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

he was saying, just went

was about to get fed up

don't I put

on following me, might as

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

turn into a more fruitful opportunity than

decision, turning my attention back to the guard, I

a

"You what?"

request, the guard halted his steps

my steps, I looked back and asked

"What's wrong?"

not

"No."

my head and continued

long

place out so I've got no

the guard from the corner of my

my request sounded a bit suspicious, given Karl's character,

a research fanatic.

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 guard didn't seem too shocked by my request was

"Ah, I see."

I was

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

more than delighted

pace, he started walking

he walked, he

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

him, upon hearing his

ask for anything

***

[Lock, Class A-25]

you been doing this past

who was packing up

the table, she looked at Kevin

also seem a lot more

"Not particularly."

and tablet away in his dimensional

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

more she spoke, the smaller

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

I've got something to tell

"Wa-wait!"

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

doing?

Ci Clank-!

the building, Kevin soon headed

go

the way, Emma would protest, but regardless of how much she protested, Kevin did not let

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

one devoid of any students, Kevin finally let of

are you trying to

onto her wrist, Emma looked at Kevin;

thoughts were

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

of her face, Emma could feel her cheeks burning

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

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

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

he formed a small

one is

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

shyly said from the side,

his head,

Trying to

"You know c..con-"

know where your

Kevin cut her off and went straight

"Con...c-What?"

processed Kevin's words, her body

Kevin, her face frosted. Gone was her

messing with. I will never forgive you if you do

Emma's eyes,

I know

"...how?"

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

hand, she pointed her

be messing with me, Kevin.

I know where