Finally, Garrick and Ren made their way out of the dungeon.
Both of them were breathing heavily.
“Haa… haa…”
The moment he stepped outside, Ren let himself fall flat onto the grass with his arms spread wide.
He stared up at the sky, struggling to catch his breath.
“Phew…”
He took a deep breath.
“Going down was… way easier… pant…”
Garrick stopped a few steps behind him.
Bent over with both hands resting on his knees, he was trying just as hard to recover.
“Well… of course… pant…”
“Going downhill is always easier.”
Lysera had already exited the cave, carrying the unconscious Mirelya in her arms.
She looked down at the mage and quietly said,
“Mirelya still hasn’t woken up…”
Garrick raised his head.
After taking another deep breath, he walked over.
“Let me check something.”
He knelt beside Mirelya and gently took hold of her wrist.
Closing his eyes, he remained perfectly still for several seconds.
Only then did he slowly open them again.
A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
“She’s fine.”
He carefully released her wrist.
“Her pulse is steady.”
Resting on his elbows, Ren looked over at Mirelya.
“That explosion must’ve hit her pretty hard…”
Garrick gave a small nod.
“It did.”
Then his gaze shifted toward Lysera.
His expression became serious again.
“Well…”
“Lysera.”
“I suppose…”
“After this mission…”
“We’ll be going our separate ways, won’t we?”
Ren glanced back and forth between them.
Lysera remained silent for a few moments before answering softly.
“Ah…”
She lowered her eyes.
“Right.”
“You’re right.”
Garrick frowned slightly.
“Before that…”
He fixed his eyes on her.
“You seemed unusually interested in this goblin mission.”
“Why?”
Silence returned.
Lysera stood motionless for several seconds.
Then she slowly lifted her head.
“And you?”
Garrick raised an eyebrow.
“Hm?”
“What do you mean…”
Her eyes briefly shifted toward Ren.
“…that Ren is from another world?”
Garrick immediately covered part of his face with one hand.
“She actually remembered that…?”
Lysera folded her arms.
“Look…”
“Let’s finish this mission first, okay?”
Ren raised his hand.
“We still have to talk to old man Goro.”
Garrick’s expression changed instantly.
A sly grin spread across his face.
“You’re right.”
He snapped his fingers.
“You just reminded me about that old man.”
His grin widened.
“Let’s go.”
He looked back at Mirelya.
“Alright…”
“I’ll carry her.”
“She’s still unconscious.”
Garrick bent down and reached out to pick her up.
Then—
Mirelya’s eyes suddenly flew open.
Almost instinctively, she thrust one arm forward.
Her fingers pointed straight at Garrick.
“Blazing Flames!”
A torrent of fire erupted between them.
The flames shot past Garrick’s face by mere inches.
The warrior’s eyes went wide.
Everyone froze.
Silence hung in the air for several seconds.
Mirelya blinked repeatedly.
Still dazed, she looked around.
“H-Huh…?”
Her eyes landed on Garrick.
“G-Garrick?”
The warrior clenched his teeth.
A vein bulged on his forehead.
“ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!”
Mirelya jolted upright.
“I-I’m sorry!”
She hurriedly sat up.
“I-I thought you were a goblin…”
Garrick pointed at his own face.
“Oh…”
“So I look like a goblin now?!”
She frantically shook her head.
“No!”
“That’s not what I meant!”
The tense atmosphere lasted only a moment.
Then—
“Hahaha!”
Ren burst into laughter.
He clutched his stomach as he laughed.
“What was that?!”
Even Lysera relaxed a little.
A faint smile appeared in her eyes.
“I’m glad…”
She looked at Mirelya.
“…you’re okay.”
Ren nodded.
“We were really worried about you.”
Still looking annoyed, Garrick let out a sigh.
Then he extended his hand toward Mirelya.
She looked at his hand first.
Then into his eyes.
A faint smile crossed her face.
“T-Thank you.”
She took his hand.
Garrick pulled her to her feet.
Once she was standing, he spoke in a serious tone.
“Don’t let your guard down like that again.”
He looked toward Ren.
“Ren saved all of us.”
Mirelya’s eyes widened.
“Ren?”
She immediately turned toward him.
“Really?”
Lysera answered before he could.
“I only heard an incredibly loud explosion.”
Garrick crossed his arms.
“Well…”
He looked at Ren.
“Ren punched that dragon…”
“…and actually knocked it down.”
He let out a slow breath.
“But now…”
His expression hardened.
“I want some answers from Goro.”
He started walking.
“Let’s go.”
Then he looked back at Lysera.
“Oh…”
“And you?”
She tilted her head.
“What about me?”
Garrick answered bluntly. Get faster updates on g.com.
“When are you leaving us?”
Lysera pouted slightly.
“You didn’t have to say it like that…”
“I was already go—”
Before she could finish—
Mirelya interrupted her.
“Lysera.”
The assassin turned toward her.
The mage smiled warmly.
“If you don’t have anywhere else to go…”
She paused briefly.
“…would you like to stay with us for a while?”
Ren immediately looked at Mirelya.
“Mirelya…?”
Garrick nearly stopped walking.
He turned around, staring at her in disbelief.
“Seriously?”
He gestured toward Lysera.
“The Assassin class…”
“…is far too suspicious.”
Mirelya didn’t look away.
“But she took care of me.”
She smiled gently.
“I remember her protecting me before the explosion.”
Garrick remained silent.
Slowly, his fists tightened.
His knuckles turned white.
His eyes never left Lysera.
Ren finally stepped in.
“I’ll keep an eye on her, Garrick.”
He smiled reassuringly.
“You don’t have to worry.”
Garrick let out a quiet sigh.
“She’ll fool you, Ren.”
Ren frowned.
“Fool me?”
He let out a small laugh.
“No way.”
Lysera watched Garrick for several seconds.
Then she quietly asked,
“Why…”
Her voice grew softer.
“…do you hate me so much?”
Silence fell over the road.
No one spoke.
Garrick stood perfectly still.
His fists remained clenched.
After several long seconds…
He took a deep breath.
Then looked Lysera straight in the eyes.
When he finally spoke, his voice carried neither anger nor mockery.
“I appreciate what you did.”
“But…”
He paused.
“I can’t trust your class.”
Lysera’s eyes widened.
“W… What?”
Garrick simply looked away.
His eyes turned toward the road leading to Goro’s cabin.
“I’m sorry…”
His voice was quiet.
“But I just can’t.”
Ren walked a few steps behind Lysera.
Noticing that she had remained silent ever since her conversation with Garrick, he decided to speak.
“Don’t worry.”
She turned her head slightly.
Ren smiled reassuringly.
“I…”
He scratched the back of his neck.
“I only met them recently too, remember?”
He glanced at Garrick and Mirelya walking ahead.
“They’re good people.”
Lysera remained silent for a moment.
Then a faint smile appeared on her face.
“You don’t have to apologize, Ren.”
She looked back toward the road.
“We only met today too.”
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
“Hehe.”
As they continued walking…
Ren noticed a few leaves drifting gently to the ground.
A moment later…
One of the branches above them swayed.
He looked up.
“…”
“Huh…”
“I could’ve sworn someone was up there…”
He kept staring into the treetops for a few more seconds before asking,
“Did you guys hear that?”
Mirelya turned toward him.
“Hear what?”
Ren discreetly pointed upward.
“I thought I saw someone up in the trees.”
Garrick kept walking without even looking back.
He scoffed.
“Pfft…”
“Ridiculous.”
His tone remained completely calm.
“If there were a hostile presence nearby…”
“…we would’ve sensed it immediately.”
Lysera also glanced toward the treetops.
After a brief moment, she gently shook her head.
“I didn’t sense anything either, Ren.”
Ren continued staring at the trees for another second.
“…”
“Was I just imagining it?”
In the end, he let out a quiet breath.
Without another word…
He continued walking with the others.
The four of them continued down the forest path.
Silence accompanied them for most of the journey.
The woods were peaceful.
Only the wind rustled through the treetops while distant birds sang in the background.
After some time…
Goro’s small cabin finally came into view.
As they approached…
Everyone slowed to a stop.
Sitting with his back turned toward them…
…was old Goro.
But something was completely different now.
He was wearing armor.
And beside him rested a long spear, leaning against his shoulder.
Garrick’s eyes narrowed instantly.
His expression hardened.
“I knew it…”
His hand slowly gripped the hilt of his sword.
“It was a trap.”
Mirelya’s eyes widened.
“B-But…”
She stepped forward.
“Wait, Garrick!”
The warrior ignored her.
He walked straight toward the old man.
Each step was firmer than the last.
When only a few meters separated them…
He stopped.
His hand was already resting on the hilt of his sword.
“Answer me, old man.”
His voice was cold.
“Why did you set us up?”
Goro remained perfectly still.
He continued sitting with his back turned.
Not a single response.
Garrick frowned even deeper.
“Don’t play dumb.”
He pointed at the armor.
Suddenly…
The old man stood up.
“Hm?”
He glanced over his shoulder.
“What is it?”
Garrick didn’t answer.
His fists tightened.
His eyes never left the man.
Then Goro finally recognized him.
A smile spread across his face.
“Oh…”
He pointed at Garrick.
“It’s you.”
He casually scratched the back of his head.
“You shouldn’t wake an old man like that…”
He chuckled.
“So suddenly.”
Silence returned.
For several seconds…
The only sound was the distant singing of birds.
Then Garrick spoke again.
“You were sleeping…”
“…with a spear?”
Goro laughed casually.
“Hahaha.”
“Ah, yes.”
He shrugged.
“I was getting impatient.”
“Hehe.”
By then…
Ren, Mirelya, and Lysera had caught up.
Garrick wasted no time.
“Start talking before I cut you in half.”
His gaze grew even colder.
“Why did you set us up?”
Mirelya was carefully examining the old man’s armor.
Her expression changed.
“Sir…”
She leaned in slightly.
“That armor…”
She frowned.
“…looks like it’s from the Kingdom of Drakthar.”
A faint smile appeared on Goro’s face.
“Wow…”
He looked directly at her.
“So you recognize that kingdom, miss?”
Mirelya blinked.
Before she could answer—
Goro vanished.
Her eyes widened.
“Huh?”
She looked around in confusion.
“Where did he—”
A voice came from directly behind her.
“I wasn’t informed about someone like you.”
Mirelya froze.
Something cold pressed against her neck.
A knife.
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Garrick reacted first.
“What?!”
He drew his sword instantly.
“Damn it!”
“Mirelya!”
His blade pointed directly at Goro.
Ren also assumed a fighting stance.
His fists clenched tightly.
“If I miss my punch…”
His eyes flicked toward Mirelya.
“I’ll hit her instead…”
Lysera drew both of her daggers.
Every trace of emotion vanished from her face.
“Who are you, old man?”
Goro chuckled.
“I already introduced myself.”
Then his gaze shifted toward Lysera.
“But…”
He smiled.
“My, my… I hadn’t even noticed.”
“What is an Assassin doing with this group?”
He continued staring at her.
“I bet you’ve suffered plenty of discrimination.”
His voice remained calm.
“Our kingdom welcomes people like you with open arms.”
Lysera shot a quick glance at Ren.
Then immediately looked back at Goro.
“Th-That’s…”
She tightened her grip on her daggers.
“None of your business, old man.”
“He’s faster than I am…”
she thought.
Even with the knife pressed against her throat…
Mirelya remained surprisingly calm.
A faint smile crossed her lips.
“Thank you…”
she said quietly.
“For giving me enough time.”
Goro frowned.
“For what are you ta—”
“AAAAAH!!”
Flames engulfed part of his clothing.
Instinctively, he leaped backward, putting distance between himself and Mirelya.
The mage immediately retreated as well.
She raised her staff confidently.
“Did you really think…”
“…I’d be captured that easily?”
Garrick watched the scene unfold.
A bead of sweat rolled down his face.
“The goblins captured you pretty easily just a little while ago…”
he thought.
Goro spun rapidly in place like a top.
The flames gradually died out.
When he stopped…
The spear was now strapped across his back.
Instead, he held two daggers.
He smiled.
“Since you’ve cornered me…”
“…I’ll have no choice but to fight.”
His eyes swept across the entire group.
“No one will complain if you all die…”
He paused.
Then his gaze settled on Ren.
“Everyone…”
His smile widened.
“…except you.”
“Hero.”
Ren swallowed hard.
Mirelya’s eyes widened.
“H-How…”
“How do you know?”
Lysera narrowed her eyes.
“You’re an Assassin too?”
Her gaze briefly shifted to the spear on his back.
“But…”
“What’s with the spear?”
Goro smiled.
“I have no reason to answer your questions.”
He assumed a fighting stance.
“I’ll dispose of all of you quickly.”
His gaze stopped on Lysera.
“Especially you…”
“…the girl who rejected my offer.”
Ren stood frozen.
His eyes shifted from Goro…
…to Garrick…
…to Mirelya…
…and finally to Lysera.
“…”
“I don’t even know what’s going on anymore…”