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My Villains Chapter 43
12. The Night of Fireflies (1)
Taking a step forward, I cut off Grania's regret and said, "The right is north. There's a sea to the south, so let's go north."
At my resolute tone, not only Grania but the rest of my companions showed puzzled expressions.
After briefly making eye contact with Arnal, Grania shrugged and asked me, "You say the right is north? How do you know that?"
"Just because."
"... Just because?"
"Yeah. I have a good sense of direction."
It was very difficult to determine direction after passing through winding passages.
Well, if we had a compass, it wouldn't be a big deal, but in this world, a compass is quite a rare item.
Of course, we didn't have such a thing, and knowing this, Grania slightly furrowed her brow.
"... Are you joking by any chance?"
"What joke? This isn't the situation for that either."
The reason I pointed to the right was simple.
That's how it was in the game.
But I didn't make up excuses or reasons in detail. I thought it would be better to just be brazen rather than spout words they couldn't comprehend.
In their eyes, I'm a mysterious(?) warrior who handles blood techniques, so I thought they might just go along with it.
I added with a nonchalant expression, "Everyone, you don't know which way it is anyway, right? It's better to just check instead of wasting time worrying."
"I don't think it's something to think about so simply..."
As Grania trailed off, Arnal, who had been scratching her head, moved to examine the cave that opened in both directions.
After staring intently into the darkness, she took a few steps into the cave, then knelt down on one knee to touch and smell the soil.
After examining both sides like this, Arnal finally opened her mouth with an uncertain expression, "Hmm. It does seem like the right is correct."
"Why's that?"
"I'm not sure if it's because of what you said, but..."
Arnal said this as she stood up, brushing the dirt off her hands.
"The soil on the right seems to have less moisture. The left has a slight downward slope, though it's subtle."
"Looks like Phoenix's intuition isn't completely off."
Thanks to Arnal's words, the suspicion in my companions' expressions lessened somewhat.
Ellen, who had been sticking close to me, looked up at my face intently, then tilted her head and muttered, "I've heard that handling blood techniques develops intuition... But you seem a bit extreme."
"... Huh? Extreme how?"
"You perceive things in advance that are impossible to know. Can this even be called intuition?"
... Ugh, was I too careless?
Dark blue eyes flickering along with the torch stared up at me. Feeling her scrutinizing gaze, I smiled casually, pretending to be calm.
"I've always been good at guessing since I was young."
"It doesn't seem like just guessing... I thought it was strange just a few days ago too. You figured out Poison's identity just by looking at his face. How did you know the face of an assassin that even the city's guard captain didn't know?"
Ugh, come to think of it. I told the guard captain that I figured out their identity after overhearing Poison and his subordinates' conversation, right?
Of course, that lie wouldn't work on Ellen, who was present at the scene.
"Uh, that's- I saw his movements and the use of poisoned weapons,"
As I was spouting nonsense, Ellen narrowed her eyes and questioned again.
"Come to think of it, the secret passage too. You, as soon as we arrived in this city, suggested we go out through the secret passage in the sewers, right? It was just a rumor circulating among the residents, but you were certain there was a secret passage."
"Ah, that..."
Damn, judging by her expression, she seemed half-convinced that I was hiding something.
"Actually... I just guessed. If I showed uncertainty, you might not trust me, so."
"Hmm."
As she was sending a suspicious gaze, Grania suddenly interjected between us.
"Wait a moment. Whether Phoenix is a gambler or a prophet doesn't seem to be the important issue right now. It's getting late, so we should decide whether to move or do something else..."
Despite her relatively polite tone, Ellen sneered, seemingly offended.
"Ha, are you telling me not to waste time unnecessarily? Who are you to say that?"
"... No, I didn't mean it like that."
"Then shut up and stay crumpled. Don't speak to me carelessly, aaagh!"
Before she could finish speaking, my hand shot out instantly and grabbed Ellen's cheek. Startled, she began to scream with her cheek pinched.
"Ow, what are you doing!"
"Grania has saved you twice. I told you to speak nicely, didn't I?"
"Le' go! I' hur's!"
After shaking her cheek a few times, I let go, and Ellen clutched her cheek, grinding her teeth.
"Damn..."
She clenched her fist and trembled for a moment but didn't kick my shin or anything. It seemed she couldn't find a spot to hit, given my now quite sturdy armed state.
Ellen soon bit her lower lip and shouted, "It hurts! I told you not to do this!"
"You're the one who agreed not to talk like that."
"I didn't even call her an old maid, so why!"
"... O-Old maid? Was that directed at me?" As Grania muttered with a shocked expression, I spoke in a stern voice.
"Is it over if you just don't use that word? You should be careful with your tone too."
"Ha, how? Do you want me to grovel like I'm serving a master?"
"You know what I mean. Did you forget what you promised earlier?"
At my question, Ellen shut her mouth tightly. As she turned her head away abruptly, I swallowed a chuckle and tried to persuade her.
"I'm not blaming you. I can see you're getting better little by little. I know you're trying."
"I'd like to praise you more, but we need to hurry now. I'll explain the parts you're curious about later, so let's move for now."
"... Geez, as if your praise means anything."
She grumbled but adjusted her backpack. Although her lips were pouting, her eyes had softened a bit, suggesting her mood had improved slightly.
"Well then, let's move now."
As I clapped my hands and looked around at my companions, I suddenly noticed Mr. Luke.
Mr. Luke, who had been frowning deeply as if pondering something, met my eyes and smiled gently. Then he nodded slightly, as if praising me for doing well.
Hmm. Somehow, I feel strange.
Not long after entering the right passage at the fork, my companions realized that my 'intuition' was correct.
The subtle slope gradually became steeper, turning into a clear uphill path, and a faint wind brushed past our ears.
Additionally, the damp smell of water and earth was replaced by a salty sea scent that stung our noses. It was clear we were getting closer to the outside.
But... Come to think of it, it's not over just because we get out. We need to find reinforcements while avoiding the bandits' encirclement, and I'm not sure if this will be as easy as expected.
It's getting late, so we should start thinking about camping...
It had already been over fourteen hours since we left the inn at dawn.
Although they should be getting tired, perhaps due to the certainty that we were getting closer to our goal, my companions were still exerting themselves.
Even Ellen, whose face was drenched in sweat, continued climbing the slope without rest.
Is it because her stats increased a bit when she awakened her spell this time? Or maybe because her luggage is lighter? Anyway, she was walking surprisingly well.
As I was looking around at my companions, I suddenly heard voices.
"Wait, everyone stop."
As I stopped and signaled, the group following me halted. Then, noticing me listening intently, they held their breath as if familiar with the situation.
'Agility', one of the basic stats, represents reflexes, dexterity, and senses.
My current agility score was 20 points, which exceeded the limits of ordinary people.
Consequently, my hearing was also at an extraordinary level, and my companions, knowing this, fixed their gazes on me and remained silent.
"It's the exit. There are guards."
"How many?"
"I hear two voices, but- there are probably more. I'll go check first. Wait here."
After saying that, I left the torch with Arnal and carefully moved forward.
As I climbed the winding cave, the voices became gradually clearer, and finally, as I turned a narrow corner, I saw an exit where faint moonlight was seeping in.
"...At that time, about a dozen of them came charging out on horses, all wearing shiny armor. They must have been knights."
"Even so, I heard there weren't even 200 of them? Are they a match for us?"
"I heard that guys like Roaring Wave and Ankir are among them? We'll be in big trouble if we underestimate them."
"Ankir? The Great Ankir? Tch, we're lucky to be stuck here."
The ones guarding the exit were two men, holding torches.
The one wearing a leather skullcap had a thick butcher's knife stuck in his belt, while the one with a hood was holding a short spear.
The two, who looked every bit like thieves, were distracted chatting among themselves.
As I observed their movements and listened carefully, I could hear several snoring sounds.
Hmm, it seems there are at least more than ten. Looks like they've set up a camp to guard the exit.
I carefully retreated and informed my companions of the situation.
At the news that the bandits seemed to have set up a camp, the group's faces hardened for a moment.
But since they had anticipated this to some extent, they didn't seem too surprised.
Mr. Luke, stroking his now darkened chin, let out a sigh.
"Hmm. Not knowing the situation outside is quite troublesome."
"We might end up trapped in a narrow terrain."
As Grania agreed with Mr. Luke and expressed her concern, Arnal shrugged as if to say 'what's the problem?'.
"I can shoot one of them dead without anyone noticing. If Ms. Ellen takes care of the other one, there shouldn't be much of a problem."
"And then?"
"Well, we quickly rush out and deal with the rest of them."
Grania, who had been listening silently, raised her hand.
"Wait, wait. Why is the conversation naturally going this way? Did you forget we agreed to retreat if the exit was blocked?"
"They're all sleeping. This seems doable enough."
"It's still dangerous. There might be other sentries besides those guarding the exit... Also, Ms. Ellen's magic isn't very quiet. Some will definitely wake up."
"We have to take that risk. If it gets urgent, we can scare them off."
Receiving a nod from Arnal, Mr. Luke smiled bitterly and said it would be difficult.
"It won't be effective for long against people. Even for someone with strong nerves, it would at best startle them momentarily."
"Oh, that's disappointing, but if that's the case-"
"Moreover, the screams drawn from the abyss spread quite far. Not just the sound, but all sorts of beasts will go wild and wake up the entire area at night. It doesn't seem like a good method."
To the companions discussing various options, I took out a glass bottle from my chest.
"How about using this?"
"That?"
What I pulled out was the 'Potion of Invisibility' obtained from 'Swift Foot Tobald’.
It's a shame to use such a rare item so quickly, but... Ah, what's the point of saving it? Let's just use it.
Ellen, who had been lost in thought, slowly nodded and muttered.
"...Right, invisibility might provide an answer."
"Do you have a good idea?"
"Yeah. Just wait a moment."
Saying that, Ellen took out a piece of cloth and a glass bottle from her backpack. The glass bottle contained a sticky liquid with a dark green glow.
Having been with her all along, I could easily guess the identity of that glass bottle.
"Paralysis poison? What are you planning to do with that now?"
"I'm going to poison them."
"Poison them? Are you going to wake up the sleeping ones and feed it to them?"
At my question, Ellen frowned as she put on green leather gloves.
"Don't say nonsense and just wait."
Saying that, she held the glass bottle containing the paralysis poison and quietly chanted a spell.
"In-fridge, dando imbre......"
Along with the low chant, a cold chill emanated from the hand wearing the alchemy gloves, and soon water droplets began to stick to the glass bottle.
Just before the dew sticking to the glass bottle froze white, Ellen carefully opened the lid. Then she poured the cooled contents onto the layered cloth to filter out the clumped ingredients.
She squeezed the ingredients a couple more times, then wrapped the remaining lump about the size of a finger joint in a new cloth and handed it to me.
"Here. If we had a bit more time, it would be better to dry it completely and turn it into powder... But this is a makeshift solution, so it can't be helped."
"...What am I supposed to do with this?"
"You really are quite dense, aren't you?"
Seeing my dubious expression, Ellen shrugged, crossed her arms, and began to explain.