Catherine, Virginia, Thomas, Pierre, and Sasha walked away slowly from the dormitory, giving Elizabeth the space to reflect on her own. Their faces displayed a mix of confusion, discomfort, and curiosity.
"I can't believe that," Catherine muttered at last, breaking the heavy silence. "The Navigator… treating her like that in front of all of us? Like a pet?"
Virginia nodded slightly, her normally calm eyes clouded with an emotion that was difficult to articulate. "I can't grasp the logic behind it. Is this his way of building loyalty, or just outright humiliation?"
Thomas scoffed, his expression neutral but his tone filled with sarcasm. "He's never really cared about how others feel, has he? For the Navigator, this is probably just strategy. But humiliating Elizabeth like that? That's… cruel."
Pierre, usually the quiet one, finally spoke up. "I understand why he was harsh. Elizabeth did attack him without warning. But… that method? It seems excessive, even for someone like the Navigator."
Sasha, typically cheerful, looked more downcast than usual. She hung her head, clutching a small notebook tightly. "Elizabeth looked so broken," she said softly. "I know she was wrong, but… I'm not sure she deserved to be treated like that."
Catherine stopped in her tracks, turning to face the group with a determined look. "We need to discuss this further with the Navigator. If he keeps treating his team members like this, how does he expect to earn trust or loyalty?"
Virginia glanced at Catherine with a thoughtful expression. "But are you sure about that? The Navigator isn't exactly the kind of person who's easy to talk to, especially when it comes to his leadership style."
"That's true," Pierre chimed in. "If we make the wrong move, we could become his next targets. But even so, I agree with Catherine. There's a limit to what we can tolerate."
Thomas crossed his arms, appearing deep in thought before finally nodding. "I can talk to the Navigator. I've worked under him long enough to know how to raise concerns without inviting trouble. But we'll need to tread carefully."
Sasha took a deep breath before lifting her gaze. "Maybe we should start by asking for an explanation. What was his real reason for doing that? If there's a bigger purpose, perhaps… we can at least understand it."
"And if there isn't?" Catherine asked, her tone sharp. "If it's just cruelty for cruelty's sake?"
"Then," Thomas replied firmly, "we need to find a way to make sure this doesn't happen again. We're all part of this team, and we can't let one person crush the morale of their teammates, even if that person is the Navigator."
Virginia let out a long sigh, her gaze sweeping over her friends' faces. "I agree. But before we act, let's make sure we're all on the same page. We can't afford to show division—not in front of the Navigator, and not in front of Elizabeth."
They all nodded in agreement. Catherine quickened her pace, leading the group toward the tavern, where they could sit and plan their next steps.
In their hearts, each of them felt the same bitterness. The incident hadn't just shaken Elizabeth—it had unsettled them all. Yet, as a strong team, they knew one thing: they had to stay united, to protect themselves, and perhaps, to protect the Navigator from himself.
***
I sat in the main control room's central chair, staring at the system screen displaying Elizabeth Bathory's profile. Her level was still 10, and I had 450 Storybook of Heroes available to level up combat units. In the corner of the screen, the base gold balance was clearly shown—26,698. That amount was enough to make several upgrades, whether for combat units or the castle's facilities.
I rubbed my chin, trying to decide the best course of action. Should I focus on enhancing Elizabeth, or divide resources to level up the base? Strengthening combat units would bolster the formation, but better facilities could unlock new possibilities.
However, my thoughts were disturbed by something else. Standing right in front of me was Luna. She had been lingering awkwardly near the main map of the flying castle for some time. It seemed like she wanted to say something but was hesitant. Occasionally, she glanced in my direction, then pretended to be engrossed in examining the map again.
I sighed deeply, taking my hand off the system screen. "Luna, what is it that you really want to say?" I asked in a flat tone, though a hint of irritation crept in—it was starting to get on my nerves.
Luna flinched at my voice. She turned to me, her face slightly flushed, and looked at me with a shy expression. "Ah… Navigator," she murmured, her voice trembling as if she were trying to find the right words.
I waited, watching her patiently. "Yes?" I prompted her to get straight to the point.
She bit her lip, then finally spoke. "Navigator… you're really an enemy of women."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? An enemy of women?" I asked, trying to understand what she meant. Her tone wasn't accusatory but rather frustrated.
Luna lowered her head, avoiding my gaze. "The way you treated Elizabeth…" she began, then paused. "I know she may have done something wrong, but… humiliating her in front of everyone like that…"
I exhaled sharply. "So, this is about that again." I leaned back in the chair, staring at Luna sharply. "I've already explained my reasons. Elizabeth is the type of person who only understands strength. If I didn't do that, she might have kept rebelling, maybe even attacked you all."
"But…" Luna tried to argue, but her voice trailed off. She seemed to be wrestling with her own thoughts.
I stood up and walked toward her, causing her to step back slightly. "Luna, do you know the difference between me and Elizabeth?" I asked, lowering my head so our eyes were level. She looked confused, so I continued. "I lead. I'm not afraid to make tough decisions. If I have to be the 'enemy of women,' as you say, to ensure everything runs smoothly, then so be it."
She looked at me, her eyes reflecting doubt and a hint of guilt. "But… don't you feel even a little guilty? Elizabeth…"
I cut her off. "I don't need to feel guilty for making the right decision. If this makes you uncomfortable, Luna, you're free to speak. But make sure you're speaking because you're certain, not just because of your emotions."
Luna fell silent, seemingly unsure of what to say. I returned to my chair and reactivated the system screen. "If you're done, go back to your tasks. This castle won't run itself without our coordination."
I allowed myself a small smile, ignoring the faint rumble in my mind—perhaps guilt, or maybe just irrelevant noise.
My thoughts were interrupted when Catherine, Thomas, Virginia, Pierre, and Sasha suddenly entered the main headquarters.
They walked in with determined strides, one by one forming a line that quickly filled the central room. Catherine led the group, as usual, her gaze full of resolve. Thomas stood beside her, his expression firm but calculating. Virginia looked calm, though disappointment was evident in her eyes. Pierre appeared uneasy, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. Sasha, who typically stayed silent, stood at the back, but this time her gaze held an unusual bravery.
I looked at all of them from my chair in front of the main map, then glanced at Luna, who stood nervously by the table. "Can I help you?" I asked casually, trying to ease the tension.
Catherine spoke up immediately. "We're not here for pleasantries, Navigator. We want to know what made you think humiliating Elizabeth like that was the right thing to do."
I resisted the urge to smirk. "I was simply doing my duty," I replied lightly. "Elizabeth needed to be put in line. If not, she could've become a threat to all of us."
Thomas let out a long sigh. "Maybe it's true she's dangerous, but the way you handled it… it was excessive. No one deserves to be treated like that, not even by you."
I swiveled my chair slightly, trying to understand their perspective. "You weren't there when she attacked me without provocation. She even tried to kill me before we had a chance to talk. If I hadn't taken firm action, what would stop her from doing it again?"
Virginia spoke in a soft but resolute tone. "Firm action doesn't have to mean degrading someone's dignity. You're a leader, Navigator. Your actions should set an example, not instill fear or shame."
Pierre, who usually kept quiet, finally spoke. "We all know your job is tough, but we're a team. If something's wrong, we face it together, not like this."
Luna remained silent, her eyes flitting nervously between me and the group. Sasha, typically my most loyal supporter, finally said, "I… agree with them this time. This was too much, Navigator."
Even Sasha? I hadn't expected her to speak up like that. I heard every word they said, but inwardly, I questioned whether they truly understood the weight of the decisions I had to make every day.
When they left, the room felt quieter than ever. I stared at the flying castle map in front of me, but my focus began to blur. My thoughts were filled with uncomfortable questions.
"Have I gone too far?" I muttered to myself.
Luna, still standing near the table, was startled by my words. "Navigator?"
I turned my gaze to her. "Luna, do you think… I'm still human enough?"
She looked confused by the question. "What do you mean?"
"I act like a leader, ensuring everything runs smoothly. But… have I stopped being human? Have I become so focused on my duties that I've forgotten what's more important?" I knew the question sounded weak, but I genuinely wanted to know the answer.
Luna seemed to ponder for a moment before replying. "I think… you're just trying to do your best. But maybe, sometimes, you need to look deeper into people's hearts, not just their actions."
Her words hit harder than I'd expected. I took a deep breath and turned back to the map. Something needed to change, but I wasn't sure what. What was clear was that the first step was accepting that I, like everyone else, had limitations I needed to understand better.
Or perhaps, as the Navigator, I simply wasn't used to leading humans with feelings—unlike the battle-crazed maniacs on that flying castle.