The Founder's POV

Chapter 27: Noble's Hypocrisy

A lot had happened since I had grown closer to these people. I felt some hesitation in building relationships again, but I continued in the end.

I can't go through life as a loner without any companions, so I befriended them even though I knew... I am a slave outside just as I am a slave here.

They must know this too, having heard my story, but they didn't seem to care much for some reason.

I sighed as I looked out the same window. The operation would start in a few days, and I still felt like we could stay for another four months.

Are we really ready? I felt some doubt since I didn't know the full extent of my opponents' strength, but I decided to trust Gilbert in the end.

If the Morning star said that we are ready, I wouldn't doubt him.

I knew the basic principle of the plan, knew that our chances of success were over 60%, but I still felt anxious for some reason.

I felt like we had no chance, felt that I would need a small push of strength during the mission, and that I might end up using that...

"What are you thinking about?"

Lyra placed her hand on my shoulder and stood beside me to watch the street as well. I looked at her face for a moment.

Despite her obvious disfigurement, I had started to fail to see it lately. It wasn't that she had healed but something else...

A strange feeling.

"I'm feeling a bit anxious..." I shared my thoughts after a bit of hesitation, and I sensed her breathing get heavier.

"You're not the only one..." Her voice became strangely deep, and she nodded her scarred chin toward the others.

Asher, who usually had excess energy, was staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. Elara was tidying up the place instead of sleeping...

As for Gilbert...

***

I bid farewell to Lyra after another long conversation with her and climbed to the roof of the building I had lived in for the past few months.

Gilbert was staring at the ruined city, and I felt a strange aura around him.

A man with ambitions burning like fire, unable to wait for the water in this place to dry up so he could blaze strongly in the outside world again.

The rise of the Morning Star or his downfall... everything depended on the battle in a few days.

Gilbert leaned on the edge of the building's fence and looked at the large sword in his hand.

"Do you know what this is?"

As expected of him, he sensed the presence of an assassin like me immediately...

I glanced at the sword he was talking about and was somewhat shocked.

"How did you get that?!" It was Cassian's sword, a weapon I suspected was of high grade just by looking at it.

Did he take it when he captured him? But I don't think that's part of his job.

"This sword belonged to your friend. It's of the same grade as the sword I had before I got here."

A legendary sword... what a surprise...

A set of weapons whose creation is a mystery to all, indestructible weapons with a will of their own.

They're more like living beings than inanimate objects without thought, and they possess amazing abilities.

"This sword has five seals, only one of which is currently open. But I can't use it without special permission. I've tried to make it accept me over the past four months, but it has refused me every time without hesitation."