I Can't Breathe

Overnight, the people of Sunlight’s capital had apparently learned of East Gate’s “qualities” as a town.

That we were swindling cheats, apparently!

“Nahhhh, I refuse to believe the conspiracy doesn’t hate us in particular!” Piper screamed. “Seriously?!”

“Best to lay low and head back to East Gate,” the Proctor answered hurriedly.

I grumbled. “We arranged for a horse carriage; we wanted to explore the Capital—”

“I feel like you don’t appreciate the urgency of the situation,” the Proctor snapped. “I will pay for the costs. Just go.”

We trawled through the undercrofts of the arena, hoping the authorities wouldn’t decide to arrest us. If not for murder, then at least for “questioning.” For “suspicion.”

The teleporters were close now. Almost there.

Unfortunately, we saw many well-armored bodies block our way.

“Under the order of the Capital Guard Corps!” Boots thundered and slipped into our view were many well-armored bodies which blocked our way. Their swords were drawn too. “We place you under arrest for fleeing under suspicion of exam tampering!”

The Proctor stepped forward before any of us could. His robes flared as he spoke, calm but firm:

“Under the Sovereign Powers Act, adventurer affairs within the Adventurer’s Guild remain within the Adventurer’s Guild. For all intents and purposes, I should be locking them up myself. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been enough evidence to connect them. Specifically, with the poisoning of our students, beyond trumping their competition.”

The guards froze. Their captain’s lip curled.

“Now, unless you want to be on the receiving end of a Rank C adventurer party and a Proctor, I suggest you let us through.

“Now just hold on for a moment! It’s just one night of questioning! That you are evading us is mighty suspicious,” one guard cried. “I—I am warning you!”

Quickly, his colleagues moved aside.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” the proctor warned.

The guard let his legs do the talking for him. He charged forward with mighty zeal!

Only for the proctor to raise his hands, light a wordless spell, and be punched by a hand made of magic.

The proctor hit so hard it left a dent on the helmet.

Needless to say, the guard was out cold.

Just when I thought things would be simpler…

I felt rumbling, deep in my chest. The sound of so many footsteps pounding toward us at once.

Then came the jingle of metal—loud enough to cut through the chaos. Another guard sprinted into view.

“CAPTAIN! A MOB IS COMING!”

“What?!”

Shit! Of course. A whole stadium had been watching us, and now a good majority were pissed off too.

“Damn it… death by trampling,” the Proctor muttered grimly. “We need to make sure no one dies here—that alone would be enough evidence for your enemies to destroy your reputation. Unfortunately, the mob also blocks your path to the teleporter room. This will be your greatest challenge yet.”

“Bodies… bodiesss… boddddieeesss?”

Daisy foamed so much she resorted to using her telepathy to convey how she felt. And what she felt was not good!

I SMELL SO MUCH BLOOODDD…!

Oh no. “Malmitres! Daisy! Whoever’s in there—stop! We can’t afford to lose control here!”

“It hurts to resist our instincts! Aghhh!” Daisy writhed. That’s right—Malmitres and Daisy might be on speaking terms now, but their coexistence was still unstable. Two souls in one body, always pulling apart. And when instincts took over, it drove her to feed on the living.

Yuree-El stepped forward, grimacing. “Proctor, deal with the guards.” Then her gaze snapped to Engel. “Team Acumen can handle themselves.”

“R-Right!” I heard the little golem whirl.

“Cotter!” Py Pir cried. “Time to do our thing!”

I gulped. “Just to clarify…!”

“Yes! Use your ultimate skill!”

That was all I needed. I activated it without hesitation.

~SALARYMAN POWER: GROUP COHESION!~

The bond snapped into place—me, Daisy, Py Pir. I could feel Daisy’s bloodlust gnawing at her insides, my own trepidation shaking my hands, and Py Pir’s fierce determination burning like a forge.

And I knew exactly what she wanted to do.

“Get on me!”

So I did. I grabbed Daisy’s hands—steadying her—and clambered onto Py Pir’s broad back.

“Use your wind spells, Endo!” Py Pir barked.

“On it!”

The mob poured through the gates, trampling guards, shoving aside fellow adventurers. They weren’t here for sport anymore—they wanted blood.

But Py Pir had something to say about that.

“CHARGE!!!”

Like a black bullet, she shot forward, scales tearing the ground as she plowed through the chaos.

[Standard Shear Wind!] [Standard Shear Wind!] 

[Standard Shear Wind!!]

My spells sliced the air, pushing bodies aside without cutting them down. Support magic—thank the gods I’d practiced it.

“Engel!” Yuree-El shouted. “SCREAM!”

“GOT IT!”

SCREEEEEEEEE!!

Engel’s tiny frame belied the raw power of her auditory blasts. The shriek tore through the chamber, forcing the mob to cover their ears, faltering in their charge.

Our strategy was working. For now.

But everything depended on Daisy not losing herself.

“Gahhh, Cotter! It hurts!! ARGHH…!!”

Blood-red tears streaked her cheeks. My stomach twisted. What do you even say to that?

[Standard Shear Wind!]

“Daisy… remember when I said I’d stick with you through thick and thin?”

“Y-Yes!”

“I meant it.”

I lifted her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes—and angled my neck toward her.

I’d always hated needles. The thought of pain used to paralyze me.

But for Daisy?

I could do this.

And she sensed my resolve. Without hesitation!

She sank her fangs into my artery.

God, the suction was intense!

I gritted my teeth… clinging to consciousness as the world tilted around me.

[Standard Shear Wind!]

“Py Pir!” I cried. “Please tell me we’re close...!”

“Almost there!”

Her voice was a beacon, but my vision was swimming.

At last, through the blur, I saw it—the cool gleam of teleportation machinery. Our only salvation.

“Get in…!”

I barely heard the words. My body was already slipping.

The world went black.

\\

We got back.

I knew I’d passed out; because the next thing I saw was the palace chambers.

The air smelled of herbs and smoke. Poultices were everywhere, stacked on tables, crushed in bowls, pasted on cloth. I was lying in a bed too soft to be real.

And there, on the wall couch, Duke Calilah himself… asleep?

I swung my legs over the bed. The marble floor was cold, biting into my bare feet. My body swayed, my knees nearly giving, but I was still breathing.

I staggered to the couch and shook him awake.

His eyes opened instantly… too quickly for someone truly asleep.

“Cotter…” His voice was hoarse. “J-Just what the hell happened out there?”

I forced a crooked smile. “We made it through the worst day of our lives in years, clearly.”

His brow furrowed. He sat forward, the shadows from the fire cutting across his face. “No.” His tone was heavy enough to crush me flat. “What have you done?”

My throat dried.

“We passed the test…?” I tried.

He didn’t… he didn’t actually believe we had anything to do with the poisoning, right?

But the way his eyes lingered on me made my stomach knot. It felt like the past few hours, I could barely breathe! This story of ours was way too crammed with stuff happening. 

But sometimes... you can't afford to take a break. 

“That’s not what the letters are saying,” the duke finally said.