Evening has arrived, and tonight, we will be departing towards Mt. Ardoa in order to raid the hideout of the Bellowing Specter and stop the beasts incidents from occurring ever again.

Although I have been preparing myself since the discussion, I just can't stop my hands from trembling. Tonight, I might end up killing a person for the first time in both of my lives.

Unlike on Earth, the laws here in Merusia doesn't value life as importantly. Although I hate killing, if it's for the sake something or someone important for me, I won't hesitate on dirtying my hands.

Knock Knock

「Grey, it's almost time.」Yuna

As I steeled my resolve, there was a sudden knock on the door, accompanied by Yuna's voice.

「Be there in a minute. Why don't you have dinner first, I'll accompany you later.」Grey

「Okay.」Yuna

Yuna's voice sure is calm. I wonder what she is feeling right now...

After preparing myself, I ate dinner with Yuna and then headed to the meeting place we decided on this morning, but before we arrived, Yuna asked for something I did not expect.

「Grey, after this raid... I want to eat curry.」Yuna

「Hm? Sure...」Grey

「That's a promise, okay.」Yuna

Huh? What's up with her all of a sudden?

「Oh, they're here. Grey! Yuna!」Kris

I was about to ask Yuna why, but I was interrupted by Kris-san's greeting, making me completely forget about it.

「Sorry, did we make you wait?」Grey

「Not really, we also just arrived.」Vanessa

「Good evening, Grey-dono, Yuna-dono.」Kurt

「Ah, yes, good evening.」Grey

「Un.」Yuna

While we were greeting each other, I noticed that there were no carriages to be found. I guess that's to be expected since everyone participating is at least of B-rank. After all, us running would be faster than any carriage.

「Are you guys all set?」Vanessa

Everyone nodded their heads in response to Vanessa-sama's question.

「Then...」Vanessa

With Vanessa-sama in the lead, everyone headed out at speeds of about 120 kph, leaving only a cloud of dust behind. With this speed, we wouldn't tire ourselves.

For more than an hour, we traversed the plains and the mountains while being careful of not disturbing anything we met at our path. It was really though, especially since it was nighttime and our visions were limited.

When we were almost at our destination, we slowed down our speed in order to not alert our enemy. Our plan would be useless if we get noticed before we could initiate it, after all.

A few moments later, Vanessa-sama halted her run and we followed suit. It seemed like it was time to go separate ways.

「Everyone, it's time to split up, make sure you protect your partner, kay? Now then, let's go, Yuna-chan!」Vanessa

After grabbing Yuna by the wrist, Vanessa-sama ran quickly and vanished before our eyes. She vanished so quickly, she didn't make a single sound.

I wonder if Yuna will be alright...

Well, I shouldn't worry about her. This is a good opportunity for her to create interactions with other people.

「Onee-sama...」Kurt

When he saw what his sister did, Kurt-sama heaved a lengthy sigh as if he had already given up on her older sister.

「Grey-dono, I apologize for my sister's behavior.」Kurt

「Ah, no need. I just hope that Vanessa-sama won't do something weird to Yuna.」Grey

「I hope so too.」Kurt

Nope, I take it back. I'm definitely worried about Yuna.

「Well, since onee-sama and Yuna had already left, we should do the same too. Well then, we'll see you around, Kris-sama, Aria-sama.」Kurt

「I think so too. Good luck you two.」Kris

「See you soon, Kurt-sama, Grey-kun.」Aria

After saying their goodbyes, Kris-san and Aria-san also disappeared from our view, leaving me and Kurt-sama behind.

「Well then, we should get going.」Kurt

「Then, I'll be in your care.」Grey

「Same to you.」Kurt

A few moments after we split up with the others, Kurt-sama and I arrived at the summit. And if my assumption is right, everyone should have also arrived at their own destinations.

Although we were so close to one of the entrances, none of the guards there seem to have noticed our arrival. We stayed put for some time to confirm it, but their actions were still the same.

Looks like they really didn't notice us. Well, it's very dark after all. The only thing that's enabling them to see are the torchstones installed in the walls.

Huh? Didn't Vanessa-sama mention that there were supposed to be beasts guarding the entrance? All I could see are people. Did we get wrong information?

No, I should probably stop thinking about the beasts for now. What comes first is the fulfillment of our roles for this guild.

「It's time to start the raid.」Kurt

「Alright... 《Gust》!」Grey

After casting a low-level spell towards the entrance, a strong gust of wind blew away the ones guarding it and knocked them unconscious.

Although they're members of the criminal organization which is responsible for the destruction of Yuna's home village, I still won't take their lives unnecessarily.

「Now, while they're still unconscious.」Grey

「Yeah.」Kurt

Without wasting the chance laid before us, Kurt-sama and I hastily went inside the entrance and sealed it right after. With this, they shouldn't be able to escape.

When we were inside the hideout, large corridors littered with torchstones greeted us.

The hideout was massive. Just the pathways in the maze were already more than 5 meters in both height and width. It must have been designed to accommodate large beasts.

「Ugh... What happened?」

「Where did that wind come from?」

「Huh?... Intruders! Intruders!」

「Sound the alarm!」

「Get the beasts!」

While I was examining the hideout, some of the guards regained their consciousness and grabbed their weapons in order to fend us off.

Tsk, how troublesome. It would have been better if they just stayed down and stopped resisting, that way, unnecessary casualties would be avoided.

「Grey-dono, you're not going to draw out your weapon?」Kurt

「No, being barehanded would be more than enough.」Grey

Using my『Appraisal』, I was able to tell that our opponents were only E-rank at best. Even if there's a million of them, they won't have any chance if winning against anyone above C-rank.

「I see...」Kurt

「Bastard... are you looking down on us!? Kill them!」

Overhearing our conversation, one of our opponents rallied his allies into going against us, but...

Guwakkk

Gyaaaa

Ackkkk

... all it took was a single blow from us and they already passed out with their mouths frothing.

「W-What's happening!?」

Not even a single minute had passed and their numbers were already down to a tenth of how many it used to be.

「T-This is impossible, there's noー Bwakkk」

「That should be the last of them.」Kurt

「Well the, let's get gー」Grey

Weeeooow Weeeooow Weeeooow

A loud blaring sound interrupted our conversation. It was so loud that if rang, it echoed throughout the whole hideout.

「Looks like the alarm has been sounded. Let's go.」Kurt

「Yeah.」Grey

【【Yuna's Perspective】】

Weeeooow Weeeooow Weeeooow

「An alarm!?」

「There are intruders!」

「Hurry, help them out!」

When we arrived at our destination, there was a loud sound resounding throughout the whole hideout, and the ones guarding the cliffside entrance were in a state of panic.

「Looks like they've already started... Then let's start our own party too, Yuna-chan!」Vanessa

「U-Un...」Yuna

Towards Vanessa-sama's suggestion, all I could do was nod in silence. She was just too assertive, I couldn't do anything against her.

Since we are still outside and there are still people guarding the entrance, I wouldn't be able to create net-like walls.

Mmm... what should I do... Ah! How about...

「《Gaia's Dome》!」Yuna

The earth shook slightly and moments later, multiple layers of net-like earthen domes emerged from the ground and connected to the cliffside.

「Wh-What's happening!?」

「A-An earthquake!?」

Due to how dark the surroundings were, the enemies haven't noticed the multi-layer dome built to prevent them from escaping.

Well, even if they noticed, it would have been useless anyways. There was no way they could escape it nor even do damage to it.

「Good thinking, Yuna-chan! Now, it's my turn. 《Flame Burst》!」Vanessa

Screams of pain and terror resounded in the mountain when Vanessa-sama's spell went inside the enemy's hideout and scorched it's guards.

Uuu... Vanessa-sama's ruthless...

「Don't worry, Yuna-chan. I didn't kill them, they're still alive, barely. But enough about that, why don't we head inside.」Vanessa

「U-Un...」Yuna

When we went inside the hideout, every guard near the entrance had already fainted. Some even had their clothing and hair burnt to ashes.

「Looks like there are still some of them standing. Ahh... what a bother. Hmm... Yuna-chan, care to take them down for me?」Vanessa

「Y-Yes, Vanessa-sama.」Yuna

「You're too stiff, you can just call me nee-chan, you know?」Vanessa

「Ah, no, that's tooー」Yuna

「Don't take us lightly, you bitches!」

「We'll kill you!」

Hearing our light-hearted conversation, the enemies lost their cool and attacked us head on with the intent to kill us.

「《Blood River》.」Yuna

Like a river flowing towards the ocean, my art flowed from target to target, wounding their arms, legs, and torso, rendering them unable to move. When my art ended, I was at the other end of the enemy group and blood sprayed all over the hideout.

Although they sustained a lot of damage and wounds all over their body, my attack shouldn't have killed them.

「Waah, Yuna-chan... You're so brutal.」Vanessa

Vanessa-sama jumped all over the place, avoiding areas filled with blood to keep herself clean.

「We should get going, Vanessa-samー」Yuna

「Hm?」Vanessa

Vanessa-sama looked at me with a face full of expectations.

Uuu... I don't think she'll back down unless I do what she wants me to do. I want to resist but Vanessa-sama is too scary. I... give up...

「I mean, Vanessa-neechan.」Yuna

「Yuna-chan! You're such a good girl! Don't worry, nee-chan will take good care of you.」Vanessa

Vanessa-sama is too scary. I don't think I'll ever beat her.

【【Kris' Perspective】】

「Looks like we're here.」Kris

「Hm... Kris, aren't there supposed beasts guarding the entrance?」Aria

「Now that you mention it, Vanessa-sama did mention that. Maybe they're resting inside?」Kris

「Kris, you're too carefree. Don't you think something's suspicious?」Aria

「Well, it's not like we can do anything about that. Also, this might not be the case for the other entrances.」Kris

「Well, you're right.」Aria

Well... I say it like that, but I'm really hoping Aria's suspicion is wrong.

「Aria, can you blow these guys away. It's difficult to build a wall with them around the entrance.」Kris

「Then...《Gust》.」Aria

Aria released a low-level spell and blew the enemies away from the entrance.

Taking that opportunity, we went inside the hideout and sealed the entrance with net-like walls just as Grey suggested.

Hmm... That was way easier than I expected.

「Intruders! Intruders!」

「Sound the alarm!」

「Alert the higher-ups!」

Ah, looks like they already noticed us. I guess it's time to knock them out, I just hope I don't accidentally kill some of them.

「Hey, look at this, there's a beauty among them!」

「Looks like we'll have some fun tonight!」

「Hahaha, I hope she has a cute scream.」

Nah, forget it... I'm going to kill them all!

During that time, loud screams filled the enemies' hideout. Bellows of pain and fear echoed throughout the vast sky and a river of blood sprayed all over Mt, Ardoa's soil.

【【Demiol's Perspective】】

Weeeooow Weeeooow Weeeooow

「What's happening!?」Demiol

「B-Boss, intruders are attacking the hideout!」

「Then what are you standing here for!? Stop them immediately!」Demiol

「Y-Yes boss!」

These useless fools! Do I really have to do everything here!?

Dammit! Why now, of all the times!?

Ugh... I need to stop them at all cost!

Without wasting any moment, I called out one of my underlings, as loud as I can. And when he arrived...

「You called, Boss?」

「Release the type ||| Deimons!」Demiol

「Bu-But boss, they are stillー」

「I'm not asking if they're ready or not, I'm ordering you to release them!」Demiol

「A-As you command, Boss!」

I didn't want to use this, but you fools from the kingdom forced me to. You want to destroy us? Let's see if you can survive my creations first!

CHAPTER 21 END