Aisia felt an intense fear stir in her heart as she looked at his figure.
She thought that this marked the real beginning.
‘If this really is a ruin, are they planning to use me as a shield and guide me to attack the monsters?’
Clutching her teeth in resistance, she could only move her feet forward because her body, having lost most of its mana due to the mana burst, left her exhausted.
Through her disheveled hair, Aisia’s eyes locked with Kareha’s.
“Do you intend to k*ll me here?”
She gave him a cold stare.
He responded briefly.
“That’s not true. Though I can’t explain now, we will surely return together.”
She couldn’t understand what this idea of ‘together’ truly meant.
And once again, the unerasable feelings of hatred and distrust welled up in her heart.
Thus, they entered the ruins and began to explore the maze-like paths filled with traps and monsters.
Another battle was about to begin deep within.
When the light of dawn hit the stone pillars of the ancient ruins, the soldiers of the Empire already showed signs of having spent an uneasy night.
Their leader, who kept vigilant and organized their defenses even during the darkest hours, remained unwavering despite the ominous atmosphere created by the dust on their tattered clothes and the dampness of the air.
“Re-examine those faded patterns.”
In a low voice, he gave an order to one of the soldiers.
“Certainly, the marks match the map, but I am unsure of the exact location of the entrance.”
The soldier nodded heavily as he wiped the sweat from his nose.
Around them stood colossal statues covered in moss and uneven stone walls, partially collapsed in some places, casting an oppressive mood.
When the wind blew, strange whistling sounds leaked from the cracks of the buildings or behind the collapsed walls, circling around their ears.
“Is this really the ruin where the ‘Tears of Life’ sleeps?”
One of the soldiers asked in a small voice.
It was the complete opposite of the sacred atmosphere they had imagined if the artifact called Tears of Life truly existed here.
“Why does such an ominous atmosphere pervade from the beginning?”
With this question, the officers exchanged glances but no one could definitively answer.
They had conducted extensive research throughout the journey, but the ancient records were filled with ambiguous sentences.
Adolf Kareha recalled the prophecy-like warnings and tales of disappearances he had encountered while investigating the ruins, as well as countless rumors about the guardians or monsters protecting this site.
Judging before even entering the main area, Adolf noticed that Aisia Lil Shuhain had stepped down from the carriage.
Still affected by the humiliation she endured from the knight of the former Urth Empire, she avoided any interaction with the accompanying knights, and her unstable body, combined with the stress from the carriage ride, made her tremble as she leaned on a maid for support.
In the heavy silence, her clenched fingers and closed eyes were clearly visible.
“Princess, you must move to a new position.”
Upon hearing this cautious suggestion, Aisia raised her head.
A frosty tension hung on her face.
“If this is the ruin, I just want to quickly finish and return.”
She said firmly.
The soldier swallowed, thinking that the lady, as the ‘Princess of Liberia,’ had gone through much despite being brought here forcefully.
Therefore, with a meager sense of compassion, the soldier politely bowed and spoke.
“Please move carefully.”
The soldier offered a final deep bow and retreated.
Around the carriage were imperial soldiers forming a guarded circle, while Adolf Kareha stood nearby, examining something by leaning against a stone wall.
Occasionally, he looked up toward the towering ruins, their spires now broken.
Although the ancient carvings on the stones had eroded, he studied them continuously, wondering if they might hint at passages or traps.
“Let’s stop the advance for a while, and wait for me to return. I’ll scout ahead with a few others.”
He gave clear instructions to his officer.
The officer replied.
“I will go as well. It’s difficult to guarantee the safety of this area.”
But Adolf shook his head.
“Fewer numbers are better than a large force. The more people we have in a trap-laden ruin, the more dangerous it is.”
The officer hesitated but eventually bowed his head, conceding.
Adolf Kareha preferred to take the lead, contrary to the general belief that a general should stay behind and direct operations from the rear.
Aisia observed his movements quietly and found herself biting her lip when she noticed the white bandage peeking from beneath his shoulder.
“Understood. I will issue orders only to the chosen ones.”
As the general left to gather his subordinates, Adolf glanced once more at the dark passages.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps reached his ears, and he turned slightly.
The soft rustling of a cloak suggested her presence.
“Planning to venture in alone?”
The voice was calm but tinged with sharp suspicion.
He turned his gaze and saw Aisia standing a short distance away, glaring at him.
“Not at all. I’ll be going with a few.”
He replied.
“And me?”
Aisia asked, folding her arms.
When their eyes met, he noticed hers briefly glanced at his shoulder.
‘Is she worried?’
Until now, hadn’t she acted like a lamb being dragged to the slaughter? Kareha couldn’t comprehend her changed demeanor.
“You’re the one who insisted I had to come.”
Adolf looked awkward.
“True. I need your power in these ruins… but since there are many dangers, I ask you to wait until we’re prepared.”
She snorted.
“Do you really plan to use me as a shield to navigate through the traps? Setting me at the front so that I’ll be sacrificed first if a trap activates, allowing you to retreat safely behind me?”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
He answered briefly.
Aisia turned around, walking back toward the carriage with a bitter smile.
“Do you even understand why I came here?”
She slammed the door as she reentered the tent.
The soldiers, hearing the sound, didn’t dare comment.
Adolf sighed deeply.
‘Can’t help it. Just give her a little more time.’
He and his officer walked around the ruins again.
The ancient ruins were connected to rocky cliffs, with their internal corridors intertwined like a labyrinth.
Subtle movements were felt here and there, possibly from wild monsters or creatures nesting there.
“The number of lurking beasts might be considerable.”
The officer warned quietly.
“It’s a possibility. Since we haven’t fully entered yet, we need to prepare for a major fight,”
He responded calmly.
However, the true threat they didn’t anticipate was approaching differently.
It might be assassins shadowing them, forces from rival nations, or possibly the minions of the Demon Race observed by the Urth Empire.
Clearly, someone in the darkness was targeting their group.
That night, the surroundings were covered by a starless black curtain.
The wind calmed, creating an eerie stillness.
The soldiers had set up watch fires around their camp, taking turns to maintain their vigilance.
Aisia was alone in a nearby tent, wide awake.
Her heart pounded restlessly with anxiety.
“What is it… this uneasiness…”
She tried to shake off the chilling premonition but couldn’t disperse it easily.
At that moment, Adolf Kareha was holding a meeting in the temporary command tent outside, laying the map across a table.
Sounds of the horses snoring and soldiers exchanging words barely reached the ears through the tent.
“We’ll start reconnaissance early tomorrow.”
He commanded to the officers.
“The combat formation will be small-scale. Those staying behind will take charge of guarding the campsite and carriages. We can’t exclude possibilities of monsters attacking or unexpected visitors appearing again.”
After the officers responded, just as the meeting was about to conclude, a soldier rushed in abruptly.
“Intruders!”
The soldier’s face was pale with tension.
“From the eastern slope, someone was creeping in and knocked out our guard!”
The commotion spread through the room.
“How many?”
Adolf asked directly.
“Uncertain, but it looks like several moving simultaneously. They seem to be trying to encircle the camp.”
Instantly, the officers reached for their weapons.
The officer shouted,
“Everyone, assume battle stances! It appears to be a night ambush!”
A surprise attack.
They might have been tracking the enemy’s movements for days.
Adolf quickly stood up, grabbing his sword.
“Aisia’s position must be secured.”
He said firmly, recalling the previous assassination attempt had clearly targeted her.
‘I should have interrogated the assassin I let live.’
Regret struck him as the assassins drank poison from their mouths upon capture, committing s*icide instantly.
Anticipating that the main threat would center on Aisia, he gave additional orders.
“She is the most likely target. Assign half the troops to her.”
“Half the troops…?” Another officer questioned, but the time had passed.
The darkness surrounding the camp suddenly stirred, and arrows began raining down.
“Take cover!”
A scream was followed by soldiers immediately raising their shields in defense.
Some arrows aimed for the fires, and as they went out, the darkness intensified, leading to chaos.
Fwoosh!
A fire rose somewhere as if to draw their attention.
The intruders didn’t seem like mere raiders but rather an organized assassin group.
Their target, Adolf Kareha suddenly realized, was undoubtedly “Aisia.”
They could be from the Liberian side or another faction.
“Calm down! Form ranks and prepare to fight!”
The officer shouted, but the overwhelming charge of the enemies through the darkness was terrifying.
Equipped with swords, daggers, and even magic, they overwhelmed the imperial soldiers.
“Over there! Toward the princess’s tent!”
Someone whispered, and the sound of multiple footfalls hurried toward one location.
At that moment, Adolf Kareha rushed forward, drawing his sword swiftly.
“Everyone, stand aside!”
As his voice sounded, soldiers cleared a path.
His blade plunged into the heart of the assassins.
The flash of steel was followed by a sharp cry mixed with bl**d splatter.
But another attacker slashed at his back from the side, and Adolf swiftly dodged by leaning back.
