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Once renowned for their vast pasturelands, this land was devastated by the catastrophe that emerged from the Outer Gate one day—Black Dragon “Whitefang.”

Its sudden appearance without any warning left even the Empire powerless to react.

As a result, this sprawling plain has remained abandoned as a ruin to this very day, decades later.

It wasn’t left neglected intentionally, but rather, there was a reason why nothing could be done about it.

Thanks to that, however, relics of a hero, who could be called a savior of the nation, still remain in this land.

And to retrieve one of those relics, what is needed is none other than “Herwin’s Ring,” which was stored in Dimuid’s treasury.

The preparations were flawless. With that thought in mind, Ian opened his eyes.

“…….”

In a wide auditorium, 70 people sat in chairs arranged at regular intervals.

It was quiet. While a few exchanged conversations with those next to them, they were the minority.

Among them, Ian could feel some piercing gazes.

It seemed they were poised to start a conversation the moment an opening was seen, but as Ian sat there quietly with his lips firmly sealed, no one approached.

‘This is uncomfortable.’

Just as he was wondering when these blatant stares would finally cease, the firmly closed door opened, and a person stepped into the auditorium and ascended to the podium.

It was a man with deep dark circles under his eyes.

‘Oh?’

Ian widened his eyes in surprise as he looked at him.

He knew who this was. Eor Al Democia, one of the Inquisitors serving Rahania, the Eighth Lord of the Pantheon.

Before Ian’s regression, he had never had a proper conversation with him, having only seen him from afar.

But the sight of him wielding fire was unforgettable. Just watching him had inspired Ian and given him insights into his own skills.

At the time, he hadn’t yet fully mastered the Bane of Evil, so it had been especially helpful.

Perhaps that’s why, in a strange way, Ian was glad to see him here. Eor began speaking in a tired voice.

“Attention.”

With a single word, all eyes were drawn to the podium. He was someone with the ability to command attention.

“Nice to meet you all. I am Eor Al Democia, an Inquisitor serving Rahania, the Eighth Lord of the Pantheon.”

There was no applause after his introduction. People simply stared.

As if he hadn’t expected a warm welcome, Eor continued speaking in a grave tone.

“You must all be wondering why you’ve been gathered at a fortress above a ruined city. Why did your lords send you to such a place? The reason is simple. To clean up the Gehiel Plains.”

“Clean up?”

Someone murmured. Though the voice was small, it reached Eor’s ears, as it came from the front row.

“Hm, it seems some of you are unaware. Very well, I’ll explain briefly. First, do you all know what the Gehiel Plains are? Anyone who gives the correct answer will receive a small reward.”

Eor glanced around the room with tired eyes. He didn’t seem to care if no one participated.

Drawn by the promise of a prize, someone answered.

“It’s where the Black Dragon Whitefang appeared, isn’t it?”

“Correct. And?”

“Hero Herwin stood alone to block Whitefang’s advance but was ultimately killed, and the city that once stood in the Gehiel Plains was destroyed. After that, WarrIor Gailgron, together with the Black Spear Knight Order led by the head of Berger, hunted Whitefang down… that’s all I know.”

Eor nodded. He looked utterly exhausted, as if he had been through something strenuous.

Too weary to ask any further, he pulled a potion from his pocket and tossed it to the person who had answered correctly, then continued his explanation.

It would be understandable for them to be angry at his arrogant demeanor, but none of those present dare to criticize him, as they all know the authority the Arbiter commands.

Even the person who received the reward grinned, clearly pleased.

“You seem quite knowledgeable. That’s right. The Black Dragon, Whitefang, appeared, and although the hero Herwin confronted it, the city that stood on this land was annihilated. Later, Whitefang was slain by the hero Gailgron, but this vast plain was abandoned, unable to dream of the city’s reconstruction. Whitefang’s resentment, the blood that flowed, and the bodies piled upon this land corrupted and polluted it.”

Naturally, the Empire and the Pantheon of the Gods didn’t plan to leave it this way.

They attempted several purification efforts, but each time a high-ranking cleric entered the heart of Gehiel Plain and summoned a sufficient amount of divine power, a high-level Outer Gate would open.

As a result, they failed repeatedly, and in the end, the Pantheon built a small fortress atop the city’s ruins, merely observing the land.

Though Outer Gates would open and close sporadically for decades, there were no instances of monsters spilling out beyond Gehiel. Instead, they simply formed a new ecosystem inside.

“So, isn’t that fine? There’s no need to poke the hornet’s nest.”

“Such complacency is what leads the world to ruin. If you change your perspective, you’d realize that a legion of monsters is being nurtured here. Right within the Empire’s territory. If a beast with intelligence like Whitefang emerges again, we’ll face far greater losses than we did before. That’s why the Pantheon has judged it’s time to clean this place up, and with the Emperor’s permission, all of you have been summoned.”

To be precise, it invoked the nobles’ obligation.

Unless they wished for their downfall, refusal wasn’t an option. That’s why the nobles sent the forces demanded by the Pantheon.

Those who lacked the means hired mercenary groups and sent them instead.

“However, I am not asking you to sacrifice yourselves. Adequate support and rewards will be provided. Moreover, any magic stones you obtain from Gehiel will be bought at twice the market price. The person who contributes the most among you will be awarded three Level 4 sacred relics. I believe that should motivate you.”

The mention of sacred relics caused murmurs. In the eastern regions of the Empire, where encounters with Outer Gods are common, the value of sacred relics is significantly higher than in other areas.

Especially if it becomes known that someone carrying a relic avoided the curse during the recent incident in Flaming, more people will seek them.

They aren’t items that can be obtained with money alone, so it’s only natural that greed would stir.

“What exactly do we need to do?”

Eor’s eyes, filled with fatigue, now gleamed with interest.

“It’s simple. For the next fifteen days, you’ll need to close any Outer Gates that open in the area surrounding this fortress and eliminate as many monsters as possible. That is the task and the order given to you.”

* * *

“Excuse me, can we talk for a moment?”

As soon as he stepped out of the bustling hall, someone called out to him. It was a man leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

He was clad in blue armor and wearing a helmet, and the insignia on his shoulder revealed his identity.

The Blue Flower Knights—one of the prestigious knight orders in the eastern regions, along with the Red Spear Knights.

‘One leaf wrapping a petal.’

It was said that the number of leaves represented the knight’s skill.

Seeing that there was only one, it indicated that he had just recently been promoted from an apprentice to a full-fledged knight. The knight removed his helmet.

Sharp eyes, a confident smile, and a straight posture. A name suddenly came to mind.

As Eor stared at him, the knight placed a hand over his chest and spoke.

“My name is Gawain. You’ve probably never heard of me. Though I’m part of the Blue Flower Knights, unlike you, I haven’t made a name for myself yet.”

No, I have heard of you. Not in this life, of course, but in the previous one—back when you were known as the Blue Lion, one of the heroes who guarded the vital stronghold of the defense line.

Realizing this fact, Gawain now seemed different in Eor’s eyes. Gawain continued speaking slowly.

“I know who you are.”

“Hmm.”

“I know of your reputation too. You defeated Dark Mages, discovered ancient ruins, slaughtered beasts, and were awarded the Golden Emblem by the Pantheon’s champions. Recently, you saved Flaming. Now that I’ve met you in person, I can see that the rumors weren’t exaggerated.”

Eor chuckled.

The atmosphere was thick with tension, punctuated by the banter between Ian and the Red Spear knight. It was a game of bravado and challenge, but there was a sense of camaraderie beneath it all. Ian, with his cool demeanor, played the role of the confident youth who had earned his place among the knights despite their notorious reputations.

As they walked away from the confrontation, the Red Spear knight muttered under his breath, clearly not pleased with Ian’s casual dismissal of his provocation. The more they interacted, the more Ian felt a mix of annoyance and amusement.

“Don’t take it too seriously,” Ian said, glancing at the knight trailing behind them. “He’s just trying to assert his authority, but it’s kind of amusing.”

Dior smirked, “You’ve got a way of making enemies, don’t you?”

“Or friends,” Ian replied, throwing a teasing smile over his shoulder. “You never know. Besides, it’s all in good fun.”

Meanwhile, the Blue flower knight who had approached Ian earlier was still observing from a distance, his interest piqued by the dynamic unfolding before him. He had heard the whispers of Ian’s past and the impressive skills he possessed, but seeing it in action brought a new perspective.

“Why are you so keen to get involved with the Red Spear?” the Blue flower knight finally asked, catching up to them. “They don’t exactly have the best reputation.”

“They have their strengths,” Ian said, shrugging. “Sometimes, you need a bit of fire to counteract ice, you know? Besides, they’re not all bad.”

The Blue flower knight nodded, though skepticism lingered in his eyes. “That may be true, but be careful. Not everyone is as forgiving as you seem to be.”

Ian waved off the warning with a grin. “I can handle myself. I’ve dealt with worse than a few boastful knights.”

As they moved deeper into the fortress, Ian felt a sense of anticipation building within him. The mission ahead was fraught with danger, but the potential for camaraderie and growth excited him. He was ready to prove himself, not just to the knights around him, but to himself as well.

“Alright, what’s the plan?” he asked, eager to shift the conversation back to the task at hand. “What do we need to do to prepare?”

The Blue flower knight exchanged glances with Dior before replying, “First, we need to gather intel on the Outer Gates and their current status. We’ll also need to organize teams and scout the area. Each knight will be assigned a specific sector to monitor.”

“Sounds straightforward enough,” Ian said. “And then?”

“Then we’ll wait for the moment to strike,” the knight replied, his voice steady and confident. “We can’t afford any mistakes.”

As they settled into their roles, Ian couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission would change everything. He was determined to prove that he was more than just a name with a troubled past; he was ready to step into his own legacy.

Of course, the lieutenant wouldn’t actually bully him. He had experienced this kind of teasing numerous times before.

“Later, what happened?”

“For now, we told the High Priestess that we would act separately. It was essentially a notification, though.”

“And then?”

Would they really allow independent actions? Ian couldn’t be certain.

If he had his way, he would have gone with Dior to demand directly from the judge, but he wasn’t there as a representative of Berger, and having taken on duties in place of Dimuid, he couldn’t overstep his bounds. That’s why he asked Dior to handle it separately.

“They told me to do as I pleased.”

———