Volume 3 Chapter 54 Quest： The Rematch Begins – The Shaman –
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”How did it go?”
”It was okay, I guess.” “No problem.”
”I see.”
He nodded at the familiars who were kneeling under the dark shadow she cast.
He didn’t know what the Châtillon promotion exam was like, but it surely couldn’t have been tough for them.
They must have handled it with the ease Rufna mentioned.
”Apparently, both of them had the best results since the Adventurer Guild started.”
Priscilla, standing beside Mrs. Fhana, let out a wry smile.
She continued.
”They finished in half the time of the usual passers. The Adventurers who got to party with them were lucky. The staff who watched said, ‘Why are these guys even the lowest rank Adventurers?’”
”Are those Lord Kian’s party members?”
”Yes, that’s right. Natra, Rufna. You can take off your masks.”
”Yes! ──Nice to meet you. I am Natra, serving as Sir Kian’s attendant, and this is Rufna.”
”I am Rufna, Lady Fhana. Please remember me.”
Following Natra, who took off her Kitsune mask, Rufna also removed her Tengu mask and bowed gracefully.
Having come from the Nakash family and often in public, both of them were more practiced than Kian at this.
As expected, Madam Fhana widened her eyes in surprise.
”Oh, what a beautiful bow. And… you both seem to be from Azrael, but you speak such lovely Common. Just like Lord Kian, there’s no accent at all!”
”Thank you.” “I’m honored by your compliment, madam.”
(Hearing Rufna say something polite feels so out of place…)
”Is the dark elf talked about by Lord Kian the Sage? If so, I’d love to hear about perfume mixing. I feel like what I’m using now doesn’t quite match.”
”Fhana, I’m sorry, but Lord Kian has work to do now. We have to clear another quest that my brother told us to do. Right, Lord Kian? Natra, Rufna?”
”Yes. The time has come. I can say the skill is ready.”
”Sir Kian, have you finally finished it?”
”If it seems hard, I can wait another day, you know?”
”No.”
Kian shook his head and looked back and forth at the two familiars standing up.
”I feel great today. I have energy, so I will start working now. Let’s move. I’m sorry to ask this right after the exam, but please prepare your minds.”
”Understood.”
”Lady Fhana, it was a lovely tea party. I will head to my last job at Châtillon now.”
”Oh… So, will you leave right after it’s done?”
”Heh, please don’t make such a sad face. After it’s over, I plan to regroup and get my gear ready. Once everything is done, I’ll talk with my friends and take on quests while returning to East End. Until then, we will have another chance for tea. Next time, I’ll bring a gift.”
”Really? You will come again?”
”Hahaha, Lord Kian is asking my brother to repair his weapons, so I don’t think he will just leave without saying anything. We can have tea again. As long as he doesn’t get killed by a ghost in the quest he’s about to take on tonight.”
”A ghost──he’s going to fight that ‘Night Crier,’ right? Yes, that…”
”Lord Kian is not like the average advanced-rank adventurer. I believe he will win for sure. Don’t worry, if things get dangerous, I will definitely help him. That’s our deal.”
Lady Fhana frowned with worry, biting her fingers together as if in prayer.
Her glassy eyes looked up at Kian.
”A dangerous mission, thank you for your hard work. I can’t believe you invited me for tea before fighting the ‘Night Crier.’ Are you feeling okay?”
”I adjusted how much black tea I drink, so I’m fine.”
Kian said this with a soft smile, then turned his gaze to Priscilla and the others.
”Let’s go. The sun will set soon. Her power and my power will peak when the moon rises.”
* * *
After leaving Guy’s mansion, Kian and the others got into the carriage Priscilla prepared and left Châtillon Fortress.
Once they were outside the range of the teleportation barrier, they flew to the town at the foot of the mountain where Sarah was hiding.
By that time, the sky was stained a blood-red color.
The street was empty of shadows, and the sound of the horses pulling the carriage echoed in the quiet road.
The air was cold and clear, with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves drifting from the dark trees.
”From here, we walk.”
Priscilla, who had left her gentlemen and ladies’ familiars on either side of the carriage, slowly walked toward the mountain entrance where Kian and the others waited.
She placed her hand, holding her usual black umbrella, on her waist and looked up at Kian.
”Just to confirm, you’re ready, right, Lord Kian?”
”Yes. I’m prepared. We can go anytime.”
”What about Natra and Rufna?”
”No problems here.” “We’re all good.”
”But are you really okay, Ms. Priscilla?”
When Kian asked this, she raised her eyebrows in surprise and said, “Me?”
”Yes. I’m worried about the contract with Demete. Doesn’t it put restrictions on you?”
”Ah… I’m fine with that. My promise to take care of the escape was 100% my own sincerity. I wasn’t bound by the contract.”
”Lady Priscilla, can you tell us if Sir Abbas and the others are safe?”
Natra said this while staring intently at the white-haired witch.
Rufna nodded and said, “Ah.”
”Well, they’re not strangers to us… What happened to that Katyusha? Did she really get torn apart?”
”Well…, it seems like Katyusha and Demete managed to escape somehow. My 2 brothers, Adrian and Louis, are exploring the northeastern hills.”
”They got out of Châtillon, even though they’re not familiar with it?”
Kian raised an eyebrow, and Priscilla let out a small sigh.
”It seems there were people who helped them escape. Do you remember the Black gladiator Katyusha fought in the first round?”
”Ah, yes, I remember.”
”His name is Ataka. It looks like he and some of his friends have gone missing since the next day. They probably helped Katyusha out of gratitude for saving their lives. He is originally from Eldorado. People there are very loyal and never forget a favor.”
”I see. So that’s how Demete also managed to get away.”
”Yeah… but I feel really sorry for them. Demete and Katyusha probably made it, but Abbas, Zayn, and Demete’s crew didn’t.”
”Sir Abbas is dead?”
”No. But the crew is all gone. Also, about a hundred crew members from Shakerdoust, whom Abbas had hired, are all gone too. One ship, disguised as a merchant ship, was eaten by Brother Gosh, and 2 hidden in the mountains were captured by Louis and Lishena. It’s a complete disaster.”
Priscilla bit her lip and continued.
”Abbas and Zayn… I sent a message telling them to run, but they ignored it. Abbas insisted on saving Katyusha and Demete, and it seems they sneaked into the docks. As expected, they were caught by Lord Blumer, and Zayn got seriously hurt, losing his right hand and left foot. Abbas had all his fingers chopped off.”
”…What happened afterward?”
Natra asked.
Priscilla shook her head.
”Zayn’s consciousness hasn’t returned. He’s still wandering between life and death. Abbas is fine, but Guy has demanded a huge ransom from Shakerdoust. It’s 9,900 Gold Coins from the Franz Kingdom. Of course, only Abbas will be returned for that. …It’s no surprise if they think I tricked Demete and set them up.”
”Can Shakerdoust pay it?”
”They have no choice. Even if they have to borrow money or destroy ten towns, they must pay. Otherwise, their eldest son won’t come back. Abbas says stuff like, ‘I’m not worth 9,900 Gold Coins’ and ‘I’m just the shadow of Abbas,’ but Guy probably won’t lower the ransom. If the money isn’t gathered within a hundred days, Abbas will belong to Guy. ──Lord Kian”
The white-haired Witch continued.
”You might worry about my ability because of the big mistake I made, but I will keep my promise to you. So please, trust me and relax.”
”I intend to do just that.”
”Thank you. You’re so generous, Lord Kian. You give everyone a chance to start over. I might fall for you even more.”
”I’ll take care of Sarah. I’ll do my best to overcome my one-on-one with her. Natra, Rufna, please keep watch around the barrier. I’m worried about Jibril, whom we met in Sarah’s memory world. If you sense the presence of a shaman interfering, deal with it. If capturing is hard, just kill.”
”Yes.”
When the 3 nodded in their own ways, Kian looked around and gave the command.
”Let’s head into the mountains. Everyone, stay alert.”
* * *
They went upstream just like before.
Then, they emerged on the riverbank between the cliffs.
Surrounding Priscilla’s barrier, her mountain troops were waiting.
The entrance to the memory world──the distortion in space──stood right in the middle of the rushing stream, as usual.
The loud sound of the water was eerie even by itself.
After exchanging a few words with the mountain soldiers, they each scattered to their tasks as planned.
Kian would enter the world of memories, holding hands with Priscilla.
Kian fought against Sarah.
Priscilla watched closely, skillfully capturing Sarah’s soul at just the right moment as it began to move on.
If they could anchor that soul to Sarah’s body, which should appear after the otherworldly transformation ended, they would complete their mission.
”Sir Kian, good luck!”
”Even if there’s a shaman interfering, don’t worry. We’ll take care of those guys!”
”Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
”Lord Kian, shall we go?”
The black-and-white Witch whispered softly from the side, still holding his hand.
Kian nodded and gently lifted her slender body.
”Kya!? Huh…? Huh!?”
(She feels heavier than she looks…)
Kian whispered in the Witch’s ear.
”Be careful not to slip on the rocks. Don’t squirm.”
”…Ugh. You really are a ladies’ man. Number one guy not to trust!”
”Why do you think that? ──I’m jumping now. Hold on tight.”
Kian said this and leaped toward the dark, rushing water.
With his vampire strength, he easily jumped over several meters.
He lightly kicked off a wet rock.
Kian set off again on his journey to the past, where Sarah awaited in Azrael.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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