Chapter 80

After being released from the questioning, Rio and Shiraha headed straight to the inn the guild had arranged for them.

Due to the tension from seeing a corpse and being targeted, they didn't feel much appetite and didn't want to use the guild's cafeteria.

They decided to eat some fruit they had bought in the town of Sufan and go to bed early. Rio used the key he was given to enter the room.

Shiraha, frowning at the dusty room, opened the window to let in some fresh air.

Rio lit the candle on the cheap table and started to organize their belongings.

"Shiraha, pick what you want to eat."

"Same as Rio."

"There's only one of each, though."

"We'll share."

"Do you not want to have it all to yourself?"

"...meanie."

"Sorry, sorry."

Laughing, Rio used a knife to cut the fruit in half and handed it to Shiraha.

Savoring the sweet and sour flesh, Rio satisfied his hunger and then spoke to Shiraha.

"Regarding our next move, I want to find this person named Churas as soon as possible."

Churas, a mysterious person investigating the magic orbs, as told by Galdrat. Churas had been investigating the magic orbs in the Ors barony with Nac Schwacker, Galdrat's former master, but Galdrat, who had no personal acquaintance with Churas, couldn't tell them what kind of person Churas was.

The only clue was a bell made of Pizznuts. This bell, which Nac Schwacker had told Galdrat to ring at the San Ank Mayu if anything happened to him, had a muffled sound and didn't resonate much. Even if it was rung, it wouldn't be heard from the other side of the street.

Rio had hung the bell outside his bag since entering San Ank Mayu. However, given the circumstances, such as encountering a murder scene, there had been no opportunity for the other side to make contact.

It was unlikely that Churas, who was secretly investigating the magic orbs, would make contact until the guild's report was made public.

Therefore, they should take the initiative.

"Let's check with the guild to see if anyone has reported finding magic orbs or unknown animals, or if anyone has come to investigate them."

"Even with the spies around?"

"That's the tricky part."

According to the guild staff, the adventurer's guild in this town was infiltrated by spies from various organizations.

If they acted openly, it would be obvious that Rio and Shiraha were investigating the magic orbs.

Shiraha tilted her head in confusion.

"Besides, we don't even know if he's still in town."

"Yeah, Churas might have left the town. We should set a time limit for our investigation."

Since they didn't want to stay in the town any longer than necessary, they decided to set a time limit for their investigation. Rio decided to stay in the town for at least ten days when Shiraha looked out the window with a puzzled expression.

"There's something strange watching us."

"Strange? Oh, it's a cat."

Following Shiraha's gaze, Rio saw a large black cat on the roof, illuminated by the light. The black cat, which seemed to have passed by during a stroll, stood naturally on the roof. The black cat, making eye contact with Rio, opened its mouth and dropped something. Something that reflected the moonlight and glinted dully slid down the roof and fell to the ground. Realizing it was a large knife with a sharp blade, Rio immediately grabbed the leather bag containing the magic orbs and his sword, and shouted.

"Shiraha, let's go!"

Throwing away the half-eaten fruit, Shiraha grabbed her sword just as a high-pitched sound of metal hitting the ground was heard outside. Rio, attracted by the sound, saw a brown cat's tail. As the cat's tail disappeared, a white mask appeared on the roof, reflecting the moonlight.

Bursting through the door, Rio pushed Shiraha ahead and threw the candlestick at the white mask outside the window. The candlestick, extinguished by the wind, flew straight at the white mask and was knocked down by a drawn sword. To catch up with Shiraha, Rio jumped down to the first floor, leaping over the staircase railing.

The innkeeper, who had been dozing at the counter, was startled.

"What, what is it!?"

"White mask attack! We're the targets, so we have to run!"

Briefly sharing the information and raising the alarm, Rio rushed out of the inn after Shiraha.

A white mask, waiting in ambush, jumped down from the roof with a sword pointed downward. Shiraha, glancing up, stroked the hilt of her sword and took two steps back. The ground rapidly rose and struck the white mask from below, throwing it off balance. Shiraha mercilessly slashed at the white mask with a sharp blow.

Ignoring the white mask, who was rolling and bleeding from a deep cut in the side, Rio stepped forward. He thrust his sword at the white mask that had emerged from the gap between the neighboring houses, piercing its shoulder and kicking it away with all his strength.

Ignoring the white mask he had kicked into the alley, Rio glared up at the roof. Shiraha, moving behind Rio, activated a defensive spell.

A fireball launched from the opposite alley collided with the defensive spell, scattering sparks and dissipating. Rio, using body enhancement to jump, kicked the oil barrel thrown from the roof, sending it rolling down the road.

The group of white masks, who had been running to subdue them with magical support, stumbled as their plan was foiled. Seizing the opportunity, Rio dashed past Shiraha, sword at the ready, and closed the distance to the white mask.

Seeing Rio's speed, the white mask, realizing it couldn't escape, raised its sword in a ready stance. At that moment, Rio feinted with his eyes and leaped to the right, confirming there were no other enemies behind the white mask.

Catching the unprepared white mask within range, Rio slashed horizontally, cutting through its knee.

Given the overwhelming odds, there was no time to finish it off. Ignoring the incapacitated white mask, Rio jumped back to a position where he could coordinate with Shiraha.

"How many mages?"

"One on the roof and one in the alley. But they're weak."

"Those guys. It would be troublesome if we were taken hostage, but it would be nice to shake them off quickly. However, it would be troublesome if magic came from behind."

"Are you not going to cut them?"

"I don't want to reveal my hand."

"Got it—something's coming!"

Shiraha, unusually tense, warned.

Rio immediately heightened his alertness, and the group of white masks, who had been watching Rio and Shiraha's movements, also focused on them.

Suddenly, one of the white masks fell from the roof.

Only the upper body of the white mask rolled to the ground.

"…What?"

One of the white masks muttered in astonishment.

Everyone's gaze turned to the lower body sliding down the roof, spilling blood and entrails.

There was nothing there. Nothing should have been there.

Nothing was visible. Beyond the sliding lower body was a blood-soaked roof, and beyond that, the starry night sky.

Still, Rio sensed something on the roof, not with his eyes but with something else.

A unique, chilling presence. Despite the faint existence, the heavy, mud-like atmosphere confirmed its presence.

A presence similar to the boss ape that attacked his hometown, the terroropes and blackclaws that attacked Rihelan.

But the overwhelming malice on the roof was even more intense than before.

"…We're running."

Rio took Shiraha's hand and fled without hesitation.

The group of white masks, either inexperienced or dull, stopped moving in confusion as they watched Rio and Shiraha run.

"…Gah."

An invisible force began to ravage the group of white masks.