Volume 8 Chapter 30 Rachel and Kaitney
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I am Rachel.
I’m the eldest daughter of a poor farming family in Polet Village.
It happened when I was very little. Our fields were once ravaged by Monsters.
The cause was simple—the Monsters had made their home near our village. In the dead of night, they crept in and tore apart our precious crops.
We had no money. Our fields were our lifeline, and we had to protect them at all costs.
Papa joined the village adults to form a hunting squad and went out to fight.
That was the last time I saw him.
The hunt was reportedly successful, but papa never returned.
From then on, it was just Mama, Kaitney, and me.
Our life grew very poor, made worse by the village’s own poverty.
I decided to join the war.
Mama hesitated at first, but when she heard the reward was large, she agreed. Kaitney would have protested, so I left without telling her.
We had no weapons or food at home, but the Federation was supplying them, so I left with nothing but the clothes on my back.
The battlefield I saw for the first time was full of people everywhere.
I heard there were tens of thousands, though I had no idea how anyone could count that many.
I kept up a brave front so nobody would underestimate me.
Honestly, I was overwhelmed—but I think most others were the same.
Everyone around me came from poor, rural backgrounds.
Mama had told me to try to find a wealthy man if I could, but all I saw were useless fellows.
It was everyone’s first war.
People were jittery. Some were excited, some were tense, some were showing off their strength.
They’d heard the enemy was Monsters, and they thought they could hunt them in large groups, like a normal monster hunt. Even while marching, people joked. The word “war” felt exaggerated; they thought it was just like that.
But I regretted coming.
I didn’t know the battlefield could be such a hell.
I ran.
I ran while screaming.
Someone cried out for help, but nobody looked back.
No matter how fast I ran, the Monsters’ breath grew closer.
Every time, someone screamed. Those who fell were swarmed by Monsters.
It was hell.
The end of the world.
We were the prey. This wasn’t hunting. We were walking ourselves into becoming food for Monsters.
Exhausted and in pain, I kept moving my legs desperately. Each time the Monsters closed in, I prayed someone else would be eaten first.
Eventually, when I could no longer hear anyone, I realized I was alone.
After a long, long journey, I returned to the village.
When I reunited with Mama, I clung to her and cried.
When I told her we had lost the war, the village erupted in chaos.
Many from the village had gone to war, not just me.
All the men disappeared from the village.
They went to war and never returned.
I was the only one who came back.
The small, once lively village grew eerily quiet.
They said this year’s harvest would fail.
No money, no workers.
If this continued, everyone would starve next winter.
So, we became bandits.
We had no other way to survive.
The world is cruel: the strong eat the weak.
To survive, we had no choice but to become predators.
* * *
”Were these the ones who attacked?”
By the time Klock was called out, the attackers had already been subdued.
In the center of the campsite, a dozen or so people were restrained.
”Quick work.”
The fallen bandits lay scattered, soldiers standing around them.
The soldiers looked confused, unsure what had happened.
A few bandits were grinding their teeth.
Some appeared unconscious, though none showed serious injuries.
”You handled that well. Is this squad capable?”
”No. Ms. Meina detected them, and I handled the response with her.”
So, it wasn’t the usual routine. According to our maid’s report, they hadn’t been ambushed and fought back—they’d been detected and countered.
Despite being surprised, no one was hurt.
Almost all of the fighting was done by Meina. A few were dealt with by Suzette, while the soldiers just stood frozen.
By the way, Cianie had noticed the attack immediately and watched from behind.
She didn’t act, following instructions.
This squad had to be able to act without relying on heroes.
”The soldiers didn’t function?”
”Yes. Even while the fight happened right before them, they did nothing. They’re completely untrained. At the very least, the guards should have acted independently.”
The problem was already clear.
This squad was a makeshift group. As it stood, they were just a collection of people.
When something unexpected happened, nobody could make a proper judgment.
It was unfortunate that they were attacked on the first day.
This issue would need urgent attention starting tomorrow.
The bandits were placed in temporary tents for detention.
Keeping them in one spot was dangerous, so they were spread across four locations.
Seventeen in total.
Surprisingly, all were female. Most were young, almost the same age as Meina.
”These don’t look like professional bandits.”
”Indeed. Their movements seemed clumsy.”
After securing the bandits, Klock couldn’t rest and followed Suzette.
He arrived at the tents, reinforced them with a magical barrier, turning the tents into cages that knives couldn’t cut through.
When he reached the last cage, he caught a glimpse of a girl’s hand.
Her palms and fingers were calloused.
Bandits wouldn’t normally swing swords hard enough to get blisters.
This suggested they usually did something else.
”Hey, why did you attack our squad?”
Five female bandits were tied up.
Two of the younger ones looked at him briefly when spoken to.
They quickly averted their eyes.
The other three ignored him completely.
”Silence won’t help. Bandits don’t travel far from home. I know where your hideout is.”
He pressed further, but they all looked away.
In this environment, they couldn’t easily speak. Talking in front of their peers would mark them as a traitor.
A safer environment for interrogation would be needed.
”All right. Suzette, interrogate them all. Capturing these could mean more are coming.”
Though unlikely, if they were part of a band of bandits, the main group could be nearby. If a hundred attacked, at least Cianie would have to act, and deaths would be certain.
That they attacked the campsite with only seventeen made decisions harder.
Did they think they could manage because it was a small surprise attack? Or were they preparing something else?
The interrogation was split into two teams.
Suzette handled one side, Klock and Meina the other.
Cianie was tasked with watching the surroundings.
”If a water prison is okay, I’ll prepare it.”
The soldiers were unreliable, so Primlena was asked to watch the bandits.
Water rose from the ground, surrounding the tents.
Both the bandits and soldiers stared, shocked by the strange phenomenon.
”Quite the hassle, huh?”
Klock and Meina brought two bandits to another tent.
The first subjects chosen were the young girls.
Both had black hair tied in ponytails.
They were chosen because younger girls were easier to make talk.
”Why did you attack us? Did we look like a trade caravan?”
Since formal greetings weren’t possible, he started with a simple approach.
As expected, the young bandits ignored him completely.
Meina waited at the tent entrance.
If the bandits’ girls tried to turn on Klock, she would catch them in an instant.
Suzette’s side was no worry either—she was a pro at this.
The interrogation was ready to begin.
”First off, we’re not merchants,” Klock said. “We’re a civilian force raised to fight the Demon Lord’s Army.”
(partisan T/N: “partisan” here means a local irregular fighter or militia.)
He put it plainly because “partisan” might not ring true to them. In truth, Klock’s group called themselves partisans.
Strictly speaking, that might be wrong—there was no Federation anymore. Klock’s band opposed Barreith and had stepped into a kind of vigilante role, fighting the Demon Lord’s Army and, at times, the government itself.
”So you fight the Demon Lord’s Army? You’ve got to be kidding.”
”…Rachel!” someone snapped.
Klock had expected some trouble getting them to talk, but the girls answered faster than he thought.
The one called Rachel—proud and hard-eyed—glared at him.
The other, more timid, looked skittish.
”You kids know about the Demon Lord’s Army?” Klock asked.
”Why would we? We’re not cowards hiding in the hills. War’s over ages ago—so go on, run off and be monsters’ food!” Rachel spat. Even though her wrists were bound behind her, she flipped him the middle finger.
The bold girl’s show of defiance made the other one flinch.
It looked like they’d agreed beforehand to stay silent if caught—safer to keep mouths shut in front of their fellows. But staying silent wouldn’t make things better.
”So where are you from? Tell us now, or I’ll start trampling every field in the nearby villages.” Klock leaned in, voice low.
The timid girl’s eyes widened at the threat. She averted her gaze too late; the shake of her shoulders betrayed her.
”What are you saying? Do it then. It’s none of our business,” Rachel said.
”All right, fine. If you’re so proud of your stinking fields, I’ll attack your village first—before your pals come to help.” Klock’s words hit Rachel like a thrown stone.
Rachel froze. The threat of a strike on their village was the one thing she couldn’t stay silent about.
Both girls had calluses on their hands. Their tied-back hair told Klock they were farm workers. It was easy to see these attackers were not professional bandits but villagers from some poor settlement. Perhaps the whole village covered for them. In poor times, entire villages sometimes turned to theft and hid the truth, and other travelers and adventurers spread the whisper of it.
Klock had heard such tavern tales before—villages that were actually bands of bandits. He knew their patterns.
”All right, time to beg for your lives. Any last words?” Klock said.
”Huh? No way…” Kaitney stammered.
”If you keep quiet, I’ll execute you all before help arrives. Sound good?” Klock’s voice went colder. For all his bluster, he did not mean to carry it out.
”You planned on your friends coming to free you, didn’t you? That’s why you’d mouth off as little as possible—so you could stall and buy time. Only women? You thought we’d hesitate to kill you.” Klock guessed, watching Rachel grit her teeth.
Rachel ground her teeth. Proud to the end, she looked like someone who’d never stop fighting. The other girl, pale and trembling, was an easier target for questions.
”What’s your name?” Klock asked.
”K—Kaitney,” she whispered.
”Kaitney. Want me to spare only you?” Klock said, voice half joke, half threat.
”K—what?” Kaitney blinked, stunned. Her face was simple and honest—too simple for what had just happened. Klock almost laughed; she looked like someone who’d been plucked from a farm and left to wonder what was going on.
Rachel scowled at him.
”You must get called cute a lot. You’re my type. I might let you live—depends on you.” Klock let a leering grin crawl across his face.
He laid a hand on Kaitney’s shoulder. She turned away, startled, and he slid his hand down to her thigh. Kaitney flinched so hard her whole body jumped; tears glinted at the corner of her eye. She looked weak in the way that made it clear she’d never chosen this life.
”Don’t trust him! Stop! Hands off Kaitney, you bastard!” someone next to them shouted.
The voice was loud and fierce—one Klock was glad they’d brought in. It was like a hungry, thin dog barking; the speaker had clearly been right not to bring her in earlier. Her insults were raw and cutting.
”Listen, you tiny c*ck-sucking, impotent trash! Don’t you dare touch her with those filthy hands!” she barked.
”Huh?” Klock’s brow twitched.
The captive girl hurled curses that no bound person should be able to spit. She twisted and strained at her ropes, making Klock pay attention. Perhaps she was wasting time—yet the fire in her words showed iron nerve. Had these been soldiers, she’d probably have been kicked for her trouble.
”You only go for women you’ve taken freedom from? Pathetic! Your d*ck’s small, your courage smaller. Set her free now!” she yelled.
”Oh? Is that so? Say that again?” Klock’s pulse throbbed at the challenge. He bared his teeth, veins at his temples standing out. Rachel stuck out her tongue at him and jeered. Kaitney looked terrified and kept opening and closing her mouth.
Rachel’s behavior bothered Klock. Her taunts were excessive. Even a bold girl knew when silence might be safer. Maybe Rachel was trying to draw attention away from Kaitney. Their manner suggested they were more than mere acquaintances—friends, maybe sisters. If the fierce Rachel really was protecting the timid Kaitney, that explained a lot.
”Cut the act,” Klock snapped. “You’re telling me where your village is.”
At that, Rachel’s energy flickered, but her voice stayed rough. “What, gonna make me suck your d*ck? Get a skirt ready, then—I’ll bite it off and make you a woman!”
”Fine. You’ll tell me where your village is.” Klock’s tone shifted back to business.
He was glad they were lively enough—too lively could be a problem, but lively had its uses. A fresh catch was better than a limp one. Still, he didn’t want wild resistance in his prisoners now.
”Klock told Meina to warn Cianie to watch for reinforcements and to clear the area when he returned. Meina’s face tightened—she could guess how things might go next.” Klock turned to Suzette and said to keep them silent. Then he faced the bandits again.
”You little brat. I’ll spend the whole night with you for that mouth of yours. I won’t be gentle. So spill it before you feel pain,” he promised.
”Shut up! You’re just pretending to interrogate so you can have your fun. Go home and suck your mama’s chest, idiot!” Rachel shot back.
”Oh? Then I’ll just make you my mama—how’s that sound?!” Klock teased.
The village girl teased back. The man went red with anger. Klock’s adult resolve seemed to rise… and the scene held, tense and raw, like a rope about to snap.
Notes:
• Meina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Primlena – Orange-haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant | First v8c3 | Sister of Sea General Primjune, subordinate to Primrity | Once captured and violated by Klock, now obsessed with reclaiming honor | Commands Obsidian Riders on giant fish, fights with trident | Seeks to drag Klock to Seabed Temple for marriage trial or execution | Unique note: revenge-driven siren bride who masks fury under ritual grace
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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