It would be a lie to say that none of them were familiar.

D’Élysée handled the old bundle. Like the cheese pouch, it was covered in dried blood.

‘That’s right…’

He was shot in the back with an arrow, wasn’t he? The information came from the Easthole representative, so it was certain. He had heard it clearly just before cutting out that oily tongue.

D’Élysée next picked up the note. It looked like it had just been pulled from a trash can. Though smeared and stained in mud, the contents were still somewhat legible.

 [Belovud yonger bruther D’Élysée, deer frend Levian. I’m sory for cauzin so moch truble al this tiem. I’l defintly cum back somhow.]

After looking at the note for a long time, D’Élysée slowly stood up.

‘I’m tired.’

He entered the makeshift bedroom located on the side of the office. It was dark, but he didn’t turn on the lights.

With measured steps, he walked towards the bed where his brother had sat the day before. The outline of the deer head taxidermy was faintly visible in the darkness.

D’Élysée leaned his tired body towards the bed.

“Ah.”

The cheese pouch fell from his neat embrace.

The dirty cheese pieces scattered on the floor. The black demon stone fell with them.

D’Élysée immediately lowered himself. Like a madman, he reached out and gathered the cheese pieces one by one. Finally, with the demon stone clutched in his hand, he was about to push on his knees to stand up.

“…”

He couldn’t get up. He remained prostrate, unable to move an inch. He gripped the demon stone tightly in his fist, which was convulsing so hard the tendons stood out.

Strange. He couldn’t breathe.

‘Why can’t he come back?’

Was it a problem that he sent him away in the first place?

‘Just for one day…’

He had abandoned him for several years.

‘Couldn’t he indulge in childishness for just one day?’

No matter how crudely he tried to rationalize it, his brother couldn’t come back.

D’Élysée’s face slowly tilted forward. His hot forehead touched the carpet. His brother’s absence, which hadn’t felt real until now, crashed over him like an endless storm.

‘Not yet.’

Now wasn’t the time. He couldn’t break down until then.

He hadn’t yet ruled out the possibility that the mana stone might not be his brother. His brother must surely be alive among the survivors.

D’Élysée decided to endure a little longer. Like the times in the past when he had waited all day for his brother to come home.

First and foremost, he needed to find out where the demons were hiding.

A perfect spherical barrier had long been placed around the entire system. With the restraints activated, they couldn’t have escaped the system yet.

He needed to bring back his brother, left among the survivors.

‘If.’

If by any chance he had been converted into a mana stone.

He also needed an eyewitness who had seen the magic formula directly. He needed to hear an explanation of how the formula started and ended. It might provide a clue to reversing the mana stone back to its original state.

D’Élysée thought incessantly. He didn’t let go of the thread of reason that seemed about to snap at any moment.

His pale green eyes stared at the pitch-black ceiling. He was lying straight on the bed, formulating plans for the future.

Rustle.

An extremely small noise came from the direction of the office. D’Élysée only moved his eyes without stirring.

There was no one who would dare to enter and exit the Commander’s office in the middle of the night. At least not in the Papal Headquarters.

‘Has the Imperial side already made a move?’

There was a high possibility it was an assassin or spy who had infiltrated secretly.

D’Élysée picked up his scabbard without hesitation.

But the presence disappeared in the blink of an eye.

In the office he quickly rushed into, there was an unfamiliar letter. At a glance, he surveyed the office. Though they had tried to erase their traces, signs of entry and exit through the window were clearly visible.

D’Élysée immediately looked out the window. A hint of surprise flickered in his pale green eyes.

‘An Orc…’

A demon was skillfully climbing down the outer wall of the Papal Headquarters. He seemed not to have noticed D’Élysée’s gaze as he was busy watching his surroundings. After waiting for the sentries to pass, he entered a sewer on one side of the Papal Headquarters grounds.

Before the manhole closed, D’Élysée put on his robe. And he gathered all the medical supplies and resources for negotiation. There was no time to leisurely read the letter.

He had to track the demon.

***

The underground waterway was unpleasantly damp, with a strong smell of mold. Contaminated water dripped from the ceiling.

“…”

D’Élysée, like the demon, used the outer wall of the Papal Headquarters to descend.

It was an extremely fast and convenient mode of transportation. Though he would never use it again.

Catching up with the demon was easier than expected. It was because the demon was moving while holding a torch.

D’Élysée used all the magic at his disposal to kill his presence. He followed the demon, passing through the winding underground waterways one by one.

‘The Imperial soldiers must be having quite a hard time.’

The underground waterway passages were much more intricately intertwined than expected. They would certainly have difficulties searching.

This was good for him. It meant his brother’s chances of survival had increased.

At some point, the demon began to move after extinguishing the torch. It was evidence that they were approaching their own refuge.

D’Élysée paid close attention so as not to lose track of the demon’s footsteps.

That’s when he began to hear the voices of multiple unspecified individuals. Though there was still some distance left.

Firelight leaked through hastily erected tents.

All that remained now was action. D’Élysée abruptly pulled the nape of the demon in front of him.

“Wh-who… mmph!”

After instantly pinning him against the wall, he pressed a dagger close under his chin. He was a survivor of the massacre that had taken place just the day before. He would surely be hostile to humans.

To bring his brother back safely, taking a hostage was the quickest and surest way.

“Mmph, mmph?”

The demon’s eyes, which had widened in shock, suddenly became puzzled.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

The demon struggled frantically as if he had something to say. He didn’t seem particularly afraid of the dagger. He looked strangely pleased.

“…Are you going to shout?”

D’Élysée asked. As if to say absolutely not, the demon raised his eyebrows several times.

“…”

After hesitating for a moment, D’Élysée finally loosened his grip. Though he withdrew the hand that had been gripping the demon’s lower jaw, the dagger was still pointed at the green neck.

“You scared me! If you were following, you should have said so earlier!”

“…”

“Oh right, you told me not to shout.”

The demon cleared his throat, coughing.

“Wow, you really are the Commander. I had no idea I was being followed.”

The demon said, gently pushing away the dagger.

“You’re D’Élysée, right?”

“…”

“Come on, don’t pretend. Honestly, if you were human right now, I’d be sick of you.”

The demon laughed heartily.

“But since you’re Egru’s brother, you’re always welcome. Follow me. I’ll introduce you to the Chief.”

At the words ‘Egru’s brother’, D’Élysée’s guard lowered slightly.

“I’m Jabel. I came to the system with the Chief to carry out a personal mission. Hey? Why aren’t you following quickly?”

“…”

D’Élysée slowly took a step. Jabel continued excitedly.

“By the way, I can’t believe D’Élysée was actually the name of the Holy Knight Order Commander. No wonder it sounded familiar. I wouldn’t have believed it if Egru hadn’t mentioned it himself.”

“…”

“Ah, it’s not like he went around bragging about you being the Commander. You know he’s not that kind of person. We were playing a game naming people we love. Your name came out first.”

D’Élysée’s shoulders somehow straightened proudly.

“Jabel, who did you bring?”

“It’s D’Élysée.”

“Aha!”

The dwarf with the impressive mustache immediately dropped his guard.

“Ah, that guy! He came so quickly! How much he called out for his brother! I’m Bey! It’s an honor to meet you!”

“…”

Bey arbitrarily grabbed D’Élysée’s hand and shook it vigorously.

“It’s shocking that the great Holy Knight Order Commander is Egru’s brother! Egru is quite popular! I’ve lost count of how many visits he’s had already!”

Bey said with a hearty laugh. But his smile seemed somewhat artificial.

“Did my brother escape underground with you?”

Passing by the dwarf following Jabel, D’Élysée spoke for the first time.

“Of course. Egru is our hero.”

D’Élysée was initially relieved.

“He’s really amazing. If it weren’t for Egru, we would have been helplessly converted into mana stones.”

“Where is my brother? I heard he was shot with an arrow. I’d like to check on him quickly.”

“Ah, right.”

Jabel continued in an excessively bright voice.

“Did you know that a barrier has been placed over the entire system? It’s troublesome because we can’t search the whole system for the barrier core this time. We’re short on everything, be it medicine or whatever. We’re still being chased by the Imperial Palace…”

It was strange. Somehow, it felt like he kept changing the subject.

“In short, we’re in an isolated situation. First, we need magic power to break through the barrier. It’s impossible to face them with our current manpower.”

“…Where is my brother?”

D’Élysée gripped the sword hilt and demanded.

“Take me to him right now.”

“…I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

D’Élysée drew his holy sword without hesitation. A blue aura instantly surrounded him.

“Oh, is that how you want to play it?”

But even with the blade pointed at him, Jabel wasn’t particularly surprised.

“It won’t do you any good, though.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you see. It’s too late.”

Jabel closed his mouth once and opened it again. An embarrassed hand scratched the back of his head.

“He’s already dead. A few hours ago.”