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 kept an

went from one

just as I was about to get fed up bv his bootlicking. a

put the guard to

might

a doubt he knew the ins and outs of

may turn into a more fruitful opportunity than I

turning my attention back to the guard, I opened

a

"You what?"

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

steps, I looked

"What's wrong?"

...have you not seen

"No."

shook my head and continued to move

long beard, I

so I've got no clue about where I'm going. Since you like talking so much, be useful and tell me about

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

given Karl's character, I

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

he spent so much time researching that not many knew how he acted. This was why I was able to somewhat get away with the things I was

the guard didn't seem too shocked by my request was a testament

"Ah, I see."

I was indeed

request and thinking things through,

more than delighted by this request...if you

he started

walked,

tour of the place. By the end of it, you will know the whole place as if it was

him, upon hearing his words, I

ask for

***

[Lock, Class A-25]

been doing this

was packing

up and putting both hands on the table,

a lot more cheerful than

"Not particularly."

replied, putting his notebook and tablet away in his dimensional

time training in your room rather than at the training grounds, and even

spoke, the smaller

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

I've got something to

"Wa-wait!"

before Emma could protest, grabbing onto her

doing? Let go

Ci Clank-!

Kevin soon headed for a rather

let go

regardless of how much she protested, Kevin did not let

resistance was pretty weak. If she wanted

devoid of any students,

are you trying

Emma looked at Kevin;

were

do!? Is he planning on doing what I think he's doing…is he planning on confessing to

side of her face, Emma

Kevin who was in front of her, Emma's continued to have wild thoughts as she couldn't help but fall into her

like Kevin, I don't know if this is the right time. We've just become third years

checked his surroundings to

his hand, he formed a small barrier

no one

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

shyly said from the side,

his head, Kevin

Trying to

"You know c..con-"

know where your

her sentence, Kevin cut her off and went straight

"Con...c-What?"

guard, the moment she processed Kevin's words, her

back towards Kevin, her face frosted. Gone was her previous

just say?...You better not be messing with. I will never forgive you if you

Emma's eyes, Kevin answered

not joking, I know

"...how?"

lips, Emma's shoulders trembled slightly. The side of her eyes

she pointed

better not be messing with me, Kevin. I am

not. I know where