Chapter 18: Opportunity
As planned, they marched in the direction of the Crystal Palace. The group silently traversed the white snow, no one had any mood to talk or admire the white paradise anymore.
It was as though, they were already walking to their deaths.
With his hands tucked inside his coat, Rise walked alongside Kamille. He was also silent, unlike with his usual antics to talk with Kamille.
Compared to his outward appearance, his mind was actually preoccupied with thoughts.
There were questions, melancholy, and more so... anticipation?
Rise was a terrible human being. He admitted that. Yet, when Kamille was already put into the equation, he could still feel guilty. He just did not like the feeling of deceiving Kamille.
Technically, he was not deceiving him. However, was it already betraying him if Rise said... this situation wasn't actually bad? That he was actually waiting for something?
From his perspective, everyone was indispensable but Kamille. However Rise also did not like this group of idiots to die in front of him.
Still, as he thought of this, in this novel... in the eyes of their creator, they were all just chest pieces and plot devices, Rise and Kamille included.
"What are you thinking?"
Rise was snapped out of his thoughts, and Kamille's voice woke him up immediately.
Turning his head slightly, their eyes immediately met, automatically earning a smile on Rise's lips.
Kamille blinked; his eyes moved, staring intently.
"I'm thinking... they will be a burden." His words were only enough for Kamille to hear, as if his voice were really only meant for him.
Rise's words were harsh, yet the truth. He also said it without any hint of mockery. His tone was steady for such words, but it was irrefutable.
Kamille should be saying something to defend his members. However, in front of Rise, he never bothered to do so. It was also the truth. Also, he did not feel any malicious intention from Rise.
"Why do we have to bring them?" Rise appeared to ignore the fact that he himself would have no chance against the Viscount and saw it as a matter of course to be fighting with Kamille.
Kamille tilted his head slightly; his expression did not show any obvious changes. He was not offended or displeased on his members' behalf.
He then responded in simple and calm words.
"They are weak, but they also have their pride."
That was it. Kamille could just let them be here and fight the viscount alone if he had a chance, but if he ever won... it would be a good thing, but not for the guild.
A one-man guild... with only one person capable, was it worth it to continue existing? Kamille knew the shortcomings of his guild, with the opinions of the people of them and his members. Certainly, his members were aware of it too.
And if Kamille also began treating them like they were useless and a burden, their mentality as Espers would collapse.
Rise blinked, somehow getting it. After all, he will also be part of the guild in the future. Although, his relationship with them was not that deep.
"Was pride more important than their lives?" Rise could not help but ask; he was genuinely inquiring.
This time, Kamille did not answer for a moment but soon chuckled. He returned his attention ahead of them and responded in a low voice.
"Who knows..."
Rise realized then, like himself, Kamille also did not care for the answer or the outcome.
For Kamille, his pride as an Esper was more important than his life. That was how he was shaped, and he appeared to forcefully apply this mentality to others without asking them first.
For others, this seemed like a red flag, but for Rise... as he smiled and nodded knowingly, this was more of his taste.
Ah... we are such a perfect match. Rise thought so.
Almost two hours later, the group finally saw a towering Crystal Palace at the center of the white paradise. It still stood tall and pristine, giving the illusion of beauty far beyond the normal standards of humans.
Some gasped and admired its beauty, almost mesmerized.
"Like a fairytale..." A guide muttered, fascinated by the sight.
The group appeared to forget that beyond the beautiful walls of the Crystal Palace resided a dangerous monster capable of annilating the party.
Rise looked up; his eyes glimmered with admiration. It was even more magnificent up close. If only... there was not any dangerous mana flickering within.
"Yup, a dark fairytale." Rise snickered, pouring cold water on the idiots behind him.
With his words, the crowd was instantly silenced. The situation sank in once more, as though they awakened in such a wonderful illusion.
Once the admiration wore off, the espers and even guides, even with how weak their perceptions were, managed to notice something amiss. The pure ambiance the Crystal Palace exuded earlier was slowly twisting to a chaotic atmosphere.
Now, as they looked at the doors, it seemed to transform into a huge mouth, ready to devour anything in its path.
"G-Guild Leader..." Hayes called, his voice trembling. The aura the Crystal Palace exuded was suffocating, making each word harder to say.
Kamille did not respond immediately. His gaze was fixated on the door, his gray eyes almost turning black at this point.
"Respond as I told you," Kamille instructed, talking about the plan he devised earlier.
While it was an on-the spot plan, it was better than nothing. It was also more like how the members could protect themselves than being useful in fighting.
With only seconds of delay, the members got it together, thinking of the instructions.
Rise, on the other hand, continued to stand leisurely in front. His hands were inside of his coat, gazing at the door.
The door of which was slowly opening.
If he remembered it right...
It only took two days. Yes, that was right; the gate was subjugated in just two days. Yet, in the report he read, there was not any information other than the wolves, which gave the impression that it was the main monsters inside.
He thought it was impressive that time since a higher-ranked gate was often known as huge; what was more for an evolving gate?
However, now he finally knew why.
This gate was huge but almost empty. Aside from the wolves, there was only this Crystal Palace.
Rise glanced at Kamille, his hands clenched inside his pockets as a thought crossed his mind.
Kamille fought the Viscount... so, that was not reported to the world. Or... he never reported it in the first place.
Why?
There was only one answer to that.
Kamille used something... something that should not be disclosed in public other than himself.
Was it bad if... Rise was almost smiling at this moment?
That opportunity was here.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone