#019. The Young Lady of a Small Village (2)
The chief's house was not far.
It was also very easy to find.
That was because the mercenaries they had met at the tavern had set up camp in front of it.
As Virgil and Hannah approached, four men rose to their feet.
"We meet again? Didn't our boss say you'd regret it?"
The man who had nearly been shot by Virgil growled.
"Step aside."
"What if I refuse?"
"Then I'll shoot you in the face this time."
"Ha! Has this bastard lost his mind?!"
The man swung his fist.
Virgil didn't dodge; he caught it.
Crack.
When he applied force, the man's fist crumpled.
"Kuaaack!"
"Boss! Are you alright!"
The men surrounding them all drew their weapons.
Just as Virgil was reaching emotionlessly for the greatsword on his back, the man with the crushed hand spoke through gritted teeth.
"H-hold on…. This seems like magic…."
The man who had been humiliated before his comrades found an excuse.
"Huh? Boss, what do you mean…."
"This isn't human strength…. The woman in the back definitely did something…."
At those words, the men took a step back.
They had witnessed the brutal aftermath of magic's devastation not long ago.
Having heard their conversation, Hannah opened her mouth with an expression of frustration.
"Huh? I didn't do anything. Besides, I'm not a magician but a sorcer… kyak!"
Virgil poked Hannah in the side.
"Why, why…."
Without answering, Virgil rolled his eyes and vowed to explain the difference between magic and sorcery once this matter was finished.
"Quiet, and follow me."
"Yes."
As the two approached the mercenaries, they lowered their weapons and parted like the ebbing tide.
Knock, knock.
Virgil knocked on the chief's door.
The chief, who had been watching the commotion outside, opened the door immediately.
"Who might you be?"
He looked younger than expected.
Hannah flinched in surprise, as she had been expecting an old grandfather to be the chief.
"I am a demon hunter."
"I'm a ma—"
Just before Hannah could finish, Virgil stomped on her foot with his heel.
"Ack!"
"Oh my! A demon hunter and a magician visiting the village at the same time! I posted notices all around, yet no one would come, but you've finally come! Please, come in quickly!"
The chief opened the door wide and welcomed the two in.
Before closing it, he didn't forget to glare at the mercenaries outside.
"Sit here."
The chief personally pulled out a chair.
Just as Hannah was about to naturally sit, Virgil sat there first.
"Thank you."
"N-not at all."
Once Hannah was seated as well, the chief brought a teapot and sat before them.
"Have a drink. It's tea my daughter made; it's very good."
"Thank you."
Hannah slowly took a sip, and once Virgil confirmed she was unharmed, he finally took a sip as well.
"How is it? Is it drinkable?"
"Yes, it's very good."
Unlike the satisfied Hannah, Virgil silently set down his cup.
"Where did your daughter go?"
"I sent her to get milk from across the way."
Virgil folded his arms and asked.
"I heard the village women have been disappearing. Isn't your daughter in danger?"
"It's just that she recently came of age, so I am very anxious. She went with Commander Giras today, so there should be no problem. Those fellows are taking money after money with no progress, tsk. At first, when they came right after I posted the notice, I was happy as if it were fate…. Tsk tsk."
"Tell me about the commission."
"Very well. It was about three months ago, I believe…. A widow who lived on the hill over there went missing. She always kept the village men awake at night…."
To summarize, it was like this.
Eight women who had passed adulthood, regardless of whether they were married or not, had gone missing.
As if a ghost had spirited them away, there were no traces whatsoever, nor any signs of murder or kidnapping.
Because of that, people were gradually coming to believe it was the work of monsters or demons.
"This area belongs to Roun, does it not? Did you report it to the guard?"
"I've been doing so steadily for two months now."
The chief downed his still-hot teacup in one gulp, looking frustrated.
"And do you know what they say? They're short of hands preparing for the coronation ceremony these days; there are many similar reports from other villages so we must wait our turn; they say they've sent word, so please wait. They only send letters by post—not once have they dispatched anyone. They collect taxes just fine, yet at a time like this…. And last time…."
"Enough. That will do."
Sensing the talk would drag on, Virgil cut the chief off.
Looking disappointed, he smacked his lips and looked at Virgil.
"Then what will you…."
"I will begin the investigation immediately."
"Y-you'll accept the commission? Thank you truly! Then the fee…."
"The price of a demon hunter and a magician is rather high, so prepare generously."
"Of course! If you only resolve this, what wouldn't I do for you! Ah! Then I must first arrange a place for you to stay. Um… what is your relationship? Would two rooms suffice?"
"That won't be necessary."
At Virgil's words, Hannah's ears turned red, and the chief let out a hearty laugh.
"Oh, so you were that kind of couple after all. Then I shall prepare just one."
"No. It's not necessary."
"What do you mean…."
"I mean we won't need a room because we'll resolve this today."
"How can you…."
"I shall take my leave now."
Leaving the bewildered chief behind, Virgil went outside.
Hannah called out to Virgil, who was walking ahead.
Her expression was not good.
She looked disappointed.
"Virgil."
"What."
"When… when will we sleep…."
"Who knows."
"Let's just sleep a little…."
"You know as well. I…."
"I know. I know, but… it's too hard for me to endure…."
Hannah's eyes grew watery.
She had already been catching only catnaps for several days.
"Very well. Once this job is done, I'll let you do as you please all day long."
"Really? You have to keep your promise!"
"Yes."
At Virgil's firm expression, Hannah smiled brightly again and stood by his side.
"Let's hurry."
The two left the chief's house like that, and the mercenaries who had overheard their conversation ground their teeth in envy.
"Boss… let's definitely get stronger. To think such a beauty would ask to sleep together first."
"Yes. Let's definitely make a name for ourselves. Once this job is done, we'll go to Roun and take the knight examination!"
"Yes, Boss!"
***
Virgil and Hannah were climbing a mountain near the village.
It wasn't a tall mountain, but for Hannah, who lacked stamina, it was torture.
"Where… huff… are we going?"
"To the summit."
"W-why…."
"Do you remember the tea we drank earlier?"
"The one the chief gave us?"
"Yes."
"I remember. Why?"
"Check your status window."
Hannah, having seen her status window, asked in surprise.
"How can this be…."
All her other stats had decreased by one, and only her Charm had risen by two.
"It's temporary, so there's no need to worry."
"Is this because of that tea?"
"Yes."
Virgil had noticed from the moment he saw the medicinal herbs hanging in the chief's kitchen.
And from a few tools scattered around as well.
"What a fascinating tea. But what does that have to do with this case?"
"You really have no sense."
"Come on, no way. Back on Earth, I was quite the successful b—"
"Forget it. Do you remember the items in the chief's house?"
"No."
"There were many items an ordinary person wouldn't use. Moreover, he was far too young to be the father of an adult daughter."
"Ah! Then!"
"Yes. His daughter…."
"The chief is a black sorcerer!"
"…Let's go."
As Virgil walked ahead with quick steps, Hannah rushed to catch up, flustered.
"So where are we going?"
"We are currently heading to where the herb used to make that tea grows."
"Why? Do you want to look young too, Virgil? You're already plenty handsome, so why go through the trouble…."
"Shh."
Virgil covered Hannah's mouth.
His brow was deeply furrowed, suggesting something had happened nearby.
Hannah held her breath as well.
A moment later.
Virgil removed his hand from Hannah's mouth.
Keeping his gesture of pointing to his lips for silence, he motioned for her to follow.
Hannah also silently followed slowly behind him.
Thus, quietly and carefully, they reached the mountain's summit.
"There."
A small cave was visible at the tip of Virgil's finger.
Once he spoke first, Hannah let out a large breath and asked.
"But what was that just now? You surprised me by suddenly covering my mouth."
"You were noisy."
"…Huh?"
Hannah wore an expression of disbelief.
Virgil left her behind like that and entered the cave.
All kinds of herbs were visible from the entrance.
He picked up an herb that emitted a mysterious color among them.
"This must be it."
This herb, commonly called the beauty herb, grows in caves at high altitudes. Because one must possess mana and learn the associated sorcery to harvest and use it, it is also the first herbology that witches seek to learn. If those without mana in their bodies consume it, their lifespan shortens; even those with mana become crippled as their other organs melt away if they take an excessive amount. It is an herb with such great danger that only magicians or sorcerers who have accumulated sufficient mana in their bodies favor it, and ordinary people outside of those professions never use it unless it is for a specific job.
"Check it."
"Well, looking at the status window, you're right."
A tone that seemed slightly peeved.
Naturally, it didn't affect Virgil in the slightest.
"Let's go deeper."
The cave was deeper than expected.
The deeper they went, the louder the moans of a man and woman became, which had been faintly audible from the entrance. When Hannah tried to run in thinking someone inside was hurt, Virgil stopped her. Right when she began to think he was doing this on purpose.
Perhaps the source of the moans heard them, for the sounds cut off.
"Smack."
Virgil frowned and looked at Hannah at the sound of her smacking her lips.
"What on earth are you…."
Then a man's voice came from deep inside the cave.
"Who's there!"
His voice was unsteady, as if he had been engaged in vigorous exercise just moments before.
Without answering, Virgil went deeper inside.
The mysterious scent they had felt since the entrance blew stronger the further they went.
An unpleasant smell mixed with fishy odor and floral fragrance.
After walking a bit more, the interior was fully revealed.
"Hm."
Inside the dark cave, three flickering torches.
The floor was covered with splendid flowers, and the walls were packed with grotesque patterns.
Judging by the smell, the pigment used to draw the patterns seemed to be blood of some kind.
"You people…."
A naked man rose from his place.
It was Giras, the commander of the mercenary band they had met in the village.
And beside him.
"Do you know them?"
A pale woman, her hair wet with sweat, got up and spoke.
Strange patterns were carved into her body just like on the walls.
"Ah… the ones we met in the village. They say they're demon hunters."
Giras's face was much more gaunt than when they first saw him.
"Demon hunters?"
Wariness appeared on the woman's face.
She pointed to the side.
"Who's that woman?"
"Well, she must be a companion…."
"Hmph."
The woman thought for a moment, then ran her hand over Giras's body.
"My love, can you kill that man for me? Like the weaklings from Roun a few days ago."
"…Understood."
"And that one can probably be sold for a much better price than the women from the other villages."
"W-why are you calling me your big sister!"
"…Enough."
Giras took a few slow steps with weak strides.
His shambling, powerless gait looked extremely frail.
Just as Virgil thought that even a Somnium bullet would be a waste on him.
The woman behind Giras slowly raised her hand.
A staff that hadn't been there before was in her grasp.
Soon she moved her lips and began to chant a spell.
"Hannah."
"Yes."
"You asked me about Pelles earlier. Watch closely. That woman is a Pelles, whom witches detested."
The woman who had been muttering quietly opened her mouth wide and incanted.
"insánus tŭmor."
(insánus tŭmor.)
A yellowish light shot from the staff and struck Giras's back.
His eyes gradually reddened and the muscles all over his body began to swell.
"Kuaack!"
Drooling continuously, Giras roared.
Like a beast devoid of reason.
Pupils turned bright yellow glared at Virgil.
The woman's sorcery did not end there.
"versipéllis unguis."
(versipéllis unguis.)
Once again, yellowish light struck Giras's back.
Crackle.
The skin on his hands burst open.
His fingers swelled and elongated.
At the same time, his short nails grew thick and long, soon transforming into sharp claws like those of a savage beast.
"Ugh… disgusting."
"You've stolen and learned something quite useful."
"Is that all the effect of sorcery?"
"Yes. At that level, she must have become a Pelles quite some time ago."
Virgil drew Somnium from his belt and tossed it to Hannah.
"Why this…."
"You'll need it. From now on, prepare your sorcery as you did before."
"Yes."
Hannah quietly crept back.
Virgil unfastened the greatsword on his back and connected its chain.
He held the greatsword in his right hand and a silver dagger in his left.
Pelles watched him with a twisted smirk.
"That was a real weapon? Wow… you must be really solid. I look forward to the taste."
Pelles patted the drooling Giras's rump and whispered softly.
"You can die now, so don't hold back."
-Grrrr….
"Now, go and tear him apart."
-Kraaaack!
Giras charged at Virgil.
His appearance was no different from a savage beast running on two legs rather than a human.