Wil and Lucre were waiting for me outside the building.
"Good work, Orun-kun! We can finally head home, right?"
Lucre’s expression spoke volumes about her eagerness to get as far away from this place as possible.
"Yeah. Master Lazares gave us the okay. Let’s head back to Tsutrail."
"Thank goodness. Rex and the others are arranging a carriage right now. Let's head to the South Gate!"
It seemed that while I was occupied with Old Man Eddington, Lucre and the rest had already finished their preparations to depart. Since the First Unit members were heading to the South Gate to meet the carriage, we began making our way there as well.
"—Orun."
Just as we passed through the South Gate and stepped beyond the city’s outer wall, Wil called out from behind me. I turned around to face him.
"Hm? What is—!?"
A sudden shock rocked my jaw, and before I knew it, I was flat on my backside. As the metallic taste of blood spread through my mouth, I realized Wil had punched me.
"Why would you do something so reckless!?" Wil roared from above me.
I looked up to find his face contorted with rage. By "reckless," he undoubtedly meant the fact that I had challenged Felix alone. Even though Wil and Lucre had offered to fight by my side, I had ignored them and kept them at a distance. His anger was entirely justified.
"...I'm sorry."
"I know you’re strong. You won against a Hero on your own, so I guess that makes your choice the 'correct' one. If we’d been there, maybe we really would’ve just held you back," Wil spat out, his expression pained.
I wanted to tell him that wasn't true, but the words wouldn't come.
"I know this anger is irrational. You weren't wrong. But I still can’t accept what you did! I’m sick of standing by, helpless, while my comrades die... I’m your shield. I’m the shield for the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky. If you’re ever in a situation like that again, you’re taking me with you. If I’m a burden, then use me as a decoy or whatever else you need—I don’t care. But if you pull a stunt like that alone again, I won't forgive you!"
"............"
Hearing Wil’s raw, genuine feelings forced me to reconsider my choice. I hadn't truly considered the feelings of those I’d left behind. If I were in Wil or Lucre’s position, I would have been just as furious. I couldn't keep putting my comrades through such unnecessary worry.
"...Yeah. I'll keep that in mind. Lucre, I'm sorry for making you worry, too."
After answering Wil, I apologized to Lucre, who was standing beside him looking as if she were on the verge of tears.
"You really should be...! I was so worried about you! But... you came back safe, so I'll forgive you."
"Thanks. I won't be that reckless again. I promise."
Once Lucre had granted her forgiveness, Wil reached out a hand to me.
"Sorry for hitting you, Orun."
"No, don't apologize. If anything, I feel like you’ve snapped me out of it. Thank you."
I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet. Just then, the carriage carrying Rex and the others arrived. The three of us climbed inside, and the carriage began its journey toward Tsutrail.
—However, during the trip, we received word from a contact within the Count Eddington House. They informed us that the Twilight Moonbow had been attacked by bandits and were currently recovering at the Count’s manor in Roils.
We diverted our course to Roils immediately, racing to reach my disciples.
Upon arriving in Roils, I hurried straight to the manor and burst into the room where my disciples were staying.
"Sophie! Log! Carol!" I called out their names as I threw the door open.
There was no reply. All three were fast asleep on the sofas. Their expressions were peaceful; Sophie and Carol were even leaning against each other as they slumbered.
"Master Orun, thank goodness you're safe...!"
Luna was the only one awake. She looked at me with a gaze full of immense relief.
"I heard you were attacked by bandits. Are they all right?"
"Yes. They’re exhausted, but their lives aren't in danger."
"I see... that's a relief. So, what happened?"
Once I was sure they were safe, I asked Luna for the details.
"Actually, I was in a different location when the attack occurred... so this is what I gathered from them later—"
Luna had been somewhere else? The Twilight Moonbow was supposed to be heading to the Royal Capital with Abel. Why were they acting separately?
While these questions swirled in my head, I listened as Luna recounted the events that had transpired.
"Huh. So Fairies can actually sense signs of a Labyrinth Stampede? I thought they were just stories from fairy tales. Knowing they exist is one thing, but having an incredible ability like that..."
Lucre, who had been listening alongside me, spoke up in surprise.
"Fairies are existences fundamentally different from us," Luna explained. "I don't grasp the full picture of their kind myself, but she might be special even among her own, which is why she could sense the signs."
"Fairies, eh? If we could borrow that power, conquering the Great Labyrinth would be a hell of a lot easier," Wil noted.
"I agree, but Fairies are capricious. It’s too risky to rely on them."
"...The conversation is drifting. Luna, do you have any leads on those bandits?" I interjected, steering the topic back.
"Yes. The ones who attacked were likely... the Cyclamen Cult."
"What!?"
"The Cyclamen Cult? You mean the criminal organization!?"
Wil and Lucre cried out in shock. I felt the air leave my lungs; it was a much bigger threat than I had anticipated.
"The attackers were apparently a pair of male and female twins, roughly the same age as these children. What’s more, their faces were nearly identical to Carol’s. They claimed to be her older brother and sister."
The shocking revelations continued to pour from Luna’s mouth.
"...Carol had siblings? Assuming they attacked on that man’s orders, was their goal to kidnap her? No, that doesn’t make sense. His behavior suggested he believed Carol was dead..."
Between my lingering exhaustion and this barrage of information, I realized my thoughts were leaking out loud.
"Master Orun, who is 'that man'?" Luna asked.
"A man who intervened during my fight with the Hero. He claimed to be a member of the Cyclamen Cult, and he was after Carol’s ability..."
I began to answer Luna normally, but halfway through, I felt the color drain from my face.
"...? Master Orun?"
"Why... why did I forget...?"
"Hey, you look like a ghost. Are you okay?"
It hit me then. I had somehow forgotten all about the man in red. No, "forgotten" wasn't quite the right word. I remembered him, yet the moment the battle with the dragon swarm ended, the fact that he should have been right there on the battlefield had completely slipped my mind.
Had I simply been too focused on the dragons? No. Even if I had forgotten, Shion and Felix would never have ignored his presence. That meant all three of us had simultaneously lost the perception that the man in red even existed in that space.
That shouldn't have been possible. Unless someone had the power to create that exact situation.
"[Perception Alteration]..."
Yes. [Perception Alteration]. Haruto had mentioned that Philly Carpenter, a high-ranking member of the Cyclamen Cult, possessed that very ability. If she had intervened to save her comrade, it all made sense.
"[Perception Alteration]? Isn't that Miss Philly’s ability?" Luna asked, reacting to my murmur. I had previously shared information with her and the First Unit regarding the events surrounding Oliver’s rampage six months ago.
"...Sorry. I lost my composure. For the sake of clarity, let me tell you everything that happened during my fight with the Hero."
I took a breath and briefly recounted the events following my teleportation to the Cryo Mountains with Felix.
"So... this Ozwell person is the one who did those terrible things to Carol?" Luna asked, her face tight with unconcealed rage. Wil and Lucre looked equally disgusted.
"Yeah. And the Cyclamen Cult is now an undeniable enemy."
They had toyed with Oliver and Luna—and by extension, Derrick and Anneri—and now they had dared to lay a hand on my disciples. I wouldn't let it slide any longer. I had always loathed them, but now it was personal.
Cyclamen Cult... I will be the one to crush you into the dirt.
At that moment, I had no way of knowing that this incident was merely the first chapter in a long, blood-stained history of enmity between us and the Cult.