We Came Looking for Our Daughter
Rai listened attentively to Sophia’s tearful, stumbling explanation.
Especially the part where the girl with the red sword kept her attention fixed on him. He waited until Sophia’s words finally wound down, then stood up.
“This place is a lawless zone? Even just leaving the academy, kidnappings and assassinations are everywhere. Ha.”
Annoyed, Rai mentally compared the girl with the red sword.
Actually, there was no need to think hard. A red sword was rare. Red-glowing metal didn’t bend like normal weapons; those with red sword-edges were almost always created through magic. It wasn’t special—simple magic that boosted a sword’s strength. An ancient method, now outdated. Far better ways existed these days. It was an old relic treated like a decoration, but Rai knew exactly who used it.
His own student, Philia. She could’ve used something better, but she cherished the item her mentor had given her.
One hundred percent certain the captured woman was Philia, Rai handed Sophia over to Cindy.
“Should I report this to the guards?”
“No point in stirring things up only to have them hide again. We’ll look for her quicker if we just take the kid with us.”
“Who’s the kid here?”
Cindy’s temper flared, but Rai paid her no mind and ruffled Sophia’s hair.
“Thanks to you, everyone will be safe. Be a good girl and wait.”
“Please save Mom and my nice big sister.”
Rai nodded and headed to the location Sophia had given him. Michelle and Sierra, who had missed their date, hurried after him.
Sophia was still a child and had been too dazed at the time to remember the exact spot. Rai circled the alleys she had pointed to, searching for clues, until he spotted a noisy group in a corner.
These were clearly lowlifes. They sprawled on the ground, drinking and laughing boisterously. Rai approached them without hesitation.
“Did you happen to see a blonde girl with brown eyes fighting a guy who looks like a pig?”
“What? Who the hell are you?”
One man stood up, glaring. Rai had overheard their conversation about chasing two people. He asked again.
“Is it those two you were just yelling about?”
“Then who the fuck are you?”
The man leaned in close and blew cigarette smoke straight into Rai’s face. Michelle stepped between them.
“Hehe, we’re just asking questions. Don’t get too mad.”
Michelle looked nervous. Remembering how Rai had casually blown adventurers’ heads off in the dungeon, she feared the same thing would happen here. This wasn’t a sealed-off dungeon space; they were in a city. Even a murder would cause trouble.
“Fuck, you started the fight first. Want to die?”
Still cursing, the man stopped. He scanned Michelle and Sierra up and down, then smirked and placed a hand on Michelle’s shoulder.
“Red sword girl and her boyfriend, right?”
Seeing the word “red sword,” Michelle and Sierra nodded.
Other men in the group stood up, creating a threatening aura. The man’s eyes grew sticky as he looked their bodies over and laughed.
“I can tell you… but only if you give me something first. Adventurers, huh? I’ve seen you around the guild a few times. You’ve got great bodies. Say, should we make a deal?”
“Thanks. Tell us where we can find them.”
“No way. If you want the info, you’ve gotta give something first. You’re adventurers, right? We’re just good citizens, though. But if you start anything weird, I’ll never talk. We’re important, aren’t we?”
Michelle’s eyes turned icy. The man raised both hands with a grin. Michelle glanced at Rai, who was smiling.
“Lend me your gloves.”
“Huh? O-okay.”
Michelle removed her gloves and handed them over. They were a bit tight on a woman’s hands, but Rai put them on easily. He grinned at the man.
“Which do you like better—sewers or manure?”
“What the hell did you just say?”
The man’s expression twisted, but Rai kept laughing.
—SQUISH
Dirty water gushed from the man’s head, which Rai had yanked straight out of the sewer. Still holding the man’s head and laughing, Rai asked, “Feeling like talking yet?”
“Cough, c-gah, aaaaah— s-save me, ugh, urgh. Please save me.”
“Still not ready?”
“No, no, I’ll talk! Cough—glurk—”
Rai slammed the man’s head back into the filthy sludge again. The man thrashed, but Rai pinned his back with a knee and didn’t budge. Screams, spit, and foul liquid sprayed everywhere. Michelle and Sierra watched in disgust from behind.
“Rai… you said you were an academy instructor, right?”
Michelle’s question went unanswered. Hearing “instructor” should have reassured them, but the man’s behavior screamed back-alley thug. Ooze splashed in all directions while Rai kept up the torture with perfect skill.
When he started to worry the man might die, Rai lifted the head. A strange black substance oozed from the gasping man’s mouth, but Sierra felt no urge to identify it.
“Over there, in the alley, we saw them.”
“I could’ve guessed that.”
“Succubus’s Enchantment. The back door of the warehouse there has a sign with the name of the shop. You’ll recognize it easily! That’s where we saw the red-sword girl chasing the guy! That’s all we saw!!”
After tasting sewer water a few times, the man spilled everything he knew. Rai stared at his face for a long moment, then nodded.
“From now on, be kind to people, stop blocking the road, and stop drinking. Understand?”
“Y-yes, of course!”
The man collapsed face-first on the ground, unconscious. Rai tossed the filthy gloves at Michelle.
“You did well.”
“… … Here, take it. It’s a gift.”
Michelle stared at the ruined leather gloves with wide eyes, then smiled brightly. Rai tossed them onto the man’s head and muttered, “Sorry about that. I’ll buy you better ones later.”
Rai reached the alley Sophia had mentioned. A sign reading “Succubus’s Enchantment” hung over the door. He and the others checked the surroundings, but the back alleys were too filthy for any obvious clues.
“Is there anything?”
Seeing Rai’s finger tracing something on the wall, Sierra asked. He laughed.
“A clever guy left a message here.”
Faint lines remained on the wall—barely visible scratches. Sierra tilted her head, but Rai immediately understood the direction and started walking.
At every corner, he scanned the walls. Then he noticed a fist-sized hole in the ground.
“These are pretty fresh.”
“You figured it out?”
“The red-sword sister hit the spot twice. That means this is the final destination. Whoever it is, she knew someone was coming for her and left these clues along the way.”
“The wall marks earlier were from her too? The academy is impressive.”
“She’s just careful.”
Rai praised Philia. He had no idea what was happening, but chasing a fleeing target always had advantages. Still, she had left every precaution in case something went wrong. This wasn’t something you could teach; in battle, details were easily forgotten, especially when you held the upper hand.
She prepared for every possible outcome. Rai found her talent and experience impressive. He wondered why a girl who looked like she hadn’t seen much hardship was so cautious. He circled again and spotted more of her tracks.
Rai ran his fingers over the marks, sniffed, and laughed in surprise.
A faint but very unpleasant smell wafted up—something that would make your nose twitch. Rai was impressed; she had used a tracking scent. At the very end, she had been meticulous to the last detail, as if she had prepared for this situation many times or had expected it.
He called Michelle over and had her sniff. Michelle wrinkled her nose in disgust, but she couldn’t refuse his request to follow the trail.
—
One eye was swollen shut and her lip was split and scabbed, but Philia stared at the surrounding men with unyielding eyes.
They were inside a warehouse stacked with wooden crates. Tied to a pillar, she scanned the area until her gaze landed on the woman bleeding too much. The woman had done nothing wrong except get caught because of her daughter. She should have been enjoying happy times with her child.
The wound was deep enough that blood still seeped slowly. Philia wanted to treat her but couldn’t. Instead she gave the woman a reassuring look so she wouldn’t say anything and trigger the men.
“Whoa, even with that beat-up face you’re still pretty?”
“Shut up before you get us all killed, you idiot.”
“Fuck, at least let me put it in once. I’ll ram it straight into some noble lady’s pussy.”
The men leered at Philia from the front.
Seeing her fearless, they scowled and pressed a knife to her face.
“What the hell is with those eyes? Let me show you your place—make you squeal from underneath?”
Grinning, he flicked her chest with his finger.
“A little academy brat with huge tits. You were born to satisfy men. Look at that drool.”
His eyes bloodshot, he leaned in, sniffed her neck, and licked her with his tongue. Sliding his tongue all the way up to her chin, he finally met Philia’s cold stare. She showed no fear or anger. Other women would have panicked or exploded by now, but she simply looked back with icy eyes.
For a split second the man felt a dangerous, predatory chill—like a hunting beast—then he snapped.
“You crazy bastard! I said keep her quiet!”
The leader kicked the fallen man, then stomped him again. The victim tried to beg for mercy, but the kicks never stopped until the man passed out cold.
Breathing hard, the leader straightened up and ordered his subordinates to clear the body. He soon received a new arrival at the warehouse door.
Philia squinted to see the man’s face in the light, but it was too far away.
“Your face is all messed up.”
“My subordinate couldn’t control his temper and did it himself. Sorry. I handled it, so don’t worry.”
The leader blamed his subordinate even though it was his own fault, bowing as he apologized.
Philia let out a dry laugh at the voice.
“Zaherio, long time no see. Baron Julio… I mean, you worthless lizard, how’s business?”
“Baron Julio is doing well.”
Zaherio answered Philia’s insult without a care. Working for Baron Julio, who was politically at odds with the Serios family, he was exceptionally skilled.
Philia had been planning an escape with the captured woman’s safety in mind. When a far stronger figure than herself showed up, she realized her plan was useless.
“I didn’t expect you to succeed. Impressive.”
“Who am I? Talif, the boss of the back alleys. Just say the word and I’ll do anything.”
Philia ignored useless details and focused on understanding the situation. She couldn’t believe Baron Julio would be kidnapped by these lowlifes, and Zaherio looked just as surprised.
They had another purpose. This kidnapping was only the first step.
“You’re trying to make him attack first, aren’t you?”
“Mmm… you’re smarter than I expected.”
Zaherio nodded in admiration.
Baron Julio had wanted the Serios family to start the fight as an excuse to threaten his son. Zaherio, having already set the trap, watched in disbelief as Talif succeeded in the kidnapping.
“Kill him. No need for this guy.”
“What? We went through all that trouble to capture him, and you want him dead?”
“Yeah. If my son dies, even a cold-blooded Serios count would do something. Cut his throat, rape him, whatever. Kill him however you like.”
Zaherio brushed dust off his shoulder as if he didn’t care.
Talif, confused, quickly read the situation and answered, then looked at Philia.
“Since that’s the case, don’t hate us.”
Talif stepped toward Philia when the door suddenly rattled.
—Knock, knock
Everyone froze at the loud knock. Zaherio turned to the door. Talif shook his head, saying he didn’t know who it was. Sensing trouble, Zaherio pulled a mask from his pocket and gripped his sword.
“Good evening. Thank you for your hard work. We came looking for our daughter.”
The door slowly opened and Rai stepped in with a smile.