The battlefield was crumbling into silence due to the clash between the heroes.
With a沉重 gaze, the Black Wolf finally spoke up.
“Balkin Gardner. Asha Mirabel. If you don’t stop fighting immediately, I will kill Hestia.”
This was a carefully calculated statement by Nahan.
‘Given this is no longer a hypothetical scenario but an actual situation, it’s true that there are quite a few variables, but there are also some constants that won’t change.’
There was only one certain fact.
‘These two have accepted the information that Hestia is alive as truth.’
That’s why they had clashed. Balkin stood his ground to protect Black Wolf in order to obtain information related to Hestia. On the other hand, Asha rushed in to annihilate the Black Wolves in an attempt to save Hestia as soon as possible.
In other words,
‘These two consider <Hestia's safety> most important.’
It seemed Nahan’s prediction was spot on as the two individuals stopped moving.
“…”
The red that had consumed Balkin’s face now frosted over with a thin layer of fear, while Asha, still as calm as ever, opened her mouth.
“So she was alive, after all.”
Just as Asha spoke, Balkin’s head whipped around.
“Asha, did you know about this?”
“…To some extent.”
Just as the last of the suspicions towards Ian Red dissipated, Balkin shouted out in anger.
“If you knew…!! What were you planning to do if Hestia was in danger before taking action?!!”
“I planned to eliminate them first, ensuring her safe return.”
“You call that a plan?!”
As Balkin was about to raise his voice again, Nahan sighed while grabbing the air.
“I’ll say it again, if the battle resumes, Miss Hestia will be killed.”
Click.
He turned what he grabbed in the air like a door handle, splitting the space and causing a crack to form.
【Legendary Artifact – <Robin Hood’s Pocket Dimension (A-)> is activated.】
【”A space exclusively for you.”】
In Nahan’s hand, which had swept through the air, now clutched an old door handle, revealing the interior of a dilapidated cottage through the opened door.
And there, by the hearth, was a young girl with her limbs restrained, asleep.
“Hestia!!!”
Just as Balkin, eyes flashing, was about to rush in,
Woop!
Asha, who had been standing by quietly, extended a hand to grab Balkin’s shoulder.
“Let go, Asha!! Hestia’s in there!!”
“Stay calm and consider the bigger picture.”
Following her cool voice, the eyes that had only seen Hestia began to survey the surroundings.
And he noticed.
“….”
Someone from the <Black Wolf> who was stoking the hearth with a fire poker.
At this moment, Nahan spoke with a calm voice to Dalan, who had returned quite conveniently.
“Old General, if my signal comes, kill the woman.”
“Yes, Chief.”
…Click, click.
Answering just like the sound of burning wood in a hearth, quiet but filled with heat, both Balkin and Asha understood in an instant.
‘Strong.’
He was not something merely around the A-rank range. He was something that transcended the boundaries of human existence, akin to themselves.
‘If Black Wolf were to flick his fingers, Hestia would lose her life instantly.’
Based on their experiences up until now, the two heroes arrived at a similar conclusion and halted their movements.
Once again, it was Balkin, whose family was held hostage, that spoke first.
“Tell me what you want.”
“What I desire?”
“Yes…!! You wouldn’t have taken Hestia hostage unless you wanted something…!! …We wouldn’t have been taken hostage if there was something you wished for.”
Balkin calmed his own emotions, seemingly recalling Dalan sitting by.
Nahan watched all this and thought.
‘This puts us back in a deadlock. But how do I separate these two? Both I and Luna need to extract the safest possible solution, but how?’
Thinking along the line of Black Wolf’s habits, patting his thigh.
‘Balkin is foolish. If Asha hadn’t been here, he would have already lost his composure and attacked Black Wolves. So, the necessary action now is…’
To remove Asha from the battlefield.
And so, upon stopping his thoughts, he bluntly voiced out.
“Commit suicide.”
A cold voice descended around them as if it wasn’t some jest.
Kaboom!!!
Without a trace of hesitation, Balkin plunged the broken shield’s edge into the ground and asked.
“Then will you release Hestia?”
“I promise.”
“Keep it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a thick neck quickly leaned toward the shield blade to sever his own throat.
‘Sorry, Hestia. I wanted to properly apologize someday, but I wasn’t able to do so…’
With this as his last thought, just as his thick neck was about to touch the shield blade,
“Then what about you?”
The taunting voice of Black Wolf halted Balkin’s actions.
Sliding noise.
Lifting his head, not even noticing his neck being cut, Balkin asked the Black Wolf.
“…You? What does that mean?”
“What do you mean?”
The cold gaze that had been on Balkin swiftly shifted to Asha.
“Commit suicide together.”
This was another trick by Nahan.
‘Would you please react exactly as depicted in the original material?’
While Nahan was quietly shaken, outwardly he maintained a high-pressure demeanor portraying Black Wolf.
Asha, who remained expressionless, lifted her holy sword she had once lowered and responded.
“The negotiation is over.”
Her sky-blue hair pinned up moved with the wind.
With the atmosphere she generated taking over the whole place, Nahan activated <Black Curtain's> effect a bit more and shrugged at Asha.
“Would you abandon the sister of your comrade for your survival? This must embarrass Lord Balkin.”
“This is your doing.”
“And it’s your choice.”
“Shut up and keep talking after you die.”
Krrrrt.
The strength in her hand gripping the holy sword increased, and energy gathered in the foot that pressed against the roof.
Like a finger on the trigger of a loaded gun, she was ready to leap.
Therefore, feeling the imminent presence of death, Nahan thought.
‘I succeeded.’
Asha Mirabel from the original material.
She cursed her given destiny and mission but became a hero nonetheless.
A woman who couldn’t feel or express emotions, or perhaps became numb to emotions due to her inability to express.
The always composed woman would deduce the best outcomes in any situations and proceed ceaselessly based on those conclusions.
However, there were times when her emotions would become quite vivid, clouding her judgment.
-……I mustn’t die anymore.
The exact moment her life was in danger.
‘I do not know the exact reason.’
However, it was certain that she feared death, and the plan designed around this had worked out perfectly.
‘Now, only the final stage remains.’
Nahan put on an act of leisure, raising his hand naturally.
“Shall I send the signal then?”
“Before that, you’ll be dead.”
“Fear me.”
Nahan, pretending to be joking but genuinely terrified, remained behind, while Asha Mirabel thought deeply.
She calculated the probability of killing before the signal was sent.
‘That chilling aura. With the ease and leisure shown, it seems this is not his full strength. On the same level as me, or slightly beneath or above. Judging by the capabilities of the other members, the probability that his rank is lower than mine is low.’
Her goddess’s constraint activated by the pressure and the word ‘commit suicide’.
Moreover, since she had already used her once-per-day activation ability <Judgment> upon entering the battlefield, her mana and stamina were about half gone.
‘There’s a guard by Hestia, one on the mercenaries’ side, one by the roof, and one I haven’t noticed. In return, on our side? Balkin alone… well, he’s just Balkin.’
Analyzing everything including the status of her allies and the enemy numbers in the current situation.
‘The probability of defeating <Black Wolf> before the signal is sent… less than 2%.’
Far below her expectations.
This situation endangered not only Hestia but also her life due to lost momentum.
“【“The Price of ▲ is ▲▲.”】”
In a daze, Asha involuntarily thought of an if scenario.
If…
If for some reason, I…
‘What if I放弃 Hestia?’
If instead of focusing on Black Wolf, I make eliminating the <Black Wolves> my top priority?
The numbers skyrocket. Even under the worst assumption that Black Wolf is slightly stronger, the probability of defeating him in a battle,
‘67%.’
If I were to放棄 Hestia, I could use any means to destroy Black Wolf…
Krt!
Catching himself chasing after results, he reined in his scattered thoughts.
‘I must stay focused.’
放棄 Hestia?
Forget about being a hero—humans shouldn’t do that.
Her self-contempt devoured her.
But perhaps due to it, her narrowing vision expanded once again.
And so, the pocket dimension caught her eye.
Ash’s thoughts raced.
‘…Wait. Is there really a need to kill Black Wolf first?’
Instead of Black Wolf, who may surpass her level,
‘If I intrude into the pocket dimension and protect Hestia from the <Old General>…’
There’s a high probability this pocket dimension with its entrance condition is merely a legendary-level item.
‘Enough to breach.’
Once again, Asha calmed down and crouched, looking at Black Wolf.
‘This way, fake an attack on Black Wolf but turn the trajectory to intrude the pocket dimension.’
The moment Asha finalized her thoughts.
Krrrt.
The energy that had spread to all sides was compressed into the sole point under her foot.
Startled.
‘There.’
In sync with that point, Black Wolf’s hand stirred, and Asha didn’t miss the opportunity.
Bang!
Asha disappeared in an instant.
She faked an attack toward Black Wolf and slipped her body into the slightly opening portal of the pocket dimension.
‘Done.’
This secured Hestia’s life and gave her an advantage in numbers against Black Wolf.
Even so, Asha remained cautious and lifted her eyes to observe Black Wolf’s reaction.
While unable to express emotions, Asha could still feel to some degree.
‘I hit a nerve.’
With that thought, she turned her head, but
“Done.”
“…?”
What met her wasn’t confusion but a mask-obscured leer that darkened.
‘…What?’
Right before rescuing the hostage, Hestia, why is he smiling?
Noticing Asha’s confusion, Black Wolf smirked as he waved his hand.
“Let’s not meet too often.”
Before Asha could fully react and Dalan quickly stepped out,
…Click.
The door closed, severing the space.
Clatter!!
Asha rushed in and tumbled to a landing.
The space severed,
The Old General gone,
A space with only Hestia and herself.
“…!!”
Confused, Asha hurriedly opened the door to the cottage but only saw a verdant forest.
At the center of the dark forest, the stoic empress muttered something like a lament.
“From the start, there wasn’t any intent to kill…?”
…Then why?
What was the purpose?
…What? What exactly?
The more she thought, the more confusion arose,
“……Urgh. It’s cold. Could someone… close the door?”
A story from one late night when a brown-haired woman pulled up the blanket over her knees.
—
Meanwhile, on the roof of Gardner Manor where Asha disappeared.
Nahan mumbled happily.
“Hero scene cut.”
Now all that was left was,
“…Return Asha too.”
This one fool.
Nahan began thinking again.
‘How to deceive him? What words, what tricks to use to let Luna and him face off this time? Let me think, let me think more deeply.’
To find the perfect excuse for Balkin and Luna to fight.
“Self-destruction twice… no, a life is one. Is there a way to divide it? If so, by self-destructing twice, I can save both people. …Wait. If it can be divided into three, I can save both people and survive, isn’t this the Infinite Drive!”
“Shall you be quiet, shall you?”
“I will.”
Without realizing, at the moment he scolded Balkin, a question popped up in his mind.
“But tell me. Until when, how long must I stay quiet? Is it okay to make noise breathing? Moreover, what about Hestia… Ah, keep quiet.”
Isn’t this kind of deep thought unnecessary for this one? Nahan spoke without hesitation after a thought.
“Fight me, and she will be set free.”
Immediately,
Klack.
Balkin pulled out the shield lying on the ground, fitted it like a buckle, and his eyes gleamed.
“Who’s the opponent?”
“…I’ll assign you.”
A little disgruntled Nahan.
