Cadel genuinely didn’t want to spend the night in such a mysterious, creepy place. But after hours of searching the castle, they hadn’t gotten a single clue. The sky had grown steadily darker as they searched in vain, and he was getting a little tired of the fruitless search.

“I’m hungry…….”

Cadel muttered weakly as he stretched out on the couch in the corner of the main hall. He hadn’t eaten in nearly half a day. He was bound to get hungry.

“Are you really hungry? What to do, I don’t have anything to eat here either…….”

Van, who was sitting next to him, rummaged through his bag with a troubled expression. Cadel’s brow creased slightly as he watched.

“By the way, Van.”

“Yes?”

“Where did you get that bag? Come to think of it, so did your greatsword. You left them all behind when you went underwater.”

The same was true of the other subordinates’ weapons, even the bandages covering Yozen’s eyes. Cadel’s expression grew serious as he realized something was amiss, and Van answered quickly.

“I’ve had it since I woke up in this place. The real weapons and luggage are outside, as Commander said, so this must be fake.”

“……Fake?”

“I don’t know why this space bothered to make it, but if it’s going to give me a bag, it might as well have food in it.”

Perhaps it was an effort to minimize the sense of alienation. Despite all that, Cadel wasn’t even given a single bag.

‘Well, it would have been a nuisance even if I had one.’

Quickly dismissing his doubts, Cadel sank back into the couch. He was trying to remember if there was anything outside that he could use to make food.

“Cadel, I’ve detected a strange energy in the garden.”

Yozen, who had approached without a sound, pointed toward the castle’s main entrance.

“It’s approaching this way.”

Cadel jumped to his feet at the sudden information. He asked Van to send for his comrades upstairs and immediately began to draw on his mana.

“What exactly do you mean by a strange energy? You mean it’s not the demons?”

“It’s not demonic energy, I’ve never felt anything like it before. What should I say…… It’s extremely hazy and weak. There’s barely any vitality to it, let alone the energy of a living being.”

“Little vitality……? You mean like someone who’s dying is walking?”

“I don’t know, but what I do know is that it’s neither human nor demon.”

A being that was neither human nor demon, with barely a trace of life. Cadel couldn’t figure it out. Yozen didn’t sense any danger from the being beyond, but he was reluctant to approach it because he couldn’t easily identify it.

‘I don’t know what it is, but I don’t think it’s going to hurt us.’

It wasn’t just a vague premonition. Cadel stared at the front door for a moment, then walked toward it.

“Yozen, you stay there.”

“It might be dangerous. You shouldn’t approach…….”

Cadel flung the front door open before Yozen could finish his sentence. And at the same time, a breathtaking, chilling wind swept through his body.

“……!”

“Cadel!”

Cadel felt the strange sensation of the cold wind digging into his body, passing right through him. He staggered back reflexively and turned his head in the direction of the wind.

“That’s…….”

The shape of a ‘something’ that defied easy description was revealed. It was a dark green puff of smoke that took on a human form. Its translucent body pulsed constantly, and despite being pierced by Yozen’s dark energy, it remained motionless.

The ‘something’ strode boldly into the castle, accompanied by an odd ringing sound like iron.

“What the hell was that?”

“Whoa, isn’t that a ghost? It looks like a ghost!”

“Is it okay to touch him? Leader, is there anything wrong with your body?”

The subordinates who had arrived downstairs a step late quickly surrounded the ‘something’. Cadel stood in front of the thing as well, rubbing his slightly chilled arms.

“I’m just a little chilled, by the way, does this…… look like a real ghost?”

Lydon was right, the ‘something’ in front of them seemed more like a soul than an object. It doesn’t seem to be able to attack or communicate. Despite mimicking a human form, it lacked the proper facial features, resembling a blurry shadow.

As Yozen withdrew the dark energy that had been coursing through it, the ghost resumed its motion. It began to glide through the men surrounding it, heading for somewhere in the castle.

“Where is it going?”

“Let’s follow it, it doesn’t seem to be trying to do any harm.”

They followed the ghost to the kitchen. The cooking utensils were scattered in disarray, the result of a rampage by his subordinates. It was no place to cook anything, and as if the thought was too scary to contemplate, the ghost leaped into the air and swept through the kitchen in one big sweep.

“What……!”

“Ahaha! Isn’t that amazing? That’s awesome!”

The space the ghost touched was instantly transformed back to its pre-cluttered state. After a quick spin, the ghost finished cleaning up and began to take out cooking utensils and prepare a meal. Cadel wondered what it was going to do with no ingredients, but it was a useless concern.

“What is this? Is this some kind of magic? It can’t be…….”

At the touch of a ghostly hand, a variety of vegetables, meats, fish, and spices began to cook from an unknown source. The pots and pans filled with ingredients were skillfully transformed into food.

The Knight Order gathered around and watched the ghost’s culinary mastery. Each tried to uncover the ghost’s secrets, but none succeeded. They were helplessly entranced by the mouthwatering smell of the finished product.

The ghost levitated the finished dish into the air and moved to the dining room, where a long table was waiting. He distributed the utensils according to the number of people and laid out the food.

“Wow…….”

“Darling, can I eat this? I can eat this right? Please tell me I can eat this!”

“Calm down, Sir Lydon. If it’s poisonous, I’ll detoxify it for you, but let’s get you full first.”

“Wait, Commander! I’ll try it first, and if it’s not dangerous, you can eat it then.”

There was a plethora of food, too many to count. Cadel sat mesmerized, swallowing hard. The food smelled and looked perfect. When it was done, the ghost dissipated into a puff of smoke.

“The quality of the food is so high, it’s almost suspicious.”

“It’s real food. How can a being like that make real food?”

One by one, the subordinates who had been fussing over the food sat down and took their portions. Van, who had just sliced the turkey with gusto, studied it carefully and nodded.

“I think you can eat.”

Cadel took a few bites here and there and began to eat. The uneasiness of this unknown space, or the ghastliness of the food being made by a ghost, was long forgotten by the excellent flavor. The Knight Order stuck their noses into their bowls and inhaled the food without question. The food was so good that it was almost appetizing, despite his fatigue and hunger.

“Mmm, I’m full.”

Cadel rubbed his bulging belly and sagged back in his chair, all that food now gone. Satisfaction flashed across everyone’s faces as they ate their fill.

When they were finished, the ghost reappeared to collect their plates. It seemed to have prepared the meal and cleaned up after itself.

‘…… I’m a bit envious.’

Cadel wondered if the ghost could be recruited into the Knight Order, and since it was a ghost, he wouldn’t have to pay for the Knight Order Cost. Cadel paused to digest his meal.

‘I shouldn’t be this full.’

This was no time to be reveling in a hearty meal. With an act of extreme willpower, Cadel rose from his seat and looked around at his subordinates at the table.

“When we’re done eating, let’s search outside, and see what we can find before it gets completely dark.”

As they exited the castle, the sky was tinted a pale pink. It would be completely dark within half an hour, which would make it difficult to search successfully.

‘Even if we have to stay the night, we should try to minimize our time here.’

Lydon and Garuel were assigned to search the sea, Van and Yozen to the sandy beach, and Lumen and Cadel to the gardens. The gardens were pretty much just harmonious flowers and trees and a pretty tea table or pagoda, but they thought if they dug in the dirt, they might find something.

It was time for Cadel to digest his meal and go for a walk.

“Come this way, Leader.”

Lumen, who was searching the other side, called to Cadel.

He hurried over to where a bush of blue roses was in full bloom, a color he’d never seen in real life. Cadel had never seen blue roses in real life before, and they made the garden feel dreamy and beautiful.

In the midst of the breathtaking beauty of the roses, Cadel fumbled with his vision and found Lumen.

He was looking back at him wordlessly, amidst the abundance of roses. As their gazes met, warmth filled Lumen’s blue eyes, and a simple smile formed on his sculpted face.

“……Did you find something?”

The blue roses and Lumen’s figure were a stunningly perfect match. Like a man born from a rosebud. Cadel stared at him, dumbfounded by the newfound beauty, and Lumen gestured lightly. He motioned for Cadel to come closer.

“What did you find…….”

Lumen grabbed Cadel’s wrist as he approached and pulled him closer. His eyes lowered gracefully to stare at Cadel’s surprised face in his arms. Cadel could feel his heart beating loudly against his chest, at odds with his relaxed expression.

“You’re beautiful.”

He let Cadel’s arms slide casually around the nape of his neck. Then he slid one hand around Cadel’s waist and the other around the back of Cadel’s head and stroked it.

“I wanted to show this to you, Leader.”

“……Why are you like this, it doesn’t suit you.”

A pleasant scent caressed his nostrils, mingling dark floral notes with Lumen’s cool body scent. Cadel felt awkward, unable to meet Lumen’s deep gaze.

“You didn’t even do a proper search, you’re not here for sightseeing, you’re not even Lydon, and you wouldn’t waste your time on this…….”

Cadel tried to rant and rave to get out of this embarrassing situation, but Lumen would have none of it. Deftly, he lowered his head and lightly brushed his lips against Cadel’s. When he slid his tongue into the surprised mouth, a tangle of hot air tingled and the arms around Lumen’s neck tightened.

He pulled Cadel closer, hugging him tightly and refusing to let go. The kiss didn’t last long, though. After a brief duel of tongues, a playful touch of the inside of his mouth, Lumen pulled his lips away without hesitation, his eyes half-lidded as he stared at Cadel, who looked at him as if to ask if it was over already.

“I love the search, I love the battles, but the best part is always spending time with you, Leader. I love the look on your face when you see something beautiful and new. Just to see that face…… I might want this world to stay intact.”

“…….”

“So don’t be so uptight, Leader, it’s okay if it’s just for a little while.”

It wasn’t okay. There was no telling what might happen to them if they stayed here long enough, and it might become increasingly difficult to escape in proportion to how long they stayed. They must search diligently, without wasting time.

Even as he thought this, Cadel couldn’t bring himself to say it. He merely leaned his cheek against Lumen’s shoulder, reliving the afterglow of their brief kiss.