Chapter 4 – Have fun in Goldbrunn, the City of Armed Maniacs

In the office of the Lord Mayor. “Sir Alchenain!” Sir Archibald Alchenain was called, because of the ruckus in the city and the involvement of the Crusaders. The person-in-charge of the Crusaders in Goldbrunn stands still, but his face shows how displeased he is by this delay. “It seems like your men have acted fast to deal with a probable danger to the city, and I'm thankful for it.” The Lord Mayor only looks calm at first glance, his fingers are trembling with anger and nervousness. “But to command the city-guard, to impose death sentences and kill on sight orders, you're overstepping your boundaries!”

The Crusaders are a free army. While this makes them flexible, they don't hold any official authority. Many countries give them some slack with the rules, given how the Crusaders act for the good of people, but there are always cases when some ignorant ruler sees them as a danger to the order they’ve established.

“Lord Mayor.” Still, a ruler is a ruler. “These are special circumstances. The demon was attacking civilians, so the death penalty is within this city's laws, and I don't want my men to hold back and die because of it.”

“I can understand that, Sir Alchenain, but don't forget that the Crusaders are at war with the demons, not Goldbrunn. What about this so-called sinner? Is there any proof?”

“To become a true Crusader, one has to learn the secrets of the [Crusade]. After attaining a certain proficiency in this kind of magic, there is a [Spell] that allows one to identify sinners. Additionally there is another one to punish them and only them.”

“That might work for you, and it might actually be true, but from what I'm told, you just attacked someone who was fighting the demon, maybe for the city and its citizens. We have to know. I've also heard that he has a hood, what if he's a ranger!? A ranger against the city, what have you done!?”

“Ranger... I don't understand how people can be so fearful of rangers.”

“We're in the Wildlands. A ranger is a blessing if he's your ally, while he's a curse if he's your enemy. They were taught by the alfar, the most wicked species that have ever walked these realms. One ranger is enough to make a whole army suffer. They will find you, but you won't find them. They will hunt you, while you won't even know before it's too late. The moment you've noticed a ranger, you're probably walking into a trap.”

“That is ridiculous.”

“Trust me, even if we get him, the rangers have a strange form of brotherhood. If you kill one, another might come and take revenge. Most horrifyingly.”

“One way or another, he is a sinner.”

“We can prove that in a trial. So change the orders of your men from kill to capture, and I will let you take part of the pursuit.”

“No. The faster the sinner will die, the better for the human race.”

“Then leave this city!”

“You need us. Your guard may be good at fighting monsters and criminals, but we're talking about demons and your ever so dangerous rangers here.”

“Even though it's small, Goldbrunn is still a nation! So we abide by the law! You will do the same!”

“...fine. Don't expect my men to hold back though. If half of what you people believe of rangers is true, killing might be the only way to stop him.” Not that Sir Alchenain expects much of a fight here.

He is right because the infallible [Spells] told him so. It's just that ordinary people can't see it.

This sinner will die!

―○●○―

Ouch. Dear pain, please stop hurting. I drink another potion, this time to recover some HP.

“Hey, give me something, too!” The girl at my side, that damn twintailed oni, demands. “Do you have some stuff, that will cleanse my youki?”

“...try this.” I give her an MP-pot. If my theory is correct, it might do the trick.

“Buah! This stinks!”

“It's a herbal extract, of course it stinks.” This extract is made out of iroelsa, a plant that grows in Aroahenn and which sponges Mana from the air. “Just gulp it down and stop whining!”

“I don't whine! You whine!” She quickly gulps it down... “Buaaaaaaaa... bitter! … Oh! Great, I can now wreak havoc again, puny Crusaders, be prepared to die!”

“Quiet, stupid!” The pot seemed to help her with her youki-thing. “And give me the bottle back! Those are expensive!” Not exactly, but I try to save any bottle I can get. You can give them to stores for deposit.

Currently, we're on a balcony. That's where we landed after that pipsqueak threw me through the air. I managed the landing, but that only means that instead of one or two broken limbs, I have a multitude of bruises all over my body.

The balcony was big compared to the one from the apartment I used to live in, but it's still somewhat small. There are a table and two chairs, most likely a roof deck. A door leads into the building, but for now, I use this opportunity to rest and regain my strength.

Pipsqueak and I are hiding behind the balustrade and I'm using [Pitch] to get an idea of our surroundings. Everything became pretty loud, but having that skill certainly helps.

Looks like the guards and Crusaders are still looking for us. The guards are equipped with crossbows, which will make it hard for us to move freely, so escaping by going across the rooftops won't be safe.

...they’re starting to look inside the buildings. This patrol will get to us very soon. There are several ways we can handle it.

1.) Give up under the condition to be captured alive. The oni will likely not accept that, and I'm a sinner. There is only the death penalty for sinners. Not an option.

2.) Fighting our way through. I'm at top strength now, but the Crusaders are a pain. They have [Exorcise] and some of them have [Judgment]. Those shitty spells can be blocked one by one, but not en mass or quick succession. They're too lethal to just tank them either.

3.) Disguise ourselves. This is my favorite option, but it is the wrong place and I have too little time. The moment the oni realizes that she can just use shapechange to become a bystander, is the moment that she'll abandon me, so I won't even mention this for now.

4.) Scare them away. Not really an option at this point, they saw us bleed.

5.) Contact the girls... wait, this option doesn't exclude the others. I have little time, but I take a leaf-paper and a coal-pen out and write in this world's letters: HELP!!!

I have no idea where I am, so I can't give coordinates. But I want to at least get the message across.

Well, back to my options.

6.) Try to escape. These people are organized, so I'd need to find a weak point... wait, I can actually create a weak point!

“Oni, we're going into the building.”

“To wreak havoc?”

“Just follow my lead.”

I kick in the balcony door and yell: “Everyone, down on the ground!” Ah, a family of two parents, three children, and one grandfather, who are all sitting in the living room, most likely because of the general ruckus around here. The family complies with my order; all of them look scared. “You're now our hostages. The guards and Crusaders are pursuing us, but we're willing to negotiate.”

“Yeah!” The oni stems her fists to her sides. “We are willing to... to do what?”

“Negotiate.” I get closer to her and whisper: “Just play along, idiot!”

“...YEAH!” Ah, my ears! “NEGOTIATE! WE ARE!”

“I want you-” I point at the father: “-to tell that to those in charge. We're using this building as a base, so get them here!”

The husband exchanges a look with his family, solidifying his resolve, and complies. The moment he leaves the building, I put the family into the kitchen, block the door with a chair and instructed the oni to build a blockade at the front and back door.

This should buy us some time.

“Transform into a bunny.”

“Why?”

“You won't fit in my backpack otherwise.”

“Is that a smart plan?”

“It's a stupid one.”

She bares her teeth while smiling like a madman: “Great!” With this, she transforms.

I put her in the backpack. Since she's a living creature, she doesn't enter my [Inventory]. I shove her new mace into my belt. It should be doable this way, I won't need to look for it if stuff gets dangerous, but I have my hand free.

Now I look around for a good window. This one should work, I can’t detect anybody in this dark alley. I’d better escape now, and do the rest on the way out.

Climbing out, I use [Sneak] and [Pitch].

Someone is coming! I press myself into the shadows. [Camouflage]. My whole equipment, including my backpack, changes it's color pattern to fit the surroundings.

Some guards are passing me while running, but they don't notice me.

It's a similar tactic I used back with the Bloody-Nosed Mercenaries. Trying to get their attention to one place, while opening up the net, and trying to find a hole to slip through.

Considering how my [Spirit Magic] is no good in an urban area, it'll be much harder this time.

―○●○―

“Hello, I'm Katsuragi Kyou from the Lion Squad. We were asked to report.” We haven't only geared up, but got all of our stuff, so that we can escape the city if needed. We also found Ken's note, and it speaks of how dire the situation truly is if he's asking us for help.

“Lion Squad... ah, there.” The man in charge of this guarding post is comparing the name with the ones on the list. “Isn't your leader supposed to be some Katsuragi Kenta?”

“I don't know where my brother is. Maybe he's already at the scene? He has a talent for trouble.”

“Must be hard for you. Do you have your marks and your rings.” We show our rings and the marks, the guard gave us at the gate. “Good. I'll fill you in. There was a fight at the border of the desire district between a black-haired human and a red demon.”

“A red demon?”

“Yes, the description says, it's tall, vaguely humanoid, have horns, and can spit fire.”

I knew it. It had to be that oni!

So Ken happened to run into the oni, and instead of running away, he decided to confront her... Actually, that sounds like him, one of his rash decisions which stem from his strange logic. “Please continue.”

“Some of the citizens hurried to the guard, and there were some Crusaders there as well. The Crusaders asked the guards to evacuate, while they’d join the fight. It was a good call.”

“Something in your voice makes me think that it didn't go well afterward.”

“The moment the commander of the Crusaders came, everything became difficult. My friend was evacuating people and saw, how the commander attacked that young man, who was fighting the demon in the first place. More like, tortured him.” The guard seems to be surprised. “Erm, forget that I said that.”

That's the power of [Persuasion]. He told me more than he wanted to because I'm so persuasive.

Torture though? I can only imagine what this means. Ken, be safe!

“Torture!?” Rine-chan is furious. “They don't have the right!”

“Yes, I know. Now they call him a 'sinner.'” The guard is quick to agree her [Persuasion]. “I mean, I don't know any details, but isn't keeping order our job?”

What to do here? Feed that atmosphere? No, this guard doesn’t have the influence I'm looking for. He has rank, but he's also sitting in this office instead of being on the case himself. Time is more important here: “But the man got away?”

“Yes, he allied himself with the demon, and they're currently on the loose. The orders are to catch him alive, if possible. We want to give him a proper trial.”

Suddenly, another guard drops in. Isn't that the folksman we saw at the gate two days ago? “Hassrin Hatherwrock reporting for duty, sir!”

“Acknowledged, guard. Please be patient, Lion's Squad, but I fill him in as well.”

“Lion's Squad?” Of course, he remembers us. This is not good.

“Katarine-san, please make a bit more space, before you accidentally hit the little one with your knee.”

“OK.”

“...patience...” The folksman in question seems to be agitated and talking to himself.

...this is a chance!

The superior tells the folksman the same he said us. “The man has black hair and he should be wearing a red armor.”

“...red armor? I had some mercenary with red armor a few days ago, I think... Wasn't it your leader, Lion's Squad?”

“No, my brother wears a normal hide armor.”

“Wait, he's your brother?”

“Of course. Don't we look alike?”

“Now that you say it... But I can't help but think, that he was the one...”

“No, the people before us had the guy in red armor. I know, because I stared at him the whole time while waiting.”

“But I'm sure that-”

“Guard-san, I heard if something has a great impact, people tend to connect everything noticeable to it. Even though I don't like to say it: It's difficult to miss us.” I point at Rine-chan and Arako, the latter one is looking at the folksman in a strange, unsettling way.

“...You're right! It was this guy before, how was he called... Sir, I may find out who we're looking for! I just need to read the reports.”

“Do so, soldier. Lion's Squad, thanks for this lead:”

“You're welcome. Please remember it when you do the evaluation, we're rank 0, after all.”

“Help us with this, and I promise you to sign your recommendation myself!”

“Thanks! Now we need to know everything!”

To miss the forest for the trees. While being so flashy is mostly a disadvantage, we could turn it to our advantage this time. I think that without my high [Persuasion], it wouldn't have worked.

Now we might have just bought a ticket out of this.

―○●○―

Dammit! I just need some time!

But no, I have to use [Camouflage] again and not move an inch. I look for a blind spot because I already have an escape plan, but this doesn't work while all these people are searching around here.

Most of them are guards, but I'm afraid of the few Crusaders.

I think there are around twenty in total, and some of them seem to be able to detect me with some sort of supernatural sense. Is this a [Skill]? Or a [Spell]? [Spells] are easier to learn for people of this world, so it’s most likely that.

Still, the important question is: Do they sense me or the bunny oni?

“Bro, why are we not safe by now?”

“Shut up! Be quiet, or they will be able to find us.”

I try to open a belt of my armor, but my ears catch something. No, not again!

While closing the belt again, I climb up a wall. Seriously, I have had little to no rest here!

I have to be very careful, mainly because I need to hide the fact that I'm a hero. I need this to be a secret to make my plan work.

The moment I'm over the wall, I let myself fall down the other side. My arms hurt. My palms throb. Also, I think I may have sprained an ankle.

I'd be fine after some sleep, thanks to being a hero, but it makes me miserable. All these small pains just add up.

I put a hand in my backpack to get an SP-pot from my [Inventory]. In most games, you wouldn't burn through them so fast, but this isn't a game. My stomach is already full, but I need to gulp it down somehow.

For some reason, the [Inventory]-screen doesn't appear. “Oni, get out for a bit.” She's blocking my [Inventory], this didn't happen when I put a plant inside when I entered the city. Is it because she's not a plant, or because of some other strange rule?

“What's wrong, bro?” The red bunny jumps out of the backpack and I fetch a pot. “Something to destroy?” She transforms back to her original form, the horned girl, and looks around the next corner. “Shishishi! I see.”

“Whatever you're trying to do, don't!” I take a look myself, there is a group of Crusaders. I can't discern their rank symbols, but I'll just assume that each of them as about as strong as me, to be on the safe side. We're right at their back, so we have some luck for a change. “What exactly do you even want to do?”

“[Oni Fire]: Full power!”

Hm... actually, that should be enough to kill them. At least with a direct hit, but just being graced by the full power of that, should disable them. Sounds like a legit option.

However... “Don't.” I pull her back by her twintails. “I want to avoid them. Your attacks are too loud.” By the way, I'm not too keen to see some burned corpses either. I'm not sure if I could handle the stench. Not that I'd tell her that.

“Ah, right. But can I blast something else? I feel like destroying something!”

“Just wait a minute and go back into the backpack.” I pull some more items out. Three pots of each kind, two smoke bombs, a stink bomb. I put them in my belt pouch, that's why those are so practical. “Come.”

“When this is over, I'm soooooo gonna kill you!”

“On the other hand, there is actually no reason to stick together. I can get away on my own.”

“Wait, wait! Just a joke, right? I'm just doing some oni jokes!”

“Figures.” Not that I'd leave her behind. Because when stuff gets dangerous, I'll need her. As a distraction.

Still not the best time to doff the armor. Maybe I should enter another building? No, I don't have time to waste. The first distraction only opened a small window, unless those guards and Crusaders are complete idiots.

Using [Sneak], I take one alley at a time, looking for a less guarded route. There... a barricade, a way out of this mess. Time for V: Plan Violence.

“Oni,” I softly talk to my back. “Time to get a bit destructive. I'll take care of the guards, you take care of the barricade.” In terms of pure destructive power, I can't hold a candle to this oni.

“I can destroy?”

“Yes.”

“Yay!” She whispers but seems energetic. “I'll see the flames, the terror, the dismay!” Again she leaves my backpack and changes her form, this time to her red giant oni form, she’s also got her new mace in her hand, which looks kinda tiny there. “Huaaaaaaaaah!” She deeply inhales.

“Keep your aim.” I throw a smoke bomb and [Sneak] into the newly formed smoke cloud, but from the side.

“[Oni Fire]!” The fireblast sweeps through the smoke and I can hear the shattering of the wooden barricade.

“What's goi-uuuurgh...” Don't be a baby, that's only your thigh. After piercing it, I knock him out, using the blunt side of my spear.

“Here I come! GACKGACKGACK!!!” With a weird, maniacal laugh, the oni throws herself into the smoke. “Where are you!? Here?” Blindly, she throws her weapon in wide arcs. I can even feel the air pressure. You're dissipating the smoke, idiot!

For me, the smoke screen is very helpful. [Wild Eyes]. While magical fog seems to block this [Skill] – or rather [Spell]? – it's unhindered by alchemical smoke, so consumables are a great thing here. Good thing that I restocked them yesterday.

Seizing my advantage to its fullest, I use my full power to knock the guards out. They're trained soldiers after all, so I need it to make it quick. Still, an ambush is a very effective way to overcome the difference in power, especially if you have the [Assassinate]-skill, which increases damage done from hiding.

“[Judgment]!”

...oh shit. “UAUAAAAAAAAAA!!!!” I'm incinerated! I'm dying! “AAAH! AAAH!” How can a pain like this exist!

“[Oni Fire]!” Ah, looks like I fell. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense to feel this heat from toes to head.

“[Resistance]!”

“Ah! Unfair! Why are you still alive! You should be a pair of smoking boots right now!”

“Foul demon magic won't take me down! I refuse! You and the sinner, you'll both be brought to justice!”

I think that's the commander. This certain feeling of how my (probably) soul was scorched is just like a handwriting. The boisterous voice also hints at that.

“Your justice is coming from your ass! It stinks!”

The real question is: WHY IS THAT DAMN COMMANDER HERE!? WHERE DID HE COME FROM!?

Slowly, I stand up and I see the white flames around me weakening. This spell just sucks, it hurts like hell, renders me almost helpless for a while, and it also does quite an amount of damage.

Ah, I see. Shitty commander is coming from behind the barricade, the one we blasted. With reinforcements! Five Crusaders, ten guards.

My [Luck]-stat isn’t working right now... Should I turn around and run? … “Oni, retreat!”

“Ah! No, I don-” She suddenly moves strangely. “No, I don't want to, I want to smash them, I want to burn them, they suck, they have to die!” While saying that, she turns around and runs.

...odd.

Nonetheless, I also do my best.

*Tzum* Dammit! Crossbows! “OUU!” This one got my leg, it hurts!

I turn around... and make a sidestep, to evade some more. The oni stoically takes the projectiles. “I don't like bolts. Or arrows.” She sighs, while she doesn't even flinch much, even though one hit the top of her head. It couldn't pierce deep.

Is her skull that strong!?

Of course, the Crusaders give pursuit. Same for the crossbow-shooting guards, who start reloading while running.

Good.

“Oni, this way!”

I still have an idea. I still have something like a plan.

Everything is still alright. Though the fact, that some signal horn is being blown by our pursuers worries me a bit.