kscans

Chapter 85 - Departure and New Companions

The walls surrounding the town of Nieren grew distant. Once again, I found myself a passenger on a wagon. We passed through wheat fields and crossed countless hills, continuing our journey through the seemingly endless plains. I took out my phone and looked at the picture I'd taken just before we left. It was a photo of Hyakka and me. Hyakka was smiling broadly, a finger pressed to her cheek. She had pestered me into taking it, and when Famu, Mizuki, Myra, Cecily, and Aira noticed, they demanded I take their pictures too. Kalpana and Chihiro, who had been watching nearby, joined in for a group photo. The next time this group would be together was in Miglutt. That was still a long way off. I thought of Riley. I wondered if she had been freed from Ito's slavery. I had expected her to follow us right away. Where was she now? It was frustrating not being able to contact her easily. The caravan pressed on, heading for our next destination, the town of Fuhrt. I had been in the rear seat, but I left watch duty to Myra and Aira and went back inside the carriage. Inside were Famu, Mizuki, and the two I had collected from the jail this morning, Fang and Doris. Since they belonged to Avea's group, Altair, their designated post was the lead wagon, but I had them ride with us in the rearmost wagon to get information about Izaak. In their place, Cecily was on horseback, patrolling around the front of the convoy. Doris was my slave, and Fang was Mizuki's. Doris sat with her shoulders hunched, looking uncomfortable, while Fang sat with his legs spread and arms crossed, leaning back as if he were the master of this caravan. Mizuki and Famu sat on the opposite side. I sat down between them.

"Mizuki, do something about Fang's arrogant attitude,"

I whispered in her ear.

"Eh...? It's fine, isn't it?"

I had been hearing Mizuki and Fang's voices for a while now. From the sound of Mizuki's occasional laughter, I could tell they were already getting along. Her communication skills were impressive. I wished she'd use them on me.

"Doris, you were Izaak's slave, weren't you?"

I asked, turning to her.

"Before that,"

Fang interrupted.

"What is it?"

"If we'd stayed there, we would have been executed with Mii and Kei. I wanted to thank you."

Fang bowed his head. Seeing him, Doris hurriedly followed suit. If that's how they felt, I wished they'd shown a more humble attitude when we met in the dungeon. I hadn't witnessed Mii and Kei's execution, but after a formal trial in a few days, they would be publicly executed. The town could have been overrun by monsters. It couldn't be helped.

"It's like I said in the dungeon. You two are not responsible. But I want to avoid any unnecessary trouble. Don't ever set foot in that town again."

Fang nodded at my words.

"I want to thank you. Next time, I'd like to invite you to the werewolf tribe's village."

"Wait, were you also kidnapped and made a slave?"

"That's right. We move between several villages, living a nomadic life of hunting and migrating. One of those villages was attacked. Task and I fought to help the others escape and were captured."

"...Was it by a group wearing red hoods?"

"Yes. The Crimson Brigade."

The same group that attacked Famu's village. I wondered what kind of expression she was making, but I didn't want to draw everyone's attention to her. As I was thinking that, Famu's hand rested on mine. My gaze fell to her small hand. A slow anger began to boil inside me.

"In our village, there's a ritual dedicated to our guardian deity. I'd like the members of Levante to participate."

"...A guardian deity, huh. Is it okay for outsiders to participate?"

Another guardian deity. My understanding was that such rituals were usually exclusive and secretive.

"Ah, it's called a ritual, but it's more like festival entertainment. To put it simply, the participants become 'villagers' in a certain werewolf village. However, among them are terrifying 'humans' who have snuck in. The terrifying 'humans' secretly attack one innocent 'villager' at night. During the day, the 'villagers' discuss and vote to exile one person they believe to be a 'human.' They repeat the day and night cycles. If the number of 'villagers' and 'humans' becomes equal, the 'humans' win. If they manage to exile all the 'humans,' the 'villagers' win."

"...That's the 'Werewolf Game,' isn't it?"

Mizuki muttered, looking at me. The roles of humans and werewolves were reversed, but it was definitely the Werewolf Game. I wasn't sure what kind of joke this was, but it seemed a game left behind by an otherworldlyer had survived as a ritual of the werewolf tribe.

"We'll definitely go,"

Mizuki answered. Did she like the Werewolf Game? Fang looked at her and nodded in satisfaction.

I brought the conversation back on topic.

"So, you and Task were sold as slaves and bought by Mii and Kei."

"That's right. About half a year ago, we were bought in a town called Heilon. After that, we continued to explore dungeons in the town of Fuhrt."

Heilon was downstream by boat from Fuhrt. It seemed they had come in the opposite direction of the route we were planning to take.

"There, we met Izaak, and he proposed the plan to attack the church in Nieren."

So it was Izaak who had initiated the plan.

"Do you know anything about Izaak's past?"

I directed my gaze at Doris. She shook her head.

"I was bought by Izaak half a month ago."

"In the town east of Nieren, right?"

Doris nodded.

"Yes, and then we went to Fuhrt."

"You didn't know anything about Izaak before that?"

"The party I belonged to was traveling from the eastern kingdom, aiming for the Demon Kingdom."

"Why were you going to the Demon Kingdom?"

"The Demon Kingdom wasn't our goal. We were trying to see the eastern edge of the world. But we ran out of money. We tried to earn some by exploring dungeons, but to make matters worse, two of our party members fell ill. As a result of drawing lots, I was the one to be sold as a slave."

People become slaves for reasons like that? Wasn't that a bit too casual? After hearing Famu and Fang's stories, I found it hard to believe.

"...If we ever run out of money, let's sell Mizuki."

"Hey!"

I was only joking, but Mizuki pinched my side for real. Ouch.

"So, Izaak was the one who bought you?"

"Yes. Therefore, I don't know much about him either."

"You say you don't know, but he must have done lewd things to you, right?"

Doris blushed and looked down. Mizuki pinched me again.

"Alright, fine. Fang, Doris, if you think of anything about Mii and the others or Izaak, let me know."

"Wait,"

Fang stopped me as I was about to wrap things up.

"You doubted Doris's story about being sold, didn't you?"

"I just thought it was too casual."

"Why don't you use the Slave Mark to confirm the facts? It's faster and more reliable."

Fang was right. I didn't want to use it, but if I didn't, Hyakka and the others who were tracking him could be in danger. If I had doubts, I should clear them up. It would be better for Doris's sake as well. I looked at her, and she nodded in resignation.

"Order. Doris, tell me about your past sexual experiences and how much lewd stuff you did with Izaak."

"Hey!"

"Master..."

Mizuki got angry, and Famu looked at me with an exasperated expression.

"Don't interfere. Mizuki, this is important. You want to know too, don't you? Next, I'll ask her about how often she masturbates."

"Are you an idiot?!"

Mizuki shouted.

"...Should I talk?"

Doris asked timidly.

"You don't have to answer a question like that!"

"Tch, Mizuki..."

Because Mizuki had interrupted, Doris didn't talk about her experiences. I couldn't feel the effect of the Slave Mark.

"You own slaves, but you've never used the Slave Mark to give an order? If you want to make them obey using the mark, don't give vague commands. And set a penalty for breaking the order."

"...Like, 'die if you disobey'?"

I really don't like this. I thought it was best not to use it.

"That's the idea, but 'die' is too harsh. If she really died, you'd be the one in trouble."

"I see. The balance is tricky."

I turned to face Doris again.

"Mash, if you give another weird order like that, I'm leaving the party. I'll go to Hyakka's group."

"Master, please give an exceptionally lewd order. Let's drive Mizuki out!"

"Famu? Hey, what are you saying? I feel like you've been cold to me lately."

Mizuki and Famu started arguing. I couldn't afford to have Mizuki leave.

"...Doris, did Izaak have any other allies besides Mii and the others? Was he an otherworldlyer, or did you see any other otherworldlyers? Answer my questions. If you lie, you have to shout 'oppai'—"

I was about to say 'show me your boobs' when I noticed Mizuki glaring at me.

"—shout 'oppa' one hundred times."

"I don't know if Izaak was an otherworldlyer. I don't know if he had any allies besides the Men in Black. I don't know any other otherworldlyers either... I'm sorry."

Was he planning to use them as disposable pawns from the start, leaving no trace? Did he have the financial power to dispose of people like Reed did? Just then, the sound of a warning whistle echoed from the front of the caravan.

The wagon came to a stop. We got out, and Myra and Aira, who had been on watch in the rear, joined us.

"The front of the convoy is under attack by a horde of goblins!"

They must have been hiding in the plains. The battle had already begun. I could see Cecily on horseback, casting magic.

"Cecily!"

Aira shouted and ran towards the front. Furthermore, where Myra was pointing, goblin archers stood up and began loosing arrows.

"Weren't monsters supposed to avoid large groups?"

"It's likely due to the Big Hoppers. A swarm of Big Hoppers destroys the ecosystem in its path."

"I see. So this is an act of desperation."

Should we go to their aid, or should we stay and guard the rear? As I was debating, Famu drew her sword, and Fang readied his battle-axe.

"Master. There are more nearby."

Before Famu could finish, nearly ten goblins with spears leaped out from the tall grass. One of their spears came lunging towards me. I dodged and drew my katana, cutting down the goblin. While Famu and Fang were fighting, Mizuki and Myra also grabbed their weapons and joined the fray. Our levels were higher now. We could probably make short work of them. Doris stood a step back, ready to provide support. I scanned the surroundings and saw goblins rising from the grass in other places, beginning their charge. The wagon drivers were taking up arms and defending themselves. The goblin horde seemed to have a plan, but they weren't well-coordinated. If they had all attacked at once, we would have been in big trouble. We should have been more vigilant. The rear seemed to be fine. We needed to go protect Claire and the others, and the horses. As I was thinking that, a new group of goblins emerged from the grass. They were archers. Were they trying to kill their own comrades? They began firing arrows indiscriminately. The goblins that had charged with spears switched to daggers, and the battle descended into a chaotic melee. I fell back, switched to my bow, and aimed for the archers in the rear. The arrow I loosed pierced a goblin.