The Author's POV

340 Setting the pieces in motion [4]

Ci Clank!

Exiting the room I was staying in, I calmly looked at my surroundings.

'It's a lot quieter than I thought,' I thought.

Now that I was done with the deactivation of the beacons, it was now time that I properly scouted the place.

Since I had to suddenly hasten my plans, I decided to get everything ready within the next day or so.

The first step was to know the environment well.

Although I knew the general layout of the place thanks to some of the things Waylan had sent me, I wanted to get a proper look myself.

After all, seeing in person was much better than seeing through a small map. Moreover, the map was created by the spies sent by the dwarves. With everyone being strictly monitored, they were bound to miss something.

"Karl? What are you doing?"

But just as I took a couple of steps outside of my room, someone called out for me; it was the guard that had been assigned to me.

Turning around, I irritably said.

"What do you care what I do?"

My unfriendly tone was done so that the guard would get the idea, and leave me alone.

Unfortunately, the guard didn't seem to care.

Unfazed by my tone, he calmly said.

"I am your guard, of course, I care. Right now you're probably one of the most wanted duergar in the whole of Henlour. I was told never to leave your side."

'...ah, right, should've expected this.

In hindsight, he wasn't wrong. Being the one responsible for shutting down the beacons, my life was in quite a bit of danger.

Saying that I was the most wanted duergar wasn't a lie. I truly was.

Although I could probably defend myself now that I was rank. with my every move being watched, I couldn't carelessly kill anyone at the moment.

Plus...

Eyeing the guard next to me, I knew that his only goal wasn't just to guard me.

Most likely, he had been sent by the elders to keep watch of me.

It seemed like they still did not fully trust me.

Unaware of what I was thinking, the guard continued talking.

"We've already managed to stop two assassination attempts that were aimed for your life. If you go alone, I won't be able to protect you, and the elders would not let me go. For my life, I have to follow you."

"...Ugh, fine."

Listening to him continuously speak, I eventually relented.

His presence wasn't the worst thing ever. At the very least, he could protect me.

It would be pretty ironic if I died at the hands of a dwarven spy.

Since only a few individuals knew of my presence here, as of this moment, I was the enemy of all dwarfs.

"Thank you for understanding!"

Seeing me agree, the guard sighed in relief and thanked me.

He then proceeded to run up to me.

"So, where are you headed?"

He asked, finally catching up to me.

Glancing at him from the corner of my eyes, I responded.

"Just casually looking around. I've been in the room for too long. Need a breath of fresh air."

"Ah, I see."

The guard repeatedly nodded his head in understanding.

He then started complimenting me out of nowhere.

"With what you've achieved, getting a little bit of rest is the least you deserve. Your achievements are truly something noteworthy. With you, we might very well be able to finally cleanse this place of those bastards."

"...right."

the guard speaking, I

saying, just went from one ear to

this nonsense, just as I was about to get fed up bv

I put the

me, might as well have him be my

he was a guard, without a doubt he knew the

may turn into a more fruitful

up my decision, turning my attention back to the guard, I opened

me a tour of

"You what?"

my unexpected request, the guard halted his steps and looked at me with an incredulous

I looked

"What's wrong?"

you not seen the

"No."

my head and continued

my long beard, I

research. I've never bothered to check this place out so I've got no

was talking, I secretly glanced at the guard from the corner of my

bit suspicious, given Karl's character, I was probably not that

that he was a research fanatic. Never left his room as he wanted to continue his research

not many knew how he acted. This was why I was able to somewhat get

shocked by my request was a

"Ah, I see."

I was indeed

the initial shock of my request and thinking things through, the guard quickly recovered before nodding

be more than delighted by this request...if you would

up his pace, he started

walked,

the end of it, you will know the whole place as if it was your

behind him, upon hearing his words,

ask for

***

[Lock, Class A-25]

doing this past

Kevin who was packing up beside

hands on the table,

also seem a lot more cheerful than

"Not particularly."

putting his notebook and

acting so suspiciously? Going out of the academy repeatedly, spending more time training in your room rather than at the training grounds, and

spoke, the

Emma's beautiful face, Kevin thought for a moment before

me, I've got something to

"Wa-wait!"

could protest, grabbing onto her wrist, he dragged her

doing? Let go of

Ci Clank-!

soon headed

go

but regardless of how

Emma's resistance was pretty weak. If she wanted to she could've easily gotten herself

of any

are you

looked at Kevin;

were

Is he planning on doing what I think

of her face, Emma could feel her cheeks

at Kevin who was in front of her, Emma's continued to have

or no? although I do like Kevin, I don't know if this is the right time. We've just

Emma was thinking, Kevin, checked his surroundings to see if there was anyone

formed

one is

"A...are perhaps trying to..."

shyly said from the side, cutting Kevin

his head,

to do

"You know c..con-"

I know where

sentence, Kevin cut her off and went straight

"Con...c-What?"

the moment she processed Kevin's

her attention back towards Kevin, her face

with. I will never forgive you if

Emma's eyes, Kevin answered

know where your

"...how?"

Emma's shoulders trembled slightly. The side of

pointed her

messing with me, Kevin.

I know