“I’m adding Lina to our military forces.”

  Niles stood tall, arms on his hips, wearing the kind of serious expression that made it clear he had absolutely no shame in what he was saying.

  Lina tilted her head, blinked twice, and let out a faint, “…Heh?”

  The rest of the group immediately erupted in protest, nearly in unison, verbally shielding Lina like she was about to be thrown to the wolves.

  Niles, however, just laughed, the kind of ruthless laugh a foreman gives when an employee asks for sick leave during peak hours. “Relax! It’s for defensive purposes.” He even wiped a tear from his eye, as if this whole ordeal was touching.

  Lina looked pale as death. Felix, not a man of many words, opened his mouth to argue—but Niles cut him off, still grinning.

  “Don’t worry, everyone.” He dropped his arms to his sides and pointed toward the barrier. “Back during the chase, I noticed something—the Big Bonker was watching Lina. Like it was thinking.”

  Winston raised an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting monsters are intelligent?”

  Niles considered it for a second. “Well, they’re definitely organized. I assume intelligence varies—”

  Winston didn’t let him finish. “So, what’s your point?”

  Niles grinned wider. “From now on, Lina is our official barrier magician.”

  Lina blinked again. “…I’m what?”

  She didn’t know any magic. She was level three. This made zero sense.

  Niles forged ahead undeterred. “Winston, give Lina your courtly robes. If the barrier ever comes under attack again, she’ll dress up and pretend she’s maintaining it with her ‘powers.’”

  Silence. The group looked between each other, thoroughly unconvinced.

  Felix finally broke it. “You think our barrier will be attacked again? The monsters haven’t really tried since the Xandrian forces was here.”

  Niles nodded. “It’s just a guess, but—” He hesitated for a moment, gears turning in his head. “…If I were the monsters—”

  Vulcan leaned over to Wolf and whispered, “He is a monster.”

  Niles, unfazed, continued. “—I’d still believe the barrier was some kind of magic. Because every skill has some kind of drawback compared to its utility.”

  He gestured toward Lina. “Her skill, for example, doesn’t seem to have a limit, but its effect isn’t overpowered.” Then, he pointed at Tesla. “Meanwhile, Tesla can only resummon his creature the next day if it gets destroyed.”

  Tesla sighed. “Yeah, yeah, so what’s your skill’s drawback?”

  Niles grinned. “I can’t move the barrier.”

  The group blinked.

  “From the moment I set it. It’s been locked in place.”

  He let that sink in, then added casually, “Imagine if I’d placed it in King Xerxes’s throne room. What good would that do? It’d be completely useless.”

  A long silence followed.

  Then—

  “…We’re still talking about making me the ‘barrier magician’?” Lina asked weakly.

  “Absolutely.”

  The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the newly acquired playground. The whole party sat gathered at a picnic table, munching on dried meat and drinking water—except for Vulcan, who was busy chugging something noticeably stronger.

  Niles leaned forward, continuing his train of thought. “I’m lucky that my skill can be upgraded. Probably because of the ‘Barrier-ish’ name. That’s why I’m convinced Gustavus’s skill back in the capital can be upgraded too. And it also explains why Roy didn’t get any upgrade options when he leveled up during the attack at the ball—his skill is just ‘Bombardment.’”

  Winston folded his arms, tilting his head. “That actually makes sense.” He narrowed his eyes at Niles. “I’m surprised you thought that far ahead. Who am I supposed to give credit to this time?”

  Niles grinned and pointed both thumbs at himself. “This guy.”

  He straightened up, continuing. “So, basically, if the barrier gets attacked, Lina plays the role of our all-powerful ‘barrier magician’ while the rest of us fend off the enemies.” He gestured toward the barrier. “It makes way more sense. Why would the person maintaining the barrier ever leave it? They should always stay inside, safe and sound.” He lowered his arms, shrugging. “Then again, this is all just speculation.”

  Felix nodded, considering the plan. “It’s a precaution that doesn’t take much effort.” He turned to Lina, his voice warm. “What do you think? Would you be okay pretending to be our ‘barrier magician’? The choice is yours.”

  Lina looked down, her hands resting in her lap. “…If you think I’d be useful.”

  Felix gave a small smile. “You’ve always been useful.”

  She lifted her head, scanning the faces of the others. They all looked at her with the same silent agreement.

  She exhaled, smiling faintly. “…Okay. I’ll do it.”

  Niles clapped his hands. “Wonderful!”

  Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a leather pouch—the same one Squeaky had returned from Elephant. It clinked heavily when he dropped it onto the table.

  “Bear and the rest of the Xandrian army launched an assault on the Gingerbeard Pirates.” He gave the pouch a little shake. “As a result, Elephant sent us this as a reward, and Squeaky delivered it.”

  He slid the pouch over to Winston. “Minister of Finance.”

  Winston accepted it, peeking inside. His eyes widened. “Sir Niles! This is a lot of gold coins!”

  Niles nodded, stroking his chin. “…Maybe we should turn to piracy too.”

  The whole party stared at him, judgment heavy in the air.

  “I’m joking!” he clarified, waving his hands at the missed business opportunity. Then, after a pause, he sighed. “Still… not like we can spend it while we’re stuck here. Make sure to distribute it evenly among everyone here.”

  Niles took a deep breath, stretching his arms with a yawn. “Anyway.” He cracked his knuckles. “Now that I’ve started with the good news, it’s time to drop the hammer.”

  Raising one finger, he began listing their problems. “First: some pirates escaped during the clash with Xandria. Zaun—the shoe-stealing menace, who, by the way, is apparently Zairulian nobility and a member of an assassins’ guild—was one of them. He and some pirates are heading north on Monster Island, but they could find us sooner or later.”

  Before the group could react, he lifted a second finger. “Second: turns out Gingerbeard had a kid. And as luck would have it, both of them are headed here—guided by Squeaky.”

  The group stirred, eager to jump in. This sounded really important.

  But Niles was already onto his third finger. “Third: The Xargian Guard poured one drink for you, Wolf. I have no idea what that means, but Elephant wanted you to know.”

  At the far end of the table, Wolf finally spoke. “It means I remain in their memory as their brother.”

  No one said anything to that. There wasn’t much to say.

  Niles exhaled and continued. “Fourth: we still have resources and supplies, but I don’t know how long they’ll last. We need to explore more of Monster Island and figure out how to sustain ourselves.”

  Then, raising a fifth finger, he smirked. “And last—but definitely not least—we have a plan” He turned his fingers into a single pointed hand—right at Winston. “All of these challenges belong to the minister of infrastructure. It’s his headache.”

  The group nodded in agreement.

  “We’re counting on you, Winston.”

  Somewhere in the back, someone muttered, “No pressure.”

  Winston sighed. “Niles basically made me minister of… everything. Where do I even begin?”

  Niles shrugged, smirking. “At least you’re getting paid for it now.”

  A hand rose from the other end of the table.

  “Go ahead, Wolf.”

  Wolf, still wearing his beastly helmet, leaned forward. “When can I leave the barrier?”

  Niles met his gaze. “Your ability to enter and exit the barrier will be reconsidered once we’ve established a mutual relationship built on trust.”

  Wolf didn’t even hesitate. “So, never.”

  Niles scratched his chin. “I wouldn’t say never… but a good start would be pledging allegiance to Niceland.”

  Wolf exhaled sharply. “Okay, never.”

  Vulcan laughed heartily, clapping Wolf on the back. “You’ll get your chance, lad.” He gave him a knowing look. “Just as I got a second chance, so will you—in time.”

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Wolf crossed his arms and looked away.

  Before anyone could say more, Winston suddenly tapped Niles on the shoulder.

  Niles followed his gaze toward the looming forest beyond the barrier. “Enemies?” he asked.

  Winston’s eyes narrowed. “A few for now. But I’m seeing a lot of numbers gathering.”

  His voice was low and serious.

  “They might be preparing for something.”

  Felix stepped forward, his voice firm. “We’ll line the inside of the barrier with weapons. Any able-bodied fighter, grab a spear. But be careful—don’t let them pull you through. If they latch onto your weapon, let it go and pick up another from the ground.”

  He turned to face the forest, his gaze calculating. “If they charge, the barrier should repel them. But this might be our last easy chance to rack up experience for a while, so let’s make it count.”

  His eyes landed on Lina. “Would you be ready if the monsters attack?”

  Lina nodded. “Of course.”

  Winston started pulling at his robes. “I’ll switch so you can take mine. Sorry, they’re a bit dirty.”

  Lina shook her head. “I don’t mind.”

  Tesla, raising his crushed hand like a pitiful white flag, hesitated. “Do I need to fight too?”

  Felix smiled. “Of course. If it comes down to it, use your other hand. A sword will do just fine.”

  Tesla’s jaw dropped.

  Felix pressed on. “You’ll be safe inside the barrier, and to be fair, you need to level up as soon as possible. It’s only going to get harder from here.”

  Tesla shrieked, his voice cracking into a high falsetto. “BUT IT’S ALREADY INCREDIBLY HARD!”

  Niles clapped him on the shoulder. “Which is exactly why you need to level up.” His tone was so matter-of-fact it made Tesla groan.

  Felix chuckled. “I’ll show you. Follow me.”

  Tesla sniffled. “O-okay…”

  Felix turned to the others. “Let’s get ready, just in case.”

  Niles didn’t say anything else. Instead, he rose from the table and started piling weapons along the barrier’s edge. His stomach churned. Even with the barrier, the thought of another overwhelming battle unsettled him. Last time, they’d faced hundreds—maybe even thousands—of monsters storming the perimeter. He exhaled sharply.

  Fake it till you make it.

  Before he could get too lost in thought, Wolf stepped in front of him.

  “Niles. Come with me.”

  Without waiting for a reply, Wolf turned and walked ahead.

  Niles hesitated before following.

  They moved separately from the rest of the group. As they walked, Wolf grabbed a spear from a crate. Niles did the same. The two of them stopped at the outskirts of the barrier.

  Wolf unclasped his snarling steel helmet and removed it, placing it carefully on the ground. He turned to face Niles.

  “I can see it in your eyes.” He lifted his spear, pointing the tip at Niles. “You’re afraid.”

  Niles raised his own spear but said nothing.

  Wolf studied him for a moment before continuing. “Your doubt makes your aim unsteady. It weakens your power.”

  Niles listened in silence.

  “The spear is a good weapon for you.” Wolf spun his own spear between his fingers before slashing the air with a sharp, practiced motion. “Easy to use for a beginner. Hard to master.”

  Then, with a firm motion, he drove the tip of his spear into the ground and met Niles’s gaze.

  “I’ll teach you.”

  “Why are you helping me?” Niles narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping into his voice. “Is this because of Elephant?”

  Wolf brushed his wild, silvery hair aside. “No,” he said simply, then inspecting. “It just hurts my eyes to see such terrible form.”

  An insult—but Niles couldn’t argue. Back on Earth, he’d been a field sales agent, not a soldier. He had no combat experience, no training—just dumb luck and an even dumber sense of courage.

  Wolf’s expression turned serious. “First, your breathing.” He stepped around Niles, circling him before stopping at the front. “I’ll teach you the Xargian ritual before battle. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it.”

  Niles followed Wolf’s instructions, inhaling through his nose and exhaling through his mouth.

  “Good.” Wolf nodded, then mirrored the motion himself. “Inhale confidence.”

  Niles breathed in.

  “Exhale fear.”

  Niles let out the breath.

  “Inhale faith.”

  Another breath in.

  “Exhale doubt.”

  A slow exhale.

  Wolf studied him for a moment, then gave an approving nod. “Good. Now, grab your weapon.”

  Niles blinked. “That’s it?” He sounded almost disappointed. The way the Xargian warrior had talked about their battle rituals, he’d expected something grander—maybe a blood pact, a war cry, something epic.

  Wolf looked puzzled. “Why? Would you rather we sacrifice an animal instead?”

  Niles hesitated, gripping his spear. “Well, when you put it that way…”

  Wolf chuckled—just briefly—before shifting back to instruction. “You look more relaxed now.” He stepped beside Niles. “Copy me and breath like that during combat. Exhale when you thrust the spear.”

  They both thrust their spears forward in unison.

  “Keep the enemy at range,” Wolf instructed.

  Niles nodded. “Starting with the basics, huh?”

  Wolf continued, “Keep their weapon on the other side of your haft.”

  Niles blinked. “What? What does that even mean?”

  Wolf sighed, as if trying to teach a particularly stubborn child. “If they’re right-handed, lead with your right. If they’re left-handed, lead with your left.”

  Niles’s face lit up with understanding. “Gotcha!”

  Wolf groaned but pressed on, determined to teach this dense rock how to float. “Follow me.” He walked forward, demonstrating. “Don’t cross your feet. Take small steps when possible.”

  Then, he turned and began to circle Niles. “If an enemy tries to flank you, switch your lead hand fast—it’ll give you a momentary advantage.”

  Niles switched his lead hand on the spear.

  Wolf nodded. “Good. Keep practicing. Get comfortable using both hands—it’ll save your life.”

  Then, he watched how Niles moved and sighed, rubbing his forehead. “And lastly, for the basics—don’t overextend.”

  Niles tilted his head. “Huh?”

  Wolf shot him a look. “You nearly died earlier today because you chased a goblin like an idiot just to level up.”

  Niles pouted. “Well, I did have leather armor…” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, like a child trying to justify sneaking an extra cookie. “…But point taken.” He said sheepishly.

  Wolf exhaled sharply, clearly unimpressed. He didn’t even bother to argue. Instead, he jabbed a finger at Niles like a disappointed gym coach. “Learn to run.”

  Niles blinked. “What?”

  “You’re out of shape.” Wolf shook his head. “Stats aren’t everything. You need a solid foundation. And not just you—Winston, Vulcan, and that terrified engineer as well.”

  “Tesla,” Niles supplied.

  Wolf nodded absentmindedly. “So that was his name.” His gaze darkened. “That guy is lucky he got away with just an injured hand today.”

  Taking a few steps back, Wolf raised his spear. “You need to take this seriously.”

  Niles bounced lightly on his feet, shifting his grip on his own spear. “I’m a fast learner,” he grinned.

  Wolf smirked. “We’ll see about that.”

  And then, their spears clashed.

  Wolf, clearly the superior fighter, moved with precise, controlled strikes, but he didn’t simply overpower Niles. He let him move, let him strike, let him learn.

  Meanwhile, in another part of the camp, Finn walked beside Felix, his small frame practically vibrating with determination. They made their way toward his sister, Lina.

  “Lina,” Finn began, standing tall despite his youth, “I want to learn the way of the sword. Can Felix teach me?”

  Lina turned to face him. There was no shock in her expression, no anger—only a quiet, knowing sorrow.

  She had expected this.

  Taking a deep breath, she crouched down to meet Finn’s gaze. “I thought about this before you even asked.” Her voice was steady, but there was a weight behind it. “I promised our parents before they passed that I’d protect you, that I’d keep you safe.” She let out a sigh, brushing her fingers through his hair. “But more often than not, it’s felt like the other way around.”

  She raised a single warning finger. “If you do this, do you promise to give it your all?”

  Finn’s face lit up. “YES!” he practically shouted.

  Lina chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Then good luck, little brother. I’ll be cheering you on.” Her warm words activating her skill, a faint sense of warmth brimming inside of Finn.

  Felix rested a firm but reassuring hand on Finn’s shoulder. “I’ll make sure he stays safe.” Then, with a pointed look, he added, “And no more running out of the barrier. If we fight, we do it from the inside.”

  Finn nodded eagerly, practically buzzing with excitement.

  Felix led him away, and their training began.

  Near the edge of the forest, close to the barrier, Winston and Tesla stood side by side, peering into the trees. The leaves rustled, the bushes swayed.

  “Is that… an enemy?” Tesla whispered.

  Winston squinted. “I don’t see any levels. Probably just the wind.”

  A small shape suddenly leaped from the undergrowth—a rabbit. It twitched its nose, nibbling on a patch of grass.

  “IT’S A MONSTER!” Tesla gasped, stumbling back.

  Winston barely held back a chuckle. “It’s just a rabbit.”

  Tesla exhaled but still looked tense. Sensing the need to break the awkward silence, Winston casually asked, “What do you miss most about the capital?”

  Tesla thought for a moment. “Well, besides safety, bathhouses, and my books... I’d have to say—freshly baked bread.”

  Winston nodded knowingly. “A true luxury we took for granted.”

  Tesla turned the question back at him. “What about you?”

  Winston didn’t hesitate. “Washed clothes.”

  Tesla’s face lit up in agreement. “Oh, clean clothes are the best! No smell, soft fabric…” He sighed, lost in the memory of neatly folded laundry.

  Winston chuckled. “You know what’s funny?”

  Tesla blinked. “What?”

  Winston held up three fingers. “When Niles leveled up, we actually had a choice between three perks—clean air, clean water, or clean clothes. The last one would’ve made all our clothes magically washed overnight, every single day.”

  Tesla’s jaw dropped. “AND YOU DIDN’T PICK THAT?!”

  Winston tilted his head back, gazing at the star-speckled sky. “Because we’re in this for the long run.” He glanced at Tesla. “Niles took my advice.”

  Tesla furrowed his brows. “So... which one did you advice?”

  “Clean air.”

  Tesla frowned. “But... the air here is already clean?”

  Winston gave him a knowing look. “Remember the capital? The stench of the city? How half the streets smelled like something had died in a barrel?”

  Tesla grimaced. “Ugh. Yeah. You have a point… but still.”

  Winston nodded, then changed the subject. “How’s your hand?”

  Tesla looked down at his injured hand, the soft glow of healing magic still flickering around it. “Actually… a little better.” He let out a small sigh of relief.

  Winston smirked. “Only ninety-nine days left until it’s good as new. Guess you’re stuck with us until then.”

  Tesla chuckled. “Let’s just hope Niles doesn’t send me on another mission where I get hurt again... and then another… and another… trapping me in an endless cycle of injuries until I’m stuck here forever.”

  They both laughed—then suddenly stopped.

  Winston’s face turned serious. “Don’t put that idea in Niles’s head.”

  Tesla nodded solemnly. “Noted.”

  Vulcan passed by, grinning. “Young’uns.” He motioned for Tesla and Winston to follow. “Come. I’ll show you something.”

  The two exchanged glances before trailing behind him.

  They arrived at a small shack—crude, yet sturdy, built from repurposed palisades. Tesla squinted at it. “What is that?”

  Vulcan smirked. “I overheard something about what you missed from the capital.”

  Tesla’s face lit up. He rushed to open the door. “IS IT FRESHLY BAKED BREAD?!”

  Inside was... a hole in the ground.

  Vulcan scoffed. “It’s freshly baked all right, but it ain't bread.”

  Tesla’s smile froze. Winston narrowed his gaze.

  “It’s a bathroom.”

  Tesla blinked. “I think I said bathhouse...”

  Winston chuckled, shaking his head. “Thanks, Vulcan. It actually looks amazing.”

  Winston folded his arms with a smug grin. “You’re welcome. Built with pride. Supervised the whole construction myself.” He glanced at Vulcan. “Wolf did the heavy lifting, though.”

  Laughter echoed between them.

  A couple of hours passed.

  Niles sat on the ground, breathless, sweat dripping from his forehead. The sparring session had ended, but he looked like he had run across the entire kingdom.

  Wolf, on the other hand, didn’t even seem winded. The difference in their physical conditions was painfully obvious.

  Trying to distract from his exhaustion, Niles asked, “So… you don’t remember anything from before joining the Xargian Guard?”

  Wolf sat down beside him, gazing at the endless stretch of glittering ocean. “No.”

  He already knew what Niles would ask next. “And no, I’ve never seen my mother. I don’t see any resemblance with Vulcan either.”

  A pause.

  “There’s always been a part of me that wondered… but the Xargian Guard has been my only purpose. My only family.”

  Wolf turned to face Niles. “How long do you plan to keep me here?” His voice was even, but there was weight behind it. “No matter the deal with Bear, Elephant told me you’re an honest man. I doubt you enjoy keeping me here against my will.”

  Niles exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I need to ask Vulcan.” He looked Wolf in the eyes. “I don’t have an answer today, but I’ll come back to you with one.” A brief hesitation. “Vulcan’s convinced you’re his lost child… the one taken by the Xargian Guard.”

  Wolf let out a slow breath. “And even if that’s true… my life has been dedicated to something else.” His voice was quieter now. “The bonds I’ve made in the Guard—those are the only ones I know.”

  Niles studied him for a moment.

  “What?” Wolf asked.

  “Huh.” Niles tilted his head. “You’re actually not a bad guy.”

  Wolf smirked. “Care for another round of sparring? This time, no rules against lethal force.”

  Niles looked away. “Never mind what I just said.”

  Wolf chuckled, picking up his helmet. He slid it into place with a metallic clink. “Good night.”

  Niles stood up, brushing dirt off his clothes. “Good night… and thank you”

  Later that night, Niles was jolted awake.

  Winston stood over him, his expression grim. Behind him, Felix waited, his stance rigid.

  “Sir Niles,” Felix began. “It’s starting. Just as you thought. The monsters are gathering around the barrier.”

  Niles pushed himself up immediately, reaching for his spear. His eyes locked onto Felix. “We’ll follow your lead.”

  Felix gave a firm nod. “We’ve prepared enough. Time to wake the others.”

  The night air was heavy, thrumming with anticipation and salt. Another battle was about to begin.