“What?” I asked.

“I-I think someone is here and they’re trying to break the barrier o-outside. I’m not sure, but maybe…” Jung Ha-Yan answered.

“Can you check right now?” I asked.

“I’ll try…” she replied.

Jung Ha-Yan quietly cast a spell, and I was certain she was trying to observe what was going on outside using Anemone’s Eyes because that was the only way she could use to take a look outside. Naturally, I thought I had to do something as well, but when Jung Ha-Yan slowly opened her eyes, she looked kind of shocked.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“...”

“Hurry…” I urged.

“I-It’s him,” she replied.

“What?”

“That man. The members from the Republic,” she said.

“...”

Jung Ha-Yan glanced at me as if she was thinking that this situation might create another misunderstanding, but this wasn’t the type of situation where that could happen.

I started feeling more and more nervous. Naturally, I thought the fire I barely managed to stop was going to burn again. Actually, the internal issue was no longer an issue because the reason I stopped Jung Ha-Yan in the first place was to avoid being labeled as a villain. I wanted to avoid being cornered by the entire continent and to achieve an alliance with Laios, but if we got caught now, not only would our efforts to establish an alliance end in failure, but the surrounding nations could start attacking us as well.

‘How did they get here so fast? Shit…’

It proved that Jin Cheong was simply that competent, and it meant his knowledge of magic was so great he could move while tracking my traces. To feel the traces of someone wasn’t an easy task for an ordinary mage and searching for the location Jung Ha-Yan had covered with a multi-layered magic barrier was impossible even for mages with stats over 90. They could have arrived here by following me, but it was still undeniable that the Republic came here pretty fast. How they followed me wasn’t important. The fact that we got cornered because they followed me was more important.

Naturally, I immediately grabbed my head, which started aching because there were so many magic barriers, and there was also a large magic circle. Jung Ha-Yan was also in the middle of the magic circle so anyone could tell she manifested the magic.

‘We’re done for… What should I do?’

My head was hurting because the recent events were stressing me out.

“Can you erase the magic circle right now?” I asked.

“I-I can, but it’ll take some time. It might even leave traces, and I think they’re already breaking through the first barrier,” Jung Ha-Yan answered.

‘Shit.’

“What should we do?” she asked.

“Hold on,” I told her.

“I think they’re breaking through the second—”

“What?” I asked.

“They’ve reached the third one…” she continued.

‘How are they so fast?’

“Is there another exit?” I asked.

“No. There isn’t—s-should we look for one?” she asked.

“No…” I replied.

Even if we searched, an exit that had never existed wouldn’t just appear.

‘Damn it, damn…’

We were criminals with no way out. The situation was as worse as a suspect getting caught by the police at the scene of the crime.

‘Park Deok-Gu and Han Sora are…’

Now that I thought about it, I was getting worried about the two despite being outside, so I had to let them know about the ongoing situation. When I hurriedly left the cave, I saw Han Sora waiting for me anxiously along with a confused Park Deok-Gu.

“Did everything work out? Actually, why are we—”

“I’ll explain later,” I interrupted Park Deok-Gu.

“You’ve been telling me that you would explain. The curiosity is killing me,” he remarked.

Park Deok-Gu looked really curious, and he probably realized that the situation was serious based on my expression. Naturally, Han Sora wasn’t excluded because her face was turning pale, and it was obvious what she was thinking. She thought I wasn’t able to work things out with Jung Ha-Yan.

“Y-You worked everything out, right?” Han Sora asked.

“Yes. I took care of the incident,” I answered.

“R-Really?” she questioned.

“Yes. You don’t have to worry about it anymore,” I assured her.

“It’s just; you don’t look so good…” Han Sora pointed out.

“We have another problem. Let’s go inside for—Actually, I think it’ll be best if only Miss Sora enters. Keep standing guard, Deok-Gu. If something happens, I’ll call for you right away,” I ordered him.

Park Deok-Gu had to be excluded since he had no idea of the context of the situation. Based on his personality, I had no idea how he would react if he found out that Jung Ha-Yan and Han Sora were the perpetrators who destroyed the city.

‘It’s better if he doesn't know.’

However, his frustration had to have reached its limit because he spoke loudly, “Hey, what’s going on?! I followed because you asked, but I have no idea what’s going on. Just now, the cave was rumbling and making all sorts of noises. Is Ha-Yan noonim inside? She caused that rumbling earlier, right? It sounded like she was screaming earlier… You need to explain to me what’s going on, so I can find a way to help!”

“I’ll explain later,” I told him again.

“Does it—” he started.

“What?” I asked.

“Does it have to do with what happened today…” he asked cautiously.

‘This pig is more quick-witted than I thought…’

It was only for a moment, but I felt my heart drop. However, he said afterward caused me to tighten my fists.

“Do you know who it is? Do you know the culprit—no, did you get a hint? Is that why only mages are working on this?” he asked.

‘This bastard…’

“Is that what’s happening?” he questioned.

‘My lovely pig!’

It briefly appeared, but an idea popped up into my head. I was astonished that I didn’t think of this earlier, so I couldn’t help but love the pig even more for giving me such a huge hint.

‘Bro!’

I wasn’t sure if it were a coincidence, but I slapped my knee after hearing his guess.

‘That’s it!’

It was the perfect solution. There could be variables, but so what? This was the only way.

“You’re right, Deok-Gu. You are absolutely right. Shit! How did you know?! Hahaha!” I laughed.

I looked at him with satisfaction, and Park Deok-Gu looked happy for guessing it right.

“Really? I mean, I knew that was the case! It’s my job as your younger brother to catch onto these things! I’m Park Deok-Gu, you’re younger brother, hyung-nim! But why did you hide that from me? Were you testing me or something?” he asked.

“It’s something we shouldn’t let Laios or others know just yet,” I replied.

“There’s no reason to hide it from me, though! I’m disappointed…” he muttered.

“I was going to tell you at the right time. It’s not because I don’t trust you; I just don’t have any evidence yet. It was also dangerous. Anyway, now that you’ve caught on, there’s nothing I can do about it. You’re absolutely right, Deok-Gu. Haha. Like you said, Jung Ha-Yan, Han Sora, and I were looking for the caster of the magic that fell on the city today, and although we’re uncertain, we have reached a conclusion,” I explained.

“But still…”

“Don’t be too sad. It’s all within my plans, but I need to look into the situation inside the cave again, so keep an eye out and see if anyone’s coming before we’re done investigating…” I commanded.

“So you’re asking me to stand watch?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“Of course. You’re the only person I can rely on. You can do that for me right, Deok-Gu?” I asked.

“Of course, I can! Just leave it to me! This little brother of yours will make sure that not even a tiny ant can enter that place! I’ll hold my ground!” he replied confidently.

“Our Deok-Gu sure is reliable!” I complimented.

“You can trust me! But I’m starting to feel the pressure hearing you say that,” he said.

When I nodded repeatedly, I saw Park Deok-Gu holding up his shield, and I thought about how it would have been even better if Ahn Ki-Mo or Kim Ye-Ri were here. The situation seemed like the second part of my hidden camera park for Park Deok-Gu, but that wouldn’t happen this time.

‘This bastard may not be an idiot…’

I didn’t know how he appeared and offered his help at the right time. He did that while I was on the way here and even gave me a hint just now. I used Mind’s Eye and looked at Park Deok-Gu just in case, but he was still the same guy who snorted while holding his shield up.

During all of this, Han Sora looked at me as if she was asking me what I was talking about, but what else could I do? As one of the people who created this incident, she had no right to make that kind of expression.

I couldn’t hold in my laughter, so I quickly spoke up, “Miss Sora, please help me investigate inside the cave.”

“What?” Han Sora asked.

“Hurry. It’s urgent,” I added.

“What’s… going on? A-Are you sure there’s nothing going on? Is there…”

“It’s not what you think, so we must hurry,” I interrupted her.

“N-N-Nothing is going to happen to me, right? S-She isn’t angry, right?” she stuttered.

“She’s not angry, so please hurry inside,” I assured her.

“Really? Is that true? Am I getting sacrif—”

“I’m not telling you to come in because of that incident. Hurry up and go inside. This isn’t a request. I need you in there,” I told her.

“R-Really…”

“Hurry inside, junior. You’re needed in there to catch the villain! If you run away just because it’s dangerous, the innocent people who have been sacrificed—Anyway! I don’t the culprit behind it, but we have to get rid of the bastards who sinned against God and man! I don’t know where they’re from, but now that our hyung-nim is onto them, I’m sure they’ll pay for their sins! I’m sure of it! They’ll be completely destroyed! Villains will tremble in fear the moment they’re caught by Lee Ki-Young the Righteous!” Park Deok-Gu shouted.

“Yeah, we have to capture the villain no matter what. You’re right, Deok-Gu! I’ll leave this place up to you. Criminals usually return to the scene of the crime, so they might come back, and they might even know that we’ve already arrived here,” I explained.

“Don’t worry about it and leave it to me. I’ll stand my ground here until you and Ha-Yan noonim are done with the investigation,” he assured.

The issue about handling Park Deok-Gu ended right there and then.

When I quickly looked at Han Sora, she started walking as if she really didn’t want to do this. When she entered the cave, she flinched after seeing Jung Ha-Yan acting anxiously, but when Jung Ha-Yan ran toward me after seeing me, Han Sora sighed as if she felt relieved. Han Sora realized that the issue between Jung Ha-Yan and me was finally resolved.

“It’s a relief. I’m relieved… I’m not going to die…” Han Sora mumbled.

She even started crying, but we had no time to relax.

“I’m alive… It’s all been taken care of,” she added.

“Everything hasn’t been taken care of, Miss Sora.” I pointed out.

“What?” she asked.

“Let’s do one more thing,” I suggested.

“W-What do you…”

“You can summon, right?” I asked.

Han Sora looked at me as if she was asking what I was talking about.