Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

Chugga chugga chugga! The train rolled along the tracks, the sound of friction filling the air.

I quietly listened to that noisy sound while glancing out the window, humming to myself, watching Agartha.

As soon as we stepped outside Rondan, Agartha immediately shoved us onto the train and it took off.

What the heck was happening? I didn’t even think to ask.

I was just following the flow of consciousness, seeing someone trustworthy.

Where on earth is this train headed? I didn’t know if Agartha had good intentions or bad.

Noticing my gaze, Agartha blinked and turned her head towards me.

“What’s wrong? Don’t worry about necessities. I’ve packed enough for a year, so you can just loaf around free of charge.”

I wasn’t hoping to hear something like that, but I ended up being surprised by her grand story.

What kind of place is Agartha affiliated with that has this much support?

“Why that expression? Did you lose your portable Outsider that you carried around every day?”

“How vulgar!?”

“Think about Tanton’s usual behavior. Asking me what it’s like to grab the horns of the dragon folks and already having over five Elite Outsiders captured, while still having a semi-Outer being with you…”

“Stop, I get it, just stop!”

How long has it been since this crazy thief started arguing again?

How does she know I became friends with five Elite Outsiders?

Her information network is definitely impressive.

Feeling quite annoyed, I slipped my hand into my pocket, pulling out Lia, soft as a marshmallow, and held her in the palm of my hand.

“Ugh?”

“If you’re so curious about Lia, here she is.”

“Ugh, eek! Put that away right now! Isn’t this too much just for a joke?!”

Agartha swiftly jumped over to the back seat, visibly upset, as if she had seen something unsightly.

Is it because she has a background as a thief that her movements were anything but ordinary?

Still, given that Agartha had been active in the rear, her skills must have really improved by now.

If she’s become that strong, considering she’s keeping mystic scholars as subordinates, her resistance against Outsiders must have increased a bit.

It was certainly a constant reminder of who she was.

Of course, because of that action, Lia looked hurt.

“Ugh.”

“Meow!”

When I jokingly pretended to toss Lia, her hair standing on end while she hissed was reminiscent of a cat.

This is amusing.

After the ruckus, Agartha sat back in front of me, staring blankly at the sky.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Agartha looking this calm while having so many thoughts.

“Agartha.” (Tanton)

“Are you planning to ask why I came here?” (Agartha)

“…Yeah, kinda.” (Tanton)

This time, she broke into a broad smile that didn’t fit the quiet mood.

“Haha, I figured you would ask that. But really, is there a reason to help people? We are the Underground Prison Alliance, after all.”

The Underground Prison Alliance, huh.

That’s quite a horrifying name, as if it’s a gathering of the worst criminals imaginable.

“You must have some intention behind this, right?”

But Agartha’s smile quickly faded with my words.

“Yes, that’s right. You caught me, huh? Even trying to maintain the atmosphere is pointless. Honestly, I was so anxious while coming to help you, you know? There are rumors that you and the Hunter had a falling out, and the Hunter forming a rebel faction… Hoo.”

Agartha shook her head.

“Just a little while ago, we were all working together to find the Record Keeper’s inscription and subduing quite strong Outsiders… I don’t even know how it ended up like this.”

“Strong… Outsider?”

At my question, Agartha widened her eyes, looked at me, and then sighed.

“Oh, you know, when you collapsed, an Outsider suddenly popped out of the cave. Well, since it was just the Hunter and me, we easily subdued it!”

“What happened then?”

“Well, when I later asked the Saint, he mentioned that by the time the Knights arrived guided by him, it had already long disappeared. According to what it said, it seemed to exist solely to guard the inscriptions in that cave or something.”

To think such a thing had happened.

When I heard about it, I thought it was merely an ordinary Outsider, but if it had turned out to be a stronger one, it could have been a disaster.

I unwittingly caused trouble.

“The Hunter was carrying you to the Knights when that happened…”

That’s a rather new piece of information.

Now that I think about it, I feel like I didn’t hear how I managed to get to the Knights’ headquarters.

…Thinking about these things made me recall the attitude the Hunter had shown me, which only made my heart ache more.

Agartha wore a distant expression, reminiscing about that time.

“I hope you can reconcile with the Hunter as soon as possible. I’m here to help for that purpose too. He does have a rather quirky personality, but he’s been known to accept your words to some extent, right? This time it was just a misunderstanding; maybe if time passes and he cools off, there might be a chance for you to talk again.”

Did the Hunter ever hear what I said?

Hmm…

That part is unclear to me.

Anyway, I understand what Agartha wants to say.

And I too must become friends with the Hunter again, as Agartha says.

Thinking about the Hunter’s grim past and for the future of Rondan.

At least I want everyone connected to Rondan to meet a happy future.

“By the way, how did you manage to get this train?”

“This? Of course, I stole it from Candle. All the trains in Rondan belong to that White Mask, after all. The Candle ones may be illegal, but this is no time to worry about that, right?”

Seeing Agartha casually spout such terrifying words reminded me once more that she was indeed a thief.

A thief who plundered from Candles that were looting Rondan; she might actually be the hidden strongest in this world.

As I continued to chat with Agartha, I realized the train was shaking more violently.

And I began to feel the surroundings gradually brighten.

“Hmm, looks like it’s about time to get off.”

Agartha led me and Asti to the open train doors.

A cold yet somewhat warm atmosphere greeted us outside.

In the world of Snow Castle, there are only two ways to feel warmth.

Share the warmth of other living beings, or arrive at a domain like Rondan that has a Hearth.

Agartha pointed her finger at the distant castle wall.

“Over there is Gerun Domain. Like Rondan, but unlike Rondan, it’s ruled by nobles. It would be better to describe it as a duchy.”

A duchy, huh.

It’s fascinating that there’s a new Domain and that nobles are still around.

So that’s why the Saint mentioned nobles as an example not to call the name of an Outsider.

The circumstances leading me here may be grim, but still, the idea of exploring a new place felt like it would warm my heart.

Alright, let’s go once.

Everything will surely turn out well, just like it always does.

#

“Evil human traitor, Leydan Tanton, hand him over!”

“Hand him over, hand him over!”

Surrounding the Hearth, a throng of people was shouting slogans, carving letters onto wooden planks.

The Deputy Director didn’t dare step outside and remained inside the headquarters.

At first, I thought there must be some intent behind this, but then a black figure spoke up in an irritated voice.

“…So Leydan Tanton has already escaped?”

“Looks like it. Upon investigation, it appears there was a rat hole in the Deputy Director’s office.”

Hearing Greith’s report, the Hunter clicked his tongue in irritation.

How could he have missed the key elements?

“If the Knights are surrounded by Rondan’s citizens, they won’t be able to respond recklessly. The moment they attack, it’ll only support the idea of defending the Outsider.”

“That’s true.”

While Greith firmly responded to the Hunter’s words, a quick-footed man was running from a distance.

“Hunter! A train just left Rondan!”

“…Was it White Mask?”

“No, according to the surrounding testimonies, it’s a Candle’s illegal train!”

Candle wouldn’t help Tanton.

Upon realizing this conclusion, the Hunter gritted his teeth.

“…Damn thief. I really hate this.”

“What will you do?”

At Greith’s question, the Hunter lightly tapped Greith’s shoulder and said, “You take care of sorting things out inside Rondan. I’m going to track down Leydan Tanton now.”

“How will you travel?”

“I’ll use one of the White Mask trains. Most of them are wrecked, but there should be at least one that’s still functional. Take care of the Princess. If not, the fall of Rondan will happen in an instant.”

“Yes, understood.”

With those words, the Hunter briskly walked toward the entrance of Rondan.

As he walked, he pondered that his feelings were peculiar.

It felt too intense to refer to simply as betrayal.

He didn’t know exactly what this emotion he was feeling was.

One thing was for sure, he thought that if he met Tanton and eliminated him on the spot, something would change.

He wanted to meet him soon.

“I’ll capture him and cleanse that twisted ideology for sure.”

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