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 stoic

he was saying, just went from

nonsense, just as I was about to get fed up bv his bootlicking. a thought suddenly struck

why don't I put the guard

he insisted on following me, might as well

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

may turn into a more

decision, turning my attention back to the guard,

me a

"You what?"

request, the guard halted his steps

looked back and

"What's wrong?"

you not seen

"No."

and

my long beard,

to check this place out so I've got no clue about where I'm going. Since you like

the guard from the corner of my eyes, hoping that

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

was a research fanatic. Never

spent so much time researching that not many knew how he acted. This was why I was able to somewhat get

that 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 by this request...if

pace, he started walking ahead of

he walked, he

give you a detailed tour of the place. By the end of it, you

him, upon hearing his words, I suddenly

couldn't ask for anything

***

[Lock, Class A-25]

doing this past month? You've been

was

and putting both hands on the table, she looked at

more cheerful than

"Not particularly."

his notebook and tablet away in his dimensional

spending more time training in your room rather than

more she spoke, the smaller her

head and staring at Emma's beautiful face, Kevin thought

got something

"Wa-wait!"

Emma could protest, grabbing onto her wrist,

are you doing?

Ci Clank-!

soon headed for

go

would protest, but regardless of how much she protested, Kevin did

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

rather secluded area, one devoid of

you trying

Kevin; her face was dyed red

thoughts were

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

face, Emma could feel her cheeks burning

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

although I do like Kevin, I don't know if this is the right

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

hand, he formed a

one

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

from the

head, Kevin

Trying to

"You know c..con-"

where

sentence, Kevin cut her off and

"Con...c-What?"

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

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

not be messing with. I will never forgive

Emma's

not joking, I know where your father

"...how?"

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

her hand, she pointed

with me,

not. I know where he