Chapter 847: The Sand City Uprising 4
Led into a separate room within Carlos-san’s mansion, 100-man commander Becker sat down and was immediately surrounded by maids who began fussing over him. Watching this out of the corner of his eye, Jose grinned and explained.
“It’s an old man disguise. If you try to hide your face clumsily while walking around town, it’s practically advertising that you’re up to something. It’s not much of a disguise, but ogres aren’t great at remembering other races’ faces in detail. It’s way better than walking around barefaced”
“Speaking of standing out, I think you’re the one who stands out the most, Jose……”
A dark elf in flashy, punk-style clothes with brightly colored hair. While not uncommon in Talc, Jose probably didn’t want to be easily remembered if he was going to cause trouble. But Jose just shrugged.
“My hiding style differs from Becker-kun’s. Especially this time, since the enemy is an ogre. Illusions won’t break that easily”
“……I see”
Ogres are weak with magic. Their talent rate is lower than humans’. If a skilled illusionist hides with intent, they won’t just avoid being remembered—they’ll likely go unnoticed entirely. After a while, 100-man commander Becker, finished his makeup and stood up. You could tell it was him if you looked closely, but at first glance, he looked like he was around sixty.
“Don’t laugh. I don’t want to look like this either, but the 『Trident』 is still taking a wait-and-see approach. If they think I, the son-in-law, made a move now, it’ll spark a war across all of Talc”
“If you’ve become such an important figure, maybe it’s better to just stay quiet……”
“That’s true, but the Intelligence Brigade was originally Minister Ashton’s personal unit. I can’t just bail out. Plus, depending on how things blow, we might end up needing to protect 『Trident』. I’ve got no choice but to stay in Talc”
“That’s rough……”
“Right now, though, there’s a bigger problem than my position sitting right here. You, for instance”
“……Sorry. But I can’t just ignore you either”
“Aaaaah, I get it. But a recurrence of the Fire Dragon War is the worst-case scenario. Please, let’s avoid that at all costs”
Even if I somehow ended up dead, I don’t think it would trigger the Fire Dragon War (that was when the entire dragon race of the continent rose up; it shouldn’t happen just because one rider dies). But yeah, if Leda and Emma really wanted to, they could turn Talc into a world of death in a single day. If that happened, for Talc’s residents—including Carlos-san and 100-man commander Becker, it would be the same 「Worst possible outcome」 as the Fire Dragon War.
“I’ve had Emma and the others wait at Cosmos-san’s place. They’re aware of the situation here too”
“Is that so?”
“Against a dragon’s hearing, being a kilometer or two away is like being right in front of them. If I called their name normally now, they’d come immediately. But I won’t let them”
“……It’s a bit late to say this, but I’m surprised they agreed to wait. Judging by that battle with Kalwin, a dragon rider is an absolute presence that can’t be contained by words like 「Master and servant」”
“……That’s precisely why. ……You understand, Emma, Leda. If you intervene here, it’s 『Ruling the heart with power』.”
I reiterate the warning to the two of them, likely straining to hear my voice from Cosmos Main Store several blocks away. In a dragon’s values and ethics, 『Ruling power with the heart is good, ruling the heart with power is evil』. Laila’s words. To keep me as the good one, the 「Great Rider」, they’ll have to restrain themselves. 100-man commander Becker, looks complicated. He probably wants to say, 「If you’re going to go to such lengths, you’d be better off staying back」. Totally valid, but repeating it would be pointless.
“……Then let’s confirm the operation. We’ll make this quick. Our objective this time is to search for and secure the prostitute Isabel. ……Dead or alive, whatever her state, once that’s accomplished, the mission ends. Understood?”
“……Emm”
“Given how things are going, we can’t rule out the possibility she’s already dead. And be prepared for the worst kind of abuse—like having the line between her ass and pussy torn apart, leaving just one hole. Their thing isn’t satisfied with normal races’ holes. It’s actually common for young women to be attacked by ogres and end up as corpses like that. But even if that happens, once we secure her, contact with 『Tower』 ends. Revenge upon revenge upon revenge is out of the question”
“…………”
“If it seems impossible, you stay here. I hate to say it, but if letting off steam leads to a bloody massacre, it’s pointless for us or even Master Carlos. Pretending not to see it would be the wiser course. ……Consider it enough that you moved me and 『Red Sand』 into action”
100-man commander Becker’s words. A deep breath. Switching my mindset to that of the battlefield. I am not the master of this situation. I must not think that. Obey the 「Order」 and simply do my best. No matter what happens to Isabel, if I find her, that’s the end. That is the 「Order」. I tell myself that. I am still a soldier. Therefore, I should be able to keep it.
“……Understood. ……So, that’s the end of it”
“Yeah. ……Actually, you know, these kinds of family feuds happen quite often. 『Trident』 has had them too. You met the old man from two generations back, right? I hear it was like this before he became leader. ……You can’t force an end to this kind of thing from the outside. The people inside have to destroy each other, wear themselves out, become exhausted, realize they’re powerless, and eventually, it slowly settles down”
100-man commander Becker spoke soothingly. His aged appearance made it sound like the tale of a true elder.
“By the time the 『Tower』 folks reach that point, Onyx and 『Trident』 will be in a position to step in boldly. But if you rush in while they’re still strong, you’ll definitely get your ass kicked. ……You might feel better after beating the crap out of 『Tower』. But resentment will always linger. And given that we’ve already uncovered some of Isabel’s information, the next targets for suspicion will be Cosmos Main Store and Onyx. If the 『Tower』 attacks us while we’re still strong, you know what that means”
“……It’s a troublesome world, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. ……People living side by side? It’s a troublesome thing”
Still. Celesta chose it, Talc chose it, and so did we. And right now, instead of letting our spirits sink into the worst imaginable scenarios, there’s work to be done.
“Let’s go”
“Good. Good boy”
The aged face of 100-man commander Becker, patted my head like a pat on the head, then nodded to Jose and turned away. Aurora and I followed suit. Cima-san, of course, stays behind here.
———————————-
「Tower Emblem」 uses a tower symbol, just as the name suggests. But it only evokes the image of a thick, mighty single horn; apparently, there isn’t actually a tower in Talc.
“If they’re a construction union, they should at least build something worthy of their symbol”
“Once they tried, but it collapsed—either the ground was bad or the work was shoddy—and it turned into a huge disaster. Haven’t built anything since”
“……As a builder, I really have to question that”
While making small talk with 100-man commander Becker, I scanned the surroundings with my eyes alone. The ogres were filled with murderous intent, while the other residents cowered, darting into alleys as if seeking cover.
“The atmosphere is toxic”
“Yeah. Well, I don’t want to stick around”
Rather than trying to blend in awkwardly, acting like a lost traveler felt more natural. Either way, Aurora and I couldn’t hide our foreigner aura. Besides, their territory was, on the surface, just a normal residential block and shopping district in Talc. There was no reason we’d be reprimanded for coming and going. We were using Onyx’s informants to investigate the residence of a man named Lucky Homer, who’d been killed, and were walking nearby. The culprit wouldn’t be hanging around such a place forever, but there might be a clue from Isabel……or perhaps a clue to the culprit.
“Good day. Might I ask you a few questions?”
“No, no trouble, please”
Aurora tried addressing a resident walking nearby, but they fled in an instant. The bribe bag she’d prepared, advised by 100-man commander Becker, as a courtesy in such places, now dangled uselessly behind her back.
“Did I phrase that in a way that smacked of trouble……?”
“10-man Captain Aurora’s just too intimidating. Especially being a white elf. No wonder folks don’t want to get involved”
“I thought I’d softened considerably since my days back home in Claves”
“Still comes off as unapproachable to common folk”
100-man commander Becker (elderly) casually addressed another nearby individual. This conversation proceeded smoothly, and the bribe bag concealed within his cloak was safely delivered to the recipient.
“……Isabel was apparently snooping around this area yesterday too. And it seems another lecherous woman showed up not long ago”
“Cosmos-san, I presume……”
“We think alike, don’t we?”
“At least she was safe as of yesterday. That’s good news”
As they spoke face-to-face, several ogres with menacing eyes emerged from a large ogre dwelling nearby.
“Hey, you lot……”
“Are you that woman’s crew?”
The ogres towered over them, their imposing presence intimidating.
“Tsk. Just when I thought we got the money, you snitch on us……which woman are you talking about?”
100-man commander Becker replied dismissively. Perhaps irritated that the 100-man commander wasn’t intimidated, one of the ogres suddenly slammed the club he held into the ground with tremendous force. The violent thud and the ground’s tremor made me stumble involuntarily.
“Don’t play dumb!”
“Brother, this is a pain. Let’s just crush him and bury him. Can’t have him looking down on us”
The lead ogre curled the corners of his lips up in a vicious grin.
“What to do……ah, that woman. Strip here. Making that scrawny elf body do a pathetic striptease sounds like fun. If she refuses, we’ll take that weakling’s arm……and do this”
He pointed at me, and then……from within his massive fist, a thin, brown arm dangled down. It was covered in blood.
“!!”
My blood boiled, and my body trembled. But the next instant, Aurora moved.
“What a tasteful choice. Now I won’t have to hesitate to hurt him”
She smiled sweetly, her eyes turning chillingly cold in an instant, and stepped instantly into the lead ogre’s range. She crouched low at his feet.
“……Haa!!”
Rising up from below his belly, she swung her hand blade upward. The lead ogre was sent flying skyward by the shockwave. Several behind him stood stunned by the unbelievable sight. Seconds later, he crashed down, smashing a nearby wooden crate. With him behind her, Aurora slowly drew her sword.
“Now then, how shall you pay the price for your insult?”
“Wh, What……this woman, is she a monster?”
“Do, Don’t worry about it. Hey, Rolf, just beat the crap out of her, mince her……Rolf?”
The ogre wielding the club slumped to his knees and collapsed forward. At the edge of his vision, Jose-san appeared briefly, blowing a dart, then vanished. 100-man commander Becker, picked up the 「Arm」 the first ogre had dropped from his grasp. A woman’s arm. Severed roughly halfway down the upper arm.
“So this 『Woman』 you keep mentioning……is the owner of this arm?”
He glared fiercely at the ogres, then ordered Aurora to sheathe her sword.
“Well? Why is only the arm here?”
“……Who the hell are you lot?”
“We’re the ones asking the questions here, kid. ……Where’s the rest of her? You mean you ate her? Guess there are monsters these days that look like ogres. This won’t do. We’ll have to hunt them down”
“Eat her?! Hell no! She……she cut it off herself and left it here!”
The ogres answered 100-man commander Becker (old man),’s interrogation fairly readily.
—————-
“Judging by the arm’s condition, it couldn’t have been hours ago. If the bleeding had been stopped in time, they could’ve been saved”
“What a reckless bastard. Who just cuts off their own arm to escape after getting grabbed?”
100-man commander Becker and Jose followed the blood trail leading from the ogres’ hideout. Aurora and I struggled desperately to keep up. It seemed they were just the ones left behind, while other ogres were chasing after Isabel. While being able to use magic meant they could gamble on the chance of deceiving their pursuers, Jose and Aurora both questioned whether someone missing an arm and bleeding profusely could use magic that skillfully.
“I’m torn should I regret not arriving sooner, or be glad we’ve caught up enough to make running worthwhile……!”
“……This is bad”
I hesitate again. Should I call Emma and the others to get ahead of the ogres? Or should I hold my ground? Emma and the others might be able to track Isabel-san’s footsteps or the traces of her magic as she flees. But if I let them intervene now, I’d be breaking my promise to Cosmos-san and Carlos-san. Breaking a promise would also mean turning my back on the honor of a dragon rider. The bond between dragon and rider is a powerful promise, a relationship built on contract. I mustn’t casually disregard it for mere sentiment. But if I miss this moment, I’ll stand by and let someone within my reach die. No……it might already be too late. Everything might be beyond saving, and I’d only end up breaking my promise. ……Even so, does it matter? What the hell.
“Eh……”
“We made it!”
I snapped and turned around. From behind us, a familiar beast girl was running towards us. Panting, the fox beast girl with pure white fur gestured wildly and beckoned us.
“H. Hurry……help! Isabel-neesan……”
“!!”
“You found her!?”
“Found her? Well……anyway, this way!”
And there she was. In a dilapidated shack in the slums……Isabel-san lay resting her head on Cosmos-san’s lap.
“……You came after all”
“……I haven’t moved the dragon yet”
It was a close call, but we made it just in time. We caught up to her, barely, without using the dragons—despite her having lost an arm.