Path of the Extra

"I've been searching all over the castle for you, Your Majesty... the others are already on edge after that nightmare destroyed our only way here. Perhaps it's best if you don't leave them alone too long..."

The distorted smile on Joaquin's face faded as he heard a calm but firm voice behind him. Turning, he saw a man in a crimson military uniform, a black fur-lined coat draped across his shoulders, approaching.

The man had gray hair, stern blue eyes, and a sharp gray beard, his every step dignified.

"Malcolm… I was just out here for some fresh air," Joaquin replied, turning back to gaze into the pitch-black sea surrounding the sunken islands.

Malcolm Obelisk—the head of the Obelisk clan, one of the elite families under the Crimson Clan. And not just any head: a Grade 2 Grandmaster.

Malcolm sighed and stepped beside Joaquin, his gaze also drawn to the dark, endless sea.

"Your Majesty, may I ask a question?"

Joaquin didn't look at him but allowed him to continue with a silent nod.

"Why did you summon the princess to come here as well?"

Before they'd set out for the sunken islands, Joaquin had instructed Amon to deliver a message ensuring Jasmine would take a leave from the academy and make her way here. But he hadn't done it subtly—he'd pulled a lot of strings to make it happen, and that left Malcolm struggling to understand his king's motives.

Their way of returning had been destroyed, leaving no means to communicate back to SICVC.

Unrest—and possibly even misunderstandings—would be inevitable.

Of course, the void creatures in the sunken sea posed a significant problem, but with Joaquin and Malcolm here, they could manage. As long as they kept any fighting away from the islands themselves, they could avoid needless destruction.

They'd be here for a while, after all—perhaps months, maybe even a year. The creatures would serve as a decent source of food.

And then there were the runes on the sunken islands… if the void archaeologists they'd brought could translate them, who knew what knowledge they'd uncover?

Yet despite all that, Malcolm's main worry was Jasmine.

He knew she had some experience in the void realm and in fighting void creatures, but the sunken islands were unknown territory, a far more dangerous place than anything she'd encountered before.

A single misstep…

Though he trusted Amon would never let her come alone—and Mira would likely accompany her, perhaps even with a detachment of soldiers—that did little to ease his concern. And now, with the presence of a titan-ranked void creature nearby, the danger had only increased.

Just as Malcolm's thoughts spiraled further, Joaquin finally spoke.

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"There is no grand reason for her to come here. My wife would undoubtedly think I called her here for experience, but no." Joaquin finally turned to him, his expression softening with a rare smile.

"I just want to see my daughter."

Malcolm blinked, processing his words, before feeling the urge to scream. The only reason he'd summoned Jasmine was… because he missed her?

Understandably, their stay could stretch long, but that didn't mean he should have her risk such a dangerous journey.

Doing his best to maintain composure, Malcolm clenched his fists and spoke slowly.

"Your Majesty… it is far too dangerous for anyone who isn't a Saint to cross these waters and reach us. Please reconsider—there may still be time."

Joaquin chuckled softly, confusing Malcolm.

"I appreciate your concern, Malcolm, but it's unnecessary. There's actually a safer way here… well, safer, perhaps. Easier, definitely. Recently, that old man discovered an underground network that bypasses the sea's void creatures. I'm not sure what lurks in the tunnels themselves, but using them, Jasmine and the others can reach us safely. They just need to survive, of course."

Malcolm struggled to suppress a sigh, feeling the urge to ask why they hadn't taken the tunnels in the first place. And now, knowing they had a way out… they could technically leave at any time.

Of course, they wouldn't.

And in a few moments, the reason they hadn't used the tunnels became clear. Malcolm looked blankly at Joaquin.

"You anticipated we'd end up using the tunnels eventually, so you took the opportunity to see which void creatures lurked in the sea…"

Joaquin just smiled, saying nothing in reply.

Trying to understand the mind of the Crimson King was, it seemed, a mistake.

"...May I ask one more question, Your Majesty?"

Joaquin's smile widened.

"You seem to have much on your mind. Is everyone from the Obelisk clan so talkative? Well, go ahead."

Ignoring the first part, Malcolm asked the question he'd been holding back.

"The prince... why didn't you invite him as well?"

Considering how highly the prince was valued in the Crimson clan, his experience in the Void realm, and his status as the top first-year student at the Hero Academy, Malcolm thought his presence here would be advantageous. Or... did the king not care for his son as much as Malcolm had assumed?

At that, Joaquin's expression shifted.

"...Right now, he's off on that ridiculous annual trip to the Void Dungeon. Even if he wasn't, I wouldn't want him back here until he's truly ready. I don't know what he went through in the Void realm or what he thinks he's prepared for, but while he claims to be fine and committed to becoming a hero... I don't know how much I believe him. Lately, some of his actions have been... questionable."

"..."

Malcolm listened silently, absorbing this information. He would never speak of it; his loyalty to the king was unwavering. But it was intriguing to hear confirmation of the prince's rumored time in the Void realm.

Joaquin then turned, walking away as Malcolm followed his retreating form. Joaquin spoke in a low, intent voice.

"That's enough resting. Order them to start translating the runes and locating anything valuable. We can't waste time. Eventually, the great clans, the government, and that damned church will find out what we're doing, and it'll be a headache not to kill them all."

*****

It was as Amon had said in the briefing—the journey to the sea was relatively easy, thanks to the earlier eradication of most Void creatures. Soldiers patrolled the area, ensuring no new creatures threatened the Void Capital, a fragile place that seemed as though it would never truly be complete.

Mira took the lead alongside Cole, both walking quietly.

The same couldn't be said for the other soldiers, who began talking amongst themselves, filling the tense atmosphere with whispers that hinted at the clear friction between the two factions.

Azriel walked behind with Amaya and Nol. Surprisingly, Amaya and Nol were getting along well—or rather, it was Amaya doing most of the talking, sharing basic knowledge with Nol, who lacked memories. Azriel tried to listen, but his thoughts kept drifting.

'That strange memory from my last sleep… It didn't feel like a dream. I was there, yet I wasn't…'

He struggled to make sense of it. He'd never experienced anything like it before and was sure it was linked to that figure he'd encountered in the tunnel on the second floor.

"My prince?"

'He was powerful enough to dispel the Crying Fog instantly… and removing the system from me? He was involved in that too. It's not far-fetched to think he might have tampered with my mind...'

Azriel's mood darkened as he trudged through the dense forest, the world around him fading as he sank into his thoughts.

'Why can't they just leave my mind alone…?'

Every time he encountered some form of danger, it seemed his mind bore the brunt of the impact.

"My prince…?"

Despite deeming this trip to the Sunken Island safer than the ordeal of the second floor, an alarm suddenly went off in his head, and he bit his nails anxiously.

'Wait… did I just leave that harem bastard with my sister?'

All three—Lumine, Yelena, and Jasmine—were up front, just behind Mira.

Though Yelena was with him, he doubted even she could do anything to prevent Lumine from getting closer to Jasmine, given the situation and her position.

Before he could panic further, he felt a sudden hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of his spiraling thoughts.

"Hm?"

Startled, he stopped in his tracks, turning to see Amaya looking up at him with concern. Nol was watching him as well, puzzled. Meanwhile, the others continued ahead, oblivious.

"Amaya… is something wrong?"

Amaya frowned, her voice quiet.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that, my prince? Why are you walking so absentmindedly?"

Azriel blinked, then let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head.

"Nothing serious… Just… thinking about a few things."

"Mhm. Master does like to think," Nol said with a proud look, as if agreeing with himself.

Amaya, however, regarded Azriel worriedly, speaking softly as the others distanced themselves further.

"My prince... was it really wise to return to the Void realm? If it's too much, we can always turn back."

Azriel took a moment, understanding her concerns.

'She must think I'm distracted because of my time here... maybe even suspecting I have trauma.'

The truth was harsher—he'd never actually been in the Void realm. It was just a lie.

He gave her a gentle smile.

"You don't need to worry. I'm perfectly fine. If anything does trouble me, you'll be the first to know."

Amaya's face softened, her smile relieved.

"You can always confide in me, my prince."

Seeing her smile, Azriel remembered something.

'I still need to ask her about training… but now isn't the right time.'

If he could be trained by anyone, it was his personal maid—a woman who appeared gentle but was anything but harmless. That kind smile would never fool him, not after all the bruises she'd left him with during training when he was younger.

Azriel resumed walking with Amaya and Nol, catching up to the rest. The journey was surprisingly peaceful, almost as if they were simply trekking through an ancient, forgotten forest, not the Void realm.

But... that peace didn't last.