HPV 26

The captain of the guards, wearing a badge on his chest, looked us over.

It seemed he noticed something the villagers’ testimonies hadn’t mentioned—that one person was missing.

“I heard there should be a child among you. Where is he?”

It’s frustrating to be suspected of something we didn’t do.

No one knows the feeling of facing violence and hunger when you don’t even understand what you’re accused of.

Still holding onto Banwes’s arm, I pressed my lips to his skin.

There was too much negativity surging through me—I had no other choice.

Banwes’s skin twitched a few times as if he wanted to pull away. But then, strength drained from his arm.

But this is only temporary… just because of their suspicion. Once we clear our names, it’ll all go away.

Yurichen motioned for Paronai to step back.

He stood calmly in front of the spearpoints and showed something to the guard captain.

It was the identification badge of a low-ranking priest.

A fake, yes—but not a forgery. It had been officially issued by the temple for undercover travel.

Besides, Yurichen held a much higher priestly rank, so it wasn’t even really impersonation.

“I am traveling across the kingdom with four bodyguards and one companion.

One of the guards specializes in stealth and never reveals himself.”

The ‘one companion’ he spoke of was me.

No way could I be called a bodyguard—

Because I was useless.

“Ah… you’re a Gaioh priest. Please forgive our rudeness.”

Outside of the kingdom’s remote provinces, just the title of Gaioh priest was enough to serve as identity proof—almost like a master key that unlocked most accusations.

The guard captain gestured for the spears to be lowered.

Paronai sheathed his sword as well.

After offering a slight bow to Yurichen, the captain explained how this situation had come about.

Since last night, the bride had disappeared.

Suspecting a kidnapping, the guards from the count’s territory had scoured the area.

And although it was unlikely, fearing it might be the work of human traffickers, they had decided to interrogate even outsiders like us.

“Imagine that. The bride disappearing before the first night even began.What a tragedy,”

Penzey muttered with an almost careless dryness.

Paronai glared at him once, then, looking like he might cling to Yurichen’s robes at any moment, quickly said,

“If she’s still missing, the longer we wait, the worse it’ll get. If we have more people, the search will go faster!”

To Paronai, there wasn’t even a hint of doubt: the hero had to stay until the bride was found.

“Paronai… Let me take this opportunity to make something clear.”

Yurichen let out a long sigh.

His veil shifted slightly with the motion.

“We are in the middle of a journey across the kingdom. We can’t possibly join hands with every person we meet, can we?”

His tone was like coaxing a child.

Paronai’s eyes wavered.

“Only two months remain until the day when the black dragon is expected to unleash hellfire. We don’t know how delays will accumulate later—so while it’s still early, we must make haste. Remember: we are entrusted with a grave mission. Besides, the Countdom of Niabon is close to the capital and has well-organized guards.”

“You, you…”

“Did you understand what I said?”

It was a situation we had feared: the party’s opinions clashing, leading to hurt feelings.

And this time, it was Paronai’s side.

His face twisted and trembled sporadically.

“If you understand, then you are free to join the guards and help search.”

“…Huh?”

A beat of silence fell.

Even Paronai, unable to follow the logic immediately, tacked a question mark onto his words.

Then, slowly, his face lit up—simple-minded as always.

It was Yurichen’s way of helping while making clear that next time, decisions might be different.

A wise move.

—

The groom, even though morning had come, was still dressed in yesterday’s white wedding clothes, his hair a tangled mess, his face a picture of exhaustion and despair as he wept.

What should have been the happiest day of his life had turned into a nightmare, marked by fear and loss.

Paronai gently patted his shoulder with a sorrowful expression.

“Zhihis and I grew up together—our families were close, so we’ve been best friends since we were babies. Every year, I would slip a ring onto Zhihis’s finger. Until last year, it was always a ring made of flowers. But this year, we saved up and bought a small but beautiful gold ring.

When I slipped it on her finger, she smiled even brighter than the daisies.”

The bride’s name was Zhihis.

From the groom’s trembling voice and the endless tears pouring down his face, it was clear just how much he loved her—how deeply he had looked forward to this marriage.

“After swearing eternal vows before everyone, we stepped into the new house we had prepared together… and, well, the mood was perfect.

I felt like I was flying, finally becoming Zhihis’s husband—it was our wedding night, you know. Not just ending with a kiss, but… going further than that.”

Even through the veil, it was obvious Yurichen didn’t want to hear any more.

Penzey, on the other hand, grinned shamelessly, clearly enjoying himself.

“But before I could hold her, Zhihis asked me to give her a little time. She said she needed to fetch something from her parents’ house. I agreed and waited.”

The groom had waited happily at first, but as time dragged on, the bride did not return.

Without realizing it, the groom eventually fell asleep while waiting.

It wasn’t until morning that he fully realized Zhihis had never come back.

“Looking back, it’s strange that I even fell asleep. I was too excited to sleep…”

The village sheriff entered Zhihis and the groom’s house, wearing a grave expression.

He found traces that someone had broken in through the open window.

Given that, it was clear that the groom falling asleep hadn’t been natural either.

The village immediately turned upside down.

The guards combed through the nearby mountains and fields.

“If she’s alive… that’s all that matters…”

The groom started weeping again.

Before he completely collapsed, the village elders led him away.

It’s rare, but in the world, there are indeed intelligent and independent beasts that sometimes raid human villages to abduct young children or beautiful women.

“Such beasts don’t usually go far after securing their prey. They tend to stay close by.”

Penzey, who had escaped the Mage Tower and wandered at night like it was second nature, was also quite knowledgeable in beastology.

Based on a few assumptions, he suggested searching the mountain nearest to the village.

I was carried on Banwes’s back.

While surveying the mountain with a local herbalist acting as guide, the herbalist suddenly stopped and murmured,

“Huh… was there always a cave here?”

Right in the middle of the mountain, there was a large cave that looked suspiciously unnatural.

Paronai, who had stopped in front of it, quickly found a critical clue.

The bride’s white veil was lying at the entrance.

“We have to search inside. Banwes, can you pick up any scents? Does it feel like there’s a beast inside?”

Paronai sought the opinion of the man larger than any ancient tree.

“You want me to go find my own kind, huh?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

The man snorted mockingly and dismissed the warrior’s words.

Paronai’s face darkened, realizing he had made a mistake.

Before entering the cave, Yurichen stopped me.

“Riarun, stay here.”

“Good idea. We don’t know what might happen, so Riarun, stay out front. Hmm… Banwes should stay too.”

I was fine with staying behind.

The problem was Banwes staying with me.

Inside this cave, a battle was supposed to happen.

In the game, Banwes also went inside.

If all four entered, Bzhan would be left outside alone—and naturally, he would end up following after.

If I stay behind, both Banwes and Bzhan will stay too.

What if that messes up the fight?

“No. I’ll come too.”

I shook my head and made my intentions clear.From behind me, I heard someone mutter,

“Saying one thing and planning to cling to me again, huh.”

Even though the cave was halfway up the mountain and technically above ground, it shared too many similarities with the underground.

Not a single ray of light entered; shadows gathered in heaps.

The thick, stagnant air clouded my lungs.

The echoes bouncing off the narrow walls clung to my heart like lead.

I thought as long as I didn’t actually go underground, I wouldn’t have a panic attack…

But the deeper we went, the more suffocating it became.

I wiped my sweaty hands on my clothes and, without anyone noticing, grabbed onto Banwes’s sleeve.

Just as he had mocked me for earlier.