Chapter 107: Hierarchy Advancement (2)

Chapter 107: Hierarchy Advancement (2)

About 30 minutes later.

Shadra’s unusual (?) actions continued.

For example, subtly embracing while talking, or pressing down on one arm, starting with obvious movements to giggling or subtly making promises.

Of course, Kim Hyunwoo felt something was off due to such blatant behavior and looked at Shadra, but every time, Shadra dispelled his suspicions with her expression.

Whenever Kim Hyunwoo looked at her with a puzzled expression, Shadra made an innocent and naive face as if she had not intended such an appeal at all.

“I’m not aware of this behavior at all. I’m just doing this because I’m so happy to see my Dad after such a long time!”

That was her appeal.

Even though it might have seemed like an overt appeal from a third party’s perspective, it was only noticeable from such a perspective and was not that overt after all.

As a result, Shadra, who had been earnestly appealing while avoiding Kim Hyunwoo’s suspicions, began to wind the conversation up.

“Ah, come to think of it, don’t I have to become a hero of Lartania to help Dad?”

“That’s true. I don’t know about regular Labyrinths, but you have to be affiliated with Lartania to take on something like a Boss.”

“Should I just join Lartania then?”

“Wait, wouldn’t that be a problem? You’re affiliated with the Mage Tower, right? Wouldn’t joining Lartania cause various issues?”

“Um- That’s true, being a Tower Master at the Mage Tower means you get a lot of support, like research funding, materials, and other things. But if Dad needs me, I can leave!”

Very cleverly, she successfully made an appeal that she could give up her position as a Tower Master for Kim Hyunwoo.

“No, you don’t need to go that far.”

“Really? But if you ever need me, just let me know. I mean it.”

Shadra successfully scored points with Kim Hyunwoo and then left the scene.

And, watching all this quietly were,

well, to be precise, Loriel and Giral, who had been blankly observing Shadra’s peculiar behavior, both thought the same thing without needing to say it out loud.

“Ah, this might be a bit dangerous.”

Truth be told, though it might seem that way, both Giral and Loriel truly wish for the best for those they serve.

Giral hopes for Merilda’s success, and Loriel wishes for Rin’s well-being.

Ironically, the reason Loriel and Giral, whose wishes are practically in opposition, have a not-so-bad relationship with each other is because of the actions of Merilda and Rin.

...To be honest, neither of them feels much of a threat from the other.

Giral does not feel threatened by Rin.Thê source of this conte/nt n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

Loriel does not feel threatened by Merilda.

That’s the reality.

Even the heads of merchant groups on the same level as them feel a sort of pity for them at this point.

At such a point, seeing a woman who obviously started from a different point and moved differently from Merilda and Rin, it was natural for them to think this way.

“...I’m not a dog, right, I mean, I’m a wolf... But... are wolves canids...? No, I am a wolf...”

“...Was that also not enough? This is inevitable- but somehow with magical power injected-”

Especially seeing their superior, who vacillates from joy to sorrow at the words of the Lord of Lartania, fall into a terrible groggy state due to that woman’s cunning verbal skill made it all the more so.

Thus, without needing to say anything to each other, Loriel and Giral sighed and made up their minds.

“I guess we have to forcefully move and help out after all.”

“We really need to start helping our Master in earnest.”

They had been helping up to now, but now it was truly time for the group to move.

As soon as Shadra finished speaking, the Iron Golem, without hesitation, pulled its hand back and then struck down towards the ground.

Boom!

Kim Hyunwoo, upon seeing the ground on the outside of the wall crater with a sound as loud as fireworks, along with a turn,

“Wow...”

“How about it? This should be enough to help, right?”

“...Do you have time tomorrow?”

“Anytime!”

They immediately decided to descend into the Labyrinth the next day.



The day after Kim Hyunwoo decided to go down into the Labyrinth,

“......”

Kelva, who had been spinning around for quite a while as if leading a horde of demons towards a territory of the Norba Kingdom, was holding back his annoyance with a very angry expression.

Grrrrr!

The reason for his annoyance was, of course, because of Merilda and Rin.

According to his plan, Merilda and Rin should have arrived here a few days ago and, without a doubt, should have been killed by Kelva.

However, contrary to his expectations, the two heroes did not come.

Not only did they not come, but as soon as Kelva set the trap, they seemed to have been waiting for it, went into hiding, and cut off all news, resulting in a tremendous loss for Kelva.

It was critical to subjugate the territory as quickly as possible, yet he had already wasted more than three days, now going on four.

Additionally, the cost of Magic Stones spent on constantly deploying demons and soldiers to capture the two heroes could be considered part of that loss.

The issue of time could be resolved by moving more quickly, and the Magic Stones could be replenished by earning more resources.

However, the reason Kelva was so angry was because of his manifestation.

He had performed an incomplete manifestation to capture Merilda and Rin.

And this incomplete manifestation, though slight, resulted in an inevitable loss of his abilities.

In other words, from Kelva’s perspective, the trap had become meaningless, as it involved the permanent consumption of his abilities.

Grrrrr!

This irreversible stress was a source of considerable annoyance for Kelva, which is why he wore such an angry expression.

Ssshhh!

“...Ah.”

As soon as the time came, he felt all the energy in his body drain away as if it had never been there, letting out a sigh of emptiness and closing his eyes tightly.

And at that moment.

Boom!

“...???”

As if on cue, the explosive sound made Kelva open his eyes involuntarily, and soon he could see it.

The two heroes he had been desperately hoping would come just moments ago were now, as if they had been waiting, gathered together and stepping into the trap.

...In the state where Kelva’s manifestation had just ended.

And then,

“Aaaargh! You fucking bastards!!!”

A cry filled with Kelva’s agony and resentment burst forth.