The insides of the bunker were large.

Despite there being hundreds of people, it didn't seem like that at all. Clearly, it was designed to fit at least a few thousand people. Looking around, I was able to spot the other cadets alongside the Guild delegates. They were currently doing a head count.

At the very end of the bunker, windows lined up on the walls. From there, I could see the outside world and the faint outlines of the buildings which were still covered in a Crimson Shade.

I stopped in my tracks and looked at Aoife.

Feeling my gaze, she turned back and I spoke,

"Can you find it...?"

"Find? Are you talking about the information that you requested me?"

"Yeah."

"I would've been able to before, but..."

She looked around.

"....I don't think it's that simple anymore. There might be a library here, but I doubt it'll be any better than the Guild library."

Frowning, I pondered for a moment.

We couldn't afford to waste any time. Every second felt like my last, and despite the momentary sense of peace that had enshrouded us, I still didn't feel safe.

In fact, it only added to the tension.

It felt as though a dangerous veil was cast upon me, slowly driving me to the corner in the process.

'No, it's fine. I can figure this out.'

Clenching my teeth slightly, I took a deep breath and asked,

"Can you ask someone?"

"....As in?"

"Some of the higher members of the Guilds? Is there a way you can have them talk?"

"....."

Aoife stood still for a moment, carefully observing my face. Eventually, seeing how serious I was, she nodded her head slightly.

"I can."

"Do that."

The information was vital.

"I'll also try."

Leon added from the side. I looked at him before nodding my head.

"....It doesn't matter if what you find is worthless. Just try to look for anything related to it. It's very important."

"Understood."

"Good."

Taking a deep breath, I looked towards the 'The Order of the Silver Seraphs' area which was easily distinguished due to the flag that was hanging by the center of the area. Seeing my group in the distance, I closed my eyes for a moment before making up my decision.

"Let's split up for now."

I could already envision myself getting a good scolding from them, but I knew the situation would get troublesome if they were to think that I was still missing.

The same was true for the other two.

Especially Aoife who had a rather important status.

"If you find anything, just tell me."

I looked around.

".....It's not like we have anything to do here, either way."

We split off from there.

Staring at their backs for a short moment, I finally picked up my pace and headed for the Guild area.

"There's several missing members!"

"....Are there any results?"

"No. We are also missing a few cadets."

"What? How is that possible? They should've just come off training. Did they sneak out?"

Overhearing the conversations that were going up ahead, I tried my best to keep my face composed before heading in.

Immediately, the eyes of many of the members fell on me.

"You."

And I was stopped by one of them.

He wasn't tall. In fact, he was rather short. With soft brown hair and green eyes, he looked at me with a frown.

"Who are you? State your identification."

".....I am one of those cadets that have gone missing."

"Uh?"

Stunned, the man blinked several times. Before he could say anything else, a hand pressed against his shoulder, and a familiar face appeared before me.

With a soft smile on his face, his blue eyes paused on me.

"I've been looking for you all over. Where have you been?"

"The library."

I answered truthfully. I didn't see the need to lie. In fact, it would only make me look more suspicious.

"The library?"

"Yes. I wanted to learn more about the monsters. Since I didn't have access to the Guild library, I had no choice but to sneak out to read for myself."

"....Couldn't you have gone with a group?"

"A group?"

I looked at him.

"....Would there be any group that wants to go to the library?"

"I guess you're right."

With a small laugh, the instructor patted the short man on the shoulder.

"Andrea, you can let him pass. He's with me."

"Okay. If you say so."

"Thank you."

Nudging me with his finger, the instructor led me towards where the other cadets were.

Following him from behind, he started to talk.

"It's a good thing that you're back. I would've been in trouble had you not shown up in the next hour or so."

"....I apologize."

This was indeed my fault.

But there were important reasons for my actions.

In fact,

"Can I ask a question?"

The instructor looked back while he continued to walk ahead.

"Sure."

"Do you know anything about the Tree of Ebonthorn?"

"Tree of Ebonthorn?"

The instructor paused before falling into thought. Following a slight twitch of his head, he shook his head.

"No, it doesn't ring a bell."

"....Is there someone that you think might know?"

"Umm. Is it some sort of monster?"

"I believe it is."

"Then, you might want to ask the Post Leader. There's a chance he might know."

The Post Leader?

'Right, as if I can meet him.'

From what I knew, they were the strongest representative from the Guild stationed in the supply station. Their strength ranged from Tier 6 to Tier 7. I wasn't fully sure. However, I was certain that they were very strong.

Though I was the black star, I knew that I couldn't meet him just because of that status.

Especially not in circumstances such as these.

I could only scrap that thought for now.

'.....I'll still try if I find him'

It wouldn't hurt.

Or if anything, I could also get Aoife to do that.

"Take a seat wherever you want."

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the area where the other cadets were and all eyes fell on me. Sat in a circle, they all wore grim expressions.

I could tell that they were nervous.

Looking around, I found a spot and sat down.

"Where did you go?"

I thought I'd be left alone from that point, but much to my surprise, a quiet voice reached my ears from the side. When I turned to look, I saw Evelyn staring at me.

I was stunned for a second.

"Is it supposed to be a secret?"

".....The library."

But I was quick to recompose myself.

"I was there for some research."

"Research?"

"Just in general. Have you heard of the Tree of Ebonthorn?"

"Tree of what?"

That told me everything that I needed to know.

Still, I was most surprised by the fact that Evelyn had struck up a conversation with me. Usually, she'd totally avoid me, and yet, here she was trying her best to speak to me. I was a bit taken aback.

"Is it important?"

Important?

"Very."

"....."

Sporting a frown, Evelyn seemed to fall into her own thoughts. Eventually, however, she let out a long sigh before looking back into my eyes.

"Do you want me to help?"

***

'I did it. I asked him. It's whatever. You can't say I am not actively trying. Since he's changed, I should change too, right? Or maybe I don't? Who knows. Maybe I'm curious. Whatever.'

Numerous thoughts swam across Evelyn's mind as she kept her gaze fixed on Julien who was staring back at her.

His deep hazel eyes felt intense, and Evelyn found herself swallowing nervously.

'He's going to reject me, isn't he?'

She was a bit of an overthinker. It hadn't been the first time that she questioned herself numerous times in the past.

But still, she really did want to help.

This relationship of theirs. While she knew that it couldn't go back to how it once was, realizing that he had changed, perhaps, it was time for her to also start taking Leon's words more seriously.

It was for that reason that she wanted to help.

In a way, it was also for her.

"You're willing to help?"

Eventually, Julien's voice fell and Evelyn pursed her lips.

"If you'll let me."

Though Evelyn wasn't sure why he wanted such information, she could see how serious his expression had been when he had asked her.

And it wasn't as though she had anything else to do.

"....Okay."

In the end, Julien nodded his head.

The way he looked at her also changed a little. Though subtle, his face grew a little softer. It was a very subtle change that Evelyn picked up and she bit her lips.

"Thank you."

He really...

***

"Phew! Phew! Phew!"

Leaning back against the hard ground of the bunker, Kiera blew the bangs away from her face.

"Phew! Phew...!"

She went on like this for the next few minutes.

"Phew!"

Her boredom had reached peak levels. To make matters worse, she didn't even have any cigarettes with her. It wasn't as though she had smoked much over the last few weeks, but it certainly would've helped her alleviate her boredom.

"....I'm bored."

Even saying she was bored was boring.

Everything was boring.

"Haa..."

Turning to the side, she continued to blow on her hair.

"Phew. Phew...!"

As she did, she started to think of a certain someone and the corner of her lips curled slightly.

"He'd get annoyed if I did this, wouldn't he?"

Thinking about the face he'd make, Kiera cracked up a little.

"Kakaka."

Her strange laugh aroused the eyes of those around her. She didn't let that bother her and continued to blow on her hair.

"I'm bored~"

She was now singing.

It was out of tune, and the people near her looked at her with even stranger gazes.

Not that it bothered Kiera much.

"Hyooo~"

In fact, it only ignited her will to sing further.

"The world is red~"

To her, it sounded good, but to those around her, each and every one of her notes sounded like broken glass being cleaned up. Many of those around her distanced themselves, some even glaring at her in the process.

That only made her want to sing more.

"All is red~"

Her song was also original.

'Fuck, I'm good.'

She felt less bored after seeing their faces.

"Smoke tree"

"Hiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!"

Her song was abruptly cut by a sudden scream coming from near her. Immediately, Kiera's eyes flung up and she sat up straight.

"What? Stop exaggerating. My singing isn't that ba"

Kiera stopped speaking halfway through her sentence.

Her gaze fell on Johanna, a cadet she only knew the name of due to the fact that they had been in the same Guild orientation group.

With short black hair and a small stature, it was hard to not remember her.

Currently, she was holding onto her hair while looking up at the ceiling.

"Hiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!"

Her scream reverberated throughout the bunker, swallowing all the noise alongside it.

It was a scream that seemed to come from the depths of her soul, and Kiera felt her hand tingle.

The screams continued.

It pierced through the bunker.

"Ah! Haaaaaaaa!"

It was as if she had lungs made out of steel. But that wasn't the part that gathered Kiera's attention. As of this moment, Kiera's gaze was fixed on Johanna's eyes.

They were completely white.

Her pupils had disappeared.

"Ha."

Kiera moved back.

At that moment, her entire body shuddered.

Chills ran down her spine as Johanna's scream continued to reverberate throughout. It lasted for a few more seconds before eventually,

Thump!

She fell face flat on the ground.

A dreadful silence enveloped the surroundings.

One that felt entirely suffocating.