Volume 3 Chapter 95 Rumors Of The Demon
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
According to the young folks, they were originally a 4-member gang──pretty sure one of them was this adorable cat Beastgirl named Nerea.
Nerea had a keen nose──one day she picked up on something strange.
Turns out, just north of this village, there’s a swamp packed with peat that’s dark and shiny, almost like black onyx.
Skeptical but curious, they went into the dangerous wetlands and dug into the mud.
And sure enough, they pulled out this glossy, jet-black peat that looked just like onyx.
”But then──3 days ago──Nerea vanished mid-work. There was thick fog around, visibility was crap.”
”We tried to search for her, but suddenly, vines burst out of the ground and attacked us. Instantly, I knew it was bad. Sorry, Nerea, but we had no choice──we ran for our lives.”
”Later, Nerea’s mom tore into me like hell… but hey, is it really a man’s job to just run?”
After the 3 finished, the owner, leaning against the wall, adds on.
”Word is, other nearby villages are losing young girls too. Old-timers say it’s a sign the ‘Thorn Demon’ is making a comeback. This whole area’s under the control of the Black Panther tribe, and they reckon monsters are just servants of that demon. They’re even offering a thousand gold coins to any mercenaries who bring back a vampire’s head.”
”A thousand coins? Worth risking my life for that.”
Kian nods at what the owner says, “Yeah, gotta be.”
He takes a sip of honey wine and glances around at the others.
”By the way──’Thorn Demon’ just slipped out casually. Do you all really know what that thing is?”
”Wasn’t it some vampire causing chaos southeast of Arsas, about 80 years ago? Old-timers talk about it.”
”And how old’s this old-timer?”
Kian asks, catching the others exchanging looks.
”About 60? Why? What’s with the sudden questions?”
”Just… caught me off guard. Never heard that name before.”
The young man waves a hand over the table, as if dismissing it.
”Nobody around here doesn’t know about the ‘Thorn Demon.’ It’s a popular old myth.”
”Is it some ancient legend, or what?”
”Nah, not really. Ever since those monsters started appearing, everyone’s been blaming the ‘Thorn Demon.’ It was around that time I heard the old folks talk about it too.”
”────”
Kian paused, his hand carrying the mead halting mid-air before setting the mug down on the table.
Friedrich, Gonzales, and Maribel hadn’t even mentioned the ‘Thorn Demon’ at all.
Yet, in these northern lands, it seemed folks believed the creature had something to do with a legendary Demon.
”I’ve already informed the ‘Storm Herd’ about Nerea’s disappearance. Those folks are mercenaries, but they pay well and won’t loot your stuff. They said they’d head out to look for her today or tomorrow. If you want a job, you better get to the fortress soon.”
”Got it. I’ll do that.”
Kian nodded and stood up.
Just then, he received a signal from the bat he had been keeping watch with.
It seemed Sarah and Serena were coming out of the fortress.
”You guys finish the rest. Let’s all mourn for poor Nerea as hard as we can. But don’t you dare give up hope on her surviving.”
Upon hearing this, the young ones lifted their cups, eyes serious as they echoed, “We’re counting on you for Nerea!”
”Well done-nya.”
”Thank you.”
Kian replied smoothly to Ninini, then flicked his robe dramatically.
”Let’s head back. For some reason, those 2 seem to have come out of the fortress quickly.”
* * *
Considering the travel time from the fortress, it hadn’t even been an hour since they parted ways.
Was something wrong, or was everything fine?
If Rean and the others weren’t captured by the ‘Storm Herd,’ they’d need to find the nearest mercenary camp to ask around.
Kian and Ninini tucked away their robes and retraced their steps through the thicket until they arrived back at the ‘Storm Herd’ fortress.
Amongst the reeds, sitting atop a larger rock that jutted from the muddy ground, Serena gazed vacantly at the bats buzzing around her head.
”──Kian, Ms. Ninini.”
Before he can even call out, her ears twitch──her light blue eyes flicker and turn towards him.
If he’s not mistaken, she looks deeply hurt──like she’s just been mauled by something cruel.
”So… you’re back already?”
”What about that girl from Azrael? The one who’s with you-nya?”
”I was the only one sent packing.”
Serena dusts herself off with a sharp flick of her hands, rising to her feet.
She drops into the dirt with a soft splash, then slumps, her shoulders heavy with disappointment.
”At first, they said I could go inside ── that I’d get to meet Dad. That they’d introduce me… but then, suddenly, Barghest showed up.”
”Barghest ── isn’t he your father’s loyal right hand?”
”Yeah. Barghest──and he was upset. Real angry. Told me to leave. Said I’m no longer part of the pack. That I should vanish.”
”So you came back, then?”
”Yeah. But Ms. Sarah, who had said she was here to hunt monsters, ended up talking more with Barghest. Seems like they’re recruiting top adventurers from nearby villages.”
Kian and Ninini exchange a glance, silent understanding passing between them.
”Serena, are you okay?”
”I… yeah. I just need a moment. To gather myself…”
”Hey, don’t cry, girl. You’re tough──women can be. Besides, didn’t that brown-skinned girl say anything? Like, how long they’d be talking?”
Serena shakes her head softly, regret flickering in her eyes.
”I don’t know… I’m sorry.”
”Tch. Come on, wipe those tears-nya. It’s embarrassing-nya. What’s your pack for-nya? Former friends, still friends──none of that matters. You’re you.”
(Why does this cat-girl act like she knows everything…?)
’She’s probably just awkward. Or maybe she’s been through the same thing before.’
(Huh…)
Whatever the reason, Serena clearly needs time.
Like she said, she’s got to process this.
Meanwhile, Sarah’s probably inside digging into Rean──best to double back to that nearby village and keep digging.
Serena’ll wait inside the inn until she’s ready.
”Let’s head back to the village.”
”Again-nya? We just stormed out of there, fiery as ever.”
”You can say whatever you want. For now, I need to talk to the woman called Nerea’s mother and check out the village graveyard. That’s step one.”
”Well, no other choice-nya. They’re thinking Serena might be waiting around here-nya. Sticking around isn’t a good idea-nya.”
Just as Ninini said that, a thick log scraping sound suddenly came from the direction of the fortress.
So faint, he thought it might be a figment of his imagination for a moment, but Ninini and Serena both looked up, so it seems he wasn’t hearing things.
Kian grabbed Serena’s shoulder and crouched down on the spot.
Ninini had already thrown herself into the mud.
”Move-nya!”
It was Ninini’s voice.
She continued, smearing mud on her face.
”Soldiers are coming from the fortress-nya. Maybe they’re here to drive Serena away-nya.”
”…hm…”
”No, it can’t be.”
Kian narrowed his eyes behind his ‘glasses’.
From the barrier surrounding the fortress, a dozen powerful magicians mounted their horses and burst out one after another.
They galloped down the hill, heading northeast across the plains at full speed.
The dust wasn’t rising because the ground was wet, but they were definitely moving fast.
Probably military horses, hybrids with monster blood.
(Sarah is there)
At the head of the group.
A familiar, highlighted in red through the ‘glasses’, wave of magic power.
For a moment, he didn’t notice because she blended in perfectly with the surrounding warriors.
”Bats!”
Kian called out to his flying familiar and instructed her to follow Sarah’s group.
She should be able to come up with a decent excuse and relay information back here using the bats.
The clatter of the horses’ hooves gradually faded into the distance.
After a bit of a struggle, Ninini, covered in mud, grumbled softly, “Damn, I’m a mess-nya.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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