"Bisef's servant has no right to wander freely in the palace."
The white-haired boy spoke in a tone that was half-warning, half-reminder.
After all, Bisef himself barely had any standing here.
"...I…"
The woman trembled uncontrollably. Her fear looked completely genuine—not the least bit like an act.
Cyr inwardly remarked on her convincing performance, waving a hand to tell her to leave quickly.
But the woman just stood there, shaking like a leaf, as if she didn't understand what his gesture meant.
Was she… really that terrified?
Cyr's mouth twitched. He raised a hand to his forehead and let out a sigh.
"Who is this?"
Neferpitou and Shaiapouf descended the stairs, their red eyes landing on the unfamiliar human woman nearby.
A twisted, malicious aura radiated from her Nen, making anyone within range instinctively feel a deep, primal fear.
"She said she's Bisef's servant," Cyr said lazily.
"Oh… that human," Neferpitou muttered. At first, she hadn't even remembered who Bisef was, then it clicked.
"Why aren't you with him, and what are you doing here, nya?"
Neferpitou drew closer, her aura growing increasingly oppressive.
So much so that breathing became difficult. Anyone near would instinctively enter a state of heightened alert—
even prepare to defend themselves without realizing it.
"..."
Cyr noticed the small blade in the woman's hand and how she subconsciously released her Nen—
and fell silent.
It was well-known that the ants saw humans with Nen as rare and delicious delicacies.
So if one such human showed up willingly in front of them…
what would happen?
"A rare one, huh…" Neferpitou grinned ear to ear—almost literally. Her smile stretched disturbingly close to her ears.
"She can be presented to the King," Shaiapouf added with a serene smile.
Then, the two of them struck her down and dragged her away.
Cyr witnessed the entire thing, without lifting a finger to stop it.
He had already warned her. That was as much as anyone could expect.
He had no intention of saving her—
after all, they'd only ever seen each other once, and hadn't even spoken a word.
At the same time, he sensed Knov vanishing from within the palace—fleeing like a mouse startled by a cat, diving into a hole in an instant.
That ability of his allowed him to open portals anywhere—
and now he'd left one behind in the palace as a way in and out.
Ran off that fast…
Was someone waiting for him outside?
With that thought, Cyr vanished from the palace.
Outside, rain poured down in torrents.
Dark clouds blotted out the sun.
Winds howled violently—
the whole scene looked like the end of the world.
Knov, barefoot, sprinted in the opposite direction of the palace as fast as he could.
Eventually, he collapsed in a patch of bushes far from the palace, hiding behind them, gasping for breath in the pouring rain.
His teeth chattered uncontrollably, clicking like some kind of machine.
"...I'm safe…"
Only after he felt he'd reached safety did he finally break down, covering his face.
Too terrifying. That ant's aura—evil, twisted… a monster that couldn't be defeated…
"You think this place is safe?"
Suddenly, a voice came from above his head.
Knov stiffly looked up, his face streaked with water—unclear if it was rain or tears. His glasses were fogged and soaked.
A white-haired boy sat cross-legged on top of his head.
No matter how heavy the rain was around him, not a single hair of his was wet.
"Did the Association only send you? Or two of you?
When I arrived, a woman had just been captured by the ants,"
he said lazily, peering down at Nob from above.
"What…?"
Knov's eyes widened in shock.
Palm… was it you? Have you been captured already?
I'd already set the portal—failure or retreat wouldn't have affected the mission…
Please… be okay…
"She really was with you, huh? She got caught by two Royal Guards right after she made a move.
By now she's probably already in front of the King.
Wonder what kind of appetite the King has today,"
Cyr muttered to the side, as if speaking to himself.
Knov's already fragile state of mind completely shattered with those words.
He clutched his head and sobbed in despair.
"I'm sorry, Palm…"
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
"I couldn't face that monster…"
"Why… how can you stay among those monsters?"
Knov asked, looking up at the boy.
"Huh? Because they're weaker than me.
To me, they're just ants. Would you be afraid of ants you can crush with a flick of your finger?" Cyr said slowly.
°°°
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