When the patrol guard woke up again, two figures with covered faces were slapping him repeatedly.

  "Hey, why isn’t he waking up? Did you hit him too hard?"

  "No way—I calculated the strength properly...... Probably?"

  Hulim said hesitantly.

  "What do you mean ‘probably’?! If this guy stays unconscious forever, all our efforts will be for nothing!"

  "Maybe...... you should slap harder and try?"

  Arthur thought for a moment, then nodded: "Good idea, I’ll try."

  The captured patrol guard had originally planned to pretend to be unconscious to fool them. But upon hearing this, he jolted awake instantly.

  "Wait! Wait! Don’t try it—I’m awake! I’m already awake!"

  "Hmm? What’s this? So you were already awake? I’m impressed you could hold on until your face swelled up before speaking!"

  At Arthur’s words, the patrol guard finally felt the burning pain in his face. His voice was even distorted from the swelling, and he frantically complained inwardly.

  Who could hold on that long! I really just woke up! Don’t you have any wake-up medicine or something? Why do you have to use this method!

  "I told you I calculated the strength properly, right?"

  Hulim regained a trace of confidence.

  "......"

  "Who—who are you people! Do you know where this is? Let me go quickly, or you’re dead meat!"

  The tied-up patrol guard finally remembered he’d been attacked at the base.

  Hulim and Arthur exchanged glances.

  Then Arthur put on a fierce look.

  "Get clear on your situation! Quickly tell us the layout of your hideout, and where you’re holding the people you captured!"

  "Hmph~! So you’re here to rescue someone."

  Realizing their goal, the captured patrol guard suddenly calmed down.

  "Give up! I’m utterly loyal to the organization! I won’t tell you anything!"

  With that, he raised his head proudly.

  "What did you say!?"

  Arthur grabbed him by the collar.

  "You want to suffer?"

  "Hmph~!"

  The man even sneered disdainfully.

  "Do your worst! Even if I’m beaten to death, I won’t tell you a thing!"

  "You——"

  Arthur glared at him, struggling to think of how to make him talk.

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  Yet facing Arthur’s threatening gaze, the man grew even more arrogant—putting on a fearless, death-defying stance.

  "What’s wrong? Out of tricks? I advise you to let me go now—maybe you’ll still have a chance to escape......"

  Hulim watched from behind and sighed.

  "Arthur, forget it."

  "Ah, forget it?"

  Arthur looked at Hulim in confusion.

  The patrol guard broke into a triumphant smile.

  "Hehe, that’s right! Let me go now and leave quickly—you might still get out alive!"

  "Why should we forget it?"

  Arthur asked in confusion.

  "This guy is too stubborn. It’s impossible to get any information out of him."

  "Yeah, yeah! That’s right! I won’t tell you anything!"

  The patrol guard nodded repeatedly in agreement.

  "So we might as well kill him and find someone else to ask. It’ll be faster that way."

  "Yeah, that’s right—huh??? "

  The patrol guard froze.

  "K-Kill me?"

  Arthur stared for a moment, then reacted.

  "Oh——, right right right! You’re absolutely right. It’s faster to find someone else to ask. After all, your organization has plenty of people~!"

  Arthur smiled at the patrol guard.

  "Sorry, but it looks like you’re useless now. Don’t worry—it won’t hurt. It’ll be over soon~!"

  "Huh...... H-Huh?"

  The patrol guard’s eyes lost their luster.

  What’s happening...... Why am I suddenly going to die?

  "Wait! Wait! This isn’t right! This isn’t right! Isn’t this moving too fast? Why are you suddenly going to kill me? Shouldn’t you interrogate me first according to the normal procedure!?"

  "Sigh——"

  Arthur shrugged.

  "Even if we interrogate you, you just said you’d rather die than talk. And as you can see, we don’t have much time for interrogations. So sorry~!"

  As he spoke, Arthur slowly pulled out his long sword and wiped it in front of the man’s eyes.

  "......"

  The patrol guard’s mouth twitched wildly.

  In the next moment, his expression turned serious and solemn.

  "I think...... it’s not impossible for me to share some information."

  "......"

  "Didn’t you say...... you’re utterly loyal to the organization?"

  "Gentlemen, you’re joking!"

  The patrol guard smiled obsequiously.

  "I’m just a temporary worker! That ‘utter loyalty’ stuff was just part of the employment oath! In these days, can loyalty put food on the table? Don’t take it seriously, don’t take it seriously~!"

  "But earlier you said you’d rather die than talk?"

  "Hehe! You’re so funny! If I’m beaten to death, of course I can’t say anything! As long as you don’t hit me, I can talk!"

  "That actually makes sense......"

  "Now, spill it!"

  "I’ll spill it, I’ll spill it! I’ll tell you everything!"

  ......

  After some time.

  "This is tricky......"

  Arthur said with a solemn expression.

  From the "interrogated" information, Hulim and Arthur had indeed learned the general layout of the underground and where the recently abducted Manacos students were being held.

  But the problem was that the area was heavily guarded—far more so than the ground entrance or the current patrol routes. The possibility of sneaking in to rescue the hostages was zero.

  Moreover, judging from the underground layout, they couldn’t wait for the Knights to arrive. The Knights were likely unaware of the underground situation.

  If the Knights showed up, they would definitely alert the enemy. By then, the enemy would surely take the hostages and escape through the hidden underground passages. Once they got away, there would be nothing they could do.

  "......We have to charge in."

  Hulim said calmly.

  "But we can’t go together. I’ll draw their attention and lure everyone away. Arthur, you take the chance to rescue the hostages."

  "I——"

  Arthur looked hesitant. But Hulim’s strength was on a completely different level from his. When it came to dividing tasks, only the stronger person could draw the enemy’s attention.

  "Okay...... Be careful. The people behind these guys have an unusual background—their strength might be......"

  "In short, even though you’re strong, don’t confront someone of that level."

  "Don’t worry, I know my limits."

  With the plan set, the two quickly took action.

  ......

  Deep within the maze-like underground structure, in the area holding many Manacos students.

  "Hmm? Did you guys hear something?"

  One of the guards stationed outside the cells suddenly said.

  "Something?"

  The others pricked up their ears.

  "Yeah, I think I did."

  "And it’s getting closer—huh——? "

  "Bad! Enemy attack——!"

  Boom——!

  The moment he shouted, a torrent suddenly rushed out from the passage around the corner ahead. With overwhelming momentum, it swept up the guards and sent them flying far away.

  Even the traps and obstacles along the way were destroyed.

  When the flood receded.

  Drowning guards lay on the ground—some struggling to get up, others unconscious.

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