Knowing each other’s pasts unintentionally seemed to ease the previously tense atmosphere.

“Why on earth did you bring the Outcast God in your pocket? Are you insane? No, you must already be insane. What will the Knights say? Thank goodness they only took our weapons and didn’t check your body!”

Agartha was flailing about, claiming that this was the sixteenth time a chill shot down a Thief’s spine.

Isn’t that quite a lot, though?

Honestly, I have no words, but I also feel a bit wronged and didn’t want to lose out to Agartha, so I retorted.

“Did I expect this to happen to me?”

“But still! I opened up about my family matters to lighten the mood, and now I feel completely betrayed! Seriously, were you really involved with an Outsider?”

“I keep telling you I wasn’t!”

Ah, the battle of wills.

The Outcast God, who had been watching the two of us argue from my pocket, seemed to shrink in on itself.

The Hunter, observing the scene, spoke up.

“It’s not that you were lucky not to have your possessions checked; it’s that they simply didn’t check. The closer you get to the hearth, the harder it becomes for Outsiders to approach.”

The Hunter, who had lost their double-barrel shotgun, pulled out a hidden BB gun bullet to show me and Agartha.

Seeing them gesture as if to say, ‘Get rid of that!’ made me chuckle.

“The flames burning in that hearth possess power strong enough to not just weaken the Outsider’s abilities but can fully incapacitate them. That’s why the Knights don’t even consider the possibility of Outsiders breaching this place. Outsiders typically avoid showing up in the outer areas or launching mental attacks from a distance.”

Surely, if Outsiders were constantly manifesting in this territory like Watchers, people would be unable to roam around outside like this.

Could it mean those Outsiders are so powerful that they can ignore even that situation?

But why is the Outcast God okay despite being so close to those flames?

Is there something different about them?

Looking down at the Outcast God, who was curled up in my pocket, it glanced up at me with a warm expression.

“Are you comfortable, at least?”

Whether it heard my mumblings or not, the Outcast God merely smiled brightly.

Is this just the effect of the Super Coward Mode, or does the Outcast God have some exceptional trait?

I was frustrated not knowing, but I figured it couldn’t be all that bad.

Agartha seemed to have learned something new.

“Truthfully, it’s my first time hearing of anyone being caught by the Knights in connection to an Outsider. I didn’t know that!”

“This kind of incident is definitely not a common occurrence.”

For some reason, Agartha clapped his hands and smiled as if that piece of news delighted him.

“Wow, then we’re super lucky, right? Such an uncommon thing happened to us!”

“Isn’t it more accurate to say we just had really bad luck?”

“Mr. Tanton, thinking so negatively is exactly why you seem to enjoy things like Outsiders.”

What does that even have to do with it?

“Without a key and stuck firmly to your hands, you seem quite confident.”

Ignoring my gaze, Agartha pulled on the blue tape binding her hands.

It seemed she was feeling a lack of confidence as a Thief against this puzzle that couldn’t be solved by humans.

Maybe that’s why she was unnecessarily poking at me and the Hunter to get some reactions.

“When do you think we can escape? I just got my arms and legs free a little while ago. My hands are yearning for freedom!”

“If you just keep that mouth of yours shut, half the discomfort would probably be resolved.”

“Oh, come on! I’m bored! If I stop talking, it gets too quiet!”

“Not my concern.”

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

“…I’ll kill you.”

“Go ahead and try! You can’t kill me, right? You’re all tied up!”

While sticking out her tongue and being overly cheeky, Agartha dodged the Hunter’s grabbing hand with impressive reflexes, but ultimately got caught due to the cramped confines of the Detention Center.

“No, that’s not what I meant to do…”

“Say that one more time.”

“De-hee?”

Like a piece of luggage being treated as such, Agartha groaned in agony as he was dragged across the floor by the blue tape the Hunter had pulled.

It hadn’t even been a full minute since the Hunter silenced him.

As I chuckled quietly at the amusing scene, footsteps began to echo from a distance.

Agartha and the Hunter both closed their mouths, and as the footsteps grew closer, I recognized who it was.

The Bear Plushie, the Deputy Director.

Still with his brows furrowed, he looked down at us and quietly unlocked the iron door before swinging it open.

Seeing Agartha and the Hunter still on edge and frozen, the Deputy Director sighed and said:

“Come out. I have somewhere to take you.”

#

“Do not gaze into the flames. It is disrespectful to the Princess.”

Where the Deputy Director had brought us was none other than the underground communication room.

Even in this confined space, flames were still flickering, reportedly connected to the hearth.

As I stood quietly observing the magical yet dark and murky scene, the Deputy Director suddenly knelt and paid respect to the flames.

“Transport of the criminals has been completed.”

Who are you talking to, anyway? Have we now reached the point where we see someone conversing with flames?

Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one confused; Agartha’s face displayed a question mark as well. Then, with her hands bound, she pointed her index finger and began to twirl it around her temple, seemingly gesturing at me.

I didn’t want to understand, but the bluntness of the gesture forced me to.

‘This person seems as crazy as Mr. Tanton, doesn’t he?’

Really?

Just sitting quietly, and suddenly she’s starting trouble.

I glanced at the Hunter, just in case, but he was merely watching the scene unfold without intervening.

What’s going on?

As I pondered these questions in silence, the Deputy Director suddenly raised his voice in surprise.

“Is that true? Oh, no, Princess! Our Knights exist for you. We only follow your will!”

Princess?

Is that why this place is called the communication room? Is that flame somehow a means of conversing with the Princess?

Feeling silly for almost misunderstanding him as a lunatic, I found myself slightly embarrassed.

“Well, then let it be so… Yes, understood.”

The Deputy Director gave a precise salute, sighed deeply, and then turned around.

“The Princess is greatly moved by your elimination of the Watcher from the underground prison.”

Ah, that thing.

It truly is a remarkable achievement, if you look at it that way.

Of course, it was more accurate to say the Watcher vanished out of satisfaction rather than we actually did the deed.

Well, that’s beside the point.

But can you really be moved by criminals who committed heinous acts, no matter what they did?

As if catching onto my doubts, the Deputy Director held up his index and middle fingers and spoke.

“That is why she has personally granted you a choice.”

The eyes of the Hunter, Agartha, and myself all focused on that outstretched hand.

The Deputy Director assessed us and began to speak with a tone that tried to seem indifferent.

“Decide. Will you be beheaded as criminals, or will you join our Knights?”

His attempt at seriousness was undermined by the way I saw him as a bear plushie.

While I was caught in this thought, the Hunter suddenly let out a low chuckle.

Faced with this embarrassing turn of events, Agartha also turned towards the Hunter, who had now started laughing loudly as if the Deputy Director’s proclamation was a joke.

W-What’s with this sudden outburst?

Was it really a situation to laugh about? If murder isn’t in our future, we should be gratefully accepting this offer!

“A Knight? You’re just a façade of a Knight, and don’t treat anyone properly. Aren’t you just looking for some catchy terms to throw around?”

“Hah, you sure have a lot of demands for someone who’s a criminal. I’d say you should be grateful for even this much.”

As if feeling insulted, the bear plushie’s eyebrows knit together tightly.

Yet the Hunter didn’t care and continued to laugh, lowering his voice as if growling.

“Do you still not understand why I’ve kept my distance from people like you?”

“…Right now isn’t a good time for that kind of talk…”

“It’s because you’re all incompetent.”

Ignored, the Deputy Director’s voice grew ice cold, yet the Hunter spat out his words unabashedly.

W-What the heck is wrong with this guy all of a sudden?

While he wasn’t entirely wrong, he might just end up with his head rolling if he isn’t careful!

I tried to raise my hand to stop the Hunter, but when I heard what he said next, I couldn’t help but freeze.

“A group formed to hunt Outsiders—self-proclaimed specialists—couldn’t even handle a mere distortion caused by an Outsider. That’s why you arrived late, isn’t it?”

I exchanged glances with the Hunter, who was now surveying us.

Ah. Is he subtly elevating our statuses?

Seeing him glance over at us made it feel almost fitting.

“…Shut that mouth of yours.”

“And we’re the ones who shouldn’t be talking?”

The Hunter didn’t stop there with his facts.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know your unspoken rules?”

“…”

“The one who slays Outsiders, no matter their past crimes, receives absolution and promotion.”

As soon as those words left his lips, the Deputy Director’s mouth snapped shut.

It felt like a taboo subject had cropped up, making my heart race.

“If you follow that logic, what you’re doing to us here can be seen as an unfair advantage, no? Or are you saying that as noble Knights, you are allowed while we, lowly criminals, are on a different level?”

Isn’t that the exact opposite of what the so-called exalted Princess stands for?

“Your mouth is overflowing. The difference in status is obvious. Do you really think a criminal can stand on the same level as a Knight? Without the Princess’s kindness, you’d be dead on the spot.”

The Hunter took a jab at the Deputy Director with a sly grin.

“I wonder if the Princess you worship knows about this. That’s what I’m curious about.”

“…”

“Did I hit a nerve?”

I couldn’t help but admire the Hunter’s eloquence, which had been silent until now. Who knew he could argue so logically?

Agartha cautiously chimed in as well.

“Y-Yeah! And I heard this too! There were articles who committed crimes bad enough to end up in the underground prison, yet they were released just because they had a history of defeating Outsiders!”

Wow. That’s hard to argue against.

To my eyes, the Deputy Director was clearly losing this verbal battle. Yet, there was no sign of anger on his face. In fact, he seemed calm, as if carefully choosing his words.

Wait, how much more impressive is he planning to be in his rebuttal?

As they say, watching a fight is the most entertaining thing – I almost wanted to grab some popcorn and enjoy the show.

Finally, the Deputy Director spoke up…

“You say you defeated the Outsider? No, no… let’s phrase that correctly.”

Ah, hold on a second.

“Your accomplishment was merely sending it away.”

Oh.

Suddenly, that was pretty dismal.

He wasn’t just dismissing it with an ‘it didn’t happen!’ was he?

Looking at the Deputy Director with a deflated expression, he continued calmly.

“It’s true that we offer special treatment to those who defeat an Outsider. But what good does it do to hide that fact?”

“Is it true that this group can only make wild claims?”

“No, more like…”

The Deputy Director, with a sudden gesture, pointed to the ground.

“Isn’t it simple to prove it? By defeating an Outsider one more time.”

At his words, the Hunter’s face shone with excitement, while despair flickered across Agartha’s face.

“What kind of ridiculousness is that…!”

“That’s not a bad suggestion.”

“What?! Are you out of your mind?!”

Agartha grabbed the Hunter by the shoulder in disbelief.

But the Hunter paid no mind to Agartha and maintained eye contact with the Deputy Director.

“If that’s all it takes to prove it, then I’m all for it.”

“Hah, there’s that pride of yours. A Hunter’s pride, isn’t it? It’s ugly, but you are a necessary talent for the Princess. Alright, I hereby commit.”

The Deputy Director drew a plastic sword, raised it to the sky, and slammed it into the ground as he shouted.

“If you successfully vanquish the Outsider, all your sins will be absolved, and you will be officially inducted into our Knights. Additionally, Hunter, you would be granted the freedom to act as you wish.”

“I swear this by the name Maren Burstian.”

With such a ludicrous proposal on the table, Agartha and I could only stare in shock, while the Hunter raised an eyebrow in skepticism.

“Using your real name, not a pseudonym, huh?”

“Do you think we’re afraid of curses from Outsiders? We are the Knights who hunt Outsiders.”

“With that kind of pride…”

The Deputy Director’s gaze shifted toward Agartha and me.

“Do you have any objections? You’re not obliged to follow this reckless guy.”

Losing to an Outsider in battle means…

Death.

With the sound of crackling flames, silence enveloped us.

What we were doing was essentially weighing our lives against our positions.

The Hunter’s gaze turned back to me.

This time, it wasn’t the same meaningful look from before.

It was almost one filled with certainty, a demand to showcase my capabilities once more.

If it’s the Hunter, I guess he can take the lone wolf route.

But I can’t do that.

The Watcher was just lucky.

Still…

I don’t have confidence in capturing an Outsider, but I don’t want to be manipulated by them either.

…Let’s trust in my super coward mode.

After all, to survive in this world, I need to endure against the Outsiders too.

Let’s open that Knight route!

“There’s a saying that one should uphold their loyalty until the end.”

With my eyes filled with resolve, Agartha subtly chimed in.

“I’ll join too. Since both of you are doing it, I can’t fall behind. So we’re doing this together, right? Yes?”

“Nope, you’ll be taking the test separately. As it happens, there are three Outsiders you need to deal with.”

“What?”

“We will inform you of the Outsiders you need to deal with, starting from the one who appears from the meteorite near Rondan’s outskirts, capturing people with its bizarre light…”

“Cancel, cancel, cancel!”

“A Knight doesn’t speak out of both sides of their mouth.”

Agartha let out a fearful squeak, her face darkening considerably, which was quite a sight.