Kingdom of Kashiram, Outskirts Village, Night
“Though it’s just a simple dish of boiled vegetables, please enjoy.”
“Thank you.”
The old man, with his drooping eyelids, carefully ladled what seemed to be soup for each of us. The cheerful chirping of birds filled the air in this village nestled at the forest’s edge. It was a tranquil place, with sturdier stone and wooden houses compared to Azuma’s village. Children frolicked about while women chatted amiably. It was an utterly ordinary scene.
There weren’t many houses—just a little over ten, I counted. Chickens and cows roamed freely, their calls creating a relaxed atmosphere before sunset. However, what struck me as odd was that every direction outside the village sloped downward. From above, it must have looked like a depression, but here, it felt distinctly unnatural.
“I’m glad there’s a village here.”
“Oh, no need to mention it.”
“Are you living alone, old man?”
“Yes, I lost my wife a few years ago…”
“Oh, I’m sorry…”
Our conversation was trivial and sleepy. Well, I was planning to sleep soon anyway. After all, if I didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to move forward. Wrapped in a proper blanket instead of just straw like in Azuma’s village, we drifted off to sleep.
“Have you fallen asleep…?”
Of course, I didn’t expect to truly rest. This was just the beginning.
“So, this is the famous Rua and Roel. To think you would be sleeping so peacefully in a village during your travels—children, indeed… heh heh heh.”
With a voice that sounded like it might crack, the old man approached me, his tone deep enough to resonate in the darkness, and then he swung something down. Just before it touched me, I grabbed his arm and hurled him aside with one hand. Instead of crashing into the wall, he placed one hand on the floor and landed gracefully, spinning as he did. His skill was far beyond that of the thieves I had faced before.
“Heh heh… I see you won’t let me take you easily.”
“You’ve been killing innocent people like this, haven’t you, old man of the Comet Wolf Brigade?”
“Yes, we kill the original villagers and take their place. The Kingdom of Kashiram remains oblivious to our members, young and old. The fact that villages and towns are being ravaged by thieves makes it even harder to notice. Who would suspect that thieves would disguise themselves as villagers? It’s a brilliant hidden base.”
“Oh, oh, you see right through it. Indeed, this entire village is our hideout.”
I expected him to be more surprised, but surprisingly, the old man just laughed joyfully. His once-bent back was now straight. Beneath his shabby clothes was a tight black suit, just like the members of the Comet Wolf Brigade that Jag had brought.
He quickly formed a circle with his thumb and index finger and made a sound like a bird call.
“You won’t leave here alive. I swear it in the name of Okina, a high-ranking member of the Comet Wolf Brigade… heh heh heh heh.”
“I already left.”
Carrying Kurinka on my back, I had no trouble stepping outside the house. If I had time for introductions, there were far more pressing matters at hand. I knew Okina wouldn’t be able to keep up with my speed, yet he still didn’t pay us any mind.
With a huff, Okina walked leisurely outside, just as he would in everyday life. Once outside, I saw Comet Wolf Brigade members scattered around, disguised as villagers. Even the children gripped knives tightly, their eyes gleaming like beasts, while men and women alike held various weapons.
“Wow, that kid is one of the members?”
“Yes, don’t let their age fool you. They’ve been trained as soldiers.”
“Why… even the children?”
“Orphaned kids end up as slaves, living their lives under the control of some unknown master. What we do with them doesn’t change anything, does it?”
“More slaves…”
I exhaled deeply, trying to calm my feelings. To buy and sell powerless people for our own convenience, robbing them of their lives—who allowed this? Even if someone did, I wouldn’t accept it. If the King of Kashiram approved, I would slap him into stopping it.
No one has the right to take away joy or anything else. Hans said it was a necessary evil, but I couldn’t understand it, nor did I intend to. What even is a necessary evil?
“Rua-chan, isn’t it about time?”
“Oh, right… here goes!”
I grabbed a conveniently sized tube, aimed it upwards, and pulled the string at the bottom. A fireball shot forth, exploding in mid-air into countless sparks before fading away. I didn’t quite understand its purpose, but I learned it could be useful in situations like this.
Shortly after the fireball disappeared, the sound of galloping hooves echoed like thunder.
“W-what is that?!”
“Now that the thieves have revealed themselves, it’s time for the Kashiram cavalry to shine. They’ve actually been surrounding us since this afternoon.”
“Cavalry?!”
“They’re coming for us…!”
The startled villagers—no, Comet Wolf Brigade members—focused their attention on the approaching cavalry. Though obscured by dust, there was no doubt it was the cavalry coming down the slope. The sheer force of their advance, surrounding us from all sides, was impressive.
To send hundreds of troops to deal with thieves, the King was certainly bold. The rumors of him taking down thieves might just be true.
“Our job ends here.”
“Yeah, the cavalry will handle the rest. With numbers like that…”
“Heh heh heh…”
Perhaps overwhelmed by the crisis, Okina began to laugh as he stared at the cavalry’s dust cloud. I felt a twinge of pity, but it was short-lived.
“Whoa! What’s that?!”
Kurinka pointed, and I followed her gaze to the forest, where the trees were swaying. Their branches stretched out, burrowing into the ground, forming walls and exhibiting bizarre movements.
“W-what is that?”
“For now, we should get away.”
“It’s too late.”
Branches and roots, now many times thicker, burst from the village ground, intertwining in a complex manner. It didn’t take long for them to envelop us. The trees piled up, forming walls, floors, and corridors. It was no exaggeration to call it a wooden dungeon.
“Custom Magic… Free Life Labyrinth. I’ll keep you here for a while. Flash Strike Girl and the Dragon’s Daughter, that is… heh heh heh…”
“K-Kurinka’s identity has been exposed…”
“This is disgusting…”
I was more shocked that the Comet Wolf Brigade had this information than I was about being trapped. Sure, I was avoiding being seen while transformed, but it was possible I had been spotted somewhere. Besides, many from Hunter’s Nest had seen us, so it wasn’t too surprising. But as Kurinka said, it was still unsettling.
This Free Life Labyrinth reminded me of Lafoule. While it didn’t lack in size, the fact that humans were doing something similar was impressive. I couldn’t underestimate the Comet Wolf Brigade. At this rate, the cavalry might be in danger too.
Kingdom of Kashiram, Outskirts Village, Outside
“What is that?! Is it… a forest?”
One of the soldiers exclaimed in disbelief, and I was equally taken aback. Countless branches extended from around the village, reaching up to the sky and enveloping the entire area. In just a few seconds, it had transformed into a natural fortress. If the thieves had barricaded themselves inside, breaching it would be exceedingly difficult.
There were several entrances to this newly formed fortress, but whether we could pass through them was uncertain. More importantly, was it wise to charge in recklessly? I glanced at the King, who was running ahead of the other commanders. From the back, I couldn’t see his expression clearly, but there was no sign of distress. In fact, he seemed to be smiling. The Battle King thrived on unfavorable battles; he would never flinch, no matter the opponent.
“What are those thieves plotting?”
“Your Majesty! Are we charging in?”
“That’s a foolish question.”
Just as the King’s aura leaped high in preparation for battle, one of the soldiers running alongside me was suddenly knocked aside.
“Ugh, whoa!”
The soldier riding on the Pasiv was thrown diagonally forward, taking other soldiers down with him. One fell, then two, then three, creating a chain reaction that resulted in a scene of cavalrymen tumbling from their mounts that was impossible to witness. Whether on a mountain slope or in the forest, it was unthinkable for a cavalry unit to lose their horses. After all, those with such poor riding skills that they might stumble would have already perished in training. These were warriors capable of leaping from tree to tree, yet here they were, experiencing the bizarre phenomenon of falling from their horses right before my eyes.
“Captain Deck! Something’s wrong! Order the unit to hold position!”
Captain Deck was no fool. While he had underestimated the girl’s abilities, he had been a seasoned commander for over thirty years. Therefore, even without my command, he had already issued the order to halt. But it seemed the enemy was one step ahead.
“Hyahhh!”
“Oooohhh!”
“Stop!”
The mass dismounting of the cavalry, or rather, the act of stopping them had backfired. Soldiers who fell from their Pasiv were trampled by the mounts of their comrades behind them. Some were rendered immobile from the impact of their fall. The slope only exacerbated the situation. I didn’t want to describe it as rolling down the hill; I didn’t want to witness such a foolish sight. Yet, the only fact that remained was that a battle-hardened cavalry unit had clumsily stumbled and fallen. Only a few commanders, including myself and His Majesty, could even begin to grasp what had transpired.
“Attack! We are already under enemy fire! All units, do not move an inch! If we don’t move, we won’t be hit by this enemy’s attack!”
Finally, I managed to calm the troops, halting their advance. This was precisely what it meant to be caught off guard. This slope was all part of the enemy’s setup. In addition to their attack, it made it easier to fall, increasing the likelihood of casualties. I thought to myself that I had been outmaneuvered, but unfortunately, I understood everything. I knew what the enemy’s attack was and where it was coming from. From a small gap in the trees, a grotesque light peeked through.
“Seriously? They pinpointed me in an instant.”
From the quick judgment that hiding would be futile, I could tell this opponent was no ordinary foe. With a worn-out broom head and an eye patch, he exuded the unkempt aura of a thief, boldly revealing himself before our large unit. He slipped between the branches and emerged.
“Welcome, cavalry of Kashiram. I hope you enjoyed my warm greeting?”
“I suppose I should ask your name. I don’t need to introduce myself.”
“Ah, so you’re the King? I’m Zukko, a member of the Comet Wolf Brigade. Sorry, but I was already aware you’d be attacking.”
“You anticipated the information leak, then?”
“Exactly. Even without that, it was only a matter of time before this location was pinpointed.”
“That spot where you stand was created by your comrade’s Custom Magic.”
“Of course. By the way, I’ve also got the Flash Strike Girl trapped in here. Poor thing, she probably won’t make it out alive.”
“You thief!”
Before Captain Deck could stop him, one of the soldiers drew his bow, but it was too late. Everything was already settled. The Pasiv beneath him was struck, and the soldier lost his balance, falling to the ground. The arrow he had released clumsily arced through the air, only to pierce his own head upon landing. Blood gushed from the wound, announcing death to those around.
“Don’t move recklessly! That Custom Magic alters the terrain slightly! It may seem minor, but in battle, it can be fatal! Especially since he knows exactly where and when to destabilize it for a lethal blow!”
“Yikes… if he’s reading me that well, I’m in trouble. Well, it’s not just that…”
“You said your name was Zukko. Do you have the confidence to prevent me from reaching you?”
At His Majesty’s question, Zukko chuckled softly. That was his answer. If you can do it, then try, a voiceless provocation that only spurred His Majesty on further. While it was possible to try to stop him, no one could command His Majesty; his unstoppable charge became the signal for a duel.
“Brave, aren’t you? But you do know we’re thieves, right? We don’t value or care for your chivalrous actions.”
Even as His Majesty charged forward, creating the illusion of a one-man army, Zukko showed no fear.
“‘Death Dealer’ Zukko… I’ve heard of you. You kill without using any weapons; your only method is to trip people… I never imagined you’d be part of the Comet Wolf Brigade…”
The seasoned soldiers knew more about this than I, who had only just started my adventurer journey under His Majesty. It seemed that the thief boasting there was quite notorious. The clash between Zukko, who skillfully manipulated the terrain, and His Majesty was imminent. Our true duty was to protect the King of Kashiram. If we were to fall here, our disgrace would be recorded for generations to come. But more than the seasoned soldiers or the commanding officers, the one His Majesty trusted most in this moment was me. And I was giving no commands. This meant that I held the reins to all possible outcomes in this situation.
“Here, in this place, the only ones who can dodge his Custom Magic and close the distance are His Majesty and Weiss.”
And I entrusted it to His Majesty. Whether this was a jest or a strategy, I intended to watch over it responsibly. If I were to interfere, I would face severe reprimand. Don’t take away my enjoyment; do you not trust me? Just thinking about it sent shivers down my spine, a torrent of words expressing disappointment. Of course, if I genuinely judged that His Majesty was up against an opponent he couldn’t handle, I would charge in without hesitation. The fact that I wasn’t doing so meant something.
“I’ll say this first, Zukko. The current King of Kashiram is the strongest king in the world.”
Stronger than any previous King of Kashiram. Stronger than any master. Stronger than me, an S-rank adventurer.
“Impressive, that’s quite the claim. I’m confident I could kill even the Flash Strike Girl. Well then, shall I offer that King as a blood sacrifice?”
I was currently focused on ensuring there were no other hidden allies lurking nearby.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Stuck between the branches, unable to move.
Something is digging in,
Weiss’s voluptuous form is tightening even more.
Ugh, ugh, ugh!