I was disguised in clothes stolen from the enemy, but I was discovered.
“What! You guys are intruders!”
Damn, we’ve been discovered. One of them took out a machine and started talking to it.
“This is Dammer, I’ve discovered intruders at the corner of the west second passage.”
Tsk, a radio. To think they would use something like this. Other Dark Elves would gather immediately. At that moment, a cat spirit leaped from my shoulder and pounced on the enemy’s face. Kaynes, whom I was holding, also slipped through and leaped onto the radio he was holding.
“Get off! Hey, finish these guys off quickly.”
“Y-yes!”
Another Dark Elf drew his sword. From the ceiling, the night watch dealt a blow towards his neck.
“What the, *cough*, help…”
“Hurry and go, leave this to me.”
But as I was about to say something, I ran. I’m sorry to both of them, but if I hesitate here, the chance we’ve secured will be ruined. The information has already been sent by radio. I need to find Ryoku quickly.
At the end of the hallway, a door appeared on the right. Opening it revealed stairs leading down. They must have opened it for the Dark Elves to come and go.
“Alright, it’s down here.”
I hurried down the spiral staircase with Karubene. The basement was made of concrete floors and brick walls. Faintly orange bare light bulbs illuminated it. Perhaps it wasn’t bright enough, as lanterns were also hung on the walls.
As we proceeded down the cold underground passage, it opened up into a wider area, with several small prison cells lined up. However, instead of the vertical iron bars I imagined, they were fitted with wire mesh. They were probably to prevent the small Hummingbird Harpies from escaping.
I proceeded, trying not to make any suspicious footsteps. Most of the cells were still empty. It seems they plan to house more people here. Then we came to a place where the path split into three directions. Like the area above, it seemed to be built in a grid pattern.
“Which way? Should we split up and search?”
“No, I think it’s better if we stay together. It’s something important, so it’s probably in the very back, right?”
I understand, but there’s a possibility of Dark Elves here too. It would be terrible if we ran into them. For the time being, I decided to proceed to the left.
“Brother, is this way correct?”
“Shh, I don’t know. Just be quiet for now. Cowardly Ear, I’m counting on you.”
She’s the only Hummingbird Har left. It’s pathetic, but I have no choice but to borrow her strength. I placed the Cowardly Ear I was holding on my shoulder.
“There’s no one here at the moment… no, there is. Straight ahead.”
“An enemy?!”
“No, they seem to be shouting something. Probably a comrade.”
A Hummingbird Har captured here, perhaps they know Ryoku’s location. I headed towards it at a brisk pace.
“…Hey, hey, let me out of here! This is a joke, you…”
That voice belongs to the Chieftain’s husband. Gradually, I could hear the sound of the wire mesh shaking. Only one spot was shaking unnaturally.
“Damn Dark Elves. Hey, you! Come at me!”
“Uh, it’s me. Hiroaki.”
The Chieftain’s husband stopped clinging to the wire mesh like a monkey.
“What! Hiroaki! Didn’t you escape?”
“No. After that, I went chasing after the others. And I thought I’d try to save Ryoku.”
“I see. I fought the Dark Elves who attacked the village after that.”
Was my thought incorrect? No, the Dark Elves attacked the village and also attacked the people who fled. In any case, this was bound to happen.
“Right, what about the Chieftain?”
“He went after Nigpyura. I don’t know how he is now. You guys said you would save Ryoku, he must be ahead.”
According to his story, the Dark Elves transported a heavily guarded iron cage on a cart. I couldn’t see inside, but they were treated differently than the other Hummingbird Harpies. Even if it wasn’t Ryoku, they would surely help if freed.
“How did you guys manage to get this far?”
“Yes, with the cooperation of the Hummingbird Harpies. But two were sacrificed.”
Just as I was about to say that, Cowardly Ear patted my head.
“Someone’s coming. I think it’s the pursuers from before.”
“We’re going. We’ll definitely save them!”
“Ah, leave this place to me!”
I started running with Karubene again. Behind us, the Chieftain’s husband was shaking the wire mesh, making noise. This way, we wouldn’t be noticed even if we ran. Looking at the cells on either side, I saw captured Hummingbird Harpies.
They all looked exhausted. Among them was the Hunter girl, Kiba. I stopped in my tracks without thinking.
“Kiba, is that you? Are you alright?”
She was leaning against the wall, her head bowed. Reddish-black blood stained her tattered clothes, whether from the enemy or herself.
“What about your spirit? That wolf?”
“…It disappeared. It was taken. My soul was torn away.”
They separated Kiba’s spirit too? I have to hurry before all their spirits are stolen.
