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Right after arriving in Kahara, the city of the old gods, the wizard of the Red Tower, Liyan, Seolrang, and the Golden Mane tribe decided to wait near the entrance, where they had the best view of the city.

Of course, Seolrang and Evan tried to follow Alon, but Alon left them at the entrance and went down into the city alone.

There was only one reason for that. 

[Since you can hear the voice, you’ve at least shown a minimum level of respect. Come alone to the central tower of Kahara.]

This was because, as soon as Alon entered Kahara, he heard a voice whispering such words to him.

Naturally, he had no idea whose voice it was that whispered into his ear. 

Though he had been to this city more than dozens of times, never before had a voice like this echoed in his mind.

However, instinctively, he realized that it had something to do with the words left behind by a mysterious being. Without hesitation, he moved forward and finally arrived at the center of Kahara.

It was less of a forgotten city and more fitting to describe it as a fortress, given how tall the tower was, especially for an underground structure.

Staring at the tower blankly, Alon soon walked inside. 

Upon entering, what greeted him was a spiral staircase leading upward. 

Without a word, Alon began to climb the stairs. 

Flare! 

As he ascended the staircase, the lights began to ignite one by one, as if to illuminate his path.

Though it was a situation he had never seen in the game, which made him hesitate momentarily, that was all. 

Following the lights, Alon continued his steps, and eventually, when he reached the top of the long staircase, he found a massive room.

Rat-a-tat-tat~!!!

Along with the activation of a magic circle, he saw the previously empty room fill with enormous bookshelves. 

The bookshelves rose from the ground and soon covered the entire tower. At that moment, except for the sky and ground, there was no clear distinction between front and back.

[You’ve arrived.]

***

In fact, not all members of the Golden Mane tribe had an unusual affection for other bloodlines.

Of course, compared to other beastfolk, the Golden Manes had a relatively high species-wide affinity for each other.

Though it meant little now, the Golden Mane tribe had once stood at the top of the beastfolk hierarchy 500 years ago.

But even so, their affection wasn’t deeper than what they had for their own families. 

They merely had a slightly higher affinity for one another than for other species, and that was it.

In the end, they were still strangers to each other.

Nevertheless, the reason why Seolrang was so obsessed with her kin and cherished the Golden Mane tribe so deeply was because of her past. 

Her happiness lay in the past.

She had enjoyed the days spent living with her kin, found fulfillment in helping her father wrap up the day, and was happy to sit at the table in the evening, eating meals with her family.

The life she led in a community where only the Golden Mane tribe lived, where everyone was bound under the concept of kin, still remained a source of happiness for Seolrang.

That’s why Seolrang sought revenge against the ‘Black Dragon’ who shattered that happiness and aimed to gather her kin to reclaim it.

Her respect for the Great Moon also stemmed from that.

She believed that the essence of the Golden Mane tribe, which Alon had given her, could bring her both revenge and happiness once again.

And for her—

Crunch-!

“Huh?”

The death of one of the Golden Mane tribe was enough to drive her reason into a raging fury.

Right before her eyes, the body of her kin, who had been speaking just moments ago, crumbled so pitifully. 

And at the same time, what appeared before her was—

“Hmph~ Is this all?”

It was none other than Malian. 

“Nothing much.”

Malian of Baba Yaga.

With his hideous face twisted in grotesque pleasure, he threw aside the corpse of the Golden Mane tribe. At the same time, dozens of black-robed figures appeared behind him.

“What the—”

“Prepare for battle!”

At his command, the wizards of the Red Tower and the mercenaries he had hired raised their staffs with tense expressions. The previously relaxed faces of the Golden Mane tribe quickly turned to those of panic and fear.

And then—

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Malian, staring directly at Seolrang, who was making an unmistakably menacing expression, twisted his lips into a sneer and spoke.

“Are beastfolk truly this dumb? You’re asking me that question, in this situation?”

His voice was full of mockery, clear to anyone who heard it.

Upon hearing this, Seolrang narrowed her eyes, realizing there was no longer any need for words.

Crackle-!

Electricity erupted from her body, scattering in all directions, and her gleaming golden eyes locked onto Malian as her target.

“One.”

In that instant, Seolrang twisted her body, narrowly evading an attack brought on by an unsettling, instinctive feeling.

Boom~!

The ground exploded with a deafening sound, as if a massive meteor had crashed into it, leaving a gaping crater.

“Wow, you dodged that? You’re not just any ordinary opponent, huh?”

Soon, a man who had completely demolished the entrance, Kalman Arents, casually walked out of the dust with a deep grin.

Seeing Kalman stand next to Malian as if they had planned it, Seolrang let out a bitter laugh. The events that had just transpired allowed her to grasp the situation.

Seolrang clenched her fist tightly.

Crackle-!

Electricity sparked to life in response to her will. Her stance made it clear that no more conversation was necessary.

“Wait, wait! What is the meaning of this!? We are wizards of the Red Tower! And you all are from Baba Yaga, aren’t you!?” 

Unlike Seolrang, one of the wizards of the Red Tower desperately shouted in an attempt to escape the situation. As Malian turned his gaze toward them, the wizard added,

“Hmm, Red Tower wizards, huh? I suppose it could cause some trouble if we mess with you.”

His words hung in the air.

“That’s right! If any harm comes to us now—”

“But.”

The wizard tried to continue, but Malian immediately interrupted, not allowing him even a moment’s respite.

“That would only be a problem if any of you made it out alive, wouldn’t it?”

With a twisted smile, Malian’s words made the wizard’s face go completely rigid. The wizard wasn’t foolish enough to misunderstand his meaning.

And so—

“Tsk, if only you hadn’t made such a fuss, none of this would’ve been necessary. Why did you have to make things difficult for everyone?”

“Now that I think about it, where’s that noble we’re supposed to take care of? He should’ve been with you, right?”

“Well, we can deal with that after we kill this one first.”

Kalman casually responded to Malian’s words and said,

“Now, let’s see.”

Black, sinister energy swirled around him, terrifying to anyone who saw it.

“Shall we run a little experiment?”

Boom-!

With that, the battle began, as Kalman hurled his fist toward Seolrang.

***

Alon, realizing that the voice that had echoed in his mind was now coming from directly in front of him, lifted his head. There, sitting at a desk, was a figure.

It was impossible to define its appearance.

To be exact, it seemed as though something was constantly disrupting any attempt to describe its form.

It looked human, beast-like, and monstrous all at once.

As Alon stared blankly at the figure, whose shadow seemed to shift infinitely, it spoke.

[Do not stare too long. You won’t be able to perceive my existence no matter how hard you try.]

With those words, Alon snapped out of his daze, remained silent for a moment, then asked,

“Who are you?”

[If you cannot even comprehend my form, what makes you think you can comprehend my name?]

“… Did you know I was coming?”

[How could I? Do you have any idea how long I’ve been trapped here?]

“Yet, you spoke as if you did know.”

[Not at all. Perhaps you were mistaken?]

Alon suddenly felt the urge to flick the head of the formless figure sitting before him, but he held back and spoke instead.

“I came here following the words of Ulthultus—or rather, of the mysterious entity.”

[Hmm. I had a hunch that might be the case.]

The figure responded in a slightly intrigued tone and continued.

[Did that being tell you its true name? …Well, it seems reasonable enough to think you’re worth testing.]

Alon fell silent for a moment as he watched the figure nod as if this conclusion was quite logical, then spoke again.

“…Testing what, exactly?”

[Testing your chance. I mean, an opportunity for you.]

“An opportunity…?”

As Alon muttered to himself, the figure elaborated.

[You seem to have many questions. Unfortunately, I cannot provide you with any answers right now. You lack the qualifications.]

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

Curious about a setting he had never encountered in the game, Alon asked further.

[To clarify in advance, it’s not my judgment you should be concerned with. Rather, it’s this world’s standards that determine your worth.]

After saying this, the figure seemed to ponder something for a moment before continuing.

[You probably don’t understand and have many questions. So I’ll explain it simply.]

It soon spoke again.

[Before long, another outsider will descend into this world. Deal with that being and return to me.]

“…And if I do?”

[Then you will have met the minimum requirements—the requirements to see me properly and have your questions answered.]

“So you’re saying I can’t learn anything right now?”

[Well, I can at least give you one hint.]

The figure, whose form was still too ambiguous to define, looked directly at Alon and smiled.

[Once you leave the tower, go and read the text at the easternmost end of this fortress. That should give you a general idea of the situation.]

“The text at the eastern end…” Alon murmured, and the figure dragged out its response before speaking again.

[Good, I’ve made my decision.]

[In fact, my explanation ends here, but since you’ve come all this way, I’ll share something interesting with you.]

Without giving Alon a chance to ask, the figure continued.

[In this world, beyond the use of incantations, there is a concept known as ‘Sulli’ (順理)—the natural order. Have you heard of it?]

“…?”

“Sulli?”

[Yes, and beyond that is ‘Self-manifestation’ (自性具現), but that’s still far beyond your reach.]

After murmuring to itself for a moment, the figure resumed explaining to Alon.

[Sulli is the foundation for what those in this world call magic, though the fools who wield it barely understand its basics. I can see that you’re better than they are, but you’re still using it incorrectly.]

The figure continued speaking as if it found the current situation amusing.

[The magic manifested through incantations follows the natural order. It’s not something you can just throw together haphazardly. Only by following the natural order, carefully constructing the incantation, and invoking the proper name can true magic be performed.]

The figure raised a finger and added:

[But even with this explanation, I doubt you’ll understand. So, as a gift, I’ll teach you the ‘Sulli’—the natural order.]

It concluded by saying:

[This is what true magic is.]

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The Desert Nation, Colony.  

The Colosseum, which serves as both the heart and landmark of the nation, shares the same name as the capital.  

The Colosseum is always filled with the public’s cheers and madness, as it is constantly stained with the blood shed by gladiators.  

Even when a gladiator gets stabbed or loses their life, everything that happens in this Colosseum is merely entertainment for the masses.  

But now, the Colosseum was silent.  

It wasn’t that the public wasn’t present.  

The Colosseum was packed with so many people that even the stairways, where people were supposed to move, were crammed with bodies.  

Could it be that the match hadn’t started yet? No, that wasn’t the case.  

Already, hundreds of gladiators of various ranks were standing in the spotlight.  

There was only one odd thing.  

While hundreds of gladiators gathered on the right side of the arena, on the left side, only one man stood.  

A fight that appeared imbalanced to anyone watching.  

Yet, the man standing alone on the Colosseum grounds had no complaints. Instead, a thin smile played on his lips.  

The iron gauntlets on the man’s hands gleamed.  

As soon as the referee’s voice, amplified through magic, echoed, the hundreds of gladiators began rushing toward the man.  

Some with swords, some with fists, and others with axes.  

Gladiators of all sorts, ranging from A-rank to B-rank, all charged in, aiming for one man’s neck.  

However, despite the ferocious glints in their eyes, the man’s face still carried a deep smile, while the gladiators rushing at him bore intense tension in their eyes.  

Because everyone here knew who the man standing before them was.  

One of the Babayagas of this Colony.  

The man who had held the position of Babayaga for the longest time.  

Kalman Arents.  

As Kalman grinned, he shifted into position.  

His left foot slid behind his right, and his right hand followed suit, pulling back.  

Every muscle in his body tensed instantly.  

And just before the gladiators reached him, Kalman threw a punch.  

A punch aimed at the empty air.  

A punch aimed at no one, yet capable of striking anyone.  

Boom!  

As the shockwave erupted, the hundreds of gladiators rushing toward him were blown away in all directions in an instant, and with Kalman’s body vanishing,  

Crash!  

A ruthless massacre began.  

Each time Kalman’s obsidian gauntlet extended, the bodies of the gladiators trying to recover were shattered.  

For five minutes, the Colosseum was filled with silence, leaving only the fallen gladiators and Kalman.  

After a brief moment of silence,  

“Wooaaaaah!”  

The Colosseum exploded with a frenzy of cheers, as if the previous quiet had been a lie.  

The crowd, crazed and wild, paid no attention to the gladiators whose heads had been crushed or whose hearts had been destroyed by Kalman.  

They only screamed and cheered madly for Kalman.  

As Kalman slowly scanned the crowd, still with a deep smile, he turned and walked back into the Colosseum.  

The luxurious waiting room reserved for the Babayagas.  

Listening to the never-ending cheers of the crowd, Kalman remarked,  

“There are still so many foolish people. Thinking they could defeat a Babayaga with mere numbers, hundreds of them.”  

Turning at the sound of a voice from behind, Kalman found another man grinning.  

The man was Malian, also known as a Babayaga, his bald head twisted grotesquely on one side.  

As Kalman sat on a luxurious chair, Malian continued,  

“Do you know who wiped out the Blood Sand Bandits?”  

“No. Did you find out?”  

Malian immediately responded to Kalman’s question.  

“It was Seolrang.”  

“…Is that so?”  

After a brief silence, Kalman finally spoke.  

But there was no particular anger in his voice.  

Only a faint acceptance, as if saying, “So, that’s how it was.”  

“Doesn’t seem like you’re very upset?” Malian asked, slightly puzzled.  

Kalman leisurely leaned back in his chair.  

“Not really? In the first place, I kept him around just because he brought in some pocket money. Besides, we’re going to kill him anyway, right?”

Kalman responded with a sly smile.

“True, that’s the plan.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

As Kalman asked, Malian flashed a quick grin and extended his left hand before Kalman. In his hand was a black cube.

“Oh-ho, is this the Abyssal Core? The one that can elevate the worthy?”

Malian nodded as Kalman twisted his mouth into a smile.

“Yes, with this, I can crush that arrogant beastkin’s head.”

“That’s music to my ears.”

Kalman lifted the cube from Malian’s hand. Gazing at the abyssal object, which seemed to absorb all light, he muttered with satisfaction.

“Finally, I can kill the bastard that’s been tearing through Colony as if it were her own playground.”

“I agree. Just a few days ago, I suffered because of her as well. And—”

Malian sighed deeply, revealing a bit of his frustration as he nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Kalman spoke again.

“So, when will the plan be executed?”

“In two days at the ruins.”

“That’s quick.”

“Isn’t quick better? Once that girl’s dead, you can start eating away at the royal authority again—”

“And you can take over the entire underworld, right?”

“Exactly.”

Malian smiled as they reaffirmed their shared goals.

“There’s no way we’ll fail.”

“Because of the Abyssal Core?”

“That too, but we also have some friends on the other side.”

With those words, Malian continued.

“Oh, and if you see that noble next to Seolrang, it would be great if you could take care of him as well.”

“Why?”

“Just a small request. I hear he’s Seolrang’s Master. Wouldn’t it be fun to kill him first, right in front of Seolrang?”

“Hmm, that does sound like it could be fun.”

With Kalman’s smiling response, Malian disappeared, leaving behind a promise to meet again in two days.

“Finally…”

Kalman sat in his throne, more greed-driven than any other, a deep smile on his lips.

***

About two days later, Alon, fully rested after staying at the guild, boarded a carriage with Seolrang, heading to the ruins. After some time had passed, they were almost at their destination.

Looking out at Seolrang, who was chatting casually with the golden-maned beastkin guarding the carriage, Alon thought to himself.

‘She’s nothing like the rumors suggest.’

It had been only about four days since Alon arrived at the Colony, but he had already grasped Seolrang’s reputation within it.

‘A mad dog…’

Alon made a peculiar expression.

The rumors often portrayed Seolrang as a mad dog, and naturally, he grew curious. After all, since their initial meeting, Seolrang had never shown any such behavior in front of him. For the past three days, all he saw was Seolrang smiling brightly and wagging her tail.

“Master?”

“Hmm?”

Alon snapped out of his thoughts as Seolrang, who had stopped talking to the beastkin, was now staring at him.

“You seemed deep in thought, Master. What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing much.”

As Seolrang tilted her head to the side, almost enough to twist her neck, Alon hesitated for a moment before answering.

“I just thought you’re good at looking after the guild members.”

“Of course! They’re all my family!”

“Family?”

“Yeah! They’re all my kin! I have to take care of them! I don’t care about anyone else.”

“Is that so…?”

“Oh, but not you, Master!”

Seolrang said, her expression suddenly becoming serious as she stared intently at him.

As if she was considering something important, her brow furrowed as she murmured,

“Master… hmm… family… after family?… No, after Yutia…?”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, no matter how important you or Yutia are, you’re not blood-related.”

As if she had made a difficult decision, Seolrang concluded with a slightly apologetic expression.

But Alon simply shrugged and thought to himself.

‘Higher than I expected.’

Despite his expressionless face, Alon was pleased. Considering that he had barely spoken to Seolrang, let alone exchanged letters, the fact that he was being treated as the third most important person in her life was quite satisfying.

‘Hmm… does that mean if something dangerous happens later, I could probably ask for help once?’

As Alon finished his thoughts with a bit of relief, the coachman suddenly called out,

“We’ve arrived!”

The carriage had reached the city of Kahara, the ancient city of gods.

***

At the entrance to the ruins, now called by that name, the city was once known as “Kahara, the City of the Old Gods,” at least according to his knowledge as a player.

Alon stepped out of the carriage and began walking deeper into the dark cave, organizing his thoughts.

‘Where should I start looking?’

In Psychedelia, Alon had visited this place multiple times. However, those visits were only for side quests to deal with the bandits hiding here, not to uncover any hidden secrets.

‘I do remember there being a place with lots of writings.’

Using his in-game knowledge, he decided to focus on certain areas that stood out in his memory after entering Kahara. He was pinpointing a few spots to explore in more detail.

After walking for some time, when Seolrang’s expression started showing signs of boredom, Alon noticed a group walking ahead, much further in front than his party.

Before long, he recognized who they were.

“Ah, Count Palatio?”

“Liyan…?”

The woman approaching from the darkness, illuminating the way with light magic, was none other than Liyan Aguileras, daughter of the Red Tower’s master, along with a group of Red Tower wizards whom Alon had encountered during his recent visit to the desert city of Colony. 

Alon, noticing that the confused looks of the twenty or so wizards had shifted to slightly surprised expressions, felt a bit taken aback himself.

“Are you here to explore the ruins too, Count?” Liyan asked.

“Indeed,” Alon nodded in response to her question, and naturally, he began walking alongside the Red Tower wizards as they continued exploring the ruins.

After walking for some more time, Alon heard Evan, who was also starting to look bored like Seolrang, say, “There’s the exit.”

Alon followed Evan’s gaze toward the exit and, finally stepping outside, was greeted by an incredible sight.

“Wow—”

The wizards, beastkin, and even Seolrang couldn’t help but exclaim in awe. The sight before them, after stepping outside, was that of a massive fortress within an underground cavern.

However, Alon wasn’t particularly surprised by the scene. He had already seen this enormous fortress several times before. 

But even so, his usually expressionless eyes widened slightly more than usual because, in his ear, he heard something that no one else could:

[You’ve finally come, magician.]

A voice that only he could hear.

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The Blood Sand Bandits were a large organization that had been active in the southern desert of the continent for a very long time. 

The number of members they commanded exceeded hundreds, and among them, most of the combatants were capable of imbuing their swords with magic—making them a force far too powerful to be considered mere bandits. 

Given the massive power the Blood Sand Bandits possessed, it was only natural that they caught the attention of the nation of Colony, which was rooted in the desert. 

After all, the area where the Blood Sand Bandits were operating was none other than Colony’s capital city. 

Like the saying goes, “a nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” It would have been appropriate for the nation to take action and eliminate such a large bandit group. 

After all, when bandits loiter around, the nation inevitably suffers damage in some way. 

However, the reason the Blood Sand Bandits could continue to operate so boldly near the capital’s desert region was because they had powerful backing. 

And not just any backing, but from the most long-standing Baba Yaga of Colony—none other than the warrior, Kalman Arents. 

With Kalman supporting them, the group that should have been wiped out long ago grew from dozens to hundreds over a span of ten years. 

Today, however, Draco, the leader of the Blood Sand Bandits and Kalman Arents’ trusted subordinate, was in a very bad mood. 

“Jack is dead?” 

“Yes.” 

The reason was that one of his men had gone out to raid a caravan today and was killed. 

“Ha—” 

Draco scowled in irritation. His frustration wasn’t from the loss of a comrade, but because one of the laborers he had painstakingly raised had died meaninglessly. 

‘I had planned to train him a bit more and use him as an assassin.’ 

Clicking his tongue, Draco asked, “Who killed him?” 

“It seems he was killed by a noble while targeting a mage.” 

“A noble? Jack?” 

“Yes. From what I heard, when the noble used magic, the middle of the desert froze over…” 

“What’s their name?” 

“We’re currently gathering information from our contacts in Colony, and we should have details by tomorrow.” 

After a moment of contemplation, Draco responded, “Let me know as soon as we get the information.” 

Naturally, Draco had no intention of letting the mage who killed Jack off the hook. 

‘I must avenge the waste of my resources.’ 

Of course, considering the noble’s status in a foreign country, killing him could lead to all kinds of complications, but Draco wasn’t too concerned. 

Killing someone in the desert wasn’t particularly unusual, and as long as there were no witnesses, most deaths in the desert were treated as disappearances. 

And Draco was one of the most experienced at such acts. 

Once he figured out the noble’s identity, he planned to wait for the right moment to bury him when he tried to leave the desert. 

—If only ‘that’ hadn’t appeared. 

“Gahk—!” 

Draco coughed up dark crimson blood as he looked in despair at his hideout. 

Just ten minutes ago, the secret hideout of the Blood Sand Bandits, which had proudly stood for years, lay in ruins. 

But that wasn’t all. 

The soldiers he had spent more than ten years raising were all either buried in the sand or crushed against the hideout walls, meeting their end. 

And then— 

“Hmm, is that all?” 

A pair of sharp golden eyes scanned the surroundings before vanishing in an instant. 

With a flash of gold lightning, the figure of Seolrang reappeared, holding in both hands— 

“This ends it.” 

—the heads of the bandits. 

The two heads retained expressions of tense anticipation, as if they were still unaware of what had happened, lying in ambush near the destroyed hideout for a surprise attack. 

Thud— 

Seolrang, disinterested, tossed the heads far away, leaving Draco with a look of disbelief, unable to comprehend the situation. 

From start to finish— 

Everything. 

— 

‘What in the world… is this…?’ 

Draco found himself staring at the grim reaper, who was now slowly approaching him. 

Step step… 

In a single moment, the golden flash of light that had appeared had destroyed his kingdom—the hideout he had built—and wiped out the Blood Sand Bandits, the hundreds of men he had cultivated over more than ten years.

Step, step…

The girl with golden eyes. The reaper. 

As soon as those sharp, golden eyes fixed on Draco, he felt a shiver of primal fear run through his entire body. An instinctive fear. 

Even amidst this terror, Draco desperately tried to speak—to say something to save his life.

“Se, Seolrang! Do you even know what you’ve done?!” 

Draco’s voice was filled with desperation. His kingdom of ten years, everything he had built, had crumbled like a sandcastle, but he had not given up. If he could survive, he believed he could rebuild his small kingdom again. 

But— 

Unfortunately, Seolrang showed no signs of reacting to Draco’s frantic words. All she did was raise her blood-soaked right hand and grab the head of Draco, whose stomach had been pierced through. 

“If you kill me now, you’ll be making an enemy of Kalman Arents! I’m under his protection!” 

Sensing his impending death, Draco tried to invoke Kalman’s name, hoping to escape, but the strength in Seolrang’s hand only tightened. 

“Is it money you want?! Take it! Take all of it! Or do you want a tribute? I’ll pay whatever tribute you want!!” 

His screams grew more frenzied, and at last, he began to wail in despair as he fully realized his approaching death. 

“Why?! Why are you doing this to me?! Why?! Why!!!” 

His voice, full of resentment and frustration, rang out. 

In response— 

“Because you laid a hand on my master. And—” 

A muttered whisper reached Draco’s ears. It wasn’t loud, but neither was it small. Just a quiet murmur. 

And then— 

“Because I don’t want to get scolded.”

With that soft whisper, recalling her red eyes, Seolrang crushed Draco’s head with a loud *crack*. 

With her mission complete, Seolrang disappeared, leaving nothing behind. 

In mere ten minutes, the Blood Sand Bandits, who had terrorized the desert under Kalman’s name for over a decade, vanished from history. 

***

The next day. 

Alon, feeling the fatigue from his long travels melt away, received two pieces of news. 

The first was that entering the Forgotten City would not be possible for another three days. 

The second was— 

“Count, I heard that the Blood Sand Bandits who attacked us have been completely wiped out!” 

“…The Blood Sand Bandits?” 

It was the group that had attacked him not long ago, now apparently annihilated. 

“Yes, they were completely wiped out.” 

“…When?” 

“From what I’ve heard, it happened yesterday.” 

“An entire bandit group wiped out, and rumors already spread in a day?” 

As Alon furrowed his brow in confusion, Evan nodded. 

“The entire city is buzzing with the news. Apparently, the caravan that arrived earlier today shared the information.” 

At Evan’s words, Alon felt as if a thousand question marks were hovering over his head. 

The Blood Sand Bandits weren’t supposed to disappear for another three years, not unless they were dealt with by the protagonist, Elivan, as the original story dictated. 

‘Why on earth did they suddenly vanish?’ 

With a puzzled expression, Alon tried to figure it out, but— 

“I took care of it!” 

The answer came far more simply than expected. 

“You did?” 

“Yep! Didn’t I do a great job!?” 

At Seolrang’s innocent grin, both Alon and Evan slowly opened their mouths in astonishment. 

“You dealt with the Blood Sand Bandits…?” 

“Yup!” 

“…Why?” 

Alon asked instinctively. 

“Well, didn’t Master say so?” 

Evan glanced at Alon as if to ask, ‘Did You?’, while Alon stared blankly at Evan. But that only lasted for a moment. 

“You said you didn’t want to see them again.” 

“I did say that… but—” 

“If they’re gone, you won’t have to see them anymore, right?” 

With a wide, innocent smile, Seolrang nodded as if she’d just solved a grand dilemma, leaving Alon with the same feeling he’d had when he first met Deus—a feeling that something about this was just… too much. 

But that moment of bewilderment soon passed, and Alon suddenly thought of something and asked. 

“Wait, so you wiped out the entire Blood Sand Bandit group all by yourself?” 

“That’s right!”

Seolrang nodded nonchalantly, and Alon found himself falling silent without realizing it. 

The Blood Sand Bandits he knew numbered in the hundreds, with most of the combatants capable of imbuing their weapons with magic—hardly the kind of group to be taken lightly. 

Moreover, Draco, the leader of the bandits, was someone who, as far as Alon knew, would be able to wield an aura blade three years from now. 

And yet, Seolrang had just single-handedly killed hundreds of knight-level combatants, including Draco, their leader…? 

He knew that the title of Baba Yaga wasn’t something one could earn lightly, but… wasn’t this a bit stronger than he had expected?

Alon stared blankly at Seolrang, who was grinning carefreely, and suddenly recalled that in the future, she would become the embodiment of the sin of pride.

‘…’ 

With that thought, he found his posture becoming more reverent.

This was three days before their departure for the Forgotten City.

***

At the time when Alon left for the desert city of Colony, a secret meeting was taking place in a small tavern in the eastern part of Teria, the capital of the Kingdom of Asteria. 

“So, why did you call for me, Duke?” 

“I didn’t think your intuition had dulled to the point where you had to ask, Marquis,” said Duke Rimgrave, leader of the royalist faction. 

At those words, Marquis Philboid, leader of the noble faction, sat down naturally and spoke. 

“I assume this is about Count Palatio.”

“You’re sharp. I called you because of Count Palatio… or more precisely, the ‘Kalpha’ that those brats gathered together,” Rimgrave replied. 

The marquis nodded, as if no further explanation was needed. 

Having spent decades navigating the treacherous world of politics, they both easily understood that the duke was seeking an alliance to bring down ‘Kalpha’. 

The Kalpha group was an obnoxious organization that posed a threat to both the royalist and noble factions, and it needed to be dismantled as soon as possible. 

In their world, yesterday’s enemies could become today’s allies depending on their interests, so it wasn’t difficult for them to join forces.

“So, what’s your plan?” Philboid cut straight to the point without delay.

Admiring the marquis’ quick judgment, having already calculated the costs and benefits in just a few words, the duke responded, “I plan to involve Rosario.”

“…Rosario?” 

“Yes, to be specific, the ‘Cardinal’ of Rosario.” 

The duke began to lay out his detailed plan for the marquis. 

After some time had passed—

“And what’s the demand?” Philboid asked, as if there was no need to hear anything further. 

“Half of the bribe to stuff the cardinal’s mouth.” 

“Not bad.” 

The two nobles exchanged thoughts, both smiling in satisfaction. 

If their plan went well, the upstart Kalpha group, made up of rabble from the underworld, would crumble like a sandcastle. 

“It won’t take long. In fact, I’ve already made contact.” 

“I’m looking forward to it.” 

With that, both men left the tavern with smiles on their faces, heading in different directions. 

Only two whiskey glasses, still filled with drink, were left behind in the rundown tavern.

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A-class fighter Balam.

Among fighters ranging from F-class to A-class, he was considered one of the top in terms of combat ability. 

It was just an ordinary day for him, relaxing with a drink at a pub he often visited, as there was no scheduled duel.

Until a nobleman appeared before his eyes.

The nobleman, dressed opulently without trying to conceal his wealth, was strolling through the city for the first time. 

Unsurprisingly, he got caught by Adigo and his gang. Adigo, an A-class fighter of a higher rank.

Even then, it still felt like just another ordinary day. Balam had seen Adigo extort money or goods from merchants or nobles who wandered into the colony several times before.

“Look at those fancy clothes. Jackpot.”

“We’ll make some good money off this one.”

The fighters beside Balam chatted casually as they watched the nobleman surrounded by Adigo’s gang. None of the fighters in the pub or nearby shops had any intention of helping the nobleman. Even though there was another A-class fighter present, they simply watched Adigo robbing the noble with lazy, indifferent eyes, taking no action.

It was only natural. There was nothing to gain from helping that nobleman. Even if the noble offered immediate payment in return for assistance, none of the fighters would step forward. No one was foolish enough to cross Adigo’s gang, or more precisely, the monster Malian, who backed Adigo.

The fighters knew that Adigo’s arrogance came from his belief in Malian, the monstrous Babayaga, so they all quietly drank their beer, using the situation before them as mere entertainment.

Then, when Adigo lightly smacked the nobleman’s head—

Boom!

Something extraordinary happened.

“Start talking.”

A sudden appearance. One of the four Babayagas in the colony.

“Hey.”

The atmosphere cracked with electricity as Seolrang, the Golden Flash, appeared. Lightning, her signature, crackled around her body.

“Which bastard…?” 

Adigo, who had been knocked into the wall, stood up confidently but was left confused by Seolrang’s sudden entrance.

“S-Seolrang?”

Mumbling in disbelief, it was as if he couldn’t comprehend the situation, though he recognized the person standing before him. 

However—

“What did you do to my Master?”

At Seolrang’s following words, Adigo’s expression shifted from confusion to terror.

“Arrrgh!?”

Before he could react, Seolrang grabbed Adigo’s head and slammed it to the ground.

Crack!

The fighters could hear the chilling sound reverberating in their ears.

But it didn’t end there. Seolrang, with a cold expression, grabbed Adigo’s leg and flung him aside.

Crash!

Adigo was hurled into the pub. As he scrambled to get back up, he tried to speak.

“W-Wait, I didn’t kno—”

Crack!

Seolrang grabbed his head again and smashed it into the counter.

“For real!” 

Over and over.

“Aaagh!”

Over and over.

“If you keep doing this, my boss will—”

Over and over.

“P-Please spare—”

Crack!

Silence.

All the fighters watched, their mouths shut, staring at the wreckage of the pub. Even the owner, who should have been angry about the damage, stood there trembling, holding his breath in terror. A customer, seated at a shattered table, remained frozen, holding a heavy mug of beer.

And then—

Thud!

Seolrang, covered in blood, finally released Adigo’s head without a trace of interest. At that moment, all the fighters present shuddered in awe. Her speed was beyond their perception, and the way she effortlessly handled an A-class fighter like a mere underling left them in reverence.

As Seolrang, who hadn’t even broken a sweat, glanced at the trembling thugs surrounding Alon—

Boom! Crackle!

In the blink of an eye, she had sent them all flying. They crashed into walls and windows, convulsing before going limp.

The fighters, who had witnessed Seolrang show no mercy and crush every opponent without emotion in the Coliseum, shuddered as they watched the Golden Flash, who had become a Babayaga, once again.

“Master! You’re here!? You should’ve told me!”

Before anyone realized it, Seolrang, who was now smiling brightly and playfully wagging her golden tail, wrapped her arm around Alon’s. Everyone around her froze for a moment.

“I’ve been waiting so long for Master to arrive! I prepared a lot of things, so let’s go quickly!”

Regardless of the fighters’ confusion, Seolrang, still wagging her tail and grinning, pulled Alon along and started moving somewhere. As Seolrang and the nobleman disappeared into the distance, the fighters watching were left with a bewildering question:

“Who is that guy…? Who could make that mad dog…?”

They were left wondering who the nobleman was, the one Seolrang referred to as her Master.

However, Alon, who was being dragged by the blood-covered Seolrang, was just as bewildered as the fighters. Despite feeling grateful and oddly proud, he couldn’t help but wonder,

‘Am I… not going to die?’

***

Since Alon arrived at the colony well into the afternoon, by the time Seolrang led him to a particular building, the sun was already setting.

“This is it!”

Following Seolrang, who perked her ears up and entered the building, Alon thought to himself quietly, ‘It’s big.’

As he stared blankly at the building, which rose more than nine stories high—unlike most others in the area—he heard Evan’s admiring voice beside him.

“Wow, it’s huge.”

Although it didn’t have the vast feel of Deus’ mansion, tall buildings were rare in this city, making the contrast more striking.

After entering the building with Evan and Seolrang, they headed straight for the top floor.

“Ah, Boss, you’re back.”

“Boss!”

As they approached the top floor, they passed several beastfolk who greeted Seolrang with stiff salutes, all of them, like Seolrang, having golden hair.

“Boss, welcome back.”

When they finally reached the top floor, another beastfolk, who seemed to have been waiting at the door, greeted them with a bow. This one also had golden hair but bore a long scar across one side of his face.

“Yeah, nothing happened, right?”

“Nothing at all.”

Seolrang smiled cheerfully as she chatted and opened the door, walking inside. Alon and Evan followed her in.

While entering, Alon felt the gaze of the beastfolk standing at the door, and as he was about to look back—

“It seems a bit different from the rumors.”

“Rumors?”

Alon couldn’t help but show a puzzled expression at Evan’s remark.

Evan, looking ahead at Seolrang, explained, “Yeah, I’ve heard that Seolrang doesn’t have the best reputation.”

“How so?”

“They say she has an extremely cruel personality. They call her the Mad Dog, I think? Though I’ve also heard that she treats her own kind a bit more gently.”

“…Seolrang?”

Alon glanced over at Seolrang.

“Master! You can sit here!”

Seolrang, wagging her tail excitedly, was already sitting cross-legged on a mat she had prepared in her office. She patted the top seat of the mat energetically.

‘…That earlier scene was kind of terrifying.’

Alon briefly recalled the earlier violent outburst from Seolrang, but seeing her now grinning so brightly, he just shrugged and sat down.

With that, the real conversation with Seolrang began.

***

In truth, Alon had been somewhat worried about how he would carry on a conversation with Seolrang. Although his previous conversation with Deus had ended well, Seolrang was unpredictable, and he wasn’t sure how things would unfold with her.

However, contrary to Alon’s concerns—

“Great!”

“…What?”

“Great!”

—The conversation with Seolrang turned out to be, in some ways, even easier than with Deus, leaving Alon a bit bewildered.

“Did you really listen to everything I said?”

“Yeah! And you can speak casually with me!”

Seolrang spoke energetically. Even now, she couldn’t seem to sit still. While still cross-legged, she casually placed her hands on the ground and began to do a handstand.

Watching her with a blank expression, Alon commented, “Still, don’t you have a lot to think about? I’ve heard you’re running a guild as well.”

During their brief conversation, Alon learned that, aside from becoming a Babayaga in the colony, Seolrang had also gathered others of their kind and formed a guild, prompting him to ask:

“Hmm…”

Seolrang, now in an odd handstand position, seemed to ponder for a moment.

“It’s fine!”

“…Really?”

“Yes! Even if we’re not family, you’re my Master!”

Seolrang’s enthusiastic response left Alon nodding a bit awkwardly, but deep down, he felt the same sense of pride he had when dealing with Deus. After all, he hadn’t expected Seolrang to go so far to help him, especially since he hadn’t been in contact or even sent a letter.

‘Honestly, I didn’t expect her to help this much.’

From Alon’s perspective, it wasn’t a bad thing to receive such help. He continued their conversation, feeling a paternal warmth growing in his heart. They talked about many things, though most of it was nothing particularly special. Alon asked about how Seolrang had been, sharing stories about Deus, while Seolrang told him about her life in the colony.

Then, as if something had come to mind, Seolrang spoke with a sigh.

“Thanks to you, I was able to gather the scattered members of our tribe!”

“…Because of me?”

“Yep, look!”

Seolrang smiled brightly and showed the glove she wore on her right hand, which Alon quickly recognized as an essence of the Golden Mane Tribe.

“I see.”

‘So there really was something to the saying that meeting the Golden Mane Tribe unlocks their true power.’

Alon began to understand why Seolrang had a favorable view of him. As they continued talking for a bit longer, Seolrang suddenly shifted the topic.

“Come to think of it, the desert is quite dangerous.”

“Hmm? Why’s that?”

Seolrang tilted her head in curiosity at Evan’s remark.

“We were attacked.”

“…Attacked?”

“Yeah.”

At the word “attack,” Seolrang’s cheerful smile momentarily froze, but Alon nodded in agreement with Evan.

“We were ambushed by the Blood Sand Bandits, even though we moved during the daytime, when they’re usually not active.”

“Really? They’re some bad guys… aren’t they?”

“They’re definitely not people I’d want to meet again.”

Alon shrugged as he recalled the incident and looked at Seolrang. She seemed to be trying to mask her earlier serious expression with her usual carefree smile. After a bit more conversation, Seolrang spoke up again.

“Anyway, for now, take some rest! You must be tired from coming all the way here, right?”

With that, Seolrang gave Alon and Evan each a room just below the top floor. After settling them in, she returned to the top floor and, with a smile, spoke softly.

“Ralga.”

“Yes.”

Ralga, the beastfolk with a scar on his face, appeared instantly at her call.

“Where are those bad guys?”

“The Blood Sand Bandits have set up camp to the northeast, but there’s something else I should mention.”

“What is it?”

“As far as I know, the Blood Sand Bandits are backed by Kalman, one of the other three Babayagas.”

Ralga’s words carried a tone of concern.

“Really? But still—”

Despite the information, Seolrang merely wagged her tail once, showing no sign of hesitation.

“Messing with my Master is not allowed.”

Her response indicated that the news about Kalman would not change her course of action in the slightest.

“If he finds out, I’ll definitely get scolded, you know?”

Muttering quietly to herself, so softly that even Ralga couldn’t hear, she gazed toward the northeast.

“Anyway, just wait here.”

—With a deadly serious expression, her golden eyes flashing ominously, she continued—

“I’ll kill them all.”

And with that, she vanished, leaving behind a crackling golden flash.

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