Esmeria

Zafir desperately wanted to leap in to protect Regina, but his legs trembled with exhaustion, leaving him frozen in place.

“Shit, I won’t make it, I haven’t tested this yet, it better work!” Richard muttered with urgency. From his pouch, he retrieved a round object and hurled it towards the drake that was lunging at Regina.

“Eek!” Regina gasped in fear as the object hurtled through the air.

In the next instant, the surrounding trees were uprooted as a powerful gust of wind erupted. The drakes, caught in the blast, were forcefully blown backwards, colliding with the upheaved trees. Regina lay unconscious in the center of the chaotic aftermath.

Zafir stood in shock, unable to comprehend what unfolded before his eyes. The drake's attack connected with Regina, and upon contact, crimson markings materialized across her body in a mysterious pattern. Before the gravity of the situation could fully sink in, a round object hurled by Richard struck the drake, detonated.

From within the round object, powerful winds surged forth, enveloping Regina in a swirling vortex. Unconscious of her own actions, Regina instinctively amplified the wind's strength, unleashing a fierce gust that repelled the drake attacking her. The winds expanded outward from her, creating a protective barrier that pushed away the other drakes, skillfully avoiding Richard, Farid, and Zafir in the chaos. As quickly as they appeared, the red markings on Regina's body faded away, leaving a momentary silence in the aftermath of the tempestuous display.

In the blink of an eye, everything unfolded rapidly.

“My prototype Wind Bomb shouldn’t be this strong. Did she just use [Wind Crusher] and [Wind Barrier]...?” Richard muttered to himself, a mix of relief and wonder crossing his features as he watched Regina safe and unharmed.

Zafir stood in stunned silence, utterly taken aback by the sight before him. He never expected the seemingly timid hooded girl to wield such overwhelming power, effortlessly dispatching the drakes that moments ago posed a dire threat.

Zafir cautiously addressed Richard, trying to navigate his curiosity without causing offense.

"Who are you guys? You all don’t smell like humans," he asked, his tone measured to avoid any unintended offense.

Richard responded cryptically,

"You only have to know that woman who left and this boy were the first two to live here."

Perplexed, Zafir couldn't help but notice Richard referring to the village chief as 'boy'.

"Did he just call the village chief ‘boy’? This man doesn’t seem that old," Zafir thought, surprised by the informal address for the elder beastman.

Zafir understood that beastmen typically had a shorter lifespan of around forty years, whereas humans lived twice as long on average. To refer to someone nearing forty as a 'boy' suggested Richard might be over fifty, yet Zafir couldn't discern any signs of aging like wrinkles on Richard’s face or hands. This observation left him unsure, as he hadn't interacted with humans before.

Zafir mulled over the possibility that the woman who left could be a beastman using transformation magic to appear human. Recalling the lessons Khalid had imparted about magic, he considered the existence of spells that could alter one's form drastically.

Curiosity tugged at him, urging him to seek more answers, but Zafir sensed that Richard might not be inclined to satisfy all his inquiries. With a sigh, he decided to halt his questioning there, acknowledging the limits of what he could uncover in that moment

“Noo!” Regina's scream echoed through the dense forest, startling birds into flight and sending a shiver through the leaves. Her eyes flew open, wide with the residual fear of her nightmare—a haunting vision of a man in shining white armor choking her amidst the desolation of a ruined castle littered with corpses.

She quickly scanned her surroundings, her heart pounding in her chest, until she found Richard nearby. Rushing to him, she threw her arms around him in a tight embrace, seeking comfort from the lingering terror of her dream. Richard, though surprised by the sudden hug, responded with a reassuring pat on Regina’s head, silently comforting her in the dimly lit forest.

Milli returned after a while, her head bowed in a melancholy manner.

“How are the villagers?” Richard asked gently, already sensing the answer from Milli’s somber expression.

Milli shook her head slightly and settled down beside the unconscious Farid, cradling his head in her lap.

“It’s been over 20 years since I left him here in Daw’ Al-Qamar,” Milli began after taking a deep breath, her voice tinged with sorrow as she stroked Farid’s hair tenderly.

“He wasn’t my son, you see… I came across his family near another village while fleeing from the Azevaria Empire. Their village was under attack, and his parents pleaded with me to save him with their dying breaths when he was just a baby. I couldn’t refuse.”

“I chose to settle in this forest, away from other humans, to raise him because I couldn’t trust humans anymore. They were the ones who shattered my peaceful life,” Milli continued, her voice heavy with old wounds and regret.

Regina and Zafir listened intently, absorbing Milli’s tale, while Richard busied himself with his equipment, Regina still holding onto him for comfort from behind.

“I used to sneak out from my house in the forest into human towns to gather information about beastmen and rescue those captured by humans,” Milli continued, her voice carrying the weight of her memories.

“As time passed, more rescued beastmen settled here, turning it into a small village. Farid knew I wasn’t his biological mother, yet he always called me ‘mama’…” Milli’s voice softened with nostalgia.

“Why does Farid look so old?” Regina interrupted, her confusion evident.

“Beastmen have a shorter lifespan compared to humans. They reach adulthood around ten years old and are considered old by thirty. As a quarter-beastman like me, I have a longer lifespan,” Milli explained patiently.

“It’s been around twenty years since I last saw Farid. He was such a sweet boy, always so clingy to me…” Her voice trailed off with a mix of fondness and sadness.

“Why did you leave him?”Regina asked, curious.

“The barrier we use affects human awareness. The more I entered and left the village, the greater the risk of humans discovering its location. I couldn’t risk the villagers being captured again because of my frequent comings and goings,” Milli replied solemnly, her eyes reflecting the weight of her decision to leave Farid behind for their safety.

“Um...how old are you?” Regina asked curiously, breaking the silence that followed Milli’s explanation.

“It’s rude to ask a lady’s age, you know!” Milli responded with a gentle smile, her tone lightening the mood.

After a moment, Milli noticed Regina hugging Richard from behind.

“Loner’nen, since when is Regina so close to you?” She teased Richard playfully, trying to inject a bit of levity into the conversation.

“...None of your business,” Richard replied curtly, his focus still on adjusting his equipment.

Regina blushed slightly at Milli’s teasing but didn’t let go of Richard, finding comfort in his presence after the ordeal with the drakes.

“Anyway, did you do this?” Milli asked, gesturing to the ruined area with uprooted trees and drake corpses strewn around.

“Not me,” Richard replied, shaking his head.

“Eh?” Milli exclaimed in surprise.

“Erm… It was the girl over there…” Zafir pointed towards Regina, answering Milli.

“Eh? Regina did this…?” Milli turned to Richard for confirmation, and he nodded in response. Regina, still hugging Richard from behind, looked equally puzzled.

"So she did it unconsciously, huh..." Milli thought to herself, contemplating Regina's inadvertent display of power.

Farid slowly opened his eyes and sat up.

"Mama... how are the villagers?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Milli shook her head gently, unable to hold back her tears.

"I see..." Farid's expression softened with understanding.

"I'm sorry!" Zafir suddenly interjected, prostrating himself before Farid in a gesture of remorse.

"It's okay... It's not entirely your fault..." Farid reassured him, shaking his head.

"B-but..." Zafir hesitated, still keeping his head lowered.

"You will be living with the regret of what you did until you pass away. This will be punishment enough," Farid concluded, his voice carrying a mix of sadness and forgiveness.

“I still need to bury the dead and clean up the place…” Farid struggled to stand on his wobbly legs, determined to return to the village.

“I will help you.” Milli gently took hold of Farid’s arm, offering him support as he leaned on her.

“...M-me too…” Zafir spoke softly, raising his hand while keeping his head down, overwhelmed with shame.

Richard finished packing his items and quietly followed them back to the ruined village, with Regina by his side.

When they returned to the village, Zafir felt like his heart had been struck by a hammer as he beheld the mangled corpses of beastmen strewn around, a grim confirmation of the consequences wrought by his own childishness and naivety.

In a rush of desperate hope, he darted towards the place where Khalid had shielded him, praying against all odds that Khalid might still be alive. His hopes were shattered when he found Khalid's half-eaten body lying lifeless on the ground.

“Khalid, you idiot… Why did you sacrifice yourself for me when I treated everyone so poorly...? I wouldn’t blame you if you had just let me die…” Zafir gently closed Khalid’s eyes, silently wishing him peace.

The rest of the party arrived soon after, witnessing the somber scene in silence.

Farid approached Khalid's lifeless body and sat beside it, lamenting the loss of his savior.

“Khalid… Zafir told me how you saved me from the drakes that attacked our village… You could have escaped, but you chose to protect us. Your sense of duty was unwavering. May you rest in peace…” With a solemn nod, Farid acknowledged Khalid’s sacrifice before turning his attention to the task at hand.

“We should start cleaning up this place now,” Milli declared, summoning Baltimore with a simple gesture.

Baltimore materialized and, recognizing Milli and Regina, began clearing away the wreckage and aiding in burying the beastmen's remains. Milli, adept at summoning without relying on a staff, used her magic to assist Baltimore in the cleanup efforts.

After hours of hard work, they gathered in one of the still-standing houses that had escaped the drakes’ destruction.

Richard opened the door and, sensing Regina's desire to follow, instructed her to remain inside for safety before stepping out himself.

“This is the perfect opportunity to test my [Water Bomb],” Richard muttered to himself, retrieving a spherical object from his pouch and tossing it into the air. With a precise shot from his gun, a [Lightning Bullet] struck the object.

In a dramatic explosion, the device released a burst of water and summoned thunderclouds above, cleansing the ground of bloodstains and debris. Satisfied with the effectiveness of his invention, Richard returned to the shelter of the house.

“I will stay here,” Farid declared firmly before Milli could inquire about his plans.

“I… Please let me stay here with you too!” Zafir's unexpected plea caught Farid off guard, considering Zafir's longstanding desire to leave the village.

“Didn’t you always want to leave?” Farid questioned, puzzled by Zafir's sudden change of heart.

Kneeling before Farid, Zafir spoke earnestly,

“I know what I did was wrong, and this guilt will never leave me. But I want to atone for my mistakes, even if it's just a little. Please, let me stay here with you!”

Farid shook his head firmly in response to Zafir's request.

“Please, village chief, let—” Zafir began to plead, but Farid interrupted him with a gesture.

“This isn’t a village anymore. I am no longer the village chief,” Farid stated firmly.

“T-that’s…” Zafir stammered, taken aback by Farid's declaration.

“I am sure Khalid would have wanted you to explore the outside world. If you want to atone, travel the world, experience what the villagers could not. Do not let their deaths be in vain, even if it means pursuing your dreams through selfish means,” Farid advised solemnly.

Zafir was left speechless, unable to find words to respond with.

“Mama, could you bring Zafir along with you?” Farid turned to Milli with a request.

Milli looked troubled by the request.

“Where we’re heading might be really dangerous, you know…”

“Please let me travel with you! I will do anything!” Zafir bowed deeply to Milli, showing his sincerity and resolve.

“Well…I could bring you along…but I might not be able to save you if anything bad happens. You will have to take care of yourself,” Milli cautioned.

Zafir thought hard for a moment, then accepted her proposal. He believed that even if he perished, he would fulfill his long-held desire at the expense of many lives.

After an overnight stay at the ruined village, Milli and the others decided to depart. Milli retrieved Belphegor’s card and offered it to Farid, but he shook his head and declined.

“Mama, I’ve come to realize that even with good intentions, any method can breed ill will. I will do my best with what I have, and let nature take its course. And I know you need Belphegor’s power more than me,” Farid explained.

“Will you be fine living here by yourself?” Milli asked, concerned.

“Mmm. Please take care, mama,” Farid replied warmly.

“You too, Farid.” Milli and Farid shared a heartfelt hug before she set off toward Luo Yang, accompanied by Regina, Richard, and Zafir.

In a vast chamber adorned with red lacquered pillars and intricate decorations, Gilles sat alone, meticulously reviewing documents submitted by his subordinates.

An arrow suddenly pierced the air, aimed directly at his head, but before it could reach its mark, Annie emerged from the shadows and deftly intercepted it.

“Shooting arrows at someone’s father isn’t very polite,” Annie remarked, her gaze directed upward toward the ceiling with clear annoyance.

“Heh, if you couldn’t stop this petty arrow, your father doesn’t deserve to live either,” a voice mocked from above.

Four figures descended swiftly from the ceiling pillars, clad in the same black robes as Annie, their features characterized by brown skin and black hair.

Gilles was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. He had assumed Annie was alone and was unprepared for the arrival of four additional individuals.

“Who are these people?” Gilles managed to inquire, his composure wavering as sweat formed on his brow.

“They are my fellow disciples, Father,” Annie replied calmly, her tone revealing a depth of connection beyond mere association.

Annie hurled the arrow back at Harun al-Mustasim with such force that it threatened to pierce his chest, though he effortlessly caught it mid-air.

“I won’t go easy on you next time you try something like this,” she warned, her smile belying the seriousness of her threat.

Harun, the group’s acting leader, responded nonchalantly,

“Spicy as ever, can’t you take a joke? I even did you a favor yesterday.”

“What favor?” Annie pressed, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Stepping forward, Yasmin al-Mustasim, a girl of similar age to Annie, explained,

“We passed by a village near the capital and witnessed your father’s subordinate being interrogated. Harun intervened and killed him before he could confess anything.”

“How do you even know that person was working for me? He could be any random individual,” Gilles questioned, maintaining his composure despite the tense situation.

“No use acting dumb. Don’t underestimate the information network of the Hashshashin. We don’t need any reward for this; we’re just helping our cute junior here,” Harun replied confidently.

“You’d be so much more popular if you talked less,” Annie interjected, teasing Harun with a playful smirk.

“Hey, cut me some slack. Escaping from all those soldiers is a pain in the ass. Just think of all the headaches we had, trying not to get caught because they were so inept,” Harun retorted, earning sighs from both Annie and Yasmin.

“Enough of this, Harun. Annie, Master Hassan wrote a letter for you,” Banu Al-Ra’ad intervened, handing Annie a letter.

After reading it, Annie grinned mischievously.

“Good news, Father. Keter Shinal’s next target is this place.”

“What did you say?!” Gilles exclaimed, his frown deepening as he rubbed his temple, feeling the weight of the impending threat.

“This will only get worse if we don’t hasten our plan!” He spoke with urgency, his stress palpable.

“This is why Master Hassan sent us here. Keter Shinal will halt his invasion if we take control of Luo Yang beforehand,” Azraq al-Mustasim explained calmly.

“Don’t worry, Father. Each of them is a skilled fighter. Let the fun begin,” Annie said with a devilish smile, gripping Gilles’ hand reassuringly.