Chapter 69 "Search"

Rick Pov

The next morning...but the surroundings are still dimly illuminated.

　I'm heading to the academy at an early hour. The meeting time was still some time away, but I was in such a hurry that I came out early.

　It was hard for me to stay at the Kaiko-tei, and my feelings were just getting ahead of me.

Last night, I reported to Angie about Sania, and she bowed her head and said, "Take care of my daughter," as she showed no upset without blaming me as I joined the search.

　It was hard that she didn't say anything to me, and I would have felt more comfortable if she blamed me, but she didn't seem to allow it.

When I arrived at the school, I entered the church where we were to meet.

　Inside, there were some holy knights and cathedral knights, and they were discussing something.

　"Rick."

　I turned around to see the instructor approaching me.

　"You're early. We're supposed to meet after sunrise, remember?"

　"I was in a hurry."

　"I see. I understand how you feel, but if you push yourself too hard you won't be able to save what you can save, okay?"

　The instructor gave me a concerned look.

　I could only smile vaguely.

　"I'd like to know where you've been. I would like you to tell me where you have looked so far..."

　I switched my thoughts to a more constructive direction.

　"...... got it. First..."

　The instructor nodded lightly and told me about the progress of the investigation so far.

First of all, the premise is that Darzain's base is in this city.

This seems to be confirmed by the frequency and distribution of incidents, as well as the fact that they have not been seen on the outer edges of the city.

Currently, the Holy Knights and the Temple Knights in this town are engaged in investigation and search, but the results do not seem to be good.

　The investigation method is simply going from door to door, focusing on empty houses and spacious stores.

　However, since they are also patrolling to prevent the spread of damage, it seems that they are not doing so efficiently.

However, if the number of people is poorly distributed, even if they find them, they will be attacked back, so they are forced to work with three or four people, which is one of the reasons why the search is not progressing.

　I agree with that. That black robe was strong.

He was more than equal to the instructor, a Temple Knight, and even though she had me as a hindrance, he easily outmaneuvered her. It would have been difficult for even a holy knight to finish him off alone.

Then I remembered Gervas's story.

"Instructor, did you check the water vein?"

　"Water vein? ...... Oh, you mean the conduit that draws water to the well? No, we haven't checked it yet."

"Isn't there any chance they could be lurking there?"

The instructor shakes her head.

　"No, the rain we had a few days ago has caused the water level to rise to the point where it's impossible to check it. It's highly unlikely that they would be based there, given the time of year."

The instructor added, "There was a lot of water when we looked in not too long ago, and by the looks of it, we won't be able to get in there for a few more days."

　Okay... so the line about underground is thin then?

　Where then? Where did they take the people they kidnapped?

　I opened up a map of the city in my head, but I couldn't think of any particular place.

　"How many people were kidnapped?"

　I couldn't figure it out, so I decided to change the subject.

　"We have confirmed that there were 15 people, including your friend. The actual number is probably much higher."

The modus operandi was exactly the same as in Sania's case, where the black robes suddenly appeared and kidnapped them, and those who were present chased after them, only to be turned around and beaten back.

　"Most of those kidnapped were children, the rest were women and relatively easy to seize."

　The breakdown is 11 children and 4 women, for a total of 15.

　There seems to be nothing in particular in common among the victims. If I had to guess, I would say that half of the kidnapped women...two of them were adventurers.

　The Adventurers' Guild has been advised to be on the lookout, just in case, but for the moment, there is no telling who might be targeted.

　"This is all we know at the moment. Was that helpful?"

　"Yes. Thank you."

　Behind me, I hear a door open.

　I turned around and saw a group of holy knights entering the room.

Among them, I can see Gervas and Refia.

It seems that a lot of time had passed while we were talking.

　"It's time to get moving. Today is the day we will find their base."

　The instructor taps me on the shoulder.

　Wait for me, Sania. I'll find you, I promise.

Despite my determination, our search came up empty.

I checked dozens of buildings today alone, but none of my searches turned up anything.

　The day's search came to an end at sunset.

　Normally, I would have returned to the "Kaiko-tei" to rest, but I couldn't bring myself to go back, so I walked around town.

　This area was lined with inns, and people from other places often came and went.

　Whenever I saw an unfamiliar face, I would run my eyes over the body to see if there were any markings.

I don't think they'd put their marks in a position where they would be showing off, but it's a possibility.　

If I can find one of them, I will follow them and track them down to their hideout.

　I thought so, and I went this far, but it seemed to be an exercise in futility.

　I looked at a nearby inn.

　The inn is one of the more upscale ones around here, with stables where horses can be kept, and it caters to merchants and rich people.

　A man comes out of the stables.

　He was unfamiliar to me.

　I immediately tried to see the man's entire body, but he was wearing a black cloak, which left little skin exposed.

　The only thing I could make out was a blue plate around his neck, indicating that he was an adventurer.

　Strange...isn't it?

　I tilt my head inwardly.

　How can a blue adventurer stay at such a luxurious inn?

　It seems difficult, considering the standard of living of Gervas, another Blue Adventurer.

　Does he even have a horse if he came out of the stables?

　If so, it is even stranger.

　I was curious, so I took a peek inside as soon as the man left the stables.

　There were hardly any horses inside, just one in the back.

It was too dark to see the horse, so I cast a spell to see what it looked like, just to be sure.

　[Fire I] It is a beginner level magic that anyone can use with practice, but it has a wide range of uses and is very useful.

　The surroundings light up.

　"Wha!?"

　I shouted out unintentionally.

　It wasn't a horse.

　It had black, rough skin, a long neck, and a huge mouth. Fierce claws and sharp fangs lined its body.

　It was the first time I had seen one in person, but there was no doubt. It was a terrestrial dragon.

　Why would such a creature be in the city?

　The dragon took one look at me, crouched down, closed its eyes, and fell asleep.

　He didn't do anything?

　When I looked closely, I saw a saddle and reins by his side.

Don't tell me that the guy I just saw was the monster user that Gervas said was doing the self-made act?

What brings him here?

It's true that this place is just across the territory from Tirani, so it may seem early in the day, but I wouldn't be that surprised if he was here.

But I am wondering why he came here.

　There is a concentration of knights and holy knights here, so there is not a lot of work for adventurers.

　It's a little unnatural to come all the way to a town where you don't make much money.

　...That's suspicious.

　Don't tell me he's trying to make a play for himself again?

　As I left the stables, I saw a man coming out of the inn next door, so I decided to follow him and find out what he was up to.

　I followed him, using magic to muffle the sound and keeping some distance between us.

　The man did not seem to notice me and was walking at a slow speed.

　To be honest, I was skeptical, but I was sure he was suspicious.

　From the direction he is heading, is he going to the outskirts of town?

　That's odd.

I had heard someone had checked that area before... what's there?

　Just past here is a plaza with a fountain. The rest of the area is nothing but a few vacant houses and stores that have been surveyed...supposedly.

　Did we miss something?　

　A man enters the square.

　I took a moment and stepped into the square.

...?

　There was no man in the square.

...Where did he go...?

　Just as I was about to look around, I felt the magic activate around me.

　I pulled out my sword and braced myself.

　It turned out to be a good thing.

　"Gaha!"

　A shock to the side. If I hadn't caught it with my sword as quickly as I did, I might have been knocked unconscious by the blow.

　I was able to kill it with some strength, but not completely, and my stance collapsed.

　I rolled on the ground and got away from the attacker.

　I raised myself up and stared at the attacker who had attacked me.

It was the man from earlier. Apparently, I had been kicked.

　"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

　I yelled at the man. The reason I shouted on purpose was to attract people.

It's a slim hope, given the location, but if I'm lucky, a patrolling holy knight might hear me.

　The man looked at me blankly and answered.

"That's my line. You've been following me around for a while now, and that's not good, right?"　

He knew I was following him!?

　It seems I've been lured this far. But this just confirms my suspicions...and I'm pretty sure it's black.

　Unlike the black robe, this guy is a talker, judging from the way he talks.

　I'll save you the trouble.

　"Where are the kidnapped children?"

　The man is silent for a moment, then lets out a sigh.

"...Now you're coming to me with some incomprehensible cause. I hope you've had enough of this by now."

　What are you talking about?

　The man holds out his hand to me, but I frown and lower my eyebrows.

　The next moment, the man steps in.

　He was fast. The black robe was fast, but this guy was even faster.

　He's pulling his arm. He's going to hit me.

　I couldn't defend...with my sword.

　The moment I realized that the man had grabbed me by the chest without punching me, the world was turned upside down.

"Gah..."

　A tremendous shock pierced through my back.

It was as if I had been thrown and slammed to the ground with all his might.

　The pain and shock made it difficult to get up, let alone breathe.

I tried to move my body somehow, but it didn't listen to me as if it were a different person's body.

　I'm going to be killed.

　Suddenly, the thought slips into my mind.

　How could it be so easy? Is this the end of my life?

　How did this happen? Was it because I followed that man? Was it because Sania was kidnapped?

Is it because Gervas told me that story? I don't know, I don't know.

　I don't understand why I'm in this situation.

　And then... a cold thing spreads from my chest all over my body.

　I'm scared.

　At that point, my understanding of the situation caught up with me.

　I'm scared, scared, scared.

　Unlike yesterday when I fought with the black robe, my thinking was strangely clear, which was a disaster.　

　I can't stop thinking bad thoughts.

　What does it mean to die? What happens?

　I am afraid of not knowing. Tears pool in the corners of my eyes.

　The roots of my teeth don't meet and a grating clicking sound is heard.

　How much time has passed? Death doesn't attack me.

　I finally manage to get up and raise myself fearfully.

　The man is gone.

"Am I saved?"

　As I was about to exhale, something plunged in front of me.

　With an indescribable sound, something reddish-black splattered on the ground.

　"What the...?"

　As I was about to raise my voice, a figure jumped into the square.

　It was a black robe.

　What? What's going on?

He's holding a dagger and keeping low to the ground, wary of something.

　Ahead of him, a man walks up, unharmed, carrying a sword on his shoulder. He still has the same blank look on his face.

　The black robe runs and lowers himself and tries to slash with the dagger, but a huge stake rises up from the ground and pierces through the black robe's torso.

It pierced his stomach and made Black Robe vomit blood, but the next moment his head was flying off.

　It seems that the man had somehow swung his sword and decapitated him.

The sight of the black robe's head spinning around and flying through the air didn't feel real at all.

　The man catches the black robed head in mid-air.

He lifts the head to his own eye level, frowns, clicks his tongue, and tosses it upward.

　The black-robed head explodes in mid-air, scattering something like a black mist around it.

　The man held out his hand and the black mist disappeared.

　Magic? Probably he used a wind system magic to disperse the fog, but it was activated terribly fast.

　He has mastered not only his physical abilities but also his magic to a high standard.

　Who is he?　

The one who just died is, by all appearances, Darzain's black robe.

　What does that mean? He's not one of them?

　"Another failure. Well, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Your turn."

　The man turned to me.

　He was in a bad mood, and his tone was slightly irritated.

　"Wait, wait, wait!"

　I hurriedly called out to the man.