The air in the Duke’s manor was unusually still. The grand hall, which once echoed with warmth and chatter, now felt weighed down by something heavier.
Kazuki, Elara, Garron, Rinara, and Drake stood before the Duke, who sat at his desk—his expression grave, hands clenched tightly on a sealed parchment.
“I wanted to thank you all again,” the Duke began, his voice calm but strained. “But this time, it’s not just gratitude I offer. It’s a warning.”
He passed the parchment to Kazuki, who opened it silently. The letter was written in a coded language—but Kazuki's [Analysis] decrypted it instantly.
A secret report from the Duke’s personal spies.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
> ‘Suspicious movements have been detected near the borders of the Kingdom. An unknown force is gathering. Survivors claim to have seen creatures unlike any monster in the guild’s bestiary. And… whispers of the ‘Abyss Born’ have reached even the northern capitals.’
Kazuki narrowed his eyes.
“You’ve seen them,” the Duke said firmly. “Haven’t you?”
Kazuki nodded.
“I trust your power, Kazuki… But this—this is something bigger. The nobles are hiding things. The Church is silent. And even the Guild is treading carefully. I fear whatever’s coming… may not be stoppable by strength alone.”
A long silence followed.
“I want you to investigate these regions,” the Duke continued. “Unofficially. I can’t involve the Kingdom directly. If this is what I think it is, then the entire balance of power might be at risk.”
The group exchanged glances.
“Are we spies now?” Garron asked, half-joking.
“No,” Kazuki answered, coldly. “We’re shields.”
Elara blinked. Rinara quietly smirked, amused at the rare poetic line from Kazuki.
The Duke slid a map across the table. “Start here,” he said, pointing to a mountainous region labeled ‘The Shattered Veil.’
As they left the hall, Kazuki paused near a window, eyes distant again.
The abyss was calling.
And this time, it knew his name.
