Lucian stirred as the morning sun filtered through the canopy of trees above.
The cool breeze brushed against his skin, and something soft pressed against his side. Slowly, his eyes opened—then widened.
Guinevere was right there beside him.
Her long golden hair was messy from sleep, cascading over her shoulder and across the ground like threads of moonlight. Her cloak had slipped off during the night, and her bare skin peeked through. Lucian's entire body tensed.
Wait… she's…!
His heart raced. He immediately looked away, red all the way to the tips of his ears.
Then, she shifted.
"Mm…" Guinevere's eyes opened slowly. She blinked, then looked at him. Her face turned pink in an instant, and she gasped as she realized how much was showing.
"A-Ah! Don't look!" she squeaked as she tried to pull the cloak back over herself.
"I-I wasn't! I mean, I didn't mean to—!" Lucian stumbled over his words as he quickly turned his back, trying to give her space.
But she didn't move away. Instead, she remembered the warmth from the night before.
Without saying anything, she gently leaned in and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"…Thank you," she whispered, her voice soft. "For staying beside me."
Lucian froze.
She's really hugging me again…
What the hell did I do to deserve this?
He smiled a little, not turning around yet. "You're welcome."
The moment was quiet, peaceful. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
---
After nearly a week of walking through forests, old trails, and forgotten fields, they finally reached the edge of Eldoria's territory.
The morning light was soft, yet what stood before them was anything but gentle.
A massive stone wall stretched endlessly in both directions. It towered above the trees like an ancient giant.
Its surface was blackened in some places, covered in vines and thorns in others. It was the border wall of Ebonrose—a name spoken often in Guinevere's stories.
But what Lucian saw now... it wasn't just a wall.
It was a graveyard.
Dozens of people—ragged, broken, and starved—sat slumped near the base of the structure.
Their eyes were hollow, their lips cracked, and fheir clothes were no more than strips of cloth hanging from bone-thin bodies.
Many didn't move at all.
And even more didn't breathe.
There were corpses scattered across the field like forgotten trash.
Children with no shoes, elderly people collapsed mid-crawl, and mothers holding lifeless infants in their arms.
Lucian's breath caught in his throat.
This… is kindness?
Guinevere placed a hand over her mouth as she looked around. Her eyes trembled. "I didn't know… I didn't think it was this bad here…"
"Aren't they supposed to be the most merciful kingdom?" Lucian asked bitterly.
"They are," she said quietly. "But Ebonrose has always had a strict border. They offer help inside, not out here… This is where the refugees are forced to wait, but—"
"They die before they're even allowed to step inside," he finished for her, voice low.
Then—
DING.
The system lit up in front of Lucian's eyes.
[New Main Quest: Enter the Kingdom of Ebonrose Without Triggering an Alarm]
[Objective: Get inside the kingdom by any method.
Death Limit: 20]
Lucian's eyes twitched.
Twenty deaths? The last one gave me ten... and it was just protecting someone. This—this isn't a quest to help someone… It's to survive a fortress!
"This one's different…" he muttered under his breath.
Airi, walking behind them, paused as she noticed her master's change in demeanor.
"Master Lucian, are you alright?"
He blinked, then nodded. "Yeah…"
He looked up at the towering gatehouse in the distance. The guards on top were sharp-eyed and armored with black and silver steel.
Crossbows mounted on battlements. Magic wards glowing faintly over runes.
There's no way in unless I outthink the system itself… And if I screw this up… I'll become one of the corpses.
He took a breath.
But this time, I won't waste even a single death.
The stench hit harder than expected. Rotting flesh, dried blood, and the bitter smell of old vomit.
Lucian tried not to gag as he knelt beside a child's corpse. He didn't touch it—not really. Just hovered his hands to sell the lie.
Behind him, three Eldorian knights in silver armor watched with narrowed eyes. Their swords rested in their scabbards, but the tension was obvious.
The tallest knight stepped forward. "State your business. This area's under watch. Anyone trying to cross into Ebonrose without permit will be executed on sight. Do you carry a noble seal or identification?"
Lucian wiped fake sweat from his brow and stood tall, voice firm but casual.
"We're not trying to cross, sir. We're on cleanup duty. The bodies here... We've been sent by House Drenwick from the southern hills. They suspect some of these corpses might've been looted before proper rites. We're treasure-haulers—just here to collect and tag items of value before a burial envoy arrives."
"House Drenwick?" the knight echoed.
"Yeah," Lucian said confidently. "You know, minor nobility. Not too influential, but proud of their ancestry. They're picky with funerary gold, and even pickier about magic relics. You know how old money can get."
The knights glanced at each other. One scoffed.
"Right. Keep it short. And don't go near the wall."
Lucian bowed. "I wouldn't dream of it."
As the guards stepped away, Lucian let out a breath. His heart was pounding, but he didn't show it.
They were safe.
Guinevere crouched beside a fallen woman, her eyes down. She didn't speak for a while. Then, softly, "What now?"
Lucian glanced sideways. "We buy time."
"You plan to stall by looting corpses?" she whispered.
"Not actually looting," he muttered. "But by pretending. It gives us reason to stay close. We need to watch the wall, learn guard rotations, see how people move. I need every small detail before I make a move."
Guinevere shifted uncomfortably. "How long will that take?"
"As long as it needs to," Lucian replied. He tried to sound calm, but even he wasn't sure.
Twenty deaths. That means this isn't a straight-shot quest. I need a perfect plan… or near-perfect.
Airi crouched beside him, silent but focused. She wasn't just pretending. She actually began checking wrists and ankles of the corpses for jewelry.
Lucian blinked. "You're actually searching?"
She smiled faintly. "If we're pretending, we should do it right, Master. Besides… if these people died hoping for safety, maybe we can carry their memory forward."
Wow... Very human!
Guinevere looked at her quietly, then down at the old man she'd been inspecting. His hand clutched a rusted necklace.
Lucian let his gaze wander to the wall again. He studied the distance, the paths, the number of guards.
The wall didn't have a single opening aside from that massive, sealed gate far ahead.
I'll figure it out, he thought. There has to be a way in… a real way…
He closed his eyes, and moved to the next body.