At that moment, that notification had saved my life.
It wasn't exactly something to celebrate, but if it hadn't been for the demonic legion's invasion, I might have been killed by the heroes.
Now everyone was gathered, trying to decide what to do. After all, we were facing three different problems.
"Alright, we don't have much time to waste, so get straight to the point, Douglas."
Erika pointed impatiently at Douglas while occasionally glancing in my direction.
"We can't ignore the demonic invasion, but we also need to find the Holy Grail Fragment. We've already spent too much time on this floor. On top of that, a mysterious portal has opened to the north."
Douglas spread a map across the table inside the building where we were gathered.
The heroes had secured a large hall in the city to prepare themselves. Outside, countless civilians had gathered, discussing everything that had happened, especially since the heroes should have already left the Central Headquarters by now.
"But obviously the legion is our top priority. We can't let them advance."
Sally spoke with unwavering determination.
"And what if we lose the Grail? Everything we've accomplished so far will be for nothing! We've cleared every floor at a consistent pace until now. We still have to climb sixty-eight floors in ten months. If we lose the Grail here to the demonic legion—or whatever came through that portal—we might even be forced to descend several floors."
Vanya had brought up what I also believed was the most important issue. The Grail had always been our true objective. The demons might not even care about the heroes. They wanted to gather the Grail as well, while some simply sought amusement, domination over the weak, and conquest of the Tower.
"But if the demons get the Grail, they'll just leave!"
Rayner slammed his fist on the table, clearly eager to hunt the demons down.
"And what about the portal? We don't know what came out of it. What if it's another demonic legion..."
Vick began, but Li Xeng interrupted him.
"Er... that's impossible. Any demons entering this floor would immediately be detected by the crystal. They can't be demons."
"So you're saying they're humans?"
Sally asked.
"Without a doubt. We know that the creatures native to each floor can't travel between floors, much less open portals. Besides humans and demons, there are no other lifeforms capable of invading the floors."
Li Xeng was merely stating the obvious, yet Vick scratched his head thoughtfully.
"I think Brother Xeng has already simplified things. Our priorities remain those three situations. Even so, I still believe the demonic legion must come first. We'll have to split into three groups, and I've already decided how."
Douglas spoke bluntly and decisively. No one questioned him.
"Group One will be Erika, Yumi, Vanya, and Rayner. You'll search for the Grail. Vanya's and Erika's tracking abilities are the best suited for locating it, and once it's found, Yumi can conceal everyone's presence with her skill. Rayner will protect the three of them."
"Hey, don't you think that sounded a little sexist?"
Erika said with obvious sarcasm.
"But I really do protect everyone! Are you underestimating me?"
Rayner replied proudly.
"I doubt an idiot like you even knows what sexism means."
Sally shook her head in disappointment.
"Group Two will be me, Li Xeng, Isabella... and you, Natasha."
Everyone stared at Douglas in disbelief.
Vicente was the first to speak.
"Are you out of your mind? She could be the murderer!"
"If that's the case, I'll deal with her myself. We're already one person short, so we need the extra manpower. If she tries to interfere, I'll kill her immediately. She doesn't stand a chance against me. And I don't believe she's the murderer."
Douglas looked straight into my eyes.
His words moved me more than I expected.
"What are you talking about? Isabella, do you seriously agree with this?"
Omar asked, turning toward her.
She merely shrugged.
"I can handle her too, so it doesn't matter to me. I'd actually like to see her try to kill me."
She stared at me with unmistakably murderous intent.
"I-I don't believe she's guilty either..."
Li Xeng murmured, avoiding everyone's gaze.
"And I'm not! But wait... why do I have to go? I'm weak. You said so yourself."
Douglas fixed me with a stern look.
"I said I believe you're not the murderer. But there's still a possibility. That's exactly why you're staying with my group. Eventually we'll uncover the truth, so don't even think about leaving."
"Well... I really want to find my brother, but..."
I was completely torn.
Go after the demonic legion?
Everyone knew how overwhelmingly powerful the legions were.
I'd much rather have been assigned to another group.
"According to the plan, we'll pursue the legion. The last group will investigate the portal."
"But how are we supposed to regroup afterward? We've only split up once before, and that was in a nearby area. This time we'll all be heading in different directions. We have the tracking amulets, but we don't know if they'll work over long distances."
Omar raised a concern that even I hadn't considered.
"We'll meet back here after completing our objectives."
Douglas answered curtly.
"And you really think dealing with a demonic legion will be that easy? Finding the Grail is one thing, but..."
Isabella looked at Douglas suspiciously.
"With Li Xeng and me, there won't be any problems."
Li Xeng immediately broke into a cold sweat, visibly nervous about the confidence Douglas had placed in him.
Still...
It was true.
You couldn't rank heroes purely by their official ranks. Those only reflected how many monsters they'd slain and quests they'd completed. Strength wasn't measured that way.
Skills and classes mattered far more.
Li Xeng was a Level 66 healer. There were barely any healers above Level 50 anywhere in the world. He was an anomaly.
Of course, belonging to the strongest party of heroes had helped him grow, but he was still an underestimated prodigy.
If he had Douglas's personality, he would probably be the most famous Returner in the world.
"Then that's settled. What's our deadline, boss?"
Erika asked while already packing her belongings.
"I don't want to sound overconfident by saying we'll wipe out the demonic forces quickly, but two days is the absolute limit. If we take any longer than that, we'll jeopardize our progress on the higher floors."
When I really thought about it...
This group was unbelievable.
They had reached the thirty-second floor in such a short time...
And they planned to climb another sixty-eight floors in just ten months?
That was absolute madness.
And somehow...
I was caught up in all of it.
"Pack your things. We're leaving immediately."
Douglas looked at me with his usual stern expression.
Still...
I owed him my gratitude.
If it weren't for him, I had no idea what state I'd be in right now.
We were heading north, where the demonic forces were most likely gathering.
After packing my belongings, I met Isabella outside the city gates, where she was waiting for Douglas and Li Xeng.
"Scared, girl? You're surprisingly brave for someone who supposedly made it all the way here alone. You're hiding something, aren't you?"
"I-I'm not... What would I even be hiding?"
"For starters, I don't believe you're as weak as you claim. Your level might be the lowest in our group, but that sword of yours... I can tell it's been used many, many times."
Isabella truly was perceptive.
According to the reports I'd read, she was the most analytical member of the party.
Fooling her wouldn't be easy.
"I really have fought a lot. But when it comes to skills, I'm still behind everyone else. I avoided countless battles just to make it this far."
"Yeah, that's true. You never would've reached this floor if you'd fought every monster you came across. But did you really think you could keep going like that?"
She looked directly into my eyes.
"You're desperate to find your brother. But if you don't level up..."
"...you're going to die."
Isabella tossed me a healing potion as she turned her back.
"I want to believe you're not the murderer. Actually... I do believe you."
That caught me completely off guard. Until now, she'd never shown any sign that she trusted me.
"And why do you think that?"
"Because you don't strike me as one. I've dealt with every kind of person, sweetheart. I may not be able to tell you who the murderer is, but I can say with confidence who isn't."
That made me curious.
"So, besides me, who else in the group do you think isn't the murderer?"
"Haha... hard to say. I said I think you're innocent, but I can't guarantee it. And I'm not about to hand over important information to someone I barely know. If you want to know, earn my trust."
Isabella smiled as she spotted Douglas and Li Xeng approaching in the distance.
We headed north on four horses that the members of the Central Headquarters had lent us.
We couldn't always use horses because of the carnivorous monsters, the shortage of supplies, and the rough terrain. But this floor wasn't nearly as difficult to traverse, and even if the horses died along the way, every minute we saved was worth it.
Li Xeng cast a buff on the horses, dramatically increasing their speed.
I was honestly terrified by how fast we were moving.
The horses handled the terrain surprisingly well, and we covered an incredible distance before running into a ravenous flock of harpies.
"It was too good to last. I thought we'd actually make it there today, but of all things... harpies?"
Isabella jumped off her horse as she activated her device.
She was a Bard, and her device emitted waves capable of altering the structures around it.
It looked harmless...
But it was an incredibly overpowered piece of equipment.
"Wait, Isabella. Let Natasha handle them."
"...WHAT?"
I shouted before I'd even drawn my sword.
The harpies surrounded us, wearing wicked grins as they scratched at the rocky ground, staring at us with bloodthirsty eyes.
"If she wants our trust, she needs to prove she's capable. They're only harpies. Even Li Xeng could handle six of them by himself."
Li Xeng immediately blushed.
"I-I-I don't know if I could..."
"Tch... seriously? I already told you I don't have much experience, but..."
If earning their trust meant fighting...
I didn't really have a choice.
In truth, Douglas simply wanted to see what I was capable of.
Those harpies weren't weak.
But if I fought with everything I had...
I could beat them.
The instant I drew my sword, my opening slash cleaved one of the harpies clean in half, sending a crimson arc of blood splattering across the ground.
I immediately turned toward the one on my right.
But at that exact moment, all of them leaped into the air, spreading their wings as they glided around us.
At Douglas's request, Li Xeng erected a barrier around himself and Isabella.
Those bastards were really leaving me to fight alone!
I moved away from the three of them and barely avoided the talons of a harpy that swooped down above me.
Another launched a barrage of poisoned feathers.
I deflected them with my sword before spinning around just in time to block another harpy's razor-sharp claws.
I jumped backward several times and slashed through the air.
The blade grazed one of them.
Another attacked from behind, digging its sharp talons into my left shoulder.
I grabbed hold of it with my free arm and swung my sword, severing both of its legs.
Its body crashed onto the ground, writhing as it desperately tried to slash at me with its claws.
Another shrieked in fury behind me and lunged forward with savage speed.
Yet another dove from above, aiming its talons at my head.
I spun in a swift arc, my blade grazing both of its legs.
One of the harpies was struck near the abdomen, spilling several of its organs.
I activated Focus.
Whenever I used that skill...
I never lost sight of my target.
Driving my feet into the ground, I burst forward and beheaded the wounded harpy.
Three left.
One of them began hurling its legs toward me while spinning through the air.
I sprinted aside as its talons slammed into the ground where I'd just been.
Another harpy caught me off guard, appearing directly in front of me.
Its claws sliced across the left side of my chest.
I leaned backward, switched the sword to my other hand, and unleashed a counterattack that split the creature clean in half.
Its head dangled grotesquely from its back.
I finished it off with a kick, sending the corpse flying.
The harpy circling overhead dove at me with its beak.
I blocked the attack with both hands gripping my sword.
I knocked it upward.
Then, using Quick Slash, I sliced it cleanly in half while it was still airborne.
I dashed away before its blood could splash onto me.
The last remaining harpy suddenly wrapped its talons around my waist and lifted me into the sky.
We rose nearly four meters.
I drove my elbow into its face, grabbed hold of its right leg, and dragged it down with me as we fell.
Letting go of my sword, I seized its other leg as well and slammed the creature into the ground.
Its body sank into the rocks, its face crushed beneath the impact.
When I realized it was still alive, I lifted it again by both legs and smashed it against the ground once more.
This time...
Its neck tore completely away from its torso.
The legless harpy I had crippled earlier was still crawling across the ground, desperately trying to reach Douglas's group.
Picking up my sword, I drove it straight through the creature's spine, killing it instantly.
I let out a long breath.
Only then did I feel the burning pain from the scratch across my chest.
"Well... I have to admit, that convinced me a little. Though you're still not actually that strong. Li Xeng would've finished them at least a minute faster."
"D-Douglas... please stop overestimating me. I really don't know if I could have done that..."
He really was in another league.
Compared to them, I still wasn't strong.
But if becoming stronger was what it took to reach my brother...
I'd give everything I had to keep up with them.
Still...
Something kept bothering me.
Splitting into three separate groups...
That also meant the traitor was now alone with only three other people.
If there really was a traitor among us...
This would make it much easier for them to make their move.