Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Episode 009 (5)
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With the enemies' positions roughly mapped out, the next step was to devise a proper strategy.
As if he'd prepared in advance, Kuhn pressed on.
"First off, we'll divide into three teams like today. Taylor Rosetta and Lui Silver, you'll each lead one team and suppress the bandits the moment we breach. And..."
"...?"
"They're criminals living in defiance of Jordic law anyway. If they resist, execute them on the spot."
Unlike his calm mention of summary executions, Kuhn's plan was remarkably rational.
That made sense—the Bandit Alliance's real threat wasn't the quality of its forces, but their sheer numbers and loose, decentralized structure.
Unless it was some infamous stronghold, most members were just your run-of-the-mill bandits.
'Even trainees from the Lion’s Den wouldn't stand a chance against us.'
So there was no need to throw everyone into the fray.
And besides—
Kuhn had kept himself and Lua Silver out of the assault for good reason.
He spoke up again, this time issuing orders to Lua Silver.
"Next, Lua Silver."
"...Yes, sir!"
At his call, Lua Silver responded with crisp discipline.
Part of it lingered from her fear the day before, but more than that, the way he laid out the plan and gave commands looked somehow different from before.
'He's not from some prominent family, right?'
Yet he commanded and received replies with a maturity beyond his years.
This wasn't just some noble kid bossing around a few servants.
The voice and atmosphere carried a strict military rigor.
Taylor Rosetta watched it all, doubt and confusion flickering in his eyes.
Undeterred, Kuhn continued.
"Your job is to lead the third team in a raid on the heart of their camp. Search for any innocent civilians they might have locked up, and..."
"...gather evidence of their crimes, right?"
She anticipated it neatly, and Kuhn nodded with satisfaction.
"Quick on the uptake. Good."
Definitely, the sister was sharper than the brother.
"Same deal—if anyone resists during the sweep, kill them."
Maybe because time was short.
With the plan's broad strokes set, Kuhn rolled his jaw to loosen his neck.
One issue remained.
The ringleader of this mess.
'Who handles the camp's boss, obviously.'
"Intel says the mastermind is a knight-turned-criminal called 'Brown Bear Joden.' He's mid-tier in the Bandit Alliance—quasi-executive level."
"...Quasi-executive?"
The three team leaders flinched at the words.
'A typical bandit boss isn't that threatening.'
Any regular squad member could handle one without breaking a sweat.
'But—'
'If it's a Bandit Alliance quasi-executive, that's different.'
And it was.
The Bandit Alliance might be dismissed as low-tier overall—
But that didn't mean it was full of pushovers.
Flashy mercenaries who'd crossed the law.
Knights on the run from crimes, or mages who'd ditched their humanity and ended up wanted.
Quasi-executives were a motley crew of criminals like that.
At minimum, they were top-class aura practitioners.
Not quite sword aura, but they could draw out the sword's cry—
the resonant hum of the blade.
In mage terms, 3rd or 4th circle level.
'On par with Lion’s Den regular instructors?'
Sensing their stares, Kuhn cut in curtly.
"...I'll take him."
4.
Detailed refinements followed the briefing. It wrapped up well past midnight.
Back in his reserved single room at the inn, Kuhn breathed slowly, in and out.
'The op kicks off at dawn tomorrow.'
About five hours of leeway left.
He planned to devote it all to Monstrous Strength and Chaotic Spirits training.
'Sleep's optional.'
Superior aura breathing methods let you shrug off days without rest.
Once you hit a certain level, anyway—
'No issue for me.'
He'd already reached it.
Proof came with each breath—his chest rose and fell rhythmically.
Sip, siiip—
Focus sharpened, and around his heart buzzed a swarm-like hum.
Monstrous Strength and Chaotic Spirits' signature wraiths surged in response.
Woooong—
......Grrrrraaah.
"Hooo."
Before the fight, he'd hone his senses to a razor's edge through dawn practice.
Confirming the power's circulation, Kuhn mouthed silent words.
Meanwhile, he gauged his progress precisely.
'...Demonic Flame and Greedy Egg still out of reach?'
Demonic Flame 【魔火】.
And Greedy Egg 【貪卵】.
These were two special powers of Monstrous Strength and Chaotic Spirits, briefly mentioned before.
Boosting aura capacity mid-practice? Just a byproduct.
'The true goal is mastering Demonic Flame and Greedy Egg.'
Demonic Flame let you wield inky purple-black flames freely.
A few days back.
He'd bragged that wielding one power perfectly would let him torch just the intel guild's building.
Thanks to this flame.
'A force to burn all creation under heaven to ash.'
If "Fame" rated it that highly, its power was undeniable.
Lost in thoughts of Demonic Flame during practice—
Kuhn's brow twitched.
——Fwoosh!
For a split second, the Monstrous Strength and Chaotic Spirits power coiling through him felt denser than before.
'Hallucination?'
He shook it off mentally.
No—real.
Faint, but unmistakable: denser power.
Not just thicker—faster circulation too.
Like a breakthrough.
'This...?'
Quality, quantity surging. Certain spells felt stronger too.
The conviction spread from heart to head to limbs.
If true, paths to Demonic Flame and Greedy Egg shortened considerably.
Then—a low growl in his mind.
—Grrr.
'That cry?'
The instant he sensed it, his soul expanded. The world around him widened.
Mental link. Contract sealed.
One reason for that: the fox.
Steadying his breathing, Kuhn half-opened his eyes.
In the pitch-dark room, lips moved.
"—Open Gate 開門."
Linking his shadow—inner spirit realm to the physical—he flung the door wide.
His shadow ahead split like massive doors.
From it emerged a fox kit, kitten-sized.
Gring—
The one recovering in his shadow.
Night Parade of One Hundred Demons sealed the pact as it healed.
Gyarrgring—
Cramped in there?
Or outside freer? It scampered out, stretched.
Then rubbed its head against Kuhn's body—legs, back, waist.
Twitching tail and hips too.
'This...'
Pure owner recognition. Otherwise, no scent-marking.
'That power and spell surge? This guy's doing.'
Night Parade of One Hundred Demons wasn't mere subjugation.
It bound monster souls, making their power yours.
True essence.
Flame, illusions, related spells—all boosted.
Gring, grrgrr—
Name it, and the contract completes.
'A name...'
—Gring, gyarrgring.
Stroking its back softly, Kuhn tilted his head.
'...Tails?'
Three before. Now four.
No longer one big with two small—all even-sized.
A new small one poking out.
'Absorbed all the elixir I fed it?'
No other explanation. Eyes gleaming, Kuhn pondered.
'It'll keep growing—three-tails, four? Names like that won't stick...'
Miyo too plain.
Ming's memories surfaced: fox yokai lore.
'Grows to nine tails. Then...'
He whispered carefully.
"Tesha."
Tesha [תשע]—ancient tongue for "nine."
...Grring?
Head tilt. Kuhn repeated.
"Your name from now on: Tesha."
Voice imprinting it deep.
The name for the kit that'd become a grand yokai—golden fur, nine tails.
Symbol of Night Parade: White-Faced Golden-Furred Nine-Tails 白面金毛九尾.
—Grring!