The Spearmaster and the Black Cat Chapter 134 part1

We arrived a few minutes later at a small, wooden house.

“Nn, nya.”

Rollo meows quietly.
It seems Rebecca is being held here.
An old, two-storied Japanese-styled house? But, I don't see an entrance, only stairs.
I peek at the stairs. Oh, found it! There's a door on the right wall, at the bottom of the stairway.
So that's the way in, huh?
I can sense three magic source responses from within this building.
I won't enter yet. For starters, I need to check this old Japanese-styled house.
I go around to the house's rear.
I find several wooden windows there, but no doors.
The window frames are small, not big enough for a person to fit through.
Thus, I shift my attention to the surroundings.
Complicated pathways, as common for back alleys, continue in both directions.
The neighboring houses are mostly run-down huts similar to hovels.
All of the small houses, which possess weather-beaten, wooden stairways, are crowded together. There are many peculiar buildings that are connected by passages on the second or third floor.
Rollo's sense of smell is quite amazing.
Wow, just how was she able to give chase in this maze-like place without getting lost…?
While praising her in my mind, I caress the neck of RollodeenHorse Lion.
Rollo returns to the front of the house after circling it and comes to a halt.
In the end, this is the only entrance, huh?
The small stairway located in front.
Well then, before getting off RollodeenHorse Lion, I will wake up Viine.
Viine is still squeezing my front.
Her eyes have been closed since some time ago.

“Viine, we've arrived so let's get off.” (Shuuya)

“Okay.” (Viine)

She cheerfully answers and her eyes spring open.
Then she removes her bluish-white hands from around my back and descends to the ground after raising a slender and well-proportioned leg, just like a gymnast at a vaulting competition.
She properly stands on her long, model-like legs.
The Gladiator Long Boots suit her.
It doesn't seem as if her knees are trembling like the other day.
Following her, I get off of RollodeenHorse Lion as well.
The moment I dismounted completely, Rollo transforms back into a black cat.

“Nya.”

Rollo comes and rubs her head against my foot with her tail bent like the grip of an umbrella; it makes butt, with its thick pelt, wiggle. She goes back and forth.
And then, seemingly satisfied with the amount of passes, she lifts her face and appeals to me with her round and cute, red eyes.
It looks like she wants to be praised.

“… Well done, Rollo.” (Shuuya)

“N, nyao.”

Once Rollo answers cutely, she walks towards the ruined house in front of us.
Facing her nose at the damp-looking overhang, she sniffs the air.
I wonder, is she checking the turf of the stray cats around here or is she confirming Rebecca's scent?
As it's certain that she had been brought here, all that's left is the door at the bottom of the stairs.

“… The house looks small. Give priority to projectile weapons and don't speak. Let's go.” (Shuuya)

“Nya.”

“As you command!” (Viine)

Rollo and Viine agree.
At that moment Helme appears in my field of vision.

『Your Excellency, is it finally my turn?』 (Helme)

I guess she asks because it's an infiltration mission.

『Normally you'd be correct, but this time you have to sit out. I plan to borrow your Spirit Sight though.』 (Shuuya)

I'm sorry for Helme, but I won't be satisfied unless I kill them myself.

『Understood.』

Helme bows her head and disappears from my view.
I nod and activate .
I imagine it as Sneaking Mission.
I descend the stone stairs while preparing my magic, , and the daggers strapped to my chest in order to be able to attack in an instant's notice.
I place my hand on the entrance door located on the right side.
It's not locked.
Carefully I push the door open and we quietly step inside.
Inside there's only a narrow hallway with a wooden floor on the right.
There are two shut doors on the left side of the hallway.
A hallway and two rooms, huh?
There is a candle holder installed in-between the two doors, creating orange light that illuminates the corridor.
I advance through the tight hallway while bending down.
A questionable sound resounds from stepping on rotten wood.
I look at the first closed door.
I can't sense any magic sources besides those from above, but just for caution's sake.

『Helme, lend me your sight.』 (Shuuya)

『Yeees.』 (Helme)

I imagine grabbing Helme who has reappeared in my field of vision.

『Ahn.』 (Helme)

Alongside a small moan, the left side of my field of vision transforms into a thermographic display.
There are no heat signatures through that door.
I suppose we can ignore this room.
The other room is the same.
Thus, without checking beyond the doors, I progress through the hallway while focusing on causing no noises.
Further down the hallway, there is a left-curving stairway continuing diagonally upwards.
After I make it up the wooden stairs, I exit at a place with a mud wall in front of me and hallways off to the left and right.
The cracked mud wall is simple; it's only decorated with a candle holder.
Rather than the hallways, will the wall of mud lead me to an adjoining hall?
I can hear voices coming through the cracks.

“… Just as you ordered, I shot aiming precisely at the head with and , completely taking him by surprise. However, he survived. The second arrow's aim was off due to the wind, but it definitely shot into his neck. He pulled out the poisoned, refined demonic steel arrow that was stuck there with a calm expression… Even though that poison is something that showed its effect after several minutes against the monsters in Senapua, the lancer took it out as if removing some trash…”

The voice of a woman.

“Did you really apply the poison to it? After all, you tried to run away while ignoring things. It sure is suspicious…”

“How would I have done that? You saw me applying the Dosmegala poison with your own eyes while threatening me with a knife, right? And you probably confirmed my shooting from far away with the special item you stole from the collector's warehouse.”

“Well, you are certainly right there, he fell to the ground after being stabbed by the arrows… That's why I can agree that Oze-aniki was done in by that lancer. He's probably a person possessing some kind of unique skill. However, his weak point is right here.”

A male voice. My weak point?

“… I wonder whether that woman will be really useful as a lure?”

“Ah, don't worry. It's in line with the information I got from the thief guild. Besides, my subordinates also made sure that the hostage formed a party with that lancer several times.”

So it's Rebecca after all, huh?
Certainly…that's a weak point.
It's bad that a woman whom I like has been kidnapped to be used as a hostage.

“… I see. So, how do you plan to lure the lancer to the warehouse district? As it stands, the offensive of 【Supreme Dance of Crimson】 is intense…”

“Don't get so irritated. Isn't it a nice thing that he personally experienced your arrows? How about Come to the 15th Warehouse in the Warehouse District if you value the life of this woman? There you will use the special trap room I snatched from the collector to haul him in together with this woman.”

“Eh? Me? Even though I have nothing more than my bow. Stop this crap already and let me go…”

“… You want me to threaten you again? Since the other day, you ain't shutting your trap about escaping or letting you go. You are Lane, a leader of the Owl's Fangs, referred to as Feathered Long-Distance Archer, aren't you? Have a bit more pride.”

Oops, due to a weird course of events…

“… I won't take part in such trickery. You are scarier than the leader of Bloody Long Ears. Until now I went along with you under duress, but I'm already tired of it. For me, there's a place I have to return to.”

“Hey, hey, don't fuck around with me. Do you plan to run away after coming this far? Are you the epitome of a fucking bitch who runs away once an organization breaks apart? This is the reason why I can't stand women. You being a leader, a long distance archer, and even a birdlike archer; what stupid shit…”

“So you drew your weapon…do you plan to kill me?”

The raised voices on the other side of the wall seem to be having a quarrel or internal discord.
I also feel the magic source responses from there.
With Spirit Sight the wall became transparent and I could clearly see human-shaped silhouettes with red and orange borders.
Let's use as well; I had sealed it before.
It means that this place will become my turf, but there's no blood scent of other vampires in the vicinity.
I guess it might have once been a living room.
There's only a single wall in front of me.
There are three magic sources: one on the right side and two in the middle.
Of the human-shaped silhouettes, both are standing, one in the middle of the room and the one off to the right.
There's a female scent coming from the middle and the right.
It overlaps with the magic source responses.
I suppose Rebecca was put to sleep and left in the center of the room.
At that point, I cut off the Spirit Sight and give Rollo and Viine instructions with my eyes and fingers.
I take out a dagger from my chest strap. While getting ready to throw it on a moment's notice, I carefully walk along the wall towards a corner.
After arriving, I leap out from the corner.
Letting my gaze wander — I grasp the general situation in an instant.
The locations I detected through their smell and magic sources are just as I saw with the Spirit Sight.

“Wh!”

“Eh?”

The man in the middle and the rabbit woman on the right are surprised by our sudden appearance.
Rebecca is lying below the man's feet.
I immediately shoot a towards the chest of the stupefied man while snapping my left wrist.
The chain, which extended in an instant, stabs into the man's torso. With his body taking the shape of the character く, the man is nailed to the wall like a tapestry.

“Guaaah—”

At the same time, I hurl the dagger with towards the rabbit woman's feet.

“Gyaa—!”

The dagger stabs into her foot.
The man, who was carried by the chain, crashes into the wall after bumping into a chair and a cabinet.
Was the man's hair band torn? His long hair spills down at the sides, covering his face.
And then a small item, which was likely at the man's chest, falls out and rolls onto the floor. It's a monocle-like object which has been completely broken after getting pierced by the chain.

“Be-ck-! Guh!”

The rabbit woman shouts the name of her comrade who's hanging from the wall.
A dagger is buried in her right foot, but she moves an arm to try to pick up her weapon, a longbow, that's lying at her feet.
At that moment Rollo extends her tentacles towards the rabbit woman's hand.
Her hand is pierced by a tentacle bone sword.

“— Uh.”

Moreover, watching the situation, Viine draws her sword with a swift movement while approaching the rabbit woman. She presses one of her silver longswords, not the poisonous one, against the rabbit woman's neck.
Hee, good going there, Viine.
Even though I haven't given her an order, she didn't kill her.
I think she decided not to on the spot after seeing Rollo's actions.
While thinking about such things, I check the vicinity.
There are no signs of suspicious magic sources except for those two who have been taken out.
We gain full control without misstep.
I check Rebecca.
I press my finger against her neck…there's still a pulse.
She's sleeping with calm breaths on top of a dark cloth while tightly embracing her important silver wand.
Her clothes aren't disheveled, so it looks like nothing has been done to her.
Great, she's safe.

“Gaaah, guhoooo, y-you…why are you here…?”

The man who is sewn to the wall asks.
He has long, unkempt hair and a scar on his lips.
He looks at me with a pained expression as blood is running out of his mouth.
He's still alive?
Shit, I don't want to listen to the words of an enemy bastard.
I release a chantless 《Ice Bullet》.
— Baaamm.
Alongside a popping sound, grey matter scatters into the surroundings.
His head was destroyed after being smashed by the ice bullet.
Once I erase the chain, the blood-stained body crumples down to the plank floor.

“Hiii.”

The rabbit woman screams after her comrade was done in.

“… ugh.” (Viine)

Even Viine is startled by my sudden action.
She leaks a quiet shriek.
It seems Viine's blade was touching the rabbit woman's neck then, causing a small amount of blood to flow.
You don't have to be surprised, is not something I'm going to say to her.
Though I squint slightly.

“Viine, you can lower your blade.” (Shuuya)

“Yes, Master!” (Viine)

Viine sheathes her sword into its scabbard.
I glare at the rabbit woman to fix my mood.
She seems to be frightened and becomes as meek as a rabbit.

“Now then, Rabbit-san. There are various things I'd like to know, but…” (Shuuya)

“… Hiii.”

This as soon as I address her?
She's too frightened, making it impossible to talk with her.
I guess I will allow her to recover a bit.
I pull out the dagger stuck in her foot and heal the wound with a potion.
The injury heals as if evaporating with a *ssshhh*.

“I-It huuurts, huuh? It doesn't!”

“It looks like it was healed.” (Shuuya)

Once I say so while smiling,

“Hiiii.”

“You're scared again?” (Shuuya)

I guess it's better to kill her if she isn't going to talk anyway?
I fill my gaze with bloodthirst.

“… It appears that you want to die.” (Shuuya)

“Hii! W-Wait. What should I tell you?”

Oh, finally, huh?
The rabbit woman makes use of her mouth even while feeling frightened and entrusting her back to the wall.

“First, your name and the name of your dark guild. Explain why you attacked me and kidnapped Rebecca.” (Shuuya)

“… My name is Lane and the name of the dead man is Beck. Both of us are leaders of the dark guild 【Owl's Fangs】. The reason for attacking you is revenge. I got dragged into that.” (Lane)

Her name is Lane. Besides, revenge, eh?

“Were your parents, siblings or relatives killed by me?” (Shuuya)

“Not in my case, but as for Beck, you're correct. Beck hated you for having killed “Oze,” his sworn brother. Additionally, 【Owl's Fangs】 getting destroyed is completely caused by you.” (Lane)

Keyser Oze1, eh? No, Oze Sulligan.
I suppose it's about the enemy who introduced himself as Oze of the Silver-Blue.
If I remember correctly, that's the name of the opponent I killed in the battle of Holkerbaum.
He was a dual-wielding master using a magic dagger and a longsword.
Now that I think of it, that guy was the strongest so far from amongst these guys.

“… Silver-Blue? That guy, huh?” (Shuuya)

“Yes, he was originally a master of martial arts.” (Lane)

“I understand the motive. Next, tell me all the details about the time before you attacked me.” (Shuuya)

Making my gaze stern, I urge on Lane to talk.
It's a demon-like expression.

“O-Ok. It began when us leaders were hurriedly summoned to this city by President Bill. And then we were ordered to protect our turf in several places.” (Lane)

I will check back with the story told by Serva.

“Beck and I were put in charge of the Warehouse District close to the port. After arriving in that area, a turf war immediately broke out. At first, we defended against the attacks from the other dark guilds, but suddenly we couldn't get in touch with the leaders protecting the other areas. After that, it turned into a continuous defensive fight with our turf being steadily taken by other dark guilds…” (Lane)

An underworld war lacking any moral code, huh?

“Moreover, even communication with headquarters stopped coming in… At that point, it was Beck who proposed it first. He said “If it continues like this, we will be done in by the other dark guilds. I want to get my revenge by sending an arrow at the lancer who continued making us swallow all those bitter experiences. If I'm going to die anyway, I want to do so after accomplishing my revenge.” And then he arbitrarily began to track and investigate you while leading the few remaining troops. I participated from behind…” (Lane)

I ponder her words just now while touching my neck that was stabbed by an arrow before.
I see.
If I remember correctly, let alone one arrow, I received two.
Those really hurt.
The sensation of having my eye crushed… I tasted the loss of my field of vision.
Would it turn into something good if I consider it as some kind of unknown, hard to obtain experience?
No, it's pointless. If it's about me receiving an attack, my knee would have been plenty.
If I took an arrow to the knee, I would be able to feel something realistically along the lines of I ended up getting hit here by an arrow.
Dang, what useless archer.
However, I don't give a damn about having received an attack anymore.
The problem lies with them having investigated and tracked me.
They might have not only limited their investigation to Rebecca but also have looked into Eva.

“… You said that you investigated me, but did you do the same for Rebecca and a woman in a wheelchair?” (Shuuya)

“Yes. We investigated the adventurers who are related to you. Unexpectedly the black-haired one in the wheelchair was “off-limits from the start.” Once we probed, we found out that the adventurers and hoodlums who got involved with her had two results: either dying or suffering major injuries. Moreover, even though she has no connection to the underworld, it was a flawless job… We decided to ignore her as the risks were too high for an abduction. It was immediately set that it would be the blonde-haired half-elf if we were going to abduct someone.” (Lane)

Eva is strong after all.
At this rate, it looks like nothing is going to happen to her.
Accordingly, I look at Lane once again.
She is no simple rabbit woman, is she?
I do know that she's of the rabbit race since her face is similar to that of a human and rabbit ears are growing on her head.
But, fluffy, white bird feathers are vertically waving up and down, as if breathing, from her wrists up to her elbows.
I'm curious about her race, but I guess I will ask about that cloth which kidnapped Rebecca.

“… I see. So what's that black cloth you used when kidnapping Rebecca?” (Shuuya)

I turn my eyes at Rebecca who is sleeping on top of the dark cloth.

“… That's an item we received from the leader called Morabi. It's a consumable magic item with a limited number of charges called Thinking Steel Cloth of DarknessVulture Catch. It's limited to users with the darkness attribute though. It allows someone to automatically counter attacks. In addition, it also has the ability to wrap up specified things to transport them. This time we used that function.” (Lane)

Hee, even though it has a limited number of charges, it's a handy item.

“Is it still usable?” (Shuuya)

“No, it shouldn't be.” (Lane)

Certainly, I can't feel any mana from that fabric anymore. It doesn't appear to be anything but a simple wrapping cloth.
I wondered whether I should take it, but there's no point if it can't be used.

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Translation Notes:

Chapter end