Luke sat inside the tent, his posture relaxed as he watched through Officer Peter’s eyes using Soul Infiltration. The officer was inside the massive temple which, from what Luke could see, had been converted into a military camp and operations base. Only authorized personnel were allowed up the steps. The place functioned like a fortress, housing the army’s most trusted forces.

  “I knew it. The moment everything went wrong in this place, I knew something wasn’t right. This is your fault, you bastard!” Layla snapped.

  She had arrived about ten minutes earlier and hadn’t stopped complaining since, furious about being trapped inside the dimension.

  “Why would Eleanor think I’d be happy to see you again?” she demanded. “Why?”

  “I’m asking myself the exact same thing,” Luke replied calmly. “Why would she say something that stupid to you?”

  He studied her for a moment. “And the plant. Did you bring the plant?”

  “What?”

  “Katarina. Did you bring Katarina with you?”

  That did it.

  “That explains everything,” Layla muttered, mostly to herself. “How did I not see it before? It was right in front of me the whole time.”

  Luke sighed.

  “And you’re just sitting there like the world isn’t falling apart,” she continued. “Do you have any idea what kind of hell I’ve been through these past few days because of you?”

  “Because of me?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “I don’t control the world, Layla. Speaking of which, how’s Katarina? Have you been watering her properly?”

  “You’re worried about a damn plant, you idiot?”

  “Yes, Layla. If I wasn’t worried, why would I ask?”

  “I’m trapped in this place, you idiot! I was the only one from the team who stayed behind. Everyone else left to relax or do whatever they wanted, and I stayed here doing my job like a professional. And in the end, it all involved you. I should’ve known. Everything that goes wrong in my life is your fault, you bastard!”

  “Everything?” Luke scoffed. “Layla, you think far too highly of yourself. My emotional investment in you would barely register above zero.”

  “You don’t remember, you jerk? I got locked up because of you when you picked a fight with Bartholomew while pretending to be James. Then I got locked up again when Jonathan attacked the fortress. And now I’m stuck in this place. You attract disasters and problems like it’s a talent!”

  “There’s nothing to be done about that now,” Luke said evenly. “But answer me this. Where is Katarina?”

  “She stayed at the inn outside the dimension.”

  “She stayed outside?” Luke straightened. “Damn it, Layla. Do you have any idea how irresponsible that is? Who’s watering her while you’re gone?”

  “I’m stuck in a brand-new HELL. Stop talking about the plant! But fine, since you won’t shut up. She’s better off than both of us. The girl at the front desk loves plants and is taking care of her.”

  Luke relaxed. “Good. That’s a relief. Now give me everything you’ve learned. When the time is right, I’ll get you out of here and take you to Camlann safely. Deal? Consider it my way of making up for something I didn’t even do.”

  “You’re getting me out of here?”

  “Yes. Me.”

  Layla burst out laughing. “You’d have to get past two massive enemy armies and every monster between here and there. I seriously doubt it. You? Getting me out?”

  She laughed again. “If it were Lord Mason, I might believe it. He’s handsome, strong, powerful. And polite to women. Not a sleazy flirt like you.”

  “Are you going to hand over the information or not?”

  “Of course, oh mighty hero,” she shot back. “So when are we leaving, since you’re so confident in your abilities?”

  “I still have unfinished business here,” Luke replied. “Now that Katarina’s safe, it could be one year. Or ten.”

  She grabbed him by the collar. “You miserable bastard. I’m not in the mood for jokes. We’re trapped in this damn place.”

  “You were literally laughing a few seconds ago.”

  She let go and shoved him back. “You just irritate me. My life was fine, and somehow you always manage to cause trouble again. You’re the most annoying person I’ve ever met.”

  “I feel exactly the same about you, Layla.”

  “And on top of that, there’s your smug attitude. The way you talk like you don’t care about anyone except yourself and your own problems.”

  “That’s a very accurate assessment,” Luke replied calmly. “I don’t care about anyone but myself and my problems. Why would I care about you and yours, Layla?”

  He watched her face turn red with rage.

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  In the end, though, he managed to get her to explain everything. They walked through the camp together, since that tent could not be used for long.

  “Tent regulations?” Luke asked.

  “Yes, asshole. The closer you get to the temple, the more expensive it is to set up a tent. You also need authorization. Most people are stuck on the outskirts of the village.”

  It was all about security. The closer to the center, the safer you were from attacks, whether from beasts or humans.

  “I don’t care. I won’t be using this place often. The farther from everyone else, the better,” he said, already moving.

  “And where do you think you’re going, idiot?”

  “To set up my tent.”

  Luke assembled it quickly. While he worked, he took the opportunity to observe the area, mapping out how the terrain functioned around what was essentially a temple-fortress. Mercenaries, miners, gatherers, and soldiers occupied different zones. The village had layered defenses, almost like walls dividing certain sections. He set his tent on the outer edge, while the military guards remained closer to the center.

  As he walked, he passed blacksmiths, people fletching arrows, others chopping wood. From what he gathered, Cassandra Weiss, the one in charge, was mobilizing an army toward the exit. A massive camp had been established nearby in an attempt to retake it. Still, she regularly returned to this place, either to check on the situation or to recruit more people to her cause.

  It had been ten days since any soldier managed to leave the rift. Those on the outside had no idea what was happening inside, so the military response was to seize control of every entrance. An emergency measure, most likely. Being here made it easier to understand the logic behind it.

  As he walked, Luke made a point of observing everything.

  Angie, what do you think of this place?

  “A massive temple structure, more fortress than shrine,” Angie replied through their link. “What Layla said earlier made things much easier to deduce.”

  It really did.

  Treasures had always been found in structures like this. Of the three known treasures, all of them had been discovered inside temple-fortresses. The first had been claimed by Lagras’ military and sent straight to the kingdom’s vaults. The second was taken by an organization known as Arcadia. The third was claimed by Miles, a baron of the Kingdom of Lagras, better known as the Red Baron. As for the fourth, no one knew where it was.

  “Miles is the one controlling the exit,” Angie continued. “That limits how freely he can move his troops. Arcadia, on the other hand, is a simpler but powerful community now settled in the second temple. That leaves the alchemists, who are the ones moving around with the most freedom.”

  That narrowed things down considerably.

  Ever since Miles and his army seized control of the exit point, the Alchemists had grown hostile toward everyone. According to Layla, there was a prevailing theory that the Alchemists were working with Miles.

  Luke decided to stay one more day before moving on. Through Peter’s senses, he learned that Cassandra was on her way. They shared a familiar, a hawk trained to carry messages between them.

  Maybe I’ll hear something useful. Not about the war between factions, but about the treasure. At this point, Luke was certain of one thing: the fourth treasure was still missing.

  First, I find the treasure. Then I deal with the temple.

  His gaze drifted to the new skill he had chosen at level ten of the Witch class.

  [Witch’s Gaze (Uncommon)]: The Witch channels mana into her eyes, sharpening her vision and attuning it to the energies around her. While the skill is active, she can perceive objects infused with mana, allowing her to identify magical items, hidden traps, concealed mechanisms, and disguised passages. When focusing on thin surfaces, the mana concentrated in her eyes can reveal faint outlines and shapes on the other side, though only partially. A Witch must always be observant and cunning; this ability reflects her innate curiosity and her talent for seeing beyond what is obvious.

  ***

  “What are you doing, you bastard?” Layla demanded as she yanked open Luke’s tent. “A-and w-why are you shirtless?!”

  “First, this is my tent. Second, good morning to you too. Third, I didn’t invite you in, so get out.”

  “It’s still the middle of the night. The sun isn’t even up.”

  Luke was brewing more healing potions. Whenever he had free time, he added to his stockpile. With the cauldron bubbling inside the tent, the air had grown thick and stifling.

  **You have successfully created a potion!**

  “So why are you sneaking into my tent in the dark?” he asked.

  “Go put a shirt on, you bastard!” she snapped.

  “No. This place is basically my home. Why are you here?”

  “Duh. I want to know how your plan to get us out of here is going. You said you’d figure something out. You vanished for half a day, and it took forever to track you down. So use those so-called woman-manipulating powers of yours and get us close to Cassandra when she shows up. She’s strong enough to carve a path out. She has important people she needs to evacuate. Get us on that list.”

  “Woman-manipulating powers?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “What do you think I am, some kind of charm-based class? I’m not even worried about leaving.”

  Layla pulled a chair closer, laid a cloth over it, and sat down.

  “I’m staying here, bastard. I’ll finish my assignment just like I promised Miss Eleanor, and I won’t leave until I’m sure you’re done with whatever you’re planning,” she said flatly. “I’ll be watching you.”

  Luke stepped closer.

  “D-don’t get so close, you woman-manipulating creep!”

  Suddenly, he lunged forward and clamped both hands over Layla’s mouth.

  “Mmph! You pervert! Creep! Freak!” The words came out muffled and furious.

  “Quiet,” he hissed, stabbing a knife through the side of the tent and pointing outward.

  He removed his hand, and Layla cautiously peeked through the slit. Luke didn’t need to. With his skill [Witch’s Gaze], he could partially see through the tent walls. A wet, choking sound echoed nearby. He watched a hooded figure slip up behind someone and tear their throat open. More shapes moved between tents, silent and efficient.

  Luke glanced outside. The camp was under attack. Assassins.

  A man sprinted past the tent. “Someone! We’re under atta—” He dropped mid-sentence, an arrow buried in his skull.

  Screams erupted from different directions.

  Luke burst out of the tent, a kukri already in his hand.

  “Hagen!” someone shouted, clutching a lifeless body.

  He spun back toward his tent just in time to see a hooded figure rush inside, straight for Layla.

  “No, please, don’t!” she cried as she was shoved backward.

  The moment the man raised his weapon, Luke came up behind him and twisted sharply.

  The neck snapped.

  [You have slain a human…]

  [+1 Soul Fragments]

  

  “The camp’s being hit by assassins,” Luke said calmly.

  He brought the blade close, sniffed it once, then frowned.

  “And they’re using poison.”

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