A flash from the glowing object in the darkness was very noticeable.
“Let’s go. That’s the direction James went.”
“Ugh, okay. Let’s hurry.”
Alex looked at Yona, who was still blushing and lightly breathing, with concern.
Despite Yona seeming indifferent, Alex couldn’t help but worry.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Why are you just standing there? Let’s go already!”
Thanks to Yona’s insistence, Alex started running, but he was still anxious.
*
“Invader!”
So, they were indeed a bunch of racists.
James grabbed his bow and whacked the temple of the first guy who charged at him.
Even though he was wearing a pendant, it seemed orcs couldn’t join this mysterious group, as the few men gathered inside rushed at James, shouting “Invader!”
“Kill him!”
“I can’t just kill you, now, that feels a bit unfair, doesn’t it?”
James almost pulled out his dagger but stopped.
Those guys were clearly coming at him with the intent to kill, but James was just an adventurer and not someone authorized for murder.
‘Hurry up, guys.’
James quickly scanned the interior of the building.
The inn was set up like a large circular hall, and there were stairs leading up to the edge of the hall.
This was the first floor, so there were no stairs going up, but directly across in the hall, there was a clearly visible staircase leading down to the basement.
Was it the second floor or the basement?
James ducked to avoid a man’s punch and then shot up his chin.
With a feeling like something broke, the man slumped and fell, but at that moment, James felt a powerful impact on his back.
There were easily more than ten men visible in the hall.
If they all charged at once, it would be a bit burdensome for James, who wasn’t a warrior.
As he elbowed the man charging him from behind in the temple, pain suddenly hit him in the ribs.
There was definitely a size difference between orcs and humans, but if the one holding a knife was human, the size difference didn’t matter much.
‘I have to save Rubina.’
But then again, I can’t turn my kids into orphans.
James thought this.
“Hmm—!”
As familiar voices rang, two men were flung away.
Seeing humans fly like toys, James let out a sigh of relief.
“Hey, lizard. Aren’t you a bit late? Is it hard to move because it’s cold at night?”
“To think an orc would get stabbed by a human—how shameful.”
Kaiyak swung his axe a couple of times before gripping it upside-down.
He would definitely kill someone if he slammed down with the axe, but he wouldn’t die if stabbed with the spear.
Sure, he might die if the healing was delayed, but that was just natural causes.
“Is Yona and Alex here yet?”
“Not yet. You’re the first one here.”
“Two from the same rank being the last? That’s a flop. I need to flip this whole situation!”
Kaiyak chuckled to himself, casually tossing the men aside.
“I just blew up another luminary outside. The guards won’t be blind forever; let’s push a bit further down.”
“Right. We need to clean this place up first.”
James readjusted his bow.
A warm pain surged through his lower back, but with a comrade now present, it was all good news.
“Alright, let’s go. It’s been 20 years since we’ve fought together like this.”
“Don’t say that! You sound like an old man.”
“I am old, what can I say?”
Kaiyak roared and charged in.
Following him, James gripped his bow upside down, a dagger in his other hand, and joined the fight.
*
“Are you really okay?”
Amidst the chaos of the flashing luminary, they were dashing around, but they still had a ways to go.
“I’m, uh… fine! See? I’m totally fine!”
Alex kept quiet because Yona was looking annoyed, but something felt off.
Yona was primarily focused on the burning heat in her right arm, barely managing to keep it together, and was aware that her condition was off.
But for now, her priority was saving Rubina.
“I think it’s around here.”
As they turned into an alley, they found a building with its door wide open.
The two men sprawled out in front looked less like decorations and more like unfortunate casualties, and the sounds of something crashing inside made it clear they were at the right place.
“Let’s go in.”
As Alex and Yona panting entered, they saw the perfectly fine Kaiyak and James, who was waist-deep in blood and gasping for breath.
Around them, over twenty men were scattered, and more were still emerging from somewhere.
“James!”
Yona dashed toward him.
The azure divinity on her right hand seamlessly flowed into James’s waist as she touched him.
“Just in time. Things were getting tough.”
“…Sorry for being late.”
“As long as you made it before I kicked the bucket, it’s all good. Now let’s head underground. That way.”
James gestured to Yona and Alex.
“Right. We can hold this spot with just the two of us. You both go on. Kidnappers usually don’t want to go god knows where, so they’ll be underground. Go save Rubina. How scary can that be?”
Kaiyak swung his axe spear, knocking a guy on the shoulder as he spoke.
Amidst the colorful screams, Yona signaled to Alex.
“Let’s go!”
Alex slapped Kaiyak and James on the waist and ran toward the staircase on the opposite side without hesitation.
Yona followed right behind him.
Yona dashed after them, exclaiming, “What on earth is happening!?”
As soon as Alex and Yona disappeared down the stairs, a squad of guards in uniforms surged into the building entrance.
Looks like the chaos we caused with those flashbangs finally brought in the cavalry.
“Well, you see, strange folks are doing strange things over here,” James said nonchalantly, yanking a pendant off the unconscious man’s neck with a loud snap.
He tossed the pendant to a higher-ranking guard, who caught it awkwardly and examined it closely.
“…Dark Association…!”
The guard’s face went stiff as a statue.
He handed the pendant to another guard standing next to him and barked, “Take this to the regent’s residence and report immediately! We’ve just raided a Dark Association gathering! Hurry up!”
The messenger guard saluted hastily before bolting away from the scene.
“We cannot allow this as the Kapatia Port Guards! Charge!”
*
Meanwhile, Ludvik and Priest Vigrind were bringing in the food, completely clueless about the ingredients.
Seeing fish for the first time, they had no idea what they were looking at.
But Ceres was considerate enough to lead them along, explaining the dishes as she went.
“This dish uses cod. It’s a white-fleshed fish, but with a firmer texture, hence the rich flavors from the sauce, spices, and herbs,” she said.
“This one is made with sole. It’s called meunière, where it’s coated in flour and fried with butter,” she added.
“Oh, that one isn’t local to Kapatia. It’s a dish from afar. If I had to name it… hmm, octopus pastries would fit nicely; it’s a batter of starch and flour mixed with octopus. Here, sprinkle some very thinly sliced tuna on top… see? It looks like it’s dancing!”
She laid out the array of dishes on the table, creating a stunning display.
“This is wine called Chablis, part of the Chardonnay family,” Ceres said, pouring wine into Ludvik and Vigrind’s glasses with a soft whisper.
“Chardonnay is a wine that isn’t oak-aged. The dry Muscadet from the Loire Valley pairs beautifully with seafood dishes. Kapatia, being by the sea, is well-known for its un-oaked Chardonnay. Give it a try,” she urged.
“Uh, ah, I see! You are quite knowledgeable, Regent!” said Ludvik, impressed.
“Oh, it’s just from enjoying it a lot,” Ceres replied breezily, smoothly handling Ludvik’s compliment.
There was a certain sophistication and charm in her demeanor that made Vigrind unable to look away.
‘So this is the allure of a mature woman…’
“Oh dear, is the Saint not enjoying her meal? Why aren’t you eating?”
“N-no! Not at all!”
Vigrind, who had been staring at Ceres blankly, quickly shoved an octopus pastry into his mouth.
“I just put it in.”
“Saint, that’s hot—”
“Ah, hot!!”
Priest Vigrind’s face turned bright red.
As he shoved an octopus bread into his mouth, the scalding hot flour spread instantly, prompting Vigrind to gulp down the wine Ceres handed him to cool his mouth, finally calming down.
But once he calmed down, embarrassment rushed in like a tidal wave.
“Isn’t the Regent having a meal…?”
“Oh my, I should eat too—”
Just then.
– Knock knock.
Ceres, keeping her mouth shut, shrugged her shoulders to ask for Vigrind’s understanding.
“Come in.”
The dining room door quietly opened, and a silver-haired man in a deep navy butler coat bent deeply at the waist in the doorway.
“Regent, I sincerely apologize for interrupting the banquet.”
“It’s fine.”
The silver-haired man slowly approached Ceres.
Eventually, standing next to Ceres, the man gently bowed in respect and whispered something into her ear.
“Right now?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“I find nothing at all appealing about that group. Understood. Please leave.”
Ceres’ face momentarily twisted in displeasure.
But just like that, when she turned to Ludvik and Vigrind, her expression shifted back to a soft and gentle smile.
“It seems there’s been a bit of a commotion.”
“A commotion?”
Ludvik thought that the ‘a bit of’ part in Ceres’ words was probably some sort of euphemism.
If it were truly just a small commotion, there wouldn’t be an immediate report reaching Ceres in the middle of a banquet.
“May I ask what kind of commotion it is?”
“Um—”
Ceres’ gaze rolled to the pendant of the Church of the Celestial God hanging from Vigrind’s chest.
“Since the Saint is here, I think it’s alright to tell you.”
“Excuse me?”
Suddenly being mentioned made Vigrind flinch.
The meal had long been forgotten, and both Ludvik and Vigrind were now looking at Ceres.
“Recently, we’ve received intel about a nefarious cult group stirring up trouble. They dare to overthrow the Church of the Celestial God and plot the resurrection of a demon. It seems they were caught today while holding a gathering, which led to the commotion.”
“Where is that place?”
Ludvik jumped up.
To overthrow the Church of the Celestial God and plot a demon’s resurrection—this was clearly a precursor to catastrophe.
“Subduing demons and demon lords is indeed the hero’s duty. Even if it’s just a precursor, it remains a great mission for me, so please let me participate in hunting down those evildoers.”
“I-I want to join too. To think of overthrowing the Church of the Celestial God, that is absolutely unacceptable.”
Ceres glanced back and forth at Ludvik and Vigrind, then smiled softly.
“I see. It’s truly uplifting to see both of you so eager to help. Then—”
A teasing smile settled on Ceres’ lips.
“I shall guide you.”
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
