Chapter 23

That ambush was very strange. Who was that god-like being in black scales Matsuri overheard them talking about? Did he ask them to do this? Why? So many questions but no answers. I decided to put those aside for the time being and focus on getting to the village. Yet… we didn't make it in time and night fell. Thankfully, we had torches and we reached the village in the dead of night. Although, when we reached the village, things got really strange…

"Erm, can you direct us to the inn, please?" asked Subaru warily. After getting directions from the guard, the party headed there immediately. At the inn, she got rooms for them. Then she asked, "Umm, if you don't mind me asking, why do you look like… well, a wolf? I mean… more wolf than most people. Even one of the guards looked like you."

The werewolf innkeeper giggled and replied, "Well, three of the families here have a generational curse of sorts… or a blessing, depending on who you're asking. We gain the ability to morph into different animals when we become old enough to work for our keep. We get along well enough with the other folk that they don't get bothered by us. Outsiders though, have a harder time getting used to this since we tend to stay in the forms most comfortable to us."

"I think this is the first time I heard of this," admitted Choco, "Then again, I don't recall coming here before. I usually take the other route."

"That's normal for us," she replied with a wolfy grin, "We've pretty much gotten used to this." Then, she kind of frowned when she continued, "I do warn you though, some of the younger ones are a lot more rowdy than normal, so please don't mind them. Roughhousing is normal for them."

"Don't worry. We'll keep that in mind," assured the fighter with a smile. After settling their meal arrangements for the morning, they retired to their rooms.

However, when morning came, they were drawn into an uproar. They had just visited the blacksmith about repairing their gear and just sat down to have breakfast. Suddenly, a lot of shouting was being heard outside the inn.

"What's going on outside?" asked Matsuri as she ate her fresh buttered bread.

"No idea. We can ask about it later," replied Subaru, also curious as to what was happening.

The door to the inn opened and a man peered in. He had orange streaks in a pattern on his face. "Is everyone alright?" he asked.

"No worries," replied the innkeeper, who then questioned, "What was happening?"

He grunted as he came inside. Noticing the party, his brow furrowed and he continued his conversation in hushed tones. Subaru recognized the clothes he was wearing. The village's guard uniform. To her, it looked like a guard coming in to warn a citizen about something. She got up from her seat and went over to them. "Is there anything we can help with, sir?" she asked politely.

He glanced and looked over her. Harrumphing loudly, he turned to her and asked, "Help? Are you mercenaries?"

"Er, not really. We are just adventurers," she replied.

"Hn, adventurers," he snorted, sounding derisive, "Mercs with a different name"

"Come on, don't be rude, Baelar," chided the innkeeper, "Give them a chance."

He harrumphed and muttered under his breath for a moment. Then, he said, "We just kicked out a couple of people for excessive troublemaking."

"What sort of troublemaking?"

"Hn, the hotheads tried invading someone's home," he informed her, "After catching and trying them, they have been exiled and kicked out from the village."

"They aren't allowed back in? That's harsh," the fighter commented. She never heard of such a ruling before.

The guard slammed his fist on the counter, "Listen here, 'adventurer'," he growled as he pointed a finger at her, "The families worked hard to keep the peace with the other races staying here. I and many others are not about to toss all that away with the actions of some upstarts."

"Baelar!" shouted the innkeeper. The guard grunted and stormed out of the inn. "I'm sorry you had to see that," she tried to apologize, "He and several others have a lot on their shoulders. Whatever the criminals did, it didn't help with the situation."

"I understand," Subaru replied, "No worries. At least we know what happened just now." With that, she returned to her table and informed everyone about the news.

"Will we have to keep an eye out on this?" asked Choco worriedly.

"Probably. If they are desperate enough, they might become bandits," reasoned the fighter.

"This will get annoying if we have to encounter them on the road," the tiefling muttered.

"We'll just have to beat them then," chipped in Matsuri.

Somehow, Subaru felt things won't be as easy as the scout made it out to be.

They hired a cart to the capital at the stables. Subaru decided to pay the driver a little extra, figuring that things might get a little hairy when they leave. The driver's eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets when she placed a gold piece in his hand. He thanked her profusely when she explained why.

"Rather nice of you," commented Choco when the cart started moving.

"Well, like I said, it could be dangerous," said the fighter with a grin, "Until then, we just need to stay calm and carry on."

The cart went at a reasonable pace northward. During the journey, she asked the driver about the roads of the place, which he was happy to converse about. The road they were on was one of the well-traveled ones and one of the paths that circle around the swamp. Suddenly, they heard cries for help up ahead.

"Faster, someone needs our help," she urged, pointing up ahead.

"Right… hope you know what you're doing," muttered the driver as he whipped the horses onward. Everyone else got ready to jump out and help.

A group of caravans loomed into view. Several dead boars and wolves were on the roadside. Shouts and cries for help got louder.

"Stop the cart," ordered Subaru. Turning to the others, "Let's go help."

Jumping out of the cart, the whole team ran ahead the moment she shouted, "Charge!"

Several werewolves and wereboars suddenly appeared and ran off into the woods. Apparently the shout worked. One lycan got shot down, several crossbow bolts burrowing into its back. However, a wereboar and a werewolf stopped to look around.

"Get back here!" the lycan shouted, "Those aren't guards!"

Nobody came back.

"Get them!" roared wereboar, "We can at least take them."

Loud squeals and barks came from them. Then, they charged to meet them as a few remaining wolves and boars ran up to assist them. Choco quickly called down her goddess' blessing while Rushia quickly sent a spectral skeleton hand to the first monster in range. One of the boars died when the skeletal fingers grasped its head. Subaru raced out to meet them head-on, dropping another boar with two slashes.

Choco's lips never stopped moving. Calling for her goddess' weapon. Calling for judgment of sacred flames. All the while maintaining the image of her goddess patiently guiding the hands of her friends to strike down their enemies. The small fry had fallen, whether by flames or arrows or necromantic energy. She had placed herself well, in the way of the werewolf and the wolves. The wolves had been taken easily, save one. A lucky bite that grabbed her free hand that might have broken her concentration, but didn't. That last wolf used up its luck, dying to Matsuri's arrows.

The werewolf, though dangerous, was handled by the tiefling well enough with the aid of her cloak. Nonetheless, she had so many things to juggle. To be ready to shield herself just in case her cloak failed. To maintain the image of her goddess. To guide the mace of her goddess.

The werewolf wasn't able to bite her, but not for lack of trying.

She prayed that this lycan is forgiven for his actions.

The battle was swift and their misguided enemies slain.

Praise to the moon.

The spirit mace broke the back of the wereboar that was able to survive Subaru's longsword.

She asked for forgiveness.

The werewolf was slain, its life taken by bow, flame, and necrotic energy.

May this misguided one rest in peace.

The party breathed a sigh of relief as the werewolf fell and turned human again. Subaru glanced down at the man that used to be the wereboar and shook her head. She then gestured to the caravans.

"Is everyone alright?" called out the fighter as the party went towards them.

"By the gods above, thank you for saving us!"

"You have done a great service! Praise our heroes."

"Thanks for the help!"

"Help! Please save my son!" shouted a crying woman. She was on the ground, hugging her boy tightly, who was holding a swollen, bleeding hand. As Choco came near her, she shrieked and shouted, "Back! Don't touch my boy!"

"It's alright!" assured the fighter loudly, getting her attention, "Please, let her help. She is a good person."

"Please, I won't do anything to harm your son," added the tiefling, "Nothing will befall him. I will just take the curse away."

After getting nods, she reached out and cradled the boy's hand in hers. Chanting a prayer, the clasped hands glowed a radiant white for a moment before fading out. When she pulled her hands away, the swelling seemed to have faded a little.

"It is done. It has been removed," the tiefling told the crying mother. Standing up, she announced, "Please, if anyone has been bitten or gored in the attack, please come forward. I can perform this miracle two more times."

A man and a woman quickly stepped forward for help. As she healed them of their malady, Subaru was greeted by the leader of the caravan line. They were traveling traders going from town to town, selling their wares and plying their trade in simple professions; making repairs, making an assortment of toys to sell to children, and making odds and ends that help those living in villages and towns were among the things they did in exchange for money and food.

In return for this information, she told them about what happened in the next town.

"I see. If you are heading to the capital, do you mind helping us report this?" he asked.

"Of course. If they send a patrol here, I will definitely join in to assist," she assured.

"Thank you for your help," he said gratefully before moving on to check on the rest of the traders.

"I'm done here," said Choco as she rejoined the fighter.

"Alright. Let's get the others and continue on to Rivirapolis," the fighter told her as she headed to the cart.

"What a relief," exclaimed Choco, thankful that nothing else happened to them. They had just gotten off the cart and went past the gate.

"Well, we are back and I think we deserve some rest, right?" asked Subaru rhetorically with a grin.

"Hmm, it's been a long time since I came back here..." muttered Matsuri as she leaned against the fighter's shoulder, staring down the street.

"More time for Papa's book," stated Rushia happily with a beaming smile.

"Mogu, mogu," called out a certain cat girl suddenly, "How is everything?"

"Aaaah!" shouted the fighter in surprise. Taking a moment to calm down, she shouted, "Why did you have to do that!?"

"Just see why Korone does it," Okayu replied with a grin, "I understand her better now."

"...ha?" she deadpanned.

"Ërm, who's this?" asked the scout.

"Oh, you have a new friend. Hi, my name is Okayu. I work with the city guard on bounties," she introduced herself. Turning back to the others, "Actually, it's good that you're back. I need to talk to all of you about something."

"EEEHHHH!?"

"Yeah, that's how it is," stated the cat girl.

Everyone was crowding around the table in Okayu's house, except Rushia, who was in the guest room. Presumably with her nose buried in the spellbooks. The cat girl informed them that there has been an attempted assassination on the Gekko ambassador around a week ago. Someone familiar to Subaru and Choco.

"Is she safe?" asked the fighter with concern.

"She is. That… thing? Construct? Defender? Geh. Her bodyguard was able to protect her and helped her to get away," she explained, "It also bought her enough time for some guards to assist her. Unfortunately, some of them died… and this allowed her other bodyguard to kill the assassin."

"Ah… was she dressed in pink all over?" asked the tiefling. Getting a nod, she continued, "I thought so."

"Right… so Korone and I were pulled in to help investigate," the cat girl continued, "Though we hit a roadblock. We know what the assassin did. She had been observing for some time. We found parchment notes on her detailing the ambassador's movements. Leases of a room facing the ambassador's house. Unfortunately, that was all we found other than what she had on her. She didn't own a home here, no one had seen her before outside her job, nobody knew her. Because of this, we have no idea who hired her. That means the assassin was brought in from the outside. So, Korone decided to find her contacts outside the city and ask around. The investigation is on hold until then."

"That sounds very frustrating," said Matsuri, which prompted her to stare at the scout, who continued, "What?"

"You look familiar..."

"Eh? No. You have me mixed up with someone else, eh heh..." she refuted, waving her hands in front of her in protest.

"Maybe… I guess..." muttered the cat girl, accepting the explanation.

"Maybe we should go and visit them," suggested Subaru, "Just to see how they are doing."

"Sounds like a good idea," agreed Choco, "What could go wrong?"

Rushia declined, so after getting directions for Pekora's new place, the remaining three left Okayu's house to visit the ambassador. Soon, they found themselves seated with her highness in a tea room.

"Konpeko, konpeko, thanks for coming," greeted the rabbit princess.

"Let me guess, you heard of what happened," stated Miko with certainty, "It is nice of you to visit, but you didn't need to."

"I know we didn't but we did anyway," replied Subaru with a grin, "Besides, I also want to know what happened. Okayu could only tell us so much."

"HA↓ HA↑ HA↑ HA↑ HA↑ Of course we can!" stated Pekora proudly, "We can easily tell you how we peko-ed that assassin. HA↓ HA↑ HA↑ HA↑ HA↑"

As expected, the attempt was at night. She was in her study reading up on news with her defender standing next to the desk. They didn't know how the assassin got in. The guards didn't tell them anything. She tried to attack but the defender grabbed the blade and tried to retaliate. The princess was surprised but recovered fast enough to run out of the room in haste, the defender moving after her. The assassin chased after her but the guards that were assigned to the ambassador showed up and a melee ensued. The guards and the defender ended up getting taken down by the assassin but Miko showed up and blasted the worn down assassin.

"Any idea who could have sent the assassin?" asked the fighter.

"The guards asked us the same thing," answered Miko, "We said no. However, by coincidence, this all happened after the rabbit here actually finalized the trade deal."

"Hah! Pekoly no problem," declared Pekora proudly.

"Coincidence is far-fetched," commented Choco.

"Maybe? But who knows?" replied the pink warlock, "Still, I'm glad this is ending. I will have to escort her home soon. Not to mention, I heard that there is another ambassador from a different country arriving around the same time."

"Hah? Who?" asked Matsuri curiously

"Princess Luna! I peko her very well," exclaimed the rabbit princess with a grin, declaring, "Though she's shorter than me, she is peko much my eternal rival in cuteness."

"Not sure if that really needs a rival..." muttered Subaru under her breath. Then, she said aloud, "Well, thanks for having us over but we better get going."

"I shall show you to the door," replied Miko.

"Strange, about that coincidence, I mean," commented Choco as they made their way back to Okayu's house.

"Yeah," agreed Matsuri. Then, she suggested, "Maybe we can help Okayu? Figure out something of our own?"

"But we aren't bounty hunters," stated Subaru, shooting that suggestion down, "And I highly doubt we can get any clues that Okayu and the other investigators haven't already found. I mean, they already had a week to search."

"I could always ask around when I do my rounds," offered the tiefling.

"I know some people too. I can ask them," added the scout.

"...Choco, I believe, might get something? But you, I don't know," said the fighter, "I mean, I can ask another guard at their headquarters or even ask Okayu for specifics. Choco can ask around the modest and poorer parts of the city. Who could you ask?"

"I… Not out here..." the former said hesitantly, "Can we get back to the house first?"

"...Okay?"

"I… used to be… a courtier of the royal family," revealed Matsuri as soon as they settled down in the house, "Äfter an… incident… I was kicked out… but I still have a few people who… don't 'dislike' me as much? That I can call on."

"Ah… I guess that's good?" mused Subaru, tilting her head, "I guess any bit of help is good."

"Well, I guess we're covered," summed up Choco with a smile, "I just hope we get to the bottom of this."

"Right," quipped the scout.

"We may have our work cut out for us..." muttered the fighter with a smirk on her face.

AN: Hello, readers. Today, we visit a strangely peaceful village. Then, we journey back to the capital, where we catch up on news with Okayu. Things are still happening in the background. Then, we visit Pekora and Miko again. They give us a hint of who will be showing up next. In the next chapter. Also, a hint of Matsuri's history. Vague hints to what she did. But, enough to satisfy Subaru's curiosity.

Alright, this is it for this chapter. Next chapter, we will have gained a new quest. Thank you for reading and have a good day, dear readers.