(Denzel's POV):
Gayle decided to wait outside the door for now and looked at the downstairs.
Ashley's a pretty cute girl, I do technically love her but it lowered to the friend zone level as I have Rika right now. However, our friendship is as stable as ever.
"Soundly asleep."
Is it just me or do I not have a friend that snores in their sleep? If so then it would be fine by me to invite everyone to my home in real life when we get back.
I poked Ashley's cheek once and left the room immediately. She continued to sleep without waking up at all. What a deep sleeper.
"I'm back, you can continue."
"Wah! Anyways, are you sure about allowing us to stay in the palace? We might end up stealing from you." - Gayle
"I got that covered with a bunch of traps. I did a lot of wiring and programming magic to ensure that nobody would try to stupidly enter my coin vault."
"Wiring? Programming magic? I'm confused." - Gayle
Ah, these aren't supposed to told as it only worsens the confusion.
"It's just, a lot of technical work using both redstone and electricity tech."
"Oh, I get it now. I won't ask about this because something tells me that I would understand zero things about it." - Gayle
"Really, then how about I ask you a question."
"What question?" - Gayle
"How did you meet Rika?"
I saw Bella leaning on the door to her room. She seems to be relieved about something, better ask.
"Hold that off for now."
"Okay." - Gayle
We walked towards Bella who was closing her eyes and smiling.
"Bella, what's up?"
"Nothing big, everyone's just safe after all. They don't feel anything bad except being worried about your safety as you're in the front line. That includes me." - Bella
"Yeah, but this time I have my team up with me. It'll be a cakewalk even if we get surrounded by thousands of summoned monsters."
"That should be Gayle right?" - Bella
Bella points her finger to Gayle who is currently behind me. I introduced her in response.
"Yeah, this is Gayle. A close friend of Rika."
"G-good.. Morning..." - Gayle
"Gayle, this is Bella. One of my top benefactors in my whole life."
"You flatter me with that, ahaha~" - Bella
"It's true anyways, so yeah."
"Anyways, wonderful morning to you too Gayle. Everyone else is still busy being sleepy. So I went out since I'm not really exhausted or so." - Bella
"Ah, you shouldn't push yourself too much though?"
"Yeah, it's alright though. I feel both nervous and relieved for getting protected like this. Even though there is like more than thousands of people coming in this castle, I think we're safe in Seymour's place." - Bella
No good, Gayle looks like she's feeling out of place.
"Gayle, what can you say about everyone so far?"
"Yeah, I can't believe that Denzel would gain more friends than I anticipated... He went from loner to sociable." - Bella
"Uh, umm." - Gayle
Natural born shy-type huh? Can't be helped.
"I mean like, I get full use of this inn. Everyone gets free food, protection and lodging for a while."
"Yeah, everyone's living happily. I wonder if I could be like that too." - Gayle
"You sure will. However, you don't seem that happy right now. What happened?"
"Yeah, my boyfriend, I can't find him anywhere." - Gayle
"I see, I'll try to find him after the raid."
"Really?! Can I come?!" - Gayle
"Sure, it'll be a bit of an adventure."
"Thank you! I'll definitely help you out!" - Gayle
"Yeah, the only thing I need is a bit of information. I could handle the rest but it should be fine if you are coming along."
Gayle nodded in response as she kept wiping her tears in her eyes.
"Isn't that great Denz? You're being more active to your friends even if they are new." - Bella
Ahaha~ I guess it's instilled into my heart.
"Well, it's for the best. I couldn't let it pass when one of my friends are in trouble or so."
"That's good to hear, even though you're a bloody psycho. You still got that heart inside your body and soul." - Bella
"Okay, Gayle, I'm gonna enter this room to check on everyone. Keep an eye to the others ok?"
"Ah, alright..." - Gayle
Gayle wiped the remaining tears in her eyes before returning to her room smiling.
"Aside from you guys, everyone is asleep. So, what do you want to do?"
"Honestly, I have to talk to you a bit." - Bella
Huh, about what?
"It's about my suspicions on Miguel and Leo. I can see that you trust Malech a lot. However, do you know that what Miguel is doing right now is really over the top?" - Bella
"What do you mean?"
"I can feel a bit of ominous presence behind his calm attitude." - Bella
For sure? Cause she isn't alone in that opinion of hers.
"You aren't the only one with that feeling. I'm feeling something off ever since they showed up. I guess that they might have some plans laid out?"
"Are you sure?" - Bella
"Yeah, so just in case, keep a solid eye on them. They cannot be trusted yet."
No matter what, they shouldn't be trusted in any way possible.
"I see, let's enter the room shall we?" - Bella
"Sure thing, I want to see how the others are doing."
We entered the room and immediately saw May sleeping peacefully.
"What about the others?"
"Also sleeping peacefully." - Bella
So apparently, the rest of us are resting around just fine. I wonder about Christine and the other members... Well, can't really worry about them since they're heading here to protect the inn.
"I see, how bout we take a stroll for now?"
Bella looked through the window before nodding...
I scanned the surroundings before patting May in the head and standing beside Bella...
"What's up?"
"I can definitely sense something outside." - Bella
I looked through the window and prepared my eyesight to magnify by magic.
What I immediately saw is an explosion.
"Pretty sure it's still Robin's turn."
"Must be Karl trying to guarantee our safety here." - Bella
Could be, but considering that it's a large scale raid gonna happen later down the line.
"Well, it'll be a war in a day you know?"
"Yeah, and we'll have to stay here and protect ourselves if needed." - Bella
"Just in case I will place Leo and Miguel under supervision or in jail since I can't trust them. They clearly said that they only want to stay here to protect you guys, but I can clearly see their intentions."
I know it for a fact, that they're up to something no good. So I will lock them up in conclusion.
"I set up my equipment in order so if you guys need to use it, go ahead. Be sure to return it properly."
"Thanks Denz~" - Bella
"I know you will need it. Since my equipment is the only way to know your safety. I see many difficulties in the future between us guys. So I hope you wouldn't feel something as painful as death."
I hugged Bella without hesitation. Wrapping my arms around her with an optimistic mind filled with nothing but worry for their safety.
"Stay safe."
"We will." - Bella
We let go of each other before I ran out through the open window on the end of the hallway.
After jumping out of the window, I threw my grappling hook and pulled myself towards the rooftop of some building.
"Not enough height."
I looked for even higher vantage points as I couldn't pinpoint the exact area where the fight is developing.
However, I sense Malech's presence nearby the explosions, along with Karl's traces of magic aiming directly toward the explosions.
"I guess Karl's magic might help me in navigation.."
I started to run forward, as I jump from building to building. Every step I make, a sound of the clanking of bricks and metal spread out.
In a short while, I arrived to the spot.
What I saw was Malech in combat once again. He's protecting Bea from someone I guess. However, I didn't like what I'm seeing right now.
Malech's physical state is exhausted and injured, further combat will definitely be a terrible idea for him. Yet, he continues to protect Bea from the group of assassins in front of him.
As Malech stood strong in front of the house I'm on, five assassins stood in vision range of him.
"He's missing a rune from his equipment. He must've used it to signal me in a non-obvious way."
Of course, my presence is hidden. However, these guys overstepped their boundaries.
I jumped down in front of Malech to show that I arrived.
"Denz?!" - Malech
He looks like crap, so I'll be sure that he takes a rest for the day.
"Good job, you may rest for the day now."
"What? Wait?! Aaaaah!" - Malech
I activated a magic mirror and attached it to him to teleport Malech to the bed in the designated inn.
Bea was holding his arm so she was also included in the teleportation.
"Now that they're safe."
I turned my head towards the assassins.
"You got some guts showing up here. Now that you did that and inflict pain to my valued friends."
I blanked out my mind, as I only have one goal now.
The color on my eyes died out and showed a glowy cerulean color.
"Your time of death has been decided..."