Volume 1 Chapter 11-2 Encounter.txt
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Scrolls? You mean summoning scrolls?”
”Summoning? Wait… is that for calling phantom beasts?”
Phantom beasts—familiars made by magic, not born.
In the past, mages used scrolls to call real monsters, but those beasts were wild and only obeyed their masters. In battle, they often attacked friend and foe alike. It made things worse, not better.
So, the mages changed their plan. They created beasts that would follow orders—fake beasts made by spells. These became known as phantom beasts.
No one knows how they first made them. But now, phantom beasts work. Scrolls that call them are rare, but they’re strong and sell for a high price.
”This one’s Siren. That one… I think it’s Quetzalcoatl. You can have them.”
”…What? Are you serious? Just like that?”
Boit held out two scrolls.
Klock stared at them, then at Boit.
This man—who once kidnapped a saint for money—was now handing over high-priced items for free.
Cold sweat ran down Klock’s back.
”…Klock. About the cargo on our ship—it’s full of scrolls. Phantom beast scrolls. Stacked to the top. We’ve been moving them with merchants from the Great Continent. They were for a coup in Fritz Theocracy.”
”…Boit. You…”
I should’ve stopped listening. But I didn’t.
I finally saw the truth: Boit was the link between this world and the next.
”The order probably came from some Demon Lord noble… or maybe even a demon king.”
”…Do you want to die?”
Klock was frozen. Boit didn’t look safe either. He looked worried—like he knew this would end badly but jumped in anyway. Maybe it was for money. Maybe he thought it would be easy.
The coup had failed. They couldn’t kidnap the saint. Now, they had to send the scrolls back before anyone found out. The plan was to go through the Beast Continent to hide their trail.
So that’s why Boit wanted to go to Nushutei. That’s suicide.
Scrolls like that were banned. Helping a coup? That’s treason. Whole families could be killed for that.
Boit knew it. He’d already dumped every worker he hired—except the slaves.
”If they talk, we’re finished,” he said. “Klock, I’m low on help. Come with me to the Demon Continent. I’ll pay.”
There’s no way. I wanted to scream it. But I bit my tongue.
His offer wasn’t a joke. It was death.
There was no reason to go. None.
But…
I couldn’t be left behind. The ship was my ride out.
Maybe I could lie. Pretend to help, then run at Nushutei.
My hands were tied. So, I played the game.
”…I guess I don’t have a choice. You’ll die if you go alone. Fine. I’ll help you.”
”…Seriously?! I thought you’d say no for sure!”
”I still want to say no. But if we make it back alive, you’re buying me drinks.”
”Sure, sure. Hell, I’ll even throw in a top-class slave. Gorgeous girl—”
I nodded like I agreed. Like I gave in. But inside, I planned to run the first chance I got.
Boit rambled on, saying gross stuff, and later he caught a ride and went back to the ship.
We couldn’t go back to this country. Maybe not for decades.
Not that I had any special memories here.
I stared at the streets as the wagon shook beneath us.
Suddenly, Boit told the driver to stop.
We were near the border between the market zone and the factory district. It wasn’t close to the pier. Weird spot to stop.
”What is it now?”
”Klock. Look over there.”
Boit pointed ahead.
Strange soldiers in unknown gear were marching in rows.
”…Looks like local guards. We should stay away.”
Military police. I’d bet on it.
Their gear wasn’t what you’d see in the capital. Maybe every town here had its own uniform.
Either way, not our friends.
We got off and walked.
The sun hit our backs hard. In a few hours, it’d be red on the horizon.
No way they’d patrol at night. Their shift had to end soon.
I thought about how this might delay our trip, but it didn’t seem like a big risk.
Still, with guards nearby, it’d be smart to grab Adelina now. There were other roads to the docks, but this one was closest.
”Boit, I left a slave behind. Can I go get her?”
I stopped and asked.
”Huh? You had money for that? Sure, go ahead.”
He added a snide remark.
He wasn’t wrong, so I let it slide.
Honestly, if I’d known I’d just be giving orders, I would’ve brought her earlier.
Could’ve saved me this back-and-forth.
I turned around and walked back.
”Hey, Klock. Look! That guard squad—there’s a kid with them!”
”Huh?”
I stopped again. Boit was pointing.
Among the guards was someone short—way shorter than the others—and wearing strange armor. It looked like a kid had snuck into their group.
Light armor, with bare thighs and arms, mixed with strong boots and gloves. Strange combo.
A round shield on her back. Long blond hair almost covered it. She looked more like a traveler than a soldier.
”…Well, not my business.”
Klock noticed, but he didn’t care. Not unless she was a tall beauty with a grown-up vibe.
Small girls? Not his thing. So, she vanished from his interest.
He turned back toward the dock.
But that strange girl, the one he didn’t care about, opened her mouth and ruined everything.
”There you are. Klock Livorno.”
He froze.
Her voice hit him like a sword to the chest.
Their eyes met.
That pressure—he’d felt it before.
His mind raced, but training kicked in.
”…! Siren!! SHOUT!!”
He grabbed the scroll from his pocket and yelled.
Boit jumped back, shocked.
A giant wing burst out from the air.
Klock ran with everything he had. Boit scrambled after.
The first chase had begun.
Character Notes:
• Boit – A merchant involved in human trafficking, with a villainous face and a loud, obnoxious voice. He is pragmatic and willing to help Klock escape the country in exchange for something. His relationship with Klock is business-like, though both are aware of each other’s illicit activities.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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