Volume 3 Chapter 9, Part 2 Gate Emerges!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Karin’s Perspective
By the time the group arrived at Tokura Village, the sun was coming up.
Everyone was exhausted, having stayed up almost all night.
We decided to take a break before gathering again, so we temporarily split up.
We stored one side of the fixed gate in the old Barua family barn, where we were staying, and asked the Royal Capital army to guard it.
As evening approached, Lieutenant Reina and Big Sister Melon went to the Village Head’s mansion for a meeting, while Ms. Sharlin and I stayed behind.
”Master, I’m hungry,” I said, and she (Sharlin) pointed to the kitchen.
”Look, Karin. Ms. Zahal from the Empire made rice balls for us,” she said.
”Wow, there are quite a few! Should I take some to the Royal Capital army in the barn?”
”Hehe, Karin. You just want to see the gate, don’t you? But be careful not to get too close. They say the chances of falling in and dying are pretty high,” she warned, but of course, I had no intention of going in. Just looking… just looking.
In the barn, 2 Beastfolk soldiers from the Royal Capital army were on guard, but they looked quite bored.
”Um… this is a snack for you,” I said, glancing at the gate. It was glowing yellow and really beautiful. I hope one day I can use it to visit Big Sister Tomori.
”Oh, thank you, Karin. I’ll take one,” one of the soldiers said.
He picked up a rice ball one by one.
I was satisfied after seeing the gate and went back inside, but… huh, Master?
Oh no.
She’s napping.
She must be really tired from last night.
Master Sharlin is sleeping soundly in the living room chair, snoring loudly, but it’s rare to see her so relaxed.
Just as I thought this, I was about to cover her with a blanket.
What’s that?
What moved?
Yeah.
It was something I had never felt before.
Could this be what Big Sister Melon and Master Sharlin call the flow of mana?
Still, this is… the barn!
I tried to wake Master Sharlin, but she wouldn’t budge no matter how much I shook her.
Feeling uneasy, I grabbed Master’s sword nearby and headed towards the barn.
I opened the barn door… and saw 2 soldiers from the Royal Capital army lying on the ground.
And looking towards the gate… a bear man!?
No doubt about it.
This is the bear man who attacked me at the Lord’s Residence!
What is he doing here?
”What are you doing here!?”
The bear man turned to me, noticing my loud voice.
”Huh? Who are you… I remember you… oh, from Aaron’s mansion… you’re still alive. But listen, I won’t say it again. Get out of here. I’m busy.”
”Don’t mess with me! What are you going to do about that gate? It’s needed for my dad to come back. You should leave right now!”
”Oh, come on. If the pheasant doesn’t cry, it won’t get shot, right? Besides, you can’t swing that greatsword. But fine, I’ll make sure to send you to the afterlife this time.”
Saying this, the bear man raised his axe high and swung it at me.
But… I’m not the same as before!
Master has trained me well.
I gripped Master’s greatsword with one hand and raised it above my head to block the bear man’s strike.
Clang!!
Phew.
What a huge impact.
But… I managed to block it.
Now, next is… huh?
Oh no.
My left hand is going numb.
Whoa, this is bad.
”Ah, wait a second! Hold on, hold on!”
”What are you playing at? Die already!” The bear man swung at me again.
”Damn it!” I couldn’t help but close my eyes.
Zing.
What’s going on?
Wasn’t I just cut down?
I turned to look and saw Baron Tethyrkan using his sword to block the bear-man’s axe.
”Karin! Don’t just stand there, go get help!!”
Baron told me, and I panicked and ran out of the house.
Inside the house, I could hear the sound of Baron and the bear-man’s blades clashing.
”Someone, help! This is bad!” I shouted as I ran around, and I knew the villagers nearby were coming to our aid.
* * *
”Oh no, Karin-chan, what have you done now? If something happens to you, what will I tell Mama Akari?” Big Sister Melon was crying in anger.
”I’m sorry, Lady Melon. I let my guard down and got caught off guard. This is a mistake I’ll never make again.”
”I’m just glad Sir Tethyrkan was nearby, or things could have been much worse… And to think there were traitors not just in Stanford, but elsewhere too… I have no excuse, Reina.”
It seems that Zahal, a female member of the Imperial Engineers, was the traitor who let the bear-man in.
She had also made rice balls with a sleeping potion that put Ms. Sharlin and the Royal Capital guards to sleep, allowing the bear-man to easily steal the gate.
Of course, Zahal is now gone.
Baron Tethyrkan put up a good fight, but the bear-man’s strength sent him flying, and he couldn’t move.
The bear-man was able to take the gate from the shed without any trouble.
Mr. Sistemador and Yoruku, the team leader, were both speechless.
Eventually Mr. Sistemador opened his mouth.
”It’s good that no one was seriously injured, but now that we’ve started again from the beginning, let’s go back to Royal Capital. So Reina. I don’t want to doubt you, but as soon as there were traitors on the Empire, I don’t think we can prove your innocence at this point. Sorry, but I’ll take you to Royal Capital as an important witness.”
”I believe you are right. We will follow Sir Sistemador’s orders.”
After finally getting the gate, it’s so frustrating for both me and Karin.
But the bear man took the gate without destroying it.
He must be planning to use it for something.
”Big Sister Melon, I will definitely catch that bear man and get the gate back!”
”That’s right, Karin. I won’t give up either. We will finish the gate, bring Yuuta back… and then…” We looked at each other and vowed to take our revenge.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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