Gyllena immediately acted after we reported what happened to her. The broken windows were being repaired, and the wounded were being treated and healed. Due to quick our reaction and the knights’ hard work, the incident ended with no casualty.

However, I felt like it was only the beginning of something more darker, scarier.

The plot had differed even more than I expected. Jahreon, who supposed to be the closest to the Grandmaster of the Abyssal New Gate amongst the Apostles, told me that the Grandmaster hadn’t even once showed his face before him.

Something was changing. Something I didn’t know.

’Was it because of this world didn’t have Ahlia? Or was it just that the Grandmaster himself, for some unknown reason, had taken different actions compared to what he did in the game? And for what reason? What caused all of this to happen?’

The unknown was scary. It became more prominent when the opponent was an organization like the Abyssal New Gate.

Looking at the night sky, I wondered what kind of future was waiting for us.

"I have to get stronger... Quickly."

Extended, my hand was reaching to what I didn’t have.

Power, and more power.

A wish of a man who wanted to protect his loved ones.

...

To know more about the Abyssal New Gate and check whether something had changed or not with them, I brought Tizmilly and Gyllena to meet Jahreon the next day after we finished our respective chores.

"Since when did Gyllena know about the Abyssal New Gate?" Tizmilly asked while we were walking through the hallway.

Gyllena sighed and crossed her arms. "I paid him to tell me." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The way she said it made me looked like a stingy person. I didn’t like that. And since Tizmilly started to stare at me like I was a sneaking thief, I began to explain.

"I was forced to get involved into this dangerous conflict against the Abyssal New Gate because of you, so it was only natural for you to pay me more, don’t you think?" I said, looking at her. "Not to mention Tizmilly, my mom, Carole, and others. We were risking our lives here. So..."

Raising my hand before her eyes, I showed her my money sign.

Gyllena gritted her teeth. "I-I know! I’ll raise the payment!" she complied, throwing her face away. "But hearing about that from your mouth irritates me for some reason...

I heard everything, of course. Pissed off, I reached toward her. "Hah!? You!"

But Gyllena recoiled from me. "Wh-what are you trying to do, you commoner! Don’t touch me!"

She tried to run away. However, no matter how hard she run, it was impossible for a normal person like her to escape a skilled fighter like me. I catched her in no time. As a punishment for her insolent acts, pinched her cheeks until they became red and stretched.

It was only after Tizmilly pulled me away that I let her go. With Gyllena who was holding her red cheeks while looking like she was about to cry, finally, we arrived at the door of Jahreon’s room.

Henna, Gyllena’s knight, immediately bowed once she noticed our approachs. Wounds were covering her entire body with blood yesterday, but after consumed enough healing potion and spent enough time resting, she was back to normal, as energetic as ever when she glared at me. She seemed to notice Gyllena’s red cheeks and immediately thought that I was the culprit. What a rude knight. Well, it was true... But that was not the point.

"Lord Jahreon is inside, my Lady!" The knight in question dutifully reported to Gyllena.

Gyllena responded with a smile and a nod. Once the knights opened the door, we walked into the room. There, we found Jahreon, who was drinking a cup of tea while looking out of the window. A rusty brooch was laying on the table just beside his cup.

When he noticed our entrance, he turned to look at us. He blinked before a smile appeared on his face. "I see," he said. "Was it about the cult?"

Before we even said anything, he had guessed our objective. Which was a surprise. He was indeed described as a smart villain in the game, even able to maintain his sanity after he received his Inner Demon, but he was smarter than I expected.

I frowned. I suddenly realized. ’More than I expected... It had happened too many times now. I should really hasten everything, before I was late.’

Jahreon stood up and gestured toward the sofas. "I am also their enemy now, so okay. I’ll tell you about everything. Now, please take a seat whereever you feel like it."

We sat down across him. Jahreon filled our cups with the tea from the teacup before we started. The one who first gave him a question, as expected, was the very owner of the mansion.

"Explain the exact motive why they even wanted to control my Family!" Gyllena glared at Jahreon, demanding the answer from him.

That was not exactly a question, but I guess it was the same at this situation. Tizmilly and me sipped out teas while we were listening from the side.

Jahreon smiled, lowered his gaze for a beat, before he looked up at us again and answered her. "That’s right... If we are talking about motive, then indeed, they had an motive behind their actions. And it was simple."

He drew a circle in the air. "They wanted to control and use the Layver Family’s power, influence, and resource. The plan was to use it as the first step before we moved to the next phase. The Dungeon City’s domination."

Tizmilly and Gyllena’s faces changed in that instant. I am also shocked. It happened way, way too early compared to the original plot of the game. The plan supposed to happen when Ahlia had finished her third year. Who could expect that they would move one year earlier?

’Everything. Everything was changing.’

I glanced at Tizmilly, who was staring at Jahreon with her wide eyes. Then at Gyllena, who looked as pale as a dead person. Then my mother’s face appeared in my mind.

’The next year will become a storm...’

I had knew that it would happen in the future. It came faster than expected, yes. But ignoring the difference of time, the events were the same as in the game. Still, it was still shocking when I finally found myself before it.

Would I be able to protect everyone?

’I am not sure...’

Would we still able to maintain the restaurant until the Dungeons awakened?

’I am not sure...’

I couldn’t...

... Be so sure about the future anymore.