Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Azantu (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"This way! Move it!"
A Guardian affiliated with the Korean Returner Association, Lee Changsu, led his team in pursuit of the fleeing criminals.
"Senior, at this point, do you really think we'll catch them?"
They had arrived at the scene less than five minutes after the incident, but that was more than enough time for returners with all sorts of abilities to escape.
"What do you expect me to do? We have to at least track their traces! This is the third time already!"
The duo consisting of a werewolf and a man in a black mask weren't new to this. They'd pulled off similar crimes before.
And in previous chases, they'd always vanished without a trace at some point, leaving the team empty-handed.
'Damn it, their activity range is too wide for us to cover everything. Looks like they might have accomplices helping with escapes too. We're probably screwed this time.'
As always, the defenders needed far more manpower than the attackers.
And the Guardians were perpetually short-staffed.
Still, hoping to find even a minor clue, they tailed the criminals—
Boom—!
A shockwave erupted from deep inside the construction site, their destination.
"S... Senior, that energy..."
"Tch, follow me! We're going in!"
The noise was a minor issue.
What chilled them was the sinister malice radiating from within.
Lee Changsu charged straight into the construction site.
"What the hell happened here?"
Workers lay collapsed in one corner. In the center, a masked man and an ordinary-looking woman were unconscious.
And against one wall, a battered werewolf was slowly reverting to human form.
Scanning the scene, Lee Changsu shouted to his team.
"Check the perimeter! The fight just ended, so whoever did this can't be far!"
The situation was clear.
Someone had fought the Villains and won—then vanished.
They'd subdued the Villains, so probably not malicious, but that didn't mean they could ignore it.
The lingering aura alone was hair-raising. They needed to identify this person if possible.
But no trace of them anywhere.
"Team leader, Villains secured."
One team member approached, levitating the three bound with special ability-suppressing cuffs.
The woman was unfamiliar, but context suggested she was the getaway accomplice.
'Investigation will reveal everything.'
Ability-based interrogations didn't allow lies.
As a precaution, he called for backup to transport the workers to a hospital under Guardian oversight.
Even if an accomplice posed as a victim, they wouldn't escape.
'We caught the perps and resolved the issue... but...'
A new problem emerged.
The wicked energy still clinging thickly to the air.
'Gotta squeeze info out of these guys.'
They'd faced it directly, so they must know something.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I resummoned Hans after unsummoning him.
I was getting used to it—facing him directly was tolerable now.
'Han Seonghyeon can't do much, but Hans can. No need for me to show up personally.'
It was far from home, low risk of exposure. And he had the power to crush Villains.
No reason not to step in.
'That said, they were tougher than expected.'
The woman opening a gate for escape and the non-combat masked man went down easy, but the werewolf resisted fiercely.
Luckily, I downed it and vanished before Guardians arrived—but it was close.
'Putting up that fight under Fear effect. Well, it's a returner who survived its own hell.'
Not all returners were like that, of course.
Unlike early ones sent with nothing, recent returners had info, prepared better, farmed karma stably, and returned faster.
Early returns took ~10 years; now some did it in 5.
Though some stayed longer to grow stronger with karma.
'And the average return rate is still 20%. Terrifying. And that's up from the early days.'
Irrelevant to me now, anyway.
Guardians would recover the stolen jewels and handle punishment.
I considered killing them to eliminate witnesses, but...
'They don't seem to kill. Indiscriminate murder would brand Hans a Villain too. As long as non-human nature stays hidden.'
Occasional Villain-busting seemed worthwhile.
Helped overcome trauma, relieved stress.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ For days, Heinz gathered intel in the city with Diana's help.
Diana was a 12-year-old girl he'd met upon entering the city—a lifelong local.
'Perfect guide. Street-smart from hard living.'
For two silver coins, she'd guide him daily while he stayed.
That was their deal. Knowing his urgency, he paid upfront.
Risked getting scammed to show goodwill—and she'd upheld it faithfully so far.
He'd been shocked seeing her squat outside his inn at dawn on day one.
Afterward, they met for lunch, ate together, and toured the city routinely.
'Until yesterday, anyway.'
Yes, until yesterday.
I waited at a table on the inn's first floor, then stood.
'She's never broken a promise before. Always on time. Something wrong?'
Still, her help so far justified the hire.
Left word with the innkeeper just in case, then headed to the markets alone.
The city, Azantu, was a small one in the western Talia Kingdom.
They farmed, hunted, and foraged in nearby woods—a typical place.
'Security seems poor, though.'
Few people out, all looking tense and cowed.
Diana hadn't elaborated but insisted on main roads only, avoiding alleys.
And urged leaving ASAP.
'Better head out soon. Another city east—maybe there...'
Mulling travel plans while restocking,
"Hey, you there. A word."
A group of burly thugs with neck tattoos beckoned from an alley.
Glanced back—no one else.
'Why is my gut always...'
I approached compliantly anyway.
Planning to leave soon; resolve quietly if possible, improvise otherwise.
"...So yeah. We protect these shops, see, but we got mouths to feed..."
Nothing major.
Just pay up for "protection."
"Ahaha, I see. Here—a humble token for your security efforts. Please accept my regards."
"Ahem... This guy's got manners. We'll put it to good use."
I flattered, paid adequately, and wrapped it up.
That's what the separate pouch was for.
'Security's definitely bad.'
"Boss, so why the kid..."
"What else? Orders from above. We just follow..."
Their fading chatter didn't interest me.
'Week's walk east to next city. Less for me, but maybe snag a horse or carriage?'
Gotta ride one in another world.
Musing on travel while seeking preserved rations,
A very familiar back of the head appeared.
"...Anyway, thanks. If you see him, please tell him!"
"Sure, I'll remember."
Diana finished with the shopkeeper, bowed, and hurried this way—without noticing me.
I grabbed her collar as she passed.
"Eek! W-what! Let go!"
Anyone watching would think I was the creep.
I released quickly, frowning.
"It's me, Heinz! You missed our meetup by ages—what're you doing? Know how long I waited?"
"M-mister?"
Finally looking, her eyes widened.
Pupils shaky—something happened.
"S-sorry for missing! I should've come explain... I was distracted..."
"Yeah, looks it. Spill—what happened?"
"Uh... M-my brother Aaron... um..."
Stammering, she suddenly teared up.
"I made him breakfast... told him to wash up... W-we had no water, so I went out..."
She babbled through sobs.
'This looks bad.'
Burly youth intimidating tearful girl.
And I was the youth.
I backed off hastily.
Diana trembled, tears dripping.
"W-wait! Got it! Calm down first? Deep breaths. I'll listen."
Truth: I was soft on kids.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Finally, Diana calmed enough to talk.
"I have a little brother, Aaron. He was sick recently..."
Still rambling, but intelligible.
She had an 8-year-old brother.
Orphan siblings scraped by on odd jobs for pennies, until Aaron fell ill.
"I used our tribute money to take him to the apothecary. We were desperate—then I met you."
Thanks to me, they paid tribute on time.
"And with the food you bought, he ate well and recovered lately..."
'No wonder she always wrapped leftovers.'
I'd thought she was saving for later.
Should've packed extra if she'd said.
But not the point now.
Aaron vanished today.
"C-could he be playing with friends?"
"No way! Even sick, Aaron helped with chores, always sorry to me! He'd never worry me like this!"
Her passionate rebuttal faded to exhaustion.
"...And he has no playmates anyway."
That painted the picture.
Poor orphans—prejudice is universal.
"Let's check home first. Maybe paths crossed. If not, I'll help search."
"You too...?"
I'd corrected "mister" before, but not now.
"Yeah. Can't ignore it once I know."
We'd spent days together; how could I, as an adult, turn away from her crying brother missing?
Eyes wide, mouth agape, she soon bowed her head, tears falling.
"No time! To your place."
"...Yes!"
No delaying—we rushed to their home.
As expected, squalid: a ragged shack deep in back alleys.
"Isn't this dangerous?"
I knew they had no choice, but we'd passed sketchy types en route.
How'd these weak siblings survive?
"It's okay for now. We paid tribute."
She pointed to a wall mark: shark jaws with fangs.
The ruling gang's symbol.
'Wait, seen that before...'
"Aaron! Aaron, you here?!"
Diana called inside—no reply.
"What now? Still gone. If something happened..."
As she teared up again, I recalled a passing sight.
'The thugs' neck tattoos!'
Linked memory surfaced.
'Someone ordered a "kid prepared," and they just follow orders.'
They took Aaron.