Unintended Secrets and the Knight's Challenge
Learning each other's pasts like that, unintentionally, seemed to loosen the tension in the air that had felt so heavy before.
"No, why the hell did you bring a Lesser Outer God in your pocket? Are you insane? Well, you already are. What if the knights find out? Lucky they only took your weapons and didn't check your body!"
Agartha was raging like a wild animal, claiming this was the 16th time she'd felt chills down her spine as a thief. Wait, isn't that a lot? I had nothing to say, but I felt a bit wronged and didn't want to lose to her, so I shot back.
"No, how was I supposed to know it'd turn out like this?"
"Still, come on. I even shared my family history to lighten the mood, and now I feel totally betrayed. You didn't actually do it with an Outer God, did you?"
"I told you I didn't."
Self-justification through the roof. The Lesser Outer God watching our bickering from my pocket squirmed dejectedly. The Hunter spoke up as she watched us.
"Not doing a possession check wasn't luck—it was deliberate. Outer Gods get harder to approach the closer you get to the Hearth."
The Hunter had lost her double-barrel shotgun but pulled out the hidden BB bullets she'd stashed and showed them to me and Agartha. I couldn't help but chuckle at her gesturing for me to put them away.
"Those flames burning in the Hearth don't just weaken Outer God powers with some specific force—they neutralize them completely. That's why the knights don't even consider the possibility of an Outer God invading this far in. It's why Outer Gods appear in the outskirts or launch mental attacks from afar."
Yeah, if Outer Gods like the Observer kept popping up inside the territory, people wouldn't be able to wander outside like that. The Observer was just that strong, ignoring even it. But why was this Lesser Outer God fine being so close to those flames? Was she different somehow?
I looked down at the Lesser Outer God curled up in my coat pocket, and she gazed up at me with that same warm expression from before.
"You okay in there? Nothing uncomfortable?"
Whether she heard my mutter or not, she just beamed up at me. Was this Super Coward Mode's doing, or did Lesser Outer Gods have some exception? I had no answers, which was frustrating, but hey, good things were good, right?
Agartha gasped in admiration, like she'd gained some new knowledge.
"Wow, I had no idea. This is my first time getting caught by the knights over something Outer God-related, so yeah."
"The fact that this even happened is far from common."
For some reason, Agartha clapped and smiled like it was great news.
"Whoa, so we're super lucky then? Rare stuff like this happening to us!"
"Wouldn't that just mean we're unlucky?"
"Mr. Tantun, that's why you end up liking Outer Gods—thinking so negatively."
What did that have to do with anything?
"No key, and it's stuck right to my hand so I can't even untie it. You've got some confidence, huh."
Ignoring my glance, Agartha yanked at the blue tape binding her hands. The Outer God handcuffs—a puzzle no human could solve—must've dented her thief's pride. That explained why she kept poking at me and the Hunter, fishing for reactions.
"Sigh, when can we bust out? I just got my limbs free a bit ago. My hands are craving freedom."
"Keep that mouth shut, and half the frustration's gone."
"Ah, come on! I'm bored! If I don't talk, it's too quiet!"
"Not my problem."
"Bore! dom! Bore! dom!"
"...I'll kill you."
"Try it! You can't, right? With all our limbs tied!"
Agartha stuck out her tongue with a bleh, dodging the Hunter's reaching hand like a pro—until the cramped cell caught up with her, and she got nabbed.
"No, that's not what I was gonna—"
"Say it one more time."
"Dee-heot?"
Treated like luggage, Agartha sprawled on the floor, groaning as the Hunter dragged her around by the blue tape. It'd been less than a minute since the Hunter shut her up.
I chuckled softly at the amusing sight when footsteps echoed from afar.
Agartha and the Hunter shut up instantly. As the steps grew closer, I knew who it was. Bear Mask—the Vice Captain.
Still glaring down at us with furrowed brows, he quietly unlocked the iron door and flung it open.
Agartha and the Hunter stayed wary and still, so the Vice Captain sighed.
"Come out. We've got somewhere to go."
#
"Don't look at the fire. It's disrespectful to Her Highness the Princess."
The Vice Captain led us underground to a place called the comms room. Even in the sealed space, flames flickered—connected to the Hearth, apparently.
I was peering at the dim, hazy scene when the Vice Captain suddenly knelt and bowed properly to the fire.
"Prisoner escort complete."
Who was he talking to? Now we're seeing people chat with flames?
Thankfully, it wasn't just me—Agartha's face had a question mark too. Then, with her hands bound, she circled her temple with an extended pinky and pointed at me?
I didn't want to get it, but the gesture was too blunt.
'This guy's as nuts as Mr. Tantun, huh?'
Her? I stayed quiet, but glanced at the Hunter just in case. She just watched impassively. What the hell?
As I stood there puzzled, the Vice Captain suddenly raised his voice in surprise.
"Is that true? Ah, no, Your Highness. Our knight order exists for you. We merely follow your will."
Your Highness? The Princess? With the comms room name, was this flame her way of talking?
I felt awkward for almost judging him as crazy.
"Understood, we'll do that then. ...Yes, got it."
The Vice Captain saluted crisply, let out a deep sigh, and turned.
"Her Highness was deeply moved by how you dealt with the Observer in the underground prison."
Oh, that. Yeah, it was a big deal, technically. Though it was more like it left on its own accord after getting satisfied. Close enough, I guess.
But even for that, could she be grateful to vile criminals like us?
As if answering my doubt, the Vice Captain held up his index and middle fingers.
"So, she's personally giving you a choice."
The Hunter, Agartha, and I all stared at his fingers.
He scanned us and spoke flatly.
"Decide. Execution as sinners? Or join our knight order?"
He struck a dramatic pose, but in the bear mask, it looked ridiculous to me. Then the Hunter let out a low laugh.
Perplexed, Agartha and I turned to her, but she burst into full laughter. Like his words were absurd.
W-what? Why the sudden laugh? We should be kowtowing in thanks for not killing us.
"Knights, huh. Just a title, no real knight treatment, but handy for disposable pawns?"
"Hah, sinners with demands. Be grateful for that much."
Offended, the bear mask's brows furrowed deeper. But the Hunter ignored it, laughed more, and growled low.
"Still don't get why I've avoided your kind all this time?"
"...You shouldn't be talking like that in your posi—"
"Because you're incompetent."
Ignoring the Vice Captain's chilling tone, the Hunter spat her truth.
Whoa, why's she suddenly going full throttle?! She's not wrong, but one slip and heads roll!
I raised a hand to stop her, but froze at her next words.
"A group made to exterminate Outer Gods—even self-proclaimed experts—couldn't handle a distortion from an Outer God we took out with just this few. Late to the party, huh? Makes me doubt if you're worthy of the name."
Her eyes met mine as she glanced around at us.
Ah. Was she subtly hyping us up too? Yeah, that eye contact said it.
"...Shut your mouth."
"And we're not in a position to talk?"
The Hunter's fact barrage continued.
"Think I don't know your unspoken rule?"
"... ."
"Anyone who takes down an Outer God gets crimes wiped and promoted, no matter what."
His mouth clamped shut at that. My heart raced—why was forbidden knowledge spilling out?
"By that logic, isn't this treatment unfair? Or can nobles like you do it, but lowly criminals like us can't? Doesn't that contradict what your exalted Princess preaches?"
"Watch your mouth. Of course there's a difference. You really think criminals and knights are equals? Without Her Highness's mercy, you'd be dead here."
The Hunter sneered back.
"Wonder if your precious Princess knows that. Curious, huh."
"... ."
"Hit a nerve?"
I couldn't help but admire the Hunter's sharp tongue. She'd been so quiet—didn't know she could argue like this.
Agartha chimed in cautiously.
"Y-yeah! And I heard—even knights bad enough for underground prison get freed on one Outer God kill!"
Whoa. Irrefutable.
The Vice Captain seemed outmatched verbally. But no anger from him. He looked calmly choosing words. How's he gonna counter now? I wished for popcorn—this fight was prime entertainment.
Finally, he spoke.
"You killed an Outer God? No, no... Watch your words."
Wait.
"You just drove it off."
Ah. Suddenly felt deflated. Don't pull the "close enough, no!" card.
My enthusiasm cooled as I eyed him coldly, and he said flatly,
"True, we do give special treatment to Outer God slayers. Hiding it changes nothing."
"As expected from such a sham group—deny and deflect."
"No, rather."
He pointed at the floor.
"Prove it. By taking down another Outer God."
Ecstasy lit the Hunter's face; despair bloomed on Agartha's.
"That's ridiculous...!"
"Not a bad deal."
"W-what?! Are you crazy?!"
Agartha grabbed the Hunter's collar like a death grip, but the Hunter ignored her, locking eyes with the Vice Captain.
"If that's proof enough, it's what I want."
"Hah, prideful one. True to the Hunter name. Annoying, but talent Her Highness needs. Fine, a deal here."
The Vice Captain drew his plastic sword, pointed skyward, slammed it into the ground, and declared,
"Succeed in slaying an Outer God, and all sins forgiven—full knight order entry. Hunter, freedom to act as you wish. I, Marenne Bustian, swear on my true name."
Agartha and I gaped at the outrageous offer; the Hunter questioned it.
"True name, not alias."
"Think I'm scared of Outer God curses? We're the knight order that hunts them."
"Pride indeed."
His eyes turned to me and Agartha.
"Objections? You don't have to follow this reckless one. Defeat against an Outer God means."
Death. Silence hung amid the crackling flames.
We were gambling lives for status.
The Hunter's gaze met mine again—not meaningful this time, but insistent, demanding I prove my ability once more.
She could go lone wolf. But not me. The Observer was luck. Still.
No confidence against Outer Gods, but I wouldn't be their pawn.
...Trust Super Coward Mode. Gotta survive Outer Gods to live here anyway.
Knight order route unlocked!
"They say loyalty to the end since ancient times."
I said with resolve, and Agartha glanced around slyly.
"Me too. You two did it, can't be the odd one out. So we're together, right? Yeah?"
"No, tests separate. Perfect—three Outer Gods to handle."
"Huh?"
"Yours: from a meteorite on Rondan outskirts, snatching people with eerie light..."
"Cancel, cancel, cancel!"
"Knights don't go back on their word."
Agartha yelped 'Hiiik!' her face paling—a sight worth seeing.