kscans

Chapter 207 - The Fleeing Sameim and the Pursuing Famu

I burst out of the tavern after Famu. The curtain of night had fully descended, but this corner of the brothel district known as the Crystal Garden was illuminated by what seemed like an excessive number of torches. The crowd of people, drawn to the light like moths to a flame, had grown, and I couldn't tell where Famu had gone.

"Famu!"

I yelled. People turned to look at me in surprise. I caught a glimpse of her light blue haori fluttering as she wove through a gap in the crowd. It looked like she was heading toward the entrance of the Crystal Palace. I tried to run in that direction, but I was swallowed by the wave of people and couldn't reach her.

"Damn it!"

After bumping into several people, I somehow managed to keep her in sight. When I finally broke free from the crowd, I was in front of the square pyramidal pedestal that held the teleportation circle to the dungeon. Famu must have lost sight of Sameim, too; she was frantically turning this way and that, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

I ran up and grabbed her arm.

"She was definitely around here. Where did Sameim go…"

she panted, still searching for Sameim's figure.

"Famu, calm down. She must have a reason for not wanting to see you right now. Maryanne knows where she is. We'll be able to see her eventually, so don't rush."

"Master, she always smiled at me. She's never run away from me before. I'm sure she's caught up in something terrible!"

"That's not necessarily true. You ran away from an old acquaintance too, didn't you?!"

I remembered the night in Heilon when she'd run away after encountering someone from her hometown. Maybe Sameim was running for the same reason. No, I hoped that was the reason.

"That time, I had you, Master. You chased after me and caught me. Sameim needs someone to do that for her too."

She must think that role falls to her. She looked at me. Maybe it was the torchlight reflecting in her eyes, but they seemed to be burning red.

"It has to be now, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it has to be now."

"You'll do whatever it takes to find her?"

"Yes, whatever it takes. I have to take Sameim's hand."

Seeing her nod, I took her hand and pulled her along. The pedestal with the teleportation circle was slightly elevated. We climbed the stairs. It might be difficult to find Sameim in this crowd, but from up there, we should be able to get a good view.

"She didn't run into the dungeon, right?"

"No, I didn't see her go up these stairs."

The pedestal was only about five meters high. It was shaped like a square pyramid with a flat top. In the center was the circular teleportation circle that served as the entrance to the Crystal Palace. Famu and I didn't step on it, instead standing where we could survey the area. I raised one hand.

"Goddess Summon!"

As I shouted, the surroundings were enveloped in a rainbow-colored light. When the light faded, the people in the street stopped in their tracks, their gazes fixed on the being floating above my head. There, sitting on her spear, was Laciel, her long, golden hair and iridescent robes fluttering.

"It's… Lady Laciel…"

"A god has descended."

"So the rumors of her descending in the Great Temple were true!"

A murmur of awe rippled through the crowd. Some stood frozen, some trembled with emotion and wept, some knelt in prayer. The reactions were varied.

"Listen! These are the words of a god! Nobody move. Not a single step! Anyone who moves will take an arrow to the chest!"

My shout silenced the crowd, and all movement ceased.

"Famu, find Sameim!"

"M-Master, I-I-I didn't mean for you to go this far…"

"Quiet! You said you'd do whatever it takes. Now hurry up and find your friend!"

She was fidgeting, wringing her hands, but then she seemed to make up her mind and clenched her fists. Her gaze swept over the crowd in the square.

Just then, one person in the motionless crowd started to move away. I could see white dog ears and a tail. Sameim had been hiding in the crowd.

""There!""

At the exact moment Famu and I spotted her and shouted, Laciel raised her hand. Space distorted, and an arrow was loosed.

"Kya!"

The arrow struck Sameim in the calf, and she fell. Screams rose from the crowd at the sight.

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

I frantically looked at Laciel.

"You said you'd shoot anyone who moved. I thought not shooting her in the chest was quite considerate of your feelings,"

she pouted, her cheeks puffing out slightly. But I didn't have time to deal with her mood.

"Famu! Get her to Myra!"

"B-but…"

"Go, now!"

"I can't leave you alone in this situation, Master!"

"Don't worry about me!"

She was worried I would collapse from mana depletion after using Goddess Summon. None of our other companions were here. As she hesitated, someone started moving toward us from the crowd.

"It's Mo. Laciel, she's an ally!"

I glanced at Laciel, worried she might shoot.

"I know. I wouldn't shoot an ally."

"Are you sure about that?"

"I am!"

Her hand had been about to move, which worried me, but Sameim was more important right now.

"Famu, Mo is here, so I'll be fine. Hurry up and get to Sameim!"

Just as she was about to go down the stairs, there was a whistling sound, and an arrow struck her in the back. For a split second, it looked like her body floated in the air. I reached out to grab her, but I was too late. She tumbled down the stairs. Marmi, who had already started climbing the stairs, spread her arms to catch her. She managed to embrace Famu's body, but she couldn't support the weight, and they both fell down together.

"Famu! Mo!"

"…I'm… okay."

Marmi, who had been crushed under Famu, crawled out and stood up. But Famu was limp and motionless. Marmi shook her body. A pool of Famu's blood was spreading on the stone pavement.

My heart pounded violently, yet I felt the blood drain from my entire body.

I turned back to Laciel.

"Why did you shoot Famu too?"

"It wasn't me. Mash, calm down. You have an enemy."

I followed her gaze in the direction the arrow had come from. In that instant, another whistling sound echoed, and this time, a sharp arrow pierced my side. A searing pain shot through my entire body, and for a moment, my consciousness threatened to fade. I involuntarily dropped to my knees and crumpled.

But I couldn't collapse here. I forced myself to raise my head. Through my blurry vision, I saw the figure of a man nocking another arrow. Long, dark hair framed characteristically long ears. An elf. This time, he seemed to be aiming for Marmi.

"La-Laciel…"

At my words, she raised her hand. Dozens of arrows shot toward the man. However, they were deflected by a magical barrier that appeared in front of him. Mine and Laciel's expressions twisted slightly.

"N-no way, he blocked Laciel's arrows?!"

"It must be a special skill,"

Laciel said, pointing to a spot next to the elf with the bow. A small figure was crouched there, back to us, holding their head. They were trembling, and their height suggested they were a child.

"Is there really a barrier that can block a god's power?"

Never before, after I had summoned Laciel, had an enemy been able to retaliate. Her power of fascination always robbed them of their will to fight. This meant they had created a barrier that not only blocked her attacks and repelled her charm but also allowed their own attacks to pass through.

"Mash, special skills are a piece of a god's power."

"Then, what about your spear?"

"Massacre would be easy. I just need to output enough power to break that barrier. But you wouldn't want me to involve the bystanders, would you? It would carve out the surrounding buildings again, is that okay?"

If Laciel killed them with her spear, and if Sameim was a slave and one of them was her master, there was a risk that a dying command could cause Sameim to die as well.

While I hesitated, the elf fired his arrow. His target wasn't me, but Marmi. She was aware of it and raised her wand high. A magical defense wall appeared in front of her. However, the arrow easily pierced the wall she had created.

"Mo!"

In that seemingly hopeless moment, a shadow leaped out from her side and deflected the arrow. It was Trusar, the captain of the One-Land family's Royal Guard. He glared at the elf with sharp eyes and stood in front of Marmi, shielding her.

"Why is Trusar here…"

Meanwhile, Petra emerged from the crowd, ran up the altar stairs, and stood before me with her great hammer at the ready. Myra and Mizuki followed close behind.

"Petra, too? Didn't you go home?"

"A secret pact between Lady Marina, Lady Maryanne, and Lady Katarzyna. The three families are to act as your guards."

The elf stopped nocking a new arrow. He lifted the crouching person beside him and began to retreat swiftly.

"Clovis Leafkraut…"

Petra muttered upon seeing him. No one gave chase. We just watched him disappear from the square. In the midst of the battle, I realized I had forgotten about Sameim. I looked to where she had been, but she too had vanished.

"Damn it…"

Famu hadn't shown tears, but she had been crying inside. I didn't regret summoning Laciel for her sake. But Maryanne had told me that negotiating for Sameim's release would be difficult. I should have been more vigilant about the presence of potential enemies. I had been completely careless. With that thought, the thread of my tension snapped. I couldn't support my body any longer and pitched forward.

But I never hit the floor. Someone caught me. The ground beneath me was now stained red with my own blood.

"Mizuki, Myra. Please, take care of Famu first…"

As I spoke, my vision blurred, and the world went dark.

"Mash, stay with us!"

I couldn't tell whose voice it was. Someone was holding me, but I didn't know whose hands they were. They were strangely warm. I placed my own hand over theirs.

Myra, please, save Famu.

No words came out. Instead, what came out was a thick, warm rush of blood.