It was the story of a person's death.
Death is something that shouldn't be spoken of lightly by anyone, unless they are a heinous criminal, and it is customary to pray for the repose of their soul.
Of course, Agartha was a criminal, but in a way, our capture of the Outsider proved that Agarta had also contributed to stopping an Outsider.
But this Vice-Captain fellow just spat it out casually, as if such a regrettable death was nothing.
"...What on earth do you mean by that?"
"Can't you even understand human speech? The thief failed to capture the Outsider and failed to prove her worth."
The Vice-Captain shrugged her shoulders as if stating the obvious.
"What is it? Did you develop some camaraderie during your short stay in the underground jail?"
Frankly, just hearing that Agartha was dead was irritating enough.
And then that tone, as if she bore no responsibility at all...
Normally, in a situation like this, anger should be boiling over.
But I was strangely calm.
Now I understand.
Super Coward Mode was maintaining my grip on rationality.
Thanks to that, my anger was sublimating into calmness, focusing my mind.
"Don't worry. As promised, you are no longer a criminal, so forget about the thief."
The Vice-Captain spoke as if pouring oil on a fire, or rather, fanning the flames.
I tried to hold back, but I felt I had to say something, so I recalled what Muyeon had said and spoke.
"...You actually sent us out to die, didn't you?"
"Feel free to indulge your delusions."
"Those knights... they were just disposable pawns, weren't they? I know. Was that really the Princess's command?"
At my sharp retort, the Vice-Captain frowned and started glaring at the hapless Muyeon.
She's the one who sent us with that intention, so why blame someone else?
Seeing Muyeon trembling, I opened my mouth to redirect the Vice-Captain's attention back to me.
"So what if it is?"
But the Vice-Captain only acted as if she was the offended party.
"Anyway, you lot survived. In the end, that's proof the thief was weak. Were you criminals that thick with trust? If you were going to talk about affection now, you shouldn't have committed crimes in the first place."
"V-Vice-Captain."
"You keep quiet."
The Vice-Captain snapped at Muyeon and then turned his head back to me.
"Go on, tell me. Am I wrong?"
"Even though we defeated an Outsider for you, how can you be so brazen...!"
"Speak properly. Hunter aside, if it weren't for Muyeon, wouldn't you have been like an egg trying to break a rock?"
I wanted to say something, but the Vice-Captain's words held some truth, and her way of speaking that left no room for rebuttal effectively shut me up.
"Anyway, there are weapons to be issued to you as a reward later.
Come to the armory tomorrow."
"...The armory?"
Right, one of the reasons I wanted to join the Knight Order.
According to community posts, weapons forged by the furnace's heat are mostly powerful. It is a fitting reward and something I wanted, but...
There's no way this can make things right.
As I kept my mouth shut, the Vice-Captain snorted and suddenly stood up.
"Fine, you're right. You did defeat an Outsider. I'll give you a special additional reward.
I'll be your punching bag myself. Care to take a swing?"
She stood up with an attitude of an adult telling a child to go ahead and hit her, and started approaching us.
As if my punch would be nothing.
Realistically, a punch from a weak commoner's body would probably just tickle a Vice-Captain who had been in the Knight Order for decades.
Was it really right to hit her here?
Was this another trap to get me thrown in jail over this incident?
"...What are you doing? You think I'd have you locked up just for hitting me?
Fine, I swear on my position as Vice-Captain that I won't hold you responsible.
Does that make you feel like hitting me now?"
What was the reason for suddenly insisting so strongly that I hit her?
But her words seemed true, as a light began to emanate around the Vice-Captain, as if a contract had been formed.
Even so, I hesitated.
This was the Knight Order headquarters.
Acting recklessly would be dangerous for me.
"What is it? All big talk, but when it comes time to throw a punch, are you scared?
And you had the nerve to yell at me? All bark and no bite."
Just like that thief.
His last words broke the threads of rationality and with the contract seemingly in place, I stepped forward.
I walked right up to the Vice-Captain and, without a word, threw a punch at her with all my might.
Bboiong!
A loud, clanging sound rang out.
Naturally, my fist didn't affect the Vice-Captain; it just bounced off what seemed to be her armor, a bear mascot suit.
Was this really how it ended?
Did this mean I just had to feel this shame and completely forget about Agartha?
"Hmph, is that all? If that satisfied your anger, then so be it."
Just as the Vice-Captain snorted and turned to go back to her seat.
"If you're done talking, now disperse..."
The door opened.
Pushing past Alpha and Beta who tried to stop him, Hunter appeared and began walking leisurely towards the Vice-Captain.
The Vice-Captain made a puzzled expression and spoke.
"What is it? If you're late, you should knock..."
But the Vice-Captain's words couldn't continue.
Piyong!
It was the sound of a spring recoiling, but...
"Guh-ack!"
The result was different.
The Vice-Captain's body floated into the air, the wall shattered, and she slid along the broken wall.
The impact seemed considerable, dust flew, and the Vice-Captain couldn't properly get up.
Stunned by the unreal scene, I just blinked, and Muyeon ran to the Vice-Captain.
"Vice-Captain!"
"Kheuk..."
As the Vice-Captain tried to slowly rise with a pained expression, I turned my head towards Hunter.
Hunter, as if he had done nothing special, simply retracted his swung fist and brushed it off.
"The right given to this guy applies to me too, right? Am I wrong?"
"..."
The Vice-Captain said nothing.
As if she had no retort.
She just glared at Hunter with a grim expression.
Seeing this, Hunter clicked his tongue and tapped my shoulder.
"Tch, this is why I hate you guys. If you're done here, let's go get some food."
Being led out of the furnace room by Hunter, I saw it.
The Vice-Captain, who I thought would be furious, said nothing, as if she just had to do what he was supposed to do, and silently got up and returned to his seat.
"By the way, an armory? The Knight Order guys are unexpectedly generous.
Certainly, the weapons there will be a great help in catching those Outsiders from now on."
Somehow, Hunter knew the entire conversation.
The weapons were certainly something to look forward to.
The weapons from the armory were forged using the furnace's heat.
Made with the mysterious flames of the furnace that warm the entire domain, the effects imbued in the weapons are endless.
However, it was a bit concerning that the weapons from the armory were given randomly, and their performance varied depending on the recipient's stats.
No wonder posts like 'Hit the jackpot at the armory. Rerolling cycles forever.' were often seen.
Well, that's definitely good, but.
"Sigh."
Somehow, I didn't feel depressed, but I also felt like I had something to say.
I don't know why Hunter, who seemed to have no blood or tears, punched the Vice-Captain.
Anyway, at the time, it felt refreshing, but since it wouldn't bring Agarta back, I felt gloomy.
Memories of her, though pesky, always initiating conversation and trying to befriend us, flashed through my mind like a panorama.
I sighed at the thought of never seeing that again.
Would I have to hold a funeral for her by myself later?
As I was lost in gloomy thoughts, Hunter suddenly slapped my back.
"Guh."
The force was quite strong, making me groan as I looked at him. He looked ahead as if nothing happened.
"...If not for your help, the thief would have been destined to die in that jail long ago.
By letting her live this long, you've done all you needed to do.
If you mope around like this, even the thief won't be able to rest easy."
"...?"
"What."
When I looked at Hunter with a questioning expression, he responded with a brusque attitude, flicked his chin once, and just kept walking ahead.
Did I mishear?
The Hunter I knew wasn't the type to comfort people like this.
He was always blunt, just stating facts.
What could have caused such a change of heart to make him so... gentle?
I don't know why he's been showing this bewildering side since our time in the holding cell.
"...Thank you, Hunter. I feel a bit better because of that."
"I just stated a fact."
Well, he probably thinks it's just a fact.
Sometimes, that very fact is warmer than any comfort in the world.
"Follow me. I know a good place."
The place Hunter led me to was a secluded-looking restaurant.
It was located deep inside an alley, so you had to walk quite a bit to get there, and not many people were around.
He explained it was one of the few places he could tolerate.
He really does only seek out places like this.
Still, it definitely had the vibe of a hidden gem.
...Now that I think about it, I haven't had a proper meal.
"I'll order. Sit down."
I nodded at Hunter's kindness and looked for a seat.
Most seats were empty, so I could just choose according to my preference.
Right.
The window seat is best for a restaurant.
I'm feeling a bit down, so I should enjoy some good food and watch the scenery outside.
As I headed towards the nearest window seat, it was already taken.
Of course, the best spot is taken, I thought, and was about to look for another seat when my eyes were drawn to one person.
Because a girl missing one arm was having a meal with a jade orb placed on the table.
Moreover, that jade orb felt very familiar.
That's definitely...
"Ahh, nom nom nom."
She seemed to have been eating since before, and she was eating so heartily it looked like she had been really hungry.
"...Gulp gulp. Ah, this is the furnace! This is the firewood! Why join the Knight Order? When you have something this good. I went through all that hardship and escaped for this... Huh?"
It was the moment she opened her mouth wide to take a bite of her meatball spaghetti.
For some reason, she seemed to feel a strange sensation and looked up.
Then our eyes met.
"Hey."
"...Huh?"
Seeing my face, she couldn't help but be greatly flustered.
"Uh... well..."
She flusteredly broke out in a cold sweat, unsure what to do, then suddenly waved her hands.
"W-Well done...? Hahaat..."
Suppressing the urge to yell, Is that what you're supposed to say right now?!, I pulled out the chair opposite her rather roughly and sat down.
"Eeek!"
Seeing her pretend to be terrified, I let out an involuntary sigh, and found myself asking in a sharp tone.
"Let me ask you one thing."
"Y-Yes?"
"Are you, by any chance, a ghost?"
"Uuum! Maybe... I am?"
Finally, my temper snapped. I ran behind her and put her in a chokehold with my bare hands.
"G-gak! H-help!"
"Oh really? Can ghosts eat food? Can their necks be choked? How did you fix the horizontal coordinate system, huh?"
Making all my worry seem pointless.
"Stop scaring people like that, you damn thief!!!!"
Agartha was alive and well.