The Hero jerked his chin toward Nimriel and the others, making them flinch—not just at his words, but at the sheer presence of the Sword Hero himself.
"Or unless you get your hands on one of the artifacts his apprentices carry."
Ard's eyes flicked instinctively.
"That would be easy, right?" The hero tempted like the devil.
Ard ignored his words.
He had noticed those artifacts the apprentices were wearing and it seemed like they all wore identical earrings, engraved with the same intricate design as the bracelet him and the hero were wearing, and each faintly hummed with mana.
'So those are like keys…'
His eyes lit up slightly.
The Hero caught it and laughed.
A short, humorless sound.
"Idiot, don't get ideas," he said, grinning widely as he looked at the barrier around the mountain. "Even if you somehow escape, it's pointless. Once Sileus knows your face and mana signature, finding you is easy. That guy is not to be messed with."
