“I’ll take the request.”
The Doberman beastman with pointy ears left the elders with a high-handed attitude and exited the premises.
The two bulky figures followed their leader in silence, keeping their mouths shut.
A moment later.
The members waiting outside also moved in unison toward the direction their leader was heading.
To the elf elders, this was no longer a strange sight.
After all, the world of lawbreakers is more hierarchical than any other.
“Grand Elder.”
“Speak.”
“I believe this is a crucial moment when considering the future. Of course, the events that came before are not without importance, but…”
“I understand the unease and the words you elders hold. I also know that our hasty departure from Tigroba has left many gaps in our actions.”
“…”
The Grand Elder straightened his cane with his wrinkled hand.
Before answering the elder with his withered lips, he stared at Sion’s closed room and then averted his gaze.
“With this at stake, it should be far more useful than the previous ones.”
The Grand Elder fiddled with the pitch-black coin bestowed upon him.
A small, round piece of metal, smaller than the palm of his hand.
This single coin serves as both a leash and a lump of greed to control those lunatic lawbreakers.
‘With this, there’s no need to return to the homeland. That’s why they must have raided the gun shop and committed robbery and murder.’
The Grand Elder, holding the coin, easily grasped their actions.
Those barbaric acts themselves must have been their own form of preparation and ritual.
“Let’s go to the conference room and continue our discussion.”
“Yes.”
With the commissioned individuals leaving with bold declarations, there was no reason to keep an eye outside anymore.
The Grand Elder moved with his splendid cane, tapping it loudly, and the following elders also stepped forward.
“How is the Princess?”
“Her defiance is growing fiercer. Recently, she hasn’t been eating or drinking water. It seems she has no intention of conversing until she gets an answer.”
“Tsk tsk… Even with magic, hunger and thirst cannot be avoided.”
“What should we do?”
“There’s no need to do anything. Leave her be; the opportunity to break her will come eventually.”
Who would expect anything less from the Testarossa lineage? She’ll probably raise the white flag only at death’s door.
Despite all the efforts to tame her since childhood, she still hasn’t fully yielded.
‘A weapon should not have a mind of its own…’
The Grand Elder knew from experience.
Weapons with a sense of self are nothing but a nuisance.
…
…
…
“…”
Sion lay still on the bed. A chill pierced through, stabbing her back.
No matter how many locks the elders put on the door, she could break them with her strength, but that was not the point.
It’s just possible as it is.
That’s a sign and symbol of disconnection.
So, Sion is lying still, staring at the dark ceiling.
‘Being caught going out might be unlucky, but since I came back alive from the Monolith, it’s probably good luck.’
The day Rohan and Clara returned from that strange space.
The problem was after leaving the academy city.
When I went back to retrieve the hidden sniper rifle and tracker, two elders were waiting.
Even looking back, it was a chilling moment.
If it were the old Sion, I would have admitted my mistake there, but that day, I didn’t back down from the scolding elders.
I had my first heated argument with the elders.
I got angry and sought answers to the problems the elders were avoiding.
Thanks to that, this is the result.
Still, Sion has no intention of backing down. My heart is pounding from the first rebellion, but I’m holding on.
Either get a clear answer to the question or create a proper place to resolve doubts.
I’ll maintain this attitude until I get a satisfactory answer.
The elders need me for some reason. As my vision cleared, I realized that if I go all the way, I’ll win in the end.
‘I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. My head hurts.’
If I had been pushed to this point in the past, my mental state would have been shattered by now.
But surprisingly, I’m not depressed. So, I can hold on.
‘The combat rations Rohan gave me… I want to eat that.’
The few days wandering through an unknown space with those two.
That was the pillar supporting the current Sion.
Of course, when I saw Rohan get hurt, my heart sank. When my arm flew off while trying to protect myself, my head turned completely white.
But the moments of hardship under the hellish heat were enjoyable.
Not just the battles, but also eating together and chatting. Even just reminiscing about trivial conversations keeps the depression at bay.
Tossing and turning on the bed, I recall those times.
‘Come to think of it… Rohan said he plans to work with Clara.’
It was just in the planning stage, one of the stories I heard in passing.
Thanks to that, Sion remembered the promise made with Rohan in the dormitory.
The promise to dig up hidden things, find freedom neatly, and lend a hand at least once in catching criminals or monsters.
─ We won’t do anything shady like slaughtering innocent civilians. Just help catch monsters or criminals.
‘If they still need me…’
If everything goes well as Rohan said and I gain freedom. Would it be okay to suggest changing the promise a bit and joining the plan myself?
“Hehe.”
A pleasant laugh that makes me forget the chill just by imagining it flowed out.
If the three of us stuck together, every day would be fun.
The elf girl’s…
A new wind was born in my heart.
*****
Rohan and Clara were in a tunnel swallowing a two-lane road.
They stood above it.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this was the farthest Rohan had gone since arriving in the academy city of Elysium.
“Wow, we ran like crazy. Clara doesn’t even seem out of breath…”
Maybe the problem was pushing the speed to go faster. Rohan’s mouth was parched.
If he hadn’t been doing morning physical training every day, he would’ve embarrassingly collapsed.
“Since we didn’t see any cars passing by, those guys probably aren’t here yet.”
Looking around, he felt the relief of having moved quickly.
Catching his breath calmly, Rohan looked ahead and spoke.
“The night breeze isn’t as cold as it used to be. Feels like April.”
“Yeah! It definitely feels warmer.”
“Is this kind of temperature your favorite, Clara?”
“Mmm… Afternoon is just right, but nights are a bit chilly.”
The area was wide open, so the wind was pretty strong.
Rohan undid the harness connected to his scabbard and took off his jacket, leaving only his shirt. He then reattached the harness diagonally over it.
“Already hot from running…”
The outerwear ended up on Clara’s exposed legs.
The girl, who received the clothes from Rohan, seemed to enjoy the warmth as she sat on the tunnel, swaying her head left and right.
Then she just put it on.
“Won’t wearing my clothes get in the way of drawing your weapon?”
“Nope! I’ll be careful not to tear it!”
“Don’t worry about that. Clothes can tear. I have spares at the dorm.”
The cadet uniform he got after returning from the dungeon.
Thanks to the academy’s support, he even had two extra sets.
“But this place… it’s really quiet, just like you said.”
“Right?”
Clara moved her gaze around, looking intrigued.
The only buildings around were a creepy closed rest stop and a gas station with not a drop of fuel left.
Not a single car passed by, no matter how long you waited.
It felt like some mysterious force was at work, as if urging them to go on a quest.
But no, this was normal here.
“How did you know about this road?”
“This road is famous for being quiet.”
“What does ‘famous for being quiet’ even mean…?”
“Simply put, it’s a road that car or motorcycle clubs come to for races.”
“Ah…! Got it!”
Rohan sat next to Clara and continued explaining.
The main reason it started being used for that purpose was that there was no destination at the end of the road.
The end of this road led to a small ruin where Sion lived, connected to a place where dimensional rifts had occurred repeatedly in the past.
Even if revived, its location made it hard to use.
A vague piece of land.
Thanks to that, it’s always at the bottom of the priority list for expensive manpower normalization work, making it a perfect spot for shady characters to hide.
“Sion unnie, in a place like that…”
“At that time, Sion told Clara to explain everything. I’ll explain the rest as we go along.”
“Okay!”
According to memory, today should be quiet for car and motorcycle clubs due to a message from the Security Bureau.
Unlike in past lives, few people head to remote areas for hobbies after being warned of danger.
In this world, one wrong move could cost you your life, so most people avoid such places.
While continuing a conversation with Clara on a quiet tunnel overhead.
A car appeared from afar, rounding the curve. Its headlights flickered.
Rohan suddenly stood up from his seat.
**Vroooom───!!!**
A total of 8 vehicles. They filled both lanes completely.
The lawbreakers are approaching quickly, as if speeding is a basic and essential option.
Therefore, Rohan was satisfied.
In such a situation, there’s no option for them to stop upon spotting him and Clara.
If they notice and stop in front, the cars behind would crash into them.
‘It’s fine if it unfolds that way.’
The two leading cars are stepping on it as if they’re racing.
As expected, these guys are all about style and imitation, lacking even basic knowledge of escorting.
‘The bastard is in the third row, in a black luxury sedan.’
It’s visible. The car that should have a Doberman in it is in sight.
**Vrooom─! Vroooom───!**
Perhaps seeing Rohan standing on the tunnel, the lead car couldn’t brake suddenly and slowed down instead.
Seeing the best sign, Rohan rotated his shoulders.
“Whoo! Let’s go.”
“Oppa. Be careful…”
Clara’s face full of worry.
Rohan gently patted the girl’s head.
“I’ll go ahead.”
As he finished speaking, **──Sling!** he drew the sword from his back.
Rohan leaped down onto the oncoming vehicles.
