“How long before we can move in!?”

Inside a tent just a little away from the underground dungeon’s entrance, Duke Adrian’s voice roared with impatience.

By his side, Walter tried to calm him down, but he himself was also starting to lose his patience.

“General, I apologize for the delay. But it turns out that the message lady Charlotte sent was true. The [seven sins] is a highly wanted and dangerous assassination group. If we were to move in without careful planning, it could back fire on us.” The kneeling captain of the duke’s army said with resolute, even when faced with his rage.

“Professor Karin, how is Lady Charlotte currently doing?” to try to calm his heart, Walter asked for Charlotte’s situation.

Puff Puff who was in Karin’s arms then relayed the words its mistress told him “He says that they are currently safe inside the dungeon and none of them are injured.” Even she as her teacher felt relieved to hear that news.

“So Leo is safe as well. Please relay my thanks to Lady Charlotte for letting me know.” when he heard the news, King August had immediately deployed his personal knight squad and set out to the rescue for his son. As for the matters concerning the kingdom, he left Prime Minister Vander in charge and his wife, the queen, as back-up.

It wasn’t just the king. Even Leila’s father had come with a squad of his own. The largest team however still belonged to Duke Adrian.

They had already sent out several scouts to secure the area and all the soldiers were ready to advance. All that was left was the scout’s report.

“General!” a man in light uniform rushed inside as rude as it may be, but this was an emergency. With panting breath, he gave his report.

“Alright, move out!” Duke Adrian finally gave the word. The soldiers all marched in formation inside and the ground began to tremble.

Not being able to just stand and wait, Duke Adrian also joined the battle with Walter right next to him.

==

Four floors below, Charlotte had received the news from Puff Puff and informed the others. They were relieved, but Charlotte warned them to be cautious nonetheless.

While they were resting, Charlotte sensed something strange in the air. It wasn’t the presence of monsters, but something else she didn’t know.

“…stay here, I need to check up on something.”

“Where are you goin-“ but before Terence could even ask, her figure had already vanished. She was like a phantom that appeared and disappeared without warning!

Only after she was absolutely sure that they would be safe for the time being, did she leave. She followed the presence until she reached a dead end. But, unlike a normal dead end, this one gave her the feeling of an illusion.

She closed her eyes and scanned around her, but there was no sign of danger.

(Then this is probably another one of those hidden rooms, right? but, is this a trap or a treasure room….?)

She remembered that that was indeed the case, but, she also remembered that the guy who was in charge of that section had a rather sadistic personality. The traps he placed were terrifying and the chances that it was treasure instead of a trap could be said to be close to 1 out of the 1000.

(Whatever. This isn’t worth it if it’s just a secret room.)

She thought that it perhaps might have been something else, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Just as she was about to turn around to head back, an unknown force paralyzed her body.

“Eh!?”

Before she could even react, he body was gradually being pulled towards the wall!

Inch by inch, an invincible force pulled her closer until she was just in front of the wall. Yet, it didn’t stop!

Just when she thought she would hit the wall, her body passed right through it!

(So it was an illusion….)

She wanted to cry, but the sound never left her lips.

==

“Where do you think she went for so long?” Leila asked worriedly. It had already been long past a quarter hour and they knew she wasn’t the kind of irresponsible person. “…nothing bad happened to her, right…?”

But, not even Leo or Terence could assure her as they themselves had asked that question in their mind.

It could be said that, the only reason they were still alive until now was thanks to her.