Chapter 67 - The Fifth Member

"An ordinary boy summoned from another world… now working under the King. Admired by both the King and the Hero's Party," the man muttered, taking a slow, deliberate step forward.

My grip tightened. "Who are you? Do you know me?"

He burst into a sharp, mocking laugh.

"Kekeke... _Do I know you?_ Because of you, I had to suffer humiliation after humiliation… and you stand there asking if I know you?"

His tone dripped with bitterness. I stared at his face—still unfamiliar. I was certain I'd never met him before.

Who _was_ this man? What was he doing here, hiding in Duke Kurtis' mansion?

He tilted his head and smirked. "Still don't remember? Let me give you a hint then…"

He paused for dramatic effect.

"A _fifth member_ of the party."

Fifth member? That doesn't make any sense—

Wait...

"You mean… from the Hero's Party? Then you… you're _Kyle_, the adventurer!" I finally realized.

He flinched for a moment, then slowly grinned again. 

"Well, well… you _do_ know my name."

His expression darkened as he strode past a table and dropped onto a dusty couch, lounging like he owned the place. One leg crossed over the other, his eyes locked on mine with seething disdain.

"You," he spat, "_you_ were the one I couldn't replace. I was kicked out of the Hero's Party… shamed by other adventurers… treated like garbage in every inn I entered—and now _you_ ask me what it all means?"

He threw his arms up in frustration before leaning forward with a twisted smile.

"How about this—what if I tell you… _it's all over now_?"

I blinked. "What do you mean, _over_?"

The grin returned to his face—cold and venomous.

"This entire kingdom, you fool."

_Stomp._

A massive thud echoed through the mansion. Then another. And another.

From every room, from every corner, stone golems began to emerge—identical to the ones I fought before, but this time… there were _too many to count_.

He rose from the couch slowly, letting the growing tremors shake the floor beneath us.

"The whole city judged me… shamed me… avoided me. That damn Hero thought he could save everything by slaying the Demon Lord?" he said, his voice growing louder, crazier. "Well guess what—_this_ capital, the so-called Heroes, even the kingdom itself… they'll all fall. It's about time _he_ will be back here as well— and when it's all done I'll finally earn respect in the Demon Army."

So this was his plan… revenge twisted into betrayal.

My fists clenched. "Is this just you? Or is Duke Kurtis involved too?"

He laughed again—this time, darker.

"_Duke Kurtis?_ You're still clinging to that name?" 

Then with a sneer, he said, "The Duke you're looking for is long dead. You should be asking about _Lord Veil_ now."