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 indifferent and

went from

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

I put the guard

he insisted on following me, might as well have him be

guard, without a doubt he knew the ins and

may turn into a more fruitful opportunity than

my attention back to the

a tour of the

"You what?"

the guard halted his steps and

my steps, I looked

"What's wrong?"

not

"No."

shook my head and

long

got no clue about where I'm going.

secretly glanced at the guard from the

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

research fanatic.

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

shocked by my request was a

"Ah, I see."

was

things through, the guard quickly recovered before nodding

delighted by

up his pace, he started walking ahead

he walked, he

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

hearing

ask for anything

***

[Lock, Class A-25]

have you been doing this past

was packing up

hands on the table,

seem a lot more

"Not particularly."

putting his notebook and

so suspiciously? Going out of the academy repeatedly, spending more time training in your room rather

more she spoke, the smaller her eyes

and staring at Emma's beautiful face, Kevin thought for a moment

got

"Wa-wait!"

onto her wrist, he dragged

what are you doing? Let

Ci Clank-!

building, Kevin soon headed for a rather

let go

the way, Emma would protest, but regardless of how much

Emma's resistance was pretty weak. If she wanted to she

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

are you trying to

Emma looked at Kevin; her

were

on doing what I think he's doing…is he

face, Emma could feel

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

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

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

he formed a small

no one is

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

the side, cutting

his head,

to

"You know c..con-"

know where your

could finish her sentence, Kevin cut her off and went

"Con...c-What?"

Kevin's

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

better not be messing with.

back into Emma's eyes,

I know where

"...how?"

Emma's shoulders trembled slightly. The side of her

she pointed

not be messing with me, Kevin.

I know where he