Their footsteps felt heavy as they walked along the stone-paved road toward the guild hall.
The sky above was bright and clear, yet the air felt tense—
as if even the atmosphere knew something was terribly wrong.
Barnard, his expression unusually serious, glanced at Hiori from the corner of his eye.
"Hiori… there's something you need to think about carefully," he said, his voice slow and weighty.
Hiori frowned.
"What do you mean, Barnard? Haven't we had enough trouble in that village? What else is there to talk about?"
Barnard paused for a moment, staring down at the ground before continuing.
"When we left Winak Village… the sky was completely clear, wasn't it?
Birds were singing, the sun was warm. But as we kept walking, rain began to fall… no wind, no dark clouds beforehand. It just… came from nowhere."
Hiori's eyes widened slightly as he looked at Barnard.
"You're saying… that wasn't normal rain?"
Barnard nodded slowly.
"My assumption… is that the moment the first drop hit, we were already caught in the cult's illusionary web. The rain… was the trigger. They probably pulled us into a fabricated dimension, sealing off any path to escape."
Hiori fell silent, taking a deep breath.
"Wait… that explains something."
He turned his gaze toward the horizon, as if trying to piece every detail back together.
"After everything ended… we were just standing in an open field. The sky was clear again, as if the rain had never existed. As if… all we went through was just one long nightmare."
Barnard's eyes sharpened, his tone lowering.
"Not a nightmare, Hiori. Something far more dangerous.
If that cult can create their own dimensions and drag people inside, they can do the same… to anyone. Including… Yhera."
The mention of her name made Hiori clench his fists, his jaw tightening.
"In that case… we need to find a way to get into that dimension.
And get Yhera out… before they turn her into something she's not."
Barnard exhaled sharply, but his tone remained firm.
"We're going to need more than just determination. We'll need information… and allies.
So, let's take care of this guild business first.
If we're going up against a cult that can twist reality itself… we can't do it alone."
Their steps grew steadier, but the weight of fear—and unshakable resolve—hung heavy over them both.
Their footsteps moved at an easy pace along the dirt path stretching through fields of lush green.
The evening breeze carried with it the scent of wet leaves, lingering from last night's rain.
Yet the calm was steadily broken by Barnard's voice, which simply refused to stop.
"…and I told that soldier, 'If you use steel this low in quality, your sword might be able to cut grass, but it sure won't cut down an enemy!' And you know what he did? He actually—"
"Barnard," Hiori interrupted with a flat tone.
"That's the fifth story about steel since we left Winak.
I'm not even sure if you're talking to me, or just talking to the air."
Barnard glanced at Hiori with a stern look, as if the young woman had just insulted the dignity of the entire Dwarven race.
"Girl, do you even understand what this knowledge means? This is legacy! If I die tomorrow, who else will know how to forge a sword sharp enough to cut through a dragon yet light enough for a toddler to wield?"
Hiori snapped her head toward him, one eyebrow raised.
"A toddler?!"
"It's a metaphor, Hiori. Focus." Barnard returned his eyes to the road, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"You know, listening to my rambling might save your life someday.
At the very least, if you're bored, you won't die from falling asleep."
Hiori let out a long, tired sigh.
"Honestly, I can't tell which is more dangerous… the flesh-worshipping cult, or your endless chatter."
Barnard chuckled under his breath.
"Then think of this as training to strengthen your mind.
A true adventurer must endure all trials—even the trial of listening to a grumpy old man like me."
Hiori tilted her head back, eyes fixed on the clouds as they slowly turned golden with the setting sun.
"If I pass out on this road from boredom, bury me under that tree, will you?"
She pointed to a large tree in the distance.
"So my spirit can finally rest far away from your stories."
Barnard turned with a crooked grin.
"If you die, I'll forge a statue of you out of iron and display it in front of my smithy.
I'll even add a plaque: 'Victim of Barnard Barnes' Rambling.'"
Hiori gave him a flat stare, clicking her tongue.
"I think I'm starting to understand why you don't have any apprentices…
They probably all ran off before learning anything."
Barnard's booming laughter echoed through the quiet air.
"At least I've got you to listen. Be proud, lass.
Not everyone gets this honor."
Hiori muttered under her breath, so soft it was almost lost to the wind.
"Honor or curse… hard to tell…"
Their steps continued, blending with the soft whisper of the wind,
as the sky deepened into shades of crimson and gold—
heralding an evening that felt far from peaceful.
Hiori glanced at Barnard as they walked, her brow slightly furrowed.
"Barnard… who exactly holds the Twelve Strongest Weapons now? I know my master has one of them.
But… I also heard Xander Von Lynch is among them. They say he's extremely dangerous. Is that true?"
Barnard let out a low grunt, his voice heavy.
"Dangerous? Lass, the word 'dangerous' is far too soft to describe him.
Xander Von Lynch… he wields Erebus Fang, the scythe of darkness that's infamous for devouring souls.
And he himself… isn't just a vampire. He's something far worse—something that cannot be destroyed."
Hiori turned to him, her eyes widening.
"Cannot be destroyed… what do you mean by that?"
Barnard kept his eyes fixed on the road, his expression hardening.
"I mean exactly what I said—he can't be killed. His body evolves every single second.
You can burn him, cut off his head, pierce his heart… but he will always rise again.
Faster. Stronger. The same attack will never harm him twice. Every strike, every wound, just makes him deadlier."
The air between them grew heavier, the only sound the soft whisper of the night wind along the path.
Hiori swallowed hard.
"And… the Erebus Fang itself? I heard the weapon is… alive?"
Barnard's gaze sharpened as he looked at her.
"Aye. That scythe isn't just a weapon. Every soul it reaps is consumed, its power flowing straight into Xander.
That's why he grows stronger with every battle—stronger, and harder to stop."
Hiori lowered her gaze for a moment, then looked up at the sky.
"So, he's truly unstoppable… Then why hasn't anyone tried to erase him?"
Barnard exhaled a heavy breath, his voice quiet but firm.
"Lass… Xander isn't just a threat. He's a walking catastrophe.
Kingdoms, guilds, even the High Council would rather keep their distance and monitor him… than provoke him.
Too many fools have tried to play hero—and every single one of them ended up as ashes."
Silence settled over them for a while.
Finally, Barnard turned to Hiori.
"If fate ever crosses our path with Xander… remember one thing: don't play the hero. Surviving comes first."
Hiori clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing with resolve as she stared straight ahead.
"If he truly can't be destroyed… then I'll just have to become strong enough.
Strong enough to prove otherwise one day—with my own hands."
Barnard let out a low chuckle.
"You're mad, lass… but at least you're no coward."
They continued along the narrow dirt path, surrounded by vast fields of grass. The wind carried the scent of damp earth, lingering from last night's rain. The sky was beginning to turn a warm orange-gold, a sign that evening was drawing near.
Hiori gazed at the endless horizon.
"This world… it really is vast, isn't it? There's always something new, always something that… somehow defies reason."
Barnard glanced at her briefly, scratching his beard.
"Vast? Lass, 'vast' is just a pretty word. This world isn't just vast… it's wild. Every day, there's something out there that'll make you ask yourself, 'why am I still alive?'"
Hiori shot him a side glance, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"You always talk like this world is just waiting to swallow us whole."
Barnard snorted, his gaze drifting toward the darkening sky.
"Because that's the truth. You see that calm sky? Beyond those clouds, there could be a colossal dragon waiting to descend at any moment. You see these peaceful plains? Beneath the soil, there might be tunnels crawling with predators."
Hiori chuckled softly, though Barnard's tone was far from joking.
"So, what you're saying is… we should be ready to face something strange at any given moment?"
Barnard looked at her, his expression firm.
"Exactly. This world isn't just about swords and sorcery, lass. There are things out there even the gods refuse to meddle with. Entities born from human fear, cursed weapons that could devour entire realms, events so unnatural they twist time itself. Believe me… what we saw in that cultist village? That was only the beginning."
Hiori slowed her pace, her steps growing more deliberate.
"In that case… just how deep do this world's secrets go?"
Barnard's eyes narrowed as he gazed far ahead, his tone quiet and somber.
"Deep enough to make you wonder… whether you truly want to know the answer."
For a while, they walked in silence, their footsteps accompanied only by the whispering wind. But in the distance, faintly, the sound of a city's bell rang out—a sign that the next settlement was drawing near.