Chapter 90

Given the extensive length of the text, I will provide the translation in parts to ensure accuracy and readability.

---

**Part 1:**

As he stood at the entrance of the town, Konrads was well-versed in the paths that avoided prying eyes.

While following behind Konrads, Rio constantly remained on guard.

The woman with the bow had vanished without a trace, which only heightened Rio's vigilance even more.

Without showing any concern for Rio's caution, Konrads spoke up.

"The Night Stalker is a malevolent spirit whose name is derived from its moniker. Its nature is to commit murder at night, and it relentlessly tracks down and kills witnesses. For some reason, witnesses who know the basics of swordsmanship are more likely to be tracked."

"Does that mean we are the targets since we saw the Night Stalker kill White Face last night?"

"In plain terms, you boys are bait. Some extra elements might get involved, but we will handle them with our forces."

The "extra elements" likely referred to White Face and his group. There was a good chance they would interfere with the Night Stalker's extermination.

"I was wondering, if there are bodies of the Night Stalker's victims, can't we kill it with a cursed weapon?"

The Horned Family had a cursed weapon called Bünded, which could curse those around it using the blood of the dead as a medium.

Shaking his head, Konrads responded to Rio's suggestion.

"Divine spirits and malevolent spirits cannot be killed by curses. They don't have magic power, you see."

"But they can use innate magic without magic power, right?"

Shrugging, Konrads replied to Rio's skepticism.

"Even if they could be killed by curses, a cursed weapon would be born near the Night Stalker's body, and we wouldn't be able to recover it in time. What do you think would happen then?"

"…That sounds scary."

"Sometimes, removing the cause can become the cause. Boy, broaden your perspective."

The place Konrads seemed to be heading towards was likely the San Anku Mayu's material storage area. It was a place where the guild's warehouses were scattered, and materials for repairing the defensive walls, such as wood and stone, were stored.

While it was possible to hide, it was also dangerous to ambush the Night Stalker without knowing where it would come from.

"I'll explain the plan. We have the organization's combatants waiting around the material storage area. You boys will confront the Night Stalker in the center of the material storage area. You can run away after luring it out, but you will probably get caught in the battle. Defend yourselves."

"As long as they don't abuse divine weapons or cursed weapons, we'll survive."

"They won't involve you. It would be troublesome to clean up after your deaths."

"What about dealing with White Face?"

"That's the role of the ones waiting. However, if you run, be careful."

---

**Part 2:**

Upon arriving at the material storage area, Rio looked around. Considering the number of people needed to deal with White Face, there should have been a considerable number of people stationed, but there was no sign of them. A frog croaked leisurely, unaware of the hidden presence.

Konrads looked at Shiraha.

"Can you sense the Night Stalker?"

"No."

Shiraha pointed to a warehouse.

"That will be noticed."

The tightly closed door of the warehouse Shiraha pointed to likely had a mage hiding behind it.

Frowning, Konrads said, "You have a sharp intuition, but your sensitivity to magic power is unusual."

Shiraha made a visibly displeased face at Konrads' scrutinizing gaze.

Rio kicked the ground with his toes to check the condition. It was a gravelly, well-drained surface. Walking normally would cause the gravel to rub against each other and make noise. Logs that seemed to be drying, carts loaded with gravel, and wheelbarrows filled with pottery shards were numerous obstacles. The entire material storage area was large enough for a brawl involving dozens of people.

If White Face attacked, it would likely be from outside the material storage area, making a chaotic battle inside unlikely, but caution was still necessary. Rio considered multiple escape routes in case of an emergency and eventually took up a position in the center of the material storage area, where he had the best view.

Shiraha stood back-to-back with Rio, guarding his rear, and drew her sword. Konrads used the divine sword Obofs to pass through the wall and disappeared into the warehouse. Rio called out to Shiraha over his shoulder.

"It should be obvious that it's a trap, but will the Night Stalker fall for it?"

"I don't know."

"Well, I guess we won't know until it happens."

Rio also drew his sword and exhaled quietly, calming his mind and sharpening his senses. The dry night wind rustled his hair, and the cloth covering a wheelbarrow flapped in the breeze. Shiraha looked east.

"A lot of mages are coming."

"Is White Face arriving first?"

Since the attack by White Face was expected, Rio prepared for battle without panicking. However, Shiraha tilted her head in confusion.

"…Something's wrong. There are too many of them."

Thinking that White Face had called for reinforcements, Rio also looked east. A group was heading towards the material storage area. Behind the group with white-painted masks, a crowd of torchbearers was chasing after White Face. The torchbearers, running in perfect formation, were dressed in matching uniforms instead of wearing masks.

"---They're the city guards. We've been had…!"

Rio realized the significance of the city guards' arrival and understood that Muzé had outmaneuvered them. Dealing with the Night Stalker was the Horned Family's top priority, but for White Face, securing Shiraha was the highest priority, regardless of the town's fate. Muzé had anticipated that Rio and Shiraha would be used as decoys and had used White Face to lure the city guards.

If the city guards witnessed Rio and Shiraha working with the Horned Family, they could be labeled as spies, making the Night Stalker's extermination irrelevant.

"If we stay here, we'll get caught in the chaos. I'm going to run."

Given the changed circumstances, Rio decided to escape. Just as he made this decision, a single arrow was shot into the sky, forcing everyone to look up involuntarily. It was the work of the female archer.

"---The plan has changed. Pretend to be surrounded to avoid being seen as allies."

As Konrads' voice rang out, the members of the Horned Family who had been hiding in the material storage area rose up with shouts. Some aimed weapons at Rio and Shiraha, while others ran east to confront White Face.

As the attention shifted from the arrow, Rio glared at Konrads and the woman standing next to him, who were observing the scene from a distance.

"They don't intend to let us escape."

The alliance had broken down. However, with the surrounding forces, there was no place for Rio and Shiraha to run. From Konrads' perspective, this situation wasn't too bad. Whether Rio and Shiraha lived or died, the cursed sword Night Stalker could be handed over to the city guards.

Now, Rio and Shiraha had to face the Night Stalker alone.

Looking around for a way out, Rio realized there was no place to run. Before he could process the rapidly changing situation, a new group appeared from the west.

Everyone took a step back and turned their attention to the west. The approaching presence was so filled with dark malice that it set off their instincts. However, no one could see anything.

Even the skilled members of the Horned Family, using light magic to illuminate the area, could not find any trace of the presence. They searched the ground for footprints and listened for footsteps, but to no avail. One of the skilled members was suddenly and silently cut down.

There was no sound of footsteps or the slicing of the wind. Only the silent spread of malice in the air, and the disappearance of a life when it converged.

There was no way to counter it. The presence was definitely in the material storage area, but no one knew where it was or where it would come from.

Seeing the skilled members being forced to retreat, Rio called out to Shiraha.

"Follow me."

Without waiting for a response, Rio sprinted towards the west, where the Night Stalker was. Shiraha followed closely behind.

Everyone present was surprised by their sudden movement, wondering if they had a way to detect the Night Stalker's location. Rio and Shiraha left the others behind, ignoring their reactions.

Rio didn't know where the Night Stalker was, but he saw no reason to stay and deal with it. If they could escape, that would be enough. Shiraha could sense the Night Stalker's presence, and even if they were ambushed, they could still escape.

Broaden your perspective, indeed. Rio glanced at Konrads, who was observing the scene from atop a warehouse. Rio pointed to White Face, and Konrads smiled slightly.

"Abandon those boys! Prioritize dealing with White Face! Don't get into a conflict with the guards!"

Konrads gave the order. It was unclear if the Night Stalker would pursue them, but Rio and Shiraha had already been seen by the city guards surrounded by the Horned Family. Thanks to Konrads' timely order, it would appear that Rio and Shiraha were in conflict with the Horned Family, clearing the suspicion of being spies.

With one problem resolved, Rio sprinted away from the material storage area with all his might.