It would have been better to simply answer that it was an accidental death caused by a monster. But the Isaac in the dream hesitated for a long time before finally opening his mouth.

In fact, that behavior itself suggested the possibility that someone had killed Demian.

Arasila’s mind, which had been too preoccupied with dealing with the monster before her eyes to think of anything else, began to race.

‘If Demian didn’t die because of a monster…’

It means there’s still a possibility he might die. By human hands, at that.

As soon as she realized this, Arasila pushed through the crowd to search for Demian.

“Oh, Lady Vandermir! Where are you going?”

Isaac called out to her, bewildered by her sudden outburst, but Arasila ignored him and pressed forward.

After squeezing through the large knights, she could see the back of Demian’s head in the distance.

‘There he is!’

Demian was walking at the very front of the group. With his tall stature and starlight-like hair, he was easy to spot.

“Demian!”

Arasila called out to him loudly. But either because of the distance or because he couldn’t hear, Demian didn’t turn around.

She slipped past the knights, getting closer and closer to Demian.

The strange thing she noticed was when Ken’s figure, which had been hidden by the large knights, was revealed.

He was one step behind Demian, which was odd because the guide should be leading the way, not lagging slightly behind.

It was even more strange because when he was with Arasila, he walked beside her or slightly ahead.

‘Am I imagining that he seems to be hiding his body somehow?’

Even as she thought this, Arasila found herself watching Ken intently. Her steps grew faster and faster.

‘The chances of someone from the Red Hawk Knights trying to kill Demian are low. The same goes for our side.’

The knights loyal to Demian wouldn’t kill him, and the wizards didn’t exist in the prophetic dream to begin with, so there were only two suspects left.

Ken and Albie Carter, who came along as representatives of the investigation team.

But currently, Albie Carter was walking mixed in with the knights, separated from Demian, so the only person who could assassinate Demian was—

‘Only Ken!’

Just as Arasila came to this conclusion, Ken quietly pulled something out of his sleeve.

Witnessing the cold glint of the blade, Arasila ran forward shouting,

“Demian—!”

The moment Ken tried to stab Demian in the nape of his neck, Arasila threw her magic tool.

Hearing her call, Demian also whirled around, causing Ken’s blade to miss completely.

“Aargh!”

Ken, hit by Arasila’s magic tool, tumbled to the ground.

Demian looked at Ken, who had flown back, with somewhat surprised eyes as he dropped his knife. He never dreamed that the seemingly docile investigation team member who had been quietly guiding them would suddenly attack him.

“What is this…”

“Damn it!”

Ken, having failed in his prepared attack, cursed under his breath as he quickly reached into his bosom.

His eyes were fierce as he breathed heavily, seemingly excited. It was unlike his quiet, unassuming demeanor up until now.

What he finally pulled out was a black sphere small enough to fit in the palm of his hand.

‘Could that be…!’

Arasila’s eyes widened. It was something she had seen before when busting an illegal trade of dark magic artifacts.

If she remembered correctly, it was a magic bomb made by condensing dark mana, which would cause a large explosion when detonated.

Under imperial law, the production of magical artifacts for killing was strictly regulated, so even the wizards of the magic tower didn’t dare to develop such weapons.

Yet Ken had one.

A dark magic bomb was not something easily obtainable, so how could a mere investigation team member have one?

“Demian, step back!”

Ken threw the bomb precisely at Demian. Arasila gritted her teeth and jumped in front of him, forming a protective barrier around him.

With the power of the dark magic bomb, there was a possibility it could penetrate her barrier. Her mind was filled with the thought of protecting him with her body if necessary.

Bang—!

Soon, the bomb exploded with a deafening sound that nearly burst their eardrums.

Acrid smoke billowed in all directions. The knights, frowning, coughed and covered their noses and mouths with their sleeves.

Fortunately, Arasila’s barrier protected them as well, so no one was injured in the explosion.

“Sir! My lady! Are you both alright?!”

The knights waved their arms to clear the smoke and searched for the two.

As the smoke gradually cleared, the figures of Demian and Arasila were revealed.

Demian, who had fallen to the ground from the impact of the explosion, was holding Arasila in his arms.

“My lady…”

He brushed away Arasila’s hair with trembling hands. Her face, revealed beneath, was a mess of blood flowing from her temple.

The power of the dark magic bomb that exploded right in front of her had penetrated Arasila’s barrier.

Demian took a short breath as he confirmed her white uniform stained red in places. His heart fluttered and his vision swam.

“My lady, please wake up. My lady…”

Demian exhaled a ragged breath as he gently shook Arasila’s shoulders. But her tightly closed eyes did not open.

Instead, her head fell limply to the side. Seeing this, Demian’s heart sank as he was reminded of his dead mother.

Then too, he had shaken the shoulders of his mother who had collapsed on the floor, coughing blood, but she had just lolled her head and remained motionless.

“No…”

Demian’s hands shook uncontrollably.

His heart, beating with anxiety, pounded as if it might burst out of his mouth at any moment.

“My lady!”

He held Arasila tightly with bloodshot eyes. Her small, thin body seemed as if it might crumble like a dry leaf.

However, unlike with his mother, he could feel the warmth unique to a living person.

‘…It’s not too late yet. We just need to get her treated quickly.’

Gritting his teeth, Demian stood up carrying Arasila. His mind was filled with nothing but the thought that he had to save her.

“Sir, what on earth happened?”

Isaac, who had rushed over belatedly upon hearing the explosion, looked at Demian with a bewildered face. Then he froze when he saw Arasila bleeding in his arms.

Sally and Rudy, who had followed Isaac with an ominous feeling, were also shocked to find their senior in such a state.

“Kyaa, Senior!”

“No, why is Senior…”

Demian looked at them with eyes that gleamed coldly and ominously. The three flinched when their gazes met.

It was a look filled with such anger that it wouldn’t be strange if he lost his reason at any moment.

“We need to take the lady down immediately. Isaac, you arrest Ken and take care of things here.”

Ken had already fled. Glaring coldly at the empty space, Demian then spoke to Sally and Rudy.

“And you two, follow me.”

Isaac bowed his head respectfully with a grim expression, while Sally and Rudy hurriedly moved their feet to follow Demian.

As he carried Arasila down the mountain, Demian’s hands kept trembling, so he tightly gripped the arms holding her.

He was terribly afraid that if he made a mistake and let go of her, he would lose her forever.

As he descended the rough mountain path almost at a run, there was only one word he muttered inwardly.

Please.

Endlessly repeating just those two syllables, Demian hastened his steps.

The only doctor in Poshan village was a white-haired old man, but surprisingly skilled.

After carefully examining Arasila and treating her wounds, he said to Demian,

“Fortunately, her life is not in danger, but due to the severe impact to her head, it will take some time for her to regain consciousness. Also, the bones in her right arm and leg are broken.”

Demian was half relieved and half despairing at those words. After all, it didn’t change the fact that Arasila had been injured trying to protect him.

He looked at Arasila with dejected eyes. Her complexion was extremely pale as she lay with bandages on her head and limbs.

Demian reached out and gently stroked her slightly cold cheek, then turned to look at Sally and Rudy standing in one corner of the room.

“…I’ll entrust the lady to you for a moment.”

At his low, heavy voice, the two nodded readily.

“Yes, sir. Don’t worry and leave it to us.”

“We’ll take good care of our senior.”

After stroking Arasila’s head several times, Demian left her in their care and went outside.

As soon as he did, Isaac, who had led the subjugation team back in his stead, approached as if he had been waiting. Demian looked out the window where the sun was beginning to set and asked,

“How did it go?”

“We found Ken in the mountains, but he had already committed suicide. I’m sorry. We brought the body back and searched it, but nothing special was found.”

Demian’s lips twisted in the reflection of the window. “He died too easily,” he murmured softly.

Having dared to put Arasila in that state, only killing him in an extremely painful way would have been satisfying.

Forcibly suppressing his surging emotions, Demian finally spoke after a long while.

“A magic bomb is not something easily obtainable. There must be someone behind Ken. Investigate thoroughly and uncover that mastermind.”

“Yes, understood.”

Isaac, having received the order, disappeared down the corridor. Demian sighed and rubbed his face dry.

Most likely, that mastermind was probably the Vandermir ducal family with a very high probability. They had tried to kill them using dark wizards during the hunting festival as well.

In fact, there was no one else who would want to kill him.

However, there was one thing that bothered him.

How did they know about their mission in advance and bribe Ken?

‘There might be someone in league with the ducal family, whether among us, the magic tower, or the investigation team.’

Demian gritted his teeth. He might have let it slide if he had been injured, but he absolutely couldn’t let it go since Arasila had been hurt.

Firmly resolved, he conducted intense interrogations of the investigation team, the Red Hawk Knights, and the wizards from the magic tower to find the informant.

As a result, everyone who participated in the subjugation was confined to temporary quarters and couldn’t move an inch.

The first to be called in was Albie Carter, Ken’s superior and leader of the investigation team.

“How did Ken join the investigation team?”

“About two weeks ago, when we were recruiting additional investigation members, he volunteered himself. He said he was from Poshan village and knew the Tritos Mountains well.”

“Did you choose him?”

“Yes… But I had no idea Ken was such a terrible person! It was just that monsters were coming down towards Poshan village, so I selected Ken since he was from that village!”

He had even received the applicant documents from the capital and chosen Ken without ever seeing his face.

Among the unremarkable applicants, being from Poshan village was certainly an advantage that stood out.

“I have nothing to do with Ken. Why would I try to kill you, sir?”

Albie explained with an aggrieved face. Demian narrowed his eyes sharply and retorted,

“Couldn’t you have been bribed by someone to recruit Ken?”