After unintentionally learning about each other's pasts, it seemed to introduce a sense of looseness into the previously tense atmosphere.
"No, why did you bring a Lesser Outer God in your pocket? Are you crazy? No, you're already crazy. What if the Knight Order finds out? It's a good thing they only took our weapons and didn't search our bodies!"
Agartha threw a fit, exclaiming that this was the 16th time in her thief life that her spine had tingled so much.
Wait, isn't that quite a lot?
Honestly, I had no retort, but I felt a bit wronged and didn't want to lose to Agartha, so I argued back.
"No, how was I supposed to know this would happen?"
"Even so! Wow, I even shared my family history to lighten the mood, and I feel completely betrayed. You're not actually involved with an Outer God, are you?"
"I told you I'm not!"
Jagangducheon. (A Korean phrase implying a desperate, self-reliant struggle)
The Lesser Outer God, who had been peeking out of the pocket to watch the two fight, seemed to lose spirit and wriggled.
The Hunter watched them and spoke.
"The fact they didn't search our belongings isn't luck; they just didn't do it."
"As you get closer to the Brazier, it becomes harder for Outer Gods to approach."
The Hunter had his double-barreled shotgun confiscated, but he pulled out the BB pellets he had hidden and showed them to me and Agartha.
Her gesture of 'Get rid of that too!' made me let out a hollow laugh.
"The fire burning in that Brazier has the power, due to a specific force, to not just weaken Outer Gods but completely neutralize them."
"That's why the Knight Order doesn't even consider the possibility of an Outer God invading this far inside."
"It's the reason Outer Gods appear in the outer regions or attack mentally from a distance."
If Outer Gods like the Warden kept appearing inside this domain, people wouldn't be able to walk around outside like that.
Well, the Warden was probably just strong enough to ignore even that.
But why is the Lesser Outer God perfectly fine being so close to this fire?
Is it something different?
I looked down at the Lesser Outer God curled up in my pocket. It looked up at me with the same warm expression from before.
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
As if it heard my muttering, the Lesser Outer God just gave me a grin.
Is this also the influence of Super Coward Mode, or is there something special about Lesser Outer Gods that makes them an exception?
It was frustrating not knowing, but I figured, whatever, good is good.
Agartha seemed impressed, as if she had gained knowledge she never knew.
"That's true. This is my first time being caught by the Knight Order for something related to an Outer God, so I didn't know."
"To begin with, an incident like this occurring is absolutely not common."
For some reason, Agartha clapped her hands and smiled as if this were good news.
"Wow, so we're really lucky, then? A rare event happened to us!"
"Wouldn't it be more accurate to call that unlucky?"
"Mr. Tanton, it's because you think so negatively that you end up liking things like Outer Gods."
What does that have to do with anything?
"No key, and it's stuck right to our hands, can't even get it off. No wonder you're confident."
Ignoring my gaze, Agartha stretched the blue tape binding her hands.
The shackles of an Outer God, an unsolvable puzzle for a human. I guess her confidence as a thief was taking a hit.
Maybe that's why she kept poking me and the Hunter, seeking a reaction.
"Sigh, when will we be able to escape? My limbs just regained their freedom not long ago. My hands are yearning for liberty."
"If you'd just keep that mouth shut for once, I think half the frustration would be solved."
"Ah, seriously! I'm bored, okay? It's too quiet if I don't talk!"
"That's not my problem."
"Bor! Ing! Bor! Ing!"
"...I'll kill you."
"Try it! You can't, can you? Look at you, all tied up!"
Sticking her tongue out and going "Ehehehe," Agartha dodged the Hunter's reaching hand with an almost supernatural agility, but eventually got caught due to the confines of the small holding cell.
"No, that's not what I meant to do..."
"Say that one more time."
"Tehe?"
Treated like baggage, she was flung onto the floor. As the Hunter pulled the blue tape, Agartha made painful noises, being dragged across the floor.
It hadn't even been a full minute since the Hunter had quieted her down.
I was chuckling softly at the amusing sight when footsteps began to sound from afar.
Agartha and the Hunter fell silent simultaneously. As the footsteps finally drew near, I could tell who it was.
It was the Bear Mascot, the Vice-Captain.
The Vice-Captain, still with a furrowed brow, looked down at us, quietly unlocked the iron door, and pushed it open.
As Agartha and the Hunter remained motionless, still showing signs of wariness, the Vice-Captain sighed and spoke.
"Come out. We have a place to go together."
"Do not look directly at the fire. It is disrespectful to Her Highness the Princess."
The place the Vice-Captain brought us was none other than an underground location called the Communications Office.
Even in this enclosed space, a fire was burning, said to be connected to the Brazier.
Marveling at the strange, dark, and oppressive-looking scene, I was quietly observing when the Vice-Captain suddenly knelt and paid her respects to the flame.
"The transport of the criminals is complete."
Who is she talking to?
Now I have to see someone talking to a flame?
Fortunately, it seemed I wasn't the only one seeing this, as a question mark appeared on Agartha's face too.
Then, with her hands bound, she pointed her index finger, spun it around her temple, and then pointed at me, didn't she?
I didn't want to understand, but her gesture was too direct, forcing me to comprehend.
'This person seems crazy too, like Mr. Tanton?'
This bitch?
Quiet one moment, then suddenly picking a fight.
I glanced at the Hunter just in case, but he was just silently watching.
What the hell.
As I stood there thinking that, the Vice-Captain suddenly seemed startled and raised her voice.
"Is that true? Ah, no. Your Highness. Our Knight Order exists for you. We merely follow your will."
Your Highness?
Given the name 'Communications Office,' was this flame a means to communicate with the Princess?
I felt awkward, sorry for almost misunderstanding her as a lunatic.
"Then we shall proceed accordingly."
"...Yes, understood."
The Vice-Captain saluted with precision, then let out a deep sigh and turned around.
"Her Highness the Princess is deeply impressed that you lot dealt with the Warden in the underground prison."
Ah, that.
It certainly is quite an achievement, if you can call it that.
Although it's closer to it leaving on its own after being satisfied, rather than us 'dealing' with it.
Well, it's all the same, I guess.
But can you really be impressed by criminals who have committed heinous crimes?
As if answering that question, the Vice-Captain extended her index and middle fingers and spoke.
"So, she has deigned to grant you a choice."
The gazes of the Hunter, Agartha, and I all focused on those fingers.
The Vice-Captain looked us over and began speaking, pretending to be nonchalant.
"Decide. Will you be executed as criminals? Or will you join our Knight Order?"
He was putting on a grand show, but to my eyes, seeing a bear mascot, she just looked tired.
As I thought that, the Hunter began to let out a low laugh.
Baffled by the development, Agartha and I both looked at the Hunter, but he only started laughing louder.
As if the Vice-Captain's words were absurd.
W-what's with him all of a sudden?
Was this a situation to laugh about?
If they're not going to kill us, we should be grateful and just accept, right?
"Knights. Just knights in name, you don't even treat us as proper knights. You just need disposable pawns, don't you?"
"Hah, quite demanding for a criminal. You should be grateful for even that much."
Seeming to find it rude, the bear mascot's brow furrowed deeply.
But the Hunter paid no mind, finished laughing, and lowered his voice almost like a growl.
"Do you still not understand why I've tried to avoid any association with your kind until now?"
"...You're not in a position to run your mouth like that..."
"It's because you're incompetent."
Ignoring the Vice-Captain's voice, which was cold enough to send a chill down one's spine, the Hunter spat out what he wanted to say.
This guy, why is he suddenly going off like this!
It's not that he's wrong, but if we're not careful, his head might go thud and fall off!
I raised a hand to stop the Hunter, but upon hearing his next words, I had to stop.
"A group created to subjugate Outer Gods, so-called experts, couldn't even breach the distortion phenomenon of an Outer God that a group this small could handle, showing up late. Isn't that right?"
"I truly doubt your abilities live up to the name."
As he said that, he glanced around at us, and our eyes met.
Ah.
Is he subtly trying to big us up too?
The way he just made eye contact with us makes me think that's it.
"...Shut your mouth."
"And, we're not in a position to run our mouths?"
The Hunter's fact-based assault wasn't over.
"Do you think I'm unaware of your unspoken rule?"
"..."
"Those who defeat an Outer God have any past crimes overlooked and are promoted."
At those words, the Vice-Captain's mouth clamped shut.
It felt like a secret we shouldn't know was being revealed, making my heart race.
"By that logic, isn't your treatment of us the unjust act?"
"Or is it because you are noble knights it's permissible, and we are lowly criminals, so it's different?"
"Isn't that contrary to the beliefs of the so-called sublime Princess you serve?"
"What a loose tongue. Of course it's different. Do you really think criminals and knights are on the same level? If not for Her Highness's grace, you would be dead men already."
At that, the Hunter sneered and needled the Vice-Captain.
"I wonder if that Princess you revere is aware of that fact."
"..."
"Hit a nerve, did I?"
I couldn't help but be impressed by the Hunter's dazzling eloquence, which had been silent until now.
He could argue this logically?
Then, Agartha also cautiously opened her mouth.
"Y-yeah! And I definitely heard it! They immediately released a knight who had committed crimes serious enough to be imprisoned in the underground prison, based solely on his record of defeating an Outer God!"
Wow.
That's irrefutable, isn't it?
Even I could see the Vice-Captain's arguments were being thoroughly dismantled.
But I sensed no anger from the Vice-Captain.
She even seemed to be calmly choosing his words.
Just how amazing a retort is she preparing?
Watching a fight is the most fun; I wished I had popcorn to munch on.
And finally, the words that came from the Vice-Captain's mouth were...
"You lot killed an Outer God? No, no... Let's be precise."
Ah, wait.
Don't tell me.
"What you did was merely drive it away."
Ah.
Suddenly, I feel fucking annoyed.
She's not going to pull a 'Anyway, it doesn't count!', is she?
Feeling somehow deflated, I looked at the Vice-Captain with a sour expression. She spoke impassively.
"It's true that we give special treatment to those who defeat Outer Gods. There's no point hiding it."
"As expected of a shoddy group, all you can do is insist stubbornly."
"No, rather than that."
Saying this, the Vice-Captain suddenly pointed at the floor with his finger.
"Can't you just prove it? By defeating an Outer God once more."
At the Vice-Captain's words, exhilaration bloomed on the Hunter's face, and despair bloomed on Agartha's.
"What kind of nonsense is that...!"
"Not a bad proposal."
"Wh-what?! Are you crazy?!"
Agartha grabbed the Hunter's shoulder as if grabbing him by the collar.
But the Hunter paid Agartha no mind, merely locking eyes with the Vice-Captain.
"If that's all it takes to prove it, it's exactly what I want."
"Huh, your pride. So you're the Hunter after all. Disgusting, but a talent Her Highness needs. Fine, let's make the promise here."
The Vice-Captain drew her plastic sword, pointed it to the sky, then thrust it into the floor with a thud and declared.
"If you succeed in defeating an Outer God, all your crimes will be pardoned, and you will be formally inducted into the Knight Order. And Hunter, you will be guaranteed free movement as you desire."
"I swear this upon my name, Marienne Bustian."
At this unbelievable, groundbreaking proposal, Agartha and I stared with our mouths agape. The Hunter, however, looked questioning.
"That's your real name, not an alias."
"Are you afraid of being cursed by an Outer God? We are the Knight Order that hunts Outer Gods."
"Pathetic, yet with pride."
The Vice-Captain's gaze turned to me and Agartha.
"Any objections? You two don't have to follow this reckless fool."
"Defeat in battle against an Outer God means..."
Death.
Silence swirled around us, accompanied by the sound of the crackling flame.
What we were about to do was no different from weighing our lives to raise our status.
The Hunter's gaze returned to me.
This time, it wasn't the same meaningful look as before.
It was almost a look of certainty, closer to a demand to prove my ability once more.
The Hunter could probably take the lone wolf route.
But I couldn't.
The Warden was just luck.
Still.
I had no confidence I could defeat an Outer God, but I didn't want to be swayed by them.
...Let's trust in the Super Coward Mode.
Anyway, to survive in this world, I have to survive against Outer Gods too.
Knight Order route unlocked!
"There's an old saying that one should keep their loyalty to the end."
I said with determined eyes. Agartha, reading the mood, chimed in subtly.
"I'll do it too. Since you're both doing it, it'd be awkward for me to be left out. So we're doing this together, right? Yeah?"
"No, the tests are taken separately. Coincidentally, there are three Outer Gods that need dealing with."
"Huh?"
"I'll assign each of you an Outer God to handle. Starting with the one that appeared from a fallen meteorite on the outskirts of Rondan, which captures people with a strange light..."
"Cancel, cancel, cancel!"
"A knight does not go back on their word."
The sight of Agartha going "Eeeek!" and her face darkening was quite something to behold.
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