Author: Yume Neiji

The morning after the battle with the river bandits, a swift boat departed from the village where we’d anchored. It was faster than an ordinary vessel, and its mission was to carry word of the attack downstream to the city of Flocia.

Thanks to that, by the following evening, we met up with a military patrol boat sent from Flocia.

The soldiers aboard questioned us, but Felix-san quietly revealed our identity as members of the Raven Warriors. That ended the inspection quickly enough—but it reminded me again just how much the warrior group’s influence had grown since the last global message.

In the end, our schedule was delayed by only a single day.

On the fifth day since leaving the Royal Capital, we finally reached Lake Flocia.

“Whoa…”

I exclaimed as the warm southern wind brushed across my cheek.

Between the great river that flowed in and the vast lake itself stood a checkpoint. We passed through it, raised our sails, and sailed on a little farther.

Before long, a massive wall appeared to be jutting out into the water. The morning sun gleamed white along its stone surface, and above it I could see the spire of a temple rising within.

As the boat continued on the lake and the harbor came into view through a gap in the wall, I finally understood why this city was called the City of Abundance.

The harbor was alive with chaos and color, a forest of masts proudly stabbing into the sky. Every vessel seemed to flaunt its own purpose—some ready to row out across the lake and downriver toward the sea, others setting their sails to journey upstream once more.

Along the piers, mountains of cargo—barrels, hemp sacks, crates of all sizes were being loaded and unloaded. Bare-chested dockworkers, muscled and glistening despite the lingering chill in the air, hurried to and fro with practiced rhythm. It felt almost like the canals of the Royal Capital—but bigger, louder, and brimming with life.

As I watched, one ship leaving port caught the wind in its sail and came gliding toward us.

For a moment I panicked, thinking it might collide—but it passed by gracefully, skimming so close that its wake rippled against our hull. Its bow was aimed straight toward the heart of the lake.

“…An island?”

“That is Flocia’s labyrinth.”

Felix-san cleared my confusion. His words jogged my memory.

“Dungeon Island…!”

“Mm, that’s what it’s commonly called.”

The dungeon of Flocia lay separated from the city, built into a small island that floated on the vast lake. From afar, it seemed tiny—but beneath the surface, it was said to stretch far and deep, a maze filled with water-aligned monsters sealed away since ancient times.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to imprint the image of that island in my mind.

“…Huh?”

I looked down at the water’s surface and thought I saw something sparkling at the bottom.

Felix-san followed my gaze, then pointed ahead.

“We’ll be anchoring over there.”

Felix pointed to the edge of the harbor. It seems the merchants attacked by river pirates will be using a different pier.

“Farewell, heroes!”

The merchant’s voice boomed across the water as our boat drifted from the pier.

I don’t think he thinks I defeated all the river pirates, but… he probably knows that I fought them.

“Heroes, huh…”

I turned my gaze forward. In this city of Flocia, just like in the Royal Capital, there must be countless adventurers chasing that same word—hero.

From the boat receding into the distance, I caught sight of Nils raising a hand in farewell.

“…I hope he finds his sister.”

I murmured.

I lifted my hand in return, a faint ache tightening in my chest. In the end, we’d gone our separate ways.

Beside me, Mia-san crossed her arms, the chain wound around her wrist clinking softly.

“Honestly, it’s a bit of a waste.” she said.

Felix-san only shook his head.

“That’s not an option.”

Mia gave a small shrug.

“I know, I know. Just saying.”

The truth was, she and I had been quietly talking with Nils since the day before. It would’ve seemed odd if it were just me, so Mia-san joined in—under the pretense of a casual exchange of information between adventurers.

That was how we learned a few things. That he was a fairly high-ranking adventurer, a level thirty-four one. He came from a noble family in the borderlands.

“I’m from the frontier too.” Mia-san said softly. “And, well… even nobles there can be dirt poor. A little debt for the sake of your land, and next thing you know, your sister’s sold off as a slave…”

My heart sank as we found ourselves in similar situations.

We’d already asked what his sister looked like. We’d promised that if we ever saw her, we’d send word to his lodgings here in Flocia.

Felix-san, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke, narrowing his eyes.

“It may sound cold, but we can’t simply take anyone into our ranks. We share too many secrets among ourselves.”

His words made me think of Pauline-san, and the conversations we’d had—the myths, the sealed monsters, the truths hidden from most of the world. So many people were already being drawn into this struggle… yet everything still had to remain a secret.

Even if someone called us heroes, in the end, there would only ever be so many we could truly save.

“I know.”

I slapped my cheeks with both hands.

“But if we’re pursuing the same person, maybe we’ll meet again, right?”

The situation might be different by then.

For now, I’ll focus on moving forward.

Mia-san grinned and turned her attention to Felix-san.

“Well, we do have the same goal. So… where are we investigating today?”

“Speaking of that. It seems the captured river pirates will be receiving new instructions soon.”

Felix-san pointed to a magnificent building at the back of the port.

“It seems they’ll tell the time and location of the transaction there.”

◆◆◆

There were plenty of people there too, but the atmosphere was different from the bustling harbor.

It was a quiet kind of busy. The ones coming and going weren’t rugged dockworkers, but merchants dressed in fine clothes. They stopped at the counters to talk, and occasionally, one would be called into a room in the back.

The whole place felt like an adventurers’ guild—if someone had multiplied its refinement by a hundred.

“Is this place…?”

“It’s what they call a trading house.”

Felix-san replied.

I blinked in surprise. By the way, I am wearing the “Hat of Bewilderment.”

“C-could this be…the enemy’s base?”

“I doubt it. The Medis Trading Company is far too large and reputable to have any use for slaves.”

Apparently, this was where the enemy was supposed to deliver some kind of message to their comrades.

But in a place like this—could such a thing really happen?

As I watched absentmindedly, I noticed someone behaving a little strangely.

“They’re… exchanging something.”

I whispered.

A merchant handed over a small wooden tablet at the counter. Then he received magic stones, gems, and gold coins in return.

“Hmm. A bill of trade huh.”

Felix-san said. I’d only ever heard the term in passing. Tilting my head, I asked,

“A bill… of trade?”

“It’s something like a claim ticket,” he explained patiently. “When the goods are too large, numerous, or too valuable to transport directly, the trading house issues a bill. You can then redeem the goods elsewhere—or even buy and sell the bill itself.”

““Heh~””

Mia-san and I spoke in unison. Felix-san sighed and hung his head.

“Adventurer Mia… I would have thought you’d already know this.”

“Of course I did,” she said with a grin. “Just impressed by how neatly you put it, that’s all.”

Felix-san cleared his throat and continued, pretending not to notice her teasing.

“That one’s called an adventurer’s bill. It’s used for exchanging rewards, advance payments, or required materials. Magic stones and supplies are bulky—and transporting them takes time. So instead, they issue a kind of voucher, like: ‘Of the potions in this branch, ten thousand gent’s worth belong to you.’ The recipient then comes here to redeem it.”

Felix explained.

I caught my breath. An entire mansion, dedicated to handling such immense flow of trade.

“F-Flocia is…”

“A city of commerce as well,” Felix said with a small smile. “This region is a warm, fertile breadbasket. Without this kind of exchange system, even a shipload of wheat couldn’t be traded efficiently.”

I stood there, dazed, watching the steady rhythm of goods and people flowing past.

The capital, and even Alvis, were cities of adventurers. But this place—this was a city of trade.

“…Wait.”

Something stuck in my mind.

“So if something can be exchanged… does that mean if we use the system well, we can give something to them?”

Felix-san and Mia-san traded a look.

“True,” Felix murmured. “It’s possible they’re using the exchange system itself as an intermediary to deliver messages.”

『Rion.』

The gold coin at my chest trembled—God’s voice echoed softly.

“Uru?”

『You’re learning to draw more deeply on my blessing. I can lend you my power—and if you wish to track your enemies…』

I lowered my chin slightly.

Right. Skills weren’t only for use inside dungeons.

Skill, 『Divine Protection of the God of Hunting』was used. ————————————————————— 【Wild Heart】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Detection. With magical power consumption, effects can be further increased.

Skill, 『Sun’s Divine Protection』was used. ————————————————————— 【Golden Flame】 ………Improves physical abilities. Provides an even greater effect for a limited time.

The strengthened detection spread like a ripple through the entire building.

Then—faintly, deep within—I caught a small red glimmer.

It was the same eerie hue I’d seen inside dungeons.

“…I sense the presence of a monster’s mana.”

Mia-san’s eyes narrowed.

“Inside the trade hall? You sure about that?”

“Yes. It’s about the size of an egg, so it’s probably not a monster itself. More likely… something that retains a monster’s magic.”

【Wild Heart】could sense mana as well. It had reacted to golem cores before; anything imbued with a magical trace would be registered.

Felix-san,looking thoughtful, tapped his staff against the marble floor.

“If that mana came from a monster’s magical power, it might very well be the medium they’re using to transmit messages. If we can obtain it, we could learn where their base or the next exchange site is.”

The only problem was how to get it.…

We huddled together, whispering, we start planning our next move.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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The battle on the river had somehow been overcome.

Two boats had attacked from the upstream side where the gods and I were defending, and one more from downstream, where Felix-san and Mia-san had gone to assist. There were three of them in total.

The magical lights illuminated the now-quiet surface of the river. Once I stopped moving, my soaked clothes felt heavy and cold, so I quickly changed out of them.

The words of thanks for repelling the attackers ended quickly.

In a way, it was because our work wasn’t done yet. As the villagers and the raven warriors that are holding torches looked on, a loud voice suddenly rang out.

“Alright—!”

“Pull!”

Everyone began hauling on the ropes stretched across the river, each one tied to an enemy vessel. If we left them drifting, the current would carry them away.

I joined in, taking hold of a line myself.

“Heave… ho!”

『You can do it, Rion!』

Solana was cheering me on, but it was a bit distracting…

Because I was wedged in between Mia-san and Felix-san, I was practically standing on my tiptoes.

Before long, with a heavy thud, the enemy boat slammed into the riverbank. One of the capsized vessels lay on its side, its bow and mast jutting into the shore like stakes driven into the earth.

The bandits who had been tied up inside the ships seemed to have awakened from the shock of the impact.

“W-what is going on….”

“Rope…?”

“When did this happen…!?”

The bandits glared at us from within the circle of guards, their eyes burning with frustration.

“Damn it! You’re the ones who did this, huh?!”

“Was that… water magic?!”

Ah, I see—

They couldn’t see the gods. From their point of view, their ships must have suddenly capsized, they blacked out, and when they came to, they were already tied up.

“Y-you’d better behave yourselves!”

I tried my best to sound intimidating, though I wasn’t sure how much effect it would have given my height. The bearded bandits blinked at me in disbelief. Then, one after another, they began to wail.

“W-we lost to a brat like this…?”

“We thought it was just a bunch of merchants!”

Solana’s expression stiffened in irritation.

『What a rude bunch.』

Certainly, it was a surprise to the bandits. From their perspective, this was unexpected. Most of the warrior group had disguised themselves as merchants. After all, sending a group of more than ten armed adventurers downriver would’ve drawn too much attention.

“I don’t really mind. But still…”

If we really had been what we looked like—just a child and a handful of merchants—then that raid would’ve succeeded. They would’ve taken us all, bound us in chains, and sold us as slaves.

There were others who had anchored downstream from us and been attacked in the same way. They were actually a combination of real guards and merchants.

A shadow crept across my heart. That small difference, the illusion we created, had been the only thing separating survival from tragedy.

From farther along the bank, Felix-san came running toward us, his boots splashing in the mud.

“We’ve captured all the bandits downstream as well. 23 upstream and 12 downstream —three boats in total.” He exhaled sharply with a grim expression. “It’s a frightening number.”

I remembered what we’d heard just that evening— that the slaver traders from Flocia were pushing their raids farther inland, following the river upstream.

My hands trembled, and I clenched them tight to keep the shaking from showing.

“Felix-san. Mia-san.”

“Mm. Let’s start by hearing what they have to say.”

Mia-san answered.

Three of the bandits—apparently their leaders—were dragged off the boat and forced to their knees on the riverbank.

Among them was Zamza, the one I’d defeated earlier. He carried himself with a false calm, and when our eyes met, his lips twisted into a sneer.

“I’ve heard there were other raids farther downstream. Was that your doing?”

I asked, stepping forward.

The bandits exchanged glances and then gave a low, scornful laugh.

Zamza was the one who answered.

“And what if it was, huh?”

He tried to sound defiant, but the mocking glint in his eyes only stoked my anger. My voice trembled when I spoke again.

“Were you… taking people? Enslaving them?”

“Damn right we were!” Zamza barked, grinning wide. “Remember this, brat—your sisters, your parents, whoever you’ve got—we’ll make ‘em all slaves for payback, you hear!?”

He threw his head back and cackled, tongue lolling out like some beast drunk on cruelty. There wasn’t a trace of remorse in him. Just ugliness—raw and festering.

“You—!”

I took a step forward, but before I could say more, a searing white flash streaked past Zamza’s face.

A heartbeat later, red scattered through the air.

“…Eh?”

A single line of blood ran down Zamza’s cheek, and his eyes went wide in shock.

“I have something to ask you.” came a low, steady voice.

It belonged to a man—a swordsman, maybe about twenty years old.

He wore the rough leather gear typical of adventurers, his dull blond hair stirring softly in the night breeze. Tall, sharp-featured, so handsome—so much that at first glance, one might have mistaken him for a woman. But his broad shoulders and the way his hand gripped his sword at his side left no doubt of his strength. And his eyes—cold and piercing—were sharper than any blade.

“I’m one of the escort adventurers. From the fleet stationed downstream. My name is Nils.”

With that brief introduction, the swordsman straightened and faced the bound bandits once more.

“There’s one thing I need to confirm.”

He raised his left hand, one finger extended. In his right, the sword’s edge shimmered faintly in the torchlight.

“You said you were taking people—didn’t you?”

The air itself seemed to tighten, as if the night were holding its breath.

“I’m looking for my family.”

Nils knelt, leaning close until his face was inches from Zamza’s.

The bandits’ mouths worked soundlessly, gasping like fish pulled from the river.

“Look here. This, do you recognize it?”

From his pocket, he drew out a small object—a fragment of metal dangling from a thin, blackened chain.

Once, it must have been a necklace. Now, it is destroyed. The surface was scorched as though seared by fire, the delicate engravings and inlaid gems buried beneath layers of soot and rust.

“The woman who dropped this,” Nils continued, his tone tightening, “was taken by raiders—by people like you. Before you captured her, do you remember seeing it?”

“I—I don’t know anything!”

One of the bandits stammered.

“She’s my family. My sister. Her name is Dee.”

Nils spoke softly.  Even I found myself holding my breath.

Zamza, too, had gone pale under the weight of that presence.

So this is what people meant when they spoke of killing intent.

Nils’s eyes narrowed, his right arm tensed, the sword trembling faintly in his grip.

“W-wait!”

I blurted, unable to stand the suffocating tension.

Felix-san stepped forward beside me, planting his staff into the ground.

“…River raids are a grave crime,” Felix-san said firmly. “These men have already been captured. The law will judge them, and the investigation will uncover the rest.”

Nils let out a sharp snort through his nose and rose to his feet.

With a smooth motion, he sheathed his sword, then swept his gaze across the remaining bandits—everyone except Zamza. When they shook their heads frantically under his stare, he turned on his heel.

“…My apologies. I shouldn’t have interrupted your investigation.”

Without waiting for a reply, he strode away, his boots splashing faintly in the shallow water.

But his words lingered in my mind.

He’s searching for his family…?

“I’ll go talk to him.”

I uttered before I even realized it.

I couldn’t help it—I wanted to know more. And if he was really looking for someone who’d been enslaved, maybe the warrior corps could help somehow.

I caught up to him just as he was about to leave the riverside.

“…You’re looking for someone who was taken as a slave?”

I asked. Nils turned around, surprise flickering in his sharp eyes as he looked down at me.

“…Yes. My sister.”

For a moment, Lu’s face flashed through my mind.

If my own sister were kidnapped—if she were taken away like that—I’d probably search the world too.

Slavery… abduction… those were things that shouldn’t exist. They were cruel in a way that made your chest ache just to think about them. Still, I couldn’t just blurt out, we’re after the slave traders too. That wasn’t something I had the right to say—not yet.

“Did you need something?”

“Ah—um…”

The words caught in my throat, and I just stood there, frozen.

Nils gave a faint smile.

“A newcomer, huh? Then—may I give you one piece of advice?”

I blinked, startled, and nodded.

“Your heart is too kind.”

“…Huh?”

He glanced toward the riverbank where the captured bandits still sat tied up.

“Those bandits, earlier. An empty threat is no threat at all. I can tell you have strength in you—real resolve. That’s good. But you should learn how to use it. Sharpen your sense for when to show mercy, and when not to.”

I realized then— that killing glare of his earlier… maybe that had been part of his negotiation.

“So… that was on purpose?”

“Who knows.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips, but his eyes—narrowed and cold as winter steel—made my breath stagnate.

“There are times when getting the truth means you can’t choose your methods.”

The sound of metal jingled softly as he slipped the charred necklace back into his coat. Then he turned, the river mist curling around him as he walked downstream.

“If I frightened you, I apologize.”

He said over his shoulder, his voice is low but sincere.

I found myself staring in the direction he’d gone for a while.

Down by the river, the merchants from the downstream convoy were approaching, stopping to consult with Felix-san about what to do with the captured bandits and when to set out tomorrow. It seemed like they were sorting out the practical things now that the fighting was over.

Mia-san caught up to me, her red hair swaying in the lamplight. She narrowed her eyes, gazing after Nils’s fading silhouette.

“That guy—he’s got skill,” she muttered.

It made sense. Mia-san and Felix-san had been protecting the merchants downstream, so they must have seen him fight firsthand.

“Mm. It’s hard to believe he’s not more well-known.”

Felix-san added.

“He told me he’s looking for his sister.” I replied.

“Ah. So that’s why he’s traveling…”

Felix-san folded his arms, the metal of his gauntlets clinking softly.

“Honestly, as far as intimidation tactics go, what he did to that bandit wasn’t wrong. But… call it a hunch—something about him feels a little unstable.”

I nodded quietly. If nothing else, it meant we weren’t the only ones chasing the slavers. Maybe we could work together.

But then I remembered the cold, killing edge in his eyes—and the thought made my chest tighten.

My heart wavered, rippling like the moonlit surface of the river.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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The water I jumped into wasn’t as cold as I had anticipated. The Golden Flame protected me. And the water temperature was much warmer to the skin.

Come to think of it, it was the eleventh day of the fourth month. Spring had arrived. Plus, now that we are heading south, the water wasn’t as cold. This would give me plenty of room to swim.

I kicked the water. My improved physical abilities allowed me to swim like a fish. It was a night with a faint moon, but my eyesight was clear enough to spot the ships on the water.

The enemy’s boat hadn’t moved yet. Once I am directly below it, I grabbed the gold coin from my pocket.

 “Wake up—(gurgle, gurgle)!”

The gold coin burst into dazzling light, releasing the gods into the water.

“W–water!?”

—or at least, that’s what I think they tried to say.

Thor, burdened by Mjölnir, was the first to plummet straight down. Uru and Sigris flailed just as badly in the river’s depths. Solana was shouting something too, but all I heard was a froth of bubbles.

R-right… I hadn’t exactly told them we’d be fighting underwater, had I…?

“S-sorry…(gurgle, gurgle)!”

Not that my apology carried through clearly.

Beside me, while I swam, Loki pressed his fingers to his forehead as if massaging away a headache.

“Hey guys… you do realize, don’t you? We’re beings manifested by magic. We don’t have physical bodies. There’s no need to actually drown.”

“Ah—”

Almost simultaneously, the four gods stopped flailing. They exchanged glances, then patted themselves down as if confirming something.

Planting both feet firmly on the riverbed, Thor scratched his head with Mjölnir.

“…Huh. Now that you mention it, I don’t feel out of breath at all.”

“Of course not. We don’t need air—only mana. Honestly, you’d think it would’ve clicked that drowning is impossible when we can literally float if we want to. Still—”

Loki shrugged.

That was when Solana drifted closer to me, clearing her throat with a prim little cough.

“Ahem. Rion, a reminder—the Light of the Sun’s Awakening won’t manifest at night. With no sun in the sky, the spell has nothing to draw on.”

I nodded.

I understood—the gods couldn’t linger like they did in the temple.

“Good grief. Busy day, huh?”

Loki joked. Then, flicking his hand, he said,

“Mist”

A black fog rolled out and swallowed the two boats, muffling the sound and hiding its shape. It was the same kind of concealment magic we’d used against the golems. With the vessels cloaked like that, even if the gods unleashed their power there’d be no one nearby who can see—not even the villagers, nor the passing adventurers.

“What the—”

“There’s light down below!?”

“Never mind that —look at the fog!”

While the bandits are confused, I launched myself up through the water in one motion.

“Let’s go, everyone!”

I waded through the water with a splash and landed on the edge of the boat. The gods followed close behind me. The raiders stared in stunned silence for a beat, then their expressions hardened.

There were two boats, each about 15 meters long, with more than 10 people on board each.

“Die!” one of them shouted.

He swung his oar at me. I hopped aside easily and countered with a kick to his face. He hit the deck and slumped unconscious. The fellow’s level was almost certainly below twenty.

“…Do you surrender?”

I asked.

“As if!”

A throwing knife whistled towards me. I sprang to the mast on instinct. Spears and blades stabbed upward from below, but on such a cramped deck they could barely swing their weapons. Using their heads as stepping stones, I darted toward the prow.

“Alright…!”

I spun on my heel, slashing with my short sword.

“Wake up!”

The engraved words “Jinrad” glowed blue. Sylph, the wind spirit, leaped out, blowing all five of them away. The bandits were launched high into the air, and after a few beats of staying mid-air, they fell and turned into pillars of water.

“…Is it just me, or is that spell getting stronger?”

A nervous grin tugged at my lips. Safi’s rune magic was incredible on its own, but the spirits themselves… it felt like they were pushing themselves harder than ever before. A violet glow shimmered faintly in my chest—the same light I’d seen in Loki.

“What the hell’s with this kid!?”

A sword lunged for me. I struck it aside, and the golden fire blazing along my dagger roared in response.

Snap!

The blade split clean in two and tumbled into the river. Not a nick marked my weapon.

Yes… that had to be Safi the smith’s handiwork.

“W-what…?”

The scar-faced man stared at his trembling, numbed hand. Around him, the others faltered, fear flickering in their eyes.

I drew in a deep breath and shouted,

“Will you surrender!?”

“I told you already—we ain’t surrendering! Damn it!”

A huge man, head and shoulders taller than the rest, shoved through the bandits to the front.

“This haul’s worth a fortune! Take a good look around—do you think we’re backing off now!?”

He looked like someone who knew how to handle himself in a fight.

His bald head gleamed under the torchlight. His worn leather armor creaked with each of his steps and his half-lidded eyes carried a cruel, oppressive weight. Across his back bristled weapons—spears, swords, axes, all rattling with menace.

His level….

“I’m Zamza the Grimface. Level twenty-nine. Time to die, brat!”

He shouted. His hand reached over his shoulder.

Would it be an axe? A sword?

“Hehe!”

What he drew was a slender blade.

“A rapier!?”

His choice confused me. Hulk frame, brutish face—and yet he went for finesse over brute force. The surprise cost me a heartbeat.

Zamza lunged, the rapier’s tip flashing. The edge grazed my cheek.

“Not a fan of fighting in a boat, are you? Nowhere to move but forward or back!”

Thrust after thrust rained down on me. They were all sharp and relentless. I swayed left, then right, dodging each of them by hairsbreadths, but the narrow deck ultimately hemmed me in. The prow loomed close at my back.

“You’re good, kid.”

Zamza spat while pressing forward.

“Dodging all this, you’ve got some skill!”

I fixed my eyes on his blade, reading every twitch, every line of his attack. The next thrust came fast and lethal—

Clang!

I caught it with the guard of my short sword and flicked it aside. Zamza staggered back a step, sweat breaking across his brow.

“Y-you….Are you seriously just a kid!?”

On the other ship, chaos erupted. Bandits clung to the rails, shrieking in disbelief.

“What the hell—!”

“Impossible! What is that!?”

The entire vessel was rising, heaving up out of the river. And beneath it—stood Thor, the God of Thunder, hefting a ship more than ten meters long on his shoulder like it was driftwood.

“Hahaha!”

He flipped it as if overturning a cooking pot, slamming the boat upside-down into the water. A column of spray burst skyward and crashed back down in a drenching downpour.

“F-fuh-Thor!”

“Come on, Rion, once in a while it’s fine, isn’t it?”

T-too reckless…!

Bandits flailed in the water, only to be snatched up one after another by the gods. The rapier-wielding Zamza faltered, torn between me and the overturned boat. His composure cracked.

“Rion.”

A whisper, soft and close came. It was Uru’s voice. A warm brown glow welled in my chest.

“It’s about time I lent you something more. A hunter’s power isn’t just about sensing prey. Without the skill to stalk while being unseen, the hunt will be incomplete.”

When I moved, the sound of my steps vanished. My breath, even the whisper of the cloth against my skin was gone! Like— my presence was erased.

Zamza’s eyes flicked back to the wreck of the ship. To him, in that single instant, it must have seemed as though I’d disappeared entirely.

“W-where are you!?”

I slid in closer.

The wooden deck creaked underfoot.

“.…Behind!?”

With my presence undetected, I emerged behind him. And with all my weight, I slammed down the Hammer of the Thunder God.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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