Chapter 328: Roles.

Kael stared at the red-haired woman standing in the doorway, his expression gradually turning strange.

What’s with this woman?

He was certain they’d never met before, in fact, until a few moments ago, he hadn’t even known what she looked like. The only reason he recognized her at all was because Nora had mentioned having a younger sister earlier in their conversation.

Yet judging from the way Zora was glaring at him, one would think he’d personally offended her. Her eyes were narrowed, her expression dark, and the hostility radiating off her was almost tangible.

He glanced toward Nora. Fortunately, before he could voice his confusion, the older woman stepped forward.

"Zora." Her voice was calm but carried a hint of authority. "Come here. There’s someone I want you to meet."

Zora’s brows furrowed. "Meet?"

Nora nodded, turning slightly and gesturing toward Kael. "This is the Great One." A faint smile touched her face. "He’s the person we’ve been searching for all these years."

"..."

For a moment, Zora didn’t respond. She simply stared at her sister. Then, very slowly, she turned her head toward Kael, her eyes traveling from his face to his clothes before drifting back to his face again.

She studied him for several seconds, seemingly trying to determine whether there was something extraordinary about him she’d somehow overlooked at first glance.

Unfortunately, no matter how closely she examined him, she couldn’t find anything particularly impressive, at least, not by her standards.

The young man sitting before her looked almost entirely ordinary. Handsome enough, with a certain calmness about him, but that was hardly enough to make him special. More importantly, the strength she could perceive from him fell nowhere near what she’d expected.

Zora frowned. Then she looked back at Nora.

"...Seriously?"

Nora nodded. "Yes."

Zora blinked. "Sis."

"What is it?"

"Are you being serious right now?"

Nora’s smile faded slightly. "Of course I am."

Zora pointed toward Kael. "This man?"

Kael raised an eyebrow. What about me?

Zora continued before he could say anything.

"You’re telling me this weak-looking guy is the person Mother instructed us to find?" Her voice rose with disbelief. "The person who’s supposed to help us deal with those monsters?"

Nora’s expression turned serious.

"Zora, watch your words."

Zora ignored the warning, looking Kael up and down again, this time making absolutely no effort to hide her disdain.

"Come on, Sis. Just look at him!" She gestured toward him. "Does he look like someone capable of helping us?"

Kael’s lips twitched. Okay, now that’s just rude.

Zora shook her head.

"No. There’s no way." She turned back to Nora. "You’re being scammed, Sis."

"...Huh?"

Kael stared at her.

Scammed?

He almost laughed from sheer disbelief. What scam? He hadn’t even asked Nora for anything! In fact, he’d been minding his own business, testing his upgraded armor, when Nora suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started calling him the Great One. He hadn’t claimed to be some legendary savior, hadn’t told her he could restore her race, he sure as hell hadn’t even agreed to help her and yet somehow, he was now being accused of scamming her? What kind of nonsense is this?

Kael opened his mouth, intending to correct the misunderstanding. But before he could speak, Zora took a step toward him, and the atmosphere changed.

WHOOM!

An overwhelming pressure suddenly spread throughout the office.

Kael’s expression froze.

...!

The air seemed to grow heavier, as though an invisible mountain had descended upon the room, pressing down on everything inside it. Kael straightened on instinct, his eyes narrowing.

This power...

He’d encountered powerful individuals before, the Sword Saint, Varek, and several other extraordinary existences had already given him a glimpse of just how terrifying true strength could become. However, the pressure radiating from Zora was something else entirely.

It wasn’t the strongest aura he’d ever experienced. Not even close. But it was undoubtedly among the most terrifying, even stronger than the Sword Saint’s, and the gap wasn’t small either. Although he couldn’t accurately gauge Zora’s exact level, the sheer density and intensity of the power she was releasing told him more than enough.

This woman was far beyond the strongest Hunters he’d encountered in the Southern Safe Zone.

So this is the strength of an Automaton?

Kael’s expression grew grave.

Right now, he understood something very clearly. If Zora decided to attack him, he wouldn’t stand a chance. Not with his current strength. Even with his various abilities, his treasures, and the Spectre X Nano Armor, he doubted he’d have enough time to mount a proper defense. The gap in strength was simply too vast.

Damn.

Kael’s thoughts raced even as his expression stayed relatively composed, his mind already working through his options. Fortunately, Zora didn’t get the chance to do anything further.

Because just as she was about to take another step.

BOOM!

An even more terrifying aura erupted from behind her, instantly overwhelming the pressure that had filled the office.

Kael’s eyes widened. What?!

He turned toward Nora.

The previously composed Guild Master now stood with a cold expression, her red hair shifting slightly as an invisible force spread outward from her body. And the aura she was releasing completely eclipsed Zora’s.

If the younger woman’s pressure had felt like a mountain descending upon him, Nora’s presence was something far more overwhelming. The gap between the two was immediately, undeniably apparent.

Kael swallowed.

She’s even stronger?

He’d already been caught off guard by Zora’s strength. But Nora...

Just how powerful are these two?

For the first time since entering the Spectre Guild, Kael truly understood how little he knew about the organization. The two mysterious leaders most people had never even laid eyes on turned out to be existences possessing strength far beyond the strongest Hunters of the Southern Safe Zone. And somehow, they’d spent years quietly running a Guild without ever revealing their true capabilities.

No wonder the Spectre Guild has always been so mysterious.

Meanwhile, Nora’s attention remained fixed on her younger sister.

"Zora." Her voice was low, but the anger beneath it was unmistakable. "Enough."

Zora froze. "S-Sis..."

"How dare you speak to the Great One in such a manner?" Nora’s eyes narrowed. "Have you forgotten your manners?"

Zora’s expression shifted. "But, Sis, I was only—"

"Apologize."

The single word made the atmosphere turn even colder. Zora stared at her sister. For a moment, she seemed genuinely unwilling to comply, her fists tightening, the frustration in her eyes growing even more obvious.

"But..."

Nora’s gaze sharpened. "Now."

Silence settled over the office. Kael watched the exchange without saying a word, beginning to realize that the relationship between these two women wasn’t nearly as simple as he’d first assumed.

Although Nora and Zora referred to each other as sisters, there was clearly something far more complicated beneath the surface. And as it turned out, that was precisely the case.

Strictly speaking, the concept of siblings among the Automatons differed from what humans understood by the term.

Every member of the Automaton race had been created by the same individual, the Automaton Queen. Using the Prime Ore as the foundation, she had brought countless Automatons into existence, granting them consciousness and allowing them to develop as independent beings. In that sense, every Automaton could technically be considered a sibling, after all, they shared the same creator.

However, Nora and Zora were somewhat different. From the moment they’d been created, the two had been assigned distinct roles, and their entire upbringing had revolved around preparing them to fulfill those responsibilities.

Nora had been created and trained as the future successor to the Automaton Queen. Her education had focused on leadership, administration, strategic thinking, and the countless responsibilities involved in governing an entire race. She’d been expected to eventually inherit the Queen’s position.

Zora, on the other hand, had been created for a different purpose entirely. She’d been trained primarily as a warrior, her responsibilities centered on combat, protection, and supporting the future Queen. In other words, while Nora had been prepared to lead, Zora had been prepared to stand beside her, both as protector and assistant.

Naturally, this had established a hierarchy between them. And of course, with the destruction of the Automaton civilization, those roles had effectively lost their original purpose. There was no longer a kingdom for Nora to govern. Nor was there an army for Zora to command. Over the years, the two had gradually begun treating each other more like ordinary sisters.

They argued. They teased one another. And most of the time, they interacted as equals.

However, that didn’t mean their original roles had vanished entirely. Deep within them, the hierarchy established during their creation still lingered. And whenever Nora chose to exercise the authority she’d been given, Zora found it extremely difficult to disobey.

Especially when her sister was genuinely angry.

Like now.

Zora clenched her teeth, her expression tight with frustration. However, after several seconds, she finally lowered her gaze, the oppressive aura surrounding her gradually fading. She turned toward Kael.

Her movements were stiff, and it was obvious she wasn’t particularly happy about what she was about to do.

Nevertheless, she bowed.

"...My apologies."