“Please open! Just open already!”
Since entering the bunker, Ariel had been pounding on the door.
The tightly shut door showed no signs of budging, but she couldn’t give up.
‘Now that I finally know the truth… I’ve reached a point where I can empathize with the sacrifice!’
She had to apologize.
She needed to express her regret to Ian, who had to bow his head to protect his arrogant younger sibling’s foolish actions.
‘I still haven’t even said I’m sorry.’
This made her even less willing to give up.
She looked down at the unmoving doorknob and pulled with all her strength.
Her body was exhausted from the previous battle, but that only fueled her determination.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
How long had she been pulling on the handle without rest? Just when she was preparing to apply more force.
“It’s useless. It won’t open that way.”
“B-Bianca?”
At the moment Bianca, barely coming to her senses thanks to Reina’s healing, opened her mouth.
Thanks to the emergency kit available in the bunker, she regained her composure and managed to speak with Reina’s support.
“If my memory serves me right… this is an emergency escape bunker. It was created for survivors who couldn’t escape when an incident occurs inside the building. It’s designed for situations like explosions or building collapses, so pulling on it like that won’t open it.”
“How can you be so sure? What you know might not be accurate.”
Ariel, looking at her with trembling eyes, felt a wave of despair wash over her. She wanted to give her a lie of goodwill, but in this situation, it would be better to tell the truth.
Bianca struggled to extend her arm and pointed at the inscription on the bunker’s ceiling.
“The symbol here belongs to the Engineering Association of the Mage Alliance. The devices they created are still in use at various magic towers.”
Although dark sorcerers were often rejected by other mages, Bianca’s father, a high-ranking figure among them, was someone who couldn’t be ignored.
He frequently participated in high mage meetings organized at the magic towers.
Since Bianca couldn’t enter the meeting room when she accompanied her father, she spent time wandering around the tower.
She also remembered the proud way the mages had introduced the bunker.
“This bunker is one of their creations. It can protect the interior safely for 12 hours, regardless of any external shock.”
“What? Then….”
“You’re right. It can provide protection for 12 hours, but we have to stay trapped inside. It’s set up to activate the barrier from the outside.”
The implication of her words was simple.
“That’s why I said not to do it. We have to stay here for 12 hours anyway.”
“Stay still? What does that even mean….”
The thought of being guaranteed safety but unable to help Ian, who was fighting outside, was almost unbearable for Ariel.
‘This can’t be happening… I haven’t even apologized yet.’
Of course, she didn’t think Ian would easily fall to the monsters.
After all, who was Ian Volkanov?
He was the one who single-handedly dealt with four Demon Kings and took on all sorts of difficult tasks when he was part of the Hero Party.
Having fought desperately to protect all party members, regardless of their position, he wouldn’t easily lose his life even when facing that army.
However, thinking about it differently, even if he won, he might suffer tremendous injuries.
‘Right now, Ian is struggling to fight against many enemies!’
If he had to fight using only his fists, he couldn’t avoid close combat with the enemies.
Even if he could defeat monsters with a single blow, the remaining ones would be quick to strike with their sharp claws.
The thought of him getting hurt made her tears flow uncontrollably, even though she knew how the battle would unfold.
“No! This can’t be happening!”
In a state close to hysteria, she sobbed. How long had she been wailing like that?
“A… aah…”
Thud!
Ariel, who had screamed until her voice was hoarse, finally knocked her head against the wall and lost consciousness.
“A-Ariel! Are you okay?”
Reina, startled, tried to approach Ariel to check on her condition.
Thud!
“W-What’s wrong, Bianca?”
Bianca’s hand was quicker.
Although Reina looked at her as if to ask why she was stopping her, Bianca just shook her head.
“Leave her be for now. There’s nothing we can do even if we wake her up.”
No matter what they did, it was certain they couldn’t leave this place for 12 hours.
For Ariel, a single minute would feel like a year in this situation.
‘If that’s the case….’
Taking a moment to calm her head would be much better for her.
‘If she sleeps, she’ll recover her strength. It won’t be too late to help Ian then.’
Thinking this way, she prepared for the future, but then.
“Ugh… why is my arm…?”
Her body was trembling like a trembling aspen.
Even though she held her in her arms, feeling the quivering arm startled Reina, who then moved to hold onto Bianca’s arm.
“Were you pretending to be okay, but you were actually worried, right?”
“Huh? Me? Worried?”
“Aren’t you worried that Senior Ian might get hurt?”
“That’s….”
Feeling embarrassed because her thoughts were laid bare, Bianca could hardly respond.
It was true that Reina had no idea of her feelings for Ian.
Knowing that Reina had been spending more time with Ian lately, Bianca tried to hide her emotions to avoid hurting her.
‘No, I have to say it’s not true….’
Why would she worry about Ian?
Absolutely not; she didn’t care if he lived or died.
Despite the urge to voice such a lie out of shame, strangely, her mouth wouldn’t move.
“Um….”
Unable to find the right words, Bianca stammered. Despite her awkwardness, Reina only smiled gently.
“Don’t worry too much. Ian-senpai wouldn’t faint in a place like this.”
“…Aren’t you worried? You never know what could happen.”
“I am…. Why wouldn’t I be? Having fought them myself, I know how strong they are.”
“Then how can you be so sure? How can you be so confident that Ian won’t fall?”
Reina simply smiled at Bianca’s desperate plea.
“My Master, who is an elf and a member of the Hero Party, once said something. After living for hundreds of years, he felt that there were only six people in this continent he thought were stronger than himself.”
“Six….”
“Even if that person is currently the weakest, he predicted that he would rise to the position of the strongest.”
Ilian Sigrud.
Known as the heretic of the Great Forest, he had traversed the continent for hundreds of years, as befitted an immortal.
Unlike elves who loved nature and shunned conflict, he was combative and enjoyed revelry, challenging any strong-looking human he met in towns to duels.
He would showcase his honed skills, often overpowering his opponents.
Yet, even he had a few humans he could not guarantee victory against.
Five of them were masters existing on the continent, and the last was a young human male.
Though he managed to secure victory after a fierce battle, he was confident that if that young man were given just a bit more time, the outcome would have been different.
Moreover, he believed that at the moment that young man reached his prime, there would be no one on this continent capable of challenging him.
Ilian, filled with admiration, cared for him deeply, and after the party disbanded, he would often recount tales of the young man’s prowess.
Having heard those stories countless times, Reina remembered the protagonist well.
“That’s Senior Ian. My Master was certain that given time, he would become the strongest human on the continent.”
“So….”
“That was a few years ago when he first said it. Given how much stronger he’s become since then, don’t you think it’s believable? The Ian I know wouldn’t kneel before monsters.”
As Reina spoke confidently, she suddenly blushed and hesitated.
“And there are still many things I want to do with Senior. We can’t say goodbye just yet, right? You think so too, don’t you?”
“Hah… now that you mention it, that’s true.”
Only after seeing Reina’s clumsy smile did Bianca finally feel reassured.
Hadn’t Ian helped her as well?
He had resolved all the issues in the zombie-infested Brookers territory without facing any real danger.
And that wasn’t all.
His past, viewed through the eyes of the wraiths, had been filled with trials and tribulations.
‘Then again….’
Ian, who had risen after overcoming hardships and adversities, was not weak enough to fall to mere monsters.
Bianca resolved herself to prepare for what was to come.
She would rest as quickly as possible, conserving her strength, and the moment the bunker opened, she would assist Ian.
With such thoughts in mind, she closed her eyes.
And when she finally opened them, she saw it.
Swoosh!
“The barrier….”
The magic barrier protecting the bunker began to dissipate.
As she watched the barrier melt away, Bianca turned her gaze toward the door.
