"How far are we from the Inferno Lands, and what level of monsters can we expect to find there?" Haruto asked with curiosity. He knew his information was limited to the sparse mission details, so he needed to gather as much as he could to avoid being caught off guard.
Brig stroked his chin, thinking. "I can't recall the exact distance, but from what I've gathered on recent missions, the monsters should range between D and C levels. However, the buildup of mana in the area could mean we might run into some lower B-level creatures. Nothing we can't handle, though."
As they walked, Haruto and Brig chatted not only about the dangers of the Inferno Lands but also about Brig's and the group's background. Haruto learned that Brig had taken the Initiation eight years ago but had only risen to his current rank. It was a reminder of just how competitive the major guilds were. Brig mentioned how even after years of effort, breaking into the core guild—those holding the true ranked spots—was the real challenge. Haruto found it interesting that even among the unranked, a pseudo-ranking system existed, determining who could challenge for the final ranked positions. The more Haruto heard, the more he felt that choosing a smaller guild was the right move for him. If he had joined a major guild, he'd likely be stuck running errands, competing endlessly just to be noticed.
As they talked, Gale and Cohn led the way in near silence. Gale seemed content not to interrupt the conversation, while Cohn, the quietest of the group, preferred to remain withdrawn.
About half an hour later, they came upon a broad river that stretched into the distance, its surface shimmering under the fading light.
"This river runs all the way to the Inferno Lands," Brig said. "Though it gets a bit… strange the closer we get to the border."
"Strange? How so?" Haruto asked, glancing over at Brig.
Brig pulled out a worn map, its edges frayed from use. He pointed to a location close to where they were standing. "We're here," he said, then traced his finger along a winding path. "There are five major junctions ahead, each leading into the Inferno Lands, but each path passes through areas of natural lava flow. No matter which way we go, we'll have to cross one of them."
Gale and Cohn leaned in to take a closer look at the map. Gale's eyes widened as she examined it—it was her first time seeing a map this detailed. In their world, maps like this weren't exactly rare, but they were often expensive and crafted by expert cartographers. The more explored the terrain, the more intricate—and valuable—the map. For commoners, exploring unknown regions without such maps was dangerous, often fatal.
"Hold on," Brig said, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the map again. "Something's off. See these letters by the junctions?" He pointed to a pair of symbols beside each junction. "At first, I thought it was just a notation for the junctions, but these symbols repeat at every location in the Inferno Lands."
"I've seen that symbol before," Cohn suddenly spoke, catching everyone by surprise. "It's a variant of the number five."
"The number five?" Brig rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. "Why would a mapmaker put a number and not explain what it means? What a pain…"
Gale, sensing his frustration, shook her head. "It's possible the number five is significant, but it could also be something as mundane as the number of maps the creator made of the Inferno Lands. We'll only know when we get there."
"There's no point overthinking it," Haruto chimed in. "We'll figure it out when we arrive."
---
At the Ageton family estate, Gram stood frozen before the entrance. His heart raced. He hadn't yet faced his family since the humiliating inquiry, and he had only recently been released from the palace. As he pushed open the grand door, a heavy silence greeted him.
"Elanor! Attend to me immediately!" Gram bellowed, his frustration simmering. He was furious, needing an outlet for his anger after the inquiry's public disgrace. But as he stormed deeper into the house, something felt wrong. His family members stood on the upper balcony, their faces cold, some filled with pity.
"Elano—" Gram began to shout again, but stopped when he saw his elder brother, Kane, step forward. Gram's eyes narrowed with confusion. Why was Kane here?
"You should learn some manners, little brother," Kane said, his voice cold and commanding. "Instead of barging in and yelling like a child, a simple request would have sufficed. But then again, what else should I expect from someone stripped of his title?"
"YOU!" Gram's voice was shrill with anger. "Don't you dare blame me for this. It was those filthy commoners! They conspired against me!" His words came out in a rapid, unhinged burst, his frustration boiling over.
Kane smiled, a smug, disdainful look that made Gram's blood boil even more. "You really don't get it, do you?" Kane's voice was calm, almost condescending. "You're standing here, yelling like a fool, blaming others for your failures. Pathetic."
"Respect me, brother!" Gram's voice dripped with venom, but as he glanced around, he noticed none of the family members would meet his eyes. They stood in silence, exchanging glances of contempt.
Kane gave a slow, deliberate nod, and the family guards moved forward from the shadows, surrounding Gram.
"What is this?" Gram demanded, panic creeping into his voice. "You know the penalty for attacking an Ageton!"
"It is as you say," Kane replied. "The penalty for attacking an Ageton is indeed severe. However…" A deep, authoritative voice cut through the room from the second floor. It was their father.
"No… Father?" Gram's heart sank. His father's presence here, the guards, Kane—it all started to make sense now. The gravity of the situation crashed over him like a wave.
"Gram Ageton," his father's voice echoed. The room fell deathly silent, as if everyone feared to even breathe. "Your crime is not the act itself, but your failure to uphold this family's honor. You brought disgrace upon the Ageton name by getting caught, by being humiliated so utterly."
Gram's defiance flickered. He straightened, his voice turning cold. "I have nothing to say."
Kane shook his head in disappointment, a sliver of sorrow flashing through his eyes before it hardened again. He turned to his father. "What shall we do with him?"
"If you were not of our blood, your punishment would be death," their father replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. "But your maid has already paid the price."
A sickening thud echoed in the hall as Elanor's severed head rolled in front of Gram. Her eyes had been burned out, her face twisted in death's agony.
"You are hereby banished from the Ageton family. Stripped of the venerable Ageton name," his father declared.
Gram's voice cracked. "You can't do this! Only the Patriarch can—"
His father cut him off. "Who do you think decided your punishment?"
It hit Gram like a hammer. His grandfather had sealed his fate. Being stripped of his name meant more than just losing his status—it was as though he had been erased from the family, his existence nullified.
"You have ten seconds to leave," Kane said, his voice cold and unforgiving. "You are now an intruder in this house."
As the guards moved to strike, Gram stumbled backward, panic overwhelming him. "Eight… seven… six…" Kane's counting continued as Gram bolted for the gate, barely escaping the slashing blades that tore at his clothing.
When he collapsed outside the gates, bruised and broken, he was no longer a noble. Tears streamed down his face, his scream tearing through the night as the reality sank in. He had become what he despised the most: a commoner.