Chapter 50 Live Capture, Recruitment, and Execution
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Our coordinated strike completely pinned down the bear and wolf beastmen who had been running wild at the theater entrance. A cool night breeze swept through the open space, carrying their ragged breaths and low echoing growls.
I felt a cold bead of sweat run down my neck as I quickly planned my next moves in my head.
”I am going to go check on the others. Keep an eye on these two,” I directed calmly.
”What! Do not order me around!” Kyle barked back right away.
Ignoring Kyle’s protests snapping out from behind me, I used Teleportation to warp straight down into the underground facility.
In an instant, my vision blacked out, and the damp smell of soil hit my nose.
Beneath my feet lay the clear, cold feeling of stone.
Down in the basement, the battle had already been decided.
Just as I had expected, further down the dimly lit corridor, in a room faintly lit by the glow of magic stones, a black cat beastman was pinned to the floor by four elves.
The elves consisted of Lyphia, the princess known by her pale green hair; Sylphie, the loyal royal guard in silver armor; Flora, the healer holding a staff that gave off a soft light; and Lunard, the scout whose presence seemed to fade completely into the surroundings.
I usually left the defense of the underground theater to them under the cover of guarding Pharma and Leela, the sisters who performed songs and dances here.
Because I had warned the elves about the enemy intrusion in advance, they had used Magic to completely hide their presence.
When the black cat beastman slipped inside, they fired a coordinated volley of arrows coated in paralytic poison from all four of her blind spots.
A series of muffled dry snaps echoed through the room as the arrows hit their mark, and the cat beastman collapsed onto the floor. Her dark-furred body was now twitching in uncontrollable spasms.
”Good work, everyone. Now, I want you all to standby here. We have taken out most of the enemies, but we cannot afford to let our guard down just yet,” I commanded.
It would definitely be safer for Pharma and Leela to remain here for now.
As the sisters looked up at me with frightened faces, I instructed the four elves to keep guarding them in the room.
I easily lifted Kuuko, the cat beastman who was paralyzed and unable to move, over my shoulder before leaving the room to head back up to the surface where the bear and wolf beastmen were held.
Looking closely at the cat beastman on my shoulder, she seemed quite young, with a small build and very cute features.
I suppose even within an assassination group, not every agent is built like a heavy bear. They clearly use a wide variety of specialized roles, from gathering information to sneaking in.
The moment I stepped back out onto the surface, the biting night air stung my skin.
The moonlight cast a pale stark glow across the theater plaza, and my breath came out in white plumes.
Ashraf stood waiting there, holding a hawk beastman in a tight grip by the skull.
The hawk beastman was thrashing wildly to break free, but Ashraf did not budge an inch.
In his tailored Butler suit, the man looked as solid as rock.
”Come now, there is no need to struggle so violently. I will put you at ease in just a moment,” I said, stepping forward.
Saying that, I lightly brushed my fingertips against the ugly Slave crest branded onto the hawk beastman’s chest.
The moment my fingers made contact, the pitch-black pattern burned into his skin vanished into thin air, melting away like snow under a blazing sun.
The skin where the brand had been was left with a faint slight redness.
Hawks, the hawk beastman, cried out in pure shock as he realized what was happening.
The absolute proof of servitude that had bound him for years had been dissolved in a fraction of a second. A deep shock rippled through his eyes as if he were staring at something completely impossible, his expression twisting into a mix of relief and confusion.
”This is a specialized unbinding formula I developed myself. It instantly analyzes the highly complex structure of a magical contract and breaks apart its core bonds. Think of it as smoothly undoing a tightly knotted string,” I explained, spinning a very believable lie.
I intended to keep the true nature of my unique ability, Magic Seal, hidden as much as possible.
I had absolutely no intention of carelessly revealing the details of my ultimate trump card.
Ashraf exclaimed that he was truly left in absolute awe, because as expected of Xenos-sama, I could analyze and take apart a deeply engraved Mana matrix in a mere instant.
He piled on his usual layer of suspicious theatrical flattery, yet the genuine shock in his voice was unmistakable.
It seemed even he had not figured out the true nature of my ability just yet.
I let out a silent smirk.
Next, I lowered the cat beastman I was carrying onto the ground and traced my fingers gently along her collarbone.
At first she tensed her body in pure terror, but as the Slave crest began to fade, her fear gradually turned into complete disbelief. As the brand vanished completely, a fragile look of relief washed over her face.
”With this, the slave contract binding the two of you has been broken. You no longer have any reason to attack me, do you?” I asked her.
She nodded her head rapidly, over and over again.
Seeing her compliance, I confirmed that the last traces of hostility had entirely drained from her.
As her terror faded, a new light seemed to take root in her eyes.
”Ashraf, let him go,” I ordered.
”At your command, Xenos-sama,” Ashraf replied with deep respect.
Once released, Hawks, the hawk beastman, reverted fully into his human form.
His true appearance was that of a tired, worn-out older man who carried a clear air of sadness. If you threw a rumpled trench coat on him and told me he ran a private detective agency, he would look completely in his element. He, too, no longer held any hostility toward us.
”Now then, that just leaves the remaining two…” I muttered.
Gazel, the wolf beastman and the leader of this assassination squad, was already beginning to shake off the paralysis. He glared up at me with an unyielding, razor-sharp hatred.
His piercing glare was exactly that of a wild predator locking onto its prey. His body trembled slightly as he let out rough, ragged breaths.
Baird, the bear beastman, had been put into a deep sleep by my Magic and had now reverted to his human form. He lay curled up on the ground, his massive frame rising and falling with peaceful, steady breaths.
The two presented a stark, contrasting picture.
I tied both of them securely with thick rope before deciding it was time for us to have a little chat.
First, I dispelled the sleep status effect currently affecting Baird.
His eyelids twitched slightly before slowly blinking open.
His unfocused eyes wandered for a moment before finally locking onto me.
”Now then. As you both just witnessed, I possess the power to nullify the slave contract that holds you in chains,” I announced.
Hearing my words, Gazel spat aggressively onto the ground, with deep, pure hatred dripping from his voice.
”…So what?”
”If you swear allegiance to me, I will spare your lives and free you from your status as slaves. Tell me, is that really such a bad offer?” I proposed.
”I refuse. Kill me,” Gazel shot back without a single moment of hesitation.
There was not a shred of doubt in his voice.
He possessed an absolute, unshakeable resolve.
”I happen to think it is an excellent deal,” I countered.
Gazel said that serving under a human was absolutely out of the question, and besides, he glared at me with eyes completely consumed by hatred.
A deep dark abyss swirled within his pupils, carrying the phantom scars of a horrific past.
He told me he harbored an unforgivable grudge against my kind and had fully intended to slaughter every single human he could lay his hands on the very moment this wretched slave contract was gone.
He snarled that he might thank me for breaking the chains, but he had absolutely no intention of playing my tame lapdog.
”…I see,” I murmured softly, my voice completely flat.
There was no deceit, no bluffing in his eyes.
Those words were a desperate cry from the absolute depths of his soul.
I knew intuitively that any further attempts at persuasion would be entirely pointless.
If that was his choice, then so be it.
I completely abandoned any hope of negotiating with Gazel.
Quietly, I drew the sword resting at my waist.
The flawlessly honed blade caught the cold moonlight, reflecting a sharp silver gleam.
For a split second, the very air around us felt as though it had completely frozen solid.
Slash.
A wet, sickening sound of tearing flesh echoed.
The wolf beastman’s head soared through the air, trailing a heavy spray of crimson.
Even as it rolled heavily onto the dirt, those eyes seemed to remain fixed on me, still burning with unyielding malice. Warm, fresh blood splattered across my cheek.
Bathing in the torrent of blood erupting from his headless torso, I muttered in a cold low whisper.
”――Are you satisfied now?”
When an enemy leaves absolutely no room for negotiation, the only option left is complete eradication.
—
Summary:
Warping instantly into the damp underground facility via Teleportation, Xenos discovers that his defensive team of elves has successfully paralyzed and captured the invading cat beastman infiltration agent. Hoisting her to the surface plaza, he demonstrates his unbinding formula to dissolve the magical slave crests binding both her and a captured hawk beastman, earning their passive cooperation. When the unyielding squad leader Gazel recovers enough to flatly reject a recruitment offer out of deep-seated historical hatred for humans, Xenos draws his blade and decisively decapitates him, leaving an ominous question hanging over the remaining captive.
—
Trivia:
1 Xenos relies heavily on a complex lie regarding an “unbinding formula” to actively mask the true identity of his ultimate trump card, Magic Seal.
2 The four specialized elves guarding the underground facility utilize magic to completely conceal their physical presence prior to executing their coordinated ambush.
3 The slave contracts leave a distinct physical redness on the skin for a brief period immediately following their magical dissolution.
4 Released hawk beastman Hawks visibly shifts from a bird hybrid state into a distinctly worn human appearance that resembles a gritty detective.
5 Unlike his fiercely unyielding and hateful leader Gazel, the massive bear beastman Baird remains fully asleep throughout the negotiations and brutal summary execution.
Notes:
• Kyle – A muscular, golden-haired elven warrior with emerald eyes, he is a blunt, hot-headed protector who wears a green robe and wields a potent, poison-tipped bow. Once a resilient theater guard, he is now a shattered shell, fueled by intense moral outrage and hatred toward Xenos for her sacrifices. Despite his rebellious nature, he remains deeply, unrequitedly devoted to his childhood friend, Princess Lyphia.
• de – A particle used in the aristocratic name of the Margrave Albion de Blanchefort.
• Sylphie – A green-haired former elven squad leader turned hopeful guide tirelessly mediates between humans and elves, joined by a loyal silver-clad royal guard with matching green hair. Together, they navigate complex alliances and underground missions. Their cause is further complicated by personal ties, including a recent, passionate romantic entanglement between Xenos and a member of their security detail.
• Lunard – A skilled elven scout serving in Xenos’s underground security, she is defined by her cold, silvery eyes, short-cropped indigo hair, and a sharp, taut presence that allows her to vanish into any environment. Her professional dedication is matched by a deep, passionate intimacy with Xenos, often punctuated by moments of private affection, such as their tender kisses in the quiet of the dressing room.
• Lyphia – Princess Lyphia Elfheim is an elegant elf with flowing hair—often depicted as platinum-blonde or pale green—and emerald eyes. A symbol of peace, she serves as a political bride and security detail member for Xenos after her rescue from the Blanchefort dungeon. Resolute yet oblivious to Kyle’s romantic feelings, she also takes an active role in combat, participating in underground coordinated ambushes.
• Flora – An elven healer with braided honey-colored hair, gentle brown eyes, and a staff emitting soft radiance, she balances her role as an apothecary with underground security work. She participates in coordinated ambushes, her tactical duties mirrored by a deep, intimate bond with Xenos, with whom she shares passionate moments amidst the shadows of their shared mission.
• Pharma – An elven performer and songstress at the Star of the Desert, she dances alongside her sister, Leela. Though she appears timid, pale with anxiety, and speaks with refined elegance, she is a fierce guardian. Once an auction captive, she now uses a magical ring to mask her identity, delivering passionate performances in glittering costumes to protect their safety and conceal their shared past.
• Leela – A silver-haired elven songstress and dancer at Zahara’s Star of the Desert theater, she performs alongside her protective older sister, Pharma. Though outwardly timid, she is resolute, using a transformation ring to mask her past as an auction captive. Beneath her melodic magic, she harbors deep resignation and terror when cornered, yet remains steadfast against underworld threats to their shared life.
• Kuuko – A young black cat beastman with a delicate build and remarkably cute features who acts as a specialized infiltration agent for an assassination syndicate.
• Ashraf – Ashraf, Xenos’s loyal demon butler, is a stealthy, shadow-bound operative who serves with elite decorum and a theatrical, deferential tone. Dressed in a tailored suit, his pitch-black eyes and golden pupils mask a dark past. He is a silent, powerful anchor capable of teleporting individuals, erasing his presence, and exercising brutal force to eliminate any threats to his master.
• Butler – A servant to Xenos who appears and disappears with supernatural silence.
• Hawks – A hawk beastfolk with piercing, predatory hawk eyes who acts as a grounded realist, explaining beastfolk values before joining the theater staff. An older, tired-looking hawk beastman carrying a distinct air of melancholy who serves as a slave under an assassination syndicate before liberation.
• Xenos – Xenos Grimlock, the “Zero-Mana” heir to House Grimlock, is a cynical, calculating strategist who masks immense power and a unique Magic Seal constitution behind an incompetent facade. A calm, tactical combatant wielding Teleportation and Ailment magic, he builds a commercial empire while manipulating politics. He acts as a dominant, protective master to his allies and seeks alliances with the Beastfolk.
• Gazel – A fierce wolf beastman and leader of the assassination squad who harbors an absolute, unyielding animosity and deep-seated grudge against humans. A wolf Beastfolk assassin agent with a lean, muscular build, closely cropped brown hair, sharp silver eyes, and countless scars across his body. A wolf beastfolk who is summarily executed after declaring his intent to slaughter humans indiscriminately.
• Baird – A bear beastfolk who is a massive wall of a man in his human guise, previously a notorious rogue raiding human settlements before falling into slavery, and is killed mid-beastification. A massive bear Beastfolk clearing three meters in height, covered in thick dark fur, who serves as an assassin agent for the organization Deep Fangs. A massive bear beastman belonging to the assassination squad who is put into a deep slumber by magic.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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