By the riverside, water rushed, sunlight glistened, flickering on the surface and reflecting the green leaves on land.
Along the bay was a carriage slightly damaged during an assault. Pulled by earth birds and operated by merchants, the small group didn't suffer heavy losses as everyone got out alive.
But as for Night Ouen, things were a little different. Their temporary member, who'd already been composed, now turned cold. His eyes were like an abyss, his demeanor subzero—he was almost like another person.
It couldn't be helped. After all, when Jan explained the situation, all their expressions paled—running into a cult wasn't something they'd anticipated on this seemingly standard route.
The heads, the increased magibeast activities and tactics used started to make sense. And based on Ailz's observation, they were probably sent out as sacrifices to be slaughtered and consumed.
—Why else was such a weak group handling such valuable cargo otherwise? He said.
Chills ran down their spine, but it made sense—which made them wonder… what about Erda village? It's the closest one from here and…
"…" Glancing at the youth on the rooftop, Turen sighed. "Assuming he's right, then the people of Erda village… become an evolutionary nourishment for the magibeast…"
"But what would be the point of raising magibeast that are so close to Ilifel? Nothing here should be able to fully utilize mortal brains," Jua remarked, her cheeks leaning on her fist.
"What… what if that isn't the point?" Nuli suggested, anxiously squeezing her clasped hands.
"…"
Jan stared at the water flow, recalling how he witnessed mana shields crumble in on themselves. Beastmen, elves, and humans collapsed into a lump of meat, their fractured bones protruding out of their flesh. Spells suspended mid-air as if time froze, only for them to return at a greater speed, shattering barriers as the casters' throats got slit by ice blades.
"As planned, I'll infiltrate Erda once we're at a comfortable distance. If I don't return by dawn or if you were to be discovered—leave me behind, I'll catch up."
"…" The rest of the members exchanged glances. But then, Jua clasped the hem of his jacket. "Jan…" Though her expression was solemn, she could only mutter, "Promise me you'll be back."
Jan gently placed a palm between her ears, patting her head. "I promise," he said, bending down Jua's long fox ear a little, kissing it lightly. "It's just an investigation, I won't be reckless. Besides, by midnight, you'd already crossed paths with the convoy from Aurlux."
"Okay…" she replied meekly.
Nuli clasped Turen's hand, unable to take her eyes off the two snowy foxkin.
Turen turned toward Alum, "Were you listening, Ailz?"
"…I was. But it's better if he didn't go alone," Alum replied. "I'll assist," he added casually.
"…"
Turen pondered for a moment. If there was a cult and they managed to take over a small village, they should at least be comparable to C-ranked adventurers in skill. Jan, even though C-rank was their strongest member. But with his skills, he should be at least a B-rank or higher.
As for Ailz, he's clearly strong enough to handle himself; he is the most flexible mage Turen has seen. His mana reserves were massive—he can use it freely and efficiently. Slow or fast paced, it didn't matter to him, and neither did offense or defense. He's sufficient.
"Sigh… in that case, you should rest up. We'll intercept with the Aurlux convoy and send reinforcements as soon as possible."
"Affirmative."
Alum unconsciously materialized a candy pouch, neatly tied with a purple silk bow tie. After tossing a caramel into his mouth, a soft sigh followed.
..
"Al, I baked these for you. Ehehe~ please enjoy!"
About a week ago, during her free time, Amethely baked sweets for him; though Alum had a sweet tooth, he rarely ate her homemade sweets—he didn't dislike them, it was… per se closer to a squirrel hoarding a stash.
"Thanks," he'd reply, taking it with a smile.
But there was a problem… he wasn't sure what to give in return. Though she liked flora, he'd already given her some before—it was the same with her favorite sweets.
Thus, he offered a massage. He didn't think too much about it as it naturally came to mind, but seeing Amethely's cheeks flush, he couldn't help but wonder if he said something strange.
At least until she teased him. "U-Um… please… feel free to… um… touch…" she said, her head lowered, though her gaze still lingered on him.
"…"
Looking back, he realized he hadn't really touched her other than holding her hands, kissing her, snuggling, hugging, and linking arms. The thought was mutual; his heart rate increased as he got a little excited.
—Her back… her… legs? Where would it be okay? Her bosom? Buttocks? Should I tease her? Outside of biological textbooks, I don't have a good frame of reference.
Such thoughts crossed his mind, but he ultimately gave her a back and shoulder massage, considering how she is always focused during her research.
..
"…"
A little rosy, Alum shook his head, wondering why that came to mind—he knew why. The pouch reminded him, but it was also the desire to see and touch his fiancée.
—I wonder what she's up to, Alum pondered as he peeked through the treetops.
…
..
"Oh, I see. You're pent up—"
"Pfff—cough, cough… Kei…!" Amethely retorted after having had her tea down the wrong pipe.
Inside the peaceful Café Lestia, Keilyn and Amethely enjoyed some treats now that their schedule aligned.
"What? What else could it be?" Keilyn tilted her head as she sipped tea. "You're lovers, and engaged—is that so out there?"
"That's not it! I miss him, is all…"
"Really? Is that all?" Keilyn raised her eyebrow; her smug, teasing face had a knowing look.
"…Nn.. Perhaps a little—I-I mean… he'd been giving me massages recently and… I wondered where and if he'd touch—wait, why am I saying all this!?" Amethely covered her face, resting her head on the table.
"Oh, so the saint enjoys those thrills too?" she teased.
"…I do." Amethely meekly fidgeted. "But that's beside the point!" she retorted, puffing her cheeks. "Mmghh…!"
Keilyn leaned forward and poked the soft cheek until it slowly deflated. "Cute," she giggled.
"…"
"Aww~ don't give me that look. Besides, you've only been apart for a day. What would you do when he has a post outside of the borders or on another long mission—"
"I'd rot and die…" Amethely replied in defeat, resigned, her face eyes hollow as she leaned against the wall.
"No, wait, Miss Saint! We need you!" Keilyn played along. "Still, you've gotten really attached, huh? Well, I guess it runs in the blood…" she remarked.
"Ehehe~ 💕"
"That's not a laughing matter!" Keilyn facepalmed. "Pffts… you've loosened up a little."
Amethely twirled her silky silver-gray hair. "Have I?" she wondered, her eyes curious.
"You'd never make such jokes before—I mean, you were all saintly duty this and that. Could it be you like Mr. Alum more than being a saint?"
"Mmghh," Amethely pouted. "It isn't one or another. I love both, but they're different," Amethely declared. "It was my dream to take over Grandma's role, but I've always wanted a relationship like Mother and Father—I won't give up on either, you know?"
"Hmm…" Keilyn leaned on her palm. "Now I kinda wish I had someone like that—though I doubt I'll find him by accidentally falling asleep in a park, wake up sniffing his scent and fail to introduce myself properly, not even knowing when or where I'll meet him again, only for luck or fate to be on my side, letting me reunite with him again at a banquet, only to invite him to my room since he was injured by something and then melt into an intimate embrace neither of us want to let go. Specific, right?"
"…Um—"
"Yeah, that was about you," Keilyn said, grinning mischievously.
"Uhh…" Amethely bit into the sweet bread, averting her eyes, but couldn't help but wonder—what are you doing now, Al?
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Upon answering, the owner, Bettlon, entered with a tray of sweets and drinks.
"Hello, Lady Keilyn, Saint Amethely, having fun?" he inquired softly.
"Oh~ we are!" Keilyn exclaimed cheerfully. "Just talking about love and all."
"My? Is that so?" His surprised face turned toward Amethely. "Why bring him here once in a while?" he suggested.
"But… I've used up my invite…"
"Hahaha, it's fine, it's fine. It'll be an invite from me, okay?" he chuckled, leaving the tray. "His name is Alum, correct?"
"O-okay!" Amethely brightly beamed, now able to bring her lover to her favorite café.
"Hm? How did you know?" Keilyn wondered.
Bettlon wasn't the type to follow news or rumors of sorts, as he was busy perfecting his craft.
"Oh, Aetlise told me—they're friends and I've heard you took great care of her too, Kei."
"Huh… Aetlise? 'That' Aetlise?"
"Mm-hmm, she's like a little sister to me."
"I see… You sure have plenty of unexpected connections, huh?"
"Hahaha, you could say that. Anyways, enjoy!" he said, waving as he left the private room.
"…" Keilyn watched as he left while Amethely enjoyed herself with the new treats and tea. "Ame. Do you think I stand a chance?"
"Pfft—cough, cough… huh? U-um… huh…?"
"Sigh… I suppose not, huh? The café is named after his late wife… and I doubt someone as long-lived as him could see me as anything but a child," she shrugged.
"O-oh…"
"Besides, I don't want the café's name to change to Café Keilyn in about a hundred years."
"Nn…? That's your concern?" Amethely giggled softly.
"Yeah? What of it!?" Keilyn retorted with a grin.
"Pffts… ehehe-hehe, no it's nothing~"
…
..
Once they were at a comfortable distance and had set up a camp, Alum and Jan began to prepare for their investigation. The PARC-PN6 was loaded with a V-T magazine and four spares. Then there was a magazine of AAP6, totaling 48 bullets. Depth Cutter's mana reserves were also around 80%, a decent amount.
"Ailz, you ready?" Jan asked after going through his own gear.
"Yes," Alum nodded.
"Then, follow me—"
With a strong burst, Jan left like the wind, leaving behind a small crater. But Alum wasn't far behind either, having been strengthened by Nuli; he followed Jan the best he could.
Making sure he wasn't going too fast, Jan stopped, and when he saw that Alum was keeping up, he continued to swift between the trees like a breeze until a few minutes in, he abruptly stopped. Caching up to Jan, Alum noticed how he was listening very carefully.
'There are people around here—hop into my shadow,' he whispered.
Alum did as he said and stepped into Jan's shadow. He took Alum's hand and engulfed them in the shade.
'Let's go. As long as they're not too sensitive to mana, we should be able to just walk inside.'
'Understood.'
Thus, they headed toward the commotion. There, they saw cloaked figures, draped in blood.
"Ugh… why do we have to do this boring stuff?" one of them said.
"It's whatever." Another one shrugged, tossing a head onto the ground. "Alright, we should be done here."
"What do you think we'll catch?"
"Hmm, probably a pale claw or hound. However, there should be a Greedeater around. I mean, it should head this way if it attacks the idiots we sent out," another remarked.
"A Greedeater, huh? Well, if we just leave now, we should have the required amount requested by the lab."
"No—sigh, this is why new… anyways, no. We're waiting until dusk to make sure this place gets overrun, then we leave."
"What? Do you think the mind-controlled guards will put up a fight in their current state?"
"Well… we can't be too sure. Sometimes adventurers do pass through, and a convoy will be a few days from now—"
Unable to finish his words, he saw something that looked like shards of ice in the shape of prisms in between the trees. But it was too late, as he cried for them to dodge, but nothing happened.
Not letting his guard down, he told the others to be careful as they were inside some sort of barrier. But… as he turned around, all his men were gone; his eyes shifted left, a beastman stood there, and as he trailed down the man's shoulder, he collapsed—a blade had pierced his heart.
"Ailz, you can come out now. We'll take their clothes and sneak inside—it's as we've suspected, or… worse."
"So it seems. I'll look for survivors," Alum stated calmly as he took their belongings.
"Got it, but we split after I know the location of those casters."
"Mm. I'll create a window for you, cause a small commotion after securing the survivors are safe."
"You needn't be reckless like that, but I appreciate the thought. You should prioritize your own safety, can't save people if you yourself aren't in a position to, right?"
"Don't worry. It's not the first time."
"…Understood," Jan scratched his head, then sighed. "I'll listen closely, act fast, then join you."
"Mm."