◆ Avangarde Royal Capital – Back Alley ◆
“Kou, are you sure it’s okay to come all the way out here?”
“This is the perfect place for our secret training, right?”
Kou is braver than I am and has a knack for fighting. Unlike me, he eagerly volunteered to face off against those bald Uzei cultists. It was also him who suggested we conduct this secret training without telling Big Bro Ord. I could tell he was still upset about losing that match. He didn’t let me refuse, and here we are now.
For a whole week, Kou and Big Bro Ord trained rigorously before that match. Despite their efforts, it didn’t even turn into a proper fight. Big Bro Ord is truly amazing; even with just a week of training, he was able to hold his own against those bald guys, thanks in part to Rua-san being there. Perhaps because of that, Kou has been pushing himself harder than ever, as if trying to punish his own body.
“Alright, let’s get started! Bun, come at me from anywhere!”
He’s making a fist, looking all fired up. I think it would be better to consult an adult about this, but he wouldn’t listen. It’s true that we’ve been without parents since we can remember. We survived by begging from a few kind souls, scraping by day by day. I don’t know why we don’t have parents, and honestly, I don’t care.
I still can’t forget the pitying looks from those people. They were kind enough to give us food, but they never helped us in any real way. When I later asked Big Bro Ord, he explained that everyone has their own lives to worry about, and in the end, they care most about themselves.
One day, I finally thought of becoming an Adventurer as a way to survive. But I couldn’t do anything at first. They registered me, but all I could manage were odd jobs and gathering materials around town. Even that was too difficult for us kids, and soon we felt we had reached our limit.
“We need to repay Big Bro Ord, right? The best way to do that is for us to get stronger! We’ll live proudly and become strong!”
Back then, Big Bro Ord seemed like an incredible Adventurer to me. But he also seemed a bit carefree, as if he was just passing the time by hanging out with us. I thought he might leave as soon as he got bored.
But Big Bro Ord actually went with us to gather materials. Many people had given us things, but he was the first to stick by us and help us out. I was so happy about that.
He treated us to delicious food, bought us clothes, armor, and weapons that fit our size. We went into dungeons, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. There was even a time when Big Bro Ord got seriously hurt while protecting us, and I cried and apologized. I thought he could have just left us behind if we were such a burden, but those days were so much fun.
“We need to be strong enough to help Big Bro Ord next time, right?”
“But we can’t do it alone… We should definitely have Rua-san and Big Bro Ord with us.”
“Y-Yeah, that might be true…”
“Let’s not linger in this gloomy place and head back quickly!”
“What a waste. You shouldn’t let that desire rot away.”
I heard a raspy voice from right next to us in the alley where I thought no one was around. Someone was standing beside me and Kou. What is that? It’s dark and swaying, moving side to side. It felt like I was seeing a mirage. I was so scared I almost wet myself, but I couldn’t take my eyes off that shadowy figure. No, I couldn’t look away. I was frozen in fear, unable to run.
“W-Who are you?”
“You don’t need to be afraid, dear. I am your ally. Come, lost little lamb, let us go together.”
“Ah, ahhh, uwaaaahhh…”
The shadow spread out, engulfing our vision and consciousness.
◆ ??? ◆
“Bun! Hey, wake up!”
“Ugh…”
My back hurt from lying on the rough stone floor. As I slowly regained consciousness, I managed to sit up. When I fully opened my eyes, the strange surroundings and situation filled me with fear. There was no way I could stay here alone, so I shook Bun awake, who was still sleeping peacefully.
“K-Kou, where are we…?”
“Don’t ask me…”
Candles flickered along the walls at regular intervals, making it feel like a dungeon. It wouldn’t be surprising if an Undead monster jumped out from the depths.
“Th-That…”
The eerie shadows weren’t just one; there were many people sitting in chairs. The candles on the table cast a weak light, illuminating faces, faces, faces. Most of them looked older than us. There were men and women who seemed to be around Big Bro Ord’s age, as well as uncles, grandfathers, landladies, older sisters, and grandmothers. It was a mix of ages and genders.
“Yahhh! T-They’re here!”
“W-Wait! Th-Those aren’t ghosts… they’re humans.”
It was undeniably creepy, but they were human. They all stared blankly at the table, not saying a word. The silence made it even scarier. And upon closer inspection, the place was quite spacious. There were dozens of them, and that meant there was plenty of room.
No, it wasn’t just dozens. We were in a corner, and the depth of the room was so great that we couldn’t see the end. There were flickering candle lights further in, scattered about.
“Ho ho ho, it seems you’ve all gathered here.”
As soon as I heard the voice of the shadowy figure from the alley, the walls turned orange. The unlit candles suddenly ignited, revealing the entire room before my eyes.
About ten people sat at each table, arranged at regular intervals. I could tell it was some kind of gathering, but I had no idea why we were brought here or who that shadowy figure was. Who were these people? I wanted to ask, but speaking felt dangerous. The moment that shadow appeared, their expressions brightened, as if they were worshipping a god.
“Thank you for gathering here today for the Phantom’s meeting. Ho ho! Today, I have a wonderful gift for you all.”
“Power?! Are you giving us power?!”
“I can kill that punk Adventurer who humiliated my daughter?!”
“So we can sell flowers again?!”
The cold air in the room heated up as they began shouting nonsensical things. In this bizarre space, we could only huddle together. My teeth chattered uncontrollably. I was terrified, not just of whether we would be killed, but of the incomprehensible scene unfolding before us.
“What lies before you is your gift. Each one is different in shape and type, but they all represent power—be it a sword, axe, or spear. Now, take them… this Death Weapon Merchant will awaken your desires!”
Weapons of some sort appeared on the table, where there had previously been nothing but candles. Swords, spears, axes. I could barely tell what they were. They were all black, after all. A row of pitch-black weapons lined up before us.
“You two over there, don’t hesitate to take them! Ohoho!”
“Yikes! W-When did they get there?!”
At our feet lay two knives and a pair of knuckles. The all-black appearance made me feel like I was being sucked in, and I quickly averted my gaze.
“You all work hard to survive every day. From early morning until late at night, some of you are scraping by at jobs. Others can’t find work, or have been cast aside as useless. And then there are those who have had their beloved partners or family taken from them unjustly, or have been betrayed. Isn’t that painful?”
“That’s right… I’ve been working tirelessly since before dawn until late at night… and last month, my wife passed away…”
“Life hasn’t gotten any easier!”
“The way we’re treated as hired help is like being slaves! We’re worked to the bone until we’re useless, then tossed aside! It’s a terrible story! So let’s live as miserably as we can!”
As their frustrations erupted, the shadowy figure seemed to nod in satisfaction. I was starting to understand what kind of gathering this was. But we shouldn’t be involved in this. Sure, things were grim before we met Big Bro Ord, but now, we should be happy.
“However, while everyone is suffering, the nobles of this world are likely indulging in lavish parties every night, savoring gourmet dishes and toasting with fine wine. They feast upon beautiful women or young girls bought from the slave market, welcoming the fresh morning… Why has such a disparity arisen? It should be obvious by now.”
As I listened to the shadowy figure’s speech, my mind was racing.
“Hey, Bun, we’re happy, right…?”
“Of course! We’re different from these guys!”
“Is that really the case?”
Even from such a distance, the shadowy figure responded perfectly. I had lost count of how many times I had trembled. All we could do was taste the fear.
“Some might say we are different and that this cannot be ignored. For example, there’s Herman over there. You lost your precious daughter to an adventurer who humiliated her and killed her, didn’t you?”
“That’s right! Even after I paid the reward, they still claimed it wasn’t enough and barged into my home… right before my eyes… Aaaahhhhhh!”
“Exactly. Yet the Adventurer’s Guild ignored your plight, silencing you because that adventurer was deemed capable. It’s a terrible story, isn’t it? What should those who have suffered such unreasonable treatment do?”
“Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!”
The chorus of “kill” was praised by the shadowy figure in a drawn-out voice, as if he were applauding. If this had been a while ago, we might have wet ourselves. But after meeting Big Bro Ord, I realized just how much we had toughened up in situations like this.
“Yes, you have been killed unjustly. Losing your beloved, you cannot possibly enjoy life afterward. The person you were before, living healthily, has been killed. You are now ghosts. Ghosts killed by society, by the masses, by the world… you are Phantoms!”
From “kill” to “Phantom,” “Phantom,” “Phantom.” Honestly, I couldn’t make sense of it anymore, and I was at a loss for words. But I could say this for sure.
“These guys are completely insane…”
Each of them raised their black weapons, showering praise upon the shadowy figure. As they swayed in unison, I thought about how to escape from him. The place was too vast and overall too dark; I had no idea where the exit was. Even if I found one, could I slip away without being caught by that shadowy figure?
“Hey, Bun, how do we—”
“Kou, this is lighter than I thought!”
“W-What are you doing?! Don’t hold onto that!”
Bun held two gleaming black knives in both hands, staring at them with curiosity. This is bad. I didn’t know why, but I grabbed Bun’s wrist.
“Stop it!”
“You should try it on, Kou! That knuckle would suit you perfectly!”
“Idiot! What’s wrong with you?! This is weird?!”
“Hehe, I like this. Even someone weak like me can handle it, and I feel like I could get stronger!”
“Just throw it away!”
“No way!”
Bun shook my grasped wrist up and down, and when he saw me nearly stumble, he chuckled lightly. What was that strength? What happened to him?
“Bun, you…”
“Hehehe, I feel lighter!”
“Ord is also capable of cruel acts.”
The shadowy figure had somehow moved in front of us, and I caught a glimpse of his face. He looked like an ordinary old man you might find anywhere. The white-haired grandfather turned his wrinkled face towards us, raising one of his dark brows.
“W-Wait. Something’s off. Just wait a moment.”
“Hohoho, look at the requests he has taken on until now.”
The paper that fell from the shadow’s hand contained personal information that should have been stored in the Guild.
“Ah, wait? Big Bro Ord said he defeated the Raging Chief… but this request was marked as failed…”
“That’s not all! There was a gathering request he left us behind for, claiming it was too dangerous. That one failed too.”
“W-Wait, he didn’t just fail; he canceled it! Did Big Bro lie to us?!”
“Hohoho, now you understand, don’t you? Those who put on a good face and act noble are the least trustworthy. Friendship, respect, mentorship—those are all illusions. Everyone here has been toyed with by such illusions and has turned into ghosts.”
“B-But I respect my brother…”
“If you lack strength, you will live a miserable life. You must have realized that by now?”
I recalled the time I lost to that bald guy, unable to fight back. No matter how tightly I clenched my fists or blamed myself, nothing changed. I couldn’t do anything. I wanted to grow up quickly and become stronger.
“That is where strength lies.”
“…It really is light.”
It felt as if I were in a dream; I couldn’t believe I was moving my body of my own will. I was hungry, so I picked up the knife to eat. That’s how it felt as I slipped on the black knuckle.
“Hohoho, that’s right. Well done! Everyone, give a round of applause!”
“Oooh! We have a new member in our Phantoms!”
“Let’s welcome her! Together, let’s destroy this world!”
“Let’s break it!”
Instead of feeling scared by the applause from everyone in the room, I felt exhilarated. Had I ever experienced such a feeling before? I could feel a heat rising from deep within me. Everyone recognized me as one of them. Yes, they acknowledged me. I, who had never been recognized by anyone, was now in the spotlight. I had only ever received the kind of looks one gives a stone on the roadside. Now, I was being welcomed like this.
“And today, we have a special guest! Our leader, Lady Elmera, has come to join us!”
The Death Weapon Merchant had returned to the back of the room. From the shadows, a cute older sister peeked out. Her long, flowing green hair swayed as she raised one foot and both hands, responding to the cheers of the crowd with a strange pose.
“Hi! I’m everyone’s leader, Elmera-chan!”
“Wooooo! Elmera-chan!”
“Look over here!”
“Fwoahhhh!”
Not just the men, but even the women were praising Lady Elmera. She was probably older than Rua. She didn’t have that frail chest or body like Rua, and it would be an insult to compare her to Rua’s fair and beautiful skin.
“And now, let me introduce this person. This individual has actually matched with the Demon Sword Doomnate, which no one could handle before!”
“Let me introduce! Uh, what was the name again?”
Another person stepped out from behind the Death Weapon Merchant. It was a man. He had a scruffy beard, and at first glance, he looked like an old man, but he was actually a young guy. He probably fell into the handsome category, but with the beard, he looked rather shabby overall. He looked like someone who had lived as a beggar for a long time, dressed in filthy clothes. That jacket should have looked sharp, but it was tattered in places, ruining it.
“I have no interest in this pointless gathering. I’m going to kill the Flash Strike Girl.”
Even though Lady Elmera and the Death Weapon Merchant were introducing him, that guest was bluntly trying to leave the room. What’s wrong with him? Is he an idiot? What does he mean he’s going to kill the Flash Strike Girl?
“Wait a moment. Lady Elmera will decide on the future course of action.”
“Besides, that girl probably won’t even show up, right?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“That girl won’t come out to fight. No, she can’t come out. Honestly, I’d prefer not to fight her head-on, and I’m relieved that it’s going to be like that.”
What does that even mean? Everyone looked at Lady Elmera with confusion. Still, she played dumb, maintaining her smile.
“Hm?”
“Hm, that’s not an answer. Explain properly.”
“Don’t rush me. Uh, what was her name again?”
“…Do you want to die?”
“Hohoho, stop that. It’s true that the Demon Sword Doomnate is an excellent weapon, rivaling the Demon Sword Disballade. However, you cannot win against Lady Elmera.”
“Is that so? I could try a test cut right now.”
“The Flash Strike Girl would be a piece of cake for Lady Elmera and the Death Weapon Merchant!”
“That’s right! That brat should be killed!”
I was genuinely taken aback. It seemed that Lua was quite disliked, even by those who had no apparent connection to Adventurers. Well, it wasn’t too surprising, considering there were those who held a grudge against Adventurers.
“That’s going to be difficult, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, yeah! I once tried to kill the Flash Strike Girl with a knife, but it was impossible!”
“I even pumped up my Dragon Slayer Poison for that brat, but she just spat it out! That’s why! With a monster like that walking around town, we can’t live in peace! She needs to be taken down immediately!”
Ignoring the modest response from the Death Weapon Merchant, everyone was shouting whatever came to mind. As I watched the chaotic scene unfold, I absentmindedly stroked the Black Knuckle fitted snugly on my fist. Black Knuckle—it had a nice ring to it. With this, I would become stronger.
“Oh, right! Nentro, where did you go? Using my people without permission!”
“It’s Nentro, not Nendo! How many times do I have to tell you?”
“Ah! There you are! Wait, that’s not the real you again! Where are you?! Hey!”
“Try looking for me.”
“This level of precision means you’re definitely in here! I’m going to find you, I’m going to find you!”
One old man suddenly stopped moving, flapping his mouth as he got into a bizarre argument with Elmera. But I paid no attention to that. All I could see was the Black Knuckle.