CHAPTER 254: AZGORTH

{Are you still thinking about those things?}

Hearing Aetheri’s voice in his mind, Ray replied quietly.

Yeah.

{Do you believe what he said?}

..... I don’t think he had any reason to lie to me.....

Ray was thinking about the answers he had received from Ash, the ones about why his parents had died, why his village was attacked by demons, and who the demon was that had taken everything from him. It had all happened just a day after they returned from the Dwarven Continent.

---

Standing near the edge of the glistening lake, both Ash and Ray gazed at the horizon where the evening sun was dipping low, its golden light spilling across the water and staining the sky in hues of orange and crimson. The tranquil scenery seemed almost wasted on the two of them.

I should be here with Elysia, but instead I am watching this beautiful sunset with... a damn boy...

Ash glanced sideways at Ray, irritation prickling under his skin.

"Just ask what you want to know already, I have many other things to do," Ash said, his voice slightly edged with impatience.

Ray turned his eyes from the lake and fixed them on Ash. "Who was the demon that killed my parents? What is his name? And where can I find him?"

So, this is the first thing you are going to ask... huh!!!

Ash looked at Ray with an unamused expression. He had always known that Ray carried vengeance deep in his heart, and this question only confirmed it.

"The demon who killed your parents was the most loyal and most powerful being under the Demon King. He was second in command, the strongest right hand of that wretched throne."

Hearing this, Ray’s pupils dilated and his hands clenched tight at his sides.

"As for his name, it is Azgorth. And you will meet him only when you face the Demon King himself."

"Next question."

Although Ray’s heart was already burning with rage after hearing the name of his parents’ killer, he forced himself to continue. He needed to know more.

"Then tell me why my village was attacked. Why did my parents have to die? Why was I the only one left alive?"

This time his voice was heavy, trembling as though the words themselves were scraping his throat raw. It felt as if he had to squeeze his very heart to bring the questions out.

Ash did not answer right away, and when he finally spoke, his tone was calm, almost casual, though the truth he revealed carried a weight that could crush.

"It all began because of a Rune. Or rather, what was mistaken for one. Your family, in fact, your entire village, had been entrusted with guarding an artifact. Somehow, the Demon King caught its trace and became convinced it was a Rune, so he sent his strongest servant to claim it. But in truth, it was never a Rune. It was only a powerful artifact sealed away, though its strength was second only to that of a Rune."

And this incident had become quite a headache for Ray in the novel too...

"Your parents died because they chose to protect the artifact, but even more than that, they died because they wanted to protect their only child, YOU."

Ray’s body shuddered violently at those words.

"Your parents were powerful, Ray. If they wished, they could have taken the artifact and fled. The descent of that demon was only temporary; the first time demons had set foot into this realm, and it would have ended soon after. They had the chance to escape, yet they stayed and sacrificed themselves, all so their child could live. And you survived... because it was fate, I suppose."

Ash paused, his eyes drifting back to the lake. "So do not blame yourself. At least try not to."

He kicked a small stone into the lake, watching it skip across the surface a few times before finally sinking beneath the rippling water.

On the other hand, Ray was left frozen by the revelations. The truth crashed against him like waves that he could not stand against, and before he realized it, tears spilled down his cheeks.

I-I-I..... because of me... they died.....

It was my fault...

"T-they died... because of me... me..." His broken muttering grew louder, until Ash could clearly hear every word. Ray slumped onto a bench nearby, covering his face with trembling hands as sobs wracked his body.

Ash looked away. He was not good at consoling others, and situations like this only made him feel awkward. His hands shifted in and out of his pockets, his arms crossed and uncrossed as he shifted uncomfortably while listening to Ray’s sobs.

At one point, his patience snapped, and his voice grew sharp.

"Will you stop crying already? How is that your fault? You should be grateful that you’re alive because of your parents’ sacrifice. Instead of wasting their gift with tears, get strong enough to avenge them. Crying will give you nothing."

Even then, Ray did not respond, his grief drowning out everything else. Ash grew more frustrated, and eventually, without saying another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Ray behind in his sorrow.

***

[Present]

Screeech!!!!!

The military vehicle came to a sudden halt, and the sharp sound of the brakes echoed across the camp. Ash opened his eyes at once, his expression calm, and without a moment’s hesitation, he teleported outside. Using the doors felt pointless when there was a quicker way.

Let’s see...

His gaze swept across the surroundings. The place was not particularly large, just a small military camp tucked away in an open clearing. A few canvas tents were pitched in uneven rows, their fabric shifting with the passing wind. Soldiers were moving about quietly, each of them busy with their own tasks, though a few glanced curiously at Ash before quickly turning away.

The driver, who had brought them here, stepped out from the vehicle and immediately signaled with his hand. His expression was stiff and formal, leaving little room for questions. Ash began walking toward him, and a moment later Ray emerged as well, quickly catching up to his side.

They followed in silence, the crunch of gravel beneath their boots filling the quiet air. Eventually, the driver led them to the very center of the camp, where a much larger tent stood apart from the others. Its size and placement alone marked its importance. The driver stopped, lifted the flap of the tent, and gave a simple gesture, wordlessly instructing them to enter.

The moment Ash and Ray stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. It felt as though they had crossed into another dimension entirely. The space within stretched far beyond what was possible for a tent of that size, the interior easily ten times larger than what they had seen from the outside.

At the center stood a wide wooden table, and gathered around it were five people. Ash’s eyes scanned them one by one. None of the faces were familiar to him, but there was little difficulty in discerning their positions. The man seated at the head of the table carried an overwhelming presence. A deep scar cut across his face, and one of his eyes was missing, yet his very posture exuded authority. Even without an introduction, it was clear that this man was a Major, seeing the badges on his chest.

The others were three men and one woman, all middle-aged, their expressions steady and their gazes sharp. From the way they carried themselves, Ash could tell they were most likely captains who served directly under the Major.

Ash and Ray advanced toward the table, their steps measured and deliberate. When they came close enough, both of them bowed in unison, their movements smooth and practiced, as if this greeting had been ingrained into them through repetition.

"Greetings."

"I am Ash Burn."

"And I am Ray Dawson."

They introduced themselves in turn and lifted their heads, their gazes calm and unwavering.

The tent fell into a heavy silence after their words. The captains exchanged uncertain glances, some wearing frowns that spoke their doubts openly, while others kept their expressions carefully guarded, as though unwilling to reveal what they truly thought.

The man seated at the head of the table looked at both of them, his single eye glimmered with a sharp light beneath the dim lanterns, and the scar carved across his face tightened as his jaw moved.

"Ash and Ray..." His voice was steady and deep, each word carrying the weight of command and discipline. "I am Major Draven Kael. The ones beside me are Captain Orin Valtor, Captain Selric Dawnfall, Captain Marven Holt, and Captain Lira Veyra."

Each of the captains gave a short nod at the introduction, but none of their expressions carried warmth. If anything, their silence and the subtle tension in their eyes made it clear that their doubts remained firmly in place.

It was Captain Orin who finally broke the quiet. His voice was blunt, his words lacking restraint. "Major, with all due respect, these are still children. The Association sending them here makes no sense at all. This is not some academy exercise that can be used for training. This is a war against monsters."

Captain Selric adjusted the cuffs of his uniform with measured precision before speaking. His gaze lingered on Ash and Ray, narrowing in open skepticism. "I share the same thought. To send untested students into a battlefield of this scale is reckless at best, and if I may speak plainly, it is cruel."

Captain Lira leaned back slightly, her arms folding across her chest. Her sharp gaze cut through the air, settling on Ash and Ray as if she intended to uncover every weakness hidden within them. "Do you truly expect them to stand against what we face here? Even experienced soldiers fall before these creatures, yet you ask us to believe that two young students will be different. What exactly can they do?"

The last to speak was Captain Marven. His voice was quieter than the others, yet it carried the weight of a heavy stone being dropped into still water. "Major, forgive me... but is this truly the will of the Association, or is this the result of desperation?"

The questions hung in the air, lingering without answer. Doubt filled the tent like a suffocating fog, pressing down on everyone present.

Major Draven remained silent through it all, his single eye never leaving Ash and Ray. He listened without interruption, his expression unchanging, until the last voice faded away. Then he slowly straightened in his chair and placed his hand firmly upon the table. The sharp sound cut through the room like a strike, forcing silence.

"They are here because the Association has judged them worthy," Draven said. His tone was calm, yet each word was like iron, firm and impossible to bend. "And I trust that judgment. Until proven otherwise, they are not children. They are soldiers, and they will stand beside us."

The captains exchanged no further words, yet the unease in their eyes had not disappeared. Their silence was not agreement, only restraint.

Draven’s face darkened as his voice deepened. "Now... to the matter at hand. Fifty dungeons broke within the span of a single day. From every one of them, monsters poured into the world. We fought them, we bled, and we managed to contain them... but not destroy them."

He leaned forward slightly, his one eye narrowing with intensity. "Over one thousand creatures are now caged in this sector. Their ranks range from C to A, and with each day that passes they grow more restless. Containment will not last forever. If those cages are broken, the devastation that follows cannot be stopped."

The weight of his words pressed into the room like an invisible force, heavy and unrelenting, making the air itself feel thick to breathe.

"That is why you are here," Draven continued, his voice sharpening with steel-like certainty. "Together, we will eliminate every last one of them. Not a single monster will remain. Only then can this land finally draw breath again."

So, it’s starting, huh... the strategy meeting. Though honestly, I don’t think we will need their plans. Still, I need to know what kind of creatures the dungeons have released...

Ash’s eyes drifted across the table, his expression calm, but his mind sharp with anticipation.

***