‘But back then, he was missing one eye, wasn’t he?’

And his rib was shattered. But the Raiden she was facing now was immaculate, without any visible signs of injury. It goes without saying that he was exceptionally handsome.

“Now, this place will be cleaned up.”

Just as Raiden said, the twin-headed snakes that had been roaming around the perimeter began to fall one by one. It was when the knights, who had moved the people inside the defensive line, started to take action in earnest.

Rosé, who had lost her mind for a moment, regained her senses and pointed to the injured palace servant to Raiden. He then asked a knight who was moving the wounded soldiers to take care of the servant’s safety and ran after her.

“It’s dangerous ahead. I’ll guard you.”

The hand that had been holding the sword tightly gripped Rosé’s hand. She was startled but then noticed the twin-headed snakes hiding in the corner and moved closer to Raiden’s side.

A smile appeared on Raiden’s lips. He was enjoying this situation without even realizing it himself.

And when she noticed that smile, Rosé narrowed her eyes. Why is he acting like this? She wondered for a moment before her eyes widened in shock.

Did he remember my butt? The gratitude that she deeply felt in her heart disappeared, and her gaze at Raiden became narrow like she was looking at a pervert.

“This is it. You’ll be able to breathe more easily with less magic here.”

Raiden took her to the back of a pillar, where people were gathered. Breathing was much easier, just as he had said.

The final defense line had not yet completely succumbed to the threat of the demons. But soon, a thick magic would be cast. As long as the defense was not completely breached.

“Where the hell are we? This isn’t a ballroom!”

“Let us out! Damn it!”

Even the defenses of the safe zone were not immune to the commotion.

There were no demons, but the place was a mess, with curses and insults flying around everywhere. Occasionally, the sound of women and children crying could be heard, which was the only sign of weakness.

In the midst of it all, Ariel, who had been crying, saw Rosé and stood up from her seat.

He tried to call out her name, but stopped himself and instead ran towards her and hugged her tightly.

“Hmm, it seems like Your Highness has also read the news coverage about you.”

Raiden whispered to Rosé, who was still confused, but she knew why Ariel was acting like this.

He must have been worried about me leaving like that. But to Raiden, she might have seemed like an enthusiastic fan of the Black Cloak.

Rosé felt sorry and patted the princess’s back. But what Ariel whispered to Rosé was neither a prank nor a grudge.

“…You’re a hero, Rosé.”

A hero. Ariel couldn’t do it, but Rosé jumped in to save the people. She was a hero and the first woman he ever admired.

Taking advantage of Raiden returning to his companions, Ariel took Rosé to the sofa where the White Knights were guarding.

But Rosé still couldn’t take her eyes off the wounded being carried on the backs of the Blue Knights.

There were nobles whose arms and legs had been cut off and people who had to hold their intestines in their own hands.

The gruesome sight of the wounded silenced the hall as if a mouse had died. Even Count Fomos, who had said he would never sit on anything other than a chair, quietly sat down on the floor.

“Ahh! Please save me! It hurts too much!”

“I don’t want to die! Mom!”

“My leg hurts too much! Please, look at me! Aaah!”

Some knights who could provide medical assistance found clean handkerchiefs and bottles of alcohol to disinfect and stop bleeding. But the magic was spreading through their veins.

The skin of the wounded turned black as if mold were growing on it. It was such a terrible sight that it was amazing that they were still alive.

“Everyone, gather for a moment.”

In the midst of the chaotic defense line, Emmett called the White Knights together. The White Knights secretly groaned as they saw the group of people.

Even if they were called the guardians of the empire, there were only nine of them. Even if they added the Red Knights, there were only eleven. They weren’t exactly a large group.

After a while, Emmett and some of the White Knights stepped forward to face the anxious crowd. Emmett had to deliver the worst news to them.

“We cannot be sure since we have not measured it using a spirit stone, but the White Knights have reached a consensus that we are currently located within the Grade-2 boundary.”

When Emmett finished speaking, the surroundings became noisy. Wasn’t the palace built on top of a magic stone?

They’d even buried the rare black magic stones beneath the ground after the boundary emergence incident 19 years ago. It didn’t make sense that the boundary appeared in such a palace.

“Don’t scare us for no reason when it hasn’t even been measured with a spirit stone! What’s with the Grade-2 boundary? Is Monchen experiencing something like this?”

Count Fomos shouted, restless with anxiety. The fact that most members of the White Knights were border nobles or commoners contributed to his distrust.

But who could say that this place was the banquet hall of the First Princess’s palace?

The walls and floor were covered in black slime, chilling air that made your skin crawl, and suffocating smoke with each breath. Every detail indicated that this place was within the boundary.

“You knights are the ones who created those monsters! That’s right! Those despicable commoners dare to rebel against the palace…!”

Count Fomos’s frenzy was becoming more serious as time went on. The nobles widened their eyes in surprise, and the White Knights each held their foreheads in distress.

Amidst it all, Rosé nervously bit her lip. Someone had to step forward and tell the truth.

Eventually, when Count Fomos even resorted to threatening Emmett, Rosé couldn’t bear it any longer and stood up from her seat.

“You’re right. It’s not a Grade-2 boundary.”

Emmett, who was rubbing his forehead, looked at Rosé in surprise. Rosé met his gaze and pressed her cloak deeper.

Meanwhile, Count Fomos, who had gained a reliable ally, raised his chin confidently.

“The Black Cloak knows it too. Instead of these incompetent people here, you should close the mutant boundary.”

The nobles began to stir at Count Fomos’s words. The Black Cloak, known as the hero of Bistiman. That little girl was the famous figure.

Seeing the unsettled crowd, Count Fomos shrugged his shoulders and shouted.

“Everyone understands! The Black Cloak said it’s not a Grade-2…!”

“It’s a Grade-1!”

Rosé passed Count Fomos, who couldn’t continue speaking, and shifted her gaze into the empty air.

A virtual screen appeared a little while ago, a system window more accurate than the spirit stone.

〈 SYSTEM 〉 Entered the gate ‘Return to the Snake’s Lair’.

Class measurement result: Class A.

‘Why today, of all days… why!’

Rosé, standing with a serious expression, was actually in a state of great anxiety.

It was supposed to be just one day. Just one more day, before she could return to Bistiman with 800 silla. But a gate appeared, and a Class A gate at that!

“…How did you know?”

Emmett looked flustered as he looked at Rosé, while the defense line became even more chaotic inside.

“If it’s Class A, our lives are at stake.”

“I can’t do it. Hey, wouldn’t it be better to wait for reinforcements?”

“We’ve never fought against demons before!”

The panic-stricken White Knights started to hesitate and sit down, unable to control their trembling legs.

There were a few of them that showed resignation or determination. Only the Blue Knights and Red Knights, who were familiar with the ecology of demons, accepted the current situation.

Rosé turned to Emmett. Resignation hidden behind his troubled expression.

He knew it from the beginning. That this place was within the Grade-1 boundary.

Perhaps he lied about it being Grade-2 because he anticipated the strong reaction from the people.

Amidst the chaos, the white knights stood their ground with determined faces. They couldn’t delay any longer. They had to hurry with the conquest of Quamad.