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  Vol 2 Chapter 27: ce?

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  The supplies were swiftly prepared, and the group set off towards the eastern outskirts of the town. To avoid causing a stir among the townsfolk and to keep their identities cealed, they tio operate in their base forms.

  Naturally, that didn’t preclude the use of magic. With a renewed sense of vigor, Mira ented everyoh a slew of spells to boost their speed and stamina, enabling them to reach the viity of their destination in just over an hour.

  “...Things certainly seem plicated,” Mira muttered.

  Now hidden away, they silently observed the patrolling figures in the area. As described by their dragon informant, these individuals donned full-body bck attire, clearly engaged in some rather shady activities.

  “The stronghold of this lot is just ahead,” murmured Farkonia, her gaze sharp. “But it’s heavily manned. A frontal assault would be reckless.”

  Despite the formidable power of Arymm, Farkonia, and even Elyssa—each with the strength equivalent to a tenth-tier existehe unknown variables inside presented a signifit risk. A poorly pnned advance could lead everoo a swift demise.

  “To py it safe, we should first gather intel orols,” Farkonia advised.

  They waited for a moment before two of the bck-dividuals wandered closer.

  “Oi! We’re on patrol; keep yuard up!” one of them snapped, berating their panion who had started to sck off.

  “Rex, will you? No one’s ing to this desote pce. It’s a mystery why the boss has us wearing ourselves out on patrols,” the zy oed.

  “You fool!” The stricter one barked. “Show some respect. The boss’s orders are beyond our uanding. And bear in mind, one of the primary targets was captured not long ago. This is a crucial moment!”

  ‘The boss? One of the targets?’

  Catg that crucial tidbit, the group fell into deep thought. Judging by the timing, it was highly probable that the “target” they referred to was her than Marlyno. If true, the phrase “one of” was especially ominous, implying that Marlyno was just part of a rger scheme, and others were also being targeted.

  Farkonia exged a knowing look with the others, then silently slipped down from their perch.

  “...Ugh, with so many patrolling this vast area, there’s no way we’d be able to pull this off without being noticed,” Arymm whispered under her breath.

  “Easy? What do you mean by that?” Before the patrollers could respond, they were unceremoniously struscious from behind by Elyssa aeam.

  “Quickly now, drag them away,” Elyssa ordered.

  With muards still prowling about, they hoisted the unscious pair up into the trees, keeping them out of sight.

  “What’s the step?” someone asked.

  “Leave this to me,” said Misako, stepping forward. She touched her fio the forehead of one of the captives, and his eyes flew open, though the light of awareness was absent.

  “Tell me,” Misako demanded, “do you have any sort of curse or safeguard against spillis?”

  “...No,” he droned.

  “What kind of trick is this?” one of the group excimed.

  “It's just a skill, really. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of it,” Misako replied, looking unimpressed. Her spell was a simple truth-revealing entment, far from the stro mind-manipution magi her repertoire.

  “Still,” she sighed, “better safe than sorry. Someone adept at dispelling curses, check them over.”

  Misako wasn’t about to make a novice mistake. In tless tales from other worlds, the hen of vilins often bore curses to preverayal or forced fessions. She knew all too well that caution was key.

  “...Indeed,” Elyssa firmed after a brief iion. “They’re cursed, but it’s nothing plex. Likely the work of no more than ah-tier mage, or perhaps even less.”

  Elyssa, being a vampire duchess, had an innate uanding of these things. The bloodline of vampires allowed them to manipute thralls and those they had bitten, creating a bond whose strength correted with the vampire’s rank. This ability gave her a unique insight into entments of this nature. With a deft motion, she dispelled the simple curse binding the captives.

  “Right,” Misako tinued. “Now, tell us all about your so-called ‘boss.’”

  “...He...” the captive began, “he saved me from death. I was about to be killed by thugs, and he appeared, wiping them out with a sirike. Ah—so powerful, so... dashing!”

  “Hold on,” Misako interrupted, her brow furrowing. “‘Dashing’? What do you mean by that?”

  She reached over and tugged off the person’s hood and mask, revealing a surprisingly delicate fad long hair.

  “Ah, so that expins why you’re so petite—you're a woman!” Misako excimed.

  It seemed the other captive was likely female as well. Misako wondered if it was mere ce to enter two women in this situation, but the others, suppressing their amusement, chose not to ent on Misako’s own diminutive stature.

  “Well, never mind that. Just give us the information: name, occupation, specialty, and strength,” Misako pressed.

  “...His code name is ‘Bze.’ He’s a mid-tier Magus, adept in fire magic,” the captive disclosed.

  “Mid-tier Magus, equivalent to about the seventh tier,” mused Sisi, who, as a fellow mage, was well-versed in the ranking system.

  The Magic Association cssified mages from the sed to fifth tier as Appreo Master, while the sixth to ninth tier ranked from Magus to Archmage. The tenth tier, unparalleled in power, held the honorific title of “Sage.”

  “That makes sense... well, go oell us the rest,” Misako prompted.

  With further questioning, they gleaned crucial information about the enemy’s stronghold. The most troubliion was the existence of a unique barrier eng the base.

  “An arm barrier that triggers for non-humans... how very ‘Human Supremacist’ of them,” Misako muttered.

  The discriminatory nature of the barrier was clear. It seemed to echo the fervent Human Supremacist ideology they’d entered even at ‘Fluffy Desserts,’ where they'd worked undercover. Perhaps there was a e.

  “In that case, we’re limited in who infiltrate,” Farkonia assessed. “Only three of us are human: Sisi, Mira, and Arymm.”

  Though Arymm’s human status was questiorue purebloods were exceedingly rare in this world. Most people bore traces of other races in their lineage, making it likely that Arymm would pass the barrier’s scrutiny. Mira, however, was far too tall to impersonate one of the guards they had captured.

  “Which means,” Farkonia decred, “the infiltration team will be Sisi and Arymm.”

  Even as Farkonia spoke, Sisi and Arymm had already dohe biforms taken from the captured guards.

  “...Um, Sisi?” Arymm hesitated.

  “Yes?” Sisi turo her friend.

  “Just... be careful.”

  “...I’m not going to say anything ominous,” Sisi replied with a wry smile. “Saying something like ‘Don’t worry’ is a surefire way to jinx it.”

  “...At least you’re sensible enough to think that way,” Arymm sighed in relief. “It means you won’t do anything reckless.”

  “Stay with Miss Farkonia and the others,” Sisi said, turning her focus forward. She set her gaze on the enemy’s base.

  “I’ll wake that dolt up,” she added with a resolute tone, preparing for the mission ahead.