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  Vol 2 Chapter 28: Arymm And Infiltration

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  "One must wonder- no matter how secretive one wishes to be, surely, at this point, it’s bee terproductive, wouldn’t you agree?"

  Dressed in bck from head to toe, an ensemble that nearly cealed their entire appearance, Sisi and Arymm mao infiltrate the stronghold with surprising ease.

  That said, official identification was still necessary.

  "Halt. Please present your credentials."

  A bck-cd figure barred their path.

  However, thanks to Misako’s 'interrogation,' they were well-versed in such protocols.

  Sisi and Arymm produced a distinctive badge.

  "Credentials firmed. Please, proceed!"

  The previous stern tone now gave way to one of deferend respect. It was evident that these two held some sway withironghold.

  "That should grant us access deeper within," Sisi remarked with a knowing gnce.

  Authority, after all, came with privileges- access to more areas, and the possibility of finding Marlyno.

  With their badges affixed, the two tinued on their way.

  "I've heard the captain is one of the key targets here. We should be near him. Let’s move... What's wrong?"

  "Nothing," Arymm replied, though her expressiorayed something was amiss.

  She felt... anded. It was as though she wasn’t merely a free-willed soul at this moment, but one bound by orders. That sense of being trolled left her uneasy, though she quickly dismissed it.

  ‘Fet it, it’s that wench’s fault. I’ll have my revenge once she wakes up.’

  She directed her frustration inward, pg the bme squarely on Aris, though she couldn't deny a small part of her had been the cause- after all, it was her who had forced Aris into a deep mental slumber.

  Following the map Misako had provided for this stronghold, the two soon found themselves at the heart of it.

  Only then did they fully grasp the scale of the pce.

  "A... boratory?" Sisi remarked, surveying the area.

  From the map, the yout of the stronghold was unmistakable- it wasn’t hastily built. The tral area offered a clear view through gss windows into an open courtyard, with various instruments and maery arranged behind them.

  "At st, I’ve found you!"

  A voice rang out from behind.

  "'Lord Ember' is preparing for the ritual. We ask for 'Lady Ash’s' assistance immediately," the figure addressed Sisi.

  Acc to the badge, Sisi osing as the individual known as 'Ash.'

  "Lead the way," she responded curtly.

  "Yes, my dy!" the man replied promptly.

  Fortunately, the mask she wore had a spell woven into it that altered her voice, or she might have been exposed right then and there.

  Sisi gave Arymm a subtle nod, signalio stay behind, before following the man.

  As for Arymm, she had not been summoned, so she was free to act as she wished.

  ‘Marlyno is likely in that dire. I’ll hahe sabotage then,’ she mused.

  Their mission was twofold: rescue Marlyno aroy the magiations sustaining the barriers and, most crucially, the teleportation circle. Acc to the ttives they had interrogated, this base tained a teleportation array that would allow its octs to escape in the event of a crisis.

  Needless to say, they couldn't allow that to happen, so the array had to be destroyed first.

  For reasons of secrecy, the ttives hadn’t known the precise locations of these key items, meaning Arymm would have to search for them herself.

  Following the map, Arymm made her way to the opposite end of the tral area. The hallways were being more crowded with each step.

  "Is that not 'Late Bell'? Haven’t seen you in days. Looking quite scruffy, aren't you?"

  As Arymm walked, a voice called out to her- ohat seemed i on provoking a frontation.

  By the way, 'Late Bell' was Arymm’s alias, and the man in front of her, who seemed to be challenging her, went by the name 'Gin.'

  "You’re not talking much today. Isn’t it usually you ag all aloof, like you’ve got a chip on your shoulder?" Gin pressed on, drawing nearer until his masked nose nearly brushed Arymm’s.

  "...The teleportation circle and the barrier geor are in a secret room to the north. You’ll know it when you get there," he muttered in response, his to.

  "Hmm?"

  "What? Don’t e any closer or I’ll have you blown to bits? Oh, how terrifying!" Gin ughed mogly.

  He retreated a step, tinuing to speak in a cryptiprehensible manner, before suddenly halting.

  "Anyway, I’ve got my own duties now. No time for more chatter. Watch out, though. Guards up ahead."

  After givihat final, cryptic warning, he turned a.

  ‘...What a peculiar one,’ Arymm thought to herself.

  Before she could ponder further, another voice came her way.

  "'Late Bell'! Gin’s going too far!"

  "Yes, yes! Doesn’t he uand the cept of hierarchy?"

  The bck-cd figures around her chattered in indignation about Gin’s behavior. Arymm, however, paid them no mind. What truly piqued her i was how Gin had seen right through her disguise and kly what she was after- both the teleportation circle and the barrier geor.

  ‘...Never mind. I o find that secret room first.’

  Despite her curiosity about Gin, Arymm knew where her priorities y. Ign the fttering remarks from the others, she proceeded to the northern part of the stronghold.

  Upon arrival, she quickly realised what Gin had meant by "You’ll know it when you get there."

  A wine cork y on the ground in a certain spot, likely discarded from a bottle. As Arymm picked it up, her suspi grew.

  It wasn’t just any cork. Beh it was engraved in an auspicious character.

  Most passersby would have thought nothing of it- a careless drinker’s litter. But with Gin’s cryptit, it became clear: this was a clue.

  ‘So this is the spot, then?’ Arymm wondered, eyeing the wall o the cork.

  Raising her hand, she pressed it against the surface, activating a dete spell.

  Learning from the time Aris had iently been spotted while using a simir spell, Arymm focused her magic with meticulous trol. Sure enough, the wall revealed its secrets- a hidden teleportation array, a meism maintaining the barrier, and a guard standing watch.

  ‘parable in strength… perhaps strohan that green-haired brat. Impressive.’

  Yet, it was nothing she couldn't handle.

  Activating the array of meisms she had detected, the wall before her slowly slid open.

  "...Has there been an intrusion? Looks like those defeated ckeys were nothing but talk."

  A deep, resounding voied as a figure armor stepped into view. A rge sword rested at his side, the tip pressing into the ground.

  "…You… what are you doing here?"

  As the man came into focus, Arymm’s face twisted with surprise and- was it?- rage.