On the verge of collapse after having pushed her body to its limits, Chloe found help. The man who had once decimated her confidence during a mock battle looked serious, his crimson eyes narrowed.
“Understood,” he said. “Now, about that bandit squad. Do they have any powerful Swordsmen in their ranks?”
Grieving Souls. Once, there was a group of individuals who became hunters and gave their party a name you’d expect to hear attached to a gang of criminals.
Every year in the Zebrudian imperial capital, countless young aspiring hunters would undergo registration. There was no shortage of parties consisting of six young adults fresh from the countryside and such an irritating name should have brought a quick end to their careers.
However, that party overcame each hardship they were faced with. They did it through talent and hard work. Courage and luck. Rare knowledge and iron determination strong enough to instill fear even in other hunters.
Could it really be a coincidence that while en route to the nearest town, Chloe had run into a carriage containing three of their members?
Grieving Souls consisted solely of moniker-bearers and were one of the top parties in the imperial capital. They were too young to be considered seasoned, but their eyes still bore the same shine that all champions had.
Chloe had been an employee of the Explorers’ Association for some time, but members of Grieving Souls rarely stopped by, so she wasn’t well acquainted with any of them. Strangely enough, she didn’t feel particularly nervous in their carriage.
When Luke asked about the Swordsmen, the Magus with the long black hair broke her silence with a sigh. Only nineteen years old, she had mastered a wide variety of magic and was one of the top Magi in the capital. Her name was Lucia Rogier, she was Level 6, bore the moniker Avatar of Creation, and had her arms wrapped around a staff.
“That’s not the issue!” she scolded. “Our plans to visit a hot spring have led us straight to a bunch of bandits! And we just got out of a treasure vault!”
“They’re just bandits?”
“And why do we have to clean up our leader’s messes, when he just sat around while we went on that long expedition?!”
The two looked quite their age during this exchange, not at all like top hunters.
“No, this always happens!” Lucia continued. “Besides, if my brother’s involved, then there’s no way these are just some ordinary bandits.”
“Yeah, uh-huh.”
“Don’t mimic him! Don’t sound so pleased!”
“Right, mm-hmm?”
“Don’t make your own arrangement! Ansem, please say something to him!”
There was a rumbling as Ansem gave a brief response from outside the driverless carriage.
It appeared the rumors were true. Grieving Souls were all childhood friends, as was made clear by the way they talked with a lack of reservation as only close acquaintances could. But they sounded just a bit too casual. Would they really be able to save Suls?
Chloe could once again see the town she had been desperate to escape. Just outside the new wall were a number of opened carriages.
“There’s so many,” Lucia mumbled.
They were probably left there as a means of a quick escape, just in case. They didn’t seem like they would be enough for all the bandits Chloe had seen in the town, but this was still a step most bandit squads didn’t even bother with. She hadn’t spotted any locals while making her escape, and, considering how well trained the bandits were, they had most likely been taken hostage. She was thankful she hadn’t smelled any blood, but a hostage situation was still a nightmare.
Suls wasn’t a terribly large town, but it was spread out over a somewhat wide area and Chloe had no idea where the hostages might be. Even the proud knights of the imperial capital would consider this a tricky situation. Being an employee of the Explorers’ Association, she had learned methods of dealing with bandits, but those rudimentary lessons wouldn’t be enough for Bandit Squad Barrel.
Even though it was with a surprise attack, Barrel had managed to get the jump on the Crashing Lightning. The bandits had overwhelming numbers. Chloe had little in the way of intel and only three allies.
What could they possibly do in the face of such immense odds?
“How should we proceed?” she asked hesitantly.
Luke and Lucia exchanged looks.
Ansem, the Immutable, raised a fist.
The world groaned, the earth and air trembled. With one hit, the dense wall had been blown apart. There hadn’t been a moment of doubt. What a straightforward plan it was.
“We’ll proceed as usual. Lucia will go wild with spells, and Ansem will go wild breaking stuff. I’ll focus on persuasion,” Luke said.
Chloe was fairly certain she told them what they were up against, yet they had just charged in. But it was too late for her to stop them.
Their approach was quite unlike that of any other hunters Chloe knew or the measured steps taken by the bandits. Barrel numbered in the hundreds and they most likely had hostages. What could just three people do? Shouldn’t they have gone to another town for help? However, Chloe immediately found her apprehensions dispelled.
Luke Sykol. The Protean Sword and one of the top Swordsmen in the imperial capital.
Lucia Rogier. The Avatar of Creation and master of magics from all regions and eras.
And then there was that Paladin whose fame might even compare to that of Rodin. He towered over even branch manager Gark, a man once fearfully referred to as the War Demon. With every inch of his skin concealed by armor, he barely looked human.
The armored giant didn’t say a word as he punched through the wall. He stepped into the cramped town and scanned his surroundings. What overwhelming might. The Immutable was known for his kindness, but looked more monstrous than any actual monster.
The Protean Sword’s red coat flapped as he followed Ansem through the hole.
“Hooow many times do I have to tell you, Krai? A man with an axe is not a Swordsman!” Luke said with a click of his tongue.
In front of the broken wall was a burly man gripping an axe that had dug into the ground.
“Who are you?!” he yelled.
Chloe recognized this man. He was on the quest brief that had been issued by Lord Gladis. The bandit leader who had managed to survive for so long in spite of being wanted in so many countries. Geffroy Barrel.
This was no body double. It was the man himself. Even from afar, he had the same powerful bearing of a veteran hunter. It seemed fair to assume the rumors were true when they said he was a force on par with high-level hunters.
But even his imposing figure was diminished by the fiery energy given off by Luke. The Protean Sword’s lips twisted into a grin when he heard the man’s question.
“To think you don’t know my name. Tell me, old man, you aren’t some sort of fraud, are you?”
His voice was a bit high-pitched for a man.
After him, Ansem stepped forward, and then came Lucia, who had cast a wide-area spell before entering the town. At some point, they had put on masks resembling grinning skulls—the symbol of Grieving Souls. Luke pulled out a similar mask of his own and put it on.
Behind the bandit leader was a man with an unshakable gaze.
“Grieving Souls,” he murmured as his cheek twitched.
“Oh, so you do know who we are? Introductions aren’t one of my strong suits.”
***
“Im...possible.”
Beads of cold sweat broke out on Kardon’s face. The smiling skull, that mask that sent fear into criminals across the empire, was staring down at him and Geffroy.
There was a gargantuan figure clad in armor, the short red-haired Swordsman, and the black-haired Magus with the large staff. Geffroy and Kardon had heard rumors about the smiling skull masks, but there was something almost surreal about seeing them in person.
But one thing was clear—they were strong, on a whole other level than the two that Barrel had found in the mountains. It wasn’t just the giant, the other two also had an aura that marked them as being among the most powerful hunters Barrel had ever come across.
“The two from earlier. Were they a trap?”
Geffroy was from outside the empire. He had looked into Grieving Souls, a party mostly active in Zebrudia, but there was still a lot he didn’t know. However, he did at least glean some knowledge of their structure and membership. They were a party of seven. If the three before him were this powerful, it was inconceivable that two of their comrades, who presumably cleared treasure vaults with them, could be so weak.
The man before them was a Swordsman, which meant he was most likely the Protean Sword.
“What’s going on? So those two really were... Goddamnit.”
Geffroy had thought those two were weak. He knew that people sometimes hid behind the names of famous hunters. But the circumstances had lined up so perfectly. The fear and panic on their faces had been genuine. Not to mention this was the sort of ruse you would usually only expect from a ghost party.
Geffroy set the matter to the side. Three people would never be enough for the nearly three hundred members of Barrel. But now it was just Geffroy and Kardon. Picking his axe back up, Geffroy felt himself eager for his first real fight in some time. Then he noticed the red-haired hunter staring at him.
“Wait, Lucia. There’s still two left,” he said, mystified.
“There’s only two left! You might not know this, Luke, but casting spells over wide areas is incredibly taxing.”
Observe. Evaluate the situation. Listen. Strength and a cool head had allowed Geffroy to survive everything life had thrown at him. He could still win this. That Magus had said “wide area.” Just how wide was she talking about? This wasn’t a spell he had ever seen before. Could she have meant the whole town? Impossible.
No, he told himself. That’s not what’s important right now.
She was a Magus and she was fatigued. She had used a spell to instantaneously incapacitate hundreds of men, but she wouldn’t be able to do it a second time. If the Magus was out of the equation, Geffroy had a shot at survival. Bandit Squad Barrel wasn’t on the side of justice. Cowards had their own way of doing things.
“Was it you who turned our subordinates into these, shall we say, charming little fellows?” Kardon asked with astonishment. He was holding a shortblade in his hand. “I was truly surprised. I’ve never seen such a spell. But, I’m afraid it came too late.”
His icy voice was placid and lower than usual. Geffroy figured his partner had reached the same conclusion as he had. He stifled his worries and was now searching for a thread of hope. The three hunters watched Kardon’s impressive performance. A cruel smile formed on his lips.
“This town has already fallen under our control. If you capture us, we’ll take everyone down with us. Your friends, the townsfolk, and the town itself will all be targeted by Barrel.”
That’s right. They were going to bluff. These three had just arrived, they shouldn’t have any idea what state Suls was in. They could be swayed. No matter how strong they might be, a human was still a human; a battle-axe to the skull would still kill them.
“What are you talking about?” asked the red-haired Swordsman.
His name was Luke Sykol and his skills with a blade ranked among the best in the empire. He studied the blade voraciously, absorbing techniques new and old, from all over. His title, the Protean Sword, was one that had been held by a number of renowned Swordsmen.
In spite of the circumstances, he was at ease. He didn’t seem affected by Kardon’s threats. But he wasn’t on guard. He hadn’t even drawn his blade, it was still at his side. Seemingly unconcerned by the possibility of a surprise attack, Luke calmly stepped forward and stopped inches away from Kardon.
An opportunity was presenting itself! Geffroy was confident. He might not have had the same skills with a blade, but this wasn’t a duel. When it came to simply swinging, he was faster. He suppressed his violent impulses and watched the hunter closely. He was going to step forward and then cut down this runt.
Just as he was about to make his move, Luke slowly removed his mask and held up his hands.
“My bad. I was supposed to talk things through with you,” he said.
“What?”
Geffroy didn’t even breathe. Kardon’s eyes were wide with shock. The Magus pressed her hands to her temples. The giant stood perfectly still.
“Calm down and hear me out,” the Protean Sword said, sounding completely serious. “Krai’s always telling me about how important communication is. Stuff like ‘Talk to people before you go cutting them down.’ It’s a royal pain, but apparently, that’s the cool thing to do and I’m aiming to be both cool and the greatest Swordsman alive.”
“What are you talking about?”
Geffroy didn’t understand. If nothing else, this wasn’t the sort of thing you normally heard before a battle. Was he trying to trick them into relaxing?
The Protean Sword was open, his guard was down. There was no need to listen to him. Geffroy would move his hands and end his life.
But no matter how much he tried, Geffroy couldn’t move his hands. His eyes bulged and he began to sweat.
Are my nerves getting the better of me?
Then the Protean Sword said something quite unexpected.
“And you see, I planned to talk things over with you before cutting you down. But, uh, I just couldn’t help myself.”
“Huh?!”
A very long second passed. Something hit the ground with a thump. Geffroy’s right side felt lighter and an intense pain erupted in his shoulder. But he didn’t have the luxury of turning his head.
He wasn’t afraid of the pain, he just hadn’t noticed. He never saw himself get cut, he never even saw that man draw his blade. The blood drained from Kardon’s face; he likely hadn’t seen it either.
“But, I guess it’s all the same in the end,” Luke said. “I’ll be more mindful next time and that’s what’s important, right?”
“You idiot, we’ve got hostages—”
“You guys could also be a bit more mindful in the future, if there is one. But you guys just won’t do.”
Then, very casually, the Protean Sword drew his blade. This time, Geffroy clearly saw the blade flash. But evading it was another matter. They should have been able to see the attack. Kardon fell to the ground just as Geffroy’s arm had.
“It’s not a matter of likes or dislikes, but, whenever possible, I’d rather fight a Swordsman. Axe-wielders and guys with short blades don’t count, but Krai just doesn’t learn. Ah, I’m not trying to slander you or anything, but I just had way too much fun with that six-arm Swordsman back in Night Palace.”
Geffroy didn’t understand a single thing this man was saying. It seemed Luke was talking to them, but it didn’t make any sense.
“Luke, the hostages!” Lucia scolded.
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I held back. I didn’t cut him down, see?”
Geffroy’s knees gave out. His mind went blank when he saw the blade used by Luke.
“No, I’m telling you not to attack at all! For goodness’ sake!”
The Magus sounded frantic. The frogs croaked in a loud chorus. The last thing Geffroy saw was Luke’s unadorned wooden sword.
***
We strolled through the empty town. Actually, only Liz, Sitri, and I were strolling. Arnold was pale as a ghost. I was relying on Liz to make a proper check, but I didn’t see any other frogs in the vicinity. Apparently, the whole town really had been gathered in the square.
When I stopped to think about it, that was one terrifying spell. Even I could win a fight against someone if they had been turned into a frog. What could you do against magic like that?
“So what determines whether or not you become a frog?” I wondered aloud.
I could understand why Arnold, Liz, and Sitri hadn’t been affected. Hunters with large amounts of mana material were resilient to all sorts of things that normal people weren’t. I could accept that Tino and Rhuda were transformed. For the same reason, the town guards were turned into frogs.
But the townsfolk and I, all people with little to no mana material, had remained human. I couldn’t figure out why.
Sitri looked at me quizzically. “Aren’t you the one who thought up this spell?”
“Well, that is true.”
I had only come up with the end result, not the process behind it. I was pretty certain all I had written in that spellbook I foisted onto Lucia was “A spell that turns people into frogs.” It was one of the many reasons she was always grumbling at me.
Sitri pondered for a moment.
“I imagine it’s designed to exclude noncombatants,” she said.
“What makes you say that?”
“Once, I heard Lucia griping about how you gave her the absurd task of making a spell that had no effect on civilians.”
Oh, yeah. That was me. I did indeed do that. It was so I could stock said spell in an Aspiration Manifest.
Aspiration Manifest would simply release spells in the same state they had been stocked, so you couldn’t adjust the effect radius like you could during a normal cast. That led me to request a spell that wouldn’t work on noncombatants. The result of that request was Tyrant’s Order, the spell I unleashed on Arnold and his party.
Ah, I guess they work on the same principle.
“Maybe it goes off your levels of mana material?” I suggested.
“Arnold probably remained unaffected because resilience to transforming spells bolsters much easier than poison resilience. I knew you wouldn’t let me down, Arnold!”
“Mmm,” was Arnold’s only response to Sitri’s compliment.
I’ll try and cheer him up, next time I get the chance.
Inside the vial, Tino ribbited as she listened to our conversation.
I figured resilience could also explain why Liz and Sitri hadn’t been affected. And for me, well, it’s because my mana material was on par with your average civilian.
I didn’t think there was anything to worry about, after all it was Lucia’s spell. But it would really suck if we couldn’t return everyone to their original forms. Worst-case scenario, I could find myself the target of a named quest. Even if we did turn everyone back, I knew Gark would want to have a chat with me once we got back to the imperial capital. Just thinking about it made me want to barf.
After walking for a bit, Liz’s eyes began to sparkle.
“There you are! Luuuke!”
The first one I caught sight of was Ansem. He was over four meters tall and still growing. Even though he was the most mellow member of our party, his large, armor-clad figure caused him to stand out.
Standing near a damaged wall were Luke and Lucia, both wearing masks, which they removed upon hearing Liz’s voice. I hadn’t seen them since they went to Night Palace and that was some time ago.
“Took you long enough! The dragon and the Cave People have already headed home! Sucks to be you!” Liz yelled.
It seemed Luke hadn’t been expecting to hear that.
“What?! Krai, tell me where they went!”
“Too bad for you! Krai Baby already took care of it!”
Was that really the first thing you have to say to me, Luke? And I didn’t take care of them. If you want Cave People, there’s a whole kingdom of them.
Words failed to capture the look on Lucia’s already miffed expression when she heard Liz’s voice.
Then I noticed two humans on the ground. One was face down in the dirt, the other in a pool of blood.
Luke, you only just got back from a treasure vault!
I ran up to them. One had no notable wounds, but the stronger-looking one had lost his right arm.
“Luke! What are you doing, cutting down civilians?! I told you to at least hold back and use a wooden sword!”
“I did use a wooden sword.”
That’s even worse!
I made sure not to step on any of the frogs as I got closer. I knelt next to the larger man and turned his head towards me. I didn’t think I’d be able to turn his entire body over. He had a real rugged face, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be one of the townsfolk. Maybe he was a guard? Fortunately, he seemed to still be conscious in spite of his blood loss and he looked up at me with vacant eyes.
At this point, all I could do was apologize.
“I’m so sorry. I’m always telling Luke not to draw his sword unless he has a good reason to. Ansem, could you heal him?”
For some reason, Ansem was just watching silently. Cutting civilians was a very, very bad thing to do. We hadn’t had any recent incidents, so I had gotten complacent.
“I get it,” Luke said with a groan. “If you can heal them, you can just keep having fun! I thought it was a shame that I hadn’t gotten to see that axe in action. You’re a genius, Krai.”
Did you forget your humanity back in that treasure vault?
I had confiscated his real sword, but he still hadn’t learned his lesson.
“Aren’t I always telling you to try and communicate first?! Did you?”
Luke averted his eyes. “Of course I did,” he said in a small voice.
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