Chapter 5: The Executioner’s Trap

“!!!”

The man screaming like a stuck pig is Buta Ilness. He was once a successful businessman in central Horizon, but his reign of wage theft, abuse of power, fraud, and verbal and physical assault on his employees, all covered up with bribes, finally caught the Saint’s attention. He was banished to this remote village.

Now, he rages because his “golden goose,” Jin Jaehan, is no longer an easy target for exploitation.

“What was that…?!”

He’d groveled for his life when threatened, but his greed was insatiable.

“You think I’ll give up? I’ll get my revenge on both of you…”

Instead of remorse, he vows revenge. Cursing, he returns to his shop, bandages his mangled arm, and plots.

“Feeling wronged?”

A deep voice emerges from the shadows.

“W-who’s there?! A robber?! I locked all the doors…!”

Buta yells, and a tall man in a gray coat and worn trousers steps out of the darkness.

“Oops, didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“W-what do you want?!”

“Me? I’m…”

The man pauses.

“…a bringer of justice.”

“W-what do you want from me? I have no money!”

“I don’t need money. I need help.”

“Help? What kind of…”

“Black hair. Ruby-red eyes.”

“The woman who did this to you, yes?”

“H-how did you…”

The man smiles, a chilling grin.

“I have business with her. And with the man she’s with.”

“S-so? What do you want me to do?”

“Simple. Deliver a message to the man.”

“And what do I get in return…?”

“Well, they’re both targets. Take whatever you want.”

“So… I can have Jin Jaehan’s farm? If I help you?”

“…”

“Heh… good, good! I’ll do anything! Just tell me!”

The man watches Buta’s greedy grin and murmurs.

“I chose the right actor, indeed.”

Tucked into his belt is a letter bearing the Prince’s seal.

[Execute the traitor, Vega Spica.]

Night.

Late enough that everyone should be asleep. Vega is out, likely still distressed. I lie awake, worry gnawing at me. I’m not sure where to sell my crops now that I’ve… ahem… incapacitated Mr. Kim, but I’m more concerned about Vega. We’ve spent weeks together, and I thought she was doing better, but her lingering fear bothers me.

‘When she returns, I need to talk to her. And comfort her more…’

Knock, knock, knock.

‘…Who is it at this hour?’

It’s Mr. Kim, Buta, standing outside my door with casts on his broken limbs.

“…What are you doing here so late?”

“W-well…”

“…My… girlfriend (?) isn’t here, but she might return anytime. So, if you’re planning another stunt…”

“I-I’m sorry! For everything.”

“…?”

“After getting hurt like this, I felt remorse for all the things I’ve done. I wanted to apologize… with a gift.”

He pulls out a small, red gift box. Did he have a change of heart? I find it hard to believe after years of insults, but he seems sincere, bringing a gift at this late hour despite his injuries.

“…Don’t lie and cheat anymore, okay?”

“Y-yes, I’ll remember that.”

“What’s in the box? It doesn’t look very big…”

“Oh this? Open it.”

The box is small and wrapped in festive paper. I can’t imagine what’s inside. I carefully open it to find… a single piece of paper emitting a pungent odor.

“Ugh?”

The smell hits me, making my head spin. My legs weaken, and I lose my grip on the box.

“What is this…?”

“He was right! He said you’d pass out from this! Now, the farm is mine! Hahaha!”

“Gah…”

I struggle to breathe, my vision blurring.

“Heh, you
ing brat. You really thought I came to apologize?”

“You…
er…”

“I’d kill you here, but he wants you alive.”

The bastard lifts me, and I lose consciousness.

Meanwhile, in the forest near the cabin, Vega seeks solace after the events of the day.

“Haa…”

She touches her flushed face. She’d been angry for Jaehan, afraid of being abandoned by him. Just as she’d accepted her feelings, he held her without a word. After everything, she can no longer view him with detached objectivity.

‘…I should go back.’

She misses him already and returns to the cabin.

“Ugh…?”

Cold. Dark. How long was I out?

Clank.

My arms and legs are chained. I remember that shopkeeper lifting me…

“Oh, you’re awake? You’re tough. Most people wouldn’t wake up so quickly after inhaling monster-hunting anesthetic.”

“…Who are you?”

A deep voice, not the shopkeeper’s whiny tone. A man in a coat steps into view. His belt is adorned with wanted posters and two pistols.

“Me? I’m a bringer of justice.”

“Cut the crap. Tell me your name.”

“Aren’t you brave? You know I could put a bullet in your head right now?”

“You would have done it already if you wanted me dead. Answer the question.”

“Heh, you’re an amusing one. Fine. My name is Ebert Executioner. Catchy, isn’t it?”

‘…Just as I thought.’

I knew who he was the moment I saw his attire. Ebert Executioner, the First Prince’s loyal hound. There’s only one reason he’d be here.

‘He’s after Vega.’

“Now, it’s your turn.”

“You already know who I am. Stop pretending.”

“You know who I am? How amusing.”

Ebert feigns surprise, then approaches me with a smirk.

“Yes, I know you, Jin Jaehan. And I know who you’re harboring.”

“…”

“Enjoying your little life with a criminal? I do feel bad for kidnapping you. She’s the criminal, not you. So I thought… see that over there?”

He points to a mangled lump of flesh, like something crushed in a hydraulic press.

“No way…”

“Yes, that’s the shopkeeper. He’s a criminal too, so I disposed of him.”

He speaks casually, as if taking a life is nothing. This isn’t a conversation with a human; it’s with a monster.

“You’re a monster.”

“What’s monstrous about it? I’m an executioner. Criminals must be eliminated.”

“Get to the point.”

“Vega Spica seems to care about you, doesn’t she?”

“Stop wasting my time.”

“I figured if I used you as bait, I could lure her to the designated location.”

“What?!”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

He grins, then forces a small, purple crystal into my mouth.

“Gah?!”

“The stage is set. Let the play begin.”

Minutes later, Vega returns to the cabin.

‘…He’s not here.’

There’s no sign of Jaehan. She heads towards the Star Soufflé trees, wondering if he’s in the field.

“Squeak…”

“Slimes?”

“Squeak…”

The slimes huddle behind a tree, trembling.

“What’s wrong? Where’s Jaehan?”

“Squeak!”

A large slime approaches her.

“Squeak… urp!”

It spits out a piece of paper.

“This is… ugh?”

The pungent smell makes her head ache.

‘Kaiju tree sap anesthetic?’

Only one person in Horizon uses this specific monster-hunting anesthetic.

“Ebert Executioner…!”

Vega rips off her bandages. It’s her fault. Because of her, because she came here, Jaehan is in danger. If she hadn’t met him, if he hadn’t helped her…

Crackle… sizzle…

Darker-than-night magic envelops her.

Crack… snap…

Two pairs of wings unfurl.

“Squeak…”

Even the magic-eating slimes tremble under the pressure.

“Aaargh!”

Vega Spica’s power, her reason lost, surges. Her [Life-Giving Black Wings] begin to shake the very air.