Chapter 74
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Never Provoke the Comfies (4)
For now, we'd settled on investigating together. But the real problem was what came next. Cluna had bluntly told us to get lost. And with a guest expulsion order actually in place...
If we wandered the streets on our own, we'd get caught and booted out in no time flat. So, reluctantly, we decided to ask for help from someone we knew. Not that I liked the idea.
Right now, we were holed up in a basement. Amelie—the one who'd offered her cooperation—had stashed us there. I stood with my arms crossed, frowning.
What the hell was this? I had a seriously bad vibe. An inexplicable stickiness had been gnawing at me for a while now. Like handing a fish to a cat...
"Clara."
"Yeah?"
"Amelie really is your mom's comrade, right?"
"Of course. She's a guardian of the same forest. Plus, she helped fend off the Twelve Tribes' invasion back in the day."
From the Twelve Tribes' invasion all the way to now—they'd kept in touch all that time? Well, yeah, if they weren't close, Clara wouldn't call her "Auntie" so affectionately.
So was I just being paranoid? No, that Comfrachicos vibe was still there. But I wasn't sensing any mind-control tricks.
No matter how much I mulled it over, I came up empty. So I gave up thinking. If I couldn't figure it out right now, I'd just have to move and find out on the fly. That was the best approach.
"Let's just wait and see for now."
"Yeah. Auntie's got something up her sleeve, I'm sure."
"Probably."
This wasn't the time to gripe about being stuck in a basement. We'd nearly been kicked out of the forest for real last time. Sure, no windows meant no peeking outside, which kinda sucked.
"First time in an elf forest. It's pretty stunning."
"Right? It's all untouched nature!"
"Kinda surprised it's not more maintained, though."
Sitting idle felt off, so to lighten the mood, I switched topics. We'd gotten a quick look when we entered, and the raw natural beauty was impressive.
That got Clara flashing a bright smile for the first time in ages as she chimed in. We must've chatted about it for a good thirty minutes. That's when the basement door finally creaked open.
"You boys been good and patient~?"
"Auntie Amelie!"
"About time."
"It wasn't easy, okay? Figuring out where Cluna's headed."
Clara and I both clammed up at the same time. The cheerful vibe from seconds ago was gone. If Amelie was telling the truth, where was Cluna going right now?
But she'd ditched Clara without a backward glance. Hell, she'd straight-up told us to scram. That meant it was insanely dangerous. Our first move here should be to talk her out of it...
"Really?! For real?! You know where Mom went?!"
"Yup~ Of course! When have I ever lied?"
"Never! Auntie's always straight with me."
"Hold on..."
"Let's head there now! Captain!"
"Calm down, Clara."
If it were any other day—if it wasn't such a big deal—I'd have played along, pretending to cave. But not today. Lives were on the line.
Alone, maybe I'd risk it. But Cluna kicking out the daughter she loved so fiercely? That image was burned in my mind. She had to be in some insanely dangerous spot.
I didn't know why. Part of me felt hurt she hadn't told us. But as captain, I had to separate personal feelings from duty.
"Where exactly is Cluna right now?"
"Lemme see... Deep in the forest heart, maybe?"
"Isn't that a dangerous area?"
"Not just dangerous. Super, duper dangerous."
"Which is exactly why we have to go!"
I had to keep personal and professional separate. And above all, I didn't want to go somewhere dangerous. Because I'm scared! Better to avoid fights if possible. Getting hurt sucks.
And dying? No thanks. Especially after my arm got twisted last time—the pain after it calmed down was pure hell. So I tried to rein Clara in. Until I heard those words.
"The captain said it himself! We have to confirm it with our own eyes!"
"..."
Oh, that. I'd just spouted nonsense to baby her mentally. And now it was biting me in the ass. Amelie whistled and chimed in.
"He's right~ Can't confirm till you've seen it."
"You look thrilled."
"Me? Nah. Well, if you really hate it, you can stay here."
"No way! I'm going! Even if I'm alone!"
"...I'll go too."
No way I could beat a daughter's fierce worry for her mom. Plus, crucially, I'd already let that slip. No grounds to stop her now.
Before leaving the basement, we got masks and purple robes from Amelie to cover up. Official gear for her tracking squad, or whatever.
"Tracking squad?"
"Easy—my personal troops~ Forest guardians have tons to do protecting the woods."
"Personal troops?"
Forest guardian or not, was it okay to run private soldiers like that? I had my doubts, but whatever—I took what she offered.
The mask was some creepy stone thing. No expressions, just eye holes. Dressed up, I felt like a generic bad guy.
"Suits you~ Clara!"
"Really? Thanks!"
"Yeah~ Would be nice if you kept it on forever~."
"Sorry, can't. Loving my current gig."
"Amelie. Please refrain from pushing."
"So sensitive~."
Amelie laughed playfully and peeled away from Clara, who'd been glued to her. She still gave off that shady vibe. But for now, nothing I could do.
We escaped the basement. A house made of vines and fallen leaves on a tree came into view. Apparently built from nature's cast-offs after their life cycle...
"So why's Cluna there?"
"To fulfill a guardian's duty."
"Guardian's duty?"
"Yeah. Protecting the forest with her life."
"..."
"Of course, I'd rather she not die over it~."
That sealed it. This elf Amelie wanted Cluna dead. Why? Same forest guardians? Jealousy maybe?
But I couldn't be 100% sure. No negative vibes from Amelie. If anything, she seemed friendly. But I knew better.
After endless side-eye meals, I'd hit side-eye level 20+. I could tell. Amelie wanted Cluna gone. I started to speak up.
"Urk...!!"
"Clara?"
"Ah~ Looks like it's kicking in~."
Clara groaned. I jumped to support her, but Amelie beat me to it. Clara staggered like she had a headache, then froze.
"This mask? It's got a special enchantment etched in."
"..."
"Put it on, and your mind blanks. You become a puppet dancing to my words."
"..."
"Such a basic enchantment—most would notice. But Royal Knights? Falling for this so easily."
She must've thought we'd fully bought it. She started blabbing away. No reaction from Clara? Yeah, puppet mode for real.
But for some reason, it did zilch to me. Broken enchantment? All sorts of thoughts raced, but right now, play dumb.
"Almost everyone's gathered."
Amelie whistled with her fingers. Elves in identical stone masks and purple robes moved in perfect sync. Clara among them.
Scared to lose her in the crowd, I dashed over and stuck by her side. Luckily, Amelie noticed nothing. Getting busted here would be game over.
Ditching would've been easy. Time Stop and bounce. Basic enchantment, so ditching the mask ends the brainwash.
But running now might put Cluna in danger instead. At minimum, I had to nail down what Amelie was after.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Amelie burst out laughing. Her flushed smile was twisted—terrifying to behold.
"Finally, you're mine~ Cluna!"
Drool dribbling from her mouth—she was the textbook pervert.
I clicked my tongue watching her. Right, this one's that infamous creep.
But I still didn't know everything.
Wait till it's crystal clear.