Dominic told the anxious knights that he’d been battling a mild cold for days, and the foul air here was only making it worse. It was a pitiful excuse for a man of his reputation, but with Eldrian’s sudden arrival drawing all eyes, no one questioned it too closely.

He sat down heavily on one of the supply crates he’d brought and glared at it.

It had introduced itself to the knights as Lesta Ernel. A few soldiers murmured that they’d heard the name before.

“A mercenary king.”

Not only was it alive which was shocking enough but it had risen to command legions of its own.

‘So that’s what survived.’

The whole thing felt unreal, like some cruel dream but Dominic forced himself to face It. It was alive. It stood before him now, wearing a new name and a new face.

And its purpose was clear as day: Revenge.

‘How could someone like you…’

Dominic’s thoughts trailed off before he could finish the sentence. It power would certainly still be strong, and there might be knights foolish enough to be swayed by it. But Dominic had years of fame behind him, and the Blackwood name carried weight. Someone with nothing could never truly reach that height.

‘It won’t try to kill me outright. It is not stupid. If It killed me here, It would know what would follow. That’s why It is siding with Sunray.’

He assumed that Lesta had allied herself with them; the presence of Eldrian and Leonel made that clear enough.

‘This is just for show. To flaunt It strength and humiliate me in front of everyone. A fine stunt, but it won’t work this time. The knights who’ve taken the Lumen won’t have any minds left to admire It skill.’

“This is not good.”

Lesta said, raising a vial after finishing her introduction.

“If you drink this, you’ll become one of the restless dead souls that can’t find peace, even in death.”

The knights frowned, confused by what sounded like nonsense.

“No, that’s what Duke Blackwood gave us. He said it was an enhancement tonic.”

“Is this really the enhancement tonic?” another asked.

“We tested it a few days ago. It did make the skin tougher and gave more strength. I don’t see why we’re having this conversation. We’re here to risk our lives to slay the labyrinth boss, not to be baited with stunts like this.”

The knight who had questioned the vial earlier—Sir Genovar Ende, if Dominic remembered correctly unexpectedly sided with him.

‘The deputy commander of Isden’s order. Yes. Genovar Ende.’

For now, he decided to leave matters in Genovar’s hands and observe the situation.

“Troublemaking, Sir Ende? That’s a bit harsh. We’re here to help.”

“We appreciate your goodwill, Lord Sunray, but I’d prefer you not drag political conflicts into this place.”

“Political conflicts?”

“Inside a labyrinth, it’s a battlefield. Whatever one’s ambitions or allegiances, none of that matters here. The only things that do are survival and the mission.”

Eldrian’s eyes chilled, his voice turning cold.

“You think I don’t know that?”

The sharp tone brought Genovar to attention. Come to think of it, Eldrian probably had more experience of labyrinth raids than anyone else here, except perhaps Dominic himself.

However, barging in and casting doubt on the enhancement tonic could only be seen as an attempt to undermine Blackwood’s authority. It was reckless and dangerous, especially when everyone else was trying to focus on the fight ahead.

“Regardless, please step aside. We need that tonic.”

For years, the Knights of Isden had fought to subjugate the boss of the Red Labyrinth. Every attempt had ended in failure and death.

But now, with the famed hero Dominic Blackwood at their side, they finally had a real chance to end this nightmare. If Blackwood took offence and withdrew his support, that fragile hope might vanish completely.

This was why Genovar spoke with such fervor: his words were not born of loyalty, but of desperation to keep Dominic on their side.

“No, I can’t allow it. I won’t just stand by and watch you all die for nothing.”

“Lord Sunray!”

Eldrian smiled faintly.

“Were you calling me, or him?”

His finger turned from himself toward Dominic, who had been silently watching until now. Lesta’s gaze had been fixed on Dominic but now, Dominic’s eyes shifted to Eldrian.

Eldrian met them squarely.

“This is your expedition. Why are you staying silent?”

“I didn’t realize the Sunray viscount was capable of such rudeness.”

Dominic said, finally rising to his feet. He no longer looked at Lesta. He’d made up his mind to ignore her completely.

‘The hero is me.’

Anyone could tell just by looking at Genovar’s demeanor, he was terrified that Dominic might take offense and withdraw altogether.

Dominic walked toward Eldrian at a calm, unhurried pace, deliberately refusing to glance in Lesta’s direction.

“When did we become so familiar that you speak to me so casually?”

“We’ve met before. Five, maybe six years ago on the monster subjugation field. Don’t you remember?”

For a moment, Dominic’s eyes flickered. At that time, Lesta had been fighting in his place, wearing the silver mask and pretending to be him. There was no way Dominic could have remembered meeting Eldrian at that time.

“We shook hands, exchanged names, even agreed to be friends since we were around the same age. Such a short but fiery bond and you’ve forgotten? That’s rather hurtful.”

Dominic turned to glance at Lesta.

‘Is that true? Did this person meet him back then?’

He asked with his eyes, only to realize what he was doing and quickly looked away.

Eldrian watched him with quiet amusement.

“Ah, no… I mean—it’s been a long time, and the raid was chaotic… I might remember—”

“Aha!”

Eldrian slapped his palm lightly against his forehead.

“My apologies, Lord Blackwood. I must have been mistaken. We didn’t shake hands or even exchange greetings, did we? I admired you so much that I must’ve imagined we did.”

Dominic’s eyes widened.

‘He knows. He knows everything. He’s mocking me, he knows It was that thing pretending to be me!’

But he couldn’t grab Eldrian by the collar and demand an explanation. Instead, Dominic forced a generous smile.

“I understand, Lord Sunray. But still, our house has invested heavily to support this subjugation. I can’t simply stand by while our efforts are dismissed.”

“I’m not dismissing anything. You know Lumen, the drug? That’s what this tonic really is, the undiluted concentrate. Drink it, and you’ll truly become the undead.”

“Did that woman tell you that? And you believe her?”

“I do. I’m terribly trusting by nature.”

“Then why not trust me instead? I don’t like saying this in front of everyone, but mercenaries are known to do anything for coin.”

“What would the mercenary king gain from such a lie?”

“Maybe she plans to seize those bottles under the pretense of ‘investigation’ and sell them off for a fortune.”

The knights’ eyes turned increasingly hostile toward Lesta. They were already on edge before the battle, this disruption was the last thing they wanted.

“Then drink it, Dominic.”

Lesta, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“If it’s that safe, then prove it drink it yourself.”

Dominic let out a soft laugh.

“That’s hardly difficult. I was planning to take one anyway.”

Of course, Dominic had no intention of doing anything reckless. Nevertheless, he showed not the slightest hint of annoyance. He had anticipated that something like this might happen, so he had hidden a genuine enhancement tonic among the bottles of Lumen.

It was the third vial from the top of the row.

He had already warned the men distributing the tonics not to touch it.

With a calm gesture, he beckoned the knight holding the crate closer and picked up the vial, the genuine tonic that he had tinted to match the color of the Lumen concentrate.

As he uncorked it, Dominic spoke smoothly, his tone even and composed.

“If nothing happens to me, then you’ll stand down, Lord Sunray. I will not allow politics to be dragged into a field where men risk their lives. Everyone here is prepared to fight for the greater cause, and I won’t allow petty rivalries to corrode that resolve.”

His words carried a subtle sting, intended to tarnish Sunray’s reputation.

But Eldrian didn’t so much as flinch. Not even an eyebrow moved.

“Understood. Then stop prattling and drink.”

‘D*mn Sunray.’

Dominic thought again how much he despised the man and tilted the vial back, swallowing the contents in a single gulp.

The instant he lowered the bottle, Lesta smiled sharp and knowing.

“Well done, Dominic.”

Why?

He was sure that he had taken the genuine enhancement tonic. He had only added dye to match the Lumen’s color, and the taste was exactly the same.

But then Lesta smiled. Just the faintest hint of a smile, and a chill ran down his spine. Something was wrong.

Before he could speak, her gaze shifted towards the man standing beside him, a mercenary, by the look of him.

Something glinted in the man’s hand.

A heartbeat later, Lesta’s black blade tore through the air.