The sun has passed its highest point. A clear blue scenery dominates almost the whole sky. Tiny bits of white clouds were flying peacefully. Anyone who looks up above can tell that the clear blue has no sign of sudden downpour or such. But despite the peaceful summer sky a deafening outburst strikes.

DoooommMmM

It is a sound that echoed in the now-deserted fortress.

But not a sound of nature it is the sound of multiple structures falling apart and getting crushed. Of course it is not natural for those structures to fall at once especially when it is all part of this well-fortified city. The reason is because a high tier gravitational magic was casted on it covering small to medium scale area.

And the red-haired culprit is currently giving off a surprise look as if he had seen a miracle in a huge window on the side of the Aldebaran Adventurer's Guild.

[Ryuji's POV]

“That... That was Cazius's magic right?” I silently muttered upon witnessing the 'forbidden' magic that was used by that corrupted army general earlier.

Still wondering on how I obtain it I continued to look on my adventurer status paper. My eyes scanned every parts of it then I noticed something off.

“My Counter Offensive Skill is gone.” I muttered to myself.

The skill that I used to dominate the demon lord in our one-on-one battle and same skill that my personal guild tutor has taught me is nowhere to be found in the paper.

My mind immediately think of every possible ways of why it is gone. [Did I unlearn it accidentally?—No. That's not possible. Does having too much skill reduces your past ones?—Hmm. Even in game it doesn't happen. So how?] I crossed my arms and think even deeper.

“Its because she's near.” But suddenly the answer came in a form of a man's voice from behind me. In just a split second, even limited my agility is quite good and I hold the owner of the voice (which is just exactly a meter behind me) in the neck then follows a multiple violet-colored magic circle on top of his head. It was as if I'm a mechanical device set to attack anyone who speak that time.

I realized that even though I don't need to cast magic, I still use magic circles, it looks just like the ones I saw on anime that I watch. Its design and how it suddenly appeared like the owl that I saw when I first came here delivered a faint excitement on me. I haven't noticed that up until now because I always cast magic in the instance that I think about it. But the situation now is different I set the 'Starfall' on standby to have a better look of the person I'm currently pressing. The man in his middle twenties that has brown hair and eyes is the same man that pointed his blade to me earlier before I got captured by the Imperial freaks.

I gave him a sharp glare and said. “Archen Windsor. What do you mean?”

Liliana's older brother, the one she mentioned in her story yesterday. This man was dueling with Renia during my execution so how did he escaped that life draining magic from Cazius?. And yes he's still wearing that white cape from earlier but the golden dog-tag and the luxurious plate armor was gone.

“I didn't come here to die. Please.” He said while looking at me in the eyes. I look at his whole body to find a hidden weapon or if he is holding one without letting go of his neck or disabling my offensive magic.

But in the end, only a broken right arm, a severe wound on left lower chest and trembling body were the only things that I spotted.[I see. In most of the games I played and movies I watched back on earth, it is possible that he escaped that mind controlling magic when he broke his arm.] I glanced beyond his back and see other four people in the hallway, all girls and terrified. Moments pass before I decided to disarm my magic and let go of his neck.

“Thank you” he said in reply to the disarmed magic and instinctively touching his neck with his free left hand.

“Thank your sister later because she's the reason why your head is still intact and not crushed.”

“Right, thanks for taking care of her. I don't really know you but I know you cared for her. I know an apology is not enough to pay for what I did when my wrecked commander control my mind but please accept my deepest apology—he slightly vowed his head and continued—“...Oh and don't worry I'll report to them later that the demon lord attacked us and killed our commander. That's all” Then after a short pause he added.“Demon or not we know that you're the hero of this castle siege.”

That explains it. So that time he is too aggressive or perhaps too pride-driven was because of that mind-controlling magic that that wicked general used.

I crushed the paper on my other hand and put it on my pocket and unintentionally ignore his praises. “So, what do you mean by she's near?” I said with my usual low pictched voice.

“The hero. It's one of her unique magic, it makes defense skills and status effects lowered down by two times and the counter magics and skills are all useless within a hundred mile radius from her.”

[Now who's the overpowered one here? —I focused my mind to see if my zero state is active—Good thing my zero state is active. There's no way the hero sensing me here.] “Hmm...” I disdainfully replied to my thoughts. But the man before me interpreted that as my reply to him and continued.

“Oh and you might hear stories about the hero being missing or the summoning spell failed but that's all a bluff disclosed to public as well as the Imperial Armies outside the capital to avoid the people to force the female hero to war while she's still preparing.”

[So that's why Christina and Ichiro acts that way on my first day here. And Paul, he lost his hope once because of that too.] I can still remember how those three acted on my first day here. But it's too early to say that those decisions made by the empire were foolish. I nodded at Archen in response.

I don't really know what merit will he gain by clarifying those things to me but instead of whining I choosed to listen to him. When he see my nod he continued.

“If you wish to remain I'll gladly take you back to the capital as part of my party but if you're still choosing to side with that crazy demon girl you should leave now before the hero arrives.”

What a tough options to choose. So he still knew that I'm on the side of the 'creatures with less intellect' and yet he choose to approach me diplomatically hoping that I will join forces with them. [Now his intentions were clear to me but I suddenly remembered what Paul said about that spear master in Rigel.] “I appreciate your offer but there's someone I need to meet down south.”

Archen looked down unable to hide his disappointment. “I see so you choose neither. Anyways, if you happen to bump on that redhead sword freak please tell her that I'll be waiting in the usual spot in the capital before we depart for the continental expedition. I mean if she still want to but please tell her I'll be waiting anyways..”

[He must have known Renia for years now.]

“Alright. Consider it as my payment for covering me up.” I said before I began my stride towards them or I must say towards the exit. The four injured girls comes toward Archen as I pass them by. They were injured but none of them are severe compared to Archen, I can't say if they are an adventurer or an Imperial Army because their dress are covered in dried blood.

“I surely am. I know we will see each other sooner or later. And when that time comes. I'll introduce myself again!”

Without looking back at him I continued my unhesitating stride and replied. “...May the opportunity rise.”

[Now I see why Lily hates him. Acting all cool-like even when he's on pain.] Thats what in my mind when I saw the four girls treating Archen the moment he fell onto his knees.

~~~

After some few turns in the hallway and pass through those empty rooms I finally made it to the guild's lobby where the countertop, quest bulletin and long chairs were located.

My memory when I first entered that swinging door and registering as an adventurer is still fresh in my mind. I stop my stride and look around. The book shelf has caught my attention.

[Oh since, they abandoned this guild hall it might not be a problem if I get the books in the shelf.]

I tried to find some bag or a cloth for a makeshift around the guild's lobby. And my search has led me to the countertop. It is where usually those guild receptionist do their job but now it is nothing more than an empty place.

Or I should say almost empty because when I took a peek to see what's on the other side. A little figure has appeared.

I can exactly tell who it was. She has a shoulder length dull green hair over her hands which is placed over her head. She is sitting quietly as if as soldier covering for an explosion. I leaned on the countertop and bend my body slightly to at least to level my mouth to her ears.

“Booo.”

“EYAAAHHHHH!” Upon hearing my words the dwarf girl shouted. When she rose up I see her red face but no matter what expression she's still cute.

I am right she's the same dwarf girl that helped me register as an adventurer, her name is Marley. A cute little dwarf working as a receptionist here.

One of the girl with Archen came rushing down the hallway to see what that scream was. I lock gazes with her while casting a soft grin and raised my hand giving off the —I got this— expression.

With the dwarf girl startled I can't help but to release carefree chuckles.

“Please don't kill me! I still haven't experience having a boyfriend.”

“Pfft.”I raised from the countertop and laugh again. But after moments or so the dwarf came back to her defensive cover. So I replied to her with my usual low pitched voice. “Nah. I won't do something that terrible.” [I don't even want to harm her.]

“Really?” she asked while taking a small glimpse at me.

“But I might decide to take a leg or two if you don't come out of there.” I jokingly replied.

“Whatttt????!!” the dwarf girl said with some bits of tears on her green eyes.

“Jusk kidding. So, what are you doing in there?” I offered her a hand to help her get over the countertop and continue to ask her questions.

“ Paul did tell me to hide last night when the monster siege began.”

[Last night? Don't tell me... She been here since the siege began?] Paul must have forgotten that this dwarf girl was still hiding here. Well, I can't blame him since a lot has happened in that siege. Definitely a lot. Good thing no one with ill-intentions find her here.

“And what do you think is the situation outside now?”

“I don't know. I heard an explosion earlier and if you're going to defend too please be careful to do so Ryuji.”

[Hmm. How will I give her a quick rundown...] “Well, we successfully defended against the siege but something unfortunate happened and destroyed almost everything in this city, Paul and the others are gone. I mean they evacuated to the south near the Canyon.”

“Whatt??? And they forget about me??....” Tears starts to linger in her eyes once more. [My goodness she's about to cry. I need to think of something!]

“Well,... Actually he send me to pick you up, Yeah! So let's go.” I said while scratching the back of my head.

“Is that so? I thought they abandoned me. Wait here I'll pick up my items.” Like the first time I met her she dashed of in the hallway again in an incredible agility.

While I'm waiting for Marley, I managed to find a sheet large enough to cover the books that I'm bringing. I covered all the books with it and secure it with a tight knot of its edges.

“Let's go” I said to Marley right away after she popped out of the hallway carrying a book and a quill pen.

I can't exactly tell if that quill pen on her has its own ink or if its like the one back on earth that uses a third party ink. But now is not the time for that kind of thought. With the pile of books now secured in the garment sheet I lift it up and began to stride towards the swinging door.

“Yeah! Let's!” Marley's joyful reply. I don't know how I to say it but somewhat her eyes doesn't match her reaction.

When we both made it outside the sun is still high in the sky but already passed its zenith and is already preparing its long way down.

I continued to walk in the deserted roads in the midst of destroyed houses. After two or three steps I noticed that the small figure behind me stopped right at the front of the final building standing in the fortress.—The Aldebaran Adventurer's Guild.

I came to a stop and look at her who's still staring at the huge building.

“I know...” she said forcing words out of her mouth.

“Hmm.” I replied just enough to reach her dwarven ears.

“I know anyone has to leave the place they used to spend their lives as if it is part of their own living but...—Tears linger in her eyes but the dwarf clenched her free right hand and continued—“But hell! This building meant everything to me!.”

I decided to approach her and pat her head. On the other hand, the dwaft guild receptionist continued her silent crying.

During my 25 years of stay on earth I witnessed these kinds of things once, twice or thrice already and if anyone has to ask me what this very scenery felt? I could only say one thing.

“...You know— when she heard my low pitched voice she slightly to gaze up at me.“You know it's not the place that matters, it's those what keeping the place alive. I'm definitely sure that as long as Paul, Mary, You and the others are there on the field, you'll all find something better than this building soon enough.”

Still crying she smiled back at me and give me a “Hm!” that comes with an excited nod.

That time I was like a big brother cheering up his crying little sister.