Hazen, who had just finished eating, unknowingly inserted himself between Kite and Ruela, missing the moment their hands met.

“We’ll go too. Where can we check?”

“…….”

As naturally as Ruela’s hand was released, Kite’s expression subtly stiffened. However, this time, even Ruela didn’t notice.

Without attaching any significant meaning to holding hands, Ruela responded to Hazen.

“We need to go to the main gate. Shall we?”

Outside, Kite, who was watching Ruela, asked, “Should I bring the carriage?”

Considering the distance to the main gate, he asked this thought, but Ruela waved her hand as if to say, “Why bother bringing such a thing?”

“No, it’s okay. It’s not far, we can just walk.”

Kate, feeling somewhat bitter for some reason, made an effort not to show his disappointment and followed her.

Although they went out for a quest, they had returned in the early morning, so the sunlight was still bright. They walked through the entrance of the garden as if they were going for a stroll.

“It’s hotter today than yesterday. It will probably get hotter now.”

“Yeah. It’s already been ten days since we came here.”

“Only ten days? It feels like it’s been a few years because so much has happened.”

“I’ve been moving around a lot.”

Walking side by side with Kite, Ruela listened attentively to the sound of footsteps behind her.
The early summer trees proudly stretched out with freshness, and butterflies, who came to visit various blooming flowers, fluttered around here and there.

“It’s unbelievably peaceful, considering we just fought monsters a while ago.”

Kite seemed to share the same thoughts as Ruela as he looked around and commented.

“Kite.”

“Yeah?”

“By any chance, would you feel disappointed if I disappeared?”

He stopped walking.

“What are you talking about?”

Ruela casually brought up the question, and suddenly Kite’s gaze sharpened as he asked in an interrogative tone.

Ruela then looked at Kite, covering her eyes with her hand. He was receiving the full force of the bright midday sun, making it too dazzling to look directly at.

“Just wondering. I might disappear just as suddenly as I came.”

Ruela lowered her hand and started walking again.

“That won’t happen.”

In response to Kite’s firm words, Ruela spoke with a puzzled expression.

“How do you know that?”

“I asked Senhwe.”

“Even if he summoned my soul, he wouldn’t know about my future.”

Kite’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t understand why she would say such a thing. In a somewhat skeptical tone, he asked, “Is something really going to happen?”

Although Ruela claimed that nothing happened when they went to Valder’s mansion, the reality might be different.
However, Ruela shook her head and vehemently denied, “No. Just the thought of failing to defeat Duke Kuran made me anxious about what might happen. Moreover, seeing Valder come this time, I couldn’t help but fear whether I could escape from that man.”

Kite looked at her with an expression that questioned if that was really all, but Ruela didn’t provide any further explanation. Nevertheless, Kite’s expression became more serious.

Perhaps her uncertain attitude so far had made her uneasy. From Kite’s perspective, who was responsible for everyone’s lives here, his cautious stance was just a matter of prudence. He might not have realized that it could have made Ruela anxious.

Come to think of it, Ruela was not originally from this place. Being unexpectedly brought to this world by Senhwe and getting involved in such a situation, it was natural for her to feel that the future was uncertain.

Maybe she just didn’t show her concerns until now…

As Kite continued his thoughts, he eventually had to admit that he had been too indifferent. So, he decisively stated, “Don’t worry. I will definitely bring down the Kuran royal family.”

However, Ruela brought up a suddenly strange question, “What if we have to kill Duke Kuran by the end of next month?”
The people who were following them also seemed to be listening to their conversation, and the surroundings suddenly became quiet.

“I remember being anxious last time too, is there any reason for it this time? If there is, tell me honestly.”

Although Ruela hesitated at Kite’s inquiry, she decided to speak honestly. She knew that if she lingered too much, she might really evaporate as it is.

Ruela first copied the announcement from the bulletin board and displayed it in the chat window. Her colleagues stared at the screen in silence, wondering if the information had been successfully shared.

The first to speak was Kite.

“What does this mean? If we don’t save NPC Ruela Romine when defeating Duke Kuran, we won’t be able to see her in the next expansion pack?”

“Our square window is connected to people from other worlds as well.”

Kite nodded. Even if it was now a difficult concept to grasp, he just accepted it without saying anything, and Ruela felt pleased, as if he was showing consideration for her.

“The administrators say that the team that first defeats Duke Kuran will decide whether to keep Ruela Romine alive or not.”