Smoke filled the air as the shape of a monster emerged.

Eric, picking up a fallen guard’s sword, immediately slashed at the monster.

The sword was lighter and less burdensome than the one he was used to, but it sufficed for dealing with the monster.

‘Same type of sorcerer. Same kind of monster.’

Eric adjusted his grip on the sword and attacked the monster again.

The number of combatants seemed limited, and several of the guards were also trying to flee.

“Do not run!”

At Eric’s loud shout, the fleeing guards hesitated.

“15 minutes, just endure for 15 minutes. The 1st Knights Division will arrive soon!”

“Captain Russel!”

Several of the Royal Guards ran up to Eric.

Eric issued his orders in an even louder voice.

“It’s more dangerous if you run! There will be monsters outside, too. Hold your ground here!”

Encouraging the guards and the Royal Guards, Eric took down another monster.

At the sight of Eric, one by one the guards tightened their grip on their swords again.

“Where’s His Majesty?”

“I saw him escape a while ago.”

“I see.”

After confirming that the Emperor was not inside, Eric immediately took down another monster.

“If you can’t hold on, pass it to me. I’ll take over.”

“Yes, yyes.”

“Move in pairs of two. That way, we can bring them down sufficiently.”

“Yes!”

Relief spread over the faces of the hesitating guards.

Then they began to follow Eric in attacking the monsters.

‘Alicia. Please come back safely.’

Thinking of Alicia made Eric feel anxious, and he took deep breaths to calm himself down.

Facing monsters had become routine and not particularly challenging, but if he were to act recklessly and get hurt, Alicia would surely scold him heavily.

It was terrifying when Alicia got angry.

So, he needed to quickly defeat them and return safely.

With that thought, he took down another monster.

(This is a time marker.)

Alicia, who had been running in the opposite direction from Eric, stopped after a short distance.

A monster appeared in the direction she had run from.

“Has it already reached this far?”

She’d need to hurry even more.

But a few meters ahead of that monster, a woman was crouching down.

Seemingly paralyzed with fear, she was inching backward slowly.

The monster then noticed her and opened its mouth to let out a loud noise.

The woman screamed simultaneously.

Seeing this, Alicia hesitated no more and ran straight toward them.

Blocking the woman’s front, she drew a sword held by a knight’s statue standing beside her.

It was a bit heavy and slightly rusty, but it seemed usable.

“Are you okay?”

“Lancaster?”

“Can you stand, O’Brien?”

“Why–”

“There’s no time to discuss that now.”

Holding the sword in one hand, Alicia extended her other hand toward Kate.

“Hurry. Grab my hand and stand up.”

With trembling hands, Kate grasped Alicia’s hand and stood.

“Don’t be too scared. Do you see the direction where the courtroom is?”

“Yes.”

“When I give the signal, run that way. Don’t scream; it will agitate the monster.”

“Ah, okay.”

Both of them retreated a little.

Kate’s hand, still holding Alicia’s, continued to tremble.

The monster, cautiously watching the two women, tilted its head and moved slightly forward.

Drool dripped from its large mouth.

At that sight, Kate instinctively tightened her grip on Alicia’s hand.

“A courageous young lady, indeed.”

A man in a black robe adorned with a red ring sat atop a statue, giggling while watching Alicia.

“So, is this the minimum expectation for a knight captain’s fiancée?”

“Looks entertaining to me.”

“Don’t you think so?”

Another man in a black robe turned his head toward Alicia from the adjacent statue.

“Well, I wouldn’t call it entertaining.”

“Tsk. How dull.”

“As I told you.”

The man with the red ring shook his head at his companion’s indifferent tone.
“I didn’t raise you to be like this. What’s the fun in living for you? Is there really nothing interesting?”

“Well, would it be fun if that woman gets eaten by the monster?”

“That’s not acceptable. There are things one can say and things one shouldn’t.”

The man with the red ring chastised the indifferent man, then turned his gaze back to Alicia.

“How do you feel?”

“I’m fine. I think I have enough magic to destroy this place since the last time. But it will probably end with that.”

“There’s no choice then. For now, we can only be satisfied with that.”

“I see. What about the monster?”

“The captain of the knights is holding it off.”

“Hmm. Seems like you’ve gained quite a bit of experience. Impressive.”

Though the man with the red ring seemed intrigued, the other man was not.

“I’m getting irritated, that guy.”

“Just leave him. His floundering is cute.”

Cute, that dark man?

The indifferent man’s face slightly contorted at the incomprehensible choice of words.

“When will you start?”

“After watching what that lady does.”

“Do you have to say it?”

“Aren’t you curious how she’ll get out of this?”

“I’m not particularly interested, but do as you please.”

The indifferent man disappeared as he mumbled in resignation.