Cerys lifted her head slightly and glanced toward the direction of the rumbling sound, her eyes filled with caution as her body stayed alert, ready to move at any moment if danger came rushing toward them.
"Would you like me to check, young master?" she asked carefully, her voice calm but carrying a trace of concern.
Clay did not even hesitate.
"I am not interested," he replied at once, his tone flat as he turned his gaze away from the tunnel that led back toward the entrance, as if whatever chaos was happening there had nothing to do with him.
At the same time, a familiar voice echoed inside his head.
Ding!
Would the host like to teleport back to the estate?
Clay paused for a moment.
He remembered.
The earlier teleportation, the sudden transfer, and the unpredictable nature of it.
This system was not stable.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"No," he thought firmly, then glanced at Cerys. "Since you came here earlier, you know the way back to my estate, right?"
Cerys blinked.
"Young master, don't you want to use a teleportation spell like earlier?" she asked, clearly confused.
Clay let out a small sigh and shook his head.
"Silly maid," he said, his tone carrying a faint hint of mockery, "you don't understand. If we rely too much on magic, then how are we supposed to stay alert all the time? What happens when our bodies grow weak because we never move, never train, never push ourselves?"
He stretched his arm slightly, as if proving his point.
"Our blood needs to move. Our bodies need to adapt. Otherwise, when real danger comes, we won't be ready."
Cerys listened carefully, not just outside but also inside his mind. She couldn't help but smirk.
Then she nodded.
"I understand, young master. I will follow your orders."
Clay smiled faintly.
"Good."
But inside his head, his thoughts were completely different.
Sigh… my maid really became more beautiful after getting her strength back and making her more powerful from that inheritance, he thought, his eyes drifting toward her figure for a brief moment, that waist… that posture… that—
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
I am getting tempted to claw that—
Cerys's face instantly turned red.
Her ears burned.
She kept her head slightly lowered, trying to hide her expression, but her heart beat faster.
Still…
She did not feel disgusted.
That was the strange part.
She should have.
But she did not.
Instead, she felt embarrassed.
And something else she could not name.
The two of them began walking through the dungeon, their steps echoing lightly against the stone walls as the distant rumbling continued somewhere far behind them.
As they moved, Clay's thoughts began to wander again.
I wonder what will happen to that Villainess Cerys, he thought, his gaze steady ahead, my maid took her chance, so what now?
Cerys's steps slowed.
Her heart tightened.
Will she still avenge herself? Clay continued in his thoughts, thinking deeply, her parents who treated her like nothing, the people who cast her aside, the one who will betray her…
He exhaled softly.
And the catastrophe.
Cerys's breath hitched.
The first catastrophe that will strike the Nine Kingdoms…
Clay's eyes narrowed slightly.
There's gonna be a catastrophe?
Cerys's fingers clenched.
She wanted to know.
Everything he thought…
The future…
Especially her future…
Soon, her steps became slower and she became unsteady.
Clay noticed.
He glanced at her briefly. But her movements next were fine, maybe she's just thinking something.
Then he remembered something important.
"By the way, maid," he said casually, "do you still need resources for your master Cerys to free you?"
Inside his mind, however, his thoughts carried more weight.
It will be troublesome, he thought, the catastrophe is coming soon, if I waste resources on others, my peace might suffer…
He frowned slightly.
But Cerys…
She is tied to fate.
And I already interfered.
That alone might cause a butterfly effect that I need to be prepared for.
Cerys listened.
Every word.
Every thought.
Her chest tightened again. Then she answered.
"Young master," she said gently, "you do not need to worry. I am already healed because of you, and as for resources, I can handle it myself."
Clay raised a brow.
"Oh?"
Cerys nodded.
"I will eliminate some bandits or monsters nearby and take what they stole or their treasures. Then I will bring it back and offer it. That should be enough for her to let me go."
Clay nodded slowly.
That makes sense.
But then—
Cerys hesitated.
Then she asked, "But young master… what if she does not agree?"
Clay paused.
His steps stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he fell into thought.
Hmm…
She is right.
What if that villainess does not accept it?
He crossed his arms slightly.
If that happens, then this becomes more troublesome.
He coughed lightly.
Considering I already took her opportunity…
Should I help her?
He frowned slightly.
Then, inside his mind, he called out.
System, if I help the Villainess indirectly through my maid, what happens? Will I be in the radar of fate again?
The system responded immediately.
The host will not be affected as long as direct contact is avoided.
Clay nodded faintly.
I see.
Then it is possible.
He looked at Cerys again.
"Well," he said calmly, "I can help her with something that will happen soon, but you must be the one to do it. You must make it look like your idea. Understand?"
Cerys nodded immediately.
"Yes, young master."
Clay stared at her for a moment.
Then he raised a finger.
"But first," he said, "make an oath."
Cerys froze.
"Oath?"
"Yes," Clay said, his tone firm now, "no matter what happens, you will not tell her about me. Not my name. Not my existence. Nothing."
Cerys blinked.
"Why, young master?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
Clay looked away slightly.
We are connected by fate, he said inside, his voice was calm but somehow distant, and I do not want anything connected to the predetermined fate.
Cerys felt her heart tremble.
Suddenly, Clay orders.
"Just make an Oath."
Cerys lowered her head.
"I understand."
Inside her mind, however, her thoughts were completely different.
You do not need to worry, young master, she thought, I am her.
I am Cerys.
You are already telling her everything.
I don't know what you are avoiding despite being so powerful, but as a compensation I will try my best to see through the reason.
She almost smiled.
But she held it back.
Then she spoke again.
"I will make the oath."
She raised her hand.
Mana gathered.
Her voice became firm.
"I swear, no matter what happens, I will never reveal the existence of my young master to Cerys, nor will I expose any information related to him…"
The oath continued for a long time and when it was settled, Clay nodded.
"Good."
Then he stepped closer.
And began to whisper.
He spoke of future events.
Of danger.
Of betrayal.
Of a certain man.
"Tell her to be careful of someone named Howard," he said quietly, "do not trust him blindly."
Cerys's eyes trembled.
"Tell her to watch her family closely," Clay added, "especially the one they favor the most."
Her breath grew uneven.
Cerys listened to everything, every word, every warning. All that was meant for her… of course, without him knowing.
…
At the entrance of the dungeon, chaos had already erupted.
The Royal Holy Knights fought with everything they had.
Their blades glowed with holy mana.
Their spells lit up the cavern.
But it was not enough.
The Minotaur roared as it charged forward, its massive body crashing through attacks as if they meant nothing, its hooves breaking the ground with each step.
One knight lunged forward with a spear, aiming for its neck.
The weapon struck.
But instead of piercing, it bounced off.
The Minotaur swung its arm.
The knight did not even have time to react.
BANG!
His body twisted mid-air as the force crushed his ribs, sending him flying into the wall where he hit with a sickening crack before sliding down, motionless.
Another knight attacked from behind, his blade glowing brighter as he poured more power into it.
He struck.
Again.
And again.
Each hit weaker than the last.
The Minotaur turned.
Its eyes locked onto him.
The knight froze.
For one second.
Then the Minotaur's fist came down.
BAM!
The knight was smashed into the ground, his armor denting inward as blood burst out from the gaps.
Another tried to cast a spell.
A beam of holy light shot forward.
It hit the Minotaur's chest.
It exploded and smoke filled the air.
For a moment, they hope they made it.
Then the Minotaur stepped out.
Worse, it was unharmed.
Next, it grabbed the caster.
Lifted him, then crushed him.
The sound of bones breaking echoed through the dungeon.
One by one, the knights fell.
Broken, bleeding, barely alive, or worse, already dead.
The Minotaur stood among them. Untouched. Unstoppable.
And then—
A presence moved forward.
The remaining knights stepped back instinctively.
The air changed.
Pure, heavy and overwhelming Holy mana gathered.
The Holy King Guren stepped forward.
His eyes locked onto the beast.
His expression was calm and also looked unmoved.
"Do not disappoint me," he said quietly.
And the dungeon itself seemed to burn in sudden warmth.