The World of this Fantasy Novel is in Crisis

I’m really going to die like this?

The thought alone was maddening. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. He hadn’t survived all this time just to die like this. He should’ve ignored Rogers. Should’ve ignored Satin. He had no clue what the hell was even happening right now, but if only his legs had been working properly—if only—then maybe he could’ve escaped like the others.

If only Satin hadn’t betrayed me…

Just then, a voice rang out.

“Cain!”

Someone emerged, shaking off the demonic tendrils clawing through the pitch-black darkness.

“You crazy bastard…”

Before Cain could even feel any sense of relief, the curse slipped out from his lips on reflex. Satin, who had forced his way up the stairs through the flames, suddenly stood right in front of him. And before Cain could even voice his worry, Satin joked light-heartedly.

“I’m fine. Hit the bathhouse first, soaked myself with water.”

His hands, fumbling over Cain’s face and arms, were hot. Just like he said, his sleeves were damp. But really—how helpful could that be in a situation like this? He’d run through a blazing inferno banking on nothing but a wet shirt. He was completely out of his mind.

“You’re not hurt anywhere?”

Even as he asked with concern, Satin worked quickly to untie the ropes around Cain’s wrists. Before Cain could get a single word in, Satin cut him off, speaking fast.

“Looks like the Temple Knights are here. They’re barging in like total lunatics. We need to get out, now.”

No sooner had Satin spoken than a loud crack echoed around them. Instinctively, Cain looked up. Above their heads, the demon’s tendrils rippled menacingly. At any second, they could whip down and snatch them both away. Panic crept into his chest.

“This whole place might collapse…”

Satin’s stunned voice snapped Cain back to his senses. This is no time to space out. He pulled himself together.

“Have you lost your mind? Why the hell did you come here?”

“What do you mean why? I told you I’d be right back.”

“What?”

“You really thought I betrayed you?”

Cain couldn’t say a word. Satin chuckled softly. Cain couldn’t see his face in the darkness, but that only made the meaning behind his laugh clearer. It was just a laugh. No twisted schemes or sinister vibes—just a laugh.

“Anyway, let’s go. We’re seriously screwed if we stay here.”

But even after saying that, Satin didn’t immediately move. He seemed to be doing something, though Cain couldn’t tell what.

“What are you…”

Cain trailed off, eyes widening. A warm, damp piece of clothing was suddenly draped over his neck and shoulders.

“It’s still wet, so throw this on. Might help a little. Breathing in the smoke’s dangerous too.”

Without giving Cain a chance to protest, Satin murmured as he pulled the wet fabric up to just under Cain’s nose. Then, without asking, he hoisted Cain onto his back.

“If you’re scared, you can close your eyes.”

What the hell is this guy saying now? Cain frowned, but before he could even process it, Satin charged out of the lab and into the blazing stairwell.

Cain screamed internally in horror. This crazy bastard!

With every step Satin took, the stairs groaned like they’d collapse any second. Some of them actually gave out beneath him.

How is he not falling over?! Just as that thought flashed through Cain’s head, it happened—Satin stepped on a collapsing platform, lost his balance, and went crashing down. Naturally, Cain went down with him.

Even as they tumbled to the debris-strewn ground below, Cain didn’t close his eyes. There was nothing to see, really, but shutting them just wasn’t an option.

Where’s Satin?

Thankfully, Satin hadn’t landed far. But “thankfully” might’ve been too generous—he didn’t look good.

“Ugh…”

Maybe he’d hit his head; he didn’t get up right away. The groan came from somewhere low to the ground.

Cain forced himself upright. His arm, bracing against the floor, trembled violently. He wanted to crawl over to where Satin had landed, but his body just wouldn’t cooperate.

What the hell did that crazy old bastard do to us?

Straightening his back was all Cain could manage.

Thank the heavens—Satin finally came to. Without mentioning his own condition, the first thing he did was ask after Cain.

“Cain, are you okay?”

“Get a grip! We need to get out, now!”

“Yeah… that’s right…” Satin muttered in a dazed, sluggish voice as he finally managed to rise to his feet. It looked like the dizziness was still gripping him.

Just as Cain opened his mouth to shout for him to hurry over, the demon descended. A wave of heat slammed into his face. Cain reflexively turned his head away.

“Ugh…!”

Even without seeing it, he could tell what had happened. Scalding heat burst up from the collapsed ceiling, separating the two with a wall of fire. Cain and Satin had been split—Satin inside, Cain closer to the exit.

“This is kinda terrifying…”

Satin’s muttering barely reached Cain’s ears. Cain bit his lip, unsure of what to do, and then Satin spoke again—more nonsense.

“Cain, can you stand? Just back up a little—you’re almost outside.”

“And you? What are you gonna do?”

“I’m gonna find another way out.”

“How the hell are you supposed to—”

“It’s fine. I have a plan.”

What kind of plan could anyone possibly come up with in a place like this? Before Cain could argue, Satin spoke calmly, firmly.

“Cain. Go. Now.”

The flames grew thicker, swallowing Satin’s silhouette completely. He said no more. His footsteps grew fainter, receding into the fire.

“Satin!”

Cain tried desperately to push himself up—only to collapse again.

No, come on… I have to stay awake… What was he thinking? Did he really have a plan? Or had he just said that to put Cain at ease, even though he had no clue what he was doing? If that were the case, then Satin…

Cain’s consciousness started to fade.

***

Talk about bad luck. Satin had nearly made it to the bottom of the stairs when he misstepped. Just a little further, and he would’ve reached the front hall safely. That regret dug deep.

But that thought wasn’t going to help him now.

He headed for the kitchen, where the flames were marginally less intense. “Less intense” was relative, though—the fire had already spread down this corridor too. And having ditched his shirt earlier, he could feel the heat searing even more fiercely now.

Someone has to get Cain out of here. Still, Cain was luckier than him. He was right by the entrance, which meant the odds of being rescued were higher. No way the Temple Knights would leave someone in the fire, right?

Still… who the hell started this fire?

Not long after he’d parted ways with Rogers, an explosion had gone off. Flames had surged up instantly. He couldn’t tell whether it had been a spell cast by the teacher or by someone from the Temple Knights. It didn’t quite match the Knights’ usual methods—it was too reckless. But it didn’t seem likely that the teacher would intentionally put himself in that kind of danger either.

Either way, not something to worry about right now.

Satin crouched low and kept moving.

This world didn’t have fire-resistant materials, so flames spread terrifyingly fast. The dining hall was practically a furnace now.

Compared to that, the kitchen was relatively better. Maybe if he dumped the leftover dishwater on himself, he could hold off the heat a little longer.

The thought was vague at first, but then something clicked.

Wait—the side door. The kitchen has a side door.

It couldn’t be opened from the outside, but you could open it from within.

Satin’s spirits lifted as he made his way into the kitchen. He was surprised to find the inner door already ajar, but it didn’t take long to see why.

“…What the hell is this mess?”

Rufus lay slumped against the side door. On top of him, a child was sprawled out—but with their face hidden, Satin couldn’t tell who it was.

Coins—gold, silver, and copper—were scattered all over the floor in chaos. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened. Probably a scuffle over money, even in the middle of a fire. It was the kind of thing you’d expect in fiction.

Or maybe real life’s just the same.

His head was starting to spin. Satin staggered and nearly collapsed forward, catching himself on the floor—his hand bumped into something.

“The underground canal…”

They used the underground canal to store food, right? Basically a maze—he’d been told never to go down there. Who was it that said that?

Dizzy and lightheaded, Satin still managed to throw the hatch open with all his strength. A gust of cold air burst out. He practically tumbled down the stairs. A sack fell with him, spilling onions that rolled down beside him.

Onions. Ugh. Ow…

He finally hit the bottom, groaning as he rubbed his bruises and looked around. The passage was pitch black—he couldn’t make out walls or floor. He spun in place, trying to figure out which way to go.

Up ahead, a flicker of light danced.

Satin forced himself toward it. His feet stumbled again and again, but with no smoke down here, his head began to clear.

That was way too close…

Soon, he reached the source of the light.

“…Teacher?”

The teacher, limping with a lamp in hand, frowned when he saw Satin.

“What are you doing here?”

Satin couldn’t answer. More accurately, he didn’t get the chance.

As the teacher began to mutter something under his breath, Satin lunged forward without hesitation.

Satin knew nothing about magic—not even a sliver—but his instincts screamed that the teacher was about to try something. Something dangerous.

“You ungrateful brat!”

The teacher roared, but despite his rage, his aged body couldn’t overpower Satin. The lamp slipped from his hand, clattering across the floor, spilling oil as it rolled. Flames burst up instantly.

Really? More fire? I came down here to get away from that! How unlucky can you get?!

Satin cursed inwardly as he grappled with the teacher, rolling across the ground with him. At last, he managed to pin both of the man’s arms down.

“You impudent—!”

Snarling, the teacher thrashed beneath him, muttering under his breath.

“Star.Wave. Blue. ○○. Eighteen. One. Desert…”

The gathering light made it clear—something dangerous was coming.

But Satin needed both hands to restrain the old man. There was no way to cover his mouth.

Well, shit…

Satin slammed his forehead into the teacher’s.