The sun had completely set in the west. Shadows were casting over the eastern plains. Dark shadows spread over the plains like a black curtain.

Ariel looked up at the sky.

The sun would soon set completely.

“Everyone, return to the village.”

Evan, Liese, and Solviche were startled and looked at Ariel all at once.

“It seems only the stragglers are left. Leopold and I can handle it by ourselves. Everyone, go back and rest. The sun will set soon.”

“Will you be alright?”

Solviche asked.

“Yes. Go back without worry. It will just be more troublesome if you stay with us.”

The more people there are, the more there is to take care of.

To ensure no one lags behind, or worse, gets captured and becomes a hostage.

Since Solviche seemed to have gained a lot of practical experience, Ariel wanted to move freely without worry.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Understood.”

Evan bowed his head first and said.

“You know the way back, right?”

“Yes. I have memorized it.”

Ariel nodded toward her brother. She then pushed the dark mage forward and turned her back.

“Return safely.”

At Liese’s shout, Ariel raised her hand above her head and waved.

‘Even if I can heal you… I hope you don’t get hurt.’

Thinking of the Empress, who always considered others before herself, Liese’s heart ached. She stayed in place until Ariel became a small dot and disappeared.

***

The dark mage continued to walk with his arm twisted behind his back.

“Wait, there’s a place we need to stop by.”

She needed to meet Leopold again. If he hadn’t finished dealing with the demonic beasts, she had to help him.

Feeling anxious, she quickened her pace. The dark mage, unable to free his arm from her grip, was dragged along.

“Walk properly. Don’t make it harder.”

“You could just let go of me!”

When he raised his voice, Ariel growled in a low tone.

“Are you speaking informally? You wanted to sell out your comrades’ lives to save yourself. Are you okay with dying right now?”

“…….”

The dark mage could only grit his teeth at Ariel’s mocking tone. He couldn’t say anything in response.

If he made a mistake and angered her, she might really kill him on the spot.

How long had they walked?

In the dim plains, they found Leopold standing quietly.

“Leo-!”

When Ariel called out to him loudly, he spotted her and ran over.

She wanted to jump into his arms right away, but she couldn’t because of the burden hanging from her hand.

Why do we have so many twists and turns?

A bitter smile appeared on Ariel’s lips. But soon, she hid her emotions as Leopold reached her.

“Are you alright?”

“Did you drag this guy all the way here like this?”

Leopold’s voice was low.

Thinking about how much her wrist and arm must have hurt, a surge of murderous intent welled up in him.

“Because of scum like you, we are suffering greatly. You can expect severe punishment for this.”

After Ariel left, he had been tirelessly hunting demonic beasts.

Sweat dripped from his hand gripping the sword as he swung it over and over again.

Looking at the endlessly approaching demonic beasts, he thought, he was glad to bear this hard work instead of Ariel.

‘Anyway, I should tell Kaiser to hand over the dark mages to Atlan.’

The most important thing now was to find evidence against Noah Diaz.

“Gasp-! This lady said she would spare me!”

The dark mage collapsed to the ground. Ariel released his wrist. He wouldn’t be able to escape.

“Fine. If you want to live, lead us to your filthy hideout.”

Murderous intent radiated from Leopold.

The dark mage struggled to his feet, his legs trembling.

“This, this way.”

He pointed to the mountain located north of the plains.

“They should be in a cave under that mountain.”

“Are you sure? If we go there and they aren’t, you’re as good as dead.”

Leopold glared at him menacingly. The dark mage nodded rapidly.

“Yes, yes. I’m sure. If they’re not there, you can kill me.”

Watching the two from behind, Ariel laughed in disbelief.

Was this the same arrogant guy who had yelled at her earlier?

Seeing him cower before Leopold’s imposing figure, it was hard to believe he was the same person.

“Lead the way.”

Ariel infused mana into her foot and stomped on his.

“Ack-!”

It must have hurt a lot.

The dark mage collapsed to the ground, unable to touch his throbbing foot, groaning in pain with his hand reaching out into the air.

Ariel looked at the dark mage with a satisfied expression.

“Didn’t you hear me say to lead the way?”

Leopold ground his teeth. He wanted to kill the arrogant fool who dared to ignore Ariel’s command and worry about his own feet instead of taking action.

“Consider yourself lucky that you still have a use. Otherwise, I would have beheaded you long ago.”

At Leopold’s harsh words, the dark mage stood up again.

***

The sun had completely set. Ariel and Leopold, guided by the dark mage, approached a cave located at the base of the mountain, cutting through the dark plains.

Worried that their presence might be detected and the dark mages might flee, Ariel and Leopold moved cautiously.

“Here it is.”

The dark mage pointed with his hand.

Even without him saying it, they could feel it. The aura of darkness. The sinister atmosphere.

Leopold roughly pushed him into the cave.

“You go in first. Make them feel at ease.”

“Y-yes, I will.”

The dark mage entered the stone cave first.

He walked into the cave as he usually would. As they went deeper into the cave, the darkness thickened. He created a torch with magic.

Leopold and Ariel followed him silently.

The inside of the cave was surrounded by cold rock walls. The chill emanating from the aura of darkness made the two feel uneasy.

They frowned, stepping lightly on the cave floor, making no sound.

“Khan, is that you?”

A chilling voice echoed from deeper inside the cave.

It must be the dark mage’s comrades who had been taken hostage.

‘They’re really here.’

Ariel and Leopold looked at each other and nodded.

“Yes, it’s me…”

“I was scared thinking it was those crazy knights! Two knights suddenly appeared on the plains and wiped out the demonic beasts.”

A voice filled with fear echoed through the cave.

‘Now.’

Leopold and Ariel simultaneously launched an assault.

Small candles placed here and there illuminated the dark cave. The two hidden dark mages were startled and tried to use magic when they saw them.

“It would be wise not to do anything you’ll regret.”

Leopold warned in a deep voice. The dark mage named Khan looked at his comrades with a calm expression.

“Khan, you traitor!”

“He was a spy! Khan was a spy!”

The two dark mages in the cave screamed like madmen.

Ariel brought her sword, making a scraping sound, to their throats.

“Let’s go. It’s time for you to pay for your crimes.”

Her emerald eyes sparkled, reflecting the candlelight.

***

The dark mages were dragged out of the cave, each held by Leopold and Ariel.

The captured dark mages in the cave cursed Khan.

“How could you do this to us!”

“All our comrades are dead, and we’re the only ones left. You deserve to be roasted alive!”

Ariel shook her head.

Why do they always talk like that?

She looked at them with disdain.

But as she mulled over their words…

—All our comrades are dead, and we’re the only ones left.

Does this mean that they may not be in league with Noah Diaz?

Ariel’s round eyes narrowed.

Leopold, who was busy opening the portal with the scroll he had kept in his training uniform pocket, did not hear their conversation.

A portal, shimmering with a blue light, opened in the darkness of the night.

“El. Would you go in first? Make sure these guys don’t go anywhere.”

Leopold smiled at Ariel as he spoke, and she nodded. She thought she wanted to finish this quickly and rest, and then stepped into the portal.

The blue light enveloped Ariel’s body, and soon she vanished without a trace.

“Go in and stay quiet.”

Leopold roughly pushed the three men into the portal.

Fortunately, they captured them alive within a day.

Leopold let out a long sigh and then entered the portal, which was still rippling.