Chapter 6: Mino – I Am a Mutation
"Who is Bloodbeard?" Luciel asked, his expression neutral, though his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as if measuring the person standing before him.
Mino's face was streaked with dirt, yet her expression remained unreadable. Her voice, however, carried a weight that made the air around them feel heavier. "Bloodbeard is a bandit leader from the nearby territories. He raids small camps and villages, and he doesn't hesitate to ambush travelers on the road."
Luciel's gaze remained calm, but his mind registered every detail. "Humph! You'd better let me go," the man holding the bone knife—the thief spy—blurted out, a mixture of arrogance and fear in his tone. His hand tightened around the crude weapon, knuckles whitening.
The thief's eyes darted between Luciel and Mino, startled at their presence. He had expected to intimidate a small group of civilians or isolated scouts, not someone like Luciel. Yet his arrogance returned in a forced puff of his chest. "If you don't comply, when our boss attacks your camp, both of you will die—miserably!"
Luciel's brow twitched imperceptibly. Attacks our camp? The thought made his heart rate spike for just a fraction of a second, enough to sharpen his focus.
The thief's smirk faltered under Luciel's intense gaze. There was something in those calm eyes, a quiet certainty that made even the most daring bandit pause.
"Wait… what did you just say?" Luciel asked, his tone casual, almost conversational. But every word carried a hidden weight, a subtle threat that gnawed at the thief's nerves.
"Ah? I-I-I… did I say something wrong?" The thief's face went pale as he stumbled over his words. Panic was starting to creep in.
Luciel crouched slowly, eyes never leaving the man. He picked up a fallen bone knife from the dirt. Its jagged edge glinted under the faint light, the tip now pressing just beneath the thief's chin.
"I'll ask only once," Luciel said softly, his voice almost hypnotic in its quiet menace. "When will your boss attack the camp? Speak clearly, or this knife will pierce your jaw and reach your brain."
The thief's throat worked furiously. He knew Luciel wasn't bluffing. One glance at those calm, unwavering eyes told him the truth: resistance meant death.
"I-I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" he stammered, his words rushing out in a terrified jumble. "I don't know the exact time, but I know Bloodbeard has made his decision. He sent us to scout the camp, to check defenses."
Luciel's tone remained cold, like a blade sliding silently across stone. "You truly don't know when it will happen?"
"I swear! Usually, when he gives the order, it happens within three days! That's always been the case!" the thief said hurriedly, shaking as he spoke, his fear palpable in the dim, dusty air.
Luciel's questioning continued, methodical, precise. Every detail mattered—the number of men, the type of weapons, the pattern of patrols. The thief's responses tumbled out in increasing panic.
Finally, Luciel paused. The man exhaled shakily, relief flickering across his features. He thought he had survived.
Click—
A subtle twist of Luciel's wrist snapped the thief's neck cleanly. His body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"Bloodbeard's already set his sights on our camp," Luciel muttered, letting the corpse slump into the dirt.
Mino's small hand gripped his arm, trembling slightly. "Luciel… what do we do now?"
Luciel turned to her, his expression serious. "How many people are in your camp? How many can fight, and how many are women, children, or elders?"
Mino frowned thoughtfully, counting in her head. "There are about three hundred in total. Roughly half of them are women, children, or elderly."
Luciel shook his head slowly. "Then you should all flee. Your camp cannot withstand them."
The thought of fleeing made Mino's stomach churn. She had grown up here, among these people. But Luciel's reasoning was unassailable. Even the strongest fighters among them were no match for Bloodbeard's five hundred or more battle-hardened men. A fight might be won, but only at a devastating cost.
"Flee?" Mino echoed softly, almost to herself. "Where would we even go?"
"That's not for us to decide," Luciel replied. "You need to warn your chief. That's their responsibility to act on. You must tell them what's coming."
Mino hesitated. "But… what if the chief doesn't believe me?"
Luciel's eyes softened slightly, and he let out a quiet sigh. "Honestly? He probably won't."
He looked at her directly. "If someone like you—someone small, unnoticed, and young—runs to the leader saying a powerful bandit is coming, who would believe it? Maybe at first, panic might set in. But if a few days pass without an incident, they'll start to think you made it up."
Mino bit her lower lip, determination mingled with anxiety. "Even if they don't believe me, I have to tell them. This is my home. I can't just watch it burn."
Luciel's tone softened, almost a whisper. "Alright. Leave that part to me."
Mino blinked, startled. "Ah?"
"I've already thought of a way," Luciel said, a faint smile touching his lips. "I'll speak to your camp leader myself tonight."
In the past, sneaking into the camp would have been nearly impossible. But with Luciel's ability to mimic color, to blend with his surroundings, he could move undetected like a shadow in the dark.
Mino's eyes widened. "You've really thought of a plan?"
Luciel nodded slightly. "Something like that."
He continued to search the thieves' belongings, though all he found were scraps of dried meat.
Mino crouched near another corpse, inspecting the few remaining possessions. "Then… is there anything I can do to help?"
"You?" Luciel let out a soft chuckle. "Are you really planning to follow me?"
"Yes." Mino's voice was firm, determination lighting her face. "Where else would I go? If the camp is doomed, I'd rather face it with you than wait helplessly here."
Luciel studied her for a moment, then his gaze drifted upward, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "By the way… what's the deal with those rabbit ears on your head?"
Mino froze, ears twitching nervously. She smiled sheepishly. "Ah… this? I'm a mutation. These ears… they're part of me."
Luciel's eyes glimmered with interest. "Mutation? What kind of ability?"
"I can hear sounds from far away," she said proudly. "I can run faster and jump higher than normal humans."
"Rabbit traits, huh?" Luciel murmured thoughtfully. "No wonder you've survived out here on your own."
He looked her over carefully. Small, nimble, alert—she was exactly the kind of person who could survive in this harsh, lawless land.
"I'll check the last two bodies," Mino said, running off to search them.
Luciel shook his head with a small sigh. "Still poor," he muttered, pulling another strip of tough, dried meat from his own scavenged pile.
"Luciel!" Mino's voice rang out in the quiet, excitement threading her words. "Come here! I found something good!"
Luciel glanced at his empty hands, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Looks like the girl's luck's better than mine today."
He walked over, and Mino held out a small, prismatic crystal, about the size of her thumb.
"Look! A beast crystal!" she said, grinning with pride.
Luciel took it carefully, examining it in the dim light. A faint, mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Energy body detected. Would you like to convert it into Evolution Points?]
Luciel's eyes narrowed slightly, the faintest smirk forming on his lips. "Now this is getting interesting," he muttered.