Chapter 202

Elaine here…?

This wasn’t part of the plan.

I hadn’t expected her to volunteer to join me.

I was the minority.

No, I was alone.

On the other hand, my classmates were the overwhelming majority.

Given her usual personality, it would have been natural for her to choose to stay and ensure the safety of the majority.

That’s what I had expected.

But she wanted to come with me?

…What did she eat yesterday?

Anyway, her words were essentially saying this.

She was choosing me, one person, over the majority of our classmates.

As a man, I couldn’t dislike such a choice from a beautiful friend, but it felt burdensome.

It wasn’t the situation itself that was burdensome.

It was the burden of this game’s characteristic where mishandling relationships with heroines led straight to a bad ending.

‘…Am I doing something wrong?’

A slight sense of anxiety washed over me, but I didn’t think so.

I decided to accept it as goodwill.

Because Master Glick, the leader of the enemies, was at Mount Cali.

He was a much stronger mage than the leader I had just fought.

Twenty people, including Glick, versus me.

I had already made plans and calculations, but honestly, it was a bit of a risky fight for me alone.

Elaine’s participation might actually be a good thing for me, in terms of preventing any unforeseen circumstances.

“Thank you. It’s reassuring to have you with me.”

I smiled.

“W-Wait! If Elaine leaves…”

“Y-Yeah, it feels really unsettling.”

The other classmates expressed their anxiety.

I understood.

They would feel even more uneasy after what had just happened.

Elaine said calmly,

“It’s okay. Riviera is here.”

The classmates’ expressions finally started to relax.

“R-Right, she’s here.”

“Sh-She was amazing earlier.”

Riviera, who had single-handedly blocked one entrance and dealt with twenty dark mages, just like Elaine.

Normally, she was a strange classmate with a personality that made it awkward to deal with, but in a situation like this, she was the most reliable person.

But.

“Hmm, I’d rather be excluded. I’m going to sleep.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Riviera said bluntly, as if it wasn’t even worth considering, and closed her eyes.

Snore.

She was already snoring.

…She was definitely on another wavelength (changed 4D to wavelength its just makes more sense).

An awkward silence.

And then.

“E-Elaine is the only one!”

“S-Save us, Elaine!”

…Did a murderer suddenly appear in front of them?

Well, technically, murderers had appeared.

Anyway, with that kind of reaction, Elaine would have no choice but to change her mind, even if she felt pressured.

Well, it couldn’t be helped…

“Sorry, I’m not changing my mind. I’ll stay with Max.”

Huh?

…Seriously, why?

You’re not that kind of heroine.

“This isn’t the only dangerous place.”

Elaine’s expression was serious.

Only then did I realize.

What she was thinking.

The entire island was dangerous.

That’s why she couldn’t leave me alone.

“I-I’ll go with you too, Team Leader.”

Someone else stepped forward.

Of course, it was Allen.

He had done his part this time, even more than expected.

It was finally paying off that I had raised him.

But this time, I hadn’t planned on taking him.

Because it was dangerous.

It wasn’t an environment where I could fight while also being responsible for his life.

But if Elaine was there.

‘He wouldn’t be in mortal danger, right?’

I made my decision and nodded.

“Heh, do as you please. You’re responsible for yourself.”

“Of course, Team Leader!”

Allen replied energetically.

“O-One more person?”

“No, it’s okay, it’s just Allen.”

“That’s true.”

“…”

Was Allen considered someone who didn’t matter?

…Weren’t they being too harsh?

“You got Allen, so leave Elaine behind!”

“Y-Yeah, please, not Elaine…”

Was Elaine some object I could just do whatever I wanted with?

Elaine quickly grabbed my arm, as I stood there dumbfounded.

“Let’s go.”

“Uh, yeah.”

And so, I was dragged outside by Elaine.

“I-I’m coming too!”

I heard Allen’s desperate voice chasing after us.

* * *

“They’re late.”

Glick frowned, his expression hardening.

Even if the battle with the guardian had taken a long time, they should have arrived by now.

But not a single ant had appeared from the North Temple.

“What about communication magic?”

“That… We’ve been trying, but we still can’t get through.”

One of the dark mages replied with a gloomy expression.

This was strange.

Everyone felt it.

That something had gone wrong.

“Sh-Shouldn’t we go to the North Temple right away, Master?”

It was a natural question.

But Glick, who had been lost in thought, shook his head.

“No.”

“But something must have happened at the North Temple…”

“Yes, that’s right. The half key from the North Temple must be in someone else’s hands.”

“If you know that, then all the more reason to…”

“Because I know.”

Glick said with a cold voice.

“I don’t know who those people are. But their goal is the same as ours.”

“The… secret archive…?”

The secret archive, where a mountain of dark magic was buried.

Its value was immeasurable.

It meant that if someone knew about the existence of the secret archive, it wouldn’t be strange for them to be after it.

“Yes, so they’ll definitely set a trap and wait for us. For us, who have no choice but to go to the North Temple for the remaining half of the key.”

“Th-Then what should we do?”

The dark mages looked at him with expressions that said there was no solution.

Time was ticking, and they needed the half key from the North Temple.

Even if there was a trap waiting for them, they had no choice but to go.

But Glick seemed to have a different idea.

“I said it clearly. Their goal is the same as ours. We’ll use that against them.”

“Use it against them…? How?”

“We’ll set the trap. In front of the hidden temple on Mount Cali.”

“What? But will they really fall for it…?”

The dark mages looked doubtful.

“Hmph, of course they will.”

Glick scoffed coldly.

“We only have one day. If we miss this day, we’ll have to wait another ten long years. So they desperately need the half key, and they’ll have no choice but to come to the temple on Mount Cali where we are.”

“Ah.”

Only then did the dark mages understand Glick’s thinking.

They weren’t the only ones who had half of the key.

Both sides were in a hurry.

Instead of acting impulsively, Glick had chosen to wait calmly.

To turn the disadvantage into an advantage.

It was a difficult decision to make, especially with their long-cherished dream of a thousand years right in front of them.

He was truly a man worthy of the title of Master.

“A-As expected of the Master. Such a brilliant strategy…”

“I don’t need empty flattery. Let’s move. We’ll set up the magic circle.”

“Yes, Master!”

Glick and the dark mages quickly climbed Mount Cali.

Towards the hidden temple.

* * *

“Can you tell me where we’re going?”

Elaine asked.

“The center of the island.”

“The center of the island? To the second years?”

“No, the second years will be fine. They’re strong.”

Just like I had trusted the third years, I trusted Camian, Annette, and their classmates.

It was too late to go there anyway.

It meant that it was out of my hands.

I would focus on what I could do.

That was the best course of action.

“That’s true…”

Elaine nodded.

“Then why the center of the island?”

This time, Allen asked.

“You know I went outside earlier, right?”

“Yes.”

“I saw them then. The group of dark mages heading towards the center of the island.”

“Ah.”

“Hmm, do you think they’re after something in the center of the island?”

Elaine narrowed her eyes.

“I think so too. That’s why we’re going there.”

“I see.”

We continued walking quickly.

I adjusted our pace, considering Elaine’s stamina.

There was no need to rush, since I had already obtained half of the key and the third years were safe.

It was important to enter the battle in optimal condition.

After walking for a while.

I raised my hand slightly.

The entrance to Mount Cali was not far away.

“From here on out, be extra careful.”

“You don’t mean…?”

“Yes, this is where I expect them to be.”

Gulp.

Allen swallowed nervously.

I started walking again.

Carefully, one step at a time.

And then.

“Huh?”

My eyes widened.

Because there was no one there.

Not a single soul.

‘This can’t be right.’

The entrance to Mount Cali.

This was always the place where I had my final showdown with the leader of the dark mages and the remaining group.

But there was no one here…?

“What’s wrong?”

Elaine asked quietly, scanning the surroundings.

“Wait, I don’t think there’s anyone here.”

I asked Elaine to confirm.

Her senses were sharper than mine.

“Hmm… I don’t sense any presence either.”

Even Elaine couldn’t detect anything?

It meant there was really no one here.

“…I see. Let’s go.”

I emerged from the bushes where I had been hiding and approached the entrance to Mount Cali.

As I got closer, it became even clearer.

There was really no one here.

“Why is there no one here, Team Leader? Did they go somewhere else…?”

Allen’s question sparked a thought in my mind.

‘Somewhere else?’

Different.

Something had changed?

What had changed?

‘Could it be that the location where they obtained the half key has changed?’

I had always obtained the half key from the South Temple.

But this time, it was the key from the North Temple.

That was the crucial difference.

And that difference…

‘It must have had some impact.’

The movements of the dark mages.

I had assumed they would be the same.

I thought it wouldn’t change just because the north and south were reversed.

But it seemed like I was wrong.

Something had changed.

Definitely something.

‘Only the leader makes such important decisions.’

Master Glick, the leader of the dark mages.

There must have been some change in his movements or thoughts.

I fell into deep thought.

I had to focus on what was certain here.

Discard any uncertainties.

What was certain.

‘He knows that he lost half of the key.’

The North Temple, where communication had been cut off.

There was only one answer.

It was clear that Glick was aware of the unknown enemy.

And.

‘He wouldn’t have gone to the North Temple.’

He was a cunning and cautious man.

He wouldn’t recklessly charge into the North Temple, where an unknown enemy might be waiting.

‘But he even abandoned the entrance to Mount Cali?’

The entrance to Mount Cali, a geographically strategic point on the island where he could quickly respond to any situation in the north or south.

That was the reason why he had originally positioned himself there.

But now, he had abandoned even that place.

Then…

‘There’s only one place left.’

The hidden temple on the slopes of Mount Cali.

He must have realized that the unknown enemy, who was after the key, would inevitably come there.

And.

‘The one who waits first can always make full preparations.’

It meant that he would set a trap and choose a battlefield that was advantageous to him.

‘He’s a clever one, indeed.’

I honestly acknowledged it.

But.

‘If I know in advance, it won’t work.’

I smirked.

My mind was made up.

“Elaine, Allen.”

“Yes.”

“Team Leader.”

“Up. Let’s go up.”

My gaze turned towards the top of Mount Cali.

* * *

The pouring rain had subsided.

It would probably stop soon.

It always did.

“Can I ask you something?”

I suddenly spoke up as we were walking along the muddy mountain path.

“Sure, anything.”

Elaine nodded.

“During the battle at the lodgings earlier… you seemed different.”

Elaine blinked rapidly, looking slightly flustered.

“What… exactly do you mean…?”

“You killed people. For the first time.”

I said bluntly.

Because I thought it was better that way.

The atmosphere became heavy for a moment.

Elaine was lost in thought, and Allen was just looking around awkwardly.

After a while.

Elaine spoke again.

“Yes, it was my first time.”

“I thought so. Honestly, I’m worried.”

“No, it’s okay.”

There was no hesitation in Elaine’s eyes.

“It was to protect everyone. There was no other way to protect them.”

Seeing her answer and her unwavering gaze, I was convinced.

That she had truly grown.

“Yes, of course. I would have done the same if I were in your position.”

My answer seemed to comfort her, as I felt her tense expression relax.

I smiled.

“You’re a good person, Elaine.”

“You too, Max. Thank you for your concern.”

Elaine returned my smile faintly.

Only Allen, who was left out of the heartwarming atmosphere, scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Sorry, heroines come before extras.

As we were talking, we approached the location of the hidden temple.

We saw a path with steep stone steps, unlike the other mountain paths.

Only then did I reveal my thoughts.

“Listen carefully, everyone.”

Elaine and Allen focused on me.

“There’s definitely a trap.”

Their eyes widened in surprise.

But I smiled confidently.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be the ones setting them up. I’ll tell you the plan now.”

I started explaining the picture I had in mind.