"Heroes, I have a task to entrust you with," the king's voice resonated through the hall, solemn yet hopeful. "Can you help me reclaim the castle that our ancestors left behind, now overrun by the undead?"

As his words settled, a system notification blinked into view before the four Heroes.

[ World Quest: Castle of the Dead

Quest Objectives: Reclaim the Castle of the Dead (0/1)

Quest Difficulty: ???

Recommended Level: ???

Recommended Number of People: ???

Will you accept the quest?

Confirm / Cancel ]

For centuries, monsters had chipped away at human lands, overtaking castles and kingdoms that once stood as bastions of human power. For any king, reclaiming ancestral grounds was paramount—an unceasing weight upon his heart. Many had sent brave armies to reclaim these lands, but the venture had always ended in blood and ruin.

But now, with Heroes in their world, perhaps there was hope. Castles thought lost to monsters for good could now be retaken.

Ariana gave the king a slight nod. "Of course, king-sama. Destroying monsters is our duty."

The founding of the League of Hero wasn’t possible without the resources of Aldrich Theocracy, nor without cooperation from neighboring realms. It was the Heroes' duty to aid in the elimination of monsters, thereby justifying the League’s purpose and earning the continued support of the other nations. A mission like this held mutual benefit—vanquishing monsters and earning trust.

"Ah, yes!" The king suddenly leaned forward with a glint in his eye. "I’d also like you to take my daughter along. You are the most elite Hero squad in the world; with you, I know she’ll be well protected."

The four Heroes exchanged uneasy glances.

Layton spoke first, raising his head boldly. "Forgive me, king-sama, but slaying monsters is a dangerous endeavor. Princess-sama is of noble blood; how can we endanger her by bringing her into such peril?"

"Agreed, king-sama." Ariana’s voice was steady and polite, but firm. Anyi and Miruku shared the same wariness, their gazes reflecting a hint of mistrust. The king’s insistence on sending his daughter with them felt… strategic, as if he sought to keep tabs on them.

Could there be something in this castle that the king didn’t want them to uncover?

The king laughed heartily. "Ah, worry not! You’ll understand everything once you meet her. Guard, bring Karen here."

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The guard nodded and left through a door just behind the throne. Anyi pondered the motives behind the king’s peculiar request, but his thoughts were interrupted when a young girl, perhaps sixteen or seventeen, stepped gracefully into view. She wore an elegant platinum dress, her movements refined, each step noble. She approached the king’s side with a composed air.

But her eyes were a lifeless gray—void of sight. She was blind.

Anyi stared, his suspicions crumbling. So much for her spying on them.

The others were equally surprised. Ariana, rarely having dealt with the infirm before her time as a Hero, merely thought the princess looked unwell. Miruku, however, concealed a dark sigh. To bring a blind girl into monster-infested lands—could this king truly be so callous? Or perhaps he meant to rid himself of her under the guise of a royal duty? Miruku's suspicions deepened.

Layton scowled, his brow furrowing with displeasure. "King-sama, I must insist—exterminating monsters is not some noble's pastime! I won’t risk an innocent life in such dangerous territory."

The king burst into laughter, slapping his hand on the arm of his throne. "Ha ha ha! Well said! Just as Kami’s chosen Heroes should be—honorable and steadfast!" He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "But tell me, who said my daughter was an ordinary person?"

Anyi: "..."

Not a normal person—a disabled person?

As the king's words sank in, Princess Karen took a few graceful steps forward, bowing her head slightly to the four, a faint, almost playful smile gracing her lips.

"Esteemed Heroes, I am Karen Matt, the fourth princess of the Matt Kingdom," she said softly. "And, I am also the Hero chosen by Kami-sama—known as the Eyes Hero."

Layton blinked in surprise. "Wait…! So, your eyes became like this from receiving Kami-sama's blessing?"

Karen shook her head gently. "No, Mr. Shield Hero, my blindness has been with me since childhood. I have never seen anything."

"I see." Layton nodded, settling back without questioning further.

Ariana glanced at her companions thoughtfully. "Then, you’ve been listening to us this whole time? Or… are you able to perceive that Layton is indeed the Shield Hero?"

"Indeed," Karen replied, "my hearing is sharp. And though I can’t see as others do, I can perceive far more than you may expect. For instance…”

She extended a delicate finger, pointing directly at Anyi from across the room.

"That man, the Sword Hero, is by far the strongest among you. Stronger than even you might imagine."

The group turned to Anyi, who simply shrugged with a quiet smirk, unfazed. The others took her words with mild curiosity; they knew Anyi was powerful, though his full potential remained a mystery. Karen’s claim was intriguing, but it didn’t change much.

Layton frowned thoughtfully. "Knowing someone’s strength is one thing, but that doesn’t give us much of an edge in battle. We already see data for monsters when we encounter them."

Karen tilted her head, her smile deepening. "I told you—I can see much more than that. Sensing strength is only a fraction of my power. There’s more…"

She paused, just as the guard behind her drew a concealed dagger and lunged toward her!

Karen remained calm, merely tilting to the side without flinching.

"Ah?" Karen gasped softly, surprised as her role in the demonstration was unexpectedly altered.

"Oh?!" The king’s eyes widened in alarm, but before he could react, a flash of movement blurred across the hall.

Miruku was suddenly behind Karen, twin blades flashing. One blade blocked the guard’s dagger, while the other hovered at his throat, sharp and still. It all happened in a heartbeat—no one fully grasped how Miruku had moved so quickly.

Karen didn’t turn, merely smiling. “Thank you, Thorn Hero. But just as I knew you appeared behind me, I also sensed the guard reaching for his blade.”

Anyi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, you can detect the presence of living creatures within a certain range?"

Karen’s smile turned thoughtful. "As expected of the Sword Hero—quick to understand. Yes, I can sense all things within a specific range. The living, the still, even the unseen."