Esmoril City — Western Region of the Silverwood Kingdom
Esmoril.
A bustling city surrounded by vast forests and rocky highlands, famous for its abundance of magical beasts and endless opportunities for adventurers.
Under the dim afternoon sunlight, a man clad in a black cloak walked calmly through the crowded streets.
Blade.
He had no mission, no orders — boredom was slowly gnawing at him.
> "It's been a while since I took a normal quest," he muttered softly, glancing up at the guild banner fluttering in the air.
"Maybe… I'll find something to kill time."
He stepped into Esmoril's Adventurers' Guild. The familiar scent of steel, sweat, and parchment filled the air. Low conversations overlapped, and the clinking of mugs echoed through the hall.
At the counter stood a cheerful demi-human girl with fox ears and golden hair — Miriel.
> "Welcome back, Blade-san!" she greeted him with a smile.
"Looking for another monster-hunting quest?"
> "Something quiet," Blade replied calmly.
"Nothing that draws too much attention."
Miriel flipped through the quest board and handed him a sheet.
> "How about this one? A Rank-B quest — investigate and suppress Salamanders in the nearby Trisvale Forest. Several adventurers have gone missing, according to the guild."
Blade took the paper and gave a small nod.
> "That'll do."
As he turned to leave, a few adventurers whispered among themselves.
> "Isn't that the guy they say killed the Northern Demon Lord…?"
"He's way too calm for a normal human."
"Or maybe just too dangerous."
Blade ignored them.
Their opinions didn't matter.
What mattered was keeping his role low-profile — and waiting for Shujin's next major move.
---
Trisvale Forest — Evening
The forest glowed faintly with crimson embers — signs of nearby Salamanders. Molten trails shimmered between the bushes.
Blade followed them silently, one hand resting on his sword hilt.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
A burst of flame erupted ahead.
Blade rushed forward and saw two exhausted adventurers being overwhelmed by three Salamanders, their crimson scales glowing with heat.
A tall man with short gray hair and battle scars swung his steel axe, only to be knocked back by a powerful tail strike.
> "Damn it! There are more of them!"
Beside him, a nimble female mage with short brown hair and sharp amber eyes struggled to cast a spell — her mana nearly depleted.
> "Lance! I'm almost out of mana—!"
> "Hold on, Yuria!" he shouted, blocking another attack.
Then a calm voice spoke from behind them.
> "Step aside… both of you."
Before they could react, Blade stepped forward.
He raised one hand. A simple crimson flame formed in his palm.
> "Fire Magic — Crimson Sweep."
The ground split open.
A wave of red fire surged forward, instantly engulfing two Salamanders. Their scales shattered as they writhed in burning agony before collapsing.
The last Salamander leapt to attack—
Blade drew his sword in one fluid motion and slashed upward, cleaving through its jaw. The creature fell, its body dissolving into steam.
Silence followed.
Only the crackling of burning grass remained.
Lance and Yuria stared in disbelief.
> "You… defeated them with a single spell?" Yuria stammered.
> "Rank-B Salamanders… with that?" Lance whispered.
Blade calmly sheathed his sword.
> "They were careless. You just need to be more precise."
The two relaxed, gratitude washing over their faces.
> "You saved our lives. Thank you," Lance said, bowing slightly.
"I'm Lance Helvar, Rank-B adventurer. This is my partner, Yuria Velden — also Rank-B."
> "Blade Lunaria," he replied plainly.
"Rank-A."
Yuria smiled warmly.
> "Quiet type, huh… but still, we owe you. At least let us split the reward."
Blade glanced at the three corpses and shrugged.
> "You take half. I'll take the rest."
> "Fair enough," Lance chuckled.
"You're not like most adventurers. Most would've taken everything."
> "I don't need much," Blade replied.
Yuria nodded happily.
> "Blade-kun, you're interesting. How about teaming up sometime? We've got a few Rank-A quests lined up. With someone like you, they'd be easy."
Blade paused.
Normally, he avoided long-term companions.
But something about them caught his attention.
Their mana signatures were unusually faint — yet tightly controlled.
> "Alright," he finally said.
"I'll join you."
Lance grinned.
> "Then welcome to the team. Let's shake up Esmoril."
> "We'll call ourselves Team Ashlight," Yuria added with a smile.
"What do you think?"
> "…I don't care about names," Blade said as he turned away.
"As long as the quests get done efficiently."
They both laughed lightly.
To Blade, they seemed harmless — kind, loyal, ambitious.
But what he couldn't yet see…
…were the shadows hiding behind their smiles.
---
Meanwhile — The Demon Empire
In the Obsidian Throne Hall, the Great Demon Lord Varxenoth sat upon his black stone throne.
Before him, the remaining eight generals knelt.
His voice rumbled like an ancient storm.
> "The Federation grows stronger by the day. The Eastern Demon Lord has fallen — and now the Northern one as well.
Tell me… how long until our names vanish from this world?"
The second Demon General, Kael'vra, tall and horned with silver, bowed deeply.
> "My Lord, our forces are being reorganized. But the loss of two Demon Lords has weakened our border control.
We must appoint new rulers before chaos spreads."
Varxenoth's eyes burned red.
> "Then choose.
Which of you dares to replace them?"
Silence filled the hall.
No one spoke.
Finally, Varxenoth rose.
> "If none of you have the courage, then I will decide.
The Eastern Territory shall belong to Krayvos the Abyss Blade.
The Northern lands will be ruled by Seraphine Noctara."
The chosen demons bowed deeply.
> "We will not fail you, Great Lord."
> "See that you don't," Varxenoth said coldly.
"Because if you do — you'll wish you had fallen with your predecessors."
He turned to his advisor.
> "And the human — Blade?"
His advisor's crimson eye gleamed.
> "He's passing through Silverwood. Our spies are watching him — unnoticed.
The First Summoned Hero has already laid a trap around him."
---
Somewhere in the Shadows — Nyxarion's Chamber
In a dark, void-like space, the First Summoned Hero Nyxarion stood before two kneeling figures — a man and a woman clad in red cloaks.
> "Have you met him?" Nyxarion asked, his eyes glowing.
> "Yes, Master," the man replied — Lance Helvar.
"He saved us from Salamanders. Just as expected… he's powerful."
> "Good," Nyxarion smiled faintly.
"Earn his trust. Let him believe you are his allies."
Yuria nodded.
> "And when the time comes?"
> "When his guard is lowered," Nyxarion said coldly,
"find his weakness — and end him.
The shadows whisper that Blade's existence is dangerous.
If he truly carries the aura of the Darkness Lord… he cannot be allowed to live."
They bowed.
> "As you command."
Nyxarion turned away, his eyes blazing with resolve.
> "Shujin… Blade… whatever you call yourself.
This game of peace and shadows will end soon.
Only one hero will remain."
---
Return to Esmoril
Night had fallen.
Inside a small inn, Blade sat by the window, moonlight reflecting off his sword.
> "Lance. Yuria…" he murmured.
"You're both hiding your mana.
Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
He smiled — not in amusement, but as a warning.
> "Keep pretending.
I'll play along… for now."
Outside, the wind carried faint whispers of fate — and the scent of blood.
---
✨ End of Chapter 23 — "Smiles Beneath the Flames" ✨
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