Chapter 24: Turning Crisis into Opportunity (4)
Explosions are echoing in all directions.
The screams of panicked people fill the air. The black market has turned into complete chaos.
In the midst of this turmoil, a man clad in black robes is smirking slyly.
“So far, so good.”
The plan to terrorize the black market while claiming to be the notorious Black Fang is proceeding smoothly, just as he intended.
Black Fang. A name that invokes fear and wariness throughout the empire, now being misused to commit crimes without a second thought.
The reason the man embarked on this chaotic mission was simple.
He was a knight of the empire.
“They say you fight fire with fire.”
The directives from above were straightforward.
Create terror in the guise of the Black Fang.
The black market had always been a thorn in the empire’s side.
Those who traded in artifacts monopolized by the empire, relying solely on the support of the Archmage, believed they were untouchable.
Until now, the empire had chosen to keep an eye on them quietly. But one day, they would have to be dealt with.
The mysteries contained in those artifacts were essential for the continued existence of the empire.
And then the third force, the Black Fang, appeared. The empire’s leaders decided they would make full use of this situation.
They resolved to disguise themselves as the Black Fang and unleash terror here.
A false premise had also been concocted.
The liberation of slaves traded in the black market. Just the kind of operation a rebel organization against the empire would pursue.
The true identity of the Black Fang remains shrouded in mystery.
Thus, for even an Archmage, distinguishing between them and the actual Black Fang was impossible.
Unbeknownst to them, the Black Fang would be wrongfully accused and become the target of the Archmage’s ire.
Although the man, who held a relatively high-ranking position, didn’t know the purpose of the mysteries held within the artifacts, that hardly mattered.
A knight of the empire should never question orders.
Recover the artifact.
Disguise as the Black Fang and issue a fake declaration.
Some captured slaves would be released as a mere distraction while the remaining ones would be handed over to the Royal Court.
It was a simple mission.
And it was at this moment, lost in thought about the task at hand, that everything took a turn.
AAARGH!
A scream.
A horrible scream reverberates in his ears.
The man swiftly turns to take stock of the situation, but finds nothing.
The subordinate who had been beside him has vanished without leaving a trace, as if he had never existed at all.
Instincts honed from countless battles send a warning to the man. He scans the area, trying to grasp the situation.
Before long, two figures in black robes appear before him. The man instinctively realizes who they are.
It’s inevitable.
Without him even realizing it, his legs are shaking like jelly.
The position of the strong? No, he’s feeling the weight of the weaker side.
Not the predator, but the prey.
He is acutely experiencing that overwhelming sensation.
Yet, he refuses to give up.
He gathers his wits and dares to speak.
“I apologize for borrowing the name without permission.”
It’s no coincidence the man was chosen to lead this operation.
With eyes gleaming with a sincerity that couldn’t possibly be mistaken for deceit, he continues his pitch to the two figures.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m sorry for using the name, but still, I wish to participate in your noble cause.”
Assuming it wasn’t too presumptuous, he makes an almost perfectly plausible lie, asking if they could assist in the slave rescue.
The man is filled with confidence.
Confident that he could somehow sell this lie to get out of this situation.
*
Siel stared blankly at the man standing in front of her.
He was babbling something, but Siel chose to tune him out.
Naturally, why would she listen to someone who isn’t even Ian?
“Devour him.”
With that command, a shadow morphed into a beast.
The wolf ravenously sank its teeth into the man’s arm.
So noisy, these screams, she thought, as she watched the man writhing in agony with an expressionless face.
“W-Why?” the man stammered.
Why was he being attacked?
That question ruffled Siel’s feathers.
Uncharacteristically, she frowned slightly as she replied, “You upset me.”
For Siel, Ian is everything.
The world revolves around him, and without him, the world holds no meaning.
Yet, this man had the audacity to upset Ian.
Siel still remembers all too well. The way Ian lamented over the Black Fang’s name being tarnished.
She almost wanted to challenge the man.
Shouldn’t he be grateful that dying could atone for ruining Ian’s mood?
“P-Please… spare me,” he pleaded.
While Siel was lost in thought, the man was trying desperately to stop the bleeding from his torn arm, inching toward Lien.
“I truly sympathize with your ideals purely…”
It seems he intended to spew some nonsense at Lien too.
However, Siel didn’t stop him.
She merely added one more line.
“You can play with him. He’s not a person, after all.”
*
As I wandered the streets, a strange sense of unease crept over me.
Oddly enough, there was not a single one of those mysterious black-robed figures in sight. Surely, I should’ve stumbled upon at least one by now.
Was my luck really this good?
After a moment’s thought, a reasonable explanation crossed my mind.
‘Did that apprentice manage to suppress the terror attack?’
He may not be as formidable as the late Archmage, but he’s no weakling either. Besides, there’s been a significant time lapse since the previous incident.
It wouldn’t be odd to imagine he’d grown stronger during his training.
‘I need to hurry.’
If the terror is indeed being quelled, the window for me to act as a righteous hero is rapidly closing with each tick of the clock.
I must hurry. But…
‘Where on earth is that warehouse?’
The security system, which had activated automatically with the explosion, had naturally relocated the holy sword to the warehouse beneath the auction house.
I need to find the secret passage leading to that warehouse… but where could it possibly be?
Even in the original story, the secret passage was only mentioned in passing; it didn’t exist in the actual game.
I mulled over this for a bit before an absurd thought sprang to mind.
‘It seems I’m being influenced a bit by Lien.’
Such a brutally simple solution.
Yet, why did I feel so sure it would work?
I quickly made my way back to the auction house.
I zeroed in on the location where the security device had been triggered and took my stand. Surely, there’s a passage leading to the warehouse below.
“Phew…”
I took a slow breath, calming my mind.
Just as I had practiced earlier, I focused my magical energy into my fist. Then, I struck down forcefully several times…!
BOOM!
With a tremendous noise, the floor of the auction house shattered.
After a few more attempts, a hole large enough for a person to slip through easily had appeared.
The approach of creating an entrance where none existed turned out to be surprisingly effective.
Indeed, when the body is strong, the mind gets to relax.
I immediately jumped into the hole.
Inside, it wasn’t as dark as I had anticipated.
As if the lights sensed my entry, they flickered on the moment I stepped inside.
And what caught my eye shortly thereafter was…
‘Why are there children here?’
Children who weren’t even listed for auction, inexplicably bound here, all shackled by their ankles.
…The situation was dire.
It was a rare sight to find a child in decent shape.
Some were missing an arm. There was even one poor kid grotesquely stitched with their arms and legs swapped.
This situation was crystal clear.
‘How diligent, in the worst possible way.’
This place was directly run by that Archmage’s disciple.
And, as one could infer from that Archmage’s creation of the black market, his specialty was dark magic.
This was likely the result of the disciple’s diligent practice.
Whether practicing dark magic earnestly is something to be praised is another discussion.
As I was trying to stifle my nausea at that horrific sight, I felt a peculiar sensation brush against my leg.
A girl jumped back in alarm as soon as our skin touched.
Her reaction indicated she probably couldn’t see.
I had an inkling why this blind girl was scared of me.
She had the marks of having been whipped.
She must have mistaken me for her owner.
“Don’t worry. I’m not here to harm you,” I reassured her.
I found myself deep in thought about how to resolve this situation.
But my contemplation was short-lived. After all, wasn’t I here to steal?
That just means there’s more to take care of now.
Whether these children were key figures in the original story or not was irrelevant.
I’m not a psychopath; it’s better to save those I can. I don’t need to only save those who would benefit me.
“Wh-Who are you?” the little one quivered, her face full of terror.
In the middle of enemy territory.
For all I know, they might have some kind of eavesdropping magic in play.
I pondered how to respond… then a fitting idea popped into my mind.
There’s a name that’s perfect for this situation, isn’t there?
“The Black Fang has come to rescue you.”
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