Arrest (1)
"I don't really know, but isn't that thing valuable?"
Once he'd confirmed Cabin had left, Gavin turned to Ellen with the question.
"Of course it matters. His Majesty gave it to me specially. But shouldn't we save the people first?"
Gavin went blank.
He used the seal His Majesty himself bestowed… just to save people he's never even met?
He asked himself whether he could have done the same. The answer didn't come easily. One thing, though, was certain: the man in front of him had already made that hard choice.
"So what do we do from here?"
"We run a diversion."
"A diversion?"
Ellen pointed to a spot on Cabin's map—the western gate of the fortress outside the city.
"Rough plan is this: you draw their eyes here, and I finish them from the opposite side."
The eager light in Gavin's face drained into doubt. He didn't trust the words.
"I can pull their attention and get away clean. But while I'm doing that, you're going to clear them out alone? Is that even possible?"
"If it were only about wiping them out, yes."
Gavin still couldn't tell whether Ellen was bluffing or actually that strong. Then again—would anyone stake their life on empty bravado?
No. And this involves nobles. There's nothing in it for him if he sticks his neck out. So… does he really have the skill?
His thoughts tangled.
"But saving people is different. That makes everything a lot more complicated."
That was exactly what weighed on Ellen. In a pure extermination, Gavin's diversion on the far side would have been enough. Fighting them piece by piece, he could handle it alone.
But this isn't a purge. It's a rescue.
To deal with all of them at once he would need fire magic—set the fortress ablaze and pick the enemy apart in the chaos. Ideal on paper. Except the captives were still inside.
I can't just torch the place. Get them out first, then use the wide-area spells.
The prisoners were held in two places: near the western gate and in the central cells. Most of them were in the center; a smaller group sat by the western entrance.
Only when both groups escaped at the same time could he safely unleash area magic.
Use clone magic?
A 5th Circle clone spell could produce a double that retained a portion of his power—enough, in theory, to free both groups at once.
Too many variables.
A clone would be fine for extracting helpless captives. But if even one genuinely strong fighter was waiting there, the clone would fail, and the whole operation would collapse with it.
We've finished recon on the fortress, but once we're inside there will still be surprises. I need a way to answer those surprises.
Ellen's gaze caught Gavin watching him.
I free the center, Gavin frees the east?
On method alone it was the cleanest option. The map he'd drawn proved how thoroughly he could work. Whatever variable appeared, he could adapt—maybe even open the cell doors without a soul noticing.
But that's the limit of what he can do.
Gavin's skill stopped short of actually escorting people out. His gift for vanishing and gathering intelligence was outstanding; his combat ability was essentially zero. Slipping away alone was one thing. Dragging a crowd with him was another.
Is there no other way?
Gavin saw at once that Ellen was wrestling with the problem. He had nothing useful to offer.
"Would be nice if everyone just shot into the sky all at once… or sank into the ground."
It was only a mutter born of frustration.
Into the ground all at once?
But the words struck Ellen like a spark.
Right. Use every method we have.
A workable strategy took shape in his mind. Once the outline was solid, the details followed.
"Gavin. I found a way to save them all at once."
Time to move.
When the appointed hour arrived, Gavin rose from his position at the western gate. Tension locked his jaw tight.
"I heard there's a real beauty among the new arrivals?"
One of the guards tossed the remark out casually. Idle talk on duty was forbidden, but in this bone-deep boredom the rule meant nothing.
"I went and looked earlier—my eyes wouldn't leave her. A few of the boys won't leave her alone tonight, I guarantee it."
"Yeah? Maybe I'll swing by after this shift, then. Heh heh heh."
The laugh made even the listener feel unclean.
Rustle.
Thud.
"Huh? What was that?"
One guard turned toward the sound in the brush ahead. Nothing. Not even an ant.
"What? What's wrong?"
The others looked that way too.
That was the moment.
Flash.
It happened in a heartbeat. While every eye locked on the brush, a shadow slipped past behind them.
"Nothing. Thought I heard something."
"You imagining things? Even mountain beasts barely come around here."
"Yeah, probably. So after the shift, the cages together?"
"As long as the boss doesn't catch us."
They drifted back into their filthy chatter.
I'm in.
Gavin wore black from head to toe, a mask over his face to kill every glint of light. He melted into the dark and began to move through the fortress, eyes hunting for the building he and Ellen had marked.
There.
Bonfires dotted the grounds for light. In front of the barracks where the gang slept, a large brazier burned. That was his target.
He drew the bowstring taut, closed one eye, and sighted on the brazier.
Twang.
The string's snap cut through the pitch-black night.
Thwack.
The arrow struck true. The brazier toppled.
A low hum rose as the magic circle inked onto the shaft activated. Fire magic bloomed over the fallen coals, and a small blaze caught.
"Fire!"
One of the men outside the barracks shouted and started flinging dirt.
"What's going on?"
Bodies poured from the barracks. The first man kept heaving sand onto the flames.
"Looks like someone hit us!"
"Damn it—tomorrow's the big deal!"
Nobles were coming for a major transaction the next day. The man already dreaded the boss's wrath.
"You lot, find that arrogant little bastard. The rest of you, put the fire out."
"Yes, sir."
A handful of men headed toward the arrow's origin. The others sprinted for water and came back with buckets.
Diversion successful.
It wasn't a blaze big enough to spread far, but magic-circle fire wouldn't die easily. And because the attack was obvious, they would stay jumpy.
A couple more, then I go for the people.
Gavin set two more fires. Panic thickened. Knowing their patrol routes already, he reached the prison area without trouble.
This is the spot.
He stood over a marked patch of ground and stamped hard.
Crunch.
Earth gave way. He stamped again, harder.
Crumble.
A hole opened wide enough for a man. Deep, but with footholds carved down the sides so descent was easy.
Perfect.
Gavin allowed himself a satisfied smile and dropped into the pit.
It's begun.
Ellen was reading the mana currents inside the fortress through View Mana Force. He felt his own magic circles trigger.
He set his staff upright and brought his right hand to it, as if drawing a bow.
Magic Missile.
Fwoom.
"Ghk—"
The guard at the entrance collapsed without even a proper scream.
"What the—?"
His partner stared, slack-jawed, at the man suddenly spraying blood.
Ellen's body seemed to vanish—and reappeared behind him.
Crack.
His fist smashed into the back of the guard's skull. Bone split.
"Guhh…"
The man convulsed, foam at his lips.
Ellen left them where they fell and slipped into the fortress.
"Fire at the west barracks!"
"Could be an attack—move it!"
The grounds were chaos. Men ran every direction and never noticed the figure passing over their heads.
Gavin's doing even better than I expected.
Ellen had prepared three arrows. Three fires were burning now. That gave him room to work.
Straight to the prisoners.
He sprinted for the central prison.
Meanwhile, the fortress headquarters was just as frantic.
"What rat crawled into my place?"
The massive man snarling curses was Depi, master of this trafficking den.
"Doesn't look like major damage, sir."
"No major damage? Nobles are coming tomorrow for a huge deal—what if the merchandise gets ruined?"
"Th-that's…"
"Get over there and check the goods. Now."
"Yes, sir!"
At Depi's order, some of his men bolted toward the western cells.
"We're going too."
Depi himself led the rest toward the central prison. Most of the merchandise was there; urgency clawed at him.
The prison came into view the moment they stepped outside. In the weak firelight, though, the cells themselves were hard to read.
The closer they ran, the more wrong it felt.
Why aren't the guards at their posts?
A bad feeling settled in. It proved exact.
"Wh-what the hell is this?"
Depi reached the prison and could not believe his eyes.
The great iron cage had been packed with people.
Now it stood empty.
In front of the bars, the guards who should have been watching lay crumpled on the ground.
"You little shits. I'll make you pay for this."
"And if you don't? What then?"
A voice drifted out from inside the prison.
"This your work?"
"It is. The west side should look about the same by now."
Whoom.
The floor inside the cage collapsed. From a hole wide enough for two men, Ellen climbed up.
"You smuggled the merchandise out that way?"
"One of my favorite tricks. The tunnel's fresh—if you chase them now, you might still catch them. But I'm not letting you leave."
One corner of Ellen's mouth curled.
"Fine. Then I'll tear you apart myself and go collect them after."
Rage flooded Depi to the crown of his head. He hauled out his greatsword.
"Go on. Keep that clever tongue of yours flapping till the end."
He whirled the blade through the air and charged.