Swift Resolution to the Kidnapping
"By the way, I heard from Uncle Tom that you've been having headaches lately. Is something wrong?"
Elsid, who had just entered the cabin, asked the question that had been on his mind since they met.
"..."
Bernard scratched his head and remained silent for a moment.
"Hoo, so you've already heard. In that case, there's no point in hiding it."
Deciding that denial would be pointless, Bernard finally spoke.
"I didn't want to burden a friend who just returned to his hometown with this kind of story... but you probably know about that small village we pass on the way here..."
"You mean Lime Village?"
Elsid knew it well. It was a settlement even smaller than Ragna Castle, about a week's walk away. He still remembered stopping at a general store there to sell animal hides, and how a girl no older than ten had helped her parents by handling the calculations and selling him the map and spices he needed.
"That's right. You know it well. A few days ago, a gaunt old man came to me—he looked like he hadn't eaten in days—and said his village had been taken."
"Taken? You mean kidnapped?"
"Yes. The old man said he'd been captured too, but he played dead and hid in a pit where they were burying corpses. He waited for an opening and barely managed to escape."
Elsid had only asked out of simple curiosity, never expecting to hear something like this. But Bernard continued regardless.
"The old man was weeping as he spoke. He begged me to save his daughter and granddaughter, Eris."
His voice grew desperate. "He said bandits suddenly raided the village, burned it down, looted everything of value, and dragged off dozens of people—men and women alike. He cried out for help until I finally calmed him down. He's resting in the infirmary at the lord's castle now."
"Hold on—bandits?"
Elsid unconsciously flinched at the word.
"This is..."
"What's with that expression? Do you know something?"
Bernard grabbed Elsid's shoulder, having noticed the change in his face.
"We'll talk while we move. You're going, right?"
"Looks like I've been found out. And you seem eager to join in."
"Don't even dream of leaving me behind, my lord."
They agreed to continue the conversation on the way. Knowing Bernard's character, Elsid was certain the lord had already begun preparing to rescue the villagers the moment he heard the old man's story.
"It's fortunate you were able to quickly secure an extra horse for yourself."
As expected, not long after leaving the cabin, five soldiers and seven horses were already prepared. If Elsid had arrived even a little later, Bernard would have been long gone, riding out to save the captives instead of pulling weeds in the fields.
Soon after, they mounted their respective horses.
They galloped out through Ragna Castle's gates.
"You ran into undead and even a chimera near Nao's territory, at that bandit hideout?"
As they raced toward Lime Village, Elsid recounted his experiences. Bernard reacted with shock.
"Wait, does that mean the bandits might have someone behind them...?"
"A necromancer who uses forbidden magic... someone who deserves to be torn apart."
It was still only speculation; there was no evidence either way. That was the problem.
"If those despicable creatures are truly involved in this incident, it could be disastrous. Not just for Ragna Castle, but even for Nao, the trading city you visited..."
"That's why we need to investigate thoroughly. Starting with Lime Village, where we're headed."
"Right. That's the priority for now."
Bernard nodded at Elsid's words. They urged their horses faster toward Lime Village, hoping to find even the smallest clue.
After their conversation ended, Elsid and the others rode in silence, gripping the reins tightly as they pushed their horses to full speed. Thanks to that, what would normally take a week on foot was covered in a single day. They arrived at Lime Village with Bernard, the five soldiers, and Elsid all together.
"I expected this, but... it's far worse than I imagined..."
Bernard dismounted and frowned as he spoke. The reaction wasn't his alone. The five soldiers and Elsid beside him couldn't help but grimace as well.
Before them lay not the small but lively Lime Village Elsid remembered. Only blackened ashes and completely destroyed ruins remained. Nothing else was left—just a desolate wasteland. Not a trace of its former self survived.
"I wonder if we'll even find any proper clues..."
Bernard sighed, unable to hide his heavy mood.
"Everyone, prepare to begin the investigation first thing tomorrow. We'll camp here tonight."
"Yes, sir!"
He quickly composed himself and gave orders to the soldiers. Following his command, they unpacked blankets and supplies from the horses' saddlebags and began setting up camp.
The sun had already set after their full day of riding, and night had fallen. Though they wanted to investigate immediately, searching for clues in the dark would be difficult. Camping and waiting until morning was unavoidable.
While the soldiers prepared the camp, Elsid headed toward the forest on the village outskirts. If asked why, he would say it was because of a memory. After buying a map in Lime Village, he had tried to take a shortcut through the forest to reach his destination faster.
'That's when I got lost and happened to meet Rain's group... and went through all sorts of things...'
Recalling those memories, Elsid looked toward the forest.
"Huh...?"
As he gazed at the path inside the woods, he noticed patches of blood that had cooled and hardened on the ground. Elsid approached to examine them more closely and realized there wasn't just one. Looking carefully at the tree bark, leaves, and various spots throughout the forest, he saw countless bloodstains. Judging by the amount soaked into the trees and ground, it was clear that some people had been seriously injured.
Without hesitation, Elsid moved.
'I need to go right now.'
He could have called Bernard and the soldiers to go together, but that thought never even occurred to him. Worried only about what might have happened to the people connected to these bloodstains, and praying there were no casualties, Elsid followed the scattered trails alone into the dark forest.
Fortunately, though the sun had completely set, there were few clouds and the moon hung in the night sky, providing just enough visibility.
"This way now."
Thanks to that, he followed the bloodstains scattered throughout the forest like a trail, never losing his way. Whether the bandits were fools or simply didn't care about hiding their tracks, the bloodstains appeared whenever there was space. After continuing along them, Elsid finally discovered something.
A fairly large wooden palisade stood before him, surrounded by a bright wooden fence. The fence was covered in countless bloodstains, just like those in the forest. Inside, he could hear loud noises and see bright lights. He couldn't tell exactly how many people were there, but he was certain the bandits were inside.
As proof, two guards stood at the palisade entrance holding torches.
"Hey, which of the women you captured did you pick?"
"Obviously one with a kid. It's hilarious watching them cry and beg, saying they're sorry."
"You sick bastard. Why pick someone like that? Wouldn't a younger one be better?"
"Kek, look who's talking. What's so great about brats who aren't even adults?"
They were having a repulsive conversation. It was clear proof that the bandits who had kidnapped the people of Lime Village were inside this palisade.
Elsid wanted to rush out immediately and shut their mouths, but there were far too many captives inside. If he charged in recklessly and they took the innocents hostage, it would be disastrous. If he could silently deal with just these two guards, he might be able to infiltrate easily...
"If only there was at least one more person..."
Then he could silence both guards at once so they couldn't alert anyone to an intruder. Or if he could cut their throats without hesitation, like when he sliced through zombies—but that was impossible. He was still only half a swordsman.
As Elsid was pondering how to enter the palisade without being noticed, an unexpected voice spoke to him.
"You need one more person?"
"Huh, Bernard?!"
"That's right. It's me. I was wondering where you'd gone, and it turns out you found this. Well done."
Bernard, who had suddenly appeared, patted Elsid's shoulder and praised him.