#179
Operation Escape from the Demon King’s Castle (1)
As dawn broke over the Ion Continent in the northwest, the Great City of Tarak bustled with activity.
This city was never really quiet, but the hustle and bustle now that most people had risen was on a whole different dimension.
Eek—
“Well then, I’m off!”
“Alright, be careful with the carriage!”
Diana, who had only recently moved to Tarak, was just as busy.
Like everyone else, she hurried out of her house early in the morning.
Yet, even amid the rush, her face was filled with a smile.
Having not been here for long, everything around her felt unfamiliar, but she was thoroughly satisfied with her life now.
‘This house, too! Though it’s technically a rental for an indefinite period…’
This cozy little house, though still feeling a bit new, was incomparably larger than the cramped living space shared by five families back at the grocery store. The facilities were clean and required no repairs.
Moreover, its location was in a safe central area—worth more than it seemed!
Naturally, she couldn’t help but feel happy about it.
“Ah! Good morning, Grandma!”
As Diana hurriedly stepped out, she spotted a familiar neighbor and cheerfully greeted her.
In response to her lively voice, the old woman sitting on the neighboring terrace with a face full of tattoos turned her gaze and chuckled softly.
Hehe… “Oh really, going to work already? You’re always so diligent in the morning.”
Ehehe, “I’m still in the learning phase. I can’t disappoint the Head of the Hubert Association!”
“Well, you’re quite impressive for being so young. Hoo hoo…”
At first, Diana had worried when she learned that a seemingly scary old lady lived next door, but thankfully, she turned out to be quite kind to children.
She would give them snacks and regale them with fascinating stories, making the initially wary kids warm up to her over time.
Even shy Aaron, Diana’s younger brother, was now comfortable enough to visit next door.
‘That grandma is also supported by Hubert Association, just like us… If she’s trusted by the uncle, I shouldn’t worry too much.’
Of course, after experiencing betrayal not long ago, trusting anyone was challenging for Diana, but she realized she couldn’t live her life in suspicion, so she needed to try a little harder.
At least she should open her heart to someone verified as trustworthy.
“Well, I’m off now!”
“Be careful on your way. Well… at least you don’t have to worry much around here.”
The Hubert Association had definitively become the most influential merchant group in Tarak.
With a strong network that spanned the clergy and noble families, unique and excellent products exclusive to them, vast capital that could attract talented merchants, and an edge in the power struggles using unknown means…
With all these elements, they swiftly consumed the market within years of their establishment, and the area they resided in was now the foremost domain of the Hubert Association.
Sniff sniff—
As she walked, Diana’s nose twitched with familiar scents wafting from the surroundings.
The city watch had intensified patrols around this area due to some shady deals, and Hubert Association’s security team was stationed everywhere.
Additionally…
The tangy scent of blood emanated subtly from the shadows across the city.
‘Who would have thought I’d come to feel safe with this smell?’
Once a terrifying odor she’d feared, it now felt unsettling when absent.
After all, the vampires lurking around here all obeyed the uncle’s orders, making it entirely understandable.
‘Come to think of it, how amazing! The uncle only became a vampire about two years ago, but what on earth has he been doing all this time to achieve such a feat?’
Considering the subordinates spread across Tarak now and the immigration procedures he handled easily, his position seemed far from ordinary.
With the situation in Talia Kingdom rumored around, he could easily be called a high-ranking noble.
‘Well, it’s not like I need to know all that. As long as I can repay his kindness, that’s enough.’
However, Diana soon shook off her thoughts and hurried towards the headquarters of the association.
Unlike her uncle, who was simply handling grocery deliveries here, her duties under Hubert were considerably significant.
She was responsible for inspecting the quality of goods handled by the association, essentially acting like a quality manager.
Undoubtedly, there were many who opposed her parachute appointment…
Yet, Hubert’s authority within the association was absolute, and everyone watched her with a mix of skepticism and curiosity.
‘…Honestly, I’m anxious, but I’ll have to do my best to meet expectations.’
As Diana arrived at the association’s headquarters, she sensed unusual commotion nearby.
Whisper whisper—
An alarmingly familiar scent lingered there.
“Ah, Head of the Association! Good morning!”
“Ah, Diana. You’re here so early again. Always diligent!”
Just then, she ran into Hubert, who was also heading to the association building, and he responded casually.
Yet, contrary to his composed demeanor, the reactions of the direct security around him felt different today…
Unlike usual, where they kept a distance, they were now tightly surrounding him, showing visible caution towards Diana as she approached.
‘Huh? And this smell…’
Some boasted subtle wounds and a faint scent of blood from their weapons, likely indicating a recent skirmish.
Something must have happened before they arrived here.
“Um, is there something going on?”
“Hm? Ah— It’s nothing serious. Just a regular occurrence. You know, there are those who occasionally come in with unfounded confidence and act recklessly.”
Hubert replied nonchalantly, having thoroughly prepared for the situation. He then led Diana into the association’s headquarters.
In a world where threats abound, running a mercantile association would naturally not be devoid of danger.
Preparing for any potential threats was essential, and it was clear that whoever had orchestrated this attack did not expect success on their first try.
It was likely an attempt to instill fear, maybe test courage, or just a formal trial run.
How dare they think they could mess with me?
Of course, Hubert hadn’t grown the Hubert Association without encountering obstacles.
As a result, a significant portion of their earnings went toward preparing for potential threats.
It wouldn’t have been possible to grow this significantly without help in the early days from Harley and his friends; later, support from the Brokoslac Clan had been crucial, too.
Since the Yufershi Clan’s ambush, he had become even more wary, wrapping himself in expensive magical equipment.
But, as current results showed, despite numerous intrigues, he always emerged victorious.
It was inevitable.
They had underestimated the magnitude of the organization that moved in response.
‘Now, let’s see who orchestrated this.’
Their fate was already sealed.
*
Now, the Rohan Principality had crumbled to the point where the term ‘nation’ felt absurd.
They barely survived, having set up their last line of defense near the capital with help from the Empire and the clergy.
Ironically, it was the Undead King who enabled this survival.
He had established a buffer at the northern mountain range where monsters had poured in, greatly reducing their numbers invading the principality.
Yet, since many believed he had instigated the current situation, no one felt gratitude towards him.
They merely saw him as someone taunting them with his whims.
And at the epicenter of the chaos—
Though no one had seen him directly, the infamous Demon King’s Castle… or rather, Undying Castle held individuals dreaming of escape.
“Heron, so what’s the plan today? Think we can pull it off?”
“Hmmm, give me a moment… This is tricky.”
Right there were Riley Carte Azerion, the Fifth Princess of the Azerion Empire, and Hesperon, a new awakened one in this world for less than two months.
While practicing magic encircled by barriers, Riley carefully posed her question as she noticed Hesperon furrowing his brows in thought.
The task was easy to start anytime; they were merely dragging things out for dramatic effect, but as days passed, Riley’s patience seemed to be waning.
“Hoo— I’m so anxious I can’t even sleep! You seem so relaxed, though? This is really going to work, right?”
Perhaps feeling irked that she was the only one in a hurry, she finally pouted with a sigh.
“Hey now, do you think it’s as simple as that? I got tossed in here right after arriving in this world; I know nothing about the situation here. I have no idea where we are or where we need to go.”
Precise location identification was critical for the spatial ability.
With its usefulness came immense risk; a miscalculation could lead to catastrophic events.
“Well, still… This is the northern edge of the continent, so surely if we just head south…”
“Where do you think south is from here?”
“Ugh…”
They couldn’t possibly know the outside bearings within this Undying Castle, which was practically a different space altogether.
Eventually, reality struck, darkening Riley’s expression.
“Then, is there really no way out?”
“Not at all. In fact, I have a decent idea now. I just need to be cautious and figure everything out clearly.”
When hope was rekindled with those words, her face brightened again.
Perhaps it was the extreme circumstances, but the Iron-Blooded Princess was showing a range of emotions.
“…But hey, aren’t you being a bit too casual in our speech?”
“Oh, what does it matter? We’re bound by fate now! Let’s lighten up! Hahaha!”
Despite her earlier misgivings about the seriousness of their magical training, Hesperon seemed so comfortable asserting himself that Riley wore a look of disbelief.
Yet, considering he held the key to solving their predicament…
“Haa— Please, be careful in front of others. Unlike where you came from, there are people here sensitive to status. It could lead to serious trouble!”
In the end, Riley had no choice but to compromise with him.
In truth, her concern about his casual attitude stemmed from hearing Isea describe Earth, not just for the sake of asserting her status.
Having been here for a short while, getting used to treating a princess casually would only increase the chances of error outside later.
If such errors occurred, it would ultimately lead him to trouble, so she thought to guide him to be cautious from now on.
‘Now, I really don’t know. He doesn’t seem like a fool, so maybe he’ll be careful outside… though judging by his actions, I’m not too confident.’
Riley sighed again, gazing at him with a smirk that didn’t match his intelligent appearance.
She found herself contemplating once more whether she could trust him.
But she knew one conclusion.
‘At this rate, how can I stay for years in this situation where I’ve been anxious for two months? By then, there may not be a chance to turn the tables.’
The goal was to try everything they could.
She had witnessed the enormity of ‘Unique Skills’ through Isea, giving her enough faith in Hesperon’s capabilities that made her trust him implicitly.
‘…I really hope everything goes well.’
Just a few days before an unexpected event that no one on the continent anticipated.
The great escape was about to unfold.
