“People of Ironholes. I am [Menta Saint] Maslow speaking to you from the Divine Tower. We have been told that your mayor, [Duke] Cavendish has deceived you all, and I have been appointed to correct this wrongness.”

After hearing the womanly voice, the squad got distracted. The last two ratmen of the group they were fighting got hits on Ianina and Jeffrey. Roger reacted quickly and went to kill these two monsters with swift sword strikes to their heads and spoke.

“Oh, gods and goddesses! That smells foul. Ianina, heal yourself and Jeffrey, then we go back to the entrance. Stay alert.”

After that, they stayed silent. Ianina had started to heal herself even before Roger told her to, but Jeffrey was in a bit worst state. She quickly went to the [Rogue]'s side. Metello and Roger listened to the voice while looking for other threats around.

“The times to come will be hard for the Enlighted Lands. [Fulgur Saint] Casey had had visions of a prophecy. She told us that a [Nox Aposlte] was born under the Everlasting Night some tens of cycles ago. This foe will be a deadly threat to humankind when he grows for a few years. Scholars agreed that we will need cooperation from all the combat fifth tier people to have a chance of getting rid of it.”

Jeffrey's pained face had not receded despite Ianina's good job. Being bitten and clawed in the mines for the first time had shocked him, but he managed to follow his squadmates, walking toward the exit. Still listening to the [Saint]voice, concern was visible on the faces of Metello and Roger. Meanwhile, Ianina grinned.

“Now, what can this mayor do to quell a rumor born from that ?”

“Shush!”

“In her vision, [Fulgur Saint] Casey saw that a massive attack from lesser undead will breach both Saint John Walls and Saint Peter Walls at the same time the [Saints] will have to fight the [Apostle]. The Yellowind Kingdom is likely to fall before the number of Nox minions. Unlike the last Wall breach 404 years ago, we know beforehand what will happen, and we have a few years to prepare. Do not waste that precious time!

It is unacceptable for the leader of so many people to deny them this knowledge and the possibility to act accordingly. You people are all thinking beings who have the right to decide how to react to this news. I inform you that the northern kingdoms are preparing to host refugees for those willing to take shelter under the higher sun. You have to know too that we will need as much help as possible to contain the threat. Every new monster hunter will be welcome.

[King] Peterson of the Yellowind Kingdom has been warned as much as [Duke] Cavendish. Their will to gamble on the lives of their people to keep their power untouched for a few more years is foolish. The Divine Tower hereby declare th...”

They were in the entrance tunnel, seeing the sunlight at its end, when the voice of a middle-aged man resounded strongly in their heads, dwarfing then replacing the other voice.

“Citizen of Ironholes, this is a message from your mayor, [Duke] Cavendish, transmitted by me, [Menta High Priest] Neville.

The voice pretending to be [Menta Saint] Maslow is fake. All that this person told you is fake. Her goal is to induce chaos and fear to weaken us before Nox. We told you a few cycles ago that rumors were spreading, and we have succeeded brilliantly in preventing this chaos and this fear from growing within our walls. This was another attack upon you, but now we know who is to blame. We kept him under surveillance for a long time without finding clear evidence of guilt. We didn't want to be hasty and condemn a poor orphan. Recently, we received a witness testimony, so here and now, we know that the one who tried to spread these rumors is the black-haired orphan, Metello Blackhaired.”

Metello fell to his knees with a thud a few meters from the exit, eyes unfocused and mouth half-opened. Roger's voice resounded at his side to call Jeffrey, but he didn't mind much. He couldn't believe he heard what he heard. He had been used to unjust treatment, but now was too much, really too much. He was only half-conscious of being brought out of the mine by his friends. But, he still listened to the message from the mayor in a daze. It was not the end of the bad news.

“We determined that his parents were Nox followers. We know that Nox can bestow blessings to fake the system, and it is difficult to see through it, but not impossible. My friend, the highly esteemed [Shop Owner] Moore, has witnessed the boy lying and fooling a [Questioner]'s blessings without batting an eye. That is proof too that he is a Nox agent himself.”

Metello was now prostrated under the sun in a fetal position, his bag at his side. Speaking about his parents and mentioning the hateful [Merchant]'s name had been like two unguarded uppercuts to his chin. Sitting near him, Roger and Jeffrey sported shocked and silent faces while Ianina's temper flared.

“Nox bollocks! How can he fake a Prayer to Lux, then? Are they all zombie-brained ?”

“Shut up and listen!”

“For now, we don't know yet how the “Equality orphanage” is involved, but we have started the necessary investigations. It is known as a [Rogue] nest, a class that induces disorder a bit like Nox. Maybe we are to blame as we were not vigilant enough. We apologize for this.”

Jeffrey stood up immediately.

“Carl! Isobel!”

Roger may have called the [Rogue], but this one didn't mind at all. The orphan ran as fast as he could toward the city with a face mixing perfectly worry and anger. The mayor's spokesperson didn't stop yet.

“At the moment, we don't know where the Nox agent is. However, we are aware that he wears usually a [Lux Acolyte]'s robe and a golden top hat, which allows him to fake his class while discrediting the esteemed institution and its goddess. Every citizen can help us catch him by giving us information about it. As soon as we find him, and he will be very soon, we will inform you. Then, the mayor will organize a public trial in Gods' Square to punish him for his crimes.

Thank you for your time, beloved citizen. We will march through this together and become stronger than ever.”

Metello was moaning and crying in a fetal position.

“Why? Why me? Why always me?”

Roger came up to him with a sympathetic voice.

“Metello, I think we have to lead you out of the valley. Going into the city is a big no for you now and waiting for them to come here is not a better solution.”

“How does it matter? There is always someone to come after me. Bullies at the orphanage, people on the streets. A rich [Merchant]? That's a nice choice of a person to blame me. What? Not good enough? Why not the head of the city, the mayor? Nice idea! Now, I just want to stay there. I will die here, it's no big deal. Nobody will shed a tear for the black-haired orphan.”

“Don't say that. Some people care for you, like Brorne, Mrs Richardon, Maria, and us here! And we still have great things to accomplish together.”

“We?”

“Yes. I don't want to stay in this city longer either. It is sooner than I imagined, but we would have needed to leave it at some time anyway.”

Metello sat down, looking expectantly at the [Swordsman]. Tears were flowing on his dusty cheeks. A childish cracking voice got out of his mouth.

“Are you sure? Even if you wanted to go to the deep mines?”

“I am. I didn't mind that much the deep mines. I mainly wanted to hunt in another place.”

“And you, Ianina ?”

With a sad smile, she said.

“I... Thanks to you and your home, I could train how it was to live in the wild. Perhaps it is time to see it for real.”

“And... Where is Jeffrey ?”

Roger's eyes subtly dodged Metello's gaze, and the [Swordsman] replied.

“He ran to the city. I think he said the name of his brother and sister before leaving us.”

Metello's eyes bulged, and he stood up before shouting.

“They talked about the orphanage as if it was Nox's house! We have to get them!”

Roger did not repeat the same error twice, and he caught the [Lux Acolyte] before he could leave.

“You can't do anything about this, Metello. Even if you could enter the city and avoid being recognized while going to the orphanage, all you'll be able to do is to confirm the suspicions.”

“But, Mrs Richardson, Mrs Sweetsmile, Mrs Masson, and Maria! What will happen to them ?”

Fortunately, Metello was now looking toward the city and not at the unsure face of his friend.

“Don't worry too much. They surely heard the same thing as us. Mrs Richardson has been a monster hunter, so she must have thought about it and found something to do. Since you're standing, we can go to the valley gates and leave the city area now. Ianina, can you get his bag ?”

They walked in silence for some time, the [Swordsman] keeping Metello on track. As their hunting ground had not been far from the way out, they quickly came into view of it. Although he supported Metello, Roger facepalmed.

“Nox tits! Indeed there are [Guards] there.”

He looked up.

“Can we go through the mountain ?”

Ianina looked back at the city. She had a worried voice when she said.

“I don't think we have much time to think about it. Many people are getting out of the city now. Really too much compared to a normal cycle. I fear they are coming for us.”

Roger took a deep breath and spoke not too loudly.

“Let's go, Warming Light Protectors.”

They started running up the mountain southward at a jogging rhythm. As Metello couldn't keep the pace, Roger carried him. Getting over the nervous breakdown, Metello repeated to himself, mumbling.

“They will pay for it.”

As they came up the first mountain pass two hours later, they found a small well-built building made of stone. Roger told Ianina to stop, and she turned toward the annoyed-looking [Swordsman].

“What is it ?”

“It probably has something to do with the [Guards] who patrol around the valley to prevent monsters from entering it. I don't know what else it could be. We should walk back to find a way around it.”

“You were right, young man. It's a guardhouse. Now, please, don't move.”

The young monster hunters turned their heads up toward a concealed platform. There were two men and a woman with bows at the ready.

“We have informed our boss of your presence here. All the city [Guards] and [Soldiers] will know you are here in a few minutes. We usually use our bows to hunt wandering monsters, but they are ready for Nox agents.”

Roger did not wait for the end of the [Guard]'s speech and turned around in a dash. Ianina did the same a second later.

“If you're thinking you can flee us, don't blame us for not being polite.”

As he heard the last words, two arrows flew barely past Roger when the third hit him in the back, going through a few layers of his gambeson. He was not as lucky with the next volley as he was wounded near the neck and felt blood flowing from it. Despite that, they managed to flee, and a few minutes later, Ianina could heal him. But, as they were pounding about what to do, they heard the loud noise of hooves scraping on the stone. They turned to see a five [Guards] squad on horses.

“Let's not make things harder, guys. Just accept your fate.”

While Roger cursed and fell to his knees, Metello's rage went to him. He charged the group barehanded.

“I will make them pay !!!”

Roger looked from the ground with desperate eyes as Ianina followed the [Lux Acolyte] and charged with her mace ready to strike.

“No, Metello! Ianina, don't follow him! It's the task force. They are the [Soldier] they call when too many monsters come at a time.”

The powerless leader of the Warming Light Protectors watched as Metello went down unconscious after being hit with the flat of a blade. Ianina suffered the same fate after a few more seconds. He dropped his head in despair. He thought meeting with these two young hunters would be a boon, but now, he couldn't help but think they were more like a curse. He mumbled to himself when the [Soldiers] got off their horses.

“What would you think about all this, dad?”

Before him, a loud voice resounded.

“What the Night is this? Her hair color changed to black!”

Roger looked up again with bulging eyes and noted that the [Soldier] was right.