Daru peered from behind the stone walls.

There was a single, doorless, arch entrance to the castle's vast stone kitchen, and there he found servant wraiths and…

'A field boss?'

His brows rose, finding it rather unexpected…and exciting.

==

[(Field Boss) Toras, Hearthwarden of Netherstone Keep Lv. 58]

HP: 60,000 / 60,000

==

Toras seemed to at least be, if not as strong and dangerous, then as tough as The Five.

Fighting the Hearthwarden would be thrilling, for sure, if not for the possibility of their battle calling upon Forsaken Legionaries and Condemned Centurions to the kitchen.

There were also the level fifty Spitshades tending to the pots and the gray flames.

But they seemed no stronger than the Ashen Cleaners and the Twisted Custodians of the cemetery, so he wasn't too worried about them.

In fact, armed with nothing but stone knives, he believed they were even a fair bit weaker.

Unfortunately, as much as Daru wanted to test Toras' huge stone cleaver, now was not the time.

He had decided to go for the risky path, but that did not mean he would throw his life away meaninglessly.

He was still here to succeed, after all…and have fun while at it.

The perfect time to engage the staff of the stone kitchen would be tomorrow, once the drawbridge opens again and the wraiths have left to ravage the ancient settlement on the Ashen Plain.

Having found the area where he could procure sustenance, Daru wasn't really in a rush anymore.

He could take his time.

The best thing to do right now was to find a safe location he could use as his base of operations inside the stone castle.

Even a small, uncomfortable space would do, as long as it was a good hiding spot.

So, that's what Daru did.

He temporarily left the stone kitchen and began exploring the surrounding areas again.

He had to find a safe space before the wraiths returned, and they are returning soon.

The problem was that he had not come across any rooms other than the kitchen.

Well, there were a few, but they were only spacious, empty lobbies.

They also had no doors and had nothing that could hide him. It would be a death sentence if he were discovered inside one, as there would be nowhere else for him to run or hide.

Still, what choice did Daru have except to continue looking?

He found nothing in the first few minutes, then arrived at a staircase.

'The second floor…'

His plan was to stay on the first floor…and it seemed it would have to stay that way for now.

Just a few steps into the U-shaped, stone stairs and Daru already caught a glimpse of Forsaken Legionaries standing guard.

He didn't know whether being detected by a single one would mean fighting against all wraiths in the periphery of the one who detected him as well.

However, it was unwise to find out now, especially since the defenders of the first floor were returning.

He could only discard the idea. At least for today.

Perhaps tomorrow, he could cause a bit of commotion…probably even survive it.

For now, he must sneak around like a rat.

'Or a thief?' Daru shook his head and sighed.

He didn't like labeling himself like so, but that was exactly how he was moving, no?

Though he was more like a noble thief, sneaking around, stealing food…and investigating how to kill the ruler of the stone castle.

'Well…that does not sound very noble, but I'm doing it for Egress…'

And himself.

In any case, there was a proper reason for his clandestine actions.

Time was running out, though, so he had to put more effort into looking for a safe space and less into his musings.

Daru checked an entire hallway, then another.

There was still nothing aside from doorless rooms and statues.

'This is bad…'

It was, but his thoughts didn't seem too convincing when there was a slight smile on his face.

Daru's heart raced, finding the current situation thrilling, though he truly hoped he would find a safe space soon. He was going all out, too.

Still nothing but long, meaningless hallways with nothing to guard.

'What about a food storage room? There should be one nearby if there's a kitchen…'

Such a location was probably not too safe.

However, it should at least be safer than an empty hallway that was about to be populated by armored wraiths.

It was fine, there was still some time…

Daru didn't give up and continued looking.

The Forsaken Legionaries were probably entering the castle from the drawbridge's side right now, but there were also very few unexplored areas left.

It shouldn't take too long for him to locate the food storage room, or at least another room he could hide in.

The only question was whether he would find it before the wraiths found him.

He cleared another empty hallway, quickly returning to the main one, then headed into another.

Just two more hallways left…

The dull clacks of stone armor and the stiff pacing of the wraiths' footsteps began permeating the empty hallways as the Forsaken Legionaries returned to their posts.

The harrowing wails of the captured female wretches of the ancient settlement also echoed as they were dragged by the Condemned Centurions.

The sound of the wraiths' arrival was faint at first, but it was steadily growing louder, and louder…and louder still…

One last hallway.

Daru's footsteps clacked, and his heavy breathing, brought by a mix of excitement and exhaustion, echoed brazenly as he returned to the main hallway, but it was soon drowned by the Forsaken Legionaries' approach.

He quickly dashed towards the last unexplored one.

Surely, either the food storage room or even a doorless room would do. What other choice did he have?

Daru ran as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, the wraiths unhurriedly returned to their posts, filling each empty, senseless hallway.

They poured in, stone armor and footsteps clacking.

Two squadrons of eight Forsaken Legionaries were assigned to every minor hallway, and so, sixteen armored wraiths entered a certain minor hallway.

Just like yesterday and the day before...and the day before that, they shall stand guard for hours.

Only, as the last few legionaries were about to settle, they froze.

There, at the end of the hallway…was a wretch they somehow hated with every fiber of their rotten being.

"That's just unreasonable…how could there be a kitchen but not a food storage room?" Daru sighed in suppressed indignance and frustration.

"Whatever…come, wraiths!"

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