Life didn't get easier, even in another world.

"Don't look at me like that. It was the hideout's security system, the traps installed in it, that caused this scene. It wasn't my doing."

The Fifth chuckled while looking at the girl's face and shrugged his shoulders.

"Of course, it was the system which would destroy the hideout after it was evacuated, but anyway."

He looked down again.

Even though everywhere was covered by dust, he could still see everything very clearly. He could see the agents who were gathering in one place.

"I don't think it is gonna end this easily..."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"And I'd be really glad if I could know how they survived that attack."

The Fifth glanced at the boss of the hideout that was warily staring back at him.

"Gather everyone that can still fight. I'll create a path for them, tell them to find and kill all of the agents."

"Yes, sir."

"And you!"

He then turned to the other man who was on the rooftop.

"You'll come with us as well."

The man tilted his head.

"Me? Why? The only thing I can do is to move some mere soil-"

"Cut the crap!"

The two corners of The Fifth's lips curled up.

"I saw you were able to do some pretty tricks with that mere soil of yours the other day. You can fight yet you want to slack off? Tsk tsk."

"....."

Seeing him not give an answer, The Fifth laughed excitedly and waved his hand.

"Haha! Then, Follow me!"

He said that, ran forward, and jumped down from the rooftop.

BOMM

A pile of dust rose to the air right where he landed.

"...."

The man leaned a little bit and looked down. 

"Follow?"

But it was too high.

He looked down, then turned his head and looked at the girl beside him.

"Can I please get a safe travel to the ground?"

He pointed at the pile of dust that was rising into the air with his finger.

Claire looked between the man and the ground. Her clasped hands were still shaking and her lips were about to bleed from her chewing them too much.

"O-okay. Let's go."

She created a portal that led to the ground in the blink of an eye.

She was about to step into the portal when the man grabbed her shoulder from behind.

"Where are you going?"

"Down?"

The man scoffed.

"Why would you go to a place where a fierce battle is about to begin?"

"Then what else am I supposed to do?"

"What? Weren't you the one who went on saying that you could run away any time if you wanted using your portals? Why are you staying here then?"

Claire lowered her head and bit her lip again.

"It's not like I can run away right now without that frea- that man's permission! The Fifth is the boss here right now and he didn't say I could leave! So I have to stay here! And I can't stay here alone!"

"Why not?"

"I-It's not safe! I'll come with you. Even if there is a battle going on, it will be fine as long as you are there, right? You were pretty strong when you beat that man with that soil spear!"

The man didn't say anything for a moment. He let go of Claire's shoulder and said in a serious face.

"Did I get it right? You want me to protect you?"

Claire raised her head. It was embarrassing but that was exactly what she was thinking. 

So she nodded her head.

The man folded his hands and stepped back.

"Do you really think I would protect you?"

"...."

Claire didn't answer him. She couldn't see his expression, but the man's voice was cold and emotionless.

"Sorry but I won't!"

"...."

The man turned around and walked towards the portal.

"It is probably your first time being in a situation like this so you don't know much. But you'd better remember, no one would go out of their way to protect a nobody that they've met only a few times. And I'm not an exception. Helping you in a normal situation and protecting you in a battle are two different things, Claire. Maybe, you've misunderstood things."

"...."

Standing still, Claire stared at the man's back.

"As you've said before, I'm not your father who would do anything for you. I'm not an older brother who would protect you either."

He stopped for a moment and sighed.

"Follow me if you want but I won't go so far to protect you."

"...."

The man stepped into the portal.

"But I won't try to hurt you either."

Those were his last words before he completely disappeared from sight.

"...."

Claire looked at the portal. She released her clasped hands and instead, clenched them.

'That bastard! I didn't mean it that way!'

She wanted to follow him just because she was scared of standing there alone! It wasn't that she depended on that old man or something like that!

She then remembered what he just said.

'I'm not your father who would do anything for you.'

"...."

She shook her head and clenched her fists even tougher.

'How can he think that I see him as a father? There is no way! That son of a bitch! Who does he think he is!'

She cursed the man inwardly but said something else out loud.

"Mr.Hay! Wait! I'm coming as well!"

She stomped towards the portal while yelling out loud.

"I'm capable of protecting myself! No need for you to do anything! And thank you for your advice, GRANDPA!"

Her fear was suddenly replaced by annoyance.

. . . . . 

The dust in the air, which strangely didn't settle down no matter how much time passed, prevented people from seeing each other. 

But that dust didn't hinder them now that Rai was there.

With his ability, they were able to open a path on the dust and look for the others.

"There! Aren't they team leader and Carlson?"

And they could finally find their other teammates.

Asa ran towards the four of them as soon as they arrived.

"Is everybody safe? No injuries?"

She checked everyone from head to toe in search of injuries and only stepped back after she made sure that everybody was safe.

"What are we gonna do now? We can't approach that building while it's surrounded with the fire and the dust."

Deputy team leader Bray tapped the ground with the tip of her sword. 

"Are they even alive? We were outside the gates yet were nearly roasted alive. What would happen to the ones that were closer to the explosion?"

No one answered Carlson. They were all having the same thoughts, thinking about what their next move was supposed to be.

"Um..."

Except for one person.

"Where is Alan?"

Kairen had been searching for him, but he wasn't around.

"He will be fine."

"...."

Kairen wanted to look for Alan as soon as he could, but he could only lower his head after hearing the team leader's cold answer.

"What are the orders, sir?"

Team leader Dains stared at the wall of the fire for a moment before he opened his mouth to give an answer. 

"We will-"

BOMM

However, he couldn't finish his words. A loud sound gathered everyone's attention to one spot. 

There, right at the entrance of the building, a pile of dust was rising into the air.

"...."

"...."

Then, something strange happened. 

The flames parted and a small path appeared in the middle of the wall of fire. 

And standing on the other side of the wall was a man smiling widely.

"Well well. Seems like our guests are still waiting outside the door!"

He leisurely walked out of the wall of fire as if he didn't feel the heat at all.

"T-that!"

"Ah??"

Reyan stuttered and grabbed his sword. His eyes were shaking while staring at the person who was walking towards them in a relaxed posture. Serria also gasped and took out her sword while walking closer to Kairen.

"Oh, damn!"

Next was Darren who crackled his fingers one by one.

"That aura... Is he a swordmaster?"

Carlson said that and stepped forward while holding his sword. The four of them were all looking at the man with serious faces. It was as if there was something that only the four of them could sense.

Seeing the seriousness of their teammates' reactions, the others also tensed up.

The man walked until he was standing where the yard's gate used to be and opened his mouth again.

"I'm surprised how you managed to find this place."

He looked around and scoffed.

"And you've also come prepared. SMF is usually too slow... I'm really surprised that you could track me down! I had heard that this unit was quite good, but didn't believe it until now."

He looked at the team leader who was standing behind others while holding two guns.

"It was also impressive surviving that surprise gift."

Crackl Crackl

The fire still burning fiercely.

"So, would you mind telling me..."

The Fifth took one step forward.

"...Whose work was that?"

The man was smiling, but the smile wasn't the sweet and kind smile you would see most of the time.

"I'm sure master would happily welcome the one who managed to stop his handmade gift!"

"...."

Kairen gulped and slightly lowered his head. 

He was talking about him, right? He was the only one who noticed the danger and reacted to it. 

But there was something else in his mind.

'Why does he talk so much? Man, you are acting like those typical bad guys in the stories... No. You are the bad guy so... Ah, I should really stop thinking about things like that in a situation like this.

Kairen shook off the silly thoughts and looked back at the bad guy again.

"Hehe!"

Once the chuckles left the man's lips, he kicked the ground. 

And the next second, he was right before their faces.