An hour before they entered the domain of the unique dungeon in Central Park, Caelum and Erta were having breakfast in a restaurant nearby.
On the opposite side of the table was Princess Margaret with four people standing attentively behind her. Margaret herself looked nervous as she watched the couple silently enjoying their meal.
"Are the two of you only going to keep eating?"
"What's wrong, your highness? The food here is good. You should try it too."
"No, that's not what I mean. Are you not going to prepare? You'll be raiding a unique dungeon with only the two of you. Are you not even scared?"
"There's no point in being scared. In the end, we'll be doing it anyway. It's not like we can stop just because we're afraid. Also, we've already finished our preparations. All that's left is to fill our stomachs."
Margaret was obviously not convinced, but she remained silent. She could not argue with Caelum's words, especially because she was the one who made them do it.
Erta seemed to understand what Margaret was feeling as she smiled at her and spoke.
"Don't worry, Margaret. Even if you didn't tell us to go, we would have to do it eventually. So don't feel guilty."
"How insolent! Your fame does not excuse you from addressing her highness by her proper title!"
One of the people behind Margaret snapped at Erta. He seemed to be the Princess's personal guard who took great pride in his position. Or maybe he was just trying to reach under the Princess's skirt and thought that this was a good opportunity.
Erta looked at him blankly while Margaret grew noticeably pale. She panicked, but before she could even do anything, shards of glass shot toward the man's limbs, impaling and lifting him from the floor. Caelum's voice soon echoed out.
"How insolent. A mere bodyguard dares speak crudely to my wife, a princess herself. You must think so highly of yourself, don't you? With the world changing so much, did you not think that titles no longer mean anything without power?"
"Lord Grace, Lady Ki'ana, I apologise for my servant's mistake! Please spare him!"
"Cal, put him down. I don't really mind what he said either, so calm down."
"You don't mind, but I do."
The shards of glass disappeared in an instant and the man fell to the floor. Erta snapped her fingers and the man's wounds were healed.
"Be grateful Erta is quite benevolent to fools. If it were me, I would have your head rolling on the ground and the rest of you fed to the monsters in the dungeon. Now get lost before I make it a reality."
Margaret glared at her guard and made him leave the restaurant. The tension around them changed in a different direction and Margaret did not know what to do. Finally, Caelum finished his meal and looked at Margaret.
"So why are you here? And who are those three behind you? They don't seem to be guards like that idiot from earlier."
"Ah… well, I was the one who enlisted your help. It would be rude of me not to see you off. And these three are S-rankers answering directly to the GA council. I brought them just in case I might be able to get you to reconsider bringing a team."
"No offense, but they're too weak to help. If I needed help, I would've brought Reynor. That guy is one of the best that Earth currently has."
Hearing Caelum's words obviously angered the three S-ranked Chosen behind Margaret, but they did not dare move. It was true that they were weak compared to Caelum. Just his little show of power earlier was enough to prove that.
However, being weaker than him did not mean they could not help. The three of them each had different specialties, but they were definitely great additions to any team raiding a dungeon.
Especially the two women who were an illusion specialist and a support who casts many buffs on allies. They were anything but useless. Seeing their dissatisfied expressions, Caelum continued.
"We are entering an unknown dungeon where several dozens of people had disappeared into. Do you honestly think that they did not have anyone that is especially useful in a dungeon? Do you think they didn't bring any healer or a control specialist?"
Margaret and the three Chosen lowered their heads, understanding that his words were correct. Those were two full raid teams. Even the second team sent to find the first raid team had a complete roster of Chosen with useful abilities. And yet, they still have not returned.
"Of course, they did. But that was never the problem here. The problem is that they were too weak. Numbers can only do so much against the truly powerful. Now let's say we take these three with us. Would it change anything if we were to fight possibly an entire castle's worth of monsters?
Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it. Because Erta and I can do as much on our own. If there comes a point where we are overwhelmed by numbers, I can confidently say that these three won't be able to change the tide of battle.
Now if we were to face the master of the dungeon who might have possibly slaughtered those two teams, do you think these three can help? If anything, they would probably be the ones needing protection.
They would become liabilities and that is something we cannot afford in an unknown dungeon like this. I want other Chosen to experience fighting for their lives and growing from it, but this dungeon has already claimed too many.
So the answer is still no. We're not taking any escorts.
Rather than worrying over this, you should be growing your power. You haven't forgotten what I said, have you?"
Margaret lowered her head even further. She could not meet Caelum's sharp gaze. She knew he was still angry at her bodyguard. The fault could only lie on her as she could not discipline her own subordinate in front of such important people.
Her thoughts wandered aimlessly as she unknowingly sank into an unnatural fear. Until Caelum's next words brought her back and shook her to her core.
"We are at war, Princess. Whether the world recognises it or not, it is coming. What we need are people who can fight to protect the world, not rulers sitting comfortably on their thrones. If we lose, no king or queen will be able to lord over this dead world."
With that, Caelum stood up and left the restaurant.
Margaret was greatly shaken and was unable to even stop him. The three people behind her also looked worried. They had just heard something they did not even expect to hear.
The prospect of war was never much of a discussion even in the Global Alliance. When people say 'war against monsters', they only meant that dungeons and gates have become a growing danger.
No one ever said anything about a literal war of annihilation. And yet, here they were. The Angel of Slaughter himself had foretold it. 'A dead world with no kings or queens ruling over it', such were the words that would spread from their mouths after this.
The heavy oppression they felt was suffocating despite the fact that they were all S-ranks. The looming threat of annihilation was perhaps a much grander thing than simple death that they failed to truly wrap their heads around it. But even then, they trembled in fear.
Then a soothing voice seemed to wash away their fears.
"Please forgive him. He's been really stressed out these past few days."
"No, I understand why he'd be angry, Lady Ki'ana."
"That's good. The sooner everyone realises what they must do, the better it would be for the world. Then Caelum won't have to carry that burden alone anymore."
Erta watched her husband through a window. Her eyes were filled with sadness as she recalled how distraught Caelum had been when their plan to train the Chosen had failed.
Even if she wanted to lessen his burdens, she could not. She could help him carry them, but in the end, the responsibilities still lie with Caelum as the True Avatar of the Imaginary Tree.
Margaret and the three S-ranked chosen behind her felt her sadness wash over them like a wave. It was then that Margaret decided to ask a question that had been bothering her since earlier.
"Lady Ki'ana, he said you are also a princess. Is that true?"
"Erta is fine. And yes, I am a princess. And I suppose you know it too, but Caelum is royalty as well."
"I know that the House of Grace is royalty, but they don't care much for that title. I'm more curious about you. Which kingdom are you from? Is it also an obscure one like the House of Grace?"
"Oh, not quite. I suppose I could tell you. I am an alf, a member of the royal tribe of my homeworld Sanctuary."
"...What?"
"You must think I'm being weird, but I promise that I'm speaking the truth. We can talk about this in full later. For now, let's join Caelum."