Chapter 35:The Rose Knight? Just some tools.

Four days later, Golden Dungeon lease expired. Adventurers flooded back; mining resumed.

Two days prior, all Rose Knights cleared Floor 10. Training paused. Next: Sander Fortress—subdue abyss demons.

Dungeon short but transformative. Tender skins scarred—lessons etched.

Remember mistakes—progress.

En route via magic airship, Philly bid Isabelle farewell.

Leave Oracle. Ally with Marquess Vanessa—break Greiro chains.

Lease end—no reason detain. Isabelle agreed instantly.

But: Oracle always your haven.

…

“Wow—first airship!”

Aaliyah at window, clouds below. Exclaimed. Reached deck door—

Wrist grabbed.

“Teresa—what?”

Teresa: pale-blue hair, beautiful. Brow scar marred.

“No gravity magic on deck. Step out—blown away.”

“Huh?”

“Correct.”

“Isabelle?”

Tap-tap—

Black-gowned Isabelle entered hall gracefully. Glanced Aaliyah, hand to mouth.

“Dungeon-honed—yet careless? Aaliyah—Teresa hadn’t stopped you—gone, unknown fate.”

Cold gaze. Aaliyah head down, skirt gripped.

Isabelle’s words: always their fault—to instill caution.

Actually: she forgot warn.

Spotting no gravity—not simple.

Teresa pre-Knights: high status? Airships rare.

“Repeat: destination Sander Fortress—abyss demons’ playground. Cunning beyond monsters!”

“Dungeon mindset—end swallowed, demon fodder.”

“My advice. Heed or not—yours.”

Pre-arrival warnings. Few ignored now—dungeon taught.

Initial life-save artifacts—all spent.

“Also: Sander—stow mercy. ‘Survivors’—no contact, no rescue. Prioritize selves.”

“You save world—not them. Their deaths irrelevant; yours—future lost.”

“Don’t trade lives for survivors.”

To Isabelle: Knights tools. Words furrowed Nora’s brows—gaze complex.

Morals warped.

Knights tools—wrong. Lives equal—greater contribution no excuse ignore survivors.

But… unrebuttable.

World save: her way correct. Ruthless—higher success.

Nora knew—disliked flavorless choice.

Melin opposite: heartache only.

Knew Isabelle=Celis. Villain mask, tool label, survivor scorn—to ensure survival.

Choice: them over survivors.

Gentle, equal saintess—choice tormented.

Melin lips pursed, sleeves clenched.

Saintess sacrificed too much.

…

Half-day flight: frontlines behind Sander.

Unnear: floating mechanical eyeball—God’s Sight.

Novich Empire relic. Dual: spy demons, contain in fortress.

Brought—dire.

Airship docked Novich rear. Stairs down—dozens uniformed soldiers, spears, straight-backed.

First: Isabelle.

Black gown veiled hearts—soldiers dazzled.

Cough from lead—snapped.

“Novich Third Army Commander Mars greets Saintess Isabelle.”

White-haired officer bowed.

Oracle saintess: humanity’s—not Aust. Bow mandatory.