Chapter 172 172: The Last Stand [Pt1]



Once the map had been traced in reverse, Keith quickly put the new copy on top of the old one. It showed a weird overlap of shapes and created an illusion of hidden spaces.

"Wow, this is truly something. I do not think I have ever seen this before."

Hana sounded impressed as she looked at the newly discovered map. The other two females looked impressed at the discovery as well.

"Hey, I know this place. I thought this place was not recorded on the map because it was too old. But could it be that it was just a hidden spot?"

Himeko pointed out a small building on the map. It was a place not marked on any map but only showed itself if you overlapped the two. 

The fact that Himeko recognized one of the hidden places was a big deal. Keith's senses told him that it was related to this inverted world and its existence.

"Let us go and check this place out first. I am sure we will be able to find a clue about our situation there."

Keith ordered and everyone else was pumped up as well. Their desire to know more and to go back home was burning.

Even Himeko, who had every reason to want to be in this illusion, looked eager to head back home.

The group was about to exit the place when Hana raised her hand. Her strings were shaking and her easy-going smile had turned into a serious expression.

"There are intruders out in the temple hall. I am afraid that going out now would not be a wise decision."

Hana explained as she blocked everyone else from leaving as well. Her dark eyes were fixed on the door and she seemed to be able to see some unknown things.

"Hana, are you sure-"

"Shhhh, they are close enough to hear us now. We cannot make any noise."

Hana warned and then familiarly moved her hand. The sound of people's bodies hitting the ground could be heard.

For one second, it was all silent. And the next, there seemed to be some kind of trouble outside. People were yelling and panicking.

"I knocked the guards down. Now is our chance to escape."

Hana exclaimed and everyone quickly dashed past the panicking crowd.

"Hey, there they are. The intruders have been spotted. Someone goes and tells the queen about this."

One of the guards was vigilant enough to spot them even with everything going on. Hana managed to make the guard faint but it was already too late. The damage had been done.

"Shit, this is bad. Hurry up and run toward that hidden building."

Shimi ordered as she tried to throw blades of wind behind her back. She aimed to slow down the guards following them but it was of no use.

The more she burned her mana, the less of an impact it had on the soldiers. 

"We are almost there. Hurry up and run."

Himeko yelled as soon as the hidden house was in her line of sight. She was about to reach the house boundary when a claw broke her rhythm and caused her to back away.

A familiar body exited the house and looked at the intruders with its majestic, yet dreadful eyes.

Keith was able to shield Himeko in time and prevented her from being bird food. But the Fenrir beast did not like its prey being stolen by anyone.

It changed its targets from Himeko toward Keith and its claw closed around Keith's midsection.

[Synchronization rate 100%. The user can now use the detect function to see this world in a new light.]

Keith was already startled by the Fenrir beasts' actions, so he did not pay attention to the romantic voice speaking in his ears.

His world was turned upside-down already, so when the world took on a bluish tint the next second, Keith did not even register it. He was only able to register what happened when the beast stopped shaking him upside down.

"You stupid bird. Let me go right now."

Keith was not thinking about what he was doing. He was just channeling his mana into his hand and burning the bird holding him hostage.

The Fenrir beast cried out as Divine Magic contacted its fragile winds. It threw Keith as far away as it could and then nursed its hurt wing.

Keith corrects his posture as soon as he was able to and then looked at the beast in front of him. The beast looked back with curious eyes.

There was something written above the Fenrir beast's head and Keith tried hard to focus on that writing.

[Fenrir beast-bird type. Lvl 60. Magical Immunity]

The mechanical writing reminded Keith a lot of the bosses in the game. The only thing that was missing was a health bar on top of the bird and this scene would truly look like a game.

"Grandmaster, are you alright?"

Shimi asked as she quickly dodged everyone else and made her way toward Keith.

Keith blinked as he looked at Shimi. Even her head had that small pop-up-like thing floating above it. It was a little concerning to see all this.

[Shimi, Species - half elf, half succubus, Lvl 40]

"Grandmaster, did something happen? Are you hurt?"

Shimi did not touch Keith but it was a near thing. Her worried eyes were helplessly looking at Keith.

"Grandmaster, is everything OK?"

Master Hana also made her way toward him with a worried expression. Even her head had the same pop-up that everyone else had.

[Hana, Specie - human, profession - Master of the Nihility Guild.  Lvl 100]

It was impressive for a human to be level 100. But if only that helped his current situation.

"Hump, as if this small mishap could do anything to me. All this bird has done is be annoying for me."

Keith forced those words out while keeping an eye on his abdomen. It hurt and it burned him. But complaining about it was not going to help him.

Both Hana and Shimi flinched as soon as they heard his words. A worried expression took over their faces as they realized that they had failed to save the grandmaster.

They were both about to say something when they heard a loud yell diverting their attention away from what was happening in front of them.

"Let go of me. I said, to let go of me. I do not want to go back. You cannot make me go back with you."

It was Himeko who yelled. They all watched as Himeko's wrist was grabbed by a guard and the guard tried her best to take Himeko away.

But the little girl was putting up a fierce fight, refusing to move even a single step.

Master Hana decided to help Himeko by forcing her attacker unconscious. The guard never saw that attack coming and fell as soon as Master Hana instructed her to.

Himeko tried to run toward them, but the earth rose, cutting her access from the rest of the party.

"You have been a naughty child, Himeko. Not only did you try to run away from home, but you were also considered a criminal. You need to be punished because of that."

The elf queen walked into the scene. Her blond hair and blue eyes were calm and confident. Even her temperament was calm and did not let slip her mask. 

She looked at Keith and he shivered internally. The elf-queen's blue eyes were piercing. It was almost as if she could see through him and find all his flaws.

"Well then, seems like we have a predicament on our hands. You even forced our divine protector out of its home. Even if you are a guest of our land, I will have to act against you now."

The elf queen explained, finally stepping in front of her daughter.

[Elf-queen, lvl 70. Warning - her poison is highly corrosive so be careful of her attacks.]

The statue window warned Keith and he tensed up. He had no idea why he was getting all these pop-ups but he felt like it would save his life.

The elf queen raised her hand and the ground beneath Keith's feet rose. He was losing his balance but somehow his body was able to keep itself standing.

That seemed not to be the case for everyone else. Both Shimi and Hana had to lean against something to keep their balance.

And Himeko? She had already lost her balance and was now forced to lie on the ground.

"This is enough playing around. Do you think this small trick will help you out?"

Master Hana yelled as she finally forced her body to stop losing control. Her strings held her up and in position.

The elf-queen did look impressed at Hana's display of expertise but she was also confident in her powers. She was not going to lose to a mere human.

"Oh, so you want to challenge me, little girl? Do not forget that I am your elder. You need to show me respect."