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Far off on the forest's edge, a woman in black-and-white adventurer clothing stood quietly, her hand resting near the sword at her waist. She had long black hair and wore a strange patterned mask that concealed the entirety of her face.
This was none other than Shizue Izawa, one of the strongest adventurers of the era.
Shizue looked toward the strange castle towering in the distance.
"The kingdom that borders the Jura Forest, huh⊠I was summoned here to help defeat a revived demon."
With that, she began walking toward the castle.
---
Meanwhile, Haru was already near the castle entrance.
He wore a brown cloak that covered everything, even his hair, giving him an air of mystery. As he approached the entrance, a blonde knight standing guard looked him up and down, clearly assessing him. Then the man called out:
"You there. Are you by any chance Shizue Izawa?"
Under the cloak, Haru's eyes widened slightly at the name.
Shizue, huh. So you really are coming. I can't wait to meet you⊠and Ifrit.
He smiled beneath the fabric, though the guard didn't notice.
Haru then replied, "Unfortunately, I'm not the incredible Conqueror of Flames. I'm just a normal adventurer who heard that adventurers are being hired to help take down a demon."
The guard's face twitched subtly with irritation, though he hid it behind a polite smile.
She's not here yet⊠Will she really come? he wondered internally.
He then said, "Of course. There are many adventurers already inside the hall. Please go in and walk straight down the hall to the last room."
Still hidden beneath his cloak, Haru smiled again.
"What, we don't get escorts? I mean, we're here to put our lives on the line."
The guard internally scoffed.
Who does this random adventurer think he is? Does he think he's important? I can't wait to devour his soul as well. In fact, I'll devour him first. I hate these self-conceited types.
But outwardly, the guard maintained his smile.
"Unfortunately, all our servants have been sent away due to the threat of the demon."
"Oh, is that so. Well, that's unfortunate, but I understand," Haru said as he walked past the guard and entered the castle.
---
After walking for a short while, Haru reached two large doors. Without bothering to open them, he simply teleported to the other side.
What greeted him was a massive hall filled with people, mostly adventurers.
There had to be at least a hundred.
Haru began walking forward, heading toward the front of the room.
No one reacted to him.
Not because they didn't care, but because not a single one of them noticed him at all.
That was the level of stealth Haru now possessed.
To mere humans, he wouldn't be seen even while standing in plain sight.
---
Back outside the castle, after a short while, Shizue Izawa finally arrived.
The same blonde guard from earlier saw her approaching, and his face lit up with a confident smile.
Without a doubt, that's her.
He stepped forward to greet her warmly.
"Welcome to Filtwood Castle. It's a real honor to meet the famous Conqueror of Flames."
Shizue simply nodded in acknowledgment.
The guard remained unfazed by her quiet demeanor.
"Please, this way. I'll show you to the reception."
Shizue walked past him, and he followed right behind her as they moved through the castle corridors.
The two soon reached the large double doors leading into the reception hall. Shizue lifted her hand, intending to push them open, but the blonde guard stepped forward with a polite smile.
"Please. Allow me."
He pushed the doors open for her.
"Thank you," Shizue said softly.
"It's my pleasure." the guard said as he proceeded to open the doors. "My job ends here, as I have to return to my post outside." He said after he was done.
Shizue nodded, and the guard turned and walked away as the doors closed behind her.
---
Shizue began walking down the hall, and immediately conversations broke out among the gathered adventurers.
"It's Shizue Izawa!"
"The Conqueror of Flames!"
"Now this is reassuring, the demon is in for it now!"
Haru, standing at the very front, smiled to himself.
Shizue Izawa. She has arrived.
He didn't turn around to look at her; he simply used Universal Sense to observe. She still wore her iconic mask, but Haru knew well how beautiful she truly was beneath it.
Shizue looked around the room and thought,
Wow⊠they gathered quite a few people, didn't they.
Just then, a tall man waved at her. He wore no shirt, only a strap bag across his chest, maroon pants, white wrappings on his forearms, and he had black hair.
"Hey, if it isn't Shizue!" he called out.
Shizue walked toward him.
"Good to see you again, Couger-san."
"You got the call-up as well, I see," Couger said.
Shizue replied, "Well, it was a request from the nation."
Couger chuckled. "You're still as serious as ever, huh? You could've just come up with some excuse to ditch it."
Shizue said, "Well, you're here too, aren't you?"
"That's just because I'm here for the pay," Couger said with a shrug. "But I sorta regret it now. Apparently at least ten skilled adventurers have died."
"I see," Shizue replied.
"But," Couger continued with a grin, "the arrival of the Champion is going to give hope to everyone."
Shizue waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, you're exaggerating."
Haru listened to their conversation and quietly chuckled to himself.
Shizue is strong, no doubt⊠but she's dealing with a named Archdemon here. And some Greater Demons as well. Alone, she wouldn't be able to defeat them without letting Ifrit take over. Something she'd never allow, not with the casualties that would cause.
Just then, a short old man with a long white beard entered. He wore a blue robe and a tall blue hat, walking in from the front of the hall and flanked by two guards.
Couger tapped Shizue's arm lightly.
"That's the minister."
Both he and Shizue turned to face the old man as he stepped onto the stage.
The minister came to a stop, then projected his voice clearly for all to hear.
"Adventurers. I bring some unfortunate news. Our champions, the two Silver Wings have unfortunately passed on."
A wave of shock spread through the room.
"What!?"
"Those two?"
"Are you serious!?"
The minister lowered his head slightly, wearing a sorrowful expression.
"It is true⊠and it seems their bodies were devoured, with no trace left behind."
Under his cloak, Haru looked at the minister with clear amusement.
What an actor this demon is. Get him an Oscar immediately.