Chapter 14

Numerous people surrounded the carriage parked in front of the entrance to the mysterious building.

“So they're already moving?” Kakashi murmured. He had come along, wearing a disguise to hide his true identity. The disguise involved a wig, fake glasses, fake beard, and a fake mustache.

They had bought all of that in a store, and Neila attached it to him. The result was surprisingly convincing. Astill didn't go with him when they went to buy the disguise, and her natural reaction was to complain about the two bringing in yet another member.

“Whatever's in there, it sure is suspicious,” Syorin murmured. The three of them continued watching their movements from afar, while Neila was in her carriage, ready to give chase.

“Let's move to a closer position.” Astill moved between the roofs of houses. It was late in the afternoon, and the sun had gone down. The fact that they waited an entire day before starting the move meant that this shouldn't be seen by the regular people.

“We'll need to thin out their numbers now if we want a chance.”

The plan was to attack them on the road, away from the public eye. But the number of guards increased. Their original plan of numerous hit and run strikes wouldn't work if they were overwhelmed the second they were within attack distance.

“But how?” Kakashi asked. He would rather avoid killing them, meaning he needed to set his ability to. A group of people being stuck in the middle of town would bring attention, and unlike before, they're fully alert. They might have support standing by, gathering outside the barrier, waiting for it to go down.

Syorin didn't have an answer to Kakashi's question. It seemed she, too, was reluctant to kill anyone. It wasn't a surprise, as they're dragon hunters, not bounty hunters. “Should we just follow them, then?”

Just then, Kakashi had an idea.

“Astill, are you okay with using that?”

Astill paused for a moment, considering the matter.

“That?” Syorin asked, but neither of the two responded.

“... Fine.”

“Alright. Can you call Neila over? Bring the carriage, but hide it somewhere safe.”

Neila waited at the center of town, so that if the enemy tried to leave, she could get to whichever exit gate the enemy uses in a nick of time, without tailing the enemy herself.

“What’s your plan?” Astill asked.

“Neila has infiltration skills. She can sneak into their formation.”

“Are we sure she isn't a spy?” Syorin asked. Kakashi could only shrug.

“I've contacted her, she's on her way.”

Since they're cancelling their original plan, they couldn't wait for the enemy to depart.

“Astill, I'll activate my skill, and you'll shoot the arrow at the target I gave you. Neila would then come and bring them away.”

Astill's Darkness Arrow skill has its high damage output concentrated into a single point, ideal for taking out enemies one by one.

“Wouldn't that just warn the others?”

Kakashi couldn't change the ability area. Everyone else within that twenty-meter area would be frozen.

“That's where Syorin comes in.”

“Me?” Syorin pointed to herself.

“You'll be the distraction. Neila will come from this direction, while Astill will come from over there.” Kakashi pointed toward some buildings in the distance. “And Syorin, you'll try to distract some of them and run to the guard post.”

“Wait, toward the guard post?”

“Yes. Civilians normally run away from fights. They would rather not call the guards than risk getting themselves involved.”

By running toward the guard post, Syorin would drive people away from the guards. As a result, the guards would receive information late.

“But what if someone calls the guards through magic?” Astill asked.

“Let's hope they're too panicked to do that.”

“That's a lot of hope.” Astill sighed. “But fine. It's not ideal, but better than nothing, I suppose.”

They all moved to their positions. Kakashi couldn't climb the buildings on his own, so Astill reluctantly helped him. A guard stood there, overlooking the carriage.

The abilities of a dragon hunter were scary. Astill knocked out the guard watching there with a single hit before dropping him down. Syorin caught him and moved the unconscious body somewhere else, while Kakashi took up the now vacant position.

“Ok?”

“Ok.”

After receiving confirmation, Astill moved away. Kakashi continued observing the movement of the group, keeping his head low and out of sight. They began moving large crates into the carriage. The wall of people made it impossible for someone standing on the main road to see what was being loaded.

He looked around. Syorin wasn't visible, while Astill kneeled on a nearby roof. She gave him the signal that both Neila and Syorin were in position.

Alright, time to go.

Kakashi gave her the signal. Astill readied her staff, energy condensing around her staff. He pressed the button, and everyone froze.

“Astill, go!” he whispered. Despite not hearing his command, Astill acted, shooting one of the guards in the back. Syorin wasn't in the field, and Neila, who was ready, took the next turn.

“Neila, go!”

Neila took out a handkerchief with a sleeping potion and neutralized the guard next to Astill’s target.

“They're here!”

“Where are they!?”

“Focus on protecting the load!”

Kakashi pressed the button, allowing Neila to bring the two unconscious bodies with her. The two girls quickly changed positions before they could get them.

“Remain on guard- ah!”

Kakashi pressed the button again, freezing them.

“Astill, Neila!”

The girls had the initiative, allowing them to move before the guards.

“The hell's going on?”

“Just what kind of magic is this?”

They hadn't seen anyone yet, so everyone was confused. As a result, when Kakashi restarted his ability, the girls kept the initiative, allowing them to move first. Kakashi used the chance to take out as many people as he could. Eventually, all the people guarding the perimeter had been knocked out, leaving only those who guarded the inner circle.

“Where have the others gone!?”

“They've-”

“Hellooo!” Came Syorin’s loud voice from the main street, bringing all the attention her way. “Looks like you're facing a little… issue.”

Maybe thanks to the guards already agitated, or maybe because the way she asked was annoying, but the taunting took effect. All the guards glared at her. “After her!”

“Whoops.” She giggled, running away. The guards, believing her to be the cause of all this, took off running, leaving only two guarding the carriage.

“Wa- wait!” One of the guards tried calling their friends back, but they were both taken out.

Neila, Astill, and Kakashi exchanged glances, then rushed to the carriage. Neila took control of the horses and brought the entire carriage away, while Astill and Kakashi looked through the abandoned building. Most of its interior had been stripped clean, including the space on the second floor, but there was still a box left behind. Astill grabbed it and brought it out. Despite carrying such a heavy-looking box, she still ran faster than Kakashi. The two rushed back to where Neila parked her carriage.

When they arrived, Neila was in the middle of moving the boxes into their carriage. Astill threw the box into the stack, then she and Kakashi helped Neila move all their contents.

“Is that all?” Neila asked. There were ten boxes in total.

“This is the last one!” Kakashi said, bringing the last box over. Astill appeared behind him, having checked the other carriage, and helped him load the final box.

“Let’s go!”

Astill and Kakashi hopped onto the carriage, and Neila took control. They headed to the main roads, looking for Syorin.

“Heeeyyy!” Syorin screamed. She was running on top of the buildings, the guards behind her. Their numbers were fewer compared to before, and they looked exhausted. Neila maneuvered the carriage directly beneath her, and she jumped onto the roof. The horse ran at full speed, taking the west exit.