Escape from the Ravaged Mine
The interior of the mine, swept clean by the Shadow Hounds, was a scene of utter devastation. Mangled corpses, unrecognizable in their shredded state, littered the floor. The merciless slaughter had finally halted after I'd belatedly ordered them to stop. I wandered the underground tunnels with the hounds at my side.
"Grrr... huff huff!"
Unlike the monstrous beasts of darkness they were, the hounds lolled their tongues out in greeting, acting like excited puppies reuniting with a long-lost owner. It was a relief for me, but I couldn't help wondering why they were so friendly toward me.
Do they really see me as their master?
These were unmistakably Celestia's Shadow Hounds.
"Is it because I'm the Captain?"
Strictly speaking, my current appearance was far from the real Captain's. Still, the status window had referred to me as such, so it wasn't entirely impossible.
Does that mean they sense the Captain's aura from me?
But I shook my head. If there was some distinctive aura about me, Black Raven would have found me first—not these hounds. That left some other reason they recognized me as their master...
"Hmm."
Another possibility occurred to me.
"Maybe because I bought them, it left an impression?"
When you got down to it, I'd been the one who'd shelled out real cash to acquire them. Sure, I'd handed them over to Celestia afterward, but I was their original purchaser. If that was why they followed me, it wasn't a bad deal for me at all.
Still, I resolved to be cautious.
I absolutely must avoid meeting the real Celestia.
As the hounds crowded around me, I spoke up.
"You guys absolutely don't mention meeting me to anyone, got it?"
"Krrk, krrk."
They responded immediately to my words. Whether they understood or not, I couldn't tell. But since they'd stopped the massacre when I ordered it earlier, I figured they got it. I continued patrolling the mine.
I had no desire to linger here any longer. This was the perfect moment to escape.
I glanced around and said,
"Can you relay everything I'm saying to all your friends?"
"Krrk!"
The Shadow Hounds had multiplied repeatedly, swelling their numbers. Controlling every single one myself would be inefficient.
"Go around rescuing the kids. But if you find any surviving overseers or guards, kill them all."
I'd specifically told them to spare only the children.
That way, the chances of getting tracked drop.
What if I escaped alone? There was a high probability I'd be pursued somehow—whether by the Principality or Black Raven. Neither scenario was good.
So I needed others to escape with me.
I roamed the mine with the hounds in tow. Fortunately, quite a few children had survived.
"Ugh..."
"Waaah! Scary!"
Pale faces streaked with bloodstains. As the interior fell silent, the terror-stricken children began emerging one by one.
They flinched at the sight of the hounds at first. But once they realized the beasts meant no harm, they followed them toward the exit.
Of course, it wasn't just children around.
"Guh... H-how dare you...!"
Among them was a lucky overseer who'd survived. His face twisted in rage and shock as he glared at me. Without hesitation, I commanded,
"Bite."
"Krrk!"
With that single word, the hounds lunged like lightning. Surrounded, the overseer let out agonized screams as blood poured from him. His body tore apart in a brutally gruesome manner.
I watched the spectacle with a blank expression. To survive, to escape—this was the resolve required.
It might sound cruel, but it was best to suppress emotions against enemies. That maximized your chances of survival.
I approached the overseer's mangled corpse and rummaged through his pockets, pulling out a small dagger.
This'll do nicely.
Nothing had turned up from the dead dark mage earlier. This dagger was a solid gain—a weapon to protect myself once outside.
I tucked it discreetly into my belt and headed straight for the mess hall.
Not to eat in this ruined mine, of course. No reason to choke down more of that vile gruel.
I just had one person to find.
Emilia.
I wasn't doing her any special favors, but our recent chats had sparked an odd bond.
"Guess this is why they say affection is scary."
It wasn't like I was playing the righteous savior out of pure sentiment. Emilia was my friend—and effectively my alibi, proof of my identity.
The mess hall was a bloodbath, just like everywhere else. Tables smeared with gore and flesh chunks, evoking the pits of hell. I stepped over bleeding corpses, scanning slowly.
Though our meetings were brief, Emilia was sharp and composed. She had to be hiding somewhere. Calling her name, I said,
"Emilia? It's me, Ethan! If you're here, answer!"
With the hounds guarding me, I had no qualms shouting her name as I searched.
Moments later, a familiar voice reached my ear.
"E... Ethan? H-here..."
Emilia, huddled in a dim corner, cautiously lifted her head. Her terrified eyes locked onto me.
"Emilia?"
I approached slowly and took her trembling hand. It was ice-cold.
"Grab my hand."
She clasped it and rose. Her slender frame looked fragile enough to shatter.
Grrrrr—
The hounds growled threateningly at her, but a sharp glare from me silenced them instantly.
Calming the frightened girl, I said,
"It's okay. These guys are on our side—don't worry."
"What... what is all this? Those monsters..."
Confusion and fear filled her eyes as she stared at me, silently demanding an explanation. But there wasn't time for the full story.
"Let's get out first. No time."
The dark mage's reaction earlier made it clear other mines had fallen too.
The Principality will send investigators soon.
Priority was escaping the mine and putting distance between us.
At my urging to leave, Emilia hesitated briefly before nodding curtly.
"...Okay."
She was still shaking, but her face hardened with resolve, trusting me.
With no guards left to stop us—and riding the hounds—no one blocked our path. We raced unimpeded to the mine exit.
Finally, we emerged. Blinding sunlight greeted us the moment we stepped out.
"......"
Before us stretched endless sand dunes under a barren sky. The scorching sun made it seem like the grains themselves sizzled. Amid them, a few escaped children wandered aimlessly.
Only a fraction had made it out—most feared leaving the mine.
Can't be helped.
They'd spent most of their lives down there. No courage to face the outside.
But my role ended here.
I stared blankly at the outer world. A sight I'd never seen in ten years.
It was hard to believe a decade of slavery had ended in mere minutes. A hollow emptiness welled up.
"Ethan... what now?"
Emilia must have felt the same. I steadied myself.
Escape success, but the ordeal wasn't over. No time for emotions.
I turned to the hounds nuzzling my head and asked once more,
"Sorry to ask, but which way to the nearest village?"
In the game, villages always dotted mine outskirts. Desert-like terrain gave way to grassy lands with trees—and settlements.
"Krrk, krrk!"
They pointed south, grinning happily.
I wanted to ride them, but that'd draw too much attention.
"Emilia, can you walk?"
She nodded faintly. Even if not, I'd make her.
Time was short—who knew who might head this way?
"Alright, just a bit longer."
Once at the village, we could catch our breath. Worst case, order Black Raven.
Now, farewell to the hounds. I bid them goodbye and headed south with Emilia.
Our footsteps sank into the sand, soon buried by the wind.
The office at the pinnacle of the Fire Magic Tower exuded opulence and grandeur. Reserved for the Tower Master, its walls gleamed with gold leaf, expensive furniture abounded, and rare magical artifacts were displayed everywhere—symbols of authority and wealth. A magical flame flickered softly from the high ceiling.
Behind the desk sat a woman with a grave expression. Adeline von Arknon, master of this Fire Magic Tower.
"Bella, the Hartwell family sent a commission."
Adeline pulled out a document and addressed her disciple. The young red-haired mage, Bella, looked up with curious eyes.
"Seems the Count has a bastard son he's made a mess of."
Bella wrinkled her nose and snorted derisively the moment Adeline finished.
"Hmph, nobles are filthy. Can't even handle their own messes."
Bastard issues among nobles were commonplace. They tainted family prestige, especially resented by legitimate heirs as threats to inheritance. Discrimination was standard; assassination not uncommon.
The client, House Hartwell, held a countship in the Hailstone Principality. Lesser than imperial or royal nobles, but blue blood nonetheless.
"So, should I go dispose of the bastard?"
Bella grinned mischievously, miming a throat-slit.
Adeline sighed and shook her head at her disciple's jest.
"No. The request is to verify if he's truly the Count's son."
She handed Bella a magical device—a small box that tested blood for parentage.
"He's in a nameless village on the Principality's outskirts. Here's a map."
"Yes, ma'am! I'll complete the mission without tarnishing your honor!"
Truth be told, it was a simple job. Nobles often commissioned such paternity checks for secrecy—the Tower excelled at discretion.
"Haa..."
Normally, Adeline would have brushed off Bella's quip lightly. But today felt different.
She fell silent, gazing out the window. Her eyes soon shifted to Bella. Her lips moved slowly.
"Bella."
"Yes, Master!"
"Word from the ravens."
At "ravens," Bella's red eyes widened in surprise.