Dianna was walking unfaithfully through the city at night.
Today, as usual, she is returning home after doing her chores at the "Golden Eagle" and feeling the emptiness of the window.
I am so disappointed. Roland has treated me so blatantly and coldly. What did I do?
Dianna thought to herself.
（I''ve been doing a lot of chores day in and day out," she said. (I might as well quit if I have to do this all the time.)
But there are not many places that pay better than here.
In order to continue his current rich lifestyle, he had no choice but to continue to endure the shabbiness of a window employee at the Golden Eagle.
As Dianna was walking along with such a frustrating feeling, a hobo-like man suddenly appeared in front of her.
He had shaggy hair, tattered and dilapidated clothes, skinny cheeks, and sunken eyes.
He looks young because of his reasonably sturdy build, but the above features make him look old and decrepit.
A fallen adventurer, perhaps.
Dianna ignored the man and walked past him.
She was not the kind of person such a vagabond would feel comfortable talking to, no matter what the cost.
However, the man passed Dianna and stood in front of her again.
Dianna is getting annoyed.
(Not at all. Can''t you see this coat of arms? I am a "Golden Hawk" person. I''m not someone you can talk to.)
What was that? I''m interrupting you!"
Dianna said in a harsh tone.
Unfortunately, we can''t afford it," Dianna said sharply. If you want to beg, find someone else!
It was said in a high and cold manner.
There are not many men who would not cower in fear when she said this to them.
However, the man in front of me was completely unperturbed and did not make the slightest move.
Dianna began to feel uneasy.
（What is this guy?)
Have you forgotten about me?"
Slowly, the man began to speak.
Dianna is startled to hear his voice.
He said, "That voice is ....... You don''t mean ......."
''Well, I knew you''d be ...... to Roland.''
The man seemed to waggle his shoulders as he said this, then grabbed Dianna, covered her mouth, and pulled her into the shadows.
As night fell, darkness covered the city, and the busy taverns were quiet with their lights dimmed, Roland arrived at his home.
(Whew. I couldn''t find him after all. (Cheal)
It all started with a trivial argument.
During a meeting at the Arsenal of the Spirits to discuss a silversmithing competition, Lange and Cheal had a difference of opinion about quality and cost.
Roland took Lange''s opinion, but Cheal, bent on his navel, left the workshop (atelier).
Cheal then disappeared.
After that, Roland searched for Cheal with all the means at his disposal.
He visited Cheal''s home, asked his parents to help him search, and filed a missing persons report with the police.
He sent the Golden Eagle and the Guardian of the Magical Tree to search for the elf girl with as many people as they could move.
But in the end, they could not find her.
(Oh, my God. Where the hell did that guy go?)
When Roland arrived at his room with these thoughts in his mind, he saw an envelope in the mailbox.
(What is it?)
When Roland peeled off the package, he found a strand of silver hair and a letter smeared in blood.
Roland felt a stirring in his heart and hurried to read the letter.
The elf''s daughter is in my possession.
If you want her back, come alone to the seventh level of the "Forest Dungeon" cave.
Lucius."
(Lucius! No way, this blood is Thial''s ......)
Cheal is in danger!"
Roland put on only the sword in his room and rushed out of his room to the dungeon.
(d*mn. Lukius had caught me, of all people.)
Roland ran through the city, which was plunged into darkness.
After Roland ran out of the room and disappeared across the street, a shadow began to move in the shadows.
The figure walked up to Roland''s room, picked up the letter from Lucius that Roland had dropped, tucked it into his chest, and followed Roland.
When Roland reached the entrance in front of the cave on the seventh level of the "Forest Dungeon," he hid himself behind a tree and looked around.
(This must have been the only cave on the seventh level. ......)
A hole in a rocky hill that rises out of the ground.
Roland tries to see inside the cave with his eyes.
However, he could not see into the pitch-black interior of the dungeon, where it was darkest at night.
(I thought Lucius was hard to catch, but I didn''t know he was hiding in a dungeon like this. What to do? (Shall we get in?)
Roland squeezed the hilt of his sword.
Failure was not an option.
If he failed, Cheal''s life would ...... be lost.
（I will get him out. Cheal prayed for me and cried for me. I will not let her die!)
Her crying face and her playful smile intermingled in Roland''s mind.
Roland stared at the cave again.
(There might be some traps in the cave. Even so, Lukius is a former A-class adventurer. Would it be a disadvantage to go in head-on?)
Roland hesitated, but still decided to enter the cave.
(There was no time to be lost. (There was no time to get lost.)
Roland recalled the bloody letter in the example.
He didn''t know what Lukius would do now if left alone.
Roland rushes into the cave.
Just after entering the cave, Roland tripped over something.
Whoa!"
He almost fell down, but he quickly regained his balance and stayed on his feet.
（What was that? (Is it a trap?)
I hurriedly shone the light on my own feet and saw Dianna lying there, covered in blood.
Roland gasps.
（Dianna! No way, Lucius got to me (......).
Her condition was terrible.
While her face was barely intact, she was bleeding from every part of her body.
It was evident that she had been stabbed in several places.
Roland was horrified.
After all, Rukius was not normal now.
He did not know what he would do to Cheal.
Roland hurried toward the back of the cave.
Roland went down a straight path for a while, but eventually he reached an exit that led to a large space inside the cave.
A light was leaking from it, and there were signs of people.
Roland asked toward the exit with his back against the wall.
Then he heard a faint moan.
It was the faint voice of a girl.
It was a girl''s voice. Are you there?"
As Roland ran into the open room, a dagger flew at his feet.
Stop right there!
Roland stopped in a running pose, as if he were in a money bind.
He looked in the direction from which the voice came, moving only his neck and eyes.
There was Lucius, holding Cheal in his arms.
Rukius ......
Welcome aboard, Roland."
Nn. Mmm."
Gagged and chewed, Cheal tries desperately to speak up to Loran.
He struggles to shake off Lukius'' arms, his little body twisting desperately to break free.
''Thial!
Nngh."
Don''t move!" Move and I will slit your thin throat with this sword!"
Lucius holds the sword he is holding against Cheal''s throat.
Cheal feels the coldness of the blade on his neck and stops moving.
Roland quickly ran his eyes over Cheal''s body.
She was gagged and her arms were bound behind her back, but there seemed to be no external injuries to her body.
Her eyes had not yet lost their sparkle.
It seems that Lucius has not harmed her yet.
However, we cannot rest assured yet.
Depending on what happens next, Chiaru may be in danger.
Lucius. You''re supposed to be after me! Free Thial, and his daughter!"
Kukuk. We can''t let him go yet.
Lukius laughed, his skinny cheeks contorting into a scrawny smile.
Roland, I have something for you to do.
What?"
I''ve spent the last few weeks without a decent meal because of you, wandering around in dark caves by day and lying on the hard ground at night, always under the watchful eye of the constable. All the while you''ve been enjoying the good fortune of being the head of the "Golden Eagle" guild!"
"......"
Do you really think that''s going to make me feel any better now that I''ve just taken your life?"
Then what do you want? Evacuate the city? Or money? Then go to ......"
I''m not interested in that pittance now. What I want. It''s a seat at the head of the Golden Eagle Guild.
Roland was taken aback.
（A seat at the head of the guild? That''s absurd. What is this guy talking about, being chased by the police and wanting to be the head of a guild?)
More than anything else, he crossed the line.
He murdered Dianna.
There is no turning back now.
Roland thought so, but hesitated to say so.
It was dangerous to provoke Lukius now.
Rukius. Rochius, please calm down a little. You''re being chased by the police right now. ......
Shut up! You took everything from me. Now it''s my turn to take it all back from you!"
I didn''t say that. ......
Roland felt hopeless.
Lukius'' demands were unrealistic.
He may already be insane.
''Don''t be a prick, just get ready,'' he said. Now you must give me the chair of the head of the guild of the Golden Eagle. Now, quickly! Or else you will shave off this elf''s long ears!"
Lucius puts his blade to Cheal''s ear.
The blade makes a thin cut on Cheal''s ear.
The pain seems to irritate Cheal.
Cheal begins to lash out.
"Nnnn! Nnnn!"
d*mn it, grow up!"
Lukius assembles Cheal on the ground and restrains his head.
He thrust his sword close to her face.
''Don''t do it,'' he said. Don''t be rough with her, only with her!
Roland, you have no intention of giving up your position. That''s fine. Let''s show them that we are serious.
Lucius stomps on Cheal''s head and swings his sword.
No! What the hell are you doing?
A hostage doesn''t necessarily have to be in five pieces."
No!
Lukius'' sword swings down toward Cheal''s thin arm.
Roland rushes to reach for her, but at this distance he is too far away to reach her in time.
Just then, an arrow pierced Lukius'' arm.
Gghhhh!"
Lukius staggers backward and falls to the ground with the force of the arrow.
Cheal took the opportunity to get up and run over to Roland.
"Mmm, mmm..."
Cheal!"
Roland caught Cheal as he ran in and untied the gag and the rope that bound him behind his back.
Cheal hugged Roland''s legs.
He said, "Woah. Loran!
''Cheal, are you alright?
Ugh, gusu gusu." I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to sneak out."
It''s okay. I''m glad. I''m glad you''re safe.
Saying this, Roland looked around.
To find the Lord who had just sent an arrow flying.
Ggh, ahhh. Who is it? How dare you? Take my arm!
Lucius groans as he holds his arm.
It seemed that he could not get up properly.
The damage inflicted seems to be considerable.
The arrows the archer fired were extraordinary in terms of accuracy and power.
It is no exaggeration to say that he is a master.
If there is anything in this city that can do this kind of bow shooting, it is .......
I was so impressed that I asked him, "Are you all right? Mr. Roland?"
Monica emerges from behind a rock.
Monica! Why are you here ......"
It''s ......
I asked her to do it. I asked her to guard the perimeter around Mr. Roland."
A witch astride a wand appears with a swish from a gap in the rocks above.
Lily!
That Lucius is not caught. I''ve been concerned about it for a long time. That''s why I''ve ordered Monica''s ''Hawkeye'' to guard your perimeter for a few days now."
(Oh, right.)
Roland finally understood why Monica was monitoring his movements.
Then a female knight in more armor comes running in.
''Mr. Roland, are you all right?
Jill, even you ......."
I have instructed Monica to contact her immediately in case of emergency. She is one of the most agile people in the city. Now ......."
Lilianne said as if to add, then turned to Lucius.
Lukius. Your fate ends here. Turn yourself in to the police. Otherwise, go to ......."
Ugh.
Although Lucius managed to recover from the arrow damage and get up, he was now completely surrounded by three of the city''s most famous adventurers.
Monica is aiming an arrow from a distance, and Lillianne is holding her staff above him.
Jill stood between Roland and Lucius, protecting them with her ironclad defense.
Jill glanced at Lucius.
The eyes that once looked at him with respect as the head of the guild now held nothing but contempt.
She is a woman of unparalleled beauty, but her gaze is cruel to the point of cruelty.
It was more than Lucius, worn out from his life on the run, could bear.
Hitched ......
Lucius. You, who have not only committed numerous injustices and treasons, but also kidnapped such a young girl and even tried to take Roland''s life. You outcasts! Get back there. I don''t need to leave it in the hands of a judicial officer like you. I will slay you right here, right now!"
Jill pulls out her sword and crowds Lukius.
Uh-oh."
His pale face grew even paler, his scrawny features even more emaciated, his features contorted in an ugly way.
Jill smiled coldly.
''Pathetic. You look like an ugly monster now, that''s your true form. You''ve been unmasked. You stole Mr. Roland''s reputation and accomplishments, and then clothed yourself in a false crown and throne, and now you have paid for it.
Jill swung her sword.
Lucius backed away frantically.
No, no, no," he said. It''s not my fault.
What?
It''s him who''s at fault. It''s Roland.
You''re still making incomprehensible excuses at this ...... moment.
It''s not my fault. I''m the one who told Roland to be the guild president. ......
Yes," he said. I certainly helped you in various ways so that you could become the guild leader. I supported you so that you could bask in the glory, and I even let you flourish and put my own career on the back burner.
Mr. Roland?"
I encouraged you to become a guild leader. I encouraged you to become the guild leader because I thought you had the qualities of a guild leader. And yet... ......
Roland appraised Lucius.
Now, in Roland''s eyes, Lucius'' skills and stats were exactly as they should be.
It was far from what Roland had envisioned.
It appears, ......, that you are a failure."
Roland said this with a strong note of disappointment in his tone.
Roland, you!
Lucius stood up as if he had been played and tried to attack Roland.
Jill readies her sword, but Roland grabs her shoulder to restrain her.
Roland?"
Half of it is my crime. So, with my own hands ......"
With the sword he had brought with him, Roland cut down Lucius under a single stroke.