Part 3: Mordath

A month had passed since I became the commander, and along with my new title came a new room: an office that reflected my high status. Eleanor chose to stay in the same room with me, a testament to the bond we shared as a couple.

My new room was spacious and equipped with everything I might need: a luxurious bathtub, a private toilet, a large, comfortable bed, a sturdy desk, chairs, and invitingly cozy couches for relaxation.

Although my office was smaller than my room, it was sufficient for my needs. A comfortable chair sat behind a large desk, while several armchairs provided a cozy area for guests. Bookshelves lining the walls were filled with volumes of knowledge and strategy that I hoped would guide me in my new responsibilities.

"With your permission," came a knock at the door, followed by it opening to reveal Fidelis, clad in armor and ready for our first mission. "My lord, all preparations are complete. We’ll be departing shortly," he announced.

"You don’t have to call me that. You know I have a name, Fidelis," I replied, a smile forming on my lips. My relationship with Fidelis was more than just superior and subordinate.

"You’ve earned it, Shinya," he said with a grin. "But since you insist..." He raised an eyebrow playfully, and I nodded in approval. The other paladins could call me "my lord," but Fidelis was special—more of an older brother than a subordinate.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Felicia tumbled in, giggling as Mira chased her. The cheerful commotion filled the room, and Eleanor followed them inside.

“Papa! Papa! Papa! Papa! Look! I made this for you!” Felicia exclaimed, holding up a small, crumpled drawing. The picture depicted all of us together. Fidelis knelt down and pulled Felicia into a hug.

“Thank you, my little artist,” he said, his voice laden with emotion. “This is a perfect picture.”

As I watched them, a warmth spread through my chest. In a world filled with chaos and duty, moments like these reminded me of the bonds that kept us together. Fidelis wasn’t just a comrade; he was a father bearing the weight of his past while striving to ensure a bright future for Felicia, even in the shadow of his own heartache.

“Shinya onii-sama! Shinya onii-sama! I made something for you too!” Mira was bouncing with excitement, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she hid something behind her back.

“Oh, really? Is it what you’re hiding back there?” I asked, my demeanor matching that of a curious child.

“First, get on your knees, and then close your eyes,” she giggled, her laughter lighting up the room and filling me with joy. Unable to resist her enthusiasm, I complied without hesitation. I knelt down and closed my eyes.

“Okay, now open your eyes!” she chirped.

When I opened my eyes, I felt the light weight of a flower crown resting on my head. It was a stunning arrangement made entirely of roses, each one vibrant and full of life. Mira had always loved flowers, especially roses.

It reminded me of my mother.

As I looked at the crown, I was captivated by the vivid colors of the roses—red, yellow, white, pink, and... black?

“Mira, where did you get these roses?” I asked, trying to conceal my concern. A sense of unease crept over me. The other colors were familiar enough; the cathedral garden was full of them. But in all my three years here, I had never once seen a black rose.

She tilted her head, her expression as innocent as ever. “I found them in the garden,” she replied. “They were just sitting there, so I picked them.”

“I see, sweetheart. But what about the black rose? I’ve never seen one in the garden before,” I asked gently, my worry laced into my words.

“Oh, that one? A very fancy gentleman with a mask on his face gave it to me,” she answered brightly. “He asked what I was doing, and I told him I was picking roses for you, Shinya onii-sama. Then he smiled and gave me this black rose to give to you.”

"Did he say anything else?" I asked.

"Umm, no. He disappeared when the guards called me. Or… does Shinya onii-sama not like the gift?" Mira asked, her face showing a hint of sadness.

"Of course, I love your gift. It's a beautiful crown, and I’ll treasure it always. But next time, don’t accept gifts from strangers, okay? They might not always be as lovely as this one," I said.

She nodded, though her carefree expression remained unchanged. "Okay, Shinya onii-sama. I promise."

As she smiled at me, a bit of the unease within me faded. However, the person who gave her the black rose lingered in my mind. Could it have been the Weird Man? Or someone else entirely?

I pushed the thoughts aside. More pressing matters demanded my attention. After three years of rigorous training and earning the title of "Commander," I was about to embark on my first significant mission.

Our task was to investigate a dungeon called Mordath. Dungeon exploration was typically the work of adventurers, but troubling reports from the guild master indicated that this dungeon housed an unusually high number of undead, necessitating our intervention. Our light magic was particularly effective against dark creatures like the undead, making our involvement crucial.

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Dungeons were classified by difficulty, ranging from the easiest, E-rank, to the most perilous, S-rank. Mordath was considered a C-rank dungeon—a challenging mission but not impossible.

Each dungeon had a dungeon boss, and defeating it would either cause the dungeon to vanish or temporarily deactivate. Clearing a dungeon sometimes led to the random emergence of a new dungeon elsewhere.

Both the dungeon's level and the adventurers' starting rank were determined by a magical orb.

Despite their dangers, dungeons had never seen creatures escaping to attack the outside world. This was thanks to the powerful magical barrier surrounding each dungeon's entrance, preventing any of its creatures from crossing into the outside world.

"Felicia, Shinya and I need to prepare for our mission. While we're gone, you’ll stay with Mira and Eleanor, okay? Can you promise me that?" Fidelis asked gently.

"I promise," Felicia replied. "But I want a gift from your journey, okay?" She pouted, furrowing her brows and pointing her finger at us. She was trying to look serious.

"Hahaha, how could I possibly refuse such a stern-looking young lady?" I chuckled, gently patting Felicia's head. Her attempt at seriousness was adorable, and it was impossible not to smile.

"I want a gift too! Hmph!" Mira declared, crossing her arms with a mock pout.

"Alright, I promise to bring back a gift for both of you," I replied with a warm smile.

"Come on, Mira! Let’s go to the park and play!" Felicia exclaimed, grabbing Mira’s hand and dragging her away. I signaled to one of the guards standing by the door. "Make sure they stay safe," I instructed. The guard saluted and followed after the girls.

"Now we can finally discuss something serious." Fidelis’ demeanor shifted suddenly; his voice took on a grim tone, as if a heavy burden had settled on his shoulders. "Here, take a look at this."

He handed me a report detailing the number of people who had gone missing over the past month.

"Sixty-seven people are missing?!" I exclaimed. Disappearances had occurred occasionally in the past, but never on this scale. Usually, only two or three people go missing in a month. Now, the numbers are escalating rapidly, and the situation has become far more dire.

"What’s the common thread among the missing individuals?" I asked, convinced there had to be a connection.

Fidelis scanned the report again, his brow furrowing deeper. "Most are from the slums or are foreigners from other kingdoms," he replied. Then, he suddenly paused, his eyes narrowing as though he’d discovered something significant.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

"The races of the missing individuals," he said. "Most of them are elves and demons, with a few beastmen and humans among them. But there isn’t a single dwarf reported missing. Interestingly, more than half of the missing are demons, and the majority of the rest are elves."

That was strange. I knew the Human Kingdom didn’t have good relations with demons, so it made sense for them to be targeted.

"Why do you think there aren’t any missing dwarves?" I asked. Fidelis pondered for a moment.

"Perhaps because they don’t have mana," Eleanor suggested, stepping into the conversation. "The majority of those missing are demons and elves. Very few humans or beastmen are among them. On average, demons and elves have higher mana levels than humans or beastmen. That’s likely why most of the missing are demons and elves. The few missing humans and beastmen probably have above-average mana levels."

Eleanor’s reasoning was sound; this could be a crucial clue in solving the case. "If you were to kidnap someone with high mana, what would you do with them?" I asked them both. We each took a moment to think.

"You could extract their mana essence and use it," Fidelis suggested.

"How would you do that?" Eleanor asked.

"During my time in Libercivia, I heard about an inventor who developed a device to store mana," Fidelis explained. "This device extracts the mana essence from victims’ bodies and stores it in specially designed vials. The inventor would then inject the extracted mana into their own body using a sort of syringe, increasing their mana capacity."

"What happened to the inventor?" I asked.

"No one knows. He vanished one day, along with all his work and notes," Fidelis replied.

"Could the Shadow Apostles be responsible for these kidnappings?" I asked.

The Shadow Apostles are an assassin group that worships Tenebris Dominus. They have no formal organization; instead, they operate from the shadows, completing their missions without leaving any trace. They are believed to be behind numerous unsolved abductions and assassinations across Luminarca. Yet, no one has ever been able to prove their existence.

"There’s no concrete evidence of their existence. We can only speculate whether they’re involved," Fidelis answered.

"I see. We’ll need to discuss the abductions further once we return from Mordath. For now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to inspect the soldiers," Fidelis said. I nodded in agreement. He saluted and exited the room.

Eleanor wrapped her arms around me tightly. "You’re going to be away for a while," she said. "I wish I could come with you." Her voice trembled with emotion. "Once my training is complete, we’ll fight side by side."

I gently stroked her head to reassure her.

Eleanor had been working tirelessly to enhance her physical and magical abilities. Instead of using weapons, she preferred her fists and kicks, having been trained in martial arts directly by her father. Remarkably, she wielded fire magic at a divine level. An interesting fact about her talent was her ability to control blue flames, just like her father. Zenita once mentioned that blue flames are approximately ten times stronger than ordinary fire.

"Promise me you’ll return in one piece, my love," she said, her voice firm and commanding. Her fierce gaze locked onto mine, demanding assurance.

"No matter what, I’ll come back in one piece. I promise," I assured her.

"Good," she replied before leaning in to kiss me.

We had grown comfortable with these moments; the awkwardness between us was long gone. Still, we hadn’t taken that final step yet. Though my instincts sometimes urged otherwise, I didn’t want to rush anything. Letting things unfold naturally felt right.

After the kiss, Eleanor helped me don my armor, her fingers skillfully fastening the straps. Before I left for the cathedral entrance, she embraced me one last time.

At the entrance, Fidelis was waiting, accompanied by a group of soldiers: thirty paladins, ten mages, and five healers. Including Fidelis, they all saluted me.

"My lord, we are ready to depart," Fidelis declared.

"Let’s move out," I commanded, and we set off for Mordath to undertake our first mission.