Chapter 153 Going Solo
Conrad was stunned—no, beyond stunned.
He had never seen such a man in his entire life. This Adventurer had just said the bravest or the dumbest thing ever uttered in the world.
Conrad hoped it was the former, and not the latter.
'He wishes… to challenge the Dungeon alone?'
It was so absurd that the Grandmaster couldn't blurt it out.
"You can go ahead with your original plan of calling on Adventurers if you like. I won't stop you from making backup plans too."
As Ralyks said this, he began to move towards the entrance/exit of the reception.
"But I'll tell you now… it is all going to be pointless."
Conrad didn't know the kind of expression the man before him was making, but something told him it was a broad smile.
One that oozed nothing short of confidence.
"I'll be going in alone. And I'm going to rescue your people."
There was no uncertainty in his words. It was as if he could already see the future.
Conrad found his heart racing as he listened—as if he was a child listening to a fairy-tale, hoping desperately that it was all true.
He truly wanted to believe!
"H-how long… do you think… it'll… take…?" Before Conrad realized it, he stood to his feet and blurted out a question.
Knox and the Head Guard quickly glanced at him in shock, giving him faces that made it seem like he was insane,
Conrad knew he was behaving crazy, though.
Asking a question like that meant he was entertaining the possibility of such a thing being possible.
He—Grandmaster of the Royal Council—was granting credence to the illogical ramblings of a total stranger.
Conrad didn't care, though.
He only stared at the one called Ralyks and waited for his answer.
"It shouldn't take long. Before dawn tomorrow… you will see your subordinates."
With trembling lips and blinking eyes, Conrad took in the impossible promise and burned it into his mind.
"Alright. We'll be waiting for you."
Ralyks nodded and took his leave, refusing to say any more.
As soon as he left the room, Conrad collapsed back on the sofa and heaved a heavy sigh.
He didn't realize how much pressure had filled the room until Ralyks left.
His racing heart kept pounding in his chest, and his body wouldn't stop trembling.
"Conrad, surely you aren't taking that man's words seriously! There's no way he can do that!"
Even the Head Guard—who didn't say anything due to the inescapable chains of hierarchy—agreed with Knox's words,
Normally, Conrad would have done so.
In fact, if any of his colleagues had done what he did, he would have chastised them and sought out a more rational solution.
But they were currently out of those.
There was no way out; no logical way to turn the situation around.
"Right now, the fate of the entire Nation is in that man's hands…" Conrad whispered as he closed his tired eyes.
He felt tired, yet a wave of relief hit him.
Somehow—despite not knowing why—he felt like everything would work out somehow.
He knew the two men who shared the same room with him didn't agree, but he hoped that when dawn arrived, they would see it with their own eyes—
"We can only put our trust in Ralyks."
—The unknown power of the man shrouded in darkness.
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Rey inhaled deeply as he left the Royal Estate and ascended into the air.
'Looks like I have my work cut out for me…' His thoughts trailed as he became a blur.
He glided through the sky, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.
Free to roam the sky as he pleased, he increased his pace, causing the pressure of the wind to cause his dark hair to dance.
Despite all this, Rey remained unaffected.
He glanced beside him to see the young girl who was in a bubble beside him.
She was still unconscious, but she still floated beside Rey as he advanced with his remarkable speed.
The only reason she could do so was due to the bubble of air that surrounded her.
'Wind Magic can be pretty useful.'
Rey returned his gaze forward and spotted the Royal Dungeon just up ahead thanks to [Farsight].
Esme—the Half Elf girl beside him—was currently being protected by his Magic, and she had been beside him throughout his stay in the Royal Estate.
Since he used [Projection] to make it appear as if she wasn't there, no one had suspected him the slightest bit.
Everyone who remained in the Royal Estate was weaker than Rey, and he already knew that much.
The stronger ones went with Adonis, or were currently fighting at the forefront of the battlefield.
The stronger ones went with Adonis, or were currently fighting at the forefront of the battlefield.
Even if he was found out, he could easily tell them that Esme was someone related to him, and they wouldn't give him any further issues.
After all, he was the hero who saved tons of potential slaves from captivity and toppled down a slavery empire all by himself.
He also didn't ask for any compensation, and was considered by all who met him to be strong.
Who would dare challenge his unverifiable words?
No one!
'I would have liked to clean her up a little, but there's no time for that yet.'
Rey had already used [Absolute Appraisal] on her right before they started flying, and he could see that she wasn't in any critical condition.
Back then he temporarily placed the ring in her fingers to fool Aldred, she had healed up considerably.
Her life was in no danger at all.
'Since I can't just drop her off anywhere, I just have to take her with me.'
Esme could wake up at any time, and since she knew his identity, Rey figured it was better to keep her close to him.
18:24
'Now that I'm looking at her from this angle, she looks kind of prett—what are you thinking about, Rey? Now isn't the time!'
Rey shook his head and decided to increase his pace and focus on the task at hand.
His classmates, the only hope of the world, were in danger.
'I have to help them!'
Rey still had no idea what the problem was, but he only had one thought as he began his descent.
'Hang in there. I'm on my way!'
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[A/N]
Thanks for reading!
Now we're transitioning to Adonis and company's side of things.
I hope you've enjoyed the story so far.
The true Royal Dungeon Incident starts now!