Hekkeran returned to the Singing Apple Garden in the evening.
He didn't look well.
Like the sky before Tempest, gray and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
Imina, Roberdyck, Arche were sitting in the hall waiting for him.
Seeing his expression, all three of them felt their hearts sink.
"How about it?"
"Imina asked."
Hekkeran sat down opposite them, picked up the beer on the table, and took a big gulp.
"The Earl said the ruins were only recently discovered. No one had been inside before. He doesn't know what's inside."
That's all?
That's all.
Imina frowned.
Why do you look so pale?
Hekkeran put down his glass, his emerald green eyes looking at his companions.
"Because I asked him a question, 'What if the people who go in don't come back?'"
What did he say?
He said, "Then send someone else."
The hall fell silent.
He doesn't care whether we live or die.
Hekkeran's voice was deep.
Although most workers are the kind who value money over their lives, the Earl clearly thought so too.
But they weren't like that.
"He only cares about that ruin."
Imina picked up her glass and took a big gulp.
"Should we still go?"
Hekkeran remained silent.
He looked at his companions' faces.
Imina's sharpness, Roberdyck's composure, Arche's caution.
Arche had been with him the shortest, followed him for two years and went through countless life-and-death situations together.
He couldn't let them go to their deaths.
"I'm not going."
Hekkeran concluded.
"Abandon this commission."
Imina put down her glass and looked at him.
Are you sure?
"Sure."
Hekkeran nodded.
Money can be earned again, but life is only given once.
Roberdyck nodded.
I agree.
Arche didn't speak. She just sat there, gazing out the window, her emerald eyes reflecting the golden-red glow of the setting sun.
"Arche?"
Hekkeran called her.
Arche turned his head and looked at him.
I agree.
She paused.
But I want to see that person.
"Who?"
Higashino Makoto.
Hekkeran's brow furrowed slightly.
"Why?"
Arche's voice was calm.
"I want to thank him."
Hekkeran looked at her for two seconds, then nodded.
"Go."
Arche stood up and walked towards the table in the corner.
Higashino Makoto sat there, holding a cup of black tea, his dark eyes gazing out the window.
Illya sat opposite him, her long, silvery-white hair shimmering golden in the sunset, her crimson eyes fixed on Arche.
Please have a seat.
Higashino Makoto didn't turn around, but his voice clearly reached Arche's ears.
Arche sat down opposite him, his hands on his knees, his back ramrod straight.
Her emerald green eyes looked at him, her pupils reflecting his profile.
"Thank you."
Her voice was very soft.
"What are you thanking me for?"
Thank you for telling us those things.
Higashino Makoto turned his head and looked at her.
"You've decided not to go?"
"Um."
"That's good."
Arche paused for a moment.
Why are you helping us? Is it really just because you like us?
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
"What else?"
That's all.
Arche lowered his head and looked at his hands.
"You know the owner of that ruin. You know he's powerful. You know he can kill us. But... aren't you afraid of him?"
Higashino Makoto chuckled softly.
"I'm not afraid."
"Why?"
"Because we can barely be considered friends."
Arche raised his head, his emerald green eyes flashing with shock.
"A friend who lives in a grave?"
Higashino Makoto leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes staring at the ceiling.
"Right."
He paused.
"One more thing. Remember, don't speak ill of that place. If you're overheard, death might be the best outcome."
Arche looked at him for a long time.
"You... you really are a very strange person."
"I know."
Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Go back and rest. You'll be looking for new cases tomorrow."
Arche stood up and bowed slightly.
"Thank you."
She turned around and walked back to her companions.
Higashino Makoto watched her retreating figure, a soft light flashing in his dark eyes.
It was late at night when Leinas entered the Singing Apple Garden.
She wore a dark cloak with the hood pulled low, obscuring her delicate face.
Her long, golden hair cascaded down from the brim of her hood, gleaming softly in the moonlight.
She wasn't wearing armor, just a simple black dress.
The hotel door wasn't locked. She pushed it open and went inside.
As one of the Four Imperial Knights of the Baharuth Empire, he easily obtained the location of the room where Higashino Makoto was.
She walked to the door, knocked, and made a knocking sound.
"You've arrived?"
Higashino Makoto didn't open the door, but his voice clearly reached Leinas's ears.
Leinas pushed open the door, walked up to him, and stopped.
His Majesty has sent me to ask you some questions.
"Sit."
Leinas sat down opposite him and took off her hood.
Her long, golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, gleaming softly in the candlelight.
His deep blue eyes looked at him, his profile reflected in their pupils.
"Your Majesty wishes to know what lies within those ruins."
Higashino Makoto turned his head, not surprised, but still looking at her.
"The Emperor knows?"
"Understood. The Foresight abandoned the commission, Hekkeran Tammet explained the reason to the Earl. The Earl was furious and reported the matter to His Majesty. His Majesty wants to know why you dissuaded them, why you said the ruins were dangerous, and what your relationship is with the owner of those ruins."
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"He certainly asked a direct question."
His Majesty said, "There's no need to hide anything; just ask."
Leinas's voice was calm.
He said, "You don't like beating around the bush. So, he won't beat around the bush either."
Higashino Makoto chuckled softly.
"He knows me quite well."
He picked up his teacup, took a sip of the cooled black tea, and then put it down.
"The owner of that tomb was a powerful figure. A powerful figure who greatly disliked being disturbed."
How strong is it?
"Powerful enough to destroy a country with a wave of the hand."
Leinas's pupils contracted slightly.
"Stronger than you?"
After thinking for a moment, Higashino Makoto still didn't say that he was guaranteed to win.
"It's hard to say, we've never fought. But he won't lay a hand on me, after all, we're friends."
"Friend?"
"Yes, friend."
Higashino Makoto leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes staring at the ceiling.
"Friends I made a promise to go on an adventure together."
Leinas looked at him, a complex light flickering in her deep blue eyes.
She didn't quite understand what constituted an adventure for people who could destroy a country with a wave of their hand.
Leinas's lips twitched slightly.
"You still need to explore..."
That's the truth.
Higashino Makoto sat up straight and looked at Leinas.
"You probably have more to ask than just these questions, don't you?"
Leinas lowered her head and looked at her hands.
"Your Majesty also wants to know whether that tomb poses a threat to the Baharuth Empire."
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment, unsure of what to do.
After all, Ainz is relatively easy to deal with, but his guardians might not necessarily do anything.
"As long as you don't bother them, it shouldn't be a problem."
"Should?"
"The owner of that tomb has no interest in ruling the world; as long as you don't mess with him, you'll be fine. But his subordinates..."
Higashino Makoto really had little confidence in the Guardians, including Demiurge.
Who knew that a casual remark Ainz made that day would be interpreted by them as a desire to conquer, destroy, or even subjugate the world?