BOOM~
"…What's that?"
"The monsters probably collapsed the building by now…"
"But I do have to say, that's a pretty devastating way of running away…"
Miles away from the farm, several figures wrapped in dark robes stopped at the sound of the explosion.
"Why did you stop? Let's get a move on—"
WHOOOM—KRRAK!
!!!
They all jumped as something tore toward them through the trees—fast, violent, and absolutely not subtle.
"Did you guys hear that!?"
"Obviously! It sounds like a damn bear sprinting through steel!"
"And it's coming this way! Josh—"
"!!!"
The group froze.
The man in front—Josh—had vanished. One second he was there, the next… he was gone. No sound. No struggle. Not even warning.
Just gone.
Shivers immediately crawled up their spines.
"H-hey… Cl-Clement, he… he disappeared."
The female in the back spoke in a trembling voice, knuckles white around her dagger.
Clement, even though he wore a giant robe-like cloak, one could still make out the giant muscles underneath.
He was the current leader of their entire party.
Quickly assuming a defensive stance, he tightened his grip on his oversized sword.
He opened his mouth to give an order—
"Too slow."
That voice came from behind them.
They spun around—only to see Josh hanging by the collar of his robe, completely unconscious, held effortlessly by a young man in white robes and short black hair and a look that was calm in a way that made them feel he was much more dangerous.
"It's you…" Clement raised his sword defensively. 'A level 6…? No. Seven maybe. How did he get here so quickly? How did he find us?'
multitudes of questions swirled inside his head that he wanted to ask but he shoved them down as the matter at hand needed his full attention.
The young man raised an eyebrow.
He didn't even bother acknowledging their drawn weapons.
He focused on something else.
"So you know me? That makes things easier."
He casually let go of the one they called Josh, dropping him at his feet like he was nothing more than a useless item.
"Now," the young man began, as he surveyed the group.
Five, six, seven… one by one he counted them, the one at his feet adding up to eight total.
One of them was being carried.
They were all dressed in this robe-like cloak, so long that it went past their knees which seems to be enchanted as he couldn't make out a single feature.
And gaining a reading on their auras was difficult as it kept fluctuating from weak to strong.
"I got some questions that I need answers to, and you're gonna answer them honestly for me, are we clear?"
The young man placed his palms together and gave an innocent look—as if he didn't just terrified some of them.
"What…What did you do to Josh?" One of them asked nervously.
Josh wasn't moving and they could clearly see his eyes glazed over with foam at the corner of his mouth.
"Hm? Oh, you mean this fellow?" The young man nudged the fallen one with his foot, "he's alive. But for how long though…"
He had only grabbed him too fast, his brain shook too violently inside his head.
"Anyway, why were you running away from the farm so speedy for? You guys looked way too suspicious to not be involved?"
Although his tone is light, giving the impression that he wasn't taking the situation seriously—his eyes?
Those were sharp—focused enough to make all six of them blood run cold as they felt light pricks on under their cloaks.
Although he hadn't known the old man for long, he had grown fond of the old man.
Clement swallowed, fighting the urge to take a step back but they had a plan to fully execute.
"We had no hand in the destruction of the farm. We were just passing through. The monsters—"
Kaelis cut him off with a look.
"No excuses," he said simply. "Talk."
Clement adjusted his stance, shoulders steady, voice level.
"We were on a reconnaissance sweep," one of them said. "Checking monsters, terrain changes, possible threats. Standard procedure."
Kaelis listened, his expression calm, unreadable.
"And the farm?" he asked.
"An unexpected variable," another replied.
"We avoided large populations to minimize casualties, and we did notify nearby villages to prevent misunderstandings. We had no idea a farm was this far out. Any damage there must have been caused by monsters—nothing to do with us."
Kaelis nodded slowly, listening intently. "…Okay. Continue."
"We're part of an investigative unit operating under contract," one of them explained.
"Nothing illegal, nothing secretive. Our robes are simply for concealment, to keep rival groups from learning our identities."
The others quickly chimed in, reinforcing the statement.
"We have no reason to harm civilians."
"Our task was almost complete until the explosion drew attention. If anyone was hurt, we suggest you contact the Guild."
"We withdrew to avoid confrontation, not cause suspicion."
Kaelis listened without interrupting—not impressed, but not annoyed either.
"Hm… So you're all professionals."
He crossed his arms.
"Which makes this even more interesting."
They didn't flinch like before, but their eyes sharpened—alert and ready for anything that comes next.
They knew he wasn't buying it.
"You see," Kaelis continued, "I don't mind a good lie. I mind a boring one."
He took a step forward.
"And all of yours sound like they came from the same handbook."
The group subtly adjusted their footing, ready for any direction that things were about to go.
"You've made your case," Kaelis said. "But I'm still leaning toward removing the loose ends."
Clement raised his giant sword, his stance steady showing his experience.
"We'd rather not fight you."
"I'm sure you would," Kaelis replied. "But that isn't really the issue here."
He lifted his hand and an equally large sword appeared, again shocking the group.
But before Kaelis could swing it, a calm, steady voice cut through the tension.
"Enough."
It came from the man they'd been carrying earlier. Kaelis had assumed he was asleep or probably dead.
From his voice, he had no fear of the situation at hand—just tired honesty.
"If you want answers, I'll give them."
The others turned towards him, as they began speaking over each other.
"Lord Zeus, are you sure!? What about the plan!?"
"Are you abandoning it?"
The others started asking the man frantically.
Zeus…?
Kaelis lowered his hand, studying the man with a new kind of interest.
He remembered the name from the books he'd read.
And if this man really was the god, Zeus… then the others around him had to be members of the Zeus Familia.
I thought they were wiped out… No—there's no way an entire familia dies in one place.
His gaze drifted over the group, These must be the survivors.
Kaelis let out a quiet scoff, disappointment flickering across his expression.
So the once-great Zeus Familia is out here destroying farms…
How far the mighty have fallen.
In any case, he was about to get answers.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
He began watching as the man climbed down from within the arms of the towering figure.
Once he is on his own two legs, this 'Zeus,' began disrobing.
…!
The person under the robe was not what Kaelis expected.
"…O-old man Deus!?"
Chapter 50 end.