Rumor

Nis-nim’s meaningful smile made me slightly tense, but then the master spoke with a determined expression.

“Nis, let’s talk for a moment.”

“Oh, of course.”

“Hm.”

The master pointed toward the passage leading to the deepest layer.

The hem of Nis-nim’s black dress fluttered elegantly.

As the two disappeared, an eerie silence fell.

“Hm… Did I do something wrong…?”

Belez looked at me with a puzzled expression.

The Little Butterfly fluttered around me worriedly.

“Because of Seraphina and Beatrice…?”

For some reason, a sense of unease settled in my chest.

Does the master, who seems to dislike humans, consider the Saintess and the Dragon Slayer as enemies?

And…

Nis-nim’s last smile kept flashing in my mind.

It was sweet like poisoned honey, both alluring and dangerous.

Cecilia flew over and sat next to me.

Her warmth enveloped me.

“It’ll be fine… right?”

I tried to reassure myself, but the worry lingered.

Even Belez was unusually quiet.

“Did I talk too much?”

The Little Butterfly shook her head.

But her movement was slower than usual.

At that moment-

BOOM!!!

A tremor was felt from the depths.

It was as if someone had slammed the wall.

“Hm…?”

All the Belez turned their heads toward the deepest layer.

Cecilia’s wings trembled with tension.

***

In the small city of the Kingdom of Afron, known as the “Rain Inn,” the atmosphere was livelier than ever.

Adventurers had gathered to escape the cold of winter.

“I’m telling you, it’s true! I saw it with my own eyes!”

A drunken adventurer at the window raised his voice.

His face was red from the alcohol.

“The Saintess’s divine power has completely changed! Before, it was just healing light, but now…”

He paused and sighed.

The surrounding adventurers looked at him with curious eyes.

“Tell us, what’s different?”

A young adventurer with a sword urged him on.

“It’s destructive power! And it’s immense! The light of peace has become the light of judgment. There’s even a rumor that her divine power can split a mountain in two!”

“That’s nonsense!”

“If that’s nonsense, then what about the Silver Hero? Haven’t you heard that Beatrice has become stronger after returning from Shia Kalt?”

The inn fell silent for a moment.

Everyone knew.

They were all aware that the Silver Hero, Beatrice, had grown significantly stronger recently.

“Right… She can now perform techniques that no one could have imagined before.”

An elderly adventurer with a white beard, his armor bearing the scars of many battles, added his thoughts.

“I saw her fight the Fallen Knights. The light from her Holy Sword was different. “

“And how powerful it was… The Fallen Knights’ armor was torn like paper.”

Only the clinking of glasses could be heard in the inn.

“Is that because of Shia Kalt?”

“Yes, apparently she obtained something there. Some kind of mysterious flower…”

“Hah! A flower? Are they telling us to go find flowers in Shia Kalt when we can’t even cross the Solhan Pass?”

Laughter filled the inn.

But there was one corner where the laughter didn’t reach.

“An interesting story indeed.”

Rain took the last sip of his drink and spoke in a low tone.

Electricity crackled between his fingers.

Adrian, the alchemist sitting next to him, smiled meaningfully.

The potion pouches at his waist glimmered in the moonlight.

“How about it, Rain? Should we…”

“Are you crazy? Do you know how dangerous Shia Kalt and the Solhan Pass are?”

Hawin, the archer, shook his head.

His bow, which had felled hundreds of monsters, rested in his hand.

But Rain had already made up his mind.

“Let’s go.”

“What?!”

The two exclaimed in unison.

“You’re not going to brag about becoming an A-rank just to fail, are you?”

Adrian asked with a worried expression.

His white alchemist robe shimmered in the candlelight.

Snowstorms raged outside the window.

The distant Shia Kalt Mountains gleamed coldly under the moonlight.

“It’s not bragging. This is an opportunity for us.”

Electricity crackled in Rain’s sword.

It had always been this way.

Whenever he got excited, the lightning responded.

“Rain…”

Hawin sighed.

“Listen. We’ve been preparing for this for so long.”

Rain’s voice was filled with determination.

Memories from long ago surfaced in his mind.

He was ten years old.

It was when he first awakened to the power of lightning on the mountain behind his village.

Adrian had grabbed him, and Hawin had calmed him down.

At fifteen, they vowed to become true adventurers.

Adrian began studying alchemy, and Hawin trained with his bow.

At twenty, they set out on their first expedition.

They were clumsy, but they trusted each other and succeeded.

And now, they had finally become A-rank adventurers.

“We’ve dreamed of becoming the greatest adventurers since we were kids. With your lightning leading the way, my alchemy ensuring our survival…”

Adrian spoke up.

“And my arrows eliminating the enemies.”

Hawin added.

The three looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“Hah… If you’re going to be like that, I guess we have no choice.”

Adrian smirked.

The vials of glowing potions in his pocket jingled.

“I’ve also made some new elixirs. This time, they won’t fail.”

“Yes, let’s go. There’s nothing the three of us can’t handle, right?”

Hawin said, fiddling with his bowstring.

His quiver was full of specially crafted silver arrows.

“Okay! Let’s leave tomorrow morning. To Shia Kalt and…”

Rain paused for a moment before continuing with a smirk.

“Let’s acquire the power the hero possesses.”

The night deepened.

Through the window of the inn, the distant snow-capped mountains shone white under the moonlight.

***

The circular conference room of the Kingdom of Genes’ castle.

Columns adorned with blue jade let in the morning sunlight.

“I have something important to discuss.”

Duke Crosby stood up.

His seasoned eyes gleamed sharply.

“Speak, Duke.”

King Adelheit III nodded.

“There’s a peculiar rumor about Shia Kalt. After the Silver Hero and the Saintess visited…”

Crosby paused, choosing his words carefully, before continuing.

“They’ve become unimaginably powerful. Especially the Saintess’ divine power-it’s completely different from before.”

“An intriguing tale indeed.”

Adelheit III stroked his beard.

“Yes, indeed.” Count Walter stood up.

“My knight witnessed it personally. The Saintess’ battle against the monsters… It was like the light of judgment.”

“Just a moment.”

Duke Reinhardt stood up abruptly.

His face was lined with deep wrinkles.

“Is this about the Solhan Pass, where countless knights have perished? Have you forgotten the knights we’ve lost in the past 20 years?”

The conference room stirred.

“Yes,” another noble agreed.

“Last year alone, we lost an entire knight order.”

Duke Crosby’s cold voice cut through the noise.

“So, are we to remain idle? Before the Heshet Empire makes a move…”

“The Empire, you say?”

Several nobles exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes.” Crosby nodded.

“The Empire’s movements are suspicious. They must have heard the rumors as well.”

The king rose from his throne.

The room fell silent in an instant.

“I share your opinion.”

His voice carried weight.

“I will dispatch the knights myself.”

The nobles murmured at the king’s declaration.

“As Duke Crosby said, this is a crucial matter. If Shia Kalt holds such power…”

The king’s gaze sharpened.

“Our kingdom must be the first to claim it.”

***

The training grounds of the Kingdom of Genes’ Knight Order.

A cold winter wind whipped through the flags of the training field.

“Second Knight Captain.”

Chancellor Valerius approached slowly.

His black robe fluttered in the wind.

“Milord.”

Rowen bowed respectfully, though his eyes were sharp.

“His Majesty has a direct order.”

Valerius glanced around before lowering his voice.

“It’s about investigating Shia Kalt. The rumors about the Silver Hero and the Saintess…”

“Shia Kalt…”

Rowen’s lips curled into a faint smile.

He had risen not through his own abilities, but through the deals and connections of his noble family.

But if this mission succeeded…

“Do not worry. The Second Knight Order is more than capable.”

Valerius took a step closer.

“Especially, there’s something you must pay attention to. According to the rumors, there’s a mysterious flower there. The reason the hero and the saint have grown stronger…”

“The flower… You mean we’re to retrieve it.”

Rowen’s eyes gleamed with greed.

“Yes.”

“If you find it…”

“Of course.” Rowen interrupted him.

“With that power…”

“No longer will I need to cater to the whims of high-ranking nobles.”

Valerius smiled, satisfied with Rowen’s ambition.

“One more thing to note.”

“Speak.”

“This mission is top-secret. Even if you encounter others…”

“I understand. It must remain a secret from them as well.”

After Valerius left, Rowen stood up.

“Claude.”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Select 60 elite knights.”

A knight quickly stepped forward.

“Captain.”

A cold voice echoed across the training field.

It was Edgar, the youngest and most celebrated knight of the Hind family.

“With your permission, I’d like to lead the vanguard.”

Rowen looked at Edgar.

‘A genius? He’s just arrogant.’

But such a conceited and ambitious knight was perfect for a dangerous mission.

“A knight as skilled as yourself is exactly what we need.”

Edgar’s lips formed a confident smile.

But his cold eyes flickered for a moment.

Shia Kalt…

Seven years ago, it was the place his older brother, whom he admired the most, had left for.

‘The shame of the family…’

His brother, born into a noble house, had abandoned it to become an adventurer.

He probably died trying to cross the Solhan Pass.

Since then, Edgar had trained himself ruthlessly.

He would not fail like his incompetent brother; he would surely succeed.

“Don’t worry.” Edgar’s voice was cold.

“I… will never fail.”

‘Unlike my brother.’

The unspoken words echoed in his heart.

Rowen smiled, satisfied with the ambition in Edgar’s eyes.

“Very well. I’ll entrust the vanguard to you.”

The two shared ambitious smiles.

For Rowen, it was power; for Edgar, it was honor.