Had she misheard him?
That was Shining's first thought.
A Sankta wanting to step into Kazdel—into the heart of their ancestral enemy's territory? Was this Sankta just fresh out of Laterano's holy city, still clinging to the naïve belief that the world was free of filth and violence?
Shining could say with certainty: the moment Felix set foot in the mobile city of Kazdel, mercenaries would rush forward to cut him down.
Kazdel's civil war—no, perhaps "fracture" was the better word—had dragged on for years. Some mercenaries had long since stopped believing combat could solve anything. They would not necessarily draw blades at the first sight of a Sankta. After all, Sankta played a role on Terra that even the Sarkaz could not deny: they were the Messengers.
No matter how much Sarkaz hated or despised Laterano, they could not erase their reliance on the Messenger system. And most of the Messengers were, of course, Sankta.
Offend a single Sankta, and nothing much happens. Offend a Sankta who's also a Messenger, and you risk being blacklisted by the entire system.
Besides, it wasn't unusual for doctors from across the world to have once come to Kazdel's scarred, burned wastelands out of sheer humanitarian duty. Many had joined Babel, doing what they could to help those in need.
But war—war against Victoria, war against Leithanien—turned those doctors into targets. Even if they had renounced their homelands, some Sarkaz mercenaries, driven mad by hatred, still struck them down.
Hatred doesn't vanish so easily. How could it? Even if half the mercenaries who followed Theresa sought to set aside their grudges and reflect upon themselves and upon Kazdel, what about the other half—those who followed Theresis?
They too loved Kazdel deeply. To them, only by wielding sword and flame against their enemies could they reclaim the Sarkaz's legacy and live as true Sarkaz on this land.
…But Felix didn't know the full picture. That was why he wanted to hear Theresa's words directly. What did she truly think? What was her aim?
The players would never reach that level of understanding. Only as an NPC could Felix walk into Kazdel himself and hear those answers.
Fortunately, thanks to his earlier dealings, he had likely left Theresa with a favorable impression. Negotiations this time should be easier than expected.
"…I understand, Pioneer."
Shining met his calm, unwavering gaze and gave a firm nod. "As a wandering doctor, I cannot promise your safety in full. But I can serve as your escort, and I will see you delivered to Her Highness."
"Nothing more than mutual benefit."
Felix smiled and shook her hand, sealing their pact. He knew well enough how this healer had once fought on the battlefield—transforming into a "berserker medic," ripping the hidden sword free and taking enemy heads. Beyond her medical prowess, her combat ability could rival even Degenbrecher, the strongest fighter under Tomorrow's Development's banner.
After setting the departure date, Felix left behind the supplier's card and took his leave, giving Margaret time to reunite with her long-lost friends. He trusted the girl. She had maturity and composure beyond her years, tempered by experience. Still, Felix sensed that she was beginning to lean on him, treating him as a reliable adult figure in her life. Well… such worries were common for a high school girl. And since he officially served as her guardian, there was nothing wrong with it.
By now, it was July. Summer's blistering heat hung heavy over Lungmen. Fortunately, Felix's Originium Arts affinity was fire. Training in this weather only accelerated his progress.
As for who would accompany him to Kazdel, Felix had already decided. Training the Lightbearer—Luminaries as their other name—could be temporarily handed to Foam and Verdant. As his trump card, he would bring Degenbrecher without question. With Shining alongside, she could cover the team's gaps in Arts. Unless they ran into a mercenary legion personally led by Theresis, this lineup would be nearly unstoppable on Kazdel soil.
Mostima knew he was preparing for an extremely dangerous journey. But she said nothing. Every day, she would massage his shoulders and ease his body, and at night—when time itself would stand still—she gave him quiet company. For the man she had chosen, the only thing she could do… was silently stand by his side.
In early July, just before departure, Felix received a request for an audience from two members of the Lightbearer.
As their leader, Felix commanded enormous respect among the Lightbearer. His word was treated as absolute, for he was the one who had given them everything they now possessed. Their loyalty was not in doubt.
"Dawn. Nightfall. What business do you have with me?"
Seated behind his desk, Felix regarded the Sarkaz siblings with calm, steady eyes.
Every member of the Lightbearer bore a codename—a practice Felix had modeled after Rhodes Island. Short, simple, easy to remember, all in Victorian tongue.
He made it a point to know each of their codenames personally. Much like Theresa, who was said to recall every mercenary's true name, Felix was not quite so extraordinary—but for his own personal guard, forgetting was unthinkable.
The brother bore the codename Dawn, the sister Nightfall. Felix had chosen the pair deliberately, so their names would stand together, engraved even on their standard uniforms.
Dawn, a vanguard swordsman, captained one of the Lightbearer's squads. Degenbrecher had spoken highly of him, saying his style was lupine—meant as praise. He fought by tearing into his foes relentlessly, drawing strength the longer the battle dragged on. His sister, Nightfall, was a specialist with twin blades, adept at scouting, tracking, and flanking maneuvers—supporting from the shadows where her brother struck head-on.
They did not serve in the same squad, but sparred together often. To Felix, they were among the more memorable members of his guard.
"Leader, I heard from the instructor that you intend to set out for Kazdel," Dawn said, bowing deeply. The Originium crystals along his neck caught the light, sharp against his tanned skin. A grin spread across his face. "Please, take us with you. I wish to protect you—and repay my debt."
It had been Felix who saved them in the wasteland along the Lungmen-Kazdel border. Returning from a hunting trip, he had stumbled across the destitute pair and, moved by pity, had brought them back. A small gesture to him—but one the siblings had never forgotten.
"This is my will as well, Leader."
Nightfall pressed a hand to her chest and inclined her head. "Allow us to accompany you. We will devote everything we have to ensuring your safety."
"…Interesting."
Bringing the entire Lightbearer was out of the question. They were still in training, and if he marched the whole unit into Kazdel, the Sarkaz would assume he was preparing for guerrilla war. The attention would be far too great.
But taking this brother and sister back to their homeland? That was another matter entirely. It might even do them good.
"Does Degenbrecher know of this?" Felix asked.
"Our instructor approved," Dawn answered. "She said the final word rests with you."
"Then I have no objection. Pack your things—you'll leave with us at dawn."
"Yes, sir!"
They saluted crisply, then withdrew.
Felix thought no more of it, returning to the careful task of preparing supplies and gear. These days, he bore two weapons across his back: a lance and a twin-headed greatsword. Dual-wielding came at the cost of agility, but his dexterity was more than sufficient, and his stamina could shoulder the weight.
The next morning, Felix took the driver's seat himself, guiding the vehicle out of Lungmen. There were no airports in Kazdel—the land was far too shattered and scarred for an airstrip, much less a safe landing.
Shining sat quietly in the passenger seat, her staff resting across her lap. The Sarkaz siblings sat beside Degenbrecher, unusually well-behaved for their age—though truthfully, they were still only teenagers. In the back, Liz had already curled against a cushion, fast asleep since the moment the journey began.
Felix was not without contacts in Kazdel. He had already left a bold mark there in the past, helping establish a third-party power amidst the fractured land. He doubted Theresis and Theresa were unaware of it. In the player-built city, the Scar Market had already taken root—and their presence meant nothing that happened there was truly secret.
And so far, apart from a few reckless mercenaries stirring up trouble, neither Theresis nor Theresa had dispatched forces to strike the city.
It had become, in a way, the players' second foothold.
So many had joined Tomorrow's Development. Some players preferred the bustle of city life, while others chased the thrill of wind and dust on the open road. After Felix settled in Lungmen, player numbers in Kazdel dipped briefly, but soon surged again. For many of Sarkaz player, this city had become their de facto main city. Whenever they passed through the great central hall, their thoughts inevitably turned to the man behind it all—the one who had created a third path for Kazdel: the Pioneer.
Of course, this city had been destroyed by Catastrophes more than once. But each time, the players rebuilt without hesitation. Tireless, cheerful, they staked out new districts across Kazdel's scarred land. The pioneering missions from Tomorrow's Development rewarded them for every effort, so there was never reason to stop.
By the coordinates shared within the Kazdel sector, the influence of Tomorrow's Development had now grown into a major presence. The rest of the territory was divided between players who had thrown in with Theresis or with Theresa—each side clashing daily, ever vigilant for spies from the other camp.
Guided by those same coordinates, Felix quickly found the city's new location. From afar, he spotted a few trucks laden with goods parked by the gate. Armed players stood watch, negotiating with the merchants before hauling supplies down from the beds of the vehicles.
Kazdel's soil could scarcely be farmed, and livestock fared no better. External trade was the city's lifeline.
Felix mingled with the caravan and passed through the gates without issue.
The settlement sprawled before him: low houses of timber and stone, streets wide and neat, bustling with players in standard Tomorrow's Development uniforms. Snippets of conversation floated by—mission names, resource requests—always with laughter, always with smiles.
Shining felt her chest tighten at the sight.
As a wandering medic, she had seen too much of Kazdel's suffering. Too many Sarkaz twisted by hatred, drowned in blood, hollowed by despair. Negativity clung to the people like a curse, giving them no peace.
But here… these Sarkaz were different. Outcasts, the so-called "Undying." They smiled as though they had never known hatred, never known war. Or perhaps they had—but chose never to show it. Instead, they lived with hope for tomorrow.
Who are the true Sarkaz? Shining wondered. These mercenaries, embittered and jaded… or these Undying, who embody the future we never imagined?
Her trained eye could tell at a glance who was Sarkaz and who was Undying. Mercenaries wore death lightly, contempt etched in every stare, their cynicism sharpened by profit. But these "undying" carried something else—something almost alien to Kazdel's soil: innocence.
"This is… the Leader's city," Dawn murmured.
He and Nightfall were transfixed. They had spent their childhood in Kazdel's mobile cities, growing up amid violence, resentment, and Catastrophes looming on every horizon. This was their first time seeing a Sarkaz city like this—peaceful, alive, full of light.
Felix pulled the car to a stop near the grand hall. He slipped out without fanfare, though his mere presence drew stares. A few players stopped in their tracks, dumbfounded, watching the city's master return at last.
He answered with a faint smile, then climbed the grand hall steps.
"Quick! Tell Xiaolang and the others—the Pioneer has returned!"
"Wuhu! My god is back—everything's back!"
"Could this mean… the start of a new questline? A new chapter?"
Excitement rippled through the crowd as Felix pushed open the great doors.
Inside, he nearly collided with Ulšulah, who was hurrying past with an armful of documents. Her eyes were on the papers, not the path ahead—until she crashed into him.
The papers burst into the air like snow, scattering across the floor.
Before she could fall, Felix caught her by the waist.
Ulšulah looked up at him—and her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"It's been a while, Ulšulah."
"…So you do remember to come back."