The sight before him left Shien silent.
At this moment, Tier no longer radiated her usual cold, unapproachable air. In its place were sorrow, longing, and something like hatred.
The proof was that, at some point, Tier had gripped her favored blade. Her hand kept tightening around it as though she wanted to plunge it into someone's heart, and even her slender arm was trembling.
Shien could imagine just how fiercely the emotions in Tier's heart must have been clashing at this very moment.
It made Shien feel that it probably would not be appropriate for him to keep watching from here.
Thus, Shien prepared to turn around and leave.
But just then, Shien sensed several unfamiliar sources of magic power appear, making him stop in his tracks.
"Who!?"
Tier, who possessed the Enemy Perception skill, naturally sensed the hostility directed at her as well. The sorrowful air around her vanished in an instant, replaced by her usual coldness.
The next second—
"Yo, long time no see."
Accompanied by that mocking voice, a group of people emerged from all around and surrounded Tier.
At their head was a young noble dressed as a knight, though his attire was obviously far too extravagant. He looked even more like a nouveau riche than Magray. He gripped a sword tightly in his hand, his face filled with sarcasm and arrogance.
The people around him all seemed to be the young noble's guards. Each carried a weapon, and the looks they gave Tier were full of ill intent.
Tier watched this coldly, directing an especially emotionless gaze at the young noble leading them.
The young noble clicked his tongue and spoke mockingly.
"I never thought you'd dare come back. I thought you'd hide in some backwater forever and never dare return to the royal