Infinite Skill Devourer

Chapter 26: She’s Dead

Chapter 26: She's Dead

Ryuen returned to his room with a subtle headache.

His mind kept replaying the Queen's words—her warnings.

The three missing humans.

And her disturbing instruction to check what she had given him at midnight.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong.

Something so wrong that, if he didn't figure it out soon, he would deeply regret it.

He sat on his bed, leaning backward, supporting his head against the headboard with one hand.

Still lost in thought.

DING!

The blue holographic screen appeared suddenly, moments before Ryuen was about to close his eyes.

[New Data: Hiro—Northern Army Captain]

[Combat Level: 80]

[Class: SS]

[Location: Basilan Temple, Class B Sphinx Dungeon]

[Additional Information: Physically spotted along the North Coast, Mount Yū]

Ryuen stared at the screen, his eyes narrowed.

The name Hiro—it was exactly the name the Queen had mentioned.

But how? And why? How did the system get such information?

As he read through the details, he was baffled by the man's strength and ibat level of 80 and an SS-Class warrior, was just outstanding, almost unbelievable.

But Hiro's disappearance.

The Queen had said he went missing, so how did the system know his exact location?

However, it wasn't the time to ask questions.

Even if he did, no one would answer.

Pushing aside the questions, Ryuen stood up and decided to take a walk around the palace.

And maybe grab something to eat to distract himself.

He threw on a coat to warm himself up, considering cold and quietly stepped out of his room.

Walking slowly through the halls, he tucked his hands into his pockets and closed his eyes.

Letting his thoughts drift.

Memories from the previous night came back—strange, and unfamiliar.

Like they weren't his

It wasn't a nightmare, nor was it a dream.

It was almost disturbing.

If Ryuen wasn't such a deep sleeper, he might have been more worried.

Yes, Ryuen's one bad habit was his deep sleeping.

Ryuen shifted his gaze to the same guards who had let him into the Queen's room.

He saw that they averted their gaze from him nervously.

But he was oddly grateful.

They managed to tell half of the truth and still protect him.

They knew if they mentioned anything about him seeing the Queen last, he could be blamed for her death.

Trusting a human, huh?

Ryuen chuckled silently and turned back to Jun.

"I didn't see her today. The last time I saw her was the day I arrived," he answered casually and added, "I actually thought she traveled too. It would have been lovely meeting her."

"Yeah," Jun answered, still staring at Ryuen with a side look.

"Aren't you even supposed to be asleep?" Aika suddenly asked, clearly irritated by Ryuen's presence.

But could he blame her?

Right now, she could be angered by any little thing, especially him.

And he didn't care. He only wanted to know why the Queen told him what she did and then died at the same time she asked him to check what she had given him.

With a heave of a sigh, Ryuen turned around to leave, but before he did, he gave a short bow to the King.

"She's in a better place, Your Majesty."

That's if that better place existed here, he told himself and left the throne room.

The second he stepped into his room, he shoved his hand into his hair, roughly and impatiently searching for what she had placed.

As he felt the strange object, he pulled it out of his hair and saw a tiny bottle filled with a red substance.

Blood?

He thought, frowning slightly.

Around the bottle was a note.

As soon as his fingers touched it, he felt a faint pulse of energy.

He unfolded it quickly.

And saw a map, marked with several locations, each one circled in red.

Along with the name Masked Crusader written boldly at the top.

"How does she know about..."

He trailed off when he saw what was written in ink on the bottle cap.

Drink it.

It read, and it only made Ryuen frown. However, who was he to go against the words of a Queen?

The fact she told him a few things, warned him, and gave him strict orders before dying that same day...

He wouldn't dare question her. After all, she seemed to be the wisest.

And he wasn't assuming; the aura she gave off screamed wisdom and strength.

"Might as well do as she says and wait for what comes next," he said, flipping the cap of the bottle open, instantly hit with the familiar metallic scent of blood.

It gave him a sense of déjà vu, and it oddly felt wonderful.

Without wasting any more time, he poured the entire contents into his mouth.