Hostage Standoff
“Well, if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. How about I compromise and release the hostages at the same time?”
“No. My friend first.”
There was no guarantee this woman would let us go peacefully. The moment she got her brother back, she would turn on us. I was in the exact same position. Even if I released Iruse, I had no intention of letting that vile brother of hers walk free—not while a dozen or so slave traders were still blocking the door and threatening us.
No one could back down. It was a hostage standoff, and on the surface, I was at a disadvantage. I had to protect not only Iruse but Ash as well, we were deep in enemy territory, and the odds of escaping were slim—unless the knights really were coming for us.
“You still don’t get it, do you? Release my brother and I’ll let you live.”
Her words sounded to me like a promise to kill me the first chance she got.
“Not a very tempting offer.”
“You don’t have any other choice.”
“You don’t know that.”
In a tense standoff, the one who showed impatience lost. She had no idea the knights were on their way, so she couldn’t understand why I was stalling. I deliberately flashed her a mocking smile. Outwardly I looked calm, but inside I was in chaos. Even though my mana was completely drained, I kept forcing more spirits to manifest. My insides twisted violently, and cold sweat soaked my back. The backlash was hitting me hard. My vision blurred, and my legs threatened to give out at any moment. Internal injuries could drop a person in an instant.
I have to hold on.
[Master, are you all right?]
Rai had noticed my condition. Of course he had—we were bound soul to soul. If he were in danger, I would feel it instinctively too.
[I don’t think I can last more than a few minutes.]
[Then let’s just kill them all. No need to hold back.]
[We can’t. They still have Iruse.]
[So just abandon her……]
[I’ll kill you.]
[Tch. It was a good idea, though. Pity.]
He’d actually tried to suggest ditching Iruse. How transparent.
[I can feel Undine nearby. The knights will be here soon. If we just hold out until then…… we can get out safely.]
Whether I could actually hold out was another question.
[The knights seem to have been searching the upper levels for a while now.]
[What?]
[I can hear a lot of them moving around.]
[You can hear them?]
[Yes. They’re right above us.]
Thank goodness! They were almost here. I just had to endure a little longer. I gave a small nod and roughly wiped the saliva that had started leaking from the corner of my mouth as nausea rose.
“I don’t know what you’re plotting, but stop being stubborn, little girl.”
“Don’t call me little girl!”
“You’re not getting out of here anyway. Give up.”
We were still locked in our battle of wills when the burly men clustered at the door suddenly stirred. One of them rushed inside.
“Boss!”
“What? I told you to wait outside.”
“Well……”
“I said don’t come in!”
Despite Grack’s sharp rebuke, the slave trader leaned in and urgently whispered something in her ear.
[He says the knights are forcing open the secret entrance.]
[They’re late!]
[He’s suggesting they run before they’re discovered.]
[They lost the kid and now they want to run?]
[It’s their own fault…… No, never mind. Forget I said anything.]
Rai had been eavesdropping and reporting without being asked. He was clearly trying to stay on my good side after whatever mischief he’d gotten up to today. Of course, there were only about five steps between Rai and the woman, but his hearing was far beyond normal. I usually used it like an intercom.
“You little bitch! So that’s why you were so relaxed—you had something up your sleeve!”
Grack’s eyes flashed with fury, confirming Rai’s report.
“You people kidnapped the wrong person! Actually, kidnapping anyone is wrong in the first place!”
“Damn you, you little brat!”
“Brat” sounded better than “bitch,” at least. Grack, who had been relatively calm until now, exploded in rage—clearly my honest opinion hadn’t pleased her.
“Release my brother before I kill all three of you! Now!”
She couldn’t hide her panic now that she knew the knights were coming. Still holding Iruse under her arm, she strode toward me. I pulled Ash closer and backed away, calling out to my other spirit.
“Undine.”
Undine returned to me at once and shifted into a combat stance—or at least, she puffed up her tiny body and made the water that formed her ripple like waves. It was about as threatening as an angry kitten.
[Master, are you all right?!]
I had summoned her, but I had no mana left to attack with. Just maintaining the summon was already pushing my limits.
[Where are the others?]
[They’re upstairs. I showed them the door and came back.]
[Good job.]
That was the best bluff I could manage. Undine stood between me and Grack, glaring furiously.
“Oh-ho. So you’re a Spirit Master.”
“Don’t come any closer!”
“Too bad. I’ve dealt with spirits before. They weren’t very strong. Weak little things, really.”
Damn it. It was true that Spirit Masters were generally weak, but most people didn’t even know what they were, so I’d never expected to be exposed like this.
“Who would be scared of something like that?!”
Grack spun her dagger once around her fingertips, then reversed her grip and pressed it deep under Iruse’s throat. A thin trickle of blood ran down.
Threat for threat.
“You think spirits are weak?”
“That’s right! Release him before I—”
“Rai!”
After all, he was a spirit too. A rare one.
“Ghk— Aaaagh! Aaaargh!”
“Grack!”
Rai had interpreted my signal to escalate the threat and neatly tore off the man’s ear. Yes—tore it clean off. It flapped once in the air.
“Eek……”
The sight of a body part detached from a human was enough to turn my stomach. I nearly vomited, though I wanted to blame it on my injuries. Rai proudly fluttered the ear still clamped in his mouth.
At least it stopped the woman from advancing. That counted as a successful threat.
[Master, how was that? I did well, didn’t I?]
[How did you even think of ripping off an ear……]
[An earless man is a symbol of defeat.]
[I don’t care about your symbols!]
[In ancient times, the defeated had their ears or fingers cut off.]
I couldn’t decide whether to scold Rai for acting without orders or praise him for stopping Grack’s approach. While I stood there scowling, she took a step back.
“Fine. I lost. I get it. I’ll return your friend.”
Now that I had the upper hand, she changed her attitude quickly.
“Put her down over there.”
“I’ll leave her here. There. Satisfied?”
She carefully set the still-unconscious Iruse down in front of Undine, her movements oddly gentle.
“Now I’m asking you. Release my brother.”
The way she spoke suggested there was an escape route somewhere. The other slave traders who had been guarding the door had already vanished. Not a very loyal bunch. Only Grack and her brother remained.
“N-Nuna…… Urgh……”
The man approached his sister while shooting nervous glances at me, Rai still wrapped around his neck. It was a touching display of sibling affection. Even slave traders had family bonds…… Not that I cared.
“What are you doing?! Get this snake off me!”
“……”
“You promised!”
“I did, but……”
Did I really have to keep a promise made to criminals? If I let the brother go now, they would run. With the knights closing in, if I just held him a little longer they would be caught—and executed.
“I already gave your friend back!”
Grack trembled with fury. Both siblings struggled to pry Rai off, but he didn’t budge. His body was coiled so tightly around the man’s neck that not even a finger could slip between them.
“Are you really going to do this?! The deal was different! Let him go!”
“What should I do?”