Chapter 87

“Katrin was captured?”

Lancelot could hardly believe the news from afar.

He knew how clever Katrin was, so he thought this might be part of her plan, but…

“What if… what if it’s real?”

He couldn’t just sit still.

“If she’s really captured, I’ll rescue her no matter what.”

Lancelot’s green eyes shone coldly.

Soon, the carriage leaving from the Grand Duke’s mansion in Montella sped toward the border.

“We must act before the emperor’s army arrives.”

He remembered the ominous look in Etias’ eyes.

He wanted to avoid war with the empire, but he didn’t know if that would be possible.
Still, the determination to go burned so fiercely it clouded his judgment.

Lancelot lifted his hand and brushed through his hair—the same hair Katrin once softly touched.

Her violet eyes, filled with kindness, flashed in his mind.

Then suddenly, the carriage stopped.

“What’s going on?”

His secretary, who had stepped out to check, returned looking troubled.

“Your Grace, the wheel came off.”

Lancelot looked outside to see the coachman staring grimly at the broken wheel pieces.

He rubbed his forehead briefly before speaking.

“Then I’ll go alone.”

The secretary looked alarmed.

“Surely you don’t mean—”

Before the secretary could finish, hair began sprouting on Lancelot’s arms.

Through the forest and rivers, this was the fastest way to get there.

The sound of a horn brought every member of the Scavengers guild into the main hall.

In the center stood Cain, the field commander, with a grim expression.

“The Guildmaster sent an urgent message. He needs everyone’s help.”

The guild members raised their brows in surprise, excitement flickering in their eyes.

“The Guildmaster? The one who’s been hiding all this time?”

“The one who left us and disappeared?”

“The one who wouldn’t even show his new face?”

“Who locked himself in the lab whenever he came by?”

Though the words could sound mocking, they were truly excited.

Jeffrey Wissler, the founder of the Scavengers, had built this vast underground organization when he was only a boy.

He never needed ordinary members’ help in his personal matters.

Even when the former emperor hunted him for creating the Scavengers, he never leaned on the guild for protection.

He had always been like a parent saying, “Don’t worry about me, just live your lives.”

“Let’s go!”

“Yes, let’s go!”

“Move out!!”

Though they knew it must be dangerous, everyone was hyped and eager.

“Who dares trouble our Guildmaster? I’ll punch them in the gut!”

“We’ll hear him say ‘thank you’ this time!”

The hall of the Scavengers echoed with their battle cries.

Some members brandished swords while others spilled vodka in excitement—it was complete chaos.

Cain shook his head at their overexcitement.

“But… where are we going?”

“Yes, where is he, and why is it so dangerous?”

The Guildmaster, who they hoped would retire peacefully, would now have to reveal his identity.

“…There are flames rising in Quayden.”

The letter brought by the messenger bird was singed black at the edges.

“Pack as many medical supplies and as much food as you can.”

Through the carriage window, Etias stared at the smoke rising from the distant forest.

His brows were drawn tight as the carriage soon stopped.

A subordinate rushed up with a report.

“Your Majesty, Quayden is surrounded by flames. It would be better to turn back.”

Etias silently stepped out of the carriage.

There was a dark shadow on his handsome face.

He had barely slept the entire journey here.
The doctor’s advice to use the carriage to rest had been useless.

Etias gave a firm order.

“Bring me a horse.”

“Your Majesty!”

A subordinate dropped to his knees, desperate.

“You’re going into the fire? Absolutely not! And besides…”

He glanced at Etias’ feet.

“Even with your shadow ability, it won’t protect you in there!”

The shadows born between light and darkness would not guard the emperor inside roaring flames.

“Your Majesty is the empire’s only hope. Please reconsider!”

The massive blaze clawed at the sky, filling everyone with dread.

“Bring the horse.”

“Your Majesty!”

“I will not die.”

The quiet certainty in his voice made the subordinate look up.

“I will never die,”

Etias said, not with despair but with an unshakable will.

“Because there is someone I must find.”

His ice-blue eyes burned with the same determination that had driven the revolution.

Another soldier led over Etias’ warhorse—fearless of fire or water.

“You will one day have my entire world.”

He had promised Katrin that day.

Until he kept that promise, neither he nor she could die.

“…Your Majesty.”

Mounted on the horse, Etias seemed to radiate a warrior’s aura, like one heading for certain victory.

Ashy wind stirred his black hair and cloak as he gripped the reins, veins bulging on his calloused hands.

“Wait, we’ll go with you!”

One of the subordinates shouted, but Etias’ horse was already charging forward.

“Your Majesty!”

The cries of his men faded behind him.
Etias’ focus was solely on the flames flickering in the distance.

His horse galloped straight toward burning Quayden, without a shred of fear.

The giant wall of fire surrounded the village perimeter, closing in tighter and tighter.

According to Heros, the fire was so strong no one could even get close enough to send a warning.

The messenger bird sent to the Scavengers might not have made it either.

“….”

The smell of smoke was growing stronger.

Whoever was behind this clearly wanted me dead for good.

They must have used a large number of people to set fire around such a huge mountain village.

It was probably Aglia—the one who had sent the most assassins after me.

If I burn to death, along with all the evidence, nothing would make her happier.

“Everyone is taking turns carrying buckets of water, but it’s hard to find a way out,” Heros reported.

“Then start making what I told you about. Gather everyone who can sew.”

I didn’t expect we could break through the fire by normal means.

“I already brought the materials and gathered the people, but… in the middle of a fire, what are we making?”

Heros looked puzzled.

“…What exactly is this clothing?”

I stroked Biyo’s back as he busily worked.

The black pattern of his inventory mode was glowing faintly.

We were behind the village chief’s house, by a small reservoir connected to underground water channels.

There was plenty of water stored here.

“It’s called a life jacket.”