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."

guard speaking, I kept an indifferent and stoic

just went from one ear to

about to get fed

put the guard to good

me, might as well

he was a guard, without a doubt he knew the ins and outs of

may turn into a more fruitful opportunity

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

give me a

"You what?"

his steps and looked at me with an incredulous

I looked back and asked in

"What's wrong?"

...have you not seen the

"No."

my head and

my long beard,

place out so I've got no clue about where I'm going. Since

the guard from the corner of my eyes, hoping that he didn't notice anything

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

in his description, it did say that he was a research fanatic. Never left his room as he wanted to continue his research

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

my request was a

"Ah, I see."

I was

my request and thinking things through,

than delighted by this request...if you

pace, he started walking ahead of

he walked,

By the end

upon hearing his words, I

ask for

***

[Lock, Class A-25]

what have you been doing this past month?

was packing up

both hands on the table, she looked at Kevin

seem a lot more cheerful than before...did

"Not particularly."

putting his notebook and tablet away in his

the academy repeatedly, spending more time training in your room rather than at the training grounds, and even laughing to yourself

she spoke, the smaller her eyes

staring at Emma's beautiful face, Kevin thought for

I've got something to

"Wa-wait!"

could protest, grabbing onto her wrist, he dragged her out of the

what are you doing? Let

Ci Clank-!

soon headed for a rather

let go of

would protest, but regardless of how much she protested, Kevin did not

was pretty weak. If she wanted to she could've easily gotten

a rather secluded area, one devoid of any students, Kevin finally let of Emma's

are you trying to

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

were running

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

of her face, Emma

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

I don't know if this is the right time. We've just

his surroundings to see if there

his hand, he formed a small barrier

no one

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

the side,

his head, Kevin

Trying to do

"You know c..con-"

where your father

could finish her sentence, Kevin cut her

"Con...c-What?"

Kevin's words, her body froze and

attention back towards Kevin, her face frosted. Gone was

with. I will never forgive

Emma's eyes, Kevin

know where your father

"...how?"

shoulders trembled slightly. The side of her

she pointed her finger at

better not be messing with

I know where