“What happened, Kiv?”

“I apologize. I got distracted for a moment.”

As the orangehaired man called Kiv spoke apologetically, the person sitting in front of him sighed.

Kiv then added, almost defensively,

“I thought it would be fine since he was with Count Russel.”

“…”

“And it was hard to keep an eye on him as he was very restless.”

“Kiv.”

The tone was gentle but carried a strong sense of authority, making Kiv slightly tense up.

“I apologize. Count Russel, who had stopped by the police post, has headed north toward the capital. Oh, and I intercepted the message he sent to the 2nd Knights Division.”

“Why did you intercept the message and still stay here?”

“I was about to go. I felt I needed to report.”

“Kiv, you should be reporting to Commander Russel now.”

“Acting Commander.”

“He’s also the commander of the 2nd Knights Division. There’s no issue with the title.”

“Ah. But Russel… the Commander hasn’t received his official appointment yet.”

“Kiv, let’s discuss this later. Follow quickly. If something happens, I can’t back you up.”

“Understood.”

Acknowledging the command from the leader who had been protecting the Zero Knights Division the longest, Kiv immediately left the place.

He then started running toward the north of the capital with his colleague, the magician Noah.

(This is a time separator.)

“Ugh.”

Stricken by an immense headache, Alicia slowly rose from her seat, holding her head.

Her head still ringing, she sat down in a daze, eyes closed, pressing her temples hard.

Behind her, a blue butterfly fluttered up and disappeared.

A moment later, her headache seemed to ease a bit, so Alicia slowly opened her eyes and looked around.

“Where am I? Why am I here?”

Confused, Alicia examined her surroundings.

She rose from her seat and wandered around inside the temple.

The broken stone pillars and walls were in disarray, but where sunlight filtered in, grass grew and flowers bloomed, evoking a sense of wonder.

Yet the shape of the grass and flowers seemed both familiar and unfamiliar, slightly altered from what she knew.

“Is this an archaeological site? Or a ruined temple?”

She walked a bit further into a brighter area.

Although still inside the building, the collapsed ceiling allowed light to pour in, brightening the area.

“What on earth is going on?”
She had clearly been standing under the awning of the plaza café, waiting for Eric.

Even after he disappeared from her sight, the rain continued to pour, and as she blankly stared at it, Eric suggested they should leave quickly.

However.

“Was it Eric?”

The man in Alicia’s memory had certainly been Eric, but upon reflection, he seemed unfamiliar.

Her head throbbing, Alicia scrunched her face but still tried to recall her memory.

“I think I saw a red light.”

The moment she remembered that light, Alicia’s whole body bristled with goosebumps.

She rubbed her arms, trying to think rationally.

“Was I kidnapped? But why is no one around?”

She looked around.

Various sundries were visible, but they all seemed to have been abandoned a long time ago.

Not even animals like birds were in sight.

Feeling desolate as if she had been left alone in this world, Alicia became more cautious than before.

“Let’s go outside first.”

Thinking of Eric, who would be worried about her, Alicia quickly picked up a thin iron rod she found on the ground.

“This should work as a weapon.”

Gripping the rod firmly, Alicia cautiously left the temple.

(This is a time separator.)

Khueeek[dash].

Eric shook off the black blood of the monster that had stained his sword.

He had lost count of how many he had already dealt with.

Whether in the plaza, the opera house, or during investigations, he had never fought this many monsters alone.

“Damn it.”

He muttered softly, wiping the blood off his face.

His breath was getting shallow.

Still, he couldn’t stop moving, worried about Alicia who might be somewhere around, given the number of monsters appearing.

‘It might be better if she’s with her kidnapper right now.’

At least the kidnapper would try to keep Alicia safe until getting what he wants.

Comforting himself with that thought, he slashed through another monster.

‘Allen should have arrived by now. Why no news?’

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Eric glanced in the direction he had come from.

Just then, monsters rushed at him from the front and both sides.

He swung his sword mightily, cutting down the monsters charging from the right and front, but missed the one on the left.

As Eric bent down to dodge, the monster crumpled in front of him.

“?”

The orangehaired man, Kib, who had slashed the monster, shook off the monster’s blood from his sword and turned his head toward Eric.

As their eyes met, Kib greeted him with a cheerful smile.

“Ah, what a coincidence. We meet again. How are you, Captain Russel?”