Chapter 63 : Co operation

It’s been a month since I came to the mansion with Chris, and I was gradually getting used to living with these people. Perhaps because we all shared the same blood, we surprisingly got along well. Except for Sora.

As usual, while waiting for my companions who had gone out on a mission and cleaning the inside of the mansion, Chris spoke to me. He asked if I could cooperate with their operation.

“Cooperation with the operation?”

“Yes. If you’re okay with it, Saya, we’d like you to help us.”

He continued his explanation, saying there was a reason I would accept.

“I know you’re uncomfortable with things like rebellion. Coincidentally, our priority is not to assassinate the emperor. For now, eliminating the Spirit Master Commander Violet is the resistance’s top priority.”

Chris had previously attempted to assassinate Violet at the academy, but it failed when the arrow hit his shoulder instead of his head.

Spirit Master Commander Violet.

The main quest, which I thought would be completed after eliminating Invidia, was still incomplete. I suspect the reason for this is that Spirit Master Commander Violet is still alive and well.

“Alright. If you tell me what you know about Violet’s identity, I’ll cooperate with you. I’ve been freeloading for a while, after all.”

I thought there must be a hidden side to Violet that only he knew, something I didn’t.

“Of course. But you should know that the information I have is only a very small part…”

Chris lifted the black cross hanging around his neck.

“I told you before that people like us, who have inherited the Barnaba bloodline, have a high assimilation rate with Sarkas, right?”

The reason everyone living here had dark hair was because we were children artificially created to incorporate Sarkas into our bodies. That was also why I had no side effects even though I had Invidia in my body.

“…I believe you’ve probably guessed it, but Violet is a human who wields the power of Sarkas, just like you. But there’s something strange about this. How can he, who isn’t even a member of the Sarkas clan, maintain the appearance of a normal human?”

In fact, his hair was not black, which is said to have a high assimilation rate, but pure white. His compatibility with Sarkas was clearly the worst.

“…It’s definitely strange.”

“That’s not all. Ever since he became the commander, he’s been strangely obsessed with collecting soul stones.”

Soul stones are stones made of a special substance left behind when a Spirit Master’s summon, Osteon, dies. The material used in the weapons of Spirit Masters is this soul stone.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that half of the soul stones of Spirit Masters who die in battle or fail during the manifestation ceremony across the country go to Violet. What on earth is he using so many soul stones for?”

“…It’s too much of an obsession to be simply a collection.”

“Right? The hypothesis I’ve come up with is this.”

He said that Violet, who has a low assimilation rate unlike the Sarkas clan, seems to be using soul stones to forcibly maintain his human form.

“Could he be eating the soul stones…?”

It was hard to imagine him swallowing the soul stones, which looked so hard.

At my question, Chris shook his head and answered, “I don’t know that far. It’s all just my hypothesis, after all. Anyway, you’ll cooperate with us as promised, right?”

The questions about Violet only grew, but I decided to accept their request for cooperation anyway. It was clear that they were reliable companions who shared a common goal with me.

The first operation I joined them in was to attack a supply wagon heading to the academy. You might say this is no different from what a bandit group would do, but our purpose was not money, but the large amount of soul stones in the wagon.

The plan was to preemptively raid the wagon carrying soul stones to the academy and see how Violet would react if he couldn’t obtain them.

Dustin, watching the wagon move, easily lifted his huge mace and said, “The security is incredible. All the escorts are Spirit Masters.”

“I can handle those magician wannabes by myself,” Huey replied.

“Haha, who was it that ran away immediately when a fireball came flying last time?”

Dustin provoked Huey, and Huey frowned and growled. As the chatter continued, Chris cut in.

“Everyone, focus. The wagon will be here soon. As planned, Sora and I will target the front line, so the three of you go around the back and take care of the Spirit Masters.”

It was not a normal-sized wagon procession. As it carried a lot of valuables, there were separate wagons for the escorts, and it was a scale that ordinary bandits wouldn’t dare attempt.

Pshk.

Chris released the tautly drawn bowstring, hitting a horse, and Sora’s axe followed. The panicked driver, having lost his horse, jumped down from his seat, and the Spirit Masters, sensing something was amiss, began to get off the wagons one by one.

“Let’s warm up…!”

Huey and Dustin ran toward the Spirit Masters, and I followed behind them. The Spirit Masters, realizing this was an attack, quickly summoned their Osteons and tried to use magic, but they fell helplessly, bleeding, as we approached from behind. Even skilled Spirit Masters ultimately relied heavily on magic, so they were at a great disadvantage against close-range mercenaries depending on the distance.

I drew my dagger and faced the Spirit Masters when I saw someone holding a sword, aiming for Huey’s back.

‘Thanatos…!’

Without hesitation, I used the Thanatos spell to pierce a hole in the body of the person trying to attack him, and he fell.

“…That was close. Thanks!”

Huey, whose life I’d saved, whistled and spoke to me.

Due to the overwhelming difference in power, the melee was quickly resolved, and the Spirit Masters were either killed or bound and tied to trees along with the merchants.

‘…Huh?’

While examining the corpses of the Spirit Masters, a familiar face caught my eye.

‘…This person, from the academy…’

A classmate who had once taken classes in the same classroom was dead, with a hole in his body.

‘…Don’t dwell on it. This is the path I chose.’

I was already well aware from Chris that the main enemies of the Barnaba Resistance were the Spirit Masters. Wasting emotions here would only burden my current companions. I secretly put my hands together and prayed for the corpse, then joined Chris and the others.

“That was a bit of a struggle.”

Led by Chris, everyone gathered in front of the tightly locked cargo compartment, trying to check its contents.

“…Huh?”

No matter how hard Chris pulled at the door in front, the cargo compartment door remained firmly locked and wouldn’t open. This time, Dustin, who had the greatest physical strength, tried, but the door still wouldn’t budge.

“What did they do to this damn door…!”

When Dustin, in a fit of rage, pounded on it, a metallic sound echoed, as if there were a steel plate inside. Chris, watching the scene, said with a bewildered expression, “I heard that cargo wagons heading to the academy are secured so that only the receiving side can open them, but I didn’t know that rumor was true…”

“…”

I, who had been quietly watching from behind, carefully stepped forward.

“Can I try?”

“Uh, Saya…?”

Dustin looked at me with a surprised expression.

I focused my mind and transformed both of my arms into large, black Sarkas arms. As a result of consistent training with help, I was now able to control the power of Sarkas in both arms. I grabbed the handle with my two huge arms, gritted my teeth, and pulled.

‘…Ugh…!’

I heard the sound of screws coming loose one by one, and with a creak, half of the cargo compartment was ripped off. Including me, my companions watching nearby stood with their mouths wide open, staring at the scene.

“…Wow, that’s amazing, Saya.”

Chris spoke to me with a look of disbelief. Inside the torn-off cargo compartment, only a moderate-sized box and several pieces of paper were rolling around in the large space. Chris kicked the papers aside and opened the box to check.

“Good heavens. With this amount of soul stones, you could buy a house in Semal.”

Huey, peeking over from behind and observing the soul stones, continued, “So what? You’ll just distribute it all to the resistance funds anyway, right? I know all about it.”

“…You know me too well, Huey.”

At Huey’s words, Chris smiled.

“Heave-ho.”

Chris jumped down from the cargo compartment with the box, wearing a satisfied expression.

“Great success. Let’s all retreat.”

As I was about to follow him back into the forest path, Huey hadn’t gotten off the wagon yet. Chris waved his hand at him and urged him on.

“Huey! If you’re late, we’re leaving you behind!”

“Uh, coming…!”

Huey, who came running hurriedly, had a piece of paper tucked into his pocket that hadn’t been there before.

‘…Hmm?’

I thought about asking what it was, but I remembered that it was common for bandits to personally collect loot, so I decided not to ask.

“…Ah, beer after a mission is the best.”

Huey and Dustin were laughing and clinking glasses. Sora, not used to alcohol, was drunk and red-faced, just puffing at the air, and Chris was standing alone, looking out the window.

“Why don’t you come and have a drink? Don’t be a party pooper on a day like this.”

At Dustin’s cheerful request, Chris waved his hand and replied, “Haha, I don’t really like alcohol. Besides, I have to send a letter as soon as I wake up tomorrow morning.”

At that, Dustin tightly squeezed me with his muscular arm.

‘…Ugh!’

“Saya says she’ll drink, so why are you backing out? Right, Saya?”

In Dustin’s mind, it was already a given that I would drink. Chris, looking at my awkward expression, eventually gave in to his companions’ encouragement and sat down.

“Well, just one glass then.”

The immutable law of drinking parties: there is no one in this world who really drinks just one glass. The drinking party continued all night, and even I, who was quite good at holding my liquor, was just keeping my eyes open with my face stuck to the table. Huey, with a flushed face, asked Chris, “Hey… Chris. When the resistance wins… what will you do then?”

“…Well, we’ll have to discuss who to put in the new government.”

“…You’re such a boring bastard, seriously…”

Huey, who put down his glass roughly, said with slurred pronunciation, “I, for one, want to earn enough money that others won’t be able to touch in their lifetime. How long are we going to live smelling like dirt? We need to indulge in some luxury. Don’t you think so? …”

With his mumbling as the last, everyone at the drinking party fell asleep as if they had fainted. The next morning, Chris couldn’t send the letter on time, and we got to see the rare sight of Chris’s angry face.

Carrying a box full of soul stones, Cled walked toward Violet’s room in the basement. Violet used to demand that a large amount of soul stones be brought to his room once a month. Cled had no idea what he used them for or why he demanded them.

‘…By the way, Saya. Are you alive and well somewhere?’

It had already been a month since Saya disappeared from the academy after the execution was aborted due to an accident. For Cled, who sometimes secretly enjoyed drinking with her or skipping classes to take naps, she was a student he cared for greatly. After she disappeared, the academy was almost like a house in mourning every day.

Cled reached Violet’s door, knocked, and said, “It’s Cled. The soul stones you requested.”

As if he had been waiting, the door swung open, and Violet greeted him.

“Oh, thank you, Cled.”

Violet put the box containing the soul stones aside, sat back down in his chair, and asked Cled, “How are things with the students lately? They’ve been quite depressed due to the recent unsettling events.”

“As you said, lately…”

Cled, who was continuing his normal answer, stopped speaking due to a great sense of incongruity.

‘Commander, your eye…?’

His one eye, which had definitely been blinded by Saya’s attack, had been completely restored.

“…What’s wrong?”

“…Ah… Nothing.”

Cled hid his bewildered emotions. He left the room, giving only his usual answers.

‘Is that even possible…?’

He now began to have doubts about the human being named Violet.