A FEW HOURS LATER

ALEXANDER

The laughter around the village square had barely died down. Victor was still sitting in the dirt after losing to Noa, the villagers were celebrating, the academy students were arguing, and Michael was desperately trying to finish paperwork before another disaster happened. Unfortunately, the universe hated Michael.

"DING." The system appeared.

"No."Michael immediately stopped writing. The guild master pointed at the sky. "No."

The system ignored him. Golden light erupted around my body, warmth spread through my chest as mana surged through my entire body. The familiar sensation hit me again.

"DING. Level increased."

Michael looked like he was about to commit a crime.

"Current Level: 11."The system said.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"I fought one wyvern." I said.

"I am beginning to understand why ancient villains wanted to destroy the world."Michael slowly looked upward.

"That seems excessive."I groaned.

"It is not."Michael said.

The system wasn’t finished, of course, it wasn’t. The golden screen expanded into a larger form.

"DING. Hidden condition fulfilled."The system announced.

The air became heavy, the celebration slowly quieted.

People began noticing the strange screen floating above the square.

"DING. Special Event unlocked." The letters appeared one by one. "LOST HERO OR VILLAIN."

The entire village went silent. Even Iris stopped smiling.

"That title is terrible."Michael immediately looked worried.

"Agreed." Reynold nodded.

"Requirements fulfilled.Level 10 reached. Multiple legendary summons acquired, ancient dungeon routes cleared, hidden historical records recovered, heroic reputation established. Potential corruption pathways detected."The system continued.

"What does that mean?"I blinked.

Nobody answered, because nobody knew. Then something unexpected happened as an elderly villager stepped forward. Slowly, carefully. He looked nervous. Behind him were several older villagers carrying a large wooden chest.

"What’s that?"Michael immediately noticed.

"My grandfather told me never to open it."The old man swallowed.

That got everyone’s attention.

"My father said the same thing."Another one said.

"The village has protected this for generations."The old man placed the chest on the ground.

The square became silent, even the academy students stopped talking. The old man looked directly at me.

"When the wyverns attacked... we thought we would die."The man said as his hands trembled slightly. "But your party saved us."

The villagers behind him nodded, the old man slowly opened the chest. CLICK. Ancient wood creaked as the dust rose into the air. Inside was a black metal box covered in faded silver symbols.

"Ancient enchantments detected."Aiko immediately stepped forward and his eyes narrowed.

"What kind?" Scarlet asked.

"Very old."Aiko said.

"That does not help."Scarlet sighed.

"It is the best answer available."Aiko also sighed.

The box suddenly clicked by itself, then opened. Inside was a single object, a map, yellowed with age. Covered in notes. The moment I touched it the system exploded with light.

"Hidden quest discovered."The system announced.

The map began glowing and an image formed above it. A massive ruined castle, black towers, broken walls. A fortress standing alone in a wasteland. The atmosphere instantly changed, it felt wrong.

"Location identified."The system’s voice became strangely serious. "Unknown heroic fortress. Alternative designation detected: fallen king’s castle."

The villagers looked terrified.

"My grandfather called it the Forbidden castle."The old man stepped backward.

A chill ran down my spine.

"Historical records incomplete."The system continued. "Final occupant unknown. Possible outcomes detected." Then the screen split into two paths one side shone with golden light, the other burned crimson red. "Hero Route or "Villain Route."

"No."Michael slowly stood up.

The system ignored him.

"Why are those options?"Reynold looked alarmed.

"Castle contains a lost legacy."The system continued. "Identity of owner unknown. Records indicate individual once stood at the crossroads of salvation and destruction."

Even Iris looked interested now, that was somehow terrifying. Then the final message appeared.

"Ding. Recommended level: unknown. Threat level: unknown. Reward level: exceptional. Warning." The screen flickered. "Previous investigation teams never returned."

The entire village square became silent, even Michael stopped complaining and that was how I knew this quest was going to be a disaster. Because every member of Lucky chaos was already staring at the map and every single one of them looked interested. That was never a good sign.

"No."The moment the system finished displaying the quest, Michael stood up.

The system ignored him.

"You are not going."Michael pointed directly at me. "You are absolutely not going. I am guild master Michael."Michael turned toward the floating screen. "I am issuing an official order. I outrank him, I have paperwork."

The system did not appear impressed. Meanwhile, I was staring at the map, the castle image was still floating above it. Black towers, broken walls. A place that practically screamed "terrible decisions were made here."

"Alexander."Michael marched over and grabbed my shoulders.

"Yeah?"I asked.

"You are not going."Michael repeated.

Before I could answer "DING." The system appeared again.

"Quest status updated."The system said. "Quest automatically accepted."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"What?" Michael whispered.

The entire village square froze.

"Special event quests can not be declined."The system continued.

"Excuse me?"Michael looked personally betrayed.

"Quest linked to user."The system said.

"No."Michael said.

"Quest accepted."The system said.

"No."Michael said.

"Quest active."The system said.

The system vanished, and Michael slowly sat down on a nearby crate. For several seconds nobody spoke, then Aiko adjusted his glasses.

"It appears the system has overruled the Guild."Aiko said.

"I know."Michael pointed at him. Then he pointed at me. "You."

"Me?"I asked.

"If you die, I am filing a complaint."Michael said.

"Against who?"I asked, confused.

"The system."Michael said.

Nearby, Reynold looked equally troubled. A special event quest, an unknown castle, no threat ranking, no level recommendation. That was exactly the kind of thing academy directors hated. Unfortunately, his students had already started talking.

"We should go."One said.

"What?"Another one asked.

"Seriously?"Third one asked.

"It could be an ancient ruin."Fourth one grinned. "Historical research! Treasure!"

"No."Reynold looked horrified.

The students immediately ignored him.

"I am going."Victor stepped forward first.

"Why?"Noa looked at him.

"Adventure."Victor immediately straightened.

Nobody believed him, absolutely nobody. Noa continued staring as Victor turned red again.

"Oh." Isabella said.

"Oh no." Scarlet added.

Reynold covered his face, then several other students stepped forward.

"If Alexander is going, we can help."One said.

"We have academy training."Another one added.

"We know dungeon theory."Third one nodded.

Michael looked at them, then at the recent wyvern battlefield, then back at them.

"You know nothing."Michael said.

The students looked offended. Michael pointed toward Lucky chaos.

"They fought ten wyverns, they explored a sealed cavern. They found an SSS-rank vampire queen."Michael said.

The students slowly looked toward Iris as Iris smiled. Half the academy group immediately stepped backward.

"Understand?" Michael asked.

"Fair."One of them whispered.

Meanwhile, Iris was looking at the floating castle image.

For the first time since meeting her she wasn’t smiling. That got my attention.

"Iris?"I asked.

The vampire queen blinked, then smiled normally.

"Nothing, Master."She said.

That answer worried me immediately. Because it wasn’t an answer. Nobody said anything.

Then Reynold sighed heavily, the sound of a man surrendering to fate.

"Fine."He said. Everyone looked at him. The academy director pointed at the students. "You may accompany the expedition."

Cheers immediately erupted.

"However."Reynold began. "You follow Alexander’s party."

"What?"The students blinked.

"They have actual field experience."Reynold said. "Victor."

"Yes, Director?"Victor asked.

"You will listen to Noa."Reynold said.

Victor immediately nodded, far too quickly. Everyone noticed as Victor turned red.

"I do not understand him." Noa admitted.

"Nobody does." Rosalia replied.

Reynold sighed once more.

"Fine."Michael said. Everyone looked at him. "If this disaster is happening." His eye twitched. "Then we prepare properly. Supplies, maps, medical equipment, emergency teleport crystals, winter gear, camping equipment, three backup plans, five emergency plans, and ten paperwork forms."

"Why paperwork?" I asked.

"Because experience has taught me you attract nonsense."Michael said.

That was difficult to argue with. The sun was beginning to set when the preparations finally started. Merchants were called, adventurers gathered information, and academy students packed equipment. Michael built an expedition budget while crying internally, and in the center of it all the ancient map remained open. The black castle continued floating above it, and somehow that feeling bothered me more than anything else.