Investing in the Three Villainesses Gives Me Infinite Returns

The group continued along the narrow path until the enormous forest gradually gave way to the familiar area surrounding the spatial rift.

They glanced toward the purple distortion before stepping through.

The moment their bodies touched the rift, purple light consumed them, and the world around them disappeared.

Once again, Elias felt as though his body was being pulled through something impossibly thin, as if his entire existence were being squeezed between two distant worlds, but this time, he didn’t see the endless darkness or the countless opalescent threads.

Instead, the sensation ended almost immediately.

Sounds gradually entered his ears.

Metal clanged somewhere nearby, while hurried footsteps moved across the ground, and several voices shouted instructions around the camp.

Elias found himself standing beside the spatial rift, surrounded by numerous tents that had been established around the area. Knights and guards were stationed throughout the camp, with several of them immediately turning their attention toward the returning ranger team.

”They have returned!” one of the guards shouted upon recognizing them.

Several nearby knights looked over, and the sudden attention caused the exhausted rangers to stiffen.

A guard quickly approached them before gesturing toward one of the larger tents.

”You have to report everything to the raid captain,” he said firmly. ”Follow me.”

Dane, the team captain, nodded.

”Understood.”

The group followed behind the guard, and Elias walked quietly among them while his eyes moved across the camp. The moment they had returned, he could already feel the difference between the inside and outside of the rift.

The air was normal, the sky was bright, and no enormous monsters were hiding between ruined buildings.

It reminded Elias just how dangerous the place they had escaped from truly was.

As they continued moving, Elias subtly reached toward Dane.

Dane looked at him in confusion, but Elias quietly placed a small piece of Riftstone into his hand.

Dane stared at the stone.

”What are you do—”

”Shhh...” Elias pressed one finger against his lips before leaning slightly closer and whispering, ”Give this to the raid captain, and do not tell him a thing about what I did. If you do, I will make sure to visit you.”

Dane’s face immediately paled.

He stared at Elias for several seconds before nodding frantically.

”Understood,” he whispered.

”Is something wrong?” the guard asked after noticing their brief exchange.

Elias released Dane and calmly shook his head.

”Nothing.”

The guard looked between them for another moment before nodding and continuing forward.

Elias’s expression remained calm, but his eyes gradually sharpened.

He was still nowhere near strong enough to openly confront Berlic Draveon, and even if his strength increased enough to fight the City Lord, Berlic still possessed the support of the Draveon Marchional Clan.

That clan was closely connected to the Crimson Ducal Clan, which meant openly exposing his abilities could create far more trouble than it was worth.

For now, remaining hidden was the better choice.

Elias had no intention of allowing himself to remain weak forever, however.

With the system constantly providing him with resources, skills, and stat points, becoming powerful enough to deal with Berlic shouldn’t take long.

He simply needed time.

The group eventually reached the largest tent in the camp, and the guard lifted the entrance flap before stepping aside.

”Sir Daemon, I have brought the ranger team.”

A familiar figure sat inside.

Daemon was one of the two knights belonging to the Draveon Marchional Clan, and he was currently seated behind a wooden table covered with maps, reports, and several pieces of equipment.

He looked toward the returning rangers.

”You may leave,” Daemon said.

The guard bowed before exiting.

Daemon’s eyes moved across the group, and his brows immediately furrowed.

”Were there not seven of you?”

The atmosphere inside the tent became heavy.

Smith lowered his head, while Jessie clenched his fists, and Ravy and Lorey exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Dane’s expression also darkened before he answered somberly, ”We met a monster...”

Daemon’s expression changed slightly.

”Ah...”

That alone was enough for the raid captain to understand what had happened.

He leaned back in his chair before looking at the surviving rangers.

”So, what information have you brought?” Daemon asked and narrowed his eyes. ”Or did you run back here after meeting that monster?”

Dane’s lips opened and closed.

He didn’t know how to answer.

Because, in truth, that was exactly what they had done.

They had entered the rift, encountered monsters, lost Charles, and escaped.

Dane’s forehead began to sweat.

Then a voice suddenly echoed inside his head.

[Tell him that you walked toward the barrier to collect Riftstone. That was when you met a monster.]

Dane’s eyes widened.

He looked around the tent.

’What was that?’ he questioned inwardly.

The voice was unfamiliar.

[Stop acting like a fool and say what I tell you if you want to live.]

Dane swallowed hard.

He didn’t understand what was happening, nor did he want to.

He simply nodded slightly before straightening himself.

”We walked toward the barrier to collect Riftstone, and that was when we met a monster,” Dane said.

Daemon’s brows rose.

”You collected Riftstone?”

Dane nodded.

”Yes.”

Daemon’s suspicion immediately increased.

”How is that possible? We did not even tell you about them.”

Dane fell silent for a few moments.

”I had heard about them from mercenaries and merchants,” Dane finally answered.

Daemon studied him carefully.

It was a plausible explanation, although the timing still seemed strange.

Before he could question Dane further, the voice returned.

[Give him the stone you have in your hand.]

Dane glanced down.

The piece of Riftstone Elias had given him was still resting inside his palm.

He stepped forward and placed it carefully on the wooden table.

Daemon’s eyes immediately moved toward the mineral.

He picked it up and examined the translucent cracks running through its surface.

”Makes sense,” he said with a small nod.

Dane silently exhaled in relief.

Daemon placed the Riftstone back on the table before looking toward the group.

”What did that monster look like?”

Dane began explaining.

He described the enormous black beast with leather-like skin, crimson-tipped spikes, blood-red eyes, tusks, and the thick tail dragging behind its body.

He then described the humanoid creature they had encountered inside the ruined city, including its pale flesh, rusted armor fused to its body, elongated arms, and enormous scythe-like blades.

As Dane spoke, the expressions of Smith, Jessie, Ravy, and Lorey became increasingly complicated.

They knew that the explanation was not entirely truthful.

They hadn’t met any beast-like monster, nor had they walked toward the barrier; they didn’t even know where Dane got that strange stone.

Even more strangely, Dane was speaking as though Elias had never been involved.

But none of them said anything.

Elias remained silent throughout the report.

Daemon listened without interrupting, occasionally glancing toward the Riftstone on the table.

When Dane finally finished, Daemon leaned back slightly and considered the information.

”So you met one beast monster and one humanoid monster,” he said, ”both Warrior-ranked.”

”Yes,” Dane nodded.

His eyes remained on the young man for several seconds before he glanced at Elias and asked, ”Any case of insubordination or bad behavior?”