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Smoke! Fire! Gunpowder! Stealing the Tesoro of the Feast! - Episode 5
⭠ last episode | Episode 5 | next episode ⭢
Snow: This is nightshade moss.
It’s a type of moss that thrives in dark places. When there’s light, it glows in different colours depending on how the light hits it.
Akira: Wow… It’s really pretty.
Shino: Focus on the mission, you guys. Let’s go do some recon.
Cain: This is a real huge place. Where do we even start…?
Bradley: Well, it’ll take just about forever if you decide to wander around blind. We should narrow down our options.
For as far I could see, our surroundings were very unlike the silvery white snow I had come to associate with the Northern landscape. It looked almost inorganic in the way it was covered in stone with ridges spiking upwards and outward.
Akira: (The sun doesn’t reach all the way down here. I didn’t think there’d be an ecosystem in a place like this…)
Snow: Hm? There’s something that looks like a path behind these boulders.
Bradley: There’s no footsteps or traces of magic, but it might just lead us somewhere worth going.
Akira: Then, let’s start with that direction……
Mithra: Are we done yet? We arrived safely, so I’ve done my job.
Bradley’s strangely motivated anyway. Let's leave the rest to him.
Bradley: You probably don’t get it, but I’m working towards a full pardon here. Of course I’m motivated.
Mithra: Is that so. Then, I’ll leave things to you.
Akira: Huh? Mithra, wai…!
[ Mithra flies off. ]
In a hurry, I tried to stop him in his tracks.
But it was too late. Mithra was gone.
Akira: Oh no, he left…
White: What a rascal… Were we mistaken to bring him along after all? We’d thought he could arsim all of us away in a pinch, which would make this mission more forgiving.
Akira: (So that’s why they dragged him in……)
Snow: It can’t be helped. I’ll go fetch him.
We can’t let him wander around alone like a lost boy in an unfamiliar place.
Heaving a sigh, Snow went after Mithra.
[ Snow flies off. ]
Owen: I also happen to be kind of interested in finding out what our Glorious Leader over there is plotting.
Bradley: ………
Owen: Haha, it’s fine if you don’t wanna share your thoughts. That just means I too am allowed to do as I please.
[ Owen flies off. ]
Cain: Hey, wait!
Akira: Even Owen……
White: One after another they leave… Do we have nothing but troublemakers with us?
Figaro, you are now in charge of fetching Owen. Mithra too, while you’re at it.
Figaro: Can I not be troubled with one bothersome request after another for once?
Grumbling to himself, Figaro turned around and gave chase to Owen.
[ Figaro flies off. ]
—— In the end, including myself, only five remained.
Akira: (We ended up splitting up right from the start……)
White: It may be only us left, but the search shall continue.
If you wish to get your reward, it shall be through hard work. Did you hear that loud and clear, Bradley chan?
Bradley: Tch, you sicken me.
Bradley was a prisoner under the twins’ supervision. Therefore, he couldn’t defy them.
With the word ‘pardon’ dangled before him like a threat, Bradley could only click his tongue and sullenly comply.
Cain: We’ve only just started. We’ll definitely encounter more obstacles as we go, so let’s bring out some good vibes and get moving.
Shino: This is even better than I’d expected. With them out of my way, it’ll be my chance to shine.
Just as things were getting sour, the two of them brightened the mood with their optimism.
We chose to begin our recon while waiting for the stray wizards to be herded back.
We kept walking down the narrow crevice, with nothing but darkness and more darkness. As far as I could tell, it was endless.
White took the lead and lit the way. Then there was Cain and Shino on guard, while Bradley and I took the rear.
The view was always unchanging.I couldn’t fathom how far we had walked or where we were going anymore. Suddenly, I heard a noise.
[ Growl… ]
[ No BGM ]
Akira: (...... What… was that?)
I listened intently. My ears did not deceive me.
I could hear the sound of something breathing.
I glanced around, but there was nothing as far as I could see.
I started feeling uneasy. All of a sudden, it felt much colder than before.
Bradley: ………
Right at that moment, Bradley, who was walking next to me, swerved as if he were avoiding something.
Akira: (...... What is it?)
Shards of mana stone lay scattered around my feet. Tattered cloth and broken weapons too…
[ BGM starts ]
These were things that once belonged to people — or were once people.
I finally realised that the path ahead was strewn with such things.
Bradley: Must be the remnants of the search parties they’d sent in earlier.
Akira: …… Ah. Come to think of it, they did mention that most people never returned…
Bradley picked something up from the litter of items.
It was an old dagger, but its craftsmanship was exquisite.
Bradley: What a nice trinket. It might come in handy.
Something that looked like blood clung to the dagger’s blade. It was a bit alarming, to say the least.
Bradley: Some of my men perished during the hunt for the Walpurgisnacht. It just so happens that one of them had a dagger just like this as his magical tool of choice.
Predator or prey, your life's on the line the moment you become a part of the chase.
A treasure’s value will only go up with each life sacrificed to its pursuit — it don’t matter what side does the dying.
Bradley’s words sounded nothing like the reality I was used to. It was just like when I listened to his tales in the meeting lounge and his own room; it felt like someone was reading me an adventure from a storybook.
But now, with the painful threat of death dangling over me like a noose, I was never more awake and alert than I was now.
Bradley kept walking. He stared into the darkness beyond, vigilant as ever.
Bradley: Danger lurks in the unknown. … That’s a fact that won’t ever change, past or present.
Akira: By that, do you mean that something dangerous is lurking around here somewhere just like Owen said?
Bradley: If they’re still hanging around as they please even after having those other guys for breakfast, yeah.
[ Ravine Floor - Open Chamber ]
By the time I’d noticed, the path we traversed had opened up into a wider space. It was some sort of hall-like chamber, roomier, and much less claustrophobic than before.
Akira: (Is something lurking in here…?)
My breath shuddered as I watched Cain take a bold step forward.
He wore a grim expression as he placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword.
Cain: I sense something in the dark. Many, many somethings…… Don’t let your guard down.
The idea of being surrounded by unknown creatures lying in wait flashed through my mind. My blood ran cold.
[ Growl… ]
They started closing in on us.
I could tell, from the way the sound of things breathing grew louder and clearer.
Shino & Bradley: ………
Like Cain, Shino and Bradley stopped in their tracks as well.
With their magical tools at the ready, they fixed their gaze into the darkness.
In one smooth movement, Cain drew his sword and took a defensive stance in front of me.
White: They’re coming.
The wind whistled.
[ Roar! ]
The shadow of a winged creature came into view, followed by many more of the same.
I froze.
Episode 6 ⭢
Snow: This is nightshade moss.
It’s a type of moss that thrives in dark places. When there’s light, it glows in different colours depending on how the light hits it.
Akira: Wow… It’s really pretty.
Shino: Focus on the mission, you guys. Let’s go do some recon.
Cain: This is a real huge place. Where do we even start…?
Bradley: Well, it’ll take just about forever if you decide to wander around blind. We should narrow down our options.
For as far I could see, our surroundings were very unlike the silvery white snow I had come to associate with the Northern landscape. It looked almost inorganic in the way it was covered in stone with ridges spiking upwards and outward.
Akira: (The sun doesn’t reach all the way down here. I didn’t think there’d be an ecosystem in a place like this…)
Snow: Hm? There’s something that looks like a path behind these boulders.
Bradley: There’s no footsteps or traces of magic, but it might just lead us somewhere worth going.
Akira: Then, let’s start with that direction……
Mithra: Are we done yet? We arrived safely, so I’ve done my job.
Bradley’s strangely motivated anyway. Let's leave the rest to him.
Bradley: You probably don’t get it, but I’m working towards a full pardon here. Of course I’m motivated.
Mithra: Is that so. Then, I’ll leave things to you.
Akira: Huh? Mithra, wai…!
[ Mithra flies off. ]
In a hurry, I tried to stop him in his tracks.
But it was too late. Mithra was gone.
Akira: Oh no, he left…
White: What a rascal… Were we mistaken to bring him along after all? We’d thought he could arsim all of us away in a pinch, which would make this mission more forgiving.
Akira: (So that’s why they dragged him in……)
Snow: It can’t be helped. I’ll go fetch him.
We can’t let him wander around alone like a lost boy in an unfamiliar place.
Heaving a sigh, Snow went after Mithra.
[ Snow flies off. ]
Owen: I also happen to be kind of interested in finding out what our Glorious Leader over there is plotting.
Bradley: ………
Owen: Haha, it’s fine if you don’t wanna share your thoughts. That just means I too am allowed to do as I please.
[ Owen flies off. ]
Cain: Hey, wait!
Akira: Even Owen……
White: One after another they leave… Do we have nothing but troublemakers with us?
Figaro, you are now in charge of fetching Owen. Mithra too, while you’re at it.
Figaro: Can I not be troubled with one bothersome request after another for once?
Grumbling to himself, Figaro turned around and gave chase to Owen.
[ Figaro flies off. ]
—— In the end, including myself, only five remained.
Akira: (We ended up splitting up right from the start……)
White: It may be only us left, but the search shall continue.
If you wish to get your reward, it shall be through hard work. Did you hear that loud and clear, Bradley chan?
Bradley: Tch, you sicken me.
Bradley was a prisoner under the twins’ supervision. Therefore, he couldn’t defy them.
With the word ‘pardon’ dangled before him like a threat, Bradley could only click his tongue and sullenly comply.
Cain: We’ve only just started. We’ll definitely encounter more obstacles as we go, so let’s bring out some good vibes and get moving.
Shino: This is even better than I’d expected. With them out of my way, it’ll be my chance to shine.
Just as things were getting sour, the two of them brightened the mood with their optimism.
We chose to begin our recon while waiting for the stray wizards to be herded back.
We kept walking down the narrow crevice, with nothing but darkness and more darkness. As far as I could tell, it was endless.
White took the lead and lit the way. Then there was Cain and Shino on guard, while Bradley and I took the rear.
The view was always unchanging.I couldn’t fathom how far we had walked or where we were going anymore. Suddenly, I heard a noise.
[ Growl… ]
[ No BGM ]
Akira: (...... What… was that?)
I listened intently. My ears did not deceive me.
I could hear the sound of something breathing.
I glanced around, but there was nothing as far as I could see.
I started feeling uneasy. All of a sudden, it felt much colder than before.
Bradley: ………
Right at that moment, Bradley, who was walking next to me, swerved as if he were avoiding something.
Akira: (...... What is it?)
Shards of mana stone lay scattered around my feet. Tattered cloth and broken weapons too…
[ BGM starts ]
These were things that once belonged to people — or were once people.
I finally realised that the path ahead was strewn with such things.
Bradley: Must be the remnants of the search parties they’d sent in earlier.
Akira: …… Ah. Come to think of it, they did mention that most people never returned…
Bradley picked something up from the litter of items.
It was an old dagger, but its craftsmanship was exquisite.
Bradley: What a nice trinket. It might come in handy.
Something that looked like blood clung to the dagger’s blade. It was a bit alarming, to say the least.
Bradley: Some of my men perished during the hunt for the Walpurgisnacht. It just so happens that one of them had a dagger just like this as his magical tool of choice.
Predator or prey, your life's on the line the moment you become a part of the chase.
A treasure’s value will only go up with each life sacrificed to its pursuit — it don’t matter what side does the dying.
Bradley’s words sounded nothing like the reality I was used to. It was just like when I listened to his tales in the meeting lounge and his own room; it felt like someone was reading me an adventure from a storybook.
But now, with the painful threat of death dangling over me like a noose, I was never more awake and alert than I was now.
Bradley kept walking. He stared into the darkness beyond, vigilant as ever.
Bradley: Danger lurks in the unknown. … That’s a fact that won’t ever change, past or present.
Akira: By that, do you mean that something dangerous is lurking around here somewhere just like Owen said?
Bradley: If they’re still hanging around as they please even after having those other guys for breakfast, yeah.
[ Ravine Floor - Open Chamber ]
By the time I’d noticed, the path we traversed had opened up into a wider space. It was some sort of hall-like chamber, roomier, and much less claustrophobic than before.
Akira: (Is something lurking in here…?)
My breath shuddered as I watched Cain take a bold step forward.
He wore a grim expression as he placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword.
Cain: I sense something in the dark. Many, many somethings…… Don’t let your guard down.
The idea of being surrounded by unknown creatures lying in wait flashed through my mind. My blood ran cold.
[ Growl… ]
They started closing in on us.
I could tell, from the way the sound of things breathing grew louder and clearer.
Shino & Bradley: ………
Like Cain, Shino and Bradley stopped in their tracks as well.
With their magical tools at the ready, they fixed their gaze into the darkness.
In one smooth movement, Cain drew his sword and took a defensive stance in front of me.
White: They’re coming.
The wind whistled.
[ Roar! ]
The shadow of a winged creature came into view, followed by many more of the same.
I froze.
Episode 6 ⭢