Infinite Mage [Remake]-Chapter 119: Beyond the Shadows of the Underground

"...Yeah."

As Amy rose from her seat, Falcoa's face flushed with shame.

These little brats came in, stirred up trouble, and now they think they can just leave whenever they want?

'Has the great Falcoa really fallen this low?'

It had been five years since the entire crew had hidden on the island to escape the continent's trackers. A lot had happened, but for someone who had always roamed the battlefield, everything here was just unbearably dull.

As a result, his brain was soaked in drugs, and his once-bloodthirsty mind had grown sluggish.

But five years ago, Falcoa had been a warrior who roamed the continent, winning countless battles.

"Hey, you don't seriously think you can leave here safely, do you? You're all going to die today."

Amy turned back to face him.

"If you cause a scene here, it'll be troublesome for you too. Every guest underground is a drug addict, and they're your biggest source of income. Report us all you want, but we won't stay quiet either. This place will be shut down."

"Heh, you think that little threat is enough to scare me? Sorry, but no one on this island dares to touch me."

"It's different if we're on the mainland."

Amy's eyes burned red, and at that moment, Falcoa finally recognized the danger.

'Red Eyes... A Karmis?'

There was no way Falcoa wouldn't know the infamous Karmis family, a name well-known across the continent.

Their ability allowed them to preserve a specific point in time and restore themselves to that state whenever necessary.

'So that's why the drug...'

They were immune to most mind-affecting magic and couldn't even be addicted to narcotics.

That was why the Karmis family had dominated in so many fields.

'So my loop never worked from the start? That damn girl knew everything and still came here. No wonder she understood the underground world so well. Is it because she's a Karmis?'

And to make matters worse, she was part of the highest-ranking noble class. If her family intervened, the kingdom he had spent five years building could crumble overnight.

The money he made from distributing Loop was astronomical.

Even in his drug-addled state, Falcoa knew the importance of money. Without it, he couldn't buy more Loop.

Clinging to the last shred of his pride, Falcoa sneered.

"Heh! You arrogant little brat. I'll make sure to repay this humiliation!"

"Try if you can. But next time we meet, you better be careful. Since it's come to this, I won't hold back just because of school. I plan to have some real fun."

Amy stepped away from the table and rejoined her friends.

"Sorry for worrying you. Let's go."

Not wanting to stay in this place any longer, they turned and immediately headed upstairs.

Employees guarded every corridor, but none dared to stop them.

The moment they stepped out of the tavern, the air felt noticeably different.

Tess spread her arms, breathing in the night air.

"Ah, that feels good. Thanks to Amy, we got the full tourist experience. We explored the most famous palace on Galliant Island from the top floor to the underground."

Rian chuckled in agreement.

"Hahaha! Now that you mention it, you're right. We even visited the white sands, the harbor, and the commercial district. We've seen everything except the ruins."

Amy's eyes widened in shock.

"Wait, what? You went all the way to the harbor?"

"Yeah. Shirone said it'd be faster to catch one of the organization's members there. We ran like crazy. If it weren't for the enthusiastic coachman, we might not have made it in time."

Amy met Shirone's gaze.

After what had happened underground, she felt slightly embarrassed, but whatever lingering frustration she had completely melted away.

Shirone spoke first.

"Amy, sorry for being late. I'll explain on the way back. Something happened on the way here."

"Hmph, like I care? Why should I listen to your excuses? Thanks to you, I skipped a meal. What a mess."

"Are you still mad?"

Though her anger had already dissipated, Amy decided she might as well keep up the act. She wasn't quite ready to face Shirone without some kind of pretext.

"Let's get one thing straight. I appreciate the help, but I wasn't captured. I went there for personal reasons. Even if you hadn't come, those guys wouldn't have been a problem for me."

"Hahaha! Of course. Who'd be worried about Karmis Amy, our strongest senior?"

"Hmph, well... as long as you understand. That's all."

Tess laughed. At first, she found their personalities frustrating, but she was starting to understand. Mages were naturally cautious, taking one careful step at a time.

Rian patted his stomach.

"I'm starving. Should we grab a late-night snack on the way back?"

Unlike the others, Tess wasn't a mage. She wrapped Rian in a tight hug, full of excitement.

"Snack? I love it! Let's go! Woohoo!"

Jis finally left the tavern past midnight after cleaning up the mess.

His body felt as heavy as if he had steel beams strapped to his back. Between getting beaten, being on edge, and working, exhaustion was inevitable.

Yet, he could endure because he was relieved that the worst hadn't happened.

Amy had escaped Falcoa's grasp unscathed, and he himself had avoided any real harm. After all, he had only done what he was told, so even Falcoa had no reason to punish him.

'If not for her... I might've been dead.'

Amy's face was still clear in his mind, as if she were standing right in front of him.

He had never seen anyone as beautiful as her, but that wasn't the reason she lingered in his thoughts.

'Why did she help me?'

To her, he was just another lowly street hustler on the island. They hadn't even made a good deal—if anything, their relationship had been hostile from the start.

His thoughts naturally drifted to the blonde-haired boy who had stormed into the tavern's underground palace.

'Shirone. He's a commoner too, isn't he?'

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Back then, Jis had been too terrified to get involved, but he still remembered every word Shirone had spoken.

Unlike other nobles, who would always back down after boasting about their prestigious schools, Shirone was different.

'If it were me... could I have done the same?'

He was beginning to understand. Why Amy chose Shirone as her partner for this mission. Why she was willing to risk herself to help someone as insignificant as him.

"Tch."

Jis kicked a stone on the road.

"Acting all noble and righteous."

But what bothered him the most was Amy's sad smile back in the carriage.

With his keen instincts, Jis was sure of one thing—Shirone would never understand what that smile truly meant. She had shown that expression only because she was in front of someone who had no connection to her world.

"Well, whatever. It's over now. I'll forget about it."

By the time he reached home, he adjusted his clothes and carefully opened the door.