Now that I think about it, there was a Kintner reconnaissance team that infiltrated Brunel.
I guess they must have had a method if they managed to come all the way to conquer Brunel.
While pondering this, Nick and Jeffrey led us back to the rooftop. Once there, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before: a flag planted at the edge of the rooftop.
The flag bore an illustration of a cherry, fluttering proudly in the wind.
...?
What the hell is that?
Ethan must have been thinking the same thing because he turned to look at Harrison. For some reason, I followed Ethan’s lead and glanced at Harrison as well.
Harrison, adjusting his glasses with a satisfied expression, answered,
"Since this area has been conquered by you, Miss, we needed to leave a mark."
That’s when I realized what Harrison meant by “a mark.”
No way...!
He didn’t say it would be something like that!
Clearly unaffected by how cringeworthy it was, Harrison stood there, admiring the flag with a proud smile.
I pretended not to notice Jose and Amy subtly puffing their chests, as if basking in the glory of also being part of Happy House.
"This is the transportation method I mentioned," Nick said, pointing to a cable connected to the rooftop.
It was then that I noticed a zipline stretching across several buildings, leading to a tower at the edge of Kintner.
The design was only possible because the Sinclair Hotel was the tallest building in Kintner.
"Beyond that tower is a narrow path. If you follow it, you’ll find a route to Brunel. Hardly anyone used that path, so there shouldn’t be any monsters. The reconnaissance team that went to Brunel probably cleared it out, so it’s likely even safer now."
Nick’s explanation earned nods from all of us. However, the thought of riding a zipline without proper safety gear seemed daunting—especially for anyone with a fear of heights.
I didn’t have a fear of heights, but it seemed like Nox did. He stood frozen in front of the zipline, silent.
"Want me to carry you?" I asked, breaking the tension.
Nox turned to look at me, his expression struggling to suppress the embarrassment threatening to surface. He forced a smile and replied in a low voice,
"Miss Cherry... Are you really going to do this to me?"
I felt a little wronged. What did I do?
"I’d rather be carried by Lancaster," Nox said, glancing at Ethan. At least he wasn’t insisting on going alone.
"You want me to carry you? That’s bold. If you piss me off mid-ride, I might just drop you," Ethan replied.
"Miss Cherry, I’m sorry. Please, carry me instead," Nox said quickly, turning back to me with a bright smile and taking both my hands.
"I’ll entrust my body to you. Do with it as you will. From now on, my body is yours."
Now it just sounded weird.
Harrison shot a sharp glare at Nox’s profile, though Nox didn’t so much as flinch.
Ethan, however, wasn’t about to stay quiet. He grabbed Nox by the shoulder with a firm grip.
"Get on my back. Stop bothering Miss Cherry."
"Why should I trust you?"
Nox and Ethan started growling at each other again. I thought they’d been doing a good job of coexisting recently, but apparently not.
Shaking my head, I sighed.
"Do you two want to stay here and live on the rooftop? Seems like you’re not eager to go back."
"Of course not," Nox replied immediately.
"Don’t be ridiculous," Ethan added.
In the end, Ethan carried Nox across the zipline.
Leaving Harrison and Jose behind to transport the spoils through the underground passage, the rest of us used the zipline.
As Nick had promised, there were hardly any monsters on the path beyond the tower. We dealt with a couple and safely made our way back to Brunel Village.
Good. This path will be useful for future personnel exchanges.
Of course, things didn’t end there.
Once we returned to Happy House, we transported the spoils through the underground passage. Only after confirming that Harrison and Jose had returned safely did we finally get to rest.
We’re finally home.
*****
Southern Kintner, the Severin Viscount’s Manor.
The household consisted of four family members, including the viscount and his wife, along with six servants—a relatively small number.
The servants were gossiping in the kitchen as they prepared a meal, discussing the news brought back by William, the Severin family knight, during his reconnaissance mission.
"Did you hear? The Sinclair Hotel has fallen. That lunatic who played at being king is dead, apparently."
"I never liked that man from the start. Didn’t he demand we offer up our lady if we wanted food?"
"I heard a bear that rips monsters apart showed up there."
"A bear that rips monsters apart? What do you mean? Is there something like that at the Sinclair Hotel?"
"Not exactly at the Sinclair Hotel. They said it came from... what was it again? Happy House?"
Two of the viscount’s maids whispered excitedly about the fresh news they’d heard from William. Just then, someone passing by stopped and peeked into the kitchen.
"What interesting story are you sharing?"
"Oh, Sir Kellian!"
The maids turned to the man, startled.
With short silver hair and sharp, striking features, he was the picture-perfect knight, walking with a precise and unembellished gait. Kellian was a guest staying at the Severin Manor, a royal guard in the Kingdom’s army, dressed in his formal uniform.
The maids blushed at his appearance.
"Well, there’s another group of survivors in Kintner besides us, and their leader was apparently killed," one maid explained.
"A leader of another survivor camp... Are you referring to Elliot?"
"Oh my, you know about Elliot?"
"I passed through that area. Are you certain he’s dead?"
"Yes. Sir William said so. He was killed by a bear that ripped him apart."
"A bear?"
"It’s probably a metaphor. They said the person was as strong as a bear and could tear monsters apart with their bare hands."
Kellian nearly laughed out loud at the absurdity. Tearing monsters apart barehanded? That sounded utterly ridiculous. The more exaggerated the rumors became, the more intrigued he grew about the person at the center of them.
Someone strong enough to be compared to a bear and capable of killing Elliot...
Kellian kept turning the thought over in his mind. He hadn’t believed Elliot was someone who could be defeated easily, yet it had happened so quickly.
Who could it have been?
If someone like that truly existed, wouldn’t they be worth recruiting?
But if Elliot is dead, what happened to the Sinclair Hotel?
Kellian suspected Elliot had used the information he’d leaked to acquire Bardon and the Elpinos herbs.
That was the plan when I let the information slip.
It might be worth visiting the Sinclair Hotel soon. Kellian mulled it over briefly but then reminded himself of a more pressing issue: the party he had sent to Brunel hadn’t returned.
Lost in thought about Brunel, Kellian turned to the maids.
"Have any of you seen Ethan Duncan Lancaster?"
"Ethan Duncan Lancaster? Oh, the knight? Didn’t you see him? I think he was in Brunel with Cherry Sinclair when the world fell."
He had seen him, which was why he asked. With Kintner so close to Brunel, he’d hoped Ethan might have crossed over.
It seemed he would have to visit Brunel.
At this point, it was most likely that his party had fallen victim to the monsters there.
If that’s true, Brunel must be even more dangerous than Kintner.
While Kellian pondered, the maids resumed their chatter.
"Right! They said Happy House is in Brunel, didn’t they?"
"Happy House?"
"Sir William mentioned that the one who conquered the Sinclair Hotel and killed Elliot is the leader of Brunel’s Happy House."
Happy House in Brunel? What kind of name is that?
Just then, William entered, seeking Kellian.
R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.
"There you are, Sir Kellian. The viscount is looking for you. The item has been prepared."
The item.
It seemed Viscount Severin had finally secured Bardon. They hadn’t managed to locate the key to the basement of Jeremy’s Herb Shop, where Bardon was stored, but luck was on their side.
Humming a tune, Kellian followed William.
Time to take Bardon and pay Brunel a visit.