leave it to us!"

There were seven hearts and seven unit members.

However, he couldn't entrust Helia, still young, with this task alone.

Yuren would accompany her.

With Yuren's power, she could easily support Helia from a distance. Clara and Ruby were embarking on their first solo mission.

They had gained experience and proven their strength through training, earning Yuren and Cluna's approval.

Hans, however, wore a grim expression.

He, too, would have to act alone.

'I'm weaker than Helia right now. Damn it.'

He had witnessed Helia's newly developed swordsmanship. It had surpassed the fictional Thunder Dragon Swordsmanship, reaching a new level.

She had even managed a conditional victory against Yuren in a spar.

While Yuren had been holding back, it was a feat that even Clara and Ruby hadn't achieved.

Helia had been the first.

Unaware of his concerns, the unit members dispersed into the fortress without hesitation.

Hans, left alone, could only stare after them with a bewildered expression.

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