"…Is trying to be perfect really bad for everyone?"
Hakari stared blankly at the busy street around him.
"I'm tired," he murmured. "But I have to keep living like this…"
"Hello? Earth to Hakari."
Rika waved her hand in front of his face.
"How did you zone out in the middle of the street?"
Harals suddenly opened his eyes.
"Ah… that strange dream again."
He rubbed his forehead.
Putting on an act…
"…That sounds familiar."
The Next Morning
The alliance gathered outside Moss Town.
Reas stood in front of them with a map.
"Alright. Here's the plan."
Everyone went silent.
"Only four of you will enter the City of Swords."
He raised four fingers.
"The ones I've chosen are…"
"Rio."
"Doma."
"Friea."
"Lisa."
Doma immediately panicked.
"M-Me? Why me?"
Reas answered calmly.
"Your profile shows you're extremely stealthy."
"That's important because we'll be using an invisibility spell to infiltrate the city."
The group leaned in.
"The spell will hide your presence completely," Reas explained.
"It blocks your sound… your smell… even your mana."
"But," he continued, "if someone touches you, the spell breaks immediately."
"So stealth is essential."
Doma started sweating.
"B-but…"
A woman beside him nudged him.
"I think you should do it," Molis said with a smile. "Come on, you'll be fine."
Doma blushed.
"…Fine."
"I'll do it. But only because you said so."
Rio crossed his arms.
"I can't do it. Stealth isn't really my thing."
Reas sighed.
"We still need someone strong enough to fight if things go wrong."
"You're one of the strongest members here."
Before Rio could respond—
Harals stepped forward.
"I'll go instead."
Friea blinked.
"Did you not hear the plan? We need someone who can fight."
Harals shrugged.
"It'll be fine."
He smiled slightly.
"Besides… haven't I already fought the Sword Demon once?"
Reas studied him for a moment.
"…Fine."
"You'll go."
A short time later, Reas and the four spies stood at the edge of the demon city.
In the distance, enormous black walls surrounded the City of Swords.
Reas raised his staff.
"Invisibility."
A faint shimmer covered the four of them.
"Remember," Reas said seriously.
"Avoid fighting at all costs."
"Your objective is simple: gather information."
"The structure of the city."
"The castle."
"And the demon army."
"That's it."
The four nodded.
Then they quietly entered the city.
Inside the City of Swords…
Friea whispered.
"Now that we're inside, we should split up."
Lisa nodded.
"If we stay close together, it increases the chances someone bumps into us."
"Good point," Friea said.
"How about we meet back here this evening?"
She pointed to the road just outside the city gate.
Lisa smiled.
"Perfect."
Harals nodded.
"Sounds good."
Doma swallowed nervously.
"Y-yeah…"
And just like that, the four disappeared into the demon city.
Later That Evening
"Sorry I'm late," Friea whispered. "What did you guys find?"
Doma spoke first.
"The castle is heavily guarded."
Lisa added, "I also learned something important."
"The Sword Demon has two children."
Friea's eyes widened.
"Two?"
Lisa nodded.
"The Spear Demon — Chunini."
"And the Axe Demon — Asua."
Harals crossed his arms.
"…That's the same information I gathered."
Friea took a deep breath.
"Good work."
"Tomorrow morning, we meet here again."
She looked toward the distant castle rising in the center of the city.
"Next time…"
"We enter the castle."
To be continued…