Moss Town
Night was approaching.
Reas stood near the edge of the town, staring into the distance.
"…Damn it."
"It's almost midnight."
"And none of them have returned."
He clenched his fists.
"…Looks like my attempt to free this world from demons…"
"…has already failed."
At the Town Gate
Norm sat on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
"…Lisa…"
Rio stood nearby, arms crossed.
"Crying won't bring them back."
Norm snapped.
"Do you feel nothing?!"
"Do you have a rock for a heart?!"
Rio glared.
"Shut the hell up."
Norm suddenly froze.
"…Wait."
He pointed ahead.
"Look."
Rio turned.
"…They're back."
"I'll inform everyone."
Lisa and Doma stumbled through the gate.
"We… made it," Lisa muttered.
Norm ran toward them and hugged Lisa tightly.
"Where were you?!"
"You were supposed to be back by morning!"
"How did you get so hurt?!"
"…Where's Harals?"
Doma looked down.
"…It's a long story."
Norm's expression changed.
"…Let's go inside."
"You all look exhausted."
His eyes shifted to Friea.
"…Especially you."
Inside the Hall
Food was brought out.
Lisa and Doma ate silently.
Friea didn't touch anything.
A few minutes later—
The entire alliance gathered.
Thorkel rushed in.
"Friea!"
"What happened?!"
Silence.
Friea's voice trembled.
"…Harals is…"
She clenched her fists.
"…Harals is dead."
"He sacrificed himself… for us."
Thorkel froze.
"…What?"
Tears filled his eyes.
Reas entered the hall.
"…Explain everything."
Lisa and Doma began recounting what happened.
The infiltration.
The capture.
The duel.
The sacrifice.
Silence filled the room.
Reas closed his eyes.
"…I see."
He looked at everyone.
"So… what do we do now?"
"Do we attack?"
"Or… do we retreat?"
The alliance began murmuring.
"No way we can win…"
"That's suicide…"
"We'll all die…"
No one had a clear answer.
Then—
Rio stepped forward.
"It seems everyone is against attacking."
"But no one has a better plan either."
He turned.
"…Friea."
"You were there."
"Speak."
Friea slowly stood up.
Her eyes were still red from crying.
"…We attack."
Everyone went silent.
"But not recklessly."
"We plan it properly."
Her voice hardened.
"I won't let his sacrifice go to waste."
Doma nodded.
"…I agree."
Lisa sighed.
"…Guess I don't have a choice then."
Rio smirked slightly.
"Alright."
"So what's the plan?"
Reas stepped forward and spread out a map.
"This is the City of Swords."
He pointed to the rear.
"We infiltrate from here."
"The invisibility spell should get us close to the castle."
"Then…"
He looked at everyone seriously.
"We take down the three main demons one by one."
No one was fully confident.
But slowly—
They nodded.
A Few Days Later – Inside the Castle
Chunini stood beside his father.
"…Father."
"Asua has been acting strange."
"I think she's still angry that we let those humans escape."
Housen remained silent for a moment.
"…Tell me, Chunini."
"Why do you think humans are so brave?"
Chunini frowned.
"…Why?"
Housen looked ahead.
"They are either fools…"
"…or driven by something deeper."
"That's why letting those humans go was dangerous."
He narrowed his eyes.
"If we had killed them…"
"…those who cared about them would come for revenge."
"And Asua killing that Harals boy…"
"…may have made things worse."
Chunini shrugged.
"Does it really matter?"
"We're far stronger than them."
Housen shook his head.
"No."
"Humans are dangerous."
"Because you can never understand what they're thinking."
"If they stand before you without fear…"
"…that is when they are most dangerous."
Chunini stayed quiet.
"…Even so, Asua hasn't left her room all day."
Housen turned.
"I'll speak with her."
Asua's Room
Housen entered.
"Asua."
She turned toward him.
"Oh… it's you, Father."
Housen frowned slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"You've been acting strange."
Asua smiled faintly.
"It's nothing."
"I'm just not feeling well today."
Housen's eyes narrowed.
"…Since when did my daughter speak so politely?"
"…Who are you?"
Silence.
Then—
Asua laughed.
"Well…"
"You caught me."
She raised her hand.
A distortion formed around her body.
And in the next moment—
The disguise shattered.
Housen's eyes widened.
"…H-Harals…?"
To be continued…