Rhys is nowhere to be found. Only a trail of blood leads deeper into the forest. After my wounds were healed, the副隊長 (fukutai-chō – Vice-Captain) and Captain Dan caught up, but both seemed hesitant to go any further. It’s understandable. In this dim forest with poor visibility, Redcaps are a superior threat.
As for me, I want to search for him and help. We’ve become friends, and Rhys is cute. I need to find a motivation to justify myself that isn’t impure.
And then there’s Rufina! Shut up and kill the Redcaps quietly!
Speaking of motivations, what about Rufina? If I go back without searching, Rufina, who is currently slaughtering all the Redcaps, will be in a state of excitement. Furthermore, it’s Rufina’s turn for guard duty today. I’d definitely be attacked and subdued on the spot.
Abandoning Rhys and going on guard duty would add another page to my black history. I wouldn’t be able to face the White Rose Brigade either. I have a reason to go, even if I can’t explain it. I have a reason to go, even if it’s impure.
Should I go… The forest at night is scary. As I press on into the forest, following the trail of blood, a voice tells me to “Stop,” but it’s my impure motivation that drives me forward.
Did a Redcap abduct Rhys, or was it someone else? I followed the trail of black blood, unnaturally luminescent in the dim forest.
If a Redcap had abducted him, they would have dragged him along at a brisk pace. The bloodstains are sometimes at a high position. If they were placed there to make it easier for Rhys to follow, he’s still alive.
As the bloodstains started appearing more frequently at lower levels, an unfamiliar low chuckle echoed from further ahead in the forest. The moment I heard it, I was terrified. Walking alone in the dark forest, I was constantly on edge, expecting a ghost or Sophia to appear from behind.
I decided it didn’t matter if it was a living being, and used Godspeed to go meet the laughter.
Of course, Rhys was there, but so were many Redcaps, and a Big Redcap, as large as a person, was licking the blood from Rhys’s neck.
How enviable.
“Wh-who are you…?”
Do they understand me? If so, perhaps I can negotiate for Rhys’s release.
“Nice to meet you. I am Mikael Sin, Captain of the White Lily Corps…”
“Kill me!”
You ask me to come over and then say that?! Don’t do something a rank-and-file member would do. I’ll kill you all.
The Redcaps are much smaller than me. Their heads are lower than my waist, so they naturally aim for my lower body. If I could split their heads from above, it would be over, but with them swinging their scythes so low, their numbers make it impossible to fight back.
When it becomes impossible to fight back, I’ll rely on Godspeed! I’ll counter their numbers with sheer speed. They’re disgusting, their tastes are bad, they’re dirty, and I want to go home already.
When I had defeated half of them, I felt a nasty clash. I didn’t take my eyes off the enemy, watching the blade. My secondhand Short Sword had finally reached its limit. It was faintly cracked.
If this continues, I won’t be able to clash with the Big Redcap. Even now, my sword feels like it’s about to be blown away. Compared to this, my Black Sword was better; it never even chipped.
But I can’t just be distressed. I have to take Rhys back. With a sigh, I relaxed my body. Then, I leaped, soaring over the Redcaps’ heads and closing in on the Big Redcap.
Take this! A strike with all my might!
Though surprised, the Big Redcap calmly used its scythe to block my overhead slash above its head. The Short Sword, subjected to extreme stress, shattered at the point of impact.
So it was no good… Of course, it wouldn’t be. It’s secondhand. I raised both hands overhead and leaped into the Big Redcap’s guard, embracing Rhys and delivering a kick.
The Big Redcap, which was certain of victory the moment its sword broke, was caught off guard by the unexpected kick. It released Rhys and fell on its rear.
Godspeed!
“If you’re conscious, keep your mouth shut and don’t talk.”
I ran through the forest, carrying Rhys in a bridal carry. I have no weapons, so let me escape, to the furious Rufina.
“Rufina, I’ve brought you a souvenir!”
Finally carrying Rhys back to the campsite, I gave Rufina some of Rhys’s blood. After licking it with satisfaction, Rufina’s eyes gleamed, and she looked like she was about to attack.
“Rufina! Rufina! There are people after my blood! They’ll be here soon!”
“What?!”
Rufina’s eyes contorted with malice. It was as if she could rot everything she saw. Who could possibly restrain Rufina now? I can’t, I’m not confident.
“Curse them! Curse them! All who covet my blood shall perish. #####, Gale of Destruction.”
The colorless breath expelled from Rufina’s mouth instantly turned all flora and fauna within a three-hundred-meter range into dust, erasing their existence. That was a bit excessive. I should stop hyping Rufina up.
“Curse them! Where have they gone? Rossa! Find them and kill them all! Destroy everything! No matter the means!”
You just annihilated them. There’s a particularly large magic stone rolling around. After letting Rossa rampage through the forest for about an hour, Rufina told her to return.
Rhys’s injuries aren’t serious. Sophia can heal them quickly. More importantly, being dragged around the forest alone and having her blood sucked by such a disgusting creature would be more damaging to her heart.
Being an Adventurer is quite a tough job. Physical wounds can be healed, but I’ll heal her emotional wounds myself. …Why are you shooting?! It hurts!
Could I have rested for thirty minutes? The magical healing was finished with the incantation, but Sophia wouldn’t let me go. Having to take off my clothes every time for treatment is troublesome, I couldn’t say that to Sophia, who was looking up at me.
At night, Rufina came seeking guard duty, but for once, I was taken outside. Don’t do anything like that again, I’m tired.
“The Captain has been cold to Rossa lately.”
I’m not cold to her. Even with flesh on her, Rossa feels cold. I just want her to have flesh on her in front of me. I don’t know what to do when they tell me they like having their heart caught between my bones.
“Therefore. I want to let Rossa have a little freedom.”
…Godspeed!
Too late. Before I could unleash my power, the area was already surrounded by vines. It probably took less than a second for them to wrap around my legs. The vines coiled from my toes to my face, and a gag was placed in my mouth, laying me on my side so I couldn’t speak a word.
“Hmm, this much should be enough. Rossa, you’re free to do as you please now.”
“Thank you, My Lord.”
I tried to bite through the gag, but my lack of calcium made it impossible. Rufina, sensing something in my eyes, loosened the vines just enough to allow me one word.
“Rufina, you… grrr…”
“I must commend myself for allowing two words. How magnanimous.”
“Yes, My Lord. To allow two words, ‘Rufina’ and ‘you,’ is truly generous.”
Are they an idiot? One word is different. One word is a conversation. In this case, it’s a question about something I want to know. Who would consider saying a name as one word?
They need to study conversation.
