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

just went from one

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

don't I put the guard

on following me, might as well have

he knew the ins and outs

a

my attention back to

a

"You what?"

unexpected request, the guard halted his steps

I looked

"What's wrong?"

...have you not

"No."

shook my head and continued to move

long beard, I

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

guard from the corner of my eyes,

my request sounded a bit suspicious, given Karl's character, I was probably not that far off

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

researching that not many knew how he acted. This was why I was able to

fact that the guard didn't seem too shocked by my request

"Ah, I see."

was indeed

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

than delighted by this request...if you

his pace, he

he walked,

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

him, upon hearing his

couldn't ask for anything

***

[Lock, Class A-25]

doing this past

poked Kevin who was packing up beside

hands on the table, she looked at Kevin who was

more cheerful than before...did something good

"Not particularly."

replied, putting his notebook and tablet away

out of the academy repeatedly, spending more time training in your room rather than at the training

the smaller her

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

me, I've got something to

"Wa-wait!"

before Emma could protest, grabbing onto her wrist, he dragged

doing?

Ci Clank-!

headed for a

let go

the way, Emma would protest, but regardless of

was pretty weak. If she wanted

one devoid of

you

looked at Kevin; her face was dyed red in

thoughts were running

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

of her face, Emma could feel her

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

Kevin, I don't know if

checked his surroundings to see

formed a

one

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

the side, cutting

his head,

Trying to do

"You know c..con-"

know where your

cut her off

"Con...c-What?"

she processed Kevin's words, her body froze and her

Kevin, her face frosted. Gone was her

not be messing with. I will never forgive

back into Emma's eyes, Kevin answered

not joking, I know where your

"...how?"

lips, Emma's shoulders trembled slightly. The side

pointed

better not be messing with

am not. I know