Not leaving his eyes from his companions, he flicked two fingers behind the tabernacle.

Delica was quick to notice the change in Aiven’s demeanor. She froze in her tracks and motioned Simos to guard himself.

Two unknown entities.

Aiven was trying to make sense of things when he saw Simos' expression turned grim. The moment their leader placed his grip on his halberd, the boy's whole aura changed. Like a sharp blade out of its scabbard, the blond boy became deadly but his tone had no telltale inflections as he commented, "I wish we get a prestigious gift, what do you think?"

As their appointed scout, he didn't pause communicating to Simos what he could detect, or more importantly, the lack of it. Simos' weapon went closer to his waist as he tries to back away as silently as possible while Delica had also raised her staff readying for any support they might require—whether to kill or to flee as fate would take them.

Aiven also unsheathed his equipment of stained daggers—the highest grade he could use at his base levels as a scout. He's not as skilled as Simos in wielding steel or as adept at chants as Delica, but the weight gave him a sense of security at least.

"Who knows. I’m just happy to celebrate shedding my childhood with you guys." Delica answered without any trace of tension in her voice.

Unfortunately, the remark made Aiven’s ears suddenly flared red. He almost choked back the alcohol with that statement. But Delica only had her expression darkened, misunderstanding the abrupt changes in his expression as a danger for what may come.

He sighed, ignoring his harassed morals, as his dark eyes continued gleaming as he uses both [Detect Skill Set V: Far Sight] and [Trigger Skill: Night Vision] to pry more of their surroundings.

Slowly, he had unclasped his satchel and was preparing for some teleportation scrolls that they could use.

The other members of his three-man party nodded as they understood what his actions meant.

If worse comes to worst, they had to run away.

He cursed in his head as he felt a cold trail of sweat clinging to his skin, thinking what sort of creature is this thing to scare away all magical beasts hunting these grounds.

Thinking about it, Aiven should have felt suspicious from the beginning—hardly any beasts, ambushes, or major traps inside the dust and vine-ridden ruins? It's too naive of him to lump it off as luck.

The part that they might outnumber them didn't ease his anxiety. If Aiven, with the highest appraisal capabilities in their group, could not identify the unknown, then it's possible that the levels superseded his skills or it was a variant they haven’t encountered before.

With so many variables unseen and those that are, were all stacked against them, it was only natural to retreat.

They were still waiting for Simos’ signal to withdraw—a normal hand sign would do, but instead, they heard the sound of heels against marble echoed behind the tabernacle.

The thing is wearing boots?

Aiven was still contemplating that the unknown may just be another person when a sudden fall of threatening aura suppressed their very being. The vicious attack on his mind kept Aiven's body numbed, a feeling like his blood thickened under his skin and poured with merciless ice.

He had felt the firsthand fighting spirit in their mock battles before but never something this deadly that he could almost taste death! The killing intent coming from the unknown was so dense they were all left on their knees, staggering and groaning on the floor.

The pressure was increasing by the second, gripping them with paralyzing fear--this vile command against their better judgment to run. If they don’t do anything, the shock will kill them!

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"Children? How—ah, it doesn't matter."

A melodious voice said, reeling him back to his senses to push down the bile rising on his throat. Even the near screech ringing in his ears didn't lessen the song in her voice. A girl?

The [Bloodlust] however only increased in veracity. Aiven pushed all the strength left on him to raise his head. Their assailant stepped closer, her every movement a sign of nobility and elegance. What he saw almost left him powerless.

A mesmerizing woman with red strands of hair extending to her waist was standing above them. She wore a canvass of the red silken tunic, unadorned with any jewelry aside from the shine of hazel on her eyes. Hers was a face that has every regal contour of Valkyries portrayed in legends. She stood there with a saintly expression as his friends writhed in pain at her feet. A revolting contrast.

He knew her. All citizens on the Known Surface of Frear know this woman. They've loved her, worshiped her, and would even die, or already died, for her. And they all called her...Hero.

He had always imagined what it would be like to see her in person, but right now, all he could think of was Fuck y—"ou, Yuusha," his words cut through the silence.

The woman took a step back. The killing intent vanished as if there was nothing there, to begin with. The siblings staggered to their feet, also bewildered with the unexpected audience with the most revered person in the whole continent.

Aiven was still on his knees when he heard a language he never thought he would ever hear again. <>

His head shot up, eyes widening from the hero’s question. Then slowly, Aiven nodded.

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Lady Yuusha smiled but there’s a hint of sadness that can be traced to that smile. Her gentle expression and warm voice seemed to soothe them into a stupor more intoxicating than the wine that still lingered on his tongue.

Beautiful, wonderful, sublime, all those words seemed inadequate to describe her.

There's this urge to humble himself towards her but he tried to snap out of it the same way he did when their party was submitted to the Lady's [Bloodlust].

Shit, he mentally cursed, thinking about the high tier [Intimidation] spell made him aware of the metallic taste of blood on his lips

His mind took a sweep over to his companions and found them in pristine health as they stepped on the altar. No trace of the ominous aura affecting their psyche either.

Aiven, still feeling a little heady and distracted, avoided gazing directly at the Lady.

Just like the Hero, he came from a different world.

But not once did the thought of seeking her out crossed his mind. What for? He doubted he could even get a meter near the Hero and he was barely five moons when the Hero’s Crusade had subjugated the Demon King’s Forces.

Afterward, Lady Yuusha was rumored to have gone on adventuring and exploring every known surface of Frear. No one knew her current locations or how to contact her besides her Trusted who served her cause.

There's no denying that he was interested in her. But with how things were in this new world he found himself in, it made him want to have nothing to do with it.

Why should he take on the mess of the hero summoning, demon lords, and saving the whole world business?

He was already content dealing with his own personal hardship and find happiness where he can.

Right from the start, Aiven had decided to lead a normal life and be far far far away from the cliche story that embroiled people with the same criteria as him.

Who knew he would even chance upon the hero in this lifetime.