Moreover, Minos wasnt the only one who found himself in trouble. A second after Edgar left the mansion with Ios, the soil found its way to his mouth and nose before he could even realize what was happening.

Oh, I forgot to tell you to hold your breath. Sorry.

However, Ios didnt really sound sorry and was more like laughing.

You didnt forget. You didnt tell me on purpose.

Edgar could only barely manage to let that go. Right now, finding Rubica was more important than his high pride.

He tried to not swallow any soil, but he couldnt hold his breath forever. The soil filled his mouth and almost blocked his neck, but he finally left the underground just before he fainted.

He spat out the soil in his mouth and breathed heavily. That had been a horrible experience he didnt want to go through ever again.

Haha, sorry that I happen to be a land dragon.

When Edgar got rid of the dirt in his mouth, he could smell fresh air and corn.

Where are we?

Well, I dont know. Minos, where are we?

Ios had gone after Rubicas scent without much thinking. As usual, he demanded an answer to the goblin whom he carried around as a substitute for his own brain that refused to work, but only silence returned.

Oh, right. I forgot.

Ios disappeared into the ground again before Edgar could stop him. He could just shake his head.

Judging from his appearance and what he said, he had to be Ios the golden dragon. He was known for being violent and greedy, and Edgar added one more adjective to it.

Stupid.

It seemed like there was no need to invent Stella just to hunt that dragon. Ios was so stupid and what Edgar already had was going to be enough.

He had great powers, like moving at a great distance in seconds through the ground, but he was helplessly stupid.

They were supposed to move quietly to find Rubica and her kidnapers, but Ios had made a big mess by coming from the ground and talking out loud.

Edgar decided it would be a hundred times better to do this alone than to work with that idiot. Plus, there was no guarantee Rubica would be fine until Ios came back. So, Edgar didnt wait for him and looked around.

Its a cornfield.

When his eyes familiarized themselves with the darkness, he started to see his surroundings clearly. The scenery wasnt familiar to him, but he never forgot anything, so he quickly noticed which part of the Claymore dukedom he was in.

Sadly, he was in the opposite direction from the land of the Moreaus. It was impossible for the trackers to come to where he was in the night no matter how fast they moved.

Accepting Ioss offer without thinking twice had been the right choice.

There is a cliff over there. To leave my domain without being seen, they would choose to go over that mountain. Its perfect since there are many places to hide.

Edgar carefully looked around and headed to the mountain. He had memorized every map about his domain, but maps and the real land were quite different. He kept looking around, but there was no trace of Rubica or Stephen.

Has he brought me to the right direction? What if theyre not around here?

But then, he heard the sound of hooves. He quickly hid between the corns. He had been right: two horses arrived and stopped right under the mountain.

Edgar could see two men wearing long hoods and a human sized sack. There had to be someone in it, and his heart let him know who that person was.

Rubica.

The feeling of something missing disappeared, but even a worse pain came to grasp his heart.

The sack didnt move at all, which worried Edgar. He wished he could run out there right now and save her.

However, he knew better than anyone that he couldnt move recklessly against Stephen. He was a well-trained knight.

We must go over this mountain.

Okay, then

The two men talked while opening the sack, and Edgar was relieved to see Rubica wasnt dead.

However, that was the only good news. Her hands and feet had been bound so tightly and there was a sack on her head, so she couldnt see.

She flinched when Stephen touched her, so she probably couldnt listen either. Thinking she was suffering for that all because of himself made Edgars heart ache.

We should untie her legs to climb this mountain.

But what if she runs away?

Dont worry, this mountain is steep. She wont be able to get far.

Then, they undid the rope around Rubicas feet. Edgar carefully went closer while they were on it, but then Stephen looked up.

Someones here. I heard some footsteps.

Edgar had carefully walked on some land that was wet to not make any sound, but Stephens ears were just too keen. Edgar held his breath and stopped on the spot.

Yes, I heard them too.

The man who answered had the same voice as Stephen. Soon, he put down his hood to reveal his face that was exactly the same as Stephens. The only difference was his clothes. They were in a style that could be found on people who lived in the northeast land of the continent.

He must have been going into my office pretending to be Stephen whenever I was gone.

This wasnt just about Claymore. Stephen used to be the kings royal guard. Edgar wondered what kind of confidential information they had, and it gave him a headache.

I think its over there.

Stephens twin pointed at exactly where Edgar was hiding. He silently cursed and slowly put a hand in his pocket.

No, Rubica might get hurt if I use this.

His gun was way more powerful than ordinary guns, but it wasnt meant to precisely hit the target.

He wondered what to do, but Stephen kept getting nearer and nearer. In the end, he gave up on using the gun and put a hand on one of the bombs in his pocket.

I would rather hurt myself than to hurt her.

He calculated the distance and the angle to figure out how to save Rubica. The possibility of his plan working wasnt that high, but he just couldnt hurt Rubica.

He made up his mind when Stephen was less than ten steps away.

Pwah!

But then, Minos jumped out near where Edgar had just come out. He was now in his goblin form, but his eyes and mouth hadnt changed, so Edgar had no trouble recognizing him.

Why cant you hold your breath even though youre a goblin? That man did much better.

Thats because hes

Minos almost said what Edgar was, but he quickly closed his mouth. In the meantime, Stephen was surprised by the two suspicious creatures appearance and quickly hid in the cornfield. So did his twin who was with Rubica.

Shit, hes right here.

Stephen was less than three steps away from Edgar. Thankfully, he was paying his full attention to Ios and Minos and didnt notice Edgar. He wished Ios would keep distracting Stephen for some time.

Oh, but where is he anyway?

But of course, there was no way the dragon would grant his wish. Ios started to look around, looking for Edgar who couldnt even blink lest Stephen would see him.

Oh, and here are the horses I saw earlier in the garden!

Ios even babbled loudly. He couldnt have been more careless, and Minos plucked his own hair because of that.

It was dark and hard to see, but Edgar could clearly see the goblins face color changing.

But where are they?

Cant you be a little quiet?

How am I supposed to find them quietly?

Stephen silently took out his bow and drew it in the darkness. The two mysterious beings had come out of nowhere, so he decided it would be better to get rid of the threats quickly and leave.

He aimed at Ioss head and fired. He was a great archer. But sadly, his arrow couldnt pierce the target.

Whats this?

He snatched the arrow in the air with one hand.

Its an arrow.

Who dares to mess up with me? Is it him?

Minos rolled an eye. There were two horses, but no sign of anyone or a fight. The duke had probably hidden, and the kidnappers who were hiding in the cornfield must have been surprised by Ios. That was the most probable scenario.

I shouldnt speak the dukes name.

I guess he has no reason to attack you.

Then, is it the nymph? But this arrows too weak for that.

Ios snapped the arrow, using only two fingers. Of course, Stephen was shocked to see that.

While he was focusing on Ios, Edgar started to move towards Rubica slowly.

Yes, and she wouldnt just attack you so suddenly. She gave you her roses without asking for anything in return, remember?

But she does have a strange hobby.

Minos wanted to say Ioss obsession with plants was equally strange, if not more, but he managed not to.

Oh, thats it must be her henchmen. They dont know who you are, so they want to kill you for disturbing their hobby time.

What?

The explanation made no sense, but Ios bought it so easily. He was enraged at being attacked by some humans and immediately stretched out a hand toward the direction of the arrow.