Chapter 15
Episode 27: Darkness vs. Shadow
「Ugh… Where am I… What happened to me…」
Darren awoke to find himself kidnapped and tied to a chair.
In front of him stood two men, who began to speak to him.
「Hey, you’re Darren, right? The trainee from the Guardian Knights in the Holy City of Sylvania? What are you doing in a remote place like this?」
「Wha- Who are you, and how do you know about my past?」
「Oh, don’t be so cold. We fought together to destroy the Holy City, didn’t we? Now, answer the question!」
One of the men punched Darren in the face.
Wham!
「Ugh! You’re with the 【Darkness】 of the Kingdom of Leone, aren’t you? I will never defect to the Kingdom of Leone!」
「We don’t care about that. Just tell us why you’re here!」
The other man punched Darren in the nose, breaking it.
Thud!
「Aaargh! Damn it, I’ll never tell you! I’d rather die than talk!」
「We can’t have you dying just yet!」
Saying this, they shoved a cloth into Darren’s mouth to prevent him from committing suicide.
「Now the real fun begins. When you can’t take it anymore, nod your head to let us know.」
The torture by the 【Darkness】 began.
Darren’s fingernails were peeled off one by one, his fingers were cut off at the joints, and his ears were sliced off, but he still didn’t break…
「Wow, such loyalty! Well, now we know the Celestial Being is alive. Next, we’ll use mental magic to probe your subconscious and find out everything you know.」
Darren tried to bite off his tongue to avoid this but was stopped by the 【Darkness】 agents.
As one of them began to cast the spell, another agent’s head was suddenly pierced by a sword.
Stab!
Thud…
「Who’s there!?」
Panicking, the remaining 【Darkness】 agent grabbed a dagger and held it to Darren’s throat as a hostage.
「A colleague. Acting in pairs means you’re short-staffed, huh?」
「A 【Shadow】… So, the Celestial Being is here? No, you’re saying they’re alive somewhere else.」
「It doesn’t matter… You’re going to die anyway.」
「Don’t think you can kill me that easily!」
In that instant, the 【Darkness】 agent stabbed Darren in the neck with the dagger.
Thrust!
「…」
Blood spurted from Darren’s neck.
The 【Darkness】 agent thought that by killing his comrade, he could create an opening.
However, as he stabbed Darren, a blade from the 【Shadow】 pierced his chest on the left.
「Why… why did you let your comrade die…?」
「That’s not right. There are no comrades among the Guardian Knights. Even if they were, it’s only natural to sacrifice one’s life for the master.」
「Damn it… But now that the 【Darkness】 has been defeated, the royal family will know the Celestial Being is alive. They will act… You’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth. Prepare yourselves…」
With these final words, the 【Darkness】 agent died.
「Maybe it would have been better if we had avoided meeting those siblings… After cleaning up, I must report to the young lady. There’s no other choice but to head abroad.」
The 【Shadow】 agent hurried to clean up the aftermath and contact Carmen in the town of Cavia.
–
Episode 28: Cleanup
The 【Shadow】 unit remaining in the town of Cricheto ensured that there were no traces left indicating the presence of the 【Darkness】 in Criceto.
Most likely, the agents of the 【Darkness】 had reported to the royal family before heading to Criceto.
Although the 【Shadow】 unit staged it to appear as if the agents were wiped out by monsters on their way to Criceto, a thorough investigation would likely uncover the truth.
However, this ploy would buy them some time.
Darren’s body was delivered to his sister, Annemarie, who collapsed in tears as she was spoken to.
「If you hadn’t kept pursuing Carmen-ojou-sama, this wouldn’t have happened. You’ll probably be pursued by the 【Darkness】 as well. If you’re captured, you’ll be tortured like Darren, and even if you don’t talk, they’ll use mental magic on you.」
Even as Annemarie cried, the 【Shadow】 member coldly told her that the terrible outcome was a result of their own actions.
He then informed her that she would now be constantly hunted by the 【Darkness】.
「Result of our own actions… That’s true. So, should I hide myself away in secret?」
「Are you an idiot? Don’t make me laugh. Do you think someone like you can escape the 【Darkness】’s pursuit?」
Annemarie naively thought she could hide from the 【Darkness】.
It was likely this foolishness that led her to approach Carmen in the first place…
「Then, are you suggesting I erase all traces of my existence?」
「That would be the best option, but we will take you to Carmen-ojou-sama and let her decide your fate. We can’t decide your fate on our own.」
「Take me to Carmen-ojou-sama?」
「This is merely an option. Depending on Carmen-ojou-sama’s and the Shadow Leader’s judgment, you might be eliminated. Do you have the resolve to come with us?」
「Of course, I’ll go. If Carmen-ojou-sama decides I should die, I’ll gladly accept my fate.」
「Alright, then we’ll depart at midnight.」
Leaving one 【Shadow】 member in Criceto, Annemarie and the rest of the 【Shadow】 unit departed for the town of Cavia, where their master, Carmen, resided.
–
Episode 29: Astonishing Growth Rate
Ever since I started learning magic from Mystique-sensei, my routine has been to learn magic from her in the mornings and then go on gathering quests with Gai-san in the afternoons.
Right now, it’s morning, so I’m in class with Mystique-sensei.
We’re practicing water magic, specifically materializing spherical objects and moving them freely.
Unlike moving magic power within my body, manipulating materialized objects is incredibly difficult.
However, it’s enjoyable to see my progress in manipulating magic power so clearly as the movements become more complex bit by bit.
Mystique-sensei, watching my practice, scratched her head with a slightly perplexed expression.
「What can I say… Seeing you do so easily what took me decades to master makes me a little jealous (sweat).」
「That’s because you’re a great teacher, Sensei (laugh).」
「I’ve had many highly talented elf apprentices in the past, but only one could manage to control materialized objects with magic. Even then, they couldn’t handle such complex movements. You really are amazing, you should be confident. Yeah, I think it might be time for you to start practicing attack magic.」
Mystique-sensei suggested that we shift from magic manipulation practice to practicing attack magic.
I thought practicing attack magic meant actual combat against monsters.
「Does practicing attack magic mean we will be fighting monsters with magic?」
「Yes, that’s right. I thought I’d join your party and have you practice by taking on monster subjugation quests.」
「Wow♪ I’m really looking forward to fighting monsters with you, Sensei!」
「I see, but I need to discuss it with your mom.」
When I returned home from my morning magic practice, Mom and Mystique-sensei discussed the idea of practicing attack magic
Mom then asked for my opinion.
「Selen, do you want to practice attack magic?」
「Yes, I want to learn all about magic with Mystique-sensei!」
「I understand. Mystique-sensei, please take care of Selen.」
「Leave it to me.」
And so, Mystique-sensei joined my party, 【Light of Hope】, and we began practicing attack magic through monster subjugation quests.
Of course, Gai-san would also join us on these quests.
When I told him about it, he seemed very happy.
After all, he is an adventurer!
It makes sense that he would want to make a living by subjugating monsters!
–
Episode 30: Monster Subjugation Quest
Today is the day Mystique-sensei joins my party, 【Light of Hope】, for a monster subjugation quest.
Because this is a more serious monster subjugation quest, Mom has been looking worried since the morning.
「Mom, it’ll be fine♪ Mystique-sensei is really strong! Plus, today we’re just testing my attack magic, so we’ll be taking on the usual orc subjugation.」
「Yes, you’re right. But make sure you don’t overdo it, okay? Promise me?」
「I promise♪ We’ll be back soon. I love you, Mom!」
「Mom loves you too, Selen!」
After our usual hug, I left the house.
Before heading out on the monster subjugation quest, we stopped by the Adventurer’s Guild to register Mystique-sensei in the party 【Light of Hope】 .
Then, we checked the bulletin board for monster subjugation quests and found only one remaining request.
【Orc Subjugation】
Location: Ranch east of Cavia Town
Numerous reports of livestock damage due to orc attacks.
Reward: 10 silver coins per orc subjugated
「Mystique-sensei, is this what they call a backlogged request?」
「Yes, I think so. With such a low reward, nobody would accepts the request.」
I thought they must be really struggling if they couldn’t afford to pay more.
Since this was for practicing attack magic, we could disregard the profit.
「I want to help people in need. Is it okay if we take this subjugation request?」
When I said I wanted to accept the backlogged request, Mystique-sensei’s expression brightened up immediately.
「This is for practicing your monster subjugation. Don’t worry about the reward and just take it.」
「Alright, we’ll take this subjugation request.」
The party members agreed to accept the request, so I took the request form from the bulletin board and went to the reception counter.
I also submitted Mystique-sensei’s party registration form along with the request form.
「Good morning. We’d like to register Mystique-sensei in 【Light of Hope】 and accept this subjugation request.」
「Alright, let me check the documents.」
The receptionist checked the documents I handed over and responded with a slightly surprised look.
「You’re registering a member to 【Light of Hope】 and accepting a subjugation request. Thank you for taking a backlogged request.」
「It’s only natural to help people in need.」
「Selen, you’re a model adventurer♪」
The receptionist said that, but I thought it was only natural for adventurers to help those in need.
It seemed a bit harsh to decline a request just because the reward was low (sweat).
After accepting the subjugation request, we left the Adventurer’s Guild and set out for the ranch east of Cavia Town.
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