“And there’s another person…!”

Callen, excited, tilted his head in confusion.

“A cloak?”

A person with their face covered by a blue cloak was walking alongside the two.

Callen glanced at his own blue cloak behind his shoulder. The color and pattern were identical. Come to think of it, the Captain’s cloak was missing.

“Who is wearing the Captain’s cloak?”

“Could it be the Black Cloak?”

At Bowie’s casual remark, the members’ eyes widened. If so, the Captain had rescued not only the Commander but also the Black Cloak.

The members silently cheered, lifting their corners of their mouths.

“Raiden! Commander!”

Patrick ran to them, almost in tears, and hugged them both with his arms. But the two seemed more awkward than pleased.

“Captain. Did you rescue the Blue, I mean, the Black Cloak too?”

Patrick looked at Raiden and Rosé alternately with sparkling eyes.

Raiden nodded hesitantly, and Rosé flinched, pulling the cloak hood further down.

“Ha! That’s such a relief. Now we can return with peace of mind!”

‘Return?’

Rosé, flustered, opened her mouth.

“Are we really returning just like this?”

“Of course. We’ve found the Black Cloak, haven’t we?”

Patrick smiled brightly and gestured to the members to mount their horses. One by one, the members climbed onto their horses.

The sun was already sinking beyond the mountains. They needed to turn back as soon as possible.

“Ah, I’ll take care of the Black Cloak’s horse…”

“What about the other missing people?”

Rosé urgently asked Patrick, who was about to take her.

There were still missing people trapped at the top of Mount Kaitored. Wasn’t that why the Blue Knight Order had come this far?

“Are you saying there are survivors?”

Emmett stepped forward with a serious face. Raiden, who had been turning his head, also furrowed his brows and looked at Rosé.

‘Could it be… they really came just to rescue me?’

On the Crown Prince’s, no, Ariel’s orders?

Rosé tried to remain calm as she spoke.

“There are people trapped in the Ice Castle. There was a room called the ‘Human Detention Center,’ and there were children there too.”

“The castle… you mean the stronghold of the monsters at the top of the mountain?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Patrick, looking confused, ran a hand through his hair.

“Did you see it yourself?”

“Yes. I was imprisoned in that detention center, so I’m sure.”

“My goodness.”

As Rosé’s words gained credibility, Patrick finally tilted his head back and groaned.

He habitually turned to Raiden, as if asking, ‘What should we do?’ Raiden answered firmly.

“Our mission is over. We return before it gets any darker.”

Rosé urgently grabbed Raiden’s arm as he tried to head back to the members. Raiden almost reflexively shook off Rosé’s hand roughly.

The sudden action startled not only Rosé but also Patrick, who had known Raiden for years.

“Raiden.”

Patrick thought to himself, ‘He’s not usually like this…’ and pulled Raiden away from Rosé.

That wasn’t the only strange thing. Emmett, who usually sided with Raiden no matter what, was glaring at him as if he wanted to kill him.

“Do you want to save them?”

Emmett, standing between Raiden and Rosé, asked. His eyes were fixated on Rosé’s arm, which bore clear red marks.

Rosé looked up at Emmett. Her eyes were filled with conviction.

“Yes. We must save them.”

Raiden let out a hollow laugh, as if he heard something absurd.

“Like father, like daughter, in irresponsibility.”

Rosé glared at Raiden with wide eyes.

Like father, like daughter. But she shared no blood with Lian Mora.

“Sir Raiden means to say that it is extremely dangerous. Mount Kaitored is a habitat for high-level monsters. If we recklessly enter, everyone’s lives here will be at risk.”

Patrick, sweating profusely, tried to put a positive spin on Raiden’s attitude. It was also Patrick’s own opinion.

The monsters they encountered in the Restilia Forest had been difficult to defeat even after a long struggle. The thought of heading to a habitat with even stronger monsters was daunting.

“Isn’t that right, Commander?”

Patrick awkwardly smiled at Emmett, seeking agreement.

Emmett couldn’t easily give an answer. Logically, rescuing the missing people was an impossible decision.

“Even when it comes to saving lives?”

Rosé looked at Emmett, who was delaying his answer, with eyes full of disbelief. If it were the cold-blooded Sergi, she would have given up.

But the man she was looking at now was praised as a hero. He was also the leader of the knight order known as the guardians of the Empire.

“…Patrick is right. The matter you mentioned requires consultation with the other members.”

So she didn’t expect this kind of answer.

Emmett squeezed her hand tightly once before letting go and signaling to Patrick.

Patrick, dazed by the strange atmosphere between the two, came to his senses and shouted to the members.

“Everyone mount up! Prepare to depart!”

Even Emmett ignored the missing people. Rosé clenched the edge of her cloak. The knights were really about to leave the missing people behind.

― Can we really get out of here?

― I’ll make sure we get out.

‘Why did I say that?’

This time, Sir Raiden was right. She was irresponsible. The voice of the frightened boy wouldn’t leave her mind.

‘No, I can’t. Even if I have to go alone.’

Just as she closed her eyes tightly and turned towards Mount Kaitored, a large hand grabbed her arm.

“Do you have a plan?”

“Sir Emmett?”

Emmett looked at her as though he knew her intentions. Rosé glanced down at her sleeve held by Emmett and swallowed hard before answering.

“I have the key to the detention center.”

“Do you know the way?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Follow me.”

He led her to the front of a horse. What was he planning?

Rosé glanced at Emmett, trying to read his intentions, then climbed onto the horse as he gestured. Soon, Emmett’s firm chest was pressed against her back.

“What are you planning to do?”

“If we leave the fortress like this, we will never come back. If there’s a chance to rescue them, now is the last opportunity.”

Emmett gripped the reins tightly, glancing at Patrick and Raiden leading the formation.

The Blue Knight Order moved under the orders of the imperial family.

Contrary to what the citizens of the Empire vaguely believed, they were not saviors driven by a sense of justice but puppets manipulated according to the honor of the imperial family.

If they left now, their only option would be to return to the Imperial Palace.

It wasn’t something to be blamed for. If they had to stake their lives, they would want to do so on something the Emperor recognized as honorable.

Emmett was one of those people. Since the time he had to watch his father, stoned to death for being from Moir, he had resolved.

Rather than living with just pride as a poor man, he would do his best to live off this land, even if it meant being loyal to the Empire that had condemned his father.

But Emmett vaguely felt that his resolve was crumbling as he looked at her.

“We’ll go fast. Hold on tight.”

As soon as Rosé gripped the saddle, Emmett lightly kicked the horse.

As the horse galloped at a brisk pace, the members turned around in surprise. The Commander’s horse was heading towards Mount Kaitored.

Raiden, realizing first, cursed and pulled the reins.

“Depart first. I’ll bring them back.”

“Raiden!”

Patrick shouted in confusion at Raiden, who was quickly catching up. But it was too late to stop him. Both the Commander and Raiden soon became dots and disappeared from sight.

“Deputy Commander, what should we do!”

Patrick clenched his eyes shut in front of the murmuring members. Nothing was going his way.

He had no choice but to hope Raiden would find the two and bring them back in time.

Patrick strengthened his legs with a heavy heart.

* * *

“Damn it. Emmett, stop!”

Raiden spurred his horse to full speed, chasing Emmett. But the distance didn’t close even as the night deepened.

Their horses, heading towards Mount Kaitored, had already reached the halfway point. It was no longer a chase.

They were simultaneously and clearly entering the habitat of the monsters.

“What should we do, Sir Emmett?”

Rosé glanced at Raiden, who was chasing them. Even in the darkness, Raiden’s enraged face was clearly visible.

“Let him follow. He won’t be of any help, but he won’t be a hindrance either.”

Emmett answered nonchalantly. They needed every bit of manpower. If Raiden kept chasing, he would voluntarily become part of the force to survive.

“Wait! Stop, Sir Emmett!”

Emmett abruptly halted the horse. When he looked in the direction she pointed, he saw monsters rushing towards Raiden.

White Bear (B-tier)
Characteristics: A bear species that lives in cold polar regions. Contrary to its cute appearance, it preys on both monsters and humans indiscriminately.
Appearance: White fur. Fat body. White fur ears. Round tail.
g*nitalia: Stored on the left. Very pale pink. Very thin veins. Very small t*sticles. Very weak output. Right angle. Very weak rigidity.
Average ej*culation frequency per month: 93 times
Pubic Hair: None.
Reward: Strength 4, Charisma 3
Hidden f*tish: Teddy Bear