The Spearmaster and the Black Cat
The Spearmaster and the Black Cat - Chapter 156.1: .1

Chapter 156.1

Once we return to our room, Rollo immediately leaps to the bed .

She starts playing by jumping up and down as usual .

Viine stores her luggage, which had been placed close to her bed, into her knapsack .

While at it, she takes out a cloth from within, brings the beautiful jade-green snake bow, which she carried on her back, in front of her chest, and polishes it with the cloth cherishingly .

I feel like she still hasn鈥檛 properly used that special bow . But well, I guess she wants to treasure it .

At this moment, the 24-faceted orbTrapezohedron disconnected from the gate of the Paredes Mirror and came back .

Once again, it鈥檚 revolving around me like a small fairy .

I grab it and put it into my pocket . I also lift up the Paredes Mirror and store it in my item box .

Ooh, having finished the bow鈥檚 maintenance, Viine takes off her thick, vermilion leather garment .

Seeing her finish with the task, I address her at that point .

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to enter the bath?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淣o, not yet . I will change into these clothes for now . 鈥?(Viine)

鈥淕ot it . 鈥?(Shuuya)

I appreciate Viine鈥檚 changing of dress .

The silver, short-sleeved shirt suits her really well, accentuating her figure .

I thoroughly enjoy looking at the bluish-white, pretty skin of her back .

Aaah, so she鈥檚 going to wear a black dress .

She doesn鈥檛 retort at my lewd staring, but a faint sound becomes audible from behind the wooden window, breaking my concentration .

Turning around, I look in the direction of the sound .

The white cat鈥?Magit was over there .

I think she has some business with Rollo?

鈥淲hat鈥檚 wrong, Magit?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淣yao . 鈥?/p>

Magit purrs once as if showing off her collar with something like a round, emerald gem attached to it and moves to the bed where Rollodeen is playing .

鈥淩ollo, stop playing . You鈥檝e a guest . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淣n, nyaa . 鈥?/p>

Once Rollo notices the white cat, she gets off the bed and approaches Magit gracefully .

Rollo and Magit touch each others鈥?noses, obviously greeting each other .

Once that鈥檚 done, both of them sit down, arranging their hind paws like dolls .

The black and the white cat gaze at the other party .

It鈥檚 a mysterious scene .

Nevertheless, I鈥檓 certainly curious about Magit鈥檚 collar .

What鈥檚 with that mana?

銆嶻our Excellency, I examined that collar before, but it鈥檚 strange . 銆?(Helme)

Sitting in a corner of my visual field, Helme talked to me telepathically .

銆嶻eah . 銆?(Shuuya)

I can鈥檛 sense such a huge magic source from Magit herself . Instead, I feel some sinister magic source from that collar .

鈥淩ollo, what are you doing?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淣ya . 鈥?/p>

She turns her round, red eyes my way and purrs . Then, she immediately returns onto my shoulder .

鈥淣, nya . 鈥?/p>

The white cat purrs while releasing a throaty voice and rubs her head against my foot after coming over .

鈥淢agit, you鈥檙e a cutie as well, aren鈥檛 you?鈥?(Shuuya)

Once I lightly caress Magit鈥檚 head,

鈥淢aster鈥︹€?(Viine)

鈥淲hat鈥檚 up?鈥?(Shuuya)

Viine reveals an expression as if she is hesitating to speak up while her left cheek blushes .

The face, which is hidden by the silver mask, seems to have become red as a tomato as well .

鈥溾€ want to go to the toilet . 鈥?(Viine)

Was she enduring it this whole time?

鈥淪orry for not having noticed . But, you don鈥檛 have to ask for permission each and every single time, you know? Just go and pee as much as you want!鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淗aua, yes!鈥?(Viine)

鈥淣yaoo . 鈥?/p>

She leaves the room in a sprint after I give my consent .

Rollo jumps off my shoulder and chases after her鈥?/p>

Once I go out to the corridor after wasting some time by playing with Magit on the bed a bit, Viine and Rollo return after finishing their business .

鈥淢aaaster! Rollo came to pee together with me!鈥?(Viine)

鈥淣yaon . 鈥?/p>

Standing on the handrail, Rollo purred as if saying 銆嶵hat鈥檚 correct, nya . 銆?/p>

鈥淚-I see . Is that something so delightful?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵es, it reminded me of my time when I frolicked around with my younger sisters . 鈥?(Viine)

鈥淚 see, a kind of mutual trust, you mean? Well then, let鈥檚 go downstairs and inform Mel . We are slightly indebted not only to the inn, but also to the dark guild 銆怰emains of the MoonMoon Remnants銆?/strong> . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵es . 鈥?(Viine)

Descending the stairway, we head to the dining hall on the first floor .

There are quite a few guests present, but the dining hall remains quiet .

Gazing around, I can鈥檛 see the owner of that beautiful singing voice .

If I remember correctly, she was called Shana, wasn鈥檛 she?

Really weird鈥?usually she should be singing at dinner time .

Once I look through the dining hall,

鈥淪huuya-san, you鈥檙e back . 鈥?(Mel)

I was addressed by Mel .

鈥淵eah . I have something to talk about in regards to that, but is everything alright at the moment?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵eah, don鈥檛 worry . 鈥?(Mel)

鈥淚 bought a house, so I鈥檓 planning to leave the inn now . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淓eeh! No one told me anything about that!鈥?(Mel)

Mel raises a loud and angry voice .

All the looks of the guests gather on her at once, and the silent room becomes eerily peaceful .

鈥淎h, sorry for shouting . Let鈥檚 go over there . 鈥?(Mel)

While still angry, Mel moves to the door located on the right inner side of the dining hall .

I guess she鈥檚 telling me to come to the basement located ahead once again .

鈥t can鈥檛 be helped, now can it?

鈥淥nly for a bit . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵es . 鈥?(Mel)

Following Mel, I descend the spiral staircase on the other side of the door .

She moves the moon object on the big door of the basement鈥檚 room, and we enter after her .

Without proceeding to the central depression with the table, Mel chats me up from in front .

鈥淔or you to have bought a house, where is it located?鈥?(Mel)

鈥淭he southern Martial Arts district . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淥ver there, huh? I see . But it鈥檚 still quite abrupt to be honest . 鈥?(Mel)

鈥淚 just went with the flow . 鈥?(Shuuya)

Once I tell her that indifferently, Mel frowns, and her face becomes gloomy, producing a somewhat sad expression .

鈥溾€ou don鈥檛 have to say it so bluntly . We are considering you our comrade, after all . 鈥?(Mel)

A slightly timid attitude . A one-eighty shift from her previous mood .

Comrade, huh?

鈥淚鈥檓 sorry, but I already told you a few times that I鈥檓 an adventurer, didn鈥檛 I?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淚鈥檓 well aware of that fact, but you and your familiar, who are called 銆怢ancer and Black Cat銆?in some parts of the underworld, are considered special . 鈥?(Mel)

鈥淪pecial鈥︹€?(Shuuya)

鈥淵es, we think so as well . The other day, an official message about getting in touch with you arrived from a subordinate of Diviner Kazane of the 銆怉sura Religious Organization銆?/strong> . Well, that might also be taken as an apology for having invaded our turf though . 鈥t seems like they want to want to get in contact with you, no matter what . I casually told them that I鈥檒l inform you about it once I see you and that doing it right away is impossible . 鈥?(Mel)

Those guys, eh? Do they intend to try that mind magic again?

To be honest, I really don鈥檛 feel like meeting them a second time .

鈥淜azane, huh鈥?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淚n short, it means that the other dark guilds already believe that you are a part of 銆怰emains of the Moon銆?/strong> or have applied to join us at the very least, Shuuya-san . 鈥?(Mel)

Whoa, is she saying that it鈥檚 already an established fact?

Even though it was nicely peaceful after I crushed 銆怬wl鈥檚 Fangs銆?/strong>, I couldn鈥檛 sense the usual presences tailing me either .

Ah, I guess that鈥檚 because no one can keep up with Rollo as Horse Lion .

鈥溾€ot it . So, it鈥檚 better if I meet the 銆怉sura Religious Organization銆?as part of 銆怰emains of the Moon銆?/strong> ?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵es . that鈥檚 indeed so . Behind the scenes, they鈥檙e connected with 銆怉ssembly of Stars銆?/strong> . My personal opinion is that they are moving towards a new 銆怑ight Lights銆?/strong> selection since one of them was crushed . 鈥?(Mel)

Just choose whoever you want . Why bother me?

Is what I thought, but I didn鈥檛 voice it out .

鈥淗onestly, something like that doesn鈥檛 matter to me鈥︹€?(Shuuya)

鈥淛eez . Care about it, at least a bit . If the other dark guilds hear about that information, it鈥檚 possible that they will get in contact with you, okay?鈥?(Mel)

Get in contact, eh鈥?

鈥淚s that jargon for killing each other?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淣o, it鈥檚 different . The turf battles have already come to an end for now . Therefore, it means they鈥檒l approach you for a normal meeting . However, since it鈥檚 difficult to get in touch with you, they might get a bit forcible . 鈥?(Mel)

So there鈥檚 a bit of jargon in there after all .

I won鈥檛 retort on that, though .

鈥淲ell, I don鈥檛 really mind at all even if it鈥檚 killing each other . If they are up to some mischief, I鈥檒l just finish them off . 鈥?(Shuuya)

Somehow鈥?/p>

The words of a famous pro wrestler with a long chin pop up in my mind, but I didn鈥檛 speak them out .

鈥溾€f you say that while grinning, it鈥檚 scary . 鈥?(Mel)

Mel is misunderstanding my intentions here .

鈥淪o, as for meeting Kazane, where is that going to take place? Meeting her a second time in that damp and shady fortune-telling room is out of the question . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淓h!? You already met with her once? I haven鈥檛 heard anything about that from Benett鈥︹€?(Mel)

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 tell you about it? I went to investigate Kazane鈥檚 dubious fortune-telling store once before . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淩eally? Ah, so that鈥檚 why the War Foxes of Asura invaded our turf while tailing you, Shuuya-san . 鈥?(Mel)

Come to think of it, I remember Benett having mentioned that before .

That means, albeit unaware of it, I caused troubles to 銆怰emains of the Moon銆?/strong>? I believe this means that I owe them a favor .

I guess I will answer their request to make us even .

鈥溾€s long as it鈥檚 just meeting them . Where should it take place?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淎ll right . If you like, this place will work . 鈥?(Mel)

鈥淯nderstood . So, since I will head into the labyrinth for a few days starting tomorrow, it will be impossible for a little while, okay?鈥?(Shuuya)

Mel places a finger on her slender, triangular chin and ponders on my answer .

鈥溾€o you know the exact date when you鈥檙e going to return?鈥?(Mel)

As expected, I can鈥檛 predict that . It鈥檚 a magic treasure map on the fifth floor, after all .

It might end quickly or take some time . Nothing is set in stone .

鈥淚 really don鈥檛 know . Just give them a message from me . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥溾€ot it . 鈥?(Mel)

鈥淧lease tell them not to use 鈥渕ind magic-like spells鈥?and that Marumi-chan, if I notice any weird presences, I won鈥檛 show you any mercy, even if you might be a person who knows about Japan . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥溾€kay . I won鈥檛 probe for the reason and will make sure to convey them those exact words . 鈥?(Mel)

鈥淧lease take care of it . Well then, I鈥檒l come to meet you after finishing my business in the labyrinth . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淪ure . 鈥?(Mel)

At that point, I shift my eyes towards Viine, who was silently watching our exchange like a diligent secretary .

鈥淟et鈥檚 go . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵es . 鈥?(Viine)

鈥淣ya . 鈥?/p>

Rollo purrs in reply, too .

Without sleeping for a change, she is motionlessly sitting on my shoulder .

鈥淚鈥檒l come upstairs with you . 鈥?(Mel)

It looks like Mel will also go back to the dining hall .

After lightly caressing Rollo鈥檚 head for being a good child that stayed still on my shoulder, I leave the basement together with Viine and ascend the stairs .

We come out to the relatively quiet dining hall .

After all, with that songstress not being here鈥?it鈥檚 too lonely .

I initially planned to take a meal while listening to the soothing songs of hers, but let鈥檚 not .

I guess I will try asking about that matter to settle my mind .

鈥淢el, what happened to that elf who always sung in the dining hall?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I want to know, too . Even though I鈥檝e been waiting for her for a while now, she still hasn鈥檛 arrived . I wonder whether something happened to her鈥︹€?(Mel)

She hasn鈥檛 come although she鈥檚 supposed to? Is she alright?

Well, even though I鈥檓 curious about it, I will go back home for now .

鈥淚 see . Well, we are off then . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵eees . Please do your best in the labyrinth . 鈥?(Mel)

鈥淎ye . 鈥?(Shuuya)

I reply while lightly raising an arm .

I walk through the dining hall, where a nice scent hangs in the air, and open the entrance door, exiting Lodging Moon of the Labyrinth .

Even though it鈥檚 already night, the cicadas are still audible, their shrill sound breaking the tranquil atmosphere .

I advance through the alley while brightening it up with a light source from my ring .

At the same time, I address Viine who鈥檚 next to me .

鈥淲e could have had a meal in the inn just now, but today, we鈥檒l eat at home, I guess . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淥kay . Shall I prepare it?鈥?(Viine)

So Viine is capable of cooking as well . What a wonderful surprise .

鈥淚 can cook . Thus, I鈥檒l be the one to prepare it today . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淯nderstood . 鈥?(Viine)

As we walk through the small alleys towards the south while continuing such light chatter,

鈥淜yaaa~鈥?/p>

A woman鈥檚 scream interrupts us .

鈥淟et鈥檚 go there right away . 鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵es . 鈥?(Viine)

鈥淣ya . 鈥?/p>

Viine and I start running in the direction of the yell .

At the same time, Rollo jumps off my shoulder towards the front .

While transforming into a Black Panther with a poof in midair, she stably lands with her limbs on the ground .

This place here is a crossroad of narrow alleys, limiting the area available to maneuver .

That鈥檚 why Rollo chose the Black Panther size instead of the Horse Lion one . Light, seemingly coming from many sources, leaks out from the end where the crossroads are bending to the left and from where we had heard the sound .

I can also make out the laughing voices of men from there .

We briskly head in that direction .

A single elven woman is fighting against several men around the corner at the end of a narrow alley .

Isn鈥檛 that Shana, the elven songstress?

鈥淲hat鈥檚 this! Ganging up on me!?鈥?(Shana)

鈥淲ho knows? Ask the man behind you!鈥?/p>

The one who appeared from behind alongside a magic light was a male troubadour wearing a flashy doublet, which stands out due to the contrast of its black and yellow colors, and a hat with a feather attached to it .

鈥淲ho are you?鈥?(Shana)

After lightly playing a flute upon Shana鈥檚 question,

鈥溾€mph, you, you ask? How impudent of you, the reason why I was fired from a job with a good pay . 鈥?/p>

The guy who performed in Lodging Moon of the Labyrinth in the beginning, huh?

鈥淚 remember now! You鈥檙e the guy who was the inn鈥檚 singer before I took over . 鈥?(Shana)

鈥淭hat鈥檚 right! Law, cut her up just like before . Besides, you鈥檙e free to mess up this woman as you like~ . Lululu, lalala~ . But, make sure to kill her at the end . 鈥?/p>

The male troubadour orders while playing his flute, treating this as a mere show .

鈥淓ven though I might look like this, I鈥檓 still an adventurer, you know?鈥?(Shana)

Shana says confidently and draws a slender rapier with a sharp look on her face .

5 vs . 1, huh?

Shana holds a weapon in front and gives off a mighty aura, as if she鈥檚 capable of standing up to them .

According to the information I heard from Mel, she鈥檚 indeed an adventurer with singing as a side job .

After making sense of the whole scene, I look at Viine鈥檚 face .

鈥淪hould we observe the situation for a bit?鈥?(Shuuya)

鈥淵es . 鈥?(Viine)

The leader of the men facing off against Shana was called Law, wasn鈥檛 he?

He has reddish brown hair and a rectangle face .

The end of his protruding chin has the characteristic of being splendidly divided into two .

After scratching the hair on his head, he moves his thick lips in a smirk, starting to talk while revealing his dirty teeth .

鈥淜akakaka, what a high-spirited woman . You guys, let鈥檚 have some fun with her . 鈥?(Law)

Once ordered by Law with a hoarse voice, the four men surrounding Shana assault her simultaneously .

However, Shana leads the men by the nose by magnificently staying on the move while shifting to the left and right as if weaving her way through .

She swiftly dodges the threatening swords of the men effortlessly .

鈥淜uu . 鈥?/p>

鈥淨uick!鈥?/p>

The blonde elf continues shifting nimbly with her hair fluttering in the wind .

Revealing a bewitching smile or displaying her composure on her face, she wields her slender sword without breaking a sweat .

With a sharp sword thrust by extending her willowy arm holding the rapier, she deeply stabs into the belly of a man on her left .

Subsequently, she grabs that impaled man with her left hand, using him as a shield and skillfully defending against two concurrent, diagonal slashes .

Even when completely bathed in the blood scattered by the man she used as shield, she confronts the third man without screaming .

Good going! Was the previous scream just a fake?

At least, it should have been her scream .

鈥淵ou cheeky woman鈥斺€?/p>

She defends with the bloodstained flesh shield against the sideways sword slash of the man, who assails her while spitting out those mocking words, aiming for her neck .

While at it, she kicks the corpse towards the attacking man, throwing him off balance .

Shana鈥檚 rapier then pierces the throat of the man who鈥檚 trying to move the corpse out of the way . She鈥檚 dancing like the wind among these guys . What a pretty, bloody sight!

鈥淕uee, kefuu . 鈥?/p>

He collapsed, letting out a sound of air escaping from his throat .

Even while being surrounded, Shana steadily kills her opponents one by one .

She handles her rapier unbelievably well for someone who sings such soothing songs . She has a ruthless side to her as well, it seems .

鈥淗ee, aren鈥檛 you quite the skilled one? Just as before, I鈥檝e to deal with you after all, huh? Hey, you guys, fall back; I鈥檒l take care of her . 鈥?(Law)