It seems my feeling that Arkle’s gaze toward Khan was particularly eerie wasn’t just a simple concern.

“Lize, director… the final scene, I want to see too.”

“You do? Then let’s monitor it.”

“……”

As Khan approached me and lowered his head to see the video stone, I kept feeling a chilling gaze from far away. It was Arkle.

“Would the assistant director like to come watch too?”

When I asked soothingly, Arkle wordlessly strode over and wedged himself between Khan and me.

“Hey……”

Khan looked at Arkle with eyes that said ‘what are you doing,’ but Arkle stood between us two without caring at all.

‘Isn’t it cramped with that big body….’

However, he showed no sign of discomfort as he watched the video to the end.

‘Is this the Arkle I know? The man who seemed like he wouldn’t have any regrets even if the world ended tomorrow… why has he suddenly become so stubborn?’

The strangely changed Arkle bothered me so much that I couldn’t properly focus on the video.

Unlike me, Khan, who watched the video in an incredibly focused state, said with a voice mixed with regret as soon as the video ended.

“I could have, done better. If we filmed, one more time….”

“Trust me, Khan. From a director’s perspective, this is excellent.”

“Is that so, … but…..”

Trailing off, Khan seemed more disappointed about the fact that the task he had finally found had ended, rather than worried about the video.

‘That’s why I have something prepared.’

I opened my mouth casually, pretending to be distracted.

“Besides, acting doesn’t improve in just one attempt. There’s something essential to becoming a better actor.”

I would give them homework before leaving, so they wouldn’t return to their previous helpless state after I’m gone.

“What, is it?”

“Consistent practice.”

At my resolute voice, Khan’s eyes wavered.

“Practice….”

“Of course. Acting is something that might take ten years, no, even longer to master. In other words, you need to invest time. In that sense, the residents of Kelston have a lot of potential for growth. Do you know why?”

“Time… we have, a lot of time…!”

I nodded vigorously.

“Exactly! So Khan, how about practicing acting together with all the residents until we film the next part? I think it would be good to even create a practice room.”

“Good…, good idea. Then, next time we film, we can do, much better.”

“That’s an excellent mindset. I’d like you to take the role of acting director and lead the practice… would that be okay?”

Khan, with wide eyes, kept nodding.

“I’ll do it. I’ll take responsibility… and make them, into good actors.”

“I’ll trust you. I’ll send you some plays to help with your practice.”

“…Thank you, director….”

It was the first time I heard a word of thanks from Khan.

He continued, stammering as if embarrassed.

“I, we people here… despite everything, we’re still, alive after all….”

“Khan….”

“So now you’re willing to grant our request?”

Arkle asked in a rigid voice, as if pouring cold water on the warm atmosphere.

Khan didn’t mind Arkle’s brusque attitude. Looking at me, he spoke as if apologetic.

“Right, you had a request. The intruder’s, location… you wanted me to tell you, right?”

I nodded firmly, clasping my hands together.

“That guy… seems to know, that we have no interest in him. He wandered around the village, fearlessly. His dwelling is probably, in the cave at the jaw of Mount Kroom. He always, came from there.”

“……!”

Exchanging glances with me, Arkle hurriedly gathered the knights.

It was finally time to achieve the real purpose of coming to Kelston.

❖ ❖ ❖

Inside the cave Khan had shown us.

Just like when I first entered Kelston, I was walking through the cave surrounded by knights on all sides—front, back, left, and right.

Arkle, holding a torch in one hand, walked at the front just like before.

“Th-there’s ab-ab-absolutely n-nothing to worry about…. The master is also with us….”

From my left side, the knight who muttered words that seemed like he was either talking to me or hypnotizing himself was still the same.

‘How did this person become a knight when he’s so fearful…?’

As I was thinking that while walking, the knight ahead stopped.

Soon after, Arkle’s voice was heard.

“This seems to be the dwelling place. There are traces of a fire.”

“Then we’ll hide until he returns….”

Just as one knight was speaking to Arkle….

Thud—!!

Everyone was startled by the sudden heavy sound.

But I was the most surprised.

Because that sound was made by a man who suddenly fell from above and landed right next to me.

‘Was he hanging from the cave ceiling…?’

I faced the man with my mouth wide open.

The man with tanned skin and a muscular build almost as large as Arkle’s began to scrutinize my face as if searching for something.

I also observed him with some tension.

‘Long white hair and pale golden eyes… that’s definitely the sorcerer.’

The only being who could break the emperor’s curse and a figure who would become the imperial treasury’s source of income in the future.

Later, after being captured, he would be sentenced to death after breaking the emperor’s curse, but would eventually have his sentence reduced.

This was because although he used black magic, he was also skilled in techniques that neutralized black magic.

Upon learning this, the emperor, instead of killing him, imprisoned him in a magic tower and made him produce all sorts of formulas, magical tools, and potions effective against black magic.

‘And then sold them all at high prices.’

So bringing this person to Cayenne now means I could intercept all that future income.

‘With Arkle and Martha’s personalities, they would surely give me a large share too.’

As I was lost in exciting thoughts, the man suddenly came closer to me while bending down, startling me.

The man wore only a cloth around his waist and nothing else, and I inadvertently noticed his large pectoral muscles.

Somehow feeling like I had seen something I shouldn’t, I unconsciously took a breath, and with impeccable timing, Arkle’s growling voice was heard.

“How dare you look there—”

“……”

For a moment, I felt like I had done something wrong and became solemn, but soon realized that those words were directed at the man, not me.

Arkle was looking our way with a terrifying face as if about to draw his sword, but he didn’t move rashly.

He seemed concerned that if he attacked hastily, the man might use me as a shield. The knights surrounding me felt the same way.

I quietly swallowed dryly.

I thought that even if we took this man to Cayenne, we should first subdue him to prevent any possible threats.

‘If I weren’t here, Arkle could move easily.’

I was thinking about how to distract the man and escape when I got the chance.

Unexpectedly, the man who had been staring at me up close shifted his gaze away from me.

And as he slowly moved his eyes toward the knights and Arkle, I felt this was my opportunity.

I was quickly mapping an escape route in my mind.

‘I’ll go straight to Arkle. If I run while he’s distracted, even this guy won’t be able to react immediately. The distance is close, so it should be fine….’

As I was preparing to run while watching the man out of the corner of my eye—

“ɵʞØßŋđ….”

The man, who had been keeping his mouth tightly shut, muttered in an unfamiliar language.

Then the knights who had drawn their swords and surrounded the man began to lose consciousness and collapse one by one.

“What’s happening….”

A confused knight couldn’t finish his words before collapsing.

I quickly looked at Arkle.

Seeing that only Arkle remained standing unaffected, I could be certain.

‘It’s black magic.’

“Arkle, right now—”

I was about to say we needed to take this man down, but my head started spinning too.

Arkle’s face, shouting something and running toward me, looked blurry.

‘I wanted to go back safely and watch the movie together.’

For some reason, that thought came to mind.

My legs lost strength and my body tilted as if collapsing.

Just when I thought I was about to fall completely, I felt a firm arm supporting my waist.

“Ar… kle….”

But the owner of the arm that caught me wasn’t Arkle.

Through my narrowing vision, I saw the sorcerer’s pale golden eyes.

He moved his lips as he looked down at me.

“…I’ve finally met you.”

‘What…?’

Before I could think about what those words meant, I felt the man lifting me up with both arms.

“Put her down.”

A chilling voice I had never heard before reached my ears.

Following that, I heard footsteps approaching with a terrifying momentum, but they stopped abruptly with a painful groan.

“Ugh… why at a time like this…!”

When I managed to open my eyes, I saw Arkle sitting down, clutching his chest and breathing rapidly.

His face was terribly contorted, suggesting that his magical resonance had flared up.

‘I need to calm him down….’

Despite such thoughts, I didn’t have the strength to move even a finger.

Eventually, the sorcerer who had picked me up began walking toward the dark inner part of the cave, passing by the groaning Arkle.

After walking for a while, there was a roaring sound from behind demanding him to stop, along with the sound of someone running, but when the sorcerer turned around and muttered something, another painful groan was heard.

“Arghh—!! …ugh… stop… haa… I’ll kill you.”

Despite the voice that seemed to boil with blood, the sorcerer took another step.

And I completely lost consciousness.

Before my eyes closed, I thought I heard Arkle’s voice repeatedly calling my name.

❖ ❖ ❖

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a hard bed.

Fortunately, I wasn’t bound, so I slowly got up and looked around. All sorts of plants and small animal carcasses that appeared to be for food were hanging on the walls.

This seemed to be the sorcerer’s residence.

‘What about the others? If I’m okay, they should all be fine too. But why did he only bring me…? If I’m a prisoner, why am I not tied up?’

As numerous questions came one after another, I made eye contact with the sorcerer walking out from the entrance.

Carrying a basket full of unknown herbs, he saw that I had regained consciousness and knelt before me.

“…Miss Goddess.”

What is this now.

‘I’d rather be sent into a horror movie… it would be easier to understand that situation.’