Chapter 122 : Chapter 122
Chapter 122: Encounter with the Unknown (2)
The Kapers were said to be gathered not in the basement of Logan's usual pub, but in a cargo warehouse located in a secluded corner of the docks.
According to Toric, the underground hideout there was much larger than the pub's cellar, so even though it was less accessible, they tended to use that place when many members gathered.
Furthermore, today they were also holding Don Paulo captive.
Then why not use that place normally?
Ironically, because it was in a secluded location, it was less likely to be exposed, but once it was, the probability of being attacked was actually much higher.
Attacking the basement of a pub in the middle of Tiaria would inevitably draw the attention of all the citizens, but no one cared about a corner of the docks that they didn't even know existed.
For that reason, having gathered in the warehouse hideout for the first time in a long while today, they had been attacked, as if by fate.
“Hiyah!”
Having acquired a carriage, we hurried towards the docks.
The docks we arrived at were still bustling, even though the sun was about to set.
Many dockworkers were unloading cargo from the ships moored nearby, or conversely, loading cargo.
Those who appeared to be merchants from the merchant companies were busy giving instructions to the dockworkers, telling them to move this here and that there.
But that was the story of the central area where the ships came and went.
The further we went towards the corner where the warehouses were lined up, the scarcer the people became.
During the day, people came and went here to move cargo, but now that the workday was mostly over, only one or two people were coming and going, pulling carts loaded with goods.
So.
“E-Everyone…!”
Clara, whom we suddenly encountered in such a place, couldn't help but be a very conspicuous existence.
“Mr. Silverhand…!”
Clara, who had been anxiously tapping her feet with a frightened look, showed a mixed expression of relief and worry as soon as she saw us, especially Toric.
“Clara? Why are you here?”
As an accomplice of the Kapers, she was a waitress at Logan's pub, where we often visited.
But to be here, and not at the pub, during what should be its busiest time, was naturally bound to be noticeable.
“W-Well, I was preparing for business as usual, but I suddenly received a carrier pigeon telling me to close the pub and hide today… I was so worried about Mr. Logan and the others…!”
But when she got here, she found there was nothing she could do, so she had been observing the situation from nearby.
Just in case, like us, reinforcements came, she was going to relay the situation.
At those words, a faint smile appeared on Toric's lips.
It was a look of pride.
“…As expected of Russell's daughter. Thank you.”
On the other hand, there was also a hint of bitterness.
“So, what's the situation inside?”
When Toric then asked, Clara answered in a somewhat cautious tone.
“D-Dark elves…”
“…Dark elves?”
It seemed less like she was worried about being watched from nearby, and more like a caution born from knowing that her own words would not be easily believed.
“I saw dark elves constantly going in and out, of the warehouse where the hideout is….”
“Don't tell me…”
Without anyone having to go first, we looked at each other.
Due to the recent events, we could guess to some extent where those dark elves, who were usually hard to see, had come from.
“…….”
On the other hand, Ibi, who was the only one looking down and lost in thought for a moment, seemed to have thought of a slightly different possibility than us.
“By any chance, were they not half-elves?”
“Half-elves…?”
“There are gangs in the slums made up of half-dark elves. I was wondering if it might not be them.”
At that, Clara seemed to retrace her memory once more, and then shook her head and answered.
“I only saw them from a distance, so I couldn't see clearly… but I don't think they were half-elves.”
Because.
“They were all wearing, strange armor, the kind I’ve never seen here….”
“…They are from Krom.”
Toric, who had muttered this, let out a long breath through his nose and then took Clara's arm.
“Thank you, Clara. Leave this to us and hurry to a safe place.”
“I-Is there anything else I can do…”
“You've already done enough. Don't worry too much. The Kapers don't go down that easily.”
At Toric's reassuring words, Clara slowly nodded her head.
Toric, who had been watching Clara's retreating back, then turned back to us and said.
“It seems they've occupied the warehouse and set up a camp.”
His tone was calm, as befitting a veteran.
“…That means your companions have been defeated, but you're surprisingly calm?”
“This isn't the first time a mess like this has happened. …Of course, being attacked by dark elves from Krom is a first.”
Ibi's question was answered by Toric with a bitter smile.
“And, we still don't know if they've been defeated or not.”
“What do you mean?”
“‘Salmon’.”
“What about salmon again?”
Ibi sent a questioning look, as she still didn't understand my muttering, but Toric showed a slight smile and said, “You've noticed.”
“Among the Kapers, the meaning of ‘salmon’ is a code that means an enemy attack, but it also has another meaning.”
Because salmon has a more famous characteristic than being a good ‘partner’ for capers.
Yes.
“Salmon, ‘return’.”
Against the flowing river swimming upstream.
“──Ah.”
In other words, it's a signal to return.
“There's a separate signal to hide and go underground. Clara, whom we just met, probably received that signal.”
But the ‘salmon’ we received was a return signal.
“That means…! You're planning a pincer attack, with the returned members…!?”
“Exactly. It's a code that's mainly used in such situations.”
“As expected…!”
Miki once again showed a reaction of admiration, with a look that seemed to say, ‘The Kapers are the best, after all…!’.
“So, it's highly likely that they're quietly hiding in the basement without engaging in battle for now.”
“If a battle had broken out, they wouldn't have had the leisure to go in and out of the warehouse like Clara said.”
“The attackers are probably searching the warehouse now, unable to find the basement.”
“What if they've already found it?”
“Don't worry. There's a seal on it that can't be easily broken without a ‘key’.”
Toric turned the axe he was holding upside down and pointed to that key── the Kapers' insignia.
“However, it would be better to hurry. Besides…”
Toric glanced at Ibi and paused for a moment before continuing.
“The dark elves of Krom are all formidable opponents. Each and every one of them is a very skilled warrior.”
Krom is a place with a harsh environment.
And to survive in such an environment, they have adopted an even harsher culture.
A world of strict survival of the fittest.
In a way, it's similar to the world beyond the Wall.
In fact, in terms of belligerence alone, they were even stronger than the demons beyond the Wall.
The only reason they weren't treated like demons was because, unlike the demons, they shared the same roots and believed in the same ‘gods’.
In other words, that was the only reason.
In short, coming from Krom meant that they were people from a place where only the strong could survive.
“Don't let your guard down.”
***
But no matter how strong and violent the warriors were, they were still ‘human’.
Powerless before my charm.
『──Kneel.』
Literally.
So I first cast 「Word Command」 on the two dark elf soldiers guarding the warehouse door.
As soon as the two were neutralized, Ibi and Toric rushed in and ‘dealt’ with them.
To be precise, they were about to.
“…!”
If only he hadn't still moved, even with a dagger stuck in his neck.
“What the…!?”
Moreover, he was even resisting the 「Word Command」 slightly, and with a trembling hand, he grabbed the arm of Ibi, who had stabbed him with the dagger.
“Huuuk─”
He heaved a ragged breath from behind the mask that completely covered his mouth.
It was the same with Toric's side; even though a large axe was stuck in his head, the soldier was moving like a zombie.
Ibi, who was horrified by this, pulled out the other dagger and stabbed him, and only then did the dark elf soldier go limp.
And on the other side, Toric pulled out the axe and completely cut off his head, and only then did he finally stop moving.
“Wh-What kind of guys are they…?”
Looking down at the fallen dark elves, Ibi muttered in a bewildered voice, as if she didn't know what she had just seen.
Both of them were wearing peculiar masks.
Just by looking at the design, you could tell at a glance that they weren't worn simply to cover their faces.
This is…
--
[Environment] Success
--
It’s for injecting poison.
The poison ‘Gloom’ that spread throughout Krom was a deadly poison that could cause immediate death to those who were not used to it, even with a brief exposure.
However, for the dark elves, who had inherited the genes of those who had survived the deadly poison (naturally, because those who couldn't withstand it were culled), and had grown up with the deadly poison from birth, it was also a kind of ‘medicine’.
And the representative effect was to temporarily and significantly enhance their physical abilities.
Like the saying, even poison can be a medicine if used well.
So this mask was worn to inhale that poison, ‘Gloom’, whenever needed.
That's why they could move as if they felt no pain at all, even after suffering a fatal wound like before.
Therefore, if they hadn't been under the control of 「Word Command」, they would have surely counterattacked.
“What the hell, these bastards…”
Ibi muttered with disgust as she looked down at the fallen dark elves.
Meanwhile, Miki swallowed nervously with a somewhat tense look.
He must have immediately intuited in that short moment that the enemies beyond this door were, as Toric had said, by no means easy opponents.
But that was also brief.
Miki lightly tapped his own cheek as if to shake off his fear.
Then he looked at each of us in turn and nodded.
At the same time, the companions, without anyone having to go first, assumed their battle stances again.
──Kwang!
Miki, who had kicked the warehouse door with all his might, immediately raised his shield high.
It was to prepare for any attacks that might fly at them as soon as the door opened.
However.
“──?”
The dark elves inside the warehouse── the 「Krom Soldiers」, did not attack us.
They didn't even show any hostility.
They did turn their heads towards us, who had come in through the suddenly kicked-open door, but that was it.
“…Wh-What is it?”
It was a nonchalant attitude, to the point where the companions who had immediately assumed their battle stances showed a hint of bewilderment.
To put it in game terms, it was a situation where we expected to enter battle as soon as we encountered the enemies, but upon entering, there was no battle, not even a sign of hostility.
Rather.
“──Lower your weapons, warriors.”
Upon hearing someone's command, they actually lowered the weapons they were holding.
As if, they had been waiting for us from the beginning.
──And in fact, they were waiting for us.
…No.
To be precise, they were waiting for Ibi.
“…What is this?”
Of course, Ibi, who had no idea of that fact, glared at the soldiers and questioned them with suspicion.
Still holding the daggers in both hands, ready to swing at any moment.
“What kind of trick is this?”
Sure enough, the one who had just given the command── a man wearing a splendid golden armor, unlike the other soldiers in dark-colored armor, so that anyone could tell he was their captain, slowly approached us.
“Yes. You must be Evie.”
Seeing Ibi, who was glaring at him with venomous eyes, the man showed a gentle smile.
“…And who the hell are you?”
Ibi, who had been called by name, grew even more wary and tightened her grip on the daggers, but the man, as if to show he had no hostile intent at all, simply swept back his long hair with his empty hands.
“My name is Kain. ──Baron Kain Midrashi.”
The same, bright silver as Ibi's.
“I am your father.”