Companions (2)
Four days had passed since Valerius handed the task over to Yanes. He spent most of his time at the inn.
"No. Again. This is the word 'love'."
"You mean 'death'?"
"No. No. The spelling's different. Like this."
"Ahh. 'Slaughter'? Is this right?"
As a hobby, Valerius was teaching letters to Peep.
The inn looked proper enough, but beastkin were a socially vulnerable class. Neither the innkeeper nor his daughter Peep knew how to read, so they welcomed Valerius's offer.
"Hey, old man innkeep. Your daughter's gonna turn into a slayer someday."
"Hoho. Inheriting the nickname of the southern war hero. The family glory."
"Damn."
It had only been a few days, but the Jo-in tribe father and daughter had grown close to Valerius. His naturally unreserved personality made it easy for him to get along with anyone—that was one of his strengths.
"All done, mister."
"Yeah. Good job."
He roughly ruffled Peep's hair after finishing today's lesson. Jo-in hair was stiffer than human hair, which gave it a satisfying texture when stroked. Of course, with his pot-lid-sized hands moving, sounds like eekyaek! came out too.
"Snap out of it. Customer's coming—get ready."
"Aghogo."
Peep waddled off to the kitchen, still dazed. Soon after, the inn door opened, and two women entered. Yanes glanced around and spotted Valerius, heading straight for him. Sophia followed behind.
"So, what's up?"
"The auction date's set. Tonight."
It was the news he'd been waiting for. A bit rushed, maybe. Playing with Peep hadn't been a waste of time, but reforming the Topsol Kill Gang meant he had to head to Rozanica anyway.
"Kinda sudden."
"...Yeah, that's what worries me too."
Saying that, Yanes pulled out a stack of papers. He almost snorted at the recycled scrap— she wielded luxury like a pro but pinched pennies here. Anyway, the documents listed the backgrounds of everyone attending the auction.
"How'd you get this?"
"Money buys anything. Probably sold to others too."
Familiar noble names jumped out. Folks aggressive on slaves and bound to eye rare spirits.
"The funding flow's fishy."
"How so?"
"Nobles tied to Baron Binradi, the lord of Fillerbinker."
"Hmm."
Baron Binradi, Fillerbinker's master, was aggressive and greedy. The Topsol Kill Gang paid him the heftiest tribute of any city, and he looked down on them. Still, once a deal was struck, he honored it.
Valerius narrowed his eyes at the list. These noble names looked familiar.
"Ah, these bastards. The Bloodthorn Nobles' Association crew."
"...How do you know that?"
"Owe 'em from the south."
A minor noble clique—they'd picked fights nonstop during guerrilla ops down south. He'd exposed their supply corruption, executed one on the spot, and after they threw a fit, Grant smashed them once. They'd gone quiet after, so he'd ignored them.
"More importantly, how do you know these guys?"
"They're kinda famous in noble circles. Count Ziladio joined—big noble faction guy. Got their backing, expanding aggressively."
"...Ziladio? The idiot who replaced me as southern frontline commander?"
"...Yes. That's him."
Valerius clicked his tongue low. Stupid Baron Binradi bastard. Joining the Bloodthorn Nobles' Association meant paying tribute to central nobles—as a northern noble.
"This'll reach the North Duke's ears for sure. What an idiot."
The North Duchy house hated central nobles. Northern nobles hated them more—the desolation was mostly their fault. And now this guy angling to bail north?
Ridiculous.
"Traitor scum."
"Ahem. Same empire, technically?"
"Hmph. Bullshit."
Yanes glanced nervously and corrected herself, but Valerius ignored her. Filthy central nobles. Worst of the worst—like junglers who gank once with a skill, bitch about no response, then ghost the lane after eating all the CS. Heads needed splitting.
"Auction's tonight? Time to fuck 'em up proper."
"Huh? Why give 'em sweets?"
"No. Ugh. Forget it."
"...Why stop mid-sentence?!"
Ignoring Yanes's protest, Valerius stood. He draped the robe over his shoulders.
"Pitbull Gang already handed off the slaves?"
"Yeah. Black market's running the auction."
Valerius wrapped the robe tight, pulling up the hood.
"Weapons?"
"If I bring weapons, this place turns into a graveyard."
"...Grim."
Others might scoff, but the Slayer who'd solo-killed over 700 spoke different.
"Ugh."
Northern travelers tended toward complacency. Slave trading was so subdued here—no big buyers hauling them off.
Ellara Nuawins, following the Star's prophecy north, found her situation utterly baffling. Bandits? Kidnapped? Never saw it coming.
-Told you to run sooner.
"B-but..."
Ellara pouted at Checholla's words. That first meeting, rescuing her—running then would've left Checholla sealed for ages more.
-Heard it's auction night. Chaos then—perfect escape window.
"Yeah. I trust you, Checholla."
-...Jeez.
The Night Spirit Checholla eyed her new contractor with fond exasperation. Her beauty and airheadedness worried, but that warm vibe always drew a smile.
-Hm?
Perched as a crow on Ellara's shoulder, Checholla turned. Her spirit senses caught a disturbance—not human.
"What? Something wrong?"
-Upstairs is noisy. Stay ready. Run any—
BOOM!
A massive roar shook the building violently.
"Kyaaak!"
-Ellara!
The ceiling collapsed, something crashing down. The quake rippled out; Ellara tumbled from the shockwave. Startled Checholla threw up a spirit barrier.
Plink. Plink.
From the dust-choked center, something rose. Falling rubble echoed loud.
"Here you are."
A thick, low male voice. A hulking man strode toward them.
-...
Checholla tensed hard. The silhouette in the dust exuded crushing pressure. Mana filled every corner of his body; his heart's mana core spun fiercely. Steady rotation marked Master realm.
"Hm? Face hidden."
The robed giant casually ripped the cage open.
-Don't come closer!
Checholla flung razor-sharp feathers—faster, deadlier than any assassin's throw. Useless against the giant.
"Ah, Checholla too."
-You know me!?Shit! Get up, Ellara! Run now!
Hearing her name shook Ellara awake. She took in the massive man. Shadows hid his face, but gleaming silver eyes shone. Raw vitality and power—like the overwhelming presence of ancient spirits she'd met before.
"W-wait a sec..."
-Going.
Before Ellara finished, Checholla's spirit art activated. Feathers whitened; black curtains enveloped Ellara.
"Oops."
Valerius nearly shattered it on reflex, pulling back. The veil vanished—Ellara gone.
He pictured her. Spirit affinity to handle fresh-contracted Checholla that well. That ditzy aura too.
"Hmph. Heroine type, huh."
Alone in the dungeon, Valerius muttered. Face unseen, but signs pointed heroine. Knew she'd escape solo—wasted trip. Safety confirmed, though. Good enough.
"...Ah. Yanes'll be pissed."
Checholla was the goal—slipped away right in front. Awkward. He'd promised help; now it looked like his screw-up.
'Slot in Rozanica should smooth it.'
She targeted Checholla for magic, but merchant at heart. Prime Rozanica spot? Fine compromise.
"Right."
Or hand over artifacts. Post-job, hidden dungeon run planned. Useless drops there'd do.
Wonder if buying villainess grudge was smart. Blood magic users got strong later, heard.
Nah—now mattered more.
"Don't wanna hear nagging."
Villainess roots made Yanes's words cut deep. Muttering, Valerius slipped out quietly. Rushed punch through floor, but cleanup remained.