Ella asked, "Did I do something wrong to you? This is the first time we've met, so I have no memory of it."
Isabelle didn't respond, her face showing clear disapproval towards Ella from top to bottom. Ella, not understanding the reason, tilted her head in confusion, while Isabelle pouted, hiding her true feelings.
"Well, you won't know unless you say something, right? If I did something wrong, I should at least apologize. Isn't that so?"
"Never mind. Let's just go."
"Aren't we both guests here in the territory? Isn't it only polite to greet each other? I mean, if you're someone who doesn't care about manners, I have nothing to say..."
Isabelle, struck by those words, reluctantly offered a handshake. She hadn't expected the situation to freeze so quickly. However, with some lingering resentment, she asked while shaking hands with Ella, "What is your relationship with Jared?"
At that question, Chloe tightened her lips. She realized the coldness stemmed from Isabelle feeling threatened by Ella, who likely harbored feelings for Jared. Sensing that there was no point in intervening in such a situation, Chloe diverted her gaze out the window. Although she had quite the character herself, her teacher Ella was known for having quite the temper as well.
Since Ella remained silent, Isabelle raised her voice once more, "I'm the one suited for Jared."
"Well, Jared said he doesn't have a girlfriend. Are you having a one-sided love affair?"
Ella's sharp voice made Isabelle's words and expression even sharper than before. "I don't mind others, but I don't like you, so stop being interested."
"If you want me to stop being interested, then win his love with your own strength. Don't start unnecessary arguments. Do you realize that your actions are only embarrassing yourself?"
"Tsk..."
Isabelle turned her gaze outside the window, her face flushed. She had known from the start that her actions were foolish. She knew that Ella had done nothing wrong, and that she and Jared were not particularly close. But she felt upset for no reason.
All the times she had seen Jared were during basement training sessions. Other than that, Jared was always busy with his own affairs and rarely contacted her. Initially, she thought her disappointment was nothing significant, but as time passed, the gap deepened. Isabelle found herself caring about Jared much more than she initially thought.
However, she couldn't voice any harsh words to Hayes, who always smiled at her and treated her like a princess, even though she knew that Hayes, too, liked Jared. Was it because of this? She ended up venting her frustration to Ella, who had recently been talking frequently with Jared.
'Ella is a guest brought by Jared. I shouldn't interfere.’
Fortunately, Isabelle quickly regained her composure. It would have been better if she hadn't lost it to begin with! There was still time to undo the spilled water. Isabelle bowed her head to Ella, thinking it was an embarrassing but necessary apology.
"I'm sorry. I think I spoke too harshly."
"That was a quick apology."
"I know what I did wrong. I'll apologize once more."
Isabelle's apology softened Ella's expression slightly. Since she wasn't one to hold onto things, she quickly let it go. "Isabelle, love is not something that returns just because you plead for it and cling to it."
Isabelle remained silent at Ella's piercing words.
"Try to be someone attractive enough to keep by your side. Not someone you can't do without, but someone who can't do without you."
"Someone who can't do without me."
"Choose the kind of love where you are the chooser, not the one being chosen."
Although the argument had raised voices, every word Ella spoke was right. Chloe, sitting next to them, seemed to understand as well, nodding in agreement. For a moment, Isabelle felt a revelation. Sensing the change in her expression, Ella smiled and added, "Be devoted to yourself. That way, you'll become an attractive woman who won't even notice someone like me. Honestly, from what I see, you're already quite pretty."
Feeling awkward in the suddenly warm atmosphere, Isabelle blushed again and hid her face between the curtains of the window. Ella looked at her and chuckled, adding another remark, "That's why handsome men are exhausting. There are so many competitors around them, right, Chloe?"
"Yes? Well, I think so..."
Chloe trailed off. Although it was true, she somehow didn't want to admit it.
May 9th, morning.
I, Isabelle, Ella, and Chloe were on the road to the tomb of Mahart the Third. When the three of them arrived last night, we stopped discussing the tomb. The strategy was in my head, I knew the escape routes if things went awry, and I even knew what rewards we could obtain if we succeeded.
Isabelle, having long since been a firm believer in my usual excuse of the 'Eastern Continent,' asked no further questions. She seemed to think, as always, that I had picked up such knowledge from somewhere else. Chloe, too, had little to say. Instead, she asked me one thing.
"I understand why Isabelle, being a shaman, and my teacher, a skilled swordswoman, need to be here. But my lord, why me?"
Chloe seemed unsure why someone like her, whose skills she felt were still lacking, was needed for exploring such ruins—a tomb. It was less a complaint than humility. As expected, she continued, "I'm cautious because I think I might be a burden. I don't want to cause trouble for anyone."
"It's necessary. Your disguise technique is crucial for the strategy. I heard from Ella that the masks you create are superbly convincing."
"I do meticulously craft them, but what exactly should I disguise?"
"Create a face resembling the clay soldiers' appearance, like this picture."
I handed Chloe a drawing made by Hayes. It was a picture he had quickly memorized and sketched while scouting the tomb entrance.
"It's quite detailed."
"Yes. Disguise with this face, and I have the method to mask our scent and presence."
"It will take time. About two hours."
"Time is all we have. I've already offloaded all my territorial duties and came here!"
I responded with a bright smile, filled with sincerity. Thanks to Julian handling things well, the condition of the territory was quite satisfactory. I had given him enough tasks that would overwhelm an average manager, yet he claimed to have free evenings.
As a result, my personal office was piling up with various collections of spring paintings every day. He subtly hinted at wanting to sell a compilation of them soon, and I was at a loss on what to do.
I thought the best approach would be to find customers through Aki, customers who collect such paintings—not that I care to know why.
"Then I shall prepare."
On a suitable flat ground, Chloe set up and began the mask-making process. Isabelle asked me next, "Jared! You wanted me to further refine my summoning of dark creatures, right?"
"Yes, that's the primary skill needed in the underground tomb. Continuous movement is also required."
"I've been doing image training. Since there's a lot of open space here, I'll practice here, okay?"
"Fine. Go ahead."
With that, the two dispersed.
Ella spoke to me quietly, "Jared, do you know there's a proverb from the Empire of Ithima?"
"What is it?"
"Those who are overly curious about the world beyond the horizon are never pure-hearted."
"Not wrong."
I nodded. Absolutely right. I wasn't heading to the tomb just for exploration; I intended to sweep up levels, artifacts, and even titles. It wasn't a place I could clear by myself, hence the companions. If solo clearing were possible, I wouldn't have brought anyone, even close associates like Hayes or Isabelle.
"I hate the bloodlines of the Arcane Country and the Dark Order. It's unlikely, but I hope you are not going to this tomb out of curiosity for dark powers. If I sense such intentions, I might fight you on the spot."
"Certainly not. I am only interested in the artifacts there, not the dark powers."
"My role is just to protect Isabelle and Chloe, then?"
"Leave the rest to me. I'm only asking for help worth your fee."
"That's concise. I thought you might ask for help out of consideration."
"Ella, I know even your consideration costs something."
"Haha, true. Fine. Let's do that."
The final arrangements were made. I requested Ella to play the role of a knight escort during the underground tomb raid and agreed to give her a corresponding payment. Isabelle and Chloe, who joined the exploration, were to take all the loot except for the artifact that would drop from 'Mahart the Third.' Most likely, the loot would be magic stones, rated from low to very low, so they aren't particularly valuable. The rest I would take for myself.
The discussions were concluded. Now only the raid remained!
Whooosh. Whooosh.
As we entered the tomb of Mahart the Third, also known as the ancient tomb, the atmosphere was predictably eerie. Somewhere in the dim interior, a constant wind blew, carrying an unbearable stench.
"Isabelle."
"Yes."
Jared signaled Isabelle as previously arranged. She stepped forward confidently and inspected her surroundings. There, she noticed four clay soldiers patrolling, their eyes hollow sockets.
"Whoo."
With a short breath, Isabelle began summoning dark creatures. A black sphere, resembling a rubber ball, appeared and started bouncing on her palm. 'Forced Aggro Freeze Bug.'
Jared aimed for the fixed aggro. When Jared had raided Mahart the Third's tomb in <Paradiso>, he discovered a bug where if a player with powers similar to that of a curse attacked first, the aggro would be permanently fixed on that character. This was only possible for black mages and shamans, making these classes very popular in this tomb.
Thump! Thump, thump!
As Isabelle's black sphere tapped the faces of the four clay soldiers, one after another,
“Kwooh!” “Kwoot!”
The clay soldiers, reacting to Isabelle's attack, began walking towards her.
Swooosh.
Jared, having predicted the clay soldiers' movement, was already performing hand seals. As Isabelle passed him, the soldiers naturally followed her, passing by Jared as well.
'Is that true?'
'The clay soldiers can't see Jared right in front of them?'
Chloe and Ella, witnessing the scene, were visibly stunned. Even though Jared was preparing a blazing fireball right before their eyes, the clay soldiers' focus remained solely on Isabelle.
And then...
Fwooosh! Fwooosh!
In an instant, the four clay soldiers were engulfed in flames, consumed by the rapidly spreading fire.
Thud. Thud, thud.
Two low-grade magic stones dropped.
"That went well. Isabelle and Chloe can each take one. Let's move."
Jared smiled and took the lead. He then casually donned the mask Chloe had crafted, gesturing a circle behind him. It was the prearranged signal to disguise. Following suit, they all put on masks that closely resembled the faces of the clay soldiers.
Jared then started covering himself with the sand scattered throughout the underground tomb. The others followed suit. This had already been discussed during the pre-briefing before entering the tomb.
After passing through a narrow passage, they entered a massive basement that opened wide.
At that moment...
"……."
Everyone except Jared had grim expressions.
“Kwoooooo.”
There were clay soldiers again. But this time, there were far too many. Even a rough estimate suggested there were well over a thousand. It seemed questionable why there were so many clay soldiers in this underground tomb. Their sheer number made it unthinkable to fight them. Of course, Jared had said from the start that there was no need to fight these creatures.
Jared took the lead, weaving his way through the clay soldiers. As he approached the center of the basement, a fierce-looking clay commander suddenly turned its head and grabbed Jared's shoulder.
Everyone tensed at that moment. Ella was ready to draw her sword and hack at every visible clay soldier if needed.
The clay commander then spoke to Jared, “Grug, grurg, grug.”
Jared's companions couldn't understand the meaning of those words, but Jared grinned and recited the prepared line to the commander, "Hail, Mahart (Mahart, long live)."
Then, a remarkable event began to unfold. The clay soldiers and the commander all stepped aside, opening a grand passageway through the basement. Without shedding a drop of blood! An automatic door opened for them to pass through safely.
End of Chapter 48.