Chapter 29

The human body was embedded in the wall, or rather, sucked into it. Karia Bardonic furrowed her brow in puzzlement and traced the stone wall with her white fingers. All she felt was the expected texture, and there was no sign of the trap activating again as it had before.

Karia involuntarily clicked her tongue. To entrust oneself to such a crude mechanism—what were they thinking? And to bring along that woman, who called herself a magician named Fiarrato.

"Let's set a course. The situation is dire. The party is divided, and there's no prospect of reuniting. The best course of action, of course, is to return to the city and seek help."

This man, Helt Stanley, was speaking the right path. There was not a single cloud in his words.

Being separated by the trap and risking a secondary disaster while seeking help would be too imprudent. The best option was for the two of them to escape this place and call for help. The second-best option was to stay here for a while and hope that the separated members would escape the trap. The worst option would be for the remaining members to head for help.

Karia Bardonic narrowed her silver eyes and let the words swirl in her mind for a moment before speaking them.

"No, we should move forward. Retreat offers too little hope of a good outcome. If we want results, we should aim for the best."

"Coincidence, isn't it? I feel the same way. Time doesn't rewind. The longer we delay, the less likely it is that we can be rescued."

Helt nodded without hesitation at the words that Karia let out, her silver hair swaying.

Both of them had decided that choosing the worst option was the best. It was emotional, yet the result of rational calculation.

They hadn't brought equipment for camping for several days. Each of them had at most a day's worth of food and water. The journey from Galar Amaria to this temple by carriage took a day. Even if they pushed themselves to the limit, it would take at least two days to call for help and return to this place.

If they were in good health, it wouldn't be a problem. A person wouldn't die from a mere day without food. With careful rationing, they could last for two days.

But if they had fallen into the trap, there was a good chance they were not in good health. Injuries, major wounds, loss of limbs, excessive bleeding—any of these could make even a single day uncertain. If that was the case, they should move forward. If they were concerned for their own safety, the best course of action was to act quickly.

"Besides, that man is probably moving forward, even if he fell into the trap. He's that kind of person."

Karia let the words seep into the stone corridor, her voice tinged with irony and resignation. The surroundings were dark, and they could barely see with the light. The temple, a symbol of mystery, was hidden deep underground. The very act of concealing a temple underground was abnormal. It was likely that the persecuted and exiled emblematic believers had come up with such an illegal idea. Karia couldn't even imagine the structure.

Thinking of this, Karia smiled and cleared her throat, imagining the figure of Louis.

"…I know this isn't the time for such talk, but perhaps Karia, you are of noble birth?"

Helt, who was walking ahead with the light, seemed to have caught the emotion in her voice. When Karia asked why he thought so, Helt replied in a soft tone.

The degree of sunburn, the tone of voice, and the use of words naturally differ between the lower class and the nobility. The lower class doesn't need refined language, and the harsh physical labor they endure leaves its mark on their bodies, which are tanned and shaped by it.

Karia, who stood out as a peculiar presence in the guild, had always caught Helt's attention.

Indeed. Karia nodded naturally while looking at her own white fingers. Her hands, which could wield a sword but had never done farm work or picked wheat, and which didn't know how to hold tools or wring out a mop, seemed so unreliable. Yes, she remembered that his hands were unusually, almost coal-black.

"Then, I have another question. What is the relationship between Karia and Louis?"

His way of speaking was oddly careful. It might have been a manifestation of Helt's sincerity and cleanliness.

"I don't understand. What business is it of yours who I associate with?"

"Of course, it's none of my business. But it's quite rare for people of different backgrounds to be together."

Indeed, it was. Karia and Louis. If asked whether they were of the same background, their characteristics were too different. While Karia exuded a noble demeanor, Louis was a commoner through and through.

Karia stroked her chin. If Karia were the master and Louis the servant, it wouldn't be strange. However, based on their interactions in the guild and the journey to this point, it wasn't so simple. Moreover, Karia herself didn't fully understand her relationship with Louis.

"What should I say? Our relationship…?"

"Yes, it's quite mysterious. Karia, you seem to trust Louis a lot. I even wondered if you two were in love."

At these words, Karia's thoughts froze. It felt as if an unknown force had grabbed her brain.

In love. People who love each other, who are in mutual affection. People who whisper and weave love. Me and him. No, that can't be. Such a thing can't be. We've only known each other for a short time, and we come from different backgrounds and live different lives. How could we be in mutual affection? Yes, that's impossible.

But wait, Karia paused her thoughts. She had heard that love can descend into one's heart in an instant. If that's true, the length of time they had known each other was irrelevant.

However, no, Karia pursed her soft lips and then answered.

"Comrades. Yes, comrades. That's the most fitting description."

Yes, she thought. She had said it herself. That was the most fitting description. Of course, it was unusual for people of different backgrounds to be comrades, but that was beside the point.

Helt murmured, "I see," with a voice that still held a question, and continued.

"This is a good opportunity to say and ask—honestly, I don't have a good impression of him. I even consider him dangerous."

His voice was a bit darker than usual, as if it had dropped a level. Karia was taken aback by his earnestness.

In essence, Helt's point was this. But to say it in front of Karia, who couldn't determine whether they were in love or comrades, would be a breach of etiquette and even rude. Therefore, he had carefully probed Karia's relationship before revealing his feelings.

Should it be called sincerity? Or should it be called earnestness? In a way, he was the complete opposite of Louis, Karia thought, placing her hand on her head.

"He may not be malicious, but he is certainly not a good person. Karia, you are aware of this, and yet you are with him?"

I see, this is the kind of person Helt Stanley is, Karia thought, looking at his handsome face as he turned to her.

He cannot remain silent about what is wrong. He cannot let injustice stand. He faces the relationship between right and wrong head-on. That is what he is.

"I am very worried about Fiarrato. My heart feels like it's about to tear. Without your eyes, I might have lost my composure. Therefore, I want to say this: if, by any chance, he is harming Fiarrato—"

At that moment, he was asking what she would do. Karia fully understood the unspoken meaning.

Even if it was a sudden combination, to oppose a party member. Even if it was a scenario where the other party struck first, not conveying this thought was a breach of trust. He believed that.

Karia's silver eyes flickered, and she carefully weighed her words on her tongue.