It was already deep in the night when I finished my discussion with Dungeon Master 05. The conversation had veered off on several tangents, eventually focusing on what I had planned for this excursion. According to him, I was acting too unpredictably, and he wanted to know what my plans were for everyone involved. Despite his insistence, I put the rest of the conversation on hold, claiming I was tired and needed sleep. But I didn’t actually sleep. Ten minutes later, I slipped out of my room and made my way to the veranda.

The veranda was easily my favorite spot in this place, especially on a night like this. Sitting on the steps, I looked up at the sky. There was no moon, just thousands upon thousands of stars shining with a vivacity that couldn't be seen in the Land of Men, where the moons usually stole the spotlight.

I sat there, stargazing, when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Done with the talk?" asked Goblin. I had already seen him approaching, thanks to my skill [Perfect Vision], an enhanced version of [Eagle Eyes], despite his attempts to remain unnoticed.

I nodded.

"What did he say?" he asked.

I looked back at him, giving him a look that begged him to drop the act. "Do we really have to pretend you didn't eavesdrop on the entire conversation?"

He chuckled. "No, we don’t," he admitted, moving to sit beside me.

I sighed. "I would have loved it if you actually helped me instead of just listening in. He didn’t exactly give me a lecture, but it still felt like I was being scolded by Dungeon Master 07."

Goblin winced sympathetically. "Sorry," he said. "I would have helped, but I think my presence might have made things more complicated."

"How so?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I don’t think I would have handled any remarks against her very well."

I was surprised by this admission. Goblin had grown fond of Sharonne over the years, despite his initial reservations when I first brought her here. His protectiveness was expected, to a certain extent, but the idea that he would antagonize another Dungeon Master on her behalf was concerning. I cared for Sharonne too, but there were things I held above her—our original taboos, our duty as Dungeon Masters, our bond. The way I had explained things earlier might have made Dungeon Master 05 think I prioritized her over all else, but that wasn’t true. My loyalty to our purpose remained unshaken.

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I kept my thoughts to myself and listened as Goblin continued. "They died for her too, you know," he said, his voice quieter.

It wasn't hard to guess who he meant. "Charlie and Frank?"

He nodded. Charlie, the previous incarnation of Dungeon Master 10, and Frank, the creature bonded to him—a loyal companion from his monster-imprinting class, a creature he had essentially grown up with.

"They died to give her a chance to escape from that bastard."

I had heard the full story from Dungeon Master 10 before his death, and then from Dungeon Master 13 when he rejoined me in the Voidborne Catacomb. The image of what had happened came vividly to mind—the authority being forcefully stolen, Frank slain, and a fellow Dungeon Master sacrificing himself to ensure Sharonne’s escape. The memory made Goblin’s point painfully clear.

We heard soft footsteps approaching behind us. Neither of us needed to turn around to know it was Blondie, dressed in pink pajamas and fluffy slippers. She walked up and wordlessly wedged herself snugly at my left. Goblin, perhaps prompted by Blondie getting comfortable, also leaned in closer, laying his head on my shoulder.

"I know I shouldn't say this," he whispered, "especially when I almost cost us all that authority, but I want that bastard to pay."

Silence settled between us. He added, "I know about our policy toward retribution. I haven’t forgotten, but with my whole being, I want that bastard and everything dear to him to burn."

I wanted to look at his face, but the way he leaned on my shoulder made that impossible.

Part of me didn’t like the fact that today he had admitted something that, if confessed to someone like Dungeon Master 07, would have caused great concern and marked him with suspicion. Yet another part of me loved it—that he trusted me enough to reveal these incriminating thoughts. That same part of me wanted to tell him that I, too, after hearing what that bastard had done, wanted vengeance. But the part of me that remembered my status as a Dungeon Master and my duty to the Goddess prevailed.

"I came here to retrieve an authority that belongs to the Goddess," I said. "Retrieving it from the usurper is the justice expected of me, and I will do that. I will bring justice." I paused, then added, "As for how I plan on doing it, you’ve heard the plan I laid out through Bortz, I believe."

Both of them nodded.

"Do either of you have a problem with it?"

They shook their heads.

"Then that’s how we’ll proceed—with my version of justice. Parts of the plan have already deviated, like what happened with Alexander. Unexpected things happened, and I expect you to adapt to them as they come. That’s the kind of flexibility I need from both of you. So let’s put aside anything that gets in the way of delivering justice."