Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Rangers, Entry! (1)
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Even the moonlight had vanished behind thick storm clouds on this late night.
A thick gray plume of smoke rose lazily beside the massive stone pillars of the Security Bureau headquarters in northern Dunholm.
Inspector Coldwell had a lit pipe clenched firmly between his lips.
The deep furrows etched into his forehead showed no sign of easing.
A few days earlier, he'd crossed paths with that brazen Ratkin adventurer in the hallway,
and now there was blatant pressure from above to quietly bury the case.
That sticky residue clung to him like mud on his shoe sole, unsettling his mood.
'Reckless little rats. Their eyes didn't look like they'd back down quietly.'
The inspector was just pulling the pipe from his mouth to exhale a long plume of smoke
when—
Tadak!
A light patter of footsteps echoed from the deserted alley near the Security Bureau. A tiny rat girl, barely reaching knee height and clad in ragged cloth, came hopping out of the darkness: plop, plop, plop.
"Who goes there?"
The girl tossed a crumpled note at Coldwell's shoe without a word,
then—
"Chit! Read it, please!"
Without waiting for a reply, she veered into the thick shadows of the back alley and vanished like a ghost.
Coldwell stared silently at the crumpled paper on the ground. He bent down slowly, unfolding the dirt-smeared note. Under the gas lamp's glow, rough ink scrawl came into view.
[Blackstone Mine attacked by unidentified armed thugs! Major fire outbreak!]
Coldwell's eyes narrowed sharply as he read the message.
'...!'
The Blackstone Mine was private land tangled in the interests of various nobles. Even the valiant Military Police, loyal to the crown and blessed by the God of Order, couldn't just barge in.
But a massive fire and armed riot changed everything.
A legitimate pretext: the risk of flames spreading to nearby areas or public order collapsing.
The bare minimum—yet most practical—justification for the Military Police to force entry onto noble land without High Court approval.
'If we can't move legally, we'll force a legal pretext into existence.'
Coldwell sighed.
'Is this the right path?'
The law was absolute. It was essential for maintaining the kingdom's order and suppressing evil.
Thus, the law must be upheld in any situation, at any time. That was what Coldwell believed.
'But what if the law can't move?'
Coldwell squeezed his eyes shut. Then he roughly stuffed the crumpled note into his uniform pocket.
There was no hesitation as he tapped the pipe against the stone pillar, shaking off the glowing embers.
"Damn adventurers. You've gone and caused a massive incident."
The inspector muttered through gritted teeth. He spun on his heel and flung open the Security Bureau doors with a crash.
His bellow shattered the late-night silence.
"Everyone, assemble! Cavalry, prepare to deploy immediately!"
The once-quiet building erupted in a clamor of heavy boots and whinnying horses.
"Target: northern mountains, Blackstone Mine!"
Coldwell mounted first, yanking the reins toward the north where the gray mountains coiled.
The chill of a jagged rock pressed against my chest, seeping through my thin clothes.
Around me, black-hooded Rangers with soot-smeared faces lay flat, watching the mine.
'Ugh, it's cold.'
I grumbled softly, but my eyes stayed fixed below.
Acrid coal dust and metallic tang assaulted my nose.
The Blackstone Mine gaped like a massive beast's maw devouring the mountain's belly.
Under scattered torchlight, the enemies' bulky forms and numbers were far from negligible.
Just as our prior scouts and the Horned Rats' intel had reported.
'More swarming than expected.'
At least twenty to thirty armed troops in crisp guard uniforms with bandoliers.
Two or three times the headcount of the twelve Rat Rangers prone behind me.
And every one had a long gun slung over shoulder or hip.
Full firearm armament. Even mages or warriors versed in mana wouldn't charge head-on here—that'd be suicidal.
'Count on you guys.'
I whispered a silent command inward, flicking the fingers pressing the dirt.
In that instant, a translucent golden shimmer rippled from the dense shadows behind.
"Chit!"
Dozens of Spirit Horned Rats poured down like a waterfall over the ground.
They slithered silently along the ridge into the mine's deep darkness.
Crunch, crunch!
Soon, an alien sensation of gnawing echoed clearly in my mind.
The Horned Rats around the management office had a simple task.
Crackle!
Chewing through every external telegraph line.
They'd cut off any way for the enemies to call for outside help.
The rest spread into bushes and rock crevices along our entry path.
Every time a patrol's heavy boots approached, they pinged tiny waves into my brain.
Thanks to Rodentia's growing divine power? My abilities as her apostle had oddly expanded.
A perfect early warning network replacing my eyes and ears was complete.
"Path's clear. Ready up!"
I beckoned the Rangers while staying low.
The real-time pings from the rats felt awkward, but combined with prior recon, the enemies' blind spots and safest entry route mapped perfectly in my head.
"[Field mice's agility! Gutter rats' stealth!]"
⟨ Rodentia's Blessing ⟩
Rodentia's phantom hovered in the air, arms outstretched in benediction.
Shimmering golden dust rained down like dew.
It settled softly over the twelve Rangers, me, Sena, and Hilde's small shoulders.
Instantly, the edges of my vision warped oddly, our forms fading like mist.
Already cloaked in dark green mantles, black hoods, and soot, we were invisible in shadows.
A bizarre buoyancy, like my weight had evaporated, tingled my toes.
Hilde's eyes widened at the thrill.
"Haa... They even built a church and prayed. Not your average spirit, huh?"
"She's the Sovereign."
"Fine, whatever... Not yet—add one more thing!"
Hilde beside me mouthed silently, fingers intertwining.
"Come forth, Sylphid! Muffle our sounds!"
A translucent wind spirit flickered in and out. Subtle air currents then enveloped us roundly.
Boot gravel crunches and flapping cloth hushed into the wind.
"Sounds gone!"
"Good enough?"
"More than. Hilde. Alright, everyone—move out."
We descended the cliff like shadows via ropes, then scaled the wall.
Atop the outer outpost and watchtower: three guards yawning lazily or rolling smokes, backs exposed.
I flashed three fingers into the air, then clenched a fist.
Whoosh!
Thwack-thwack!
Arrows sliced the dark, piercing throats and chests simultaneously.
"Guh... guk..."
Critical hits silenced their screams; they crumpled like rags, spraying blood onto the tower floor.
"Targets down!"
Thick blood reek wafted on the night air.
We pressed into the mercenaries' barracks without pause, where off-duty thugs snored.
A stale sweat stench hung in the dim interior amid snoring.
Bang!
Red-bereted Rat Rangers surged like silent hounds as the door flew open.
"Wh-what?! Guh!"
"Khek!"
Awakened mercenaries had no chance to grab bedside guns.
"In the Goddess's name!"
"Enemies of the rats!"
Ranger clubs and bowgun stocks mercilessly smashed napes and temples.
Crack!
Dull thuds of cracking skulls rang out in succession.
"Bind 'em tight."
At my calm order, Rangers trussed the unconscious foes hand and foot with practiced ease, rolling them onto the barracks floor.
No shots fired. Success.
'Good. Smooth so far.'
No injuries on our side.
'This means...'
About half the outer guards neutralized.
Exiting the barracks, sharp night wind cooled sweat on my brow.
Outer perimeter secured.
Now: infiltrate internal tunnels, rescue Polly and hostages, face main force inside.
'And the mine slaves too...'
But first, lure outer guards and tunnel watchers outside.
Smash them so they can't pull this again.
Plus, give the charging Military Police that flashy pretext we'd promised.
I opened the pack on my back.
Heavy glass bottles clinked coldly.
"Everyone, grab the kitchen crew's spicy gifts."
Priest firebombs' wicks sputtered to life.
I added quietly to nearby Rangers.
"Burn it down. It's soaked in our kin's blood and sweat!"
At the low, chilling command, fizzing firebombs arced through the night sky in unison.
Crash!
Whoosh!
They shattered on empty mercenary barracks and timber supply roofs.
Sticky oil ignited, spraying flames to erect massive fire walls inescapable in seconds.
The overcast sky flushed blood-red as if devoured by crimson inferno.
"Alert! Alert! Fire!"
Guards finally noticing blared alarms across the mine.
Panicked cries tangled in acrid smoke.
Amid the fierce chaos, a faint tug at my pant leg.
"Chit! Chitchit!"
A Horned Rat that had scouted the deepest tunnels reared on hind legs, firing a dense wave into my mind.
Damp underground space, thick iron bars, huddled squirrelkin silhouettes inside.
Polly and merchants' exact location.
'That's why we couldn't spot 'em!'
They'd turned the mine depths into captive and slave quarters.
"Found 'em!"
At my signal, fire sparked in the Rangers' eyes.
'Let's get 'em out now!'
Relief mingled with cold rage, cooling my head.
"Fire! It's burning!"
Beyond roaring heat, black silhouettes poured from tunnel mouths like ants.
Armed troops' frantic boots thrummed vibrations up my soles.
I spun without delay.
"Assemble."
Rat Ranger girls swiftly fitted heavy wooden parts and metal chunks from their backs.
Clank!
Massive mount locked into dirt. Chillingly precise, heavy clunks as body, tripod, bowstring, and magazine meshed.
Mounted repeating ballista loaded.
"Hold fire! Everyone, positions—but don't shoot yet!"
Rangers took cover aiming at tunnels and buildings.
I gripped the side-mounted crank handle.
The magazine rattled hungrily with ten thick, razor-sharp steel bolts ready to unleash.
Enemy silhouettes sharpened through flickering flames, filling my narrow sight.
"Everyone, ready..."
Not yet. Wait.
A bit more.
"Now! For Rodentia!"
Tututu-tung!
Bolt storm rained on foes.
"Attack!"
The Rangers' ambush began.