Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Disguise
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The biggest reason two months felt so tight for tackling the Undead Dungeon was transportation.
Unlike Erandar, which took just two hours from Neivil, it was a six-hour train ride to the Ronwood Mountains.
Since our official status was students, we could only set out after classes ended.
Taking Christoph's schedule into account, once we departed, we couldn't return any sooner than the next day.
In the end, attempting a raid was impossible unless it included the weekend, starting on Friday.
Even then, to attend Monday's classes, we'd have to return by Sunday afternoon.
If the dungeon raid plan had been officially approved by the board of directors, skipping classes wouldn't have been an issue, but practical training like this was a different story.
Of course, there were ways to shorten the travel time.
Unlike the regular trains used by students, there was the Cyrus Express, reserved exclusively for those with imperial blood.
It was an express train that bypassed stations and raced at top speed, covering the six-hour distance in just two.
In the original story, toward the very end, even Aren gained access to the Cyrus Express, allowing quick travel to distant regions in one go.
So.
Since our party included the princess Alicia, we could naturally use it, right?
No.
"Ah... What a pity! If only we could use the Cyrus Express, we could've uprooted the Evil God's followers in an instant!!"
"Yes, sure."
"If only we could use the Cyrus Express!!"
Alicia had been whining like this nonstop ever since boarding the train, clearly dissatisfied.
"What can be done? Since you've gone this far with the disguise, why not just accept it?"
Her outfit was completely different from usual.
Twin tails with her hair tied tightly on both sides, freckles across the bridge of her nose, scars drawn here and there on her body, and shabby clothes.
No one would suspect her of being a princess.
She couldn't hide her red hair, but the disguise felt more refined than before.
"But the seats on the Cyrus Express are over seven times more comfortable than Christoph's."
"That's... oddly specific..."
"But Mercenary Ally can't ride the Cyrus Express."
Her current identity wasn't Princess Alicia, but Mercenary Ally.
"Urgh... To bear the imperial blood yet be unable to proclaim its glory! Isn't it just too regrettable!?"
"...Are you even intending to keep the disguise?"
I let her whining go in one ear and out the other.
If I indulged her, she'd keep it up for the entire six hours.
I sighed inwardly and turned to Mine this time.
She had braided her purple hair, worn glasses, and draped herself in a cloak that covered her whole body.
Her darkened makeup gave off a damp, gloomy vibe, unlike her usual look.
No one would associate this appearance with the Saintess.
Since Alicia and Mine's faces were known across the empire, using Christoph meant their faces would inevitably be exposed.
Disguises like this were essential for moving freely.
Mine reached out to my hair and started fixing the messy strands.
"Ah, Valhillar. Your wig's crooked."
"Thanks, Rosia."
I was disguised too.
My name was somewhat known, but unlike the two of them, my face wasn't widely recognized.
Hiding my gray hair was enough; to Halibal or Louidel students, I'd just blend in.
So I wore a suitable blond wig.
Mine's alias was Rosia.
Mine was the one from Valhillar used in the entrance exam.
Our cover story was that we were a trio of mercenaries visiting the Ronwood Plains to investigate local specialties unique to newly opened regions.
Alicia, twisting her twin tails, asked in a small voice.
"So, why exactly do we need this disguise?"
The disguise was my idea.
Our official alibi was holing up in our dorms over the weekend for personal training.
Alicia and Mine, who had private rooms, had no issues, and I'd secured mine by asking Aren.
Fortunately, he agreed readily.
"Because the Princess, the Saintess, and the Dirge Sword moving together is far too conspicuous."
"We didn't need to disguise ourselves from the start of the trip."
"That's true, but..."
"If you're worried about standing out on the Cyrus Express, we could've ridden it to a midpoint, switched trains, and disguised ourselves inside. That would've been more efficient."
The basic outline of this cult branch subjugation op was to use a nearby village on the Ronwood Plains as a base, gather intel while staying overnight, complete the purge over two days, and return.
The Undead Dungeon was at the peak of the Ronwood Mountains, and the cult branch midway up.
Fortunately, the demonic energy spewing from the summit didn't reach the base, where a village of ordinary folk had formed.
"Doesn't this create more atmosphere?"
"...Were you the type to care about atmosphere?"
"'Atmosphere' my foot—it's about survival."
Alicia's observation was sharp.
But there was something she didn't know.
A cult branch midway up the mountain, yet the villagers below are ordinary residents?
No way.
In fact, every resident of Ronwood Village was a cult follower.
That's why in the original, this quest kicks off with a nighttime ambush while Aren stays in the village.
It then turns into a time attack: subdue all the villagers, then wipe out the branch before the main force escapes.
From the moment we stepped off the train, every human we met could be considered an enemy.
No—some passengers on this very train were likely followers too.
But I didn't tell the two the truth.
No point stirring up trouble; it'd just heighten their alertness unnecessarily.
Nothing was happening right now, so no need to pull the string of tension.
"For now, both of you should get some rest. We might have to move immediately upon arrival."
"Indeed."
Time passed quietly.
The scenery outside shifted gradually from countryside to the rugged entrance of the mountains.
Alicia had fallen asleep before long, while Mine closed her eyes in prayer.
I alone stayed awake, repeatedly mapping and erasing dozens, hundreds of paths in my mind.
Occasionally, I scanned the compartment.
Ordinary-looking merchants, a cheerful family.
'Which of them are followers?'
Pondering yielded no answers.
The sky had turned red before I knew it, and the PA announcement shattered the train's silence.
[We will soon arrive at the final stop, Ronwood Plains Station.]
The announcement woke Alicia, who stretched, while Mine took a quiet deep breath.
Screeech—
As the train doors opened, a small, peaceful rural scene came into view beyond the platform.
Amid it, rice stalks swayed gently in the spring breeze.
Our destination: the Ronwood Plains.
⁎⁎⁎
The village was a brisk ten-minute walk from the station.
After trudging along the dirt path for a bit, the Ronwood Mountains loomed in the distance.
Our eyes narrowed simultaneously at the demonic energy pouring from the peak.
Mine especially couldn't hide her stiff expression.
"Rosia."
I called her, but she seemed lost in old memories, unresponsive.
I gripped her shoulder firmly to snap her out.
"Rosia."
"Ah, ack. Y-yes! I-I'm still not used to it..."
"'Rosia' is visiting this place for the first time, right?"
"Huh? Oh, n-no, first time..."
"I'm talking about Rosia, not Mine. Rosia is new to the Ronwood Plains and has no painful dungeon memories."
Understanding my intent, Mine took a deep breath and nodded.
She still couldn't look straight at the peak, but she seemed somewhat calmed.
Meanwhile, Alicia spoke.
"This place is peaceful."
"Yes."
"Isn't it strange? Not knowing when the Evil God's minions might pour down from that summit, yet it's so serene."
She smiled softly.
"I hope it stays peaceful forever."
"That's why we came all this way, isn't it?"
Instead of replying, Alicia gazed at the distant mountains.
The village we soon reached was, as she said, utterly peaceful.
Cozy wooden houses, friendly villagers greeting us warmly, the tantalizing aroma wafting from a tavern.
The quintessential rural village scene.
We headed straight for the village's only inn.
Its entrance boldly displayed the lattice-pattern symbol of the Church of the Lord God.
No one seeing this would suspect the village was a Tartarus Cult den.
Opening the door, a kindly innkeeper welcomed us.
"Welcome, travelers. What brings you to Ronwood?"
"We're mercenaries here on a commission to investigate new local specialties. We heard the demonic energy around here cleared up recently."
"Haha, tough work. Lucky for you, we've got a room open. Stay comfortably, and I'll treat you to our village's specialty brew to ease your journey's fatigue."
As the innkeeper vanished into the kitchen, Alicia whispered.
"This place seems pretty friendly."
"It reminds me of when I lived in my hometown."
I nodded and deliberately spoke loud enough for the kitchen to hear.
"We'll stay here tonight and head out for the commission tomorrow."
The innkeeper led us to a room on the second floor.
As we climbed the creaky stairs, I felt numerous gazes from other guests on our backs.
"Rest easy. I'll call you for dinner."
The innkeeper closed the door behind him.
Click—the door locked, and I immediately set down my gear to check for listeners.
Fortunately, none.
'Now what?'
That's when it happened.
"This is a problem."
Alicia tapped the bridge of her nose and spoke.
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't you notice, junior? That this entire village is in the jaws of the tiger."
Mine and I's eyes widened.
Mine because it was news to her.
And me...
'...How did she figure it out?'
"Looks like it. Then maybe even inside the train... Ah, but since they're simple foes, we weren't spotted..."
Alicia murmured to herself, fiddling with her lower lip.
I'd forgotten, but she was an intellect type.
Thanks to countless intrigues as princess, her ability to detect hostility or malice was abnormally sharp.
She must've picked up on the subtle incongruities in the villagers' behavior right after entering.
I'd only seen her ditzy side lately and forgotten she was fundamentally competent.
After muttering for a while, Alicia reached a conclusion.
"It seems the whole village is a Tartarus Cult nest."
"......Is that so?"
"Th-then... did they figure out who we are?"
Alicia shook her head at Mine's question.
"No. Looks like your disguise plan coincidentally worked out well. They didn't seem to know who we are. Just wary of us as outsiders."
"If they knew who we were, they'd have acted immediately."
"Luckily, we spotted their identities first, so we can strike preemptively."
That's when Mine, with a grim face, asked.
"Um... does that mean every villager is a follower?"
"In my estimation, yes. Though they might not all be."
"Th-that can't be...!!"
On the way to the village, she'd exchanged greetings with many residents.
Her heart must be heavy realizing they were all enemies she had to deal with.
"......There are too many to handle one by one..."
"?"
Or not.
Anyway.
Thanks to Alicia piecing it together herself, I didn't have to explain the situation.
Soon, she even grasped the core of the original quest.
"But... the moment we make a move, word will reach the branch immediately. We have to head straight for their main base right after acting."
It was then.
Creaking footsteps echoed in the hallway.
They stopped right at our door, and we froze, holding our breath and halting our words.
Knock knock.
"Guests, dinner is ready."
It was the innkeeper's voice.