The night air of the ancient ruins, where the twilight had yet to fully fade, carried not just a chill but an ominous foreboding.
The soldiers, weary from countless battles, gathered around the bonfire to quietly rest and relieve their fatigue. Aisia and Adolf Kareha likewise needed a moment of respite.
However, not long before, a ‘strange visitor’ that appeared in Aisia’s tent had ensured a restless night for them.
While the soldiers, desiring an end to the fighting, watched the darkness with caution, the thought of a ‘demonic conspiracy’ lurking here was never far from anyone’s mind.
Even without words, this unease was palpable, flickering like the firelight of the bonfire.
Aisia stepped out of her tent, spoke briefly with Adolf, and found herself enveloped in a confusion she barely believed herself.
The unsettling words left by the strange presence—”Adolf Kareha is using you,” “Have you forgotten that he is a cruel warmonger?” “He will eventually seek to steal your power”—struck at her deepest insecurities.
“It bothers me that I can’t completely dismiss those words.”
She confessed honestly, aware of the tremor in her voice.
The visions shown by the demon revealed events that she had previously dismissed as mere rumors, deepening her turmoil.
“Just as my suspicions of him began to fade, this has reignited my unease… truthfully, I’m not at peace.”
Adolf stood contemplatively, his hand on his waist.
He knew better than anyone the cruel decisions he had made during the war.
And the undeniable fact that Aisia would naturally detest and reject such actions complicated matters.
Even though they had grown closer, the past was not so easily erased.
“I do not wish to offer you excuses or justify myself.”
Adolf spoke with a low tone, his brief silence following broken by more words.
“There are certainly many aspects of my past actions for which I’ll have to take responsibility. Yet, I can assure you with certainty that I have no intention of harming or using you now.”
As he continued, Aisia gazed into his eyes, which had until recently been unbearably cold but now held a complex mix of emotions directed towards her.
Her heart remained conflicted—a blend of unease, gratitude, and an indescribable tenderness that she could not deny was growing.
“…Yes, I want to believe.”
She replied softly.
Yet, her inner thoughts remained tangled.
It saddened her that she could be swayed so easily by the demon’s schemes, her mind far from at peace.
At the same time, her curiosity about Adolf deepened.
That night, after conducting a quick check of their positions, Adolf and Aisia returned to their respective tents.
The soldiers, hoping for some rest, had some guards rotate patrols due to the strange presences lingering in the ruins.
As night stretched on, it seemed there would be no attacks that night.
As dawn approached, the gray walls and broken pillars of the ruins began revealing their outlines, and by morning, the soldiers who had been injured in yesterday’s battle awoke, stretching their weary bodies.
The morning air was unbearably heavy.
Perhaps due to the excessive quietness during the night, the tension only grew.
Aisia rose early to survey the area outside her tent, finding some knights already volunteering to secure the perimeter.
“Your Highness, did you sense any strange presence during the night?”
A knight approached to inquire, but Aisia shook her head.
“I didn’t perceive anything unusual. However…”
She hesitated.
Recalling the suspicious whispers inside her tent and the eerie figure that had appeared before vanishing, there was no guarantee that such a demonic being wouldn’t return.
“Please don’t lower your guard.”
Though it was a small request, the knights solemnly nodded, adjusting their shields and weapons.
Since the battle against the flame lizards, everyone remained on high alert.
Adolf Kareha then appeared.
Still with his bandaged right arm, his expression seemed calmer than usual.
His subordinates saluted respectfully, to which he gestured to continue their watch.
He approached Aisia.
“Did anyone approach you again during the night?”
She shook her head, noting that no traces of demons had been found so far that morning.
Still, a chill lingered in her spine.
“You must be uneasy too. We should find that fiend at the least.”
Adolf resolved.
“Let’s split the soldiers into several teams and widen our search area. Even if it carries some risk, we cannot afford to waste time in this anxiety.”
Aisia silently agreed, recognizing that waiting idly for the next demon attack was unwise.
Moreover, prolonged uncertainty would surely dampen the soldiers’ morale.
Thus, Adolf reorganized the command structure, splitting the knights into three squads.
Each squad was tasked to thoroughly scout various directions, from small tunnels to collapsed underground entrances.
“Shouldn’t Your Highness remain in the rear for safety?”
The officer cautiously suggested.
“I’ll move together with you.”
Her calm but firm tone left no room for argument.
“If the entity we’re looking for is indeed a demon, my abilities and senses might be useful.”
Adolf, who in the past might have resisted to protect the princess, silently accepted her choice this time, recognizing the value of her magical perception derived from her lineage.
“Very well, but you must not push yourself.”
Kareha observed her with concern.
“Your condition isn’t fully recovered yet.”
Adolf then gave detailed instructions to the soldiers, and explained several contingencies to Aisia as well.
Silent but acknowledging his care, she noted that his wounds, unlike hers, were visibly severe—a sign of the transformed relationship.
Where once they might have been adversaries, now Adolf seemed genuinely concerned for her safety.
Adolf then volunteered to personally escort Aisia with a small elite unit, prepared with a signal system to request reinforcements at a moment’s notice. Meanwhile, the officer remained at the rear, tracking progress in real-time.
The ruin turned out to be vast and deep.
Despite the soldiers’ previous exploration, it would take several days to thoroughly cover the entire structure—both the outer remains and the labyrinthine underground tunnels.
The ancient ruin was notorious for its mazelike complexity.
When Aisia reported sensing demonic energies, Adolf relayed the information to the formation.
“Who would have thought demon traces could hide in such a place?”
A knight looked around wearily.
“There are many underground tunnels, and collapsed doors everywhere.”
Aisia also remained vigilant, looking at the various stone gates and ruined chambers.
“We would be in trouble if we were ambushed.”
Pausing for a moment, she proposed,
“Let’s split up the knights in small groups, keeping each other within shouting distance. It wouldn’t be wise to spread out too widely.”
Despite not being a natural leader, Aisia had practical tactical insights gained from past battles. The knights agreed immediately.
Adolf was scrutinizing a corridor—bare, devoid even of decorations, smooth as though meticulously carved.
“This area feels strangely untouched.”
Adolf expressed his observations.
“There have been reports of some minor monsters in the opposite wing, but here, it’s eerily clean, as if no one has ever passed.”
“Clearly, there must be some hidden spaces within the ruins.”
Aisia replied while looking around.
“The key is to find the tunnel demons might use.”
She concentrated once more, attempting to detect any magical resonance. But all she perceived was a hollow void that sent shivers through her.
Just then, one of the knights rushed over breathlessly.
“Lord Kareha! Your Highness! The officer sent a message reporting strange signs were found at one location!”
Adolf and Aisia quickly followed the knight to meet with the officer.
After a long trek through the ruins, they arrived at a spacious hall beside an ancient shrine, where clusters of soldiers were inspecting the grounds.
On the floor, strange patterns—cracks and what appeared to be bloody red streaks—were sprawled unevenly.
It was unclear if this was from a regular monster, or the remnants of dark magic possibly used by dark elves or demons.
One thing was clear: the marks had not been intentionally carved.
“Upon first discovery, it almost seemed like the traces were moving.”
The soldier recalled as he reported.
“They briefly flickered and then disappeared.”
The soldier pointed to the location in question.
The investigation continued.
