Though spoken in a frantic state, the essence was simple. Whether outside or inside the walls, wherever you go, it’s dangerous.

Simply put, red alerts flashing everywhere. Thump! What exactly is about to explode? If this doesn’t work and that doesn’t work...

What on earth am I supposed to do? A surge of frustration welled up inside me.

“Yeah...”

I found myself quietly accepting.

“That’s just how my fate is.”

It was impossible to avoid this way. I had planned to wait outside the walls, and if the tier lord appeared before then, cross into the city; if not, just hold out outside.

But this storm was not something you could avoid like that.

“A-ah...! Ah...!”

Watching Sven Parav begin to convulse beyond mere trembling, I silently steeled my resolve.

“Yandel...! Now’s not the time for that! Get out here!”

Storm, lightning, flood, or any other unimaginable hell...

“Something’s approaching from outside... Parav! Are y-you alright?”

Let it come if it wants. Clench. I will never give up.

“Captain! Orders...!”

Kaislan rushed to me inside the barracks, demanding instructions.

“Take care of Sven Parav. He doesn’t seem able to move on his own.”

“Understood.”

Stepping outside, I saw the members already ready and waiting to depart.

“Emily, what have you found so far?”

“A massive mana reaction is detected beyond. The mana wavelength matches monsters’, but they aren’t sure.”

“Why not?”

“The wavelength is too huge to be called a monster’s. Even a first-grade monster wouldn’t have one this strong.”

“I see...”

“It’s approaching rapidly, so we must decide quickly.”

Right... that’s what it means...

“...”

I glanced at the members waiting for my decision. I always feel this moment most burdensome and uncomfortable.

What’s the right choice and what’s the wrong one. Without any certainty. Thump! Yet I have to decide.

And the fate of those who follow me depends on that decision.

“...We move into the cave first. Then activate the portal so we can move to the city anytime.”

As soon as I made the decision, all clan members quickly formed a moving formation and dashed into the cave. Tat-tat-tat! The closing distance matched our fast speed.

Soon, the restored Return Magic Circle appeared, and GM quickly activated it on my command.

‘Three minutes.’ Because preparations were done in advance, opening the portal took around three minutes—a short time. But... Whooooosh!

Why do these three minutes feel so long?

“It’s moving faster! Faster!”

Lilis Marone, who set up mana detection radars around the camp, shouted urgently.

“...”

“...”

Surviving countless hardships, these elite explorers have instincts sharpened to the extreme and maintain battle-ready expressions.

How many times did an eternity of a second repeat?

“All done...!”

Finally, as the magic circle emitted light, a portal of strong radiance opened.

“It’s here...”

Someone in the cave murmured. After that, no more words. Everyone held their breath and stared ahead, listening carefully.

Scrr-ck, scrr-ck. Something scraping the floor. Splash, splash... Sloppy footsteps. Screeeeeeeeeech

“Sight.”

Immediately giving a short order, Bersil beside me activated a light orb spell and illuminated the dark passage. Thanks to this, we learned a few things.

Scrr-ck, scrr-ck. The sound came from shackles on the feet. Splash, splash... Not sloppy footsteps, but from countless blinking eyeballs.

Screeeech Every step the creature took was surrounded by souls writhing in pain. Also...

“...Yandel, don’t fight that guy.”

Even without Amelia’s advice—who has [Danger Sense] to gauge monster threat levels.

“A-ah...! Aah...! Aaargh...!!!”

Even Sven Parav, white-faced and helpless, instinctively knew this was ‘that monster.’ And...

Thump-thump-thump-thump! It’s dangerous. More than any enemy we’ve fought so far.

“Ha...”

Still, thanks to that, I was able to throw away any lingering hesitation until the end. I briefly considered not returning to the city and fighting that thing instead—but I gave up cleanly.

“Everyone, take the portal and return to the city!”

At my shout, GM who was closest to the portal entered first, followed quickly by others one by one.

“They’re coming, right...?”

Misha looked anxiously.

“Sir, I want to go with you.”

Erwen stubbornly insisted.

“Bjorn...! Can’t we just fight? If we catch it, it might give us something precious...”

Even Ainar, who hadn’t grasped the situation yet.

“What are you all doing? Get in the portal already!”

I shouted in frustration. Erwen and Ainar flinched and hurried to the portal.

But then, as if things couldn’t get worse...

[Kyaaaaaaak—!!!] Did my shout provoke ‘that guy’? The creature suddenly started running at full speed from afar.

And to add insult to injury...

“Aah...! I-I don’t want to! I don’t! I ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) said nooo...!”

Sven Parav started acting hysterically like having a panic attack in front of the portal.

“If I go there, I’ll die! I’m not going!”

“What are you saying? You want to stay here alone?”

“Aah...! Aah! Aaargh!!”

“Damn! What kind of strength is this...!”

Even Kaislan seemed to have trouble forcibly leading the paladin Sven Parav out.

“Enough, Kaislan! You go first!”

“But...!”

“I’ll take care of that guy, don’t worry.”

So Kaislan left first, and I took charge of Sven Parav. Then I quickly checked behind...

[Kyaaaaaaak—!!!] Not very fast after all. Except for me and him, everyone else had gone through the portal.

Then I grabbed Sven’s chin, forced him to look me in the eyes, and...

“Stop whining. I don’t want to go any more than you do.”

“...Huh?”

“If you heard me, get in quickly.”

Damn, annoying a barbarian at a critical moment.

“Aah! Aaargh!!”

After that, I lifted Sven Parav and threw him into the portal. ‘So now it’s just me left.’ Once I go through the portal, it’s over.

Fortunately, at the last moment, I didn’t hesitate. Just... Tat! Like a jump, I threw myself into the portal and thought.

I recalled what the earth witch said.

[You’ll experience harder and sadder things there.]

[Still want to go back?]

My answer to that question remains the same.

‘Yes.’ There’s nothing unfamiliar anymore.

“The character moves to Lafdonia.”

Let’s go. Into the storm.