A home is a place where its inhabitants can find peace of mind. There might be exceptions, but for most, that's true. Burning down someone's home is an effective way to corner and pressure them. This time, I fell right into that trap.
After putting out the fire at my house using water magic from Kerykeion, I moved through the city while avoiding attention.
The ones who set my house on fire probably weren't the Svartás. If they had, it wouldn't have burned so extensively after their retreat. It must have been another group.
And that group is likely trying to gradually push me into a corner. If so, making careless contact with others would be dangerous. But since they must be investigating me, I can't rule out the possibility they might harm my acquaintances.
After some thought, I decided to keep contact minimal and subtly issue a warning.
The first person who came to mind was... Lefiya. I don't know why, but her smiling face flashed through my thoughts.
I headed toward the Twilight Manor, where the guild members on guard wouldn't find my presence suspicious. I spoke briefly, then quickly left the manor to head to my next destination.
The people I'm closest to are Lefiya, the Hermes Familia, and Bell. There are others I know, but mostly through work, so the connections aren't that strong.
If I'm going somewhere next... it should be Bell's place. Actually, that's where I should have gone first. His faction is the weakest, after all. In contrast, Lefiya and the Loki Familia are the largest faction in Orario, so logically, I should have gone to them last.
Also, from my house, the Hestia Familia's home is closer than the Loki Familia's. For efficiency's sake, I should have prioritized them.
It seems burning my house and the sudden encounter with my old organization have clouded my judgment. I might need to clear my head.
Before I realized it, the morning sun had started to rise. Around me, adventurers rushed toward the dungeon. More time had passed than I thought.
I hurried toward the Hestia Familia's base, the Hearth Manor. On the way, I was attacked as we passed each other.
With a casual movement, the attacker brandished a dagger and jabbed at my vital spot. Looking closely, a poisonous liquid dripped from its surface.
I dodged instinctively. The attacker blended into the crowd with a calm expression. I hadn't seen their faces clearly in the split second and couldn't give chase.
I decided the crowded street was too dangerous, so I veered off the main road. Immediately, animals ambushed me from all sides. I ran full speed to evade them. But these creatures were superior to humans and used their enhanced senses granted by Blessings to track me down.
If I fought them head-on, they'd surround and overwhelm me. Their small size made them difficult to counter from the shadows.
To lose them, I escaped into the sewers. I pulled out a Stench Bag Molblur and unleashed it from the shadows. Ignoring the screams of the animals behind me, I followed with a blinding Flash Grenade, and then an Acoustic Tube that emitted sounds inaudible to humans.
Taking extra precautions, I zigzagged through the waterways, wading through water to wash off my scent as much as possible. I wouldn't be able to surface for a while...
Sopping wet, I wandered through the sewers, but in my focus on losing my pursuers, I forgot to figure out how to warn Bell and the others...
First, I had to find an exit.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
By the time I cleansed the sewer stench and emerged above ground, the sun was already setting. Their time was coming again.
What worried me most was Bell and the others. Fortunately, the exit wasn't far from the Hearth Manor, so I headed straight there.
"Thought you'd show up eventually."
A voice called from behind, filled with murderous intent.
I turned around and saw an elf in a pitch-black robe, Regos Drow, a former comrade from the same organization.
"I figured if I waited around here, you'd come."
"What do you mean?"
"When someone's house gets burned down, they usually turn to acquaintances for help. But you know that. From what I learned about your personality, I thought you'd try to warn those people. And among them, the ones you'd worry about most are the Hermes Familia, your lover Lefiya Wildis, and your best friend Bell Cranel."
I clenched my teeth. He'd read my thoughts completely.
"In that case, it's simple. Just stick close to them until you show up."
"What if I don't come?"
"Then it's decided, you'll be eliminated."
So it was like that. Coming here wasn't exactly the best choice, but it wasn't a total failure either.
Regos Drow. He's the one I've known the longest. Unlike the Svartás, he worships that guy. There's no reasoning with him.
"So, what's your plan now? You're supposed to bring me to him, right?"
"...Yeah. But I'm not going to do that."
His words made me pause. He worships that guy but won't obey him?
"I've been wondering all along. Why you?"
He spoke in a low murmur.
"Why does he favor you? Why not me, who has served him the longest, but some kid like you?"
Hatred shone in his eyes.
"But that ends today. I'll kill you and become the one who receives his favor the most!"
I recalled my fight with Olivas Act on the 24th floor...
"Is that so?"
I summoned a dagger and took a stance. Regos wasn't as strong as Svartá. Even considering six years had passed, my superior stats gave me the edge.
"I'm not the one you should fight."
With that, Regos snapped his fingers. From the shadows, from inside nearby buildings, people began to pour out.
Quickly scanning the area, I summoned shadow tendrils.
"Oh, just so you know… those aren't… our… comrades."
"What?"
"They're the neighbors I brainwashed… using my magic."
That made me catch my breath.
"Of course, they don't have the gods' blessings. How do you think they'll react to being struck by shadow tendrils?"
The moment Regos finished speaking, the crowd that surrounded me launched a coordinated attack. Men, women, old and young alike, none had their eyes focused properly. There was no killing intent, making it hard to detect their attacks. This morning's assault must have been carried out by those he controlled.
Their movements were superhuman, wielding weapons with strange sounds emanating from their bodies each time they swung.
I remembered something I'd heard long ago: humans normally suppress their true power because if they unleashed it fully, their bodies couldn't handle it.
They cut into me from all sides, blood pouring. The weapons used were sharp enough to pierce even my level 3 defenses.
Gritting my teeth, I landed a strike to one attacker's body. If I could knock them out, at least I could stop more damage.
"Too naive."
My plan failed, and I was met with a counterattack, a hammer blow that knocked me off balance, followed by a dagger stab that grazed my cheek.
"You really think a simple strike like that would knock them out? These guys, with their restraints removed, are several times tougher than normal humans."
Then I thought, if I could take out the caster, Regos…
I turned toward him. Suddenly, my body weakened and collapsed. Damn, poison…!
"Don't worry, that's just a sleep poison. You won't wake up again… probably."
My vision blurred, consciousness fading.
"Here's something you should know. Tonight, Sensei will head to the Hermes Familia."
"It seems you never told them about the past... How do you think your Familia will react when they find out?"
And then, I lost consciousness completely.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
"…Well, it probably won't succeed anyway."
After Toki fell asleep, Regos muttered to himself.
Sensei, Svartá, rarely leaves his lab. He's completely focused on cloning work. So gathering intel falls to Regos and his group. Regos also reports back to Svartá.
Despite the long preparation time, Svartá chose a risky plan because Regos deliberately withheld information.
Moreover, this was insurance to corner me if I didn't show up. If the plan failed, Svartá would wipe out the Hermes Familia members.
But that's no longer necessary. Regos twisted his lips into a wicked grin.
He would leave my elimination to those he controlled. One of them raised their weapon high…
Suddenly, the attacker wielding the weapon was blasted sideways.
"What?!"
Startled, Regos jumped back as several others were sent flying.
Four small Pallum warriors appeared out of nowhere. With coordinated teamwork, they knocked back the brainwashed humans.
I wanted to shout that these people were being controlled, but stopped myself. They might already know, and even if I said it, the attackers might hesitate, or not.
I used the distraction to flee while the attackers were busy with the mind-controlled crowd. Judging by their movements, I guessed these were the"Four Warriors of Burning Gold Bringar."
Regos gritted his teeth in frustration for missing the best chance to kill me.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
Note: The "Flashbomb" and "Sonic Tube" mentioned in the text are original inventions. If similar items appear in the official story, I'll update accordingly.
Also, with this post, the nickname survey will end. Thanks everyone for your participation! I'll announce the results later in the story.
Looking forward to your feedback and thoughts.
==========
You can find much more on my Patreon: Patreon.com/Veltoria
There are currently 5 active fanfictions on Patreon, with over 490+ advanced chapters available across them!
From Naruto Onwards, I Control Time — Up to Chapter 304
Haikyuu!!: Rise of Sengoku — Up to Chapter 245
Danmachi: Is It Wrong To Aspire to Be An Adventurer? — Up to Chapter 97
Legend of Hogwarts (Harry Potter x League of Legends) — Up to Chapter 146
I Am Luffy: Partner System Online (One Piece) — Up to Chapter 129
Playing Genshin Impact in Danmachi (Danmachi x Genshin Impact) — Up to 59