Chapter 72: Dog Days in the Tunnel (1)

“I accept the request.”

The Doberman Beastkin with pointed ears left the Elders with a haughty attitude and exited their dwelling.

The bulky figures on both sides kept their mouths shut and followed their leader.

A short while later.

The organization members waiting outside also moved in unison towards where their leader was headed.

This spectacle was no longer surprising to the Elf Elders.

The world of criminals, more than any other place, has a strict hierarchy.

“Chief Elder.”

“Speak.”

“Considering the future, I believe this is a truly crucial moment. Of course, the previous incidents weren’t insignificant, but…”

“I understand the Elders’ anxieties and what you want to say. I also know that our actions have been riddled with holes since we hastily fled Tigrova.”

“…”

The Chief Elder straightened his staff with his wrinkled hand.

Before answering the Elder with his parched lips, he gazed at Shion’s closed door before looking away.

“With this at stake, they should be much more useful than the previous ones.”

The Chief Elder fiddled with the jet-black coin bestowed upon him by that person.

A round piece of metal smaller than his palm.

This single coin becomes a leash and a lump of greed that allowed him to control these insane criminals as he pleases.

With this, he claims there’s no need to return to our homeland. So that’s why they raided the armory, committed robbery and murder, and came here.

The Chief Elder was well aware of their actions, thanks to the coin he possessed.

Those barbaric acts themselves must have been their own kind of preparation and ritual.

“Let’s go to the conference room and continue this discussion.”

“Yes.”

Since the individuals who accepted the request had left boasting confidently, there was no longer any reason to keep watch outside.

The Chief Elder moved, tapping his ornate staff with a tap! tap! sound. The Elders who followed him also started walking.

“How is the Princess?”

“Her resistance is growing stronger. Recently, she has refused to eat or drink. She seems to have no intention of speaking until we provide answers.”

“Tsk tsk… Even with Mana, hunger and thirst cannot be avoided.”

“What should we do?”

“There’s no need to do anything. Leave her be. The opportunity to break her will will come eventually.”

Just like the Testarossa bloodline. It seems she’ll only surrender when she’s on the verge of death.

They tried to tame her from a young age, but she still hasn’t completely yielded the reins.

A weapon shouldn’t have thoughts…

The Chief Elder knew from experience.

That a weapon with a self is nothing but troublesome.

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“…”

Shion lay still on the bed. The coldness pierced through and stabbed her back.

Even if the Elders locked the door, she could break it down with force, but that was just a possibility.

It was a sign, a symbol of isolation.

So, Shion lay still, staring at the dark ceiling.

It would be an understatement to call it bad luck that my outing was discovered, considering I returned alive from the Monolith, it must be good luck.

Rohan and Clara. The day she returned from that strange space with those two.

Leaving Academy City was the problem.

When she returned to retrieve the hidden sniper rifle and tracker, two Elders were waiting.

Looking back, it was a chilling moment.

The Shion of the past would have admitted her wrongdoing, but that day, she didn’t back down from the reproaching Elders.

She had her first heated argument with them.

She demanded answers to the issues the Elders were avoiding, venting her frustration.

Hence, her current predicament.

Nevertheless, Shion had no intention of backing down. Her heart pounded with her first act of rebellion, but she endured.

Until she received a clear answer to her questions, or until a proper opportunity arose to resolve her doubts, she would maintain this attitude.

The Elders, for reasons unknown to her, needed her. As things progressed, she realized that if she held out until the end, she would ultimately win.

I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. My head hurts.

If she had been driven to this point in the past, her mental state would surely have shattered by now.

But surprisingly, she wasn’t depressed. That’s why she could endure.

Rohan’s combat rations… I want to eat those.

The few days she spent wandering in that unknown space with those two.

That was the pillar supporting Shion now.

Of course, her heart sank when she saw Rohan get hurt. And when his arm was blown off while protecting her, her mind went blank.

But the moments of shared hardship under the hellish heat were enjoyable.

Not just the battles, but also the times they ate together and chatted. Just replaying those trivial conversations chased away the gloom.

She tossed and turned on the bed, recalling those times.

Come to think of it… Rohan said he planned to work with Clara.

It was something she heard in passing, something still in the planning stages.

It reminded Shion of the promise she made with Rohan in the dormitory.

If he unearthed the hidden truths and cleanly secured her freedom, she promised to lend a hand at least once in catching criminals or monsters.

─ I won’t be doing shady things like massacring innocent civilians. You just need to assist me in catching Monsters or criminals.

If they still need me…

When everything went well as Rohan said, and she gained her freedom. Would it be okay to slightly alter the promise and ask to be included in their plan?

“Hee hee.”

A delighted giggle escaped her, making her forget the cold, just from the thought.

It seemed like every day would be enjoyable if the three of them stuck together.

A new wish was born in the Elf girl’s heart.

Rohan and Clara stood atop a tunnel swallowing a two-lane road.

This was arguably the furthest Rohan had ventured since arriving in Academy City Elysium.

Wow, I ran like hell. Clara doesn’t even seem out of breath…

Was it a mistake to increase his speed to get here quickly? Rohan’s mouth was parched.

If he hadn’t done his physical training every morning, he would have collapsed ungracefully.

I didn’t see any cars passing by on the way here. So, those bastards are still…

Looking around, he realized they had some time to spare thanks to their swift movement.

After calmly catching his breath, Rohan focused ahead and spoke.

“The night air isn’t as cold as it used to be. It feels like April.”

“Yeah! It definitely feels warmer.”

“Is this temperature the best for you, Clara?”

“Mmm… The afternoon is perfect, and the night is a little chilly.”

The area was wide open, resulting in a fairly strong wind.

Rohan unfastened the harness connected to his scabbard, took off his jacket, and left only his shirt. He then reconnected the harness diagonally over it.

I was already hot from running.

His jacket landed on Clara’s exposed legs.

The girl, having received the clothes, seemed pleased by the warmth and sat down on the tunnel, bobbing her head from side to side.

Then she put it on.

“Will wearing my clothes interfere with you drawing your weapon?”

“No! I’ll be careful not to tear it!”

“Don’t worry about that. Clothes can tear. I have spares at the dormitory.”

The new cadet uniform he got after returning from the dungeon.

Thanks to the Academy’s support, he had two more spares.

“But this place… it’s really quiet like you said.”

“Right?”

Clara looked around with curiosity.

The only buildings around were a creepy, closed rest stop and a gas station with not a drop of fuel left.

Not a single car passed by, even if they waited.

It felt as if some unknown force was at work, setting the stage for a quest.

The opposite was true. This was normal here.

“How did you know about this road?”

“This road is famous for being deserted.”

“What do you mean, famous for being deserted…?”

“Simply put, it’s a road that car clubs and motorcycle clubs seek out for racing.”

“Ah…! I understand!”

Rohan sat next to Clara and continued with additional explanations.

The biggest reason it began being used for such purposes was that there was no destination even if you drove to the end.

The end of this road led to the small ruin where Shion was staying. It was connected to the place where consecutive Dimensional Rifts occurred in the past.

Land that was awkward to utilize even if restored, due to its location.

Thanks to that, the revitalization work, which required expensive manpower, was always placed on the back burner, making it the perfect hiding place for shady individuals.

“Sister Shion is in such a place…”

“Shion told me to tell you everything back then. I’ll explain other things as we go.”

“Okay!”

According to his memory, today, even the car and motorcycle clubs would be quiet due to the Public Security Bureau’s message.

Unlike his previous life, he had warned them of the danger, and few people would venture out to remote areas for hobbies.

In this world, lives could be lost in an instant, so most people avoided such risks.

While continuing the conversation with Clara atop the deserted tunnel,

He saw vehicles coming around a curve in the distance. Headlights flickered.

Rohan jumped to his feet.

Vrooom—!!!

There were a total of eight vehicles. They were filling the two lanes as they approached.

They were closing in rapidly, as if speeding was a basic and essential option for criminals.

Therefore, Rohan was satisfied.

In such a situation, they didn’t have the option of stopping even if they spotted him and Clara.

The moment they noticed and stopped, the car following behind would collide with them.

It’s fine if it plays out that way too.

The two vehicles in the lead were speeding excitedly as if they were racing.

As expected, these guys were all show and no substance, lacking even the basic common sense of security.

The dog bastard is in the black luxury sedan in the third row.

He could see it. The car Doberman was likely in caught his eye.

Vroom—! Wrooom—!

Perhaps they saw Rohan standing on the tunnel, the lead car, unable to brake suddenly, slowed down.

Seeing the perfect sign, Rohan rolled his shoulders.

“Huu! Let’s go.”

“Be careful, Rohan…”

Clara’s face was filled with worry.

Rohan gently stroked the girl’s hair.

“I’ll go ahead.”

As soon as he finished speaking— Shing! He drew the sword on his back.

Rohan jumped down onto the approaching vehicles.