Iseboshi 11

Chapter 11 Haunted House

---

Edited by: Kanaa-senpai

---

 ”Alright…”

 I went to bed early, so I woke up well. I quickly got ready.

 It seems that the early spring in this world is a bit cooler than in Japan, so I put on a coat to stay warm.

 I attached the ring to my belt that my master gave me and slid the Bokken into it.

 Just in case, I stuffed my pillow into the futon to pretend I was still under the covers and looked out the window.

 (Is it time yet…?)

 While I was thinking that, I heard a small stone hit the window with a *tap*!

 I quietly opened the window and looked down, where Kazumi and Rena were waving at me.

 Kazumi put her index finger to her lips, making a gesture for

 (Shh)

 Rena, next to her, closed her eyes and spread her arms wide.

 ”!”

 I felt my body float up, and then I went right out the window.

 I hurried to close the open window, and my body slowly descended.

 ”How’s that? Surprised?”

 Kazumi said in a quiet voice.

 ”Why does Kazumi look so smug?”

 ”Shh. Now, hold on to Rena.”

 Rena moved closer to the iron fence about 2m (7ft) high.

 Kazumi and I grabbed onto Rena, and she quietly chanted a spell.

 ”Fly.”

 This time, the 3 of us floated up.

 While feeling the strange sensation of floating, we landed on the other side of the fence.

 ”Okay, let’s move away from here a bit.”

 With Rena leading the way, we started to run as quietly as we could.

* * *

 ”Hiroya’s house has a guard soldier, so let’s be a little careful… okay?”

 I finally calmed down and spoke a little away from my house.

 ”Wisp.”

 Kazumi raised her hand in front, and there appeared Wisp.

 ”Alright! Let’s head to the haunted mansion!”

 Kazumi flipped her hooded cloak and started walking confidently.

 Wisp led the way about a meter ahead of us, lighting the path. It was a bit brighter than an oil lantern, but in this almost lightless otherworld at midnight, it was really useful.

* * *

 ”I can see it… that’s it.”

 After walking for about 30 minutes, we saw a 3-story mansion standing alone. There were no nearby houses, just this real single house.

 Behind the decayed iron gate, there were 2 small shadows.

 ”That’s Jan and the others.”

 Rena stopped Kazumi as she tried to move forward.

 ”Wait a second. I’ll use ‘Detection’ inside the mansion.”

 Rena closed her eyes and raised her hand toward the mansion.

 ”Hmm. There are 3 people on the first floor. I don’t know who they are, but they’re definitely kids.”

 ”…So it’s Jan’s friends… just as I thought.”

 Well, I could guess that. They probably want to scare us.

 ”So, is there any sign of ghosts or monsters?”

 Kazumi grabbed Rena’s left arm and leaned in closer.

 ”None.”

 ”…Well, those guys are just making up stories about the haunted mansion! Alright, let’s go!”

 Kazumi marched toward the mansion.

 ”…But what’s this strange feeling?”

 ”Huh?”

 ”Never mind. It’s just Rena’s imagination. Shall we go?”

* * *

 ”Hey. I’ll give you credit for not running away.”

 Jan raised his right hand.

 ”Let’s get to the rules. You see that window on the second floor? First, go to that room and wave your hand from the window.”

 He pointed to a window at the edge of the mansion.

 ”After that, it’s the room right above the third floor. That window up there. Wave your hand from there. If you come back after that, you win.”

 ”…Got it. That sounds easy.”

 ”Then we’ll do the same thing. If we make it to the goal, it’ll be a tie, but…”

 ”But?”

 ”Well, I’ll praise you when you reach the goal.”

 ”I don’t really want your praise, though.”

 Kazumi then cuts in.

 ”Hmph! You’ll just scream and run away anyway. Come on, hurry up!”

 When Jan shifts his gaze behind us, a big, chubby guy pushes us 3 from the back.

 ”I’ll go even without being pushed. Don’t touch me…”

 ”Aaaah!”

 As I complain to the chubby guy, I hear a scream from inside the mansion.

 Looking towards the entrance, the door swings open, and 2 boys burst out.

 They’re always hanging out with Jan. I sigh and turn back to Jan.

 ”Ugh… I figured this would happen. You’re so petty, Jan.”

 ”Are you trying to ruin everything?!”

 Jan yells at the two boys who came out with red faces.

 ””Go-go-go-go-go-go…””

 The two of them look scared and stutter as they speak.

 ”What?”

 Rena tilts her head.

 ”It’s a goblin! Alisa has been kidnapped!”

 The taller of the two shouts.

 ”Alisaa?!”

 Jan starts to run towards the mansion. I grab his arm to stop him.

 ”Who’s Alisa?”

 ”My sister! My sister was taken by a goblin!”

 ”That can’t be! The ‘Detection’ didn’t pick up anything! …Wait a second.”

 Rena closes her eyes.

 ”That strange feeling earlier… I didn’t want to think it, but…”

 ”What’s wrong, Rena?”

 Kazumi leans in to look at Rena.

 ”‘Anti-Detection’! So this magic was cast! Dispel!”

 ”You guys run to the barracks! Call the soldiers!”

 Watching Rena’s magic, I gave instructions to Jan and the others. The 3 of them nodded and ran off, except for Jan.

 ”I’m going to help Alisa.”

 ”You can’t do that!”

 Kazumi grabbed Jan’s arm to stop him.

 ”Two goblins are moving on the first floor… They probably have that girl Alisa with them. Even if she’s a little girl, those guys will only do one thing.”

 ”!”

 Jan’s face turned even paler.

 In other words, ‘that’s what it means.’

 ”We have to hurry… I’m going.”

 I placed my left hand on the Bokken hanging at my waist and ran toward the mansion.

 ”There are a total of 10 goblin reactions, Hiroya. Eight of them are in the basement of the mansion.”

 Rena ran alongside me. Kazumi was following behind us.

 ”Kazumi, stay here!”

 ”No! I’m going with you!”

 It didn’t seem like she was just curious. Her expression was serious.

 ”I won’t be responsible for what happens!”

 At Rena’s words, Kazumi nodded silently.

 As we jumped into the mansion from the entrance, it was pitch dark inside.

 ”Wisp.”

 Kazumi used Wisp. The inside of the mansion became dimly lit.

 ”‘Enchant’.”

 It was Rena’s magic; the Bokken I held in my left hand started to glow faintly.

 ”Dealing with 10 goblins is impossible for you, Hiroya. But with the Enchanted Bokken’s and Rena’s attack magic, we can somehow save Alisa. Now, this way!”

 Rena started running deeper into the mansion.

* * *

 As I walked through the long hallway and entered the innermost room, I saw a goblin crouched down, opening a trapdoor in the floor.

 Another goblin was tearing the clothes off a girl who looked like Alisa, who seemed to be unconscious.

 ”Stop it!”

 I ran towards the goblin attacking Alisa.

 ”Hiroya! Ugh! ‘Physical Boost!’”

 My running speed increased, and I felt strength surging through my body.

 ”Ugh!”

 The goblin threw Alisa aside and picked up something that looked like a club, swinging it down towards me as I charged in.

 I dodged to the side, avoiding the blow, and twisted my body to strike the goblin’s head with the Bokken I pulled from my left hip.

 ”Gyaaah!”

 With a squishy sound, the goblin flew into the corner of the room.

 Following through, I pointed the tip of the Bokken at the other goblin.

 I put all my weight on my left palm at the end of the handle and thrust it hard.

 ”Giiiii!”

 The tip of the Bokken sank into the goblin’s face, appearing out of the back of its head along with its brain.

 ”Ugh!”

 I kicked the goblin’s body away and pulled the Bokken out from its ugly face.

* * *

 ”That was quick… Rena didn’t even have time to use my attack magic.”

 Rena looked down at the fallen goblin beside me.

 ”Hiroya, your sword skills are amazing… I can’t believe you’re only 8 years old.”

 She said this, staring at me in shock.

 ”It’s thanks to your magic, Rena.”

 ”Anyway, Ali-Ali seems okay. She’s not hurt, just unconscious.”

 Kazumi lifted Alisa and gently patted her head.

 ”Alisa… I’m so glad… you’re safe…”

 Looking at the entrance of the room, Jan stands there with a tear-streaked face.

 ”Let’s hurry and take her. Jan, please take care of Ali-Ali.”

 Nodding obediently to my words, Jan carries Alisa and leaves the room.

 ”…They’re still down there, right?”

 Peeking into the trapdoor opened by the goblin, I see stairs leading down.

 ”There are still 8 of them… and… one adult?”

 ”Is there a human?”

 Rena nods at my question.

 ”Kazumi, light up the stairs with Wisp.”

 ”Got it.”

 As Wisp slowly descends the stairs, I notice dragged bloodstains and… a single leather boot.

 ”They said the thief was missing…”

 I quietly try to go down the stairs.

 ”Don’t, Hiroya.”

 ”Yeah, it’s better to wait for the soldiers. There should be a goblin mage using ‘Anti-Detection’ on the goblins.”

 Kazumi and Rena stop me in low voices, but…

 ”No, I can’t just leave them… I have to help quickly.”

 ”We’re just kids. There are 8 goblins, and some of them can use magic. It’s impossible.”

 Kazumi grabs my arm and won’t let go.

 ”If something happens to you, Hiroya… what am I supposed to do…?”

 Kazumi looks down with tears in her eyes.

 ”Even earlier… when you went towards the goblins… I was so scared…”

* * *

 ”Rena, can you still use magic?”

 ”I can, but…”

 ”Can you put all the goblins to sleep?”

 ”I’m not sure about the goblin mage’s magic resistance. It might not work on him.”

 ”…I’ll take care of that one.”

 I grip my Bokken tightly at my left hip.

 ”Don’t make too much noise, or they’ll wake up from ‘sleep’ right away. This body, Rena, doesn’t have that strong of a magical power.”

 ”Okay. If we decide quickly, it should be fine. It seems like ‘enchant’ and ‘physical boost’ are still working.”

 ”…I guess there’s no choice… If you give me a little time to gather my magical power, I can manage with ‘light arrow’.”

 ”Rena!”

 ”I’m sorry, Kazumi. I can’t just leave it to Hiroya. After all, I’m a goddess…”

 ”Yes. So, Kazumi, stay here. You absolutely must not come down.”

 I gently removed Kazumi’s hand that was gripping my arm.

 ”Hiroya…”

 ”Rena is here, so it’ll be okay, Kazumi. If it’s a thief, I want to help quickly.”

 ”…Got it… Be careful. Rena, please take care of Hiroya…”

 With her head down, Kazumi finally agreed.

 Then, Rena and I quietly went down the stairs together.

 Soon, we reached a door at the bottom of the stairs.

 ”I’m going to open it, okay?”

 When I asked, Rena nodded nervously.

 I peeked through the door, and I saw several goblins gathered in the room.

 There was… a woman dressed like an adventurer in half-destroyed leather armor…

 She was being rubbed all over by the goblins’ ugly lower bodies.

 And one larger goblin was pinning her down…

 Its waist was thrusting against her lower body, over and over…

 ”High goblin… So it was this guy causing the ‘anti-detection’.”

 ”Is it troublesome?”

 ”It’s a higher-level goblin that can use magic. Its magic resistance is also higher than other goblins.”

 Saying that, Rena closed her eyes to concentrate.

 ”Sleep.”

 In the situation inside the room that made me want to look away, Rena cast her magic from outside the door.

 The goblins surrounding the women fall over like puppets with their strings cut… except for the big goblin.

 ”Hiroya, wait about ten more seconds. I’m going to shoot ‘Light Arrow’ at everyone.”

 I close my eyes and focus. Then I count in my mind.

 After what feels like a long ten seconds, I open my eyes. The big goblin continues to sway, unaware of what’s happening around it.

 ”Light Arrow!”

 With several beams of light released by Rena, I charge forward.

 The beams of light race past me and pierce the sleeping goblins one after another.

 The big goblin notices me rushing in and, while still straddling the woman, raises its left hand, unfazed by the ‘Light Arrow’ piercing its body.

 ”Anti-Magic!”

 With Rena’s voice, the flames floating on the goblin’s left hand disappear.

 ”Hmph!”

 I jump up, twisting my body as I draw my sword. I deliver a powerful strike to the goblin’s temple.

 (It went in!)

 But just as I think that, the big goblin, staggering, raises its fist at me.

 (Oh no!)

 I try to block with my Bokken, but I’m too late.

 ”Light Arrow!”

 At that moment, several beams of light shoot out again, piercing the goblin’s head.

 The goblin flies back.

 As I fall to the floor, trying to roll to soften the landing, I see Kazumi with her arms stretched out and palms open in front of me.

 ”Hiroya! Are you okay?”

 Rena runs over to me. Kazumi, who had been frozen, follows behind her.

 ”No, I’m fine… Was that Kazumi’s ‘Light Arrow’ from earlier?”

 ”…Yeah. I shot it instinctively when I thought you were in danger…”

 Kazumi nodded with a tearful face.

 ”Thank you. You saved me.”

 I rushed to the woman who seemed to be the missing thief.

 Her arms and legs looked like they were broken, bent in strange directions.

 Her long chestnut hair was wet with tears and goblin fluids, sticking to her face, and her ample chest was exposed with scratch marks all over. The lower half of her body was bleeding, also stained white with goblin fluids… and from her private area, fluids were overflowing, making a gurgling sound.

 I took off my coat and draped it over her lower half.

 ”…kill me… just end it…”

 The woman whispered in a small voice.

 Tears suddenly overflowed.

 I cradled her head, holding back my tears as I kept speaking to her.

 ”It’s okay… it’s okay now…”

 As I repeated those words over and over, a faint light began to return to her lifeless eyes… and then she softly murmured.

 ”Ah… Isaac… let’s go home together…”

 I couldn’t hold back anymore and hugged her head, crying.

 Kazumi continued to wipe her body with a handkerchief, and Rena was probably using healing magic. The palms of her hands resting on the woman’s left arm glowed gently in a soft green light.

---

Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!

Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.