kscans

Chapter 50 - Ema and Ito

Raindrops struck my face. I opened my eyes. A glance around told me I was in a sea of trees. Had I been put to sleep?

"You're awake? Then walk on your own two feet,"

Rylie said. I had been on her back. She set me down.

"Where are we?"

"A sea of trees, just as you see. We're heading for Ito's hideout."

It seemed I'd been kidnapped. Looking up, I could see a sky blanketed in thick clouds through the small gaps in the canopy. The rain was pouring down from there. It was dim, and I couldn't tell the time. I took out my phone to check.

"July 8th, 7:36 AM..."

The day after I’d been with Rylie.

"In your world, yesterday was Tanabata, wasn't it? The one day a year when the Weaver and the Cowherd can meet in the heavens. But as you can see, we've got this rain."

"I'm not particularly disappointed. They're all alone up in the heavens. I'm sure they were whispering sweet nothings to each other without anyone watching."

"Hee hee, you say the most romantic things. Just like us yesterday."

"Shut up. I'm going back to the inn."

"How?"

Rylie laughed. I scanned my surroundings again. In every direction, the trees grew thick and dense. I had no idea which way to go. One wrong move and I could be wandering this forest forever.

"Do you know the way?"

"I was originally a Chaser. It's a class exclusive to beastmen. The skills let me get a general sense of direction for marked locations or people. I became a warrior to protect my master."

"Sounds like a pretty broken class."

"Isn't an adventurer's storage more ridiculous?"

"...Good point."

It was a pointless conversation, so I just gave a noncommittal nod. Rylie started walking. It seemed I had no choice right now. I had to follow her.

"Do you know the location of Ito's hideout?"

"I knew they used this area as their base. My master and Ito used to meet on the roads around here. But I never knew the exact location of their hideout."

"Then how do you know the place we're heading to is their hideout?"

"Ema's position hasn't changed since yesterday."

So, she was planning to charge into a place we weren't even sure was the hideout, just the two of us.

"So, what's the plan?"

"We'll make Levante fight Ito's bandits. While that's happening, I'll snatch my master."

"Hold on, Levante is just me."

"Don't worry. I left a statement of claim. I've been sprinkling a strong-smelling perfume along the path we've walked. The dog-ears... Famu should be able to follow it. I'm leaving tracks like this, too."

She said, swinging her sword and scarring a tree.

"Hey, when did you get that sword?"

Come to think of it, she wasn't wearing her claws. Did Myra and the others remove them during treatment? My memory was hazy.

"When we entered the forest, some kind folks gave it to me. There were two of them, but I only needed one, so I turned the other down. Did you need one?"

She laughed.

"Hey, you didn't kill them, did you?"

"It's payback for yesterday. They're just bandits, anyway."

So being a bandit means they deserve to die.

"...You're way too reckless. I thought the same thing back at the bell tower. You're a complete idiot, aren't you?"

"What did you say?!"

"I don't know who Ito is. But Ema hasn't been killed, right? That means they have no intention of killing her. I can't imagine this is a commercial kidnapping, or that anyone benefits from her abduction. And there's no way a disagreement over killing me would escalate into a fight to the death. She'll be released once their conflict is resolved. Yet you haven't gathered a single piece of information to make that happen."

The shadow of the noble who had housed Ema in Richel flickered in my mind, but I kept quiet.

"..."

"You're just provoking them, creating a situation where they have no choice but to fight, and backing them both into a corner."

Ito was a wild enough person to lead a band of thieves. Yet, she also had a side that chose not to head out and crush us.

"Finding a condition, or creating a situation, for Ito to release Ema would be far quicker than slaughtering all the bandits."

"My master and Ito are twin sisters. They were originally in the same party. Six months ago, Ito and another member left. It was sudden. I knew nothing about it."

"You should have led with that information! Then there's even less reason for sisters to be killing each other!"

"To be honest, I have almost no impression of Ito. Even when we were in the same party, we rarely did anything together. More recently, she was with us when we tailed you into the dungeon."

"There was someone who carried you guys to the 12th floor."

"Yeah. Ito's an adventurer, after all."

"That changes things. That means Ito cooperated in the attempt to murder us in the dungeon. Wasn't Ito against killing us?"

"No, you're not wrong. She was passive the whole time."

"..."

They were summoned by the same god. There was no doubt about it. If they were summoned by the same god, they should have a relationship where they're drawn to each other. If their conflict started six months ago, then arguing over whether or not to kill me might have been the trigger, but it wasn't the cause. I thought of Myra and Aira. They weren't twins, but they were look-alike sisters. Myra was clingy and doted on Aira, while Aira seemed annoyed by it. They might have that level of discord, but it wouldn't escalate to killing each other unless it was over an inheritance or succession dispute. My own sister constantly called me "creepy,"

but no, that was unforgivable. It was a miracle that an angelic niece was born from her womb. I'll make an exception for male-female siblings. My thoughts had strayed. Still, Rylie's story didn't sit right with me. The way she spoke, or rather, the way she presented information was strange. I didn't think she was trying to hide anything, but something about the whole thing felt off.

"My comrades were killed,"

Rylie said resentfully.

"You guys killed one of them too. And today, you killed two more. Aren't you the one who created the reason for this killing? Because of you..."

Ema will die. I couldn't bring myself to say it. I was getting too worked up myself. There was no point in cornering Rylie. I needed to calm down.

"Speaking of which, you said Ito used the power of a dragon. Did Ema not fight back?"

"Ema tried to fight back with the same special skill."

"...The power of a dragon?"

"Yeah."

No one else should be able to acquire a special skill that someone has already obtained. Could you get it even if it's blacked out? What was going on? Was it a bug?

"Anyway, let's hurry to Ema."

I wondered if Famu and the others had already set out. I didn't want them to fight the bandits. If we waited here to meet up with them, it might be seen as an attack, and if we turned back, there would still be two corpses left behind. I also wanted to avoid a conflict between Levante and the bandits.

"You'll help me? Spoken like the man I love."

"Whatever! Just lead the way."

I wanted to kick myself from yesterday.

"In any case, your plan is too sloppy. I'm in charge from here on out. If you want to save Ema, you follow my lead!"

I had no confidence I could save her. But I wouldn't let Famu and the others fight. I wanted to end this before they arrived.

"Can I trust you?"

"You could always stay here and go home with the backup you called for."

Famu probably already knew Rylie and I had slept together. Had she given up on me? Would she just abandon me and head to Miglutt out of spite? I wasn't confident that she would definitely come.

"...You have a point. My plan is full of holes."

Rylie laughed. She had a certain charm that made it hard to hate her. Anyway, I had to meet Ito. My only option was to hear her conditions for release and try to persuade her. I didn't have much of a plan myself, but if it came to a fight, it would be a clash of special skills, so we didn't need numbers.

We walked through the sea of trees. The canopy overhead shielded us from the rain, but the ground was muddy. Rylie seemed to be choosing easier paths for me to walk. What kind of place would be good for a bandit hideout? Their purpose was to attack travelers on the road, so I doubted they would set up too far from it. However, if they made it too obvious, they'd be counterattacked. A comfortable living environment was unlikely. It didn't seem like a worthwhile trade. I wondered if the Crimson Brigade that attacked Famu's village was also hiding out in a place like this. And was the noble who housed Ema really their patron? As I pondered such things, Rylie stopped.

"We have a welcoming party."

I stopped Rylie as she tried to draw her sword.

"Is Ema nearby?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's have them guide us to the hideout. That sword is a problem. Give it to me."

It was the sword she took from the bandits. It would obviously ruin any chance for discussion.

"I'll ask again. Can I trust you?"

Rylie stared at me.

"We're lovers, aren't we?"

"...You're an idiot, too. Do you really think I'm seriously in love with you?"

"I do."

"Idiot."

I took the sword from her and put it in my storage. I raised my hands and started walking. Rylie followed suit. Men with drawn bows emerged from the trees.

"I want to see Ito. She'll know who I am if you tell her Mash is here."

I and Rylie were made to wait on the spot. It seemed they wouldn't guide us to the hideout. If they had a kitchen, I'd wanted to hold a roasted corn festival to act friendly. But the fact they weren't taking us to the hideout also meant they were willing to release her. There was a chance they'd let us go alive even if negotiations to free Ema broke down. Two figures in black robes with their hoods pulled low appeared. Only their mouths were visible. One was tall. Looked like a man. The other was the same height as Ema. She must be Ito.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ito,"

Ito introduced herself. Her tone was the same as Ema's. They seemed like the same person.

"Yeah. Nice to meet you, too."

"So, what can I do for you?"

"I want to talk, just the two of us."

"Asking me on a date?"

"That's right. I once asked Ema out for a meal. But she turned me down."

Ito recoiled slightly. She seemed surprised. So they were different people after all.

"Is that true?"

She looked at Rylie.

"It's true,"

Rylie nodded.

"I see. Then let's take a little walk, just the two of us."

We distanced ourselves from Rylie and the bandits. The sound of rain was still present, but here too, the thick canopy of leaves overhead served as a shelter. She was waiting for me to start the conversation. I guess I had to be the one to speak first.

"Nice place you've got here."

"It's a bit inconvenient, though,"

Ito responded to my lighthearted jab.

"Have you ever met a transmigrator?"

"...Aside from Ema, you're the first."

Was that true? There was a slight pause in her answer.

"So you've also been told to defeat the transmigrators summoned by the Five Goddesses?"

"I have. You?"

Ito answered decisively.

"I was told to defeat the Demon Lord, but I hadn't heard anything about other transmigrators. I wasn't told to fight them."

It was a secret that I'd been arguing with Mizuki the whole time in front of Laciel and hadn't been listening to her.

"The Demon Lord... he's supposed to have died 100 years ago, isn't he?"

"Did you hear the reason why we have to defeat them?"

"It's a continuation of a past war. If we defeat all of the Five Goddesses' transmigrators, the Ark will be released. The one who releases it will have their wish granted."

Even hearing that a wish would be granted, why did I have such a bad feeling? I didn't know of any stories in that vein that had a happy ending.

"Does Ema have a wish she wants granted?"

"Yes, and so do I,"

Ito nodded.

"Where is the Ark?"

"In the Imperial Capital. It's said to be in the deepest part of a dungeon called the Palace of No Return."

It had a grand name, but if they knew the Ark was there, someone must have returned.

"Have you seen it?"

"No, it's in the castle's basement. It's protected by the king's soldiers. Entry is forbidden."

"Sounds tough. My goddess said something about granting my wish if I defeated the Demon Lord."

Laciel had mentioned something about granting Mizuki's wish to return to her original world. I didn't believe it.

"I wonder which is more difficult..."

"By the way, why did you fight with Ema?"

"I was surprised Rylie was still alive, but didn't you hear from her?"

"Yeah, she told me you fought over whether to kill me or not, but I don't see the point in a battle so fierce that people die."

"Is that so? Well, you're strong. I want to avoid conflict."

Was she playing dumb? I had a feeling that probing deeper would be dangerous.

"We're done with the secret talk between transmigrators, right? Shall we head back?"

"...Yeah."

She ended the conversation. And started walking. I followed behind her. We headed back in the direction where Rylie was waiting.

"I want you to release Ema."

"Why? Ema is trying to kill you."

"That black panther over there came crying and apologizing, so I decided to forgive her. You don't intend to kill Ema either, do you? If you have conditions for her release, I want to hear them."

"Hmph."

Rylie glared at me.

"Unfortunately, she's no longer here."

"What do you mean, no longer here? Rylie's alive. Where is she?"

"She failed to defeat you. She left evidence and created a conflict. I didn't want to openly oppose you. So, I decided to reset."

Ito took a sword out of her storage. Then, she threw it to Rylie.

"Rylie, catch. It's an order. Kill Mash."

She caught the sword and drew it.

"...You're definitely Ito. The Slave Mark wasn't transferred. Why?!"

Rylie roared.

"It's an order. Kill Mash."

Rylie's Slave Mark glowed faintly. Rylie lunged at me. I also drew my katana from storage and barely managed to block the blow.

"What's going on?"

"I'll make it look like you two fought here and died on your own."

Rylie came at me with swift movements. She was fast. It was all I could do to dodge.

"Tch, you're still hurt from yesterday, aren't you? Move slower!"

"If you don't want to die either, then come at me for real!"

She lowered her sword, revealing an opening. If I didn't fight, I would be killed. But I couldn't move.

"You fool!"

She began to swing her sword again. I blocked her attacks while backing away. I tripped on a tree root and stumbled. I thought a blow would come down on me, but she had stopped with her sword raised high.

"Mash, you said to follow your lead if I wanted to save my master. ...I'm counting on you!"

She brought the sword down upon her own stomach.

"Stop!"

There was no way I could make it in time. Covered in blood, she crumpled to the ground. I rushed to her and cradled her in my arms.

"Heh heh, in your arms... I never thought this would be my end..."

"Hey! Don't screw with me! Don't you screw with me!"

"..."

Rylie said something in a small voice. I couldn't hear it. The feeling of strength was fading. I felt her warmth rapidly slipping away.

"Hey, is there anyone who can use healing magic?!"

I shouted at Ito.

"No one."

Ito's reply was cold.

"She's your comrade, isn't she?"

"She's a slave. She lives for me. She betrayed me."

"Rylie is Ema's slave."

"Don't you get it? Ema is me, and I am Ema."

"...A special skill?"

She nodded. A skill that creates a clone of herself? That's why they both had the same dragon transformation skill, and why there were two Hekatonkheires. At that time, Ito must have moved to a different floor to let us pass, then sandwiched us with Ema to follow us.

"Whatever it is, save Rylie!"

"It's useless. She can't be saved. And you will die too."

"Damn it, Goddess Summon!"

The moment I shouted, the surroundings were enveloped in light. When the light converged, a goddess appeared, sitting on a spear floating in mid-air.

"...Calling me alongside such a vulgar word, that's so meaaan~."

Even in the rain, her hair shone and fluttered gold. Contrary to her beautiful appearance, her way of speaking was as playful as ever.

"So, who do you want to kill todayyy~?"

She said something bloodthirsty in a carefree tone.

"I'm not killing anyone. I want you to shoot a rain of arrows into the sky so they know I'm here. I need you to call Myra and Aira."

"This is a sea of trees. No one will see anything happening in the sky from down here."

"Well, can't be helped then. I need you to fire one flashy shot at Ito. The woman in the robe."

"Okay. Can't be helped~."

Laciel replied. For some reason, her words made me anxious.

"...Laciel, you understand, right?"

She had said Ema was already gone. She must have killed her. If Ito dies, Rylie will die too. Laciel gracefully descended from her spear to the ground. She stood before me as I held Rylie. She held her hand out towards the spear floating in the air. The spear began to shine brightly. I could tell from its dazzling brilliance that it held more power than necessary. Even I could see that it was too immense a force to be aimed at a close-range enemy.

"You should probably defend yourselff~. You're going to die, you know."

Laciel warned Ito. Staring blankly at us, her words seemed to snap her back to reality. Her stunned state was probably due to what Myra called the power of enchantment.

"Special Skill, Dragon Mode!"

"SHOOOOOOOT!"

Ito's scream and Laciel's scream overlapped. The brilliantly shining spear was launched towards the transforming Ito. A tremendous flash of light, a deafening roar, a blast of hot air. It blew away everything, centered on Ito. And the rising dust cloud swallowed everything. Only the area around Laciel, including me, was protected by her barrier and remained peaceful.

Since the trees covering the area were gone, the rain was now hitting my cheeks directly. It was a strong rain. It was trying to wash away all of Rylie's blood. I tried to scoop it up, but the rain washed that away too. Myra, Aira, please hurry. The explosion from Laciel's spear toss was subsiding. A giant crater had formed in front of me. It was absurd destructive power. Laciel's body was enveloped in light and beginning to disappear.

"I've poured my mana into Rylie-san. She should be okay for a little while longer."

"If you have that ability, I'd like you to pour some into me too."

My head felt like it was being violently shaken. If I wasn't careful, I felt like I would lose consciousness. I was out of mana.

"For that, I would need to receive mana from you."

So, my mana was poured into Rylie via Laciel.

"Ito is..."

Laciel pointed. In the center of the crater, two legs were sticking out of the ground.

"A victory V-sign~."

"..."

It was a stupid joke. I couldn't laugh at all, so I kept quiet.

"Master!"

I heard Famu's voice.

"Well then, I'll be going now~. By all means, please do it before Myra-san does, okay?"

She vanished along with particles of light. Holding Rylie, my own consciousness faded away.