Chapter 74

Chapter 24. Twisting Two Fates (6)

"Wait a moment, Quikantel-sama."

"Hmm?"

"Surely you don’t really think the people outside the door are neighbors who came to gather firewood? I think they’re more likely to be the Special Task Force."

Quikantel was undoubtedly incredibly strong, but it was precisely because of this 'strength' that he was completely careless.

'Given his actions so far and the fact that Enya was killed in his previous life, Quikantel is not a suitable guardian. At least not in the current situation.'

"Special Task Force, huh. I’ve heard of them a few times, but why would they come for me?"

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

The people presumed to be from the Special Task Force continued to knock on the door. Quikantel had a puzzled look on his face, as if he didn’t understand what was going on.

"It’s probably because of Enya. I think they’ve been monitoring this place. And when they saw Quikantel-sama bring someone from outside, they must have wanted to figure out who it was."

It might be a stretch, but who would come to gather firewood in a log cabin built in the middle of a forest outside the city?

Even if they were ordinary civilians who happened to come by, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.

"If they are the Special Task Force as you say, pretending we’re not here would only cause more misunderstandings. I’ll check, and if I sense anything suspicious, I’ll subdue them immediately."

"Subdue them? There’s no need to go that far. Wouldn’t it be better to just make up a story and send them away?"

"No, if they were monitoring me, I can’t just let it go. It’s extremely unpleasant."

Quikantel strode towards the front door.

Jin, meanwhile, took the sleeping Murakan to a side room and activated Multa’s rune, while Enya watched the situation with a gleam of interest in her eyes.

'Neither Quikantel nor Enya are ordinary... that’s for sure.'

Creak.

Quikantel opened the door to face two sturdy men. They wore loose shirts stained with dirt and straw hats, but their well-built muscles were visible beneath their clothes.

"Speak the truth. Are you from the Special Task Force?"

The men shook their heads, undeterred by Quikantel’s blunt attitude.

"What are you talking about?"

"We apologize for the sudden intrusion. We’re farmers living in the forest below, and we suddenly ran out of firewood..."

Jin, who had been listening quietly, thought to himself:

'These guys will probably get a severe reprimand and have to write dozens of reports when they get back.'

It’s common for the Special Task Force to disguise themselves to avoid revealing their identities.

In that sense, the Special Task Force members who came here were unlucky. It’s absurd to claim they came to gather firewood in a place surrounded by trees, and their disguises were amateurish.

They were likely the lowest of the low, newly assigned to the Special Task Force.

'This shows how lightly Viment thinks of Quikantel and Enya. But even so, this is a bit much... are they really the Special Task Force?'

Thud! Crack!

Just as he thought this, a heavy impact sound was heard.

It was the sound of Quikantel beating the intruders.

"I gave you a chance to speak the truth, yet you dared to lie..."

Glancing over, Jin saw that Quikantel was mercilessly beating the intruders. They were already completely subdued after the first blow.

"Ugh!"

"Where are you splattering blood from?"

The brutal beating continued, and a moment later, Quikantel dragged the two limp men by their hair into the living room. They looked utterly pathetic as they were dragged in.

"How long have you been monitoring me?"

"N-no, we’re not from the Special Task Force!"

"What? Then who sent you?"

"I sent them."

Another man’s voice.

Surprisingly, it came from inside the house.

Right next to Jin.

'What! I didn’t sense him at all...!'

Jin jumped back in shock.

The man’s face was hidden behind a red mask, and he wore a tight-fitting blue uniform. The uniform of the Viment Special Task Force. And as Jin knew, the red mask was only allowed for the squad leader.

Quikantel also seemed a bit surprised and released the intruders he had been beating.

"Hmm, so you’re from the Special Task Force. Did you send these guys to draw attention while you entered the house?"

"Let them go now."

The men who had been talking about firewood started to run away.

Just as Quikantel was about to shoot a magic arrow at their backs, the Special Task Force member spoke softly.

"If you kill them, it will cause problems. Other Special Task Force members will be sent here."

"Is that so? Then let’s see how problematic it gets."

"If you insist, I won’t stop you."

After a moment’s thought, Quikantel lowered his finger.

"Right, if I were to kill humans, it should be you, not them."

The man remained calm despite Quikantel’s genuine display of murderous intent.

Of course, Jin could tell at a glance that the man’s skill level was at least 8-star, and Quikantel felt the same.

'Thinking about it, that curved sword... I’ve heard of it a few times in my previous life.'

There is only one person in the Viment Special Task Force who uses a curved sword.

Codename: Rats. The leader of the 3rd squad of the Special Task Force, a confidant of the Viment Emperor, and a figure often mentioned in Runkandel as an excellent swordsman.

Being recognized as a swordsman in Runkandel means he is undoubtedly a formidable opponent.

'I’m glad I used Multa’s rune to cover my face. I almost made a big mistake.'

Rats gave Quikantel a light bow.

"I apologize if I caused any discomfort. I needed to personally determine who the guests you brought in secretly were. Now that I’ve confirmed, I’ll take my leave."

Rats didn’t ask who Jin and Murakan were.

There was no point in asking, as Quikantel wouldn’t tell him, and it was his job to find out after returning.

"It’s not a matter of just apologizing for monitoring me. Besides, who said you can leave just like that?"

Quikantel threw a punch.

Rats didn’t dodge; he offered his face, and even after the direct hit, he stood there like a statue, showing no signs of shock.

"Ah, you’re quite something. For a human, you’re quite useful. Is that why you’re so arrogant?"

"If this calms your anger, it’s best to stop now."

"What if I can’t stop?"

"Then I’ll have to counter. My mission doesn’t include ensuring Enya’s safety."

Rats subtly glanced at Enya, who had been gleaming with curiosity but froze like ice when she met his gaze.

It was a threat. If a proper fight started, Rats would kill Enya, regardless of what happened to Quikantel. It was also a negotiation, a plea to let him go without a fight.

It was a brilliant move. No matter how fiery Quikantel’s temper, he wouldn’t fight to the death over Enya’s life.

No matter how strong Rats was, he couldn’t defeat Quikantel one-on-one. However, if they fought in this confined space, Enya’s safety could not be guaranteed.

If Murakan were awake, it might be different, but now, it was best to defuse the situation quietly.

"Then I’ll see you next time."

Rats walked past Quikantel and stepped outside, then suddenly disappeared, as if using a special technique.

"Damn it...!"

Quikantel was furious. She felt not only monitored but also mocked by the Viment Empire.

"I’ve been a fool for keeping Enya in this damn place. Ha, Jin Runkandel. If you and Murakan hadn’t come, who knows what would have happened to Enya. They were watching not just Enya but every move I made...!"

Enya also looked shocked, her face blank.

"J-just now, that person... you, you were so scary."

It was a different level of fear compared to the bullying she had experienced at the magic academy. Receiving the murderous intent of an 8-star knight directly was a different story.

"Brother! We need to bring my brother. Jin-sama, let’s leave today...!"

"Go with Quikantel-sama. It’s best to board the Tikan trade ship as soon as possible in the morning."

* * *

Their luggage was just a small bundle.

The same bundle Enya would carry to the academy every day was all she decided to take when she decided to leave Viment.

Enya, with the bundle on her back, held her seven-year-old brother, Finte, tightly by the hand and carried her pet dog.

His eyes were wide with fear.

"Ugh, Young Master. Will we really not be caught? I couldn’t sleep last night after meeting that person...”

Jin reassured her.

"Even if we are caught, I’ll make sure nothing happens to Enya and her family. Trust me. We need to leave this place as soon as possible to ensure safety."

Jin believed the Viment Special Task Force didn’t usually monitor Enya closely.

No matter how careless Quikantel was, he wouldn’t miss a close tail or surveillance.

'Before Rats visited, Murakan didn’t sense anything either. It’s likely that we were first exposed to the aerial surveillance network when we entered with Quikantel, and the Special Task Force was then dispatched.'

Moreover, Viment would expect Quikantel to be on high alert after yesterday’s incident. They wouldn’t want to provoke him.

They wouldn’t expect Enya to leave the country secretly today. They would think it’s natural for her to miss school due to the shock.

"Go to the ship with peace of mind. Most importantly, since Quikantel-sama is staying here, they wouldn’t imagine Enya leaving secretly. And Murakan, the cat, will watch your back."

Jin couldn’t reveal his face, so he couldn’t escort Enya to the trade ship himself.

Instead, Murakan, transformed into a cat, would protect Enya in case of any emergencies. If the Special Task Force discovered Enya’s secret departure and attacked, Murakan would block them.

Of course, Jin was confident that this wouldn’t happen, as the port was connected to a bustling area.

It was impossible to accurately track the location of Enya and her family in a street filled with thousands of people without close surveillance.

"Young Master..."

"Despite his appearance, he’s a great black dragon. We’ll meet again in Tikan, Enya. And Finte."

Enya bit her lip and bowed.

Then, she left Quikantel’s log cabin and walked towards the city. The route was the same as the one she usually took to the academy.

Except, Enya wouldn’t be going to the magic academy, and Finte wouldn’t be going to the elementary school.