A week had passed.
Word came in—The Hero Party, along with Grand Marshal Miss Sera, was locked in battle against the demon army at Sunderhold City.
It was a long and grueling fight.
I had decided to wait. Let them finish the battle before I confronted Emma about the scroll.
That was the plan, at least.
But plans never hold in this world, do they?
While checking inventory in the royal treasury, logging the newly acquired artifacts and rare items…
A deafening crash shattered the silence.
_BOOM!_
The walls exploded without warning—rubble, debris, and screams filled the air.
The blast threw me across the room, slamming me into the wreckage near the entrance.
I lay there, dazed, ears ringing, dust clouding my vision.
"Ugh…"
Even breathing hurt.
What... happened?
Pushing myself up using what little of the wall remained intact, I scanned the scene.
Knights and guards who had been stationed in the hallways… crushed.
Blood smeared across the shattered stones.
I was lucky.
Had the angle been slightly different, I'd have been under those same stones.
Thrown back by the shockwave instead of buried beneath it.
But—
"What the hell _happened_?"
Forcing myself toward the open breach in the wall, I peered outside.
There—emerging through the smoke and debris—
A cloaked figure.
Dark robes… and behind them, towering stone golems.
Marching forward.
Straight into the heart of the royal palace.
"Damn it… I need to move. Now."
Snatching a sword from one of the fallen knights, I stumbled down the corridor toward the throne room.
My ribs ached. My legs threatened to give out. But I had to warn the King.
Halfway there, I ran into a small group of surviving knights and palace soldiers.
"You, come with me! The rest—go check on Her Highness, Prince and the Princess!"
They nodded without hesitation, splitting off immediately.
Together, my half of the group rushed toward the throne room.
But—
We were already too late.
The hooded figure had made it inside. The stone golems were already tearing through guards like paper.
A handful of brave knights stood their ground, blades clashing against the animated stone… but it was clear they were being overwhelmed.
I gritted my teeth.
_"Me and my big mouth..."_
I had promised Ramon, before he left with the Hero Party—
_"Don't worry. I'll hold the fort here."_
_Sigh..._
I gave my word.
And now, I had to make sure I lived up to it.