As far as Berugon knew, the principle by which Krazar created subspace was simple.

"The most important thing is exactly what the victim fears."

Krazar was a magical beast that created darkening by using human fear.

To someone who feared snakes, he showed a forest crawling with venomous serpents.

To someone who feared water, an endless sea.

And while they thrashed around in panic, he would wrap around their bodies and slowly digest them.

So when Berugon realized he had been trapped inside a subspace, he thought he might return once again to "that day."

If he had to name the most terrifying moment of his life, there was only "that day."

But in the place where he had arrived, there was not a single thing Berugon feared.

Nor was there anything that reminded him of "that day."

And just as he was seriously wondering where exactly they had ended up,

he noticed the pink backpack of the King of the Dead in his hand.

Only then did he understand.

"This darkening was not created for me."

It was darkening aimed at the leader of Agavert, the King of the Dead.

Berugon’s gaze once again settled on Astie.

"That is why I was looking for her."

Frowning, he spoke.

"I may not know, but you should. Where we are."

The King of the Dead’s eyes widened as she stared at him.

The situation was serious, yet she only looked confused, and his brows knitted together on their own.

"I nearly went mad searching for you! What are those stones with holes in them? And those things that run around flashing lights?! Are those the things you fear? Is ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) that why they exist in this subspace?"

"..."

"Say something! Do not tell me you do not know where we are either! You were the one who said we had to get out of here!"

Tie met Berugon’s grim gaze and timidly looked away.

The girl’s lips puffed out on their own.

'I already realized it when he tried to kick Tie out of the Weapon Pavilion, but the chief really, really...'

There was not a single trace of kindness in him.

The two of them were trapped together inside the subspace.

Would it not be better to support each other and calmly search for a way out together?

Tie answered angrily.

"I know, but I do not know!"

"What?"

"I know the place, but I do not know where the exit is!"

Of course, Tie also roughly understood the situation.

The core of a magical beast had fallen out of the broken weapon.

Tie touched the smoke that came from it and ended up trapped here.

In this place of her mental weakness, filled with the things she feared.

But that did not mean she knew how to escape.

Even if the master of the forges had the bad luck of being trapped here together with her.

"And this building too! Look! Triangle! Bank!"

She could not allow the chief to call a bank a stone, so she began pointing at the buildings herself.

"This is a beep beep car! This is a streetlamp! Chief, you do not even know that?"

Berugon stared at her with a stunned face.

Tie puffed out her cheeks, snorted, and snatched her kindergarten backpack from him.

"And also! It is all because the chief wanted to drive Tie away from the beginning!"

"What?"

"I did not do anything bad, but you immediately told me to leave! And you said you would not sell it!"

"...No, but that is..."

"Tie just wanted to resist injustice! I did not want to break Krazar’s heart! It was self defense! Self defense!"

Berugon fell silent, feeling a heavy weight in his chest.

Before him stood the King of the Dead, who at that very moment continued repeating "self defense."

A chill flickered in Berugon’s eyes.

He slowly crouched down so that he could meet the King of the Dead’s gaze.

"You... who are you?"

"Self defen... huh?"

"Who exactly are you?"

Unlike before, his eyes were now cold.

Tie flinched.

But the moment she stepped back, Berugon spoke, as if he had been waiting for exactly that.

"People say I am a gloomy mole who never takes a step outside Popullos."

"A mole...?"

"Yes. But I still know the major rumors that circulate around the world. Important events. Decisive news like who subdued which Magic Stone and where. In other words."

"..."

"I have already heard many things about you."

Gulp—

At those words, Tie’s throat went dry.

Berugon’s gaze, fixed on her without wavering, sharpened even further.

"Two Magic Stones in the Tenebraun cave. And not only that, the unprecedented medium Magic Stone that rose in the sea near Pearlcity. You subdued all of those, did you not?"

Now his eyes looked at Tie’s small hands clasped against her chest.

"They say that inside that small body is power three times greater than any mercenary."

"U um..."

"There are also rumors that you are a cruel witch who plays with people using disgusting dark magic. Or even a magical beast in human form. But."

Thud—

Berugon’s hand came down heavily onto Tie’s right shoulder.

"I am not afraid of you. Do you know why?"

"..."

"Because here, inside Krazar’s domain, no spell can be activated. In other words, even a great mage like you can do nothing here."

Berugon tightened his grip on her shoulder.

"So stop playing with dolls and start telling the truth."

"C chief...?"

"Who are you really?"

Berugon’s gaze became threatening.

Tie’s shoulders shrank even further.

"How did you destroy Krazar’s core? The very core that remained intact for decades even when melted in molten metal and smashed with hammers."

Tie shook her head in confusion.

"It was not Tie!"

"Do not be ridiculous! Do you think I am an idiot?!"

Sparks flashed in Berugon’s eyes.

"I have long known that the Imperial Palace is hunting for Krazar’s heart! And that they are looking for an excuse to get weapons from me! Did they send you?! To kill me and destroy the alliance of blacksmiths?!"

A hot fury began rising from Berugon’s heart.

Weapons were sacred.

People were filthy.

Berugon knew that better than anyone.

"Yes... now everything is clear. The Imperial Palace planned to use you to completely seize the Popullos Weapons District. I expected that from the palace and the order, but now even mercenaries..."

A vein slowly bulged on Berugon’s temple.

Hatred gradually began to accumulate in his unfocused eyes.

"The same bastards! We pour our souls into weapons, and they use them only to fulfill their filthy desires! No duty, no justice not a single drop of human dignity in those damned creatures!"

Tie became frightened and stepped back.

Berugon already stood with his head lowered, muttering incoherently.

"I should not have given them anything. I should not have even allowed them to step across the threshold of my weapons district..."

Tap. Tap.

The rain that had seemed to stop began falling again.

Tie stood in place, shifting from foot to foot.

At the edge of her vision, the red mist on the other side of the street still swirled.

"Something is wrong with the chief."

The Imperial Palace.

And the suddenly mentioned order.

Even though the situation was urgent, Berugon was behaving strangely.

More precisely, he had suddenly become strange.

"Why? Why did grandpa become so angry?"

But no matter how much Tie thought about it, she could not understand the reason.

Just as she helplessly bit her lip—

"Oh?"

From the area of Berugon’s heart.

From inside his clothes, something suddenly glimmered faintly for a moment.

Tie’s eyes widened.