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."

to the guard speaking, I kept

he was saying, just went

of this nonsense, just as I was about to get fed up bv his bootlicking.

why don't I put

might as well have him be my

a guard, without a doubt he knew the ins and

this may turn into a more fruitful opportunity than

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

give me a tour of

"You what?"

steps and looked at me with

I looked back

"What's wrong?"

tour? ...have you not seen the place

"No."

head and continued to

my long beard,

spend most of my time doing research. I've never bothered to check this place out so I've got no clue about where I'm going. Since you like talking so much, be

talking, I secretly glanced at the guard from the corner of my eyes, hoping that he didn't notice

Karl's character, I was probably not that far off

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

much time researching that not many knew how he acted. This was why I was

too shocked by my request was a

"Ah, I see."

I was indeed

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

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

he started walking

he walked, he

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

behind him, upon hearing his

couldn't ask for

***

[Lock, Class A-25]

this past month? You've been acting

Kevin who was

and putting both hands on the table, she looked at Kevin who was

also seem a lot more cheerful than before...did something

"Not particularly."

his notebook and tablet away in his

why are you acting so suspiciously? Going out of the academy repeatedly, spending more time training in your room rather than at the training grounds, and even laughing to yourself

more she spoke, the smaller her eyes

staring at Emma's beautiful face, Kevin thought

I've got something

"Wa-wait!"

could protest, grabbing onto her wrist, he dragged her

doing?

Ci Clank-!

Kevin soon headed for a rather secluded

go

way, Emma would protest, but regardless of how much she protested,

Emma's resistance was pretty weak. If

of any students, Kevin finally

are you trying to

wrist, Emma looked at Kevin; her face was dyed red in

thoughts were running

doing what I think he's doing…is

onto the side of her face, Emma could

her, Emma's continued to have wild thoughts as she couldn't help but fall into her own

or no? although I do like Kevin, I don't

what Emma was thinking, Kevin, checked his surroundings to

waving his hand, he formed a small barrier

no one is

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

the

head, Kevin

to

"You know c..con-"

know where your

Emma could finish her sentence, Kevin cut

"Con...c-What?"

Kevin's

attention back towards Kevin, her face frosted. Gone

messing with. I will never forgive you if you do

Emma's eyes, Kevin answered

I know where your father

"...how?"

shoulders trembled slightly. The

pointed her

better not be messing with me, Kevin. I am warning

not. I