The group of heroes, soldiers, and fervent believers arrived at the imperial border, beyond which lay the monster territory.

The enormous castle loomed on the horizon, a shadow against the skyline. Once, it had towered proudly over the deepest reaches of the kingdom, but now, in the encroaching wilderness, it appeared diminished—like an insignificant lid haphazardly cast aside. Should the monsters push further, the capital itself might need to move, though this thought seemed to linger unspoken among them.

Now, the kingdom's frontier was marked by a sprawling wall—a final defense that separated the land of humans from the unknown horrors beyond. Inside the wall was a city; outside lay a vast sprawl of abandoned houses, emptied in the face of the monster threat. At the city gate, where shadows lay thick over stone and wood, Anyi turned to the general who had led the soldiers to meet them.

“Is the city outside safe?” Anyi’s gaze was steady, probing the silent structures beyond.

The general replied with deference, “Dear Hero-sama, it is safe enough during the day, but at night, monsters from the castle roam freely beyond its walls. Many have perished in the past, so this part of the city has been abandoned.”

“So, we should enter the city during daylight,” Anyi concluded.

He already knew that undead monsters moved like nocturnal beasts, stirring only when the sun sank. By day, they slumbered; if dawn broke during a battle, they’d retreat. But when night descended, they would roam unfettered, their strength and senses sharpening in the darkness.

A believer spoke up with a hopeful tone. “Since the monsters only come out at night, might we remain here to support the heroes during the day?”

The general hesitated before nodding, “Yes, though… leave before sunset. Hero-sama, Princess, I advise you to leave before nightfall.”

Karen tilted her head down thoughtfully. “The sun is still high,” she murmured.

The general glanced at her. 'Princess, can you even see the sun?'

The believer, undeterred, continued, “Then let’s press on. Are there any other monsters within the city?”

“No,” the general assured. “This was once the heart of the empire. Only the undead monsters are here; others avoid this place. They hunger for no food, so no other creatures intrude.”

“Good!” the believer exclaimed, a spark of excitement in his voice.

Other believers joined in, their spirits high. Confused, the general and soldiers exchanged uneasy glances as they reached a designated area near the city wall.

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To their astonishment, the believers bustled out of the carriages, heaving bags and bundles in a flurry of energy. They scattered, sweeping abandoned homes and clearing soot from forgotten stoves. Soon, the streets held rows of makeshift stoves, pots, dishes, and an array of ingredients that were laid out in colorful heaps.

The general: “???”

The soldiers: “???”

'They’re setting up to… cook?' Though he’d said the city was safe by day, was this truly the time to begin preparing a banquet?

They turned, eyes full of question, to the four heroes. 'Please, talk some sense into them!'

Ariana, however, strode forward, addressing them all. “We owe you a great debt for accompanying us!”

The believers erupted in unified shouts. “Woo woo woo woo woo—!!”

“To sustain Holy Maiden-sama and the heroes! It’s no trouble at all!”

“Compared to Holy Maiden-sama and the heroes’ sacrifices, what we’re doing is but a trifle!”

Their cheers filled the air, as bright as the sunlight over the ruined city.

The general and soldiers: "???"

'What in the world is going on here!'

Once the five heroes had passed into the city, curiosity got the better of a young soldier, who pulled a cheerful believer aside.

“Aren’t you guys going a bit overboard? We might have to retreat at a moment’s notice, and here you all are setting up like it’s time for a feast. Are you planning to celebrate the heroes’ return?”

The believer gave him a bright smile. “Because… the heroes will be hungry! Forget retreating at any time—cooking at any time is far more important!”

“Exactly! This time, I want Holy Maiden-sama to taste the slow-cooked bear paw recipe I just learned!”

“I’m making roast rabbit for Holy Maiden-sama!”

“I’ve been studying up on beef and horse meat—does anyone know what spices remove the smell best?”

Soon, the believers were deep in conversation, animatedly discussing their culinary plans. The soldiers, watching this peculiar scene, began to wonder if they were in the presence of religious devotees or… a congregation of zealous chefs.

Meanwhile, the heroes continued down the path leading from the campsite. In minutes, the soldiers and their entourage had disappeared from sight behind the ruined buildings, leaving the heroes alone beneath the towering walls of the castle.

As they reached the foot of the fortress, the sheer scale of the structure loomed overhead, cutting off the sun and casting a cold shadow.

“Wow! It’s so high! It’s not as beautiful as the Holy Temple, but it’s definitely cooler!” Ariana exclaimed, craning her neck to take in the massive stonework.

“It’s vast, for sure. I saw it once as a child,” Karen said with a slight smile.

Ariana sighed, a puzzled expression crossing her face. “I remember this mission was kind of… vague. There’s no mention of difficulty level, recommended strength, or even how many heroes should take it on. So… we’re just going in blind?”

Anyi nodded. “Yes. From what Princess Karen said, there’s a monster inside that can steal vision with a single glance. This place may be more dangerous than we anticipated.”

“Perfect!” Layton said, a spark of excitement in his voice. “This is just the chance we need to test all that training!”

“Still…” Ariana’s face grew thoughtful. “Something about this feels off.”

“Off?” Karen echoed, curious.

Ariana nodded, her lips curving into a slight smile. “The last two missions had clear objectives—find the slime source, defeat the Goblin Centurion. But this time, there’s no clear goal. We’re just… exploring.”

“That’s true…” Anyi murmured.

'Though, it’s not entirely a mystery,' he thought silently. 'When it comes to tales of the undead, there’s always one likely culprit.'

For when it came to anything cursed, plagued, or crawling with the dead, one could always point to the heavens and curse in righteous confidence: “It’s the Necromancer’s doing!”