Chapter 24

“Huff… huff…”

The next morning, they forced Neila to wear the accessories and exercise with them. They ran for a few kilometers, but they weren’t running purely for exercise. No, they had another goal in mind.

“Is that really all you can do? That’s just sad,” Astill said, insulting her to her face. Neila couldn’t reply, mostly because she was true. As a dragon hunter, her physical strengths were terrible.

Four glanced at the one running at the rearmost. Kakashi, the same person who suggested this, struggled as well.

“I thought you would be fit.” Four handed him a mana potion. Kakashi wasn't sure if just running took mana, but had it not been for the drink, he would have collapsed a long time ago. He was aware of his own lack of strength, but he wasn’t expecting it to be this bad. It’s embarrassing seeing the girls practically walk at the pace he was struggling with, but that wasn’t surprising considering their job.

“What makes you think that… in the first place?”

“You are the leader, no?”

“Him? The leader?” Astill scoffed.

“I don’t use any strength when my ability is active.”

The same applied to all combatants within the barrier. Unless they attacked or defended, their strength and mana levels would remain the same.

The forest that was their destination appeared on the horizon.

“Come on, a bit more.” Syorin tried to encourage the two, but her words didn’t seem to have that much of an effect.

“I think… I’m going to vomit.”

“Eew! Don’t!”

“That is not befitting of a princess.”

“I don’t care… anymore… I hate… this place…”

“How about I treat you to a drink when we get back?”

Immediately, everyone glared at Four. Four’s flat expression remained, but she tilted her head slightly.

“Really…?”

Four, completely oblivious to why everyone was glaring at her, replied, “Really.”

“No!”

“No, don’t!”

“Four you idiot!”

“Yesss!” Neila let out a loud war cry and began running faster.

“What have you done!? You'd better take responsibility!”

“... Okay?” Four could only remain oblivious to why everyone was angry at her.

Eventually, they arrived at their destination. It looked like a cave attached to the rocky wall, no different from the dungeon leading to the goblin camp. But the person standing near the entrance made it clear it was a different kind of cave.

“Greetings.” Four came first, followed by Neila, Astill, Syorin, and finally Kakashi.

“You’re late.” The man looked displeased at first, but his expression quickly changed into confusion when he realized how tired Neila and Kakashi looked. Kakashi even collapsed to the ground, and Syorin was forced to use healing magic on him.

“Just what were you doing?”

“She needs some training.” Four pointed to Neila.

“Never mind that. Where’s her?” the man asked. He didn’t recognize anyone but Four.

“Here.” Four tapped on Neila’s shoulder.

“You’re the princess?” The man stared at Neila, prompting her to gulp.

“Yes.”

“Pfft… Hahaha! This shrimp is the princess? We’re doomed!”

“What did you tell him, Four?” Astill asked.

“This is Meberiado, one of my contacts from the rebels. I told him that we have the exiled princess with us.”

“Hahaha! You don’t look like a princess at all! Say, Four, did you betray us?”

Four’s expression turned sharp. “Why are you even suggesting that?”

“This girl here won’t help us win the war. I thought you could at least decorate her a bit, make her look like a doll those empire goons would care about. Her? They’ll just leave her to her fate!”

“I did not agree to bring her to you as a prisoner.”

“Are you dumb? Even if you brought us the real princess, do you really think we’re going to treat her like one?”

“We are here to assist the rebellion. To assist the people in claiming their freedom. We are not here to play politics.”

“Politics is a part of any war, in case you’re too stupid to tell.”

Four clenched her fist. Kakashi couldn’t help but wonder how she expected things to turn out. Would she really think the rebels would let one of their enemies into their ranks as a leader?

“She can really be short-sighted sometimes…” Astill heaved a sigh.

“Did this happen before?”

“Often. She thinks anyone who shares a goal is an ally.”

Kakashi and Astill whispered in the back, away from Four and Neila. Meberiado clapped his hands, and from the trees, a group of thirteen armed rebels appeared, surrounding them.

“Wait! What are you doing!?” She asked, looking around.

“Sorry, Four, but we can’t let this place leak. It’s nice knowing you, but that's just how things are.”

“I'm sorry! This is all my fault! But can't we talk about it?”

“Shut up.” Meberiado glared at Neila, causing her to shrink.

“Bu- but-”

“Are you really a princess? Dirty, weak, like a piece of trash thrown into the wind. Well, I guess if you are one, it makes sense. Weak imperial scum.”

“That is unnecessary. There is no reason for you to insult her that far!” Four readied her scythe, fierce anger burning in her eyes. “She could prove it!”

“Then whose side are you on!? If she really is a princess, then you being kind to her only means you're a traitor!”

“She is the princess, yes, but she is on our side!”

“There's no such thing as allies among imperial scum! But associating with her, you're showing that you're an enemy!”

“I am not here to fight you!”

Yet, Meberiado ignored her arguments. “Everyone, attack! Don't let her buy time!”

The rebels closed in. Before they could attack, Kakashi activated his ability.

“What the!?”

“I can’t move!?”

The girls had their turns before the rebels, which suggested a simple fact. Kakashi kept the settings like before, except for one simple fact.

He changed the pain to maximum.

“Neila, Imperial Crest!”

Neila took her sword and stabbed it into the ground, drawing surprised gasps from all the rebels.

“Four, Dark Slash.”

Dark Slash had a lower attack strength compared to Wide Slash, but all the enemies were concentrated in a small area. The ones appearing in front of them were all sent flying. They didn’t even dodge.

“Astill, Nightspace.”

“Akh!” Screams echoed through the forest. They were so confused that they failed to realize that they could move, causing all of them, including Meberiado, to be wiped out with Astill’s attack. Kakashi deactivated his skill, then Syorin healed Meberiado. After he regained his consciousness, he shrieked in fear, and Kakashi activated his ability once more, locking him in place. He was dead last.

Kakashi took Four and Neila out of the party and asked Astill to use Dark Miasma, concentrating the poison on him.

“Cough cough!” Blood dripped from his mouth, the poison taking half his HP with one strike.

“Hmm… how about some more? Syorin-”

“I- I surrender! Please spare me!”

“Really?” Four asked from outside the barrier, her eyes dead serious.

“Yes, please!” he begged, and Kakashi deactivated the ability. Meberiado fell to his knees, and Syorin healed him once more. She also purified the air around him, getting rid of the poison. After that, Kakashi reactivated his ability. He intended to change the pain level back to minimum, but even that action was enough to scare the living hell out of Meberiado.

“Now, let’s talk.”