PuroShark Writer's Note
I hope everyone enjoys reading the previous side stories. And without further ado, we're now back at the main story of ReWorld: Days of Dungeons from Earth to Moon.
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"So they're the ones responsible for this incident."
That remark is not an inquiry nor a question intended for Arenea or Leaena. But more of a judgment or, more properly to say, a punishment for the bastards in front of her.
When Misaki says those words, the air within the underground catacombs vibrates through the sheer force of her Mana, sending her rage to everyone who is still alive and imprisoned within the cages of catacombs.
...AAAHHHHH!!!...
Scream of fear echoes within the walls of the underground catacombs. Screams from criminals and sinners who have already lost their minds before their lives for being imprisoned in the darkness of the underground catacombs for so long that they have already forgotten the warm and blinding light of sunlight.
Hearing those screams, the remaining two members of Rein Empire's Assassins, have made them wake up.
"Wait!... This is a mistake!... I'm just an Adventurer bodyguard!... I'm not a part of their group!"
Remembering that their group has been attacked by the girl with purplish-pink hair and realizing that they have already been captured, the bodyguard tries to deny his involvement with the Rein Empire's Assassins.
"Tsk!... You're really nothing but a coward... You can do anything you want with us. But you won't be able to get anything from me. So just kill me now!"
With the resolve not to betray his homeland, the old man, leader of the Rein Empire's Assassins, looks at Misaki and Leaena with hatred in his eyes.
However, that resolve means nothing at all, for Misaki has already declared their punishment for the crime of hurting her beloved students and the sin of invoking her wrath.
"Do something about them, Arenea... I'm gonna wait for you outside. Let's go, Leaena-chan."
"Are you leaving, Misaki?... Wait for me."
With only those words, Misaki left, followed by her assistant, Leaena.
Noticing that Misaki didn't add the word '-chan' at the end of her name, Arenea is now convinced that her involvement in the incident of the Rank 6 Black Weretiger Monster has already been realized by Misaki.
...Of course, she will eventually realize...
That's Arenea's thought as she recalls the two huge flaws in her plan.
First, the moment that Leaena and Rozze caught the group of Rein Empire's Assassins and learned about their plan, they could easily report to Misaki and ask her help to search for the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf. Arenea only got lucky that Leaena decided to go ahead towards the Forest Valley Dungeon, leaving the man named Chad to make a report to Misaki. It makes Arenea's plan easier since she only needs to restrain Chad instead of Leaena and Rozze to keep Misaki unaware of everything.
Second, Misaki is not an idiot. Of course, she would realize that the events involving the incident of the Rank 6 Black Weretiger Monster are too perfect, and it would be impossible to go unnoticed under the eyes of the person who has ears and eyes all over Green Dale Town. The person who is the head of security. And that person is Arenea herself.
"Sigh!... Anyway, she permitted me to play for a bit before I face my punishment so I'm gonna enjoy it."
With a heavy sigh, Arenea proceeds with another fun and crazy idea running through her mind.
"Okay!... Let's do this, my disposable insects. It's time to collect your debt to my dear apprentice."
"Ehh?... What debt are you talking about?"
The old man and the bodyguard didn't understand what the Demi-Human woman in front of them said. Yet, the mischievousness in her voice gave them goosebumps to what was about to happen next.
"I will let you choose which one will lose his left eye and which one will lose his right arm."
"Wait!... What do you mean?... Why would we..."
"The old man!... He should be the one to lose both eye and arm!"
"You coward!"
"I didn't do anything wrong! I'm just an innocent bodyguard!"
"Sheesh... It will take both of you forever to decide so I will just take what you owe to my dear apprentice... Arachne Magic... Blade Thread..."
...SLASH!...
...ARGHHH!!!...
With her Bloodline Magic, Arenea created a series of sharp webs to gouge the left eye of the old man and rip off the right arm of the bodyguard.
Their scream echoes within the underground catacombs as their blood stains the dirty floor of their cage.
"These are the debt that you owed to my dear apprentice as it is her price for showing me the greatest entertainment."
...ARGHHH!!!...
"Pfft!... Hahaha!... Do you're best to stop the bleeding using your Mana or you will die from blood loss. Also, welcome to the Underground and enjoy your stay while you're still alive... Hahaha!..."
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After gouging a left eye and severing a right arm, Arenea stored what she had in her hands inside the Storage skill of her Item Bag and left the cage to walk her way out of the underground catacombs.
The underground catacombs, or what they simply call the Underground, are a naturally formed cave tunnel that expands all over Green Dale Town and into its surrounding forest. It has many exits and entrances all over inside and outside the town.
The underground catacombs are not actually a prison. Only the cave tunnels that run outside the town have been turned into prison or more like a graveyard while the cave tunnels that were inside the town are being used as headquarters of Spectres under Misaki's command.
As Arenea walked in the hallways of the underground catacombs, another fun and crazy idea came through her mind.
...If I put this eye and arm inside a transparent container and filled it with preserving liquid, it would be like a trophy that she could display in her room to remind her accomplishment of this incident...
"Fufufu!... I'm not sure if Vier would get it but Rozze could... Ohh!... Char might get jealous if I only give a present to her kohai. Maybe I should go back for another eye and arm... Ehh?..."
Her enjoyment as she thinks of Vier's confused look, as well as Rozze's grim when she sees and realizes the meaning behind her gift, was cut off by a raging Mana that Arenea suddenly felt.
Arenea is already near the exit that leads to the forest outside the Green Dale Town. But even if she's still tenths of meters below ground, she can already feel the raging Mana of someone waiting for her outside. And if she takes more time getting out, she's sure that she's getting a beating more than she deserves for all the trouble that she did.
"Sigh!... Let's get this done so I can give my gift to Vier. Char will just have to wait another time for her gift."
With the resolve to face her punishment, or more accurately to say the price of her entertainment, Arenea stepped outside the cave tunnel and was greeted by Misaki, who was mad, and Leaena, who was hiding behind a tree 20 meters away from Misaki.
"Raise your guard, Arenea."
...BOOMMM!!!...
That's the only warning Misaki said before throwing a punch with all of her raging Mana on it straight toward Arenea's face.
Arenea indeed managed to raise her guard as she created an armor of web and blocked Misaki's punch with her both hands. However, Misaki's punch has enough strength to instantly kill a Rank 5 or even Rank 6 monster. It was obvious that Arenea would be sent flying as she crushed and destroyed everything in her path.
Arenea is not weak. She's an Alchemist and a Gold Rank Adventurer. She could also be considered a Mithril Rank Adventurer if she continues doing quests for achievements. However, Misaki is among the highest level of Mithril Rank Adventurers and the difference between a low-level and high-level Mithril Rank Adventurer is just huge.
Arenea landed hundreds of meters away from where she was with both of her arms broken and her body full of injury. She thought that it would be the end of her punishment but Arenea is quite wrong. After all...
"Combined Magic Technique..."
"Wait!... Misaki! Stop!... You might end up killing Ms. Arenea!..."
Leaena tries to stop Misaki from casting her Magic but Misaki doesn't even bother to listen to Leaena or think about the destruction that her Magic will cause to the forest around them.
"Black Strom Vortex..."
...BOOOOOMMMMM!!!...
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"Wake up, Arenea!"
"Ugh!... Did I pass out?..."
Arenea woke up while being lifted by Misaki with her right hand strangling Arenea's neck.
"Isn't this a bit much for my punishment? Are you perhaps trying to kill me, Misaki?"
Misaki's Black Strom Vortex skill is one of her most powerful Magic skills. It integrates all four of her Magic Attributes, Flame, Wind, Water, and Land, and was intended to defeat Rank 8 to Rank 9 monsters without causing any large damage to her surroundings unlike most of her skills. However, that skill of hers still destroys almost half of the forest where they are and almost kills Arenea if she hasn't protected herself with her Bloodline Magic.
"Arenea, do you remember how Vier-chan was when you brought her back to the Adventurers Guild?"
"Of course, I remember."
"Then do you think this punishment of yours is enough!!!..."
The anger in Misaki's voice was enough to make the air within what used to be a forest tremble.
"Vier-chan was at death's doorstep!!!... And you're telling me this beating is enough for your punishment!!!..."
Misaki tightens her grip as she strangles Arenea's neck and the rage in her eyes tells Arenea that Misaki is almost at the point of considering ending her life right now.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't end your life right now, Arenea."
Misaki-san stared at Arenea's eyes, waiting for her answer, and Arenea understood that if she didn't give Misaki an answer enough to calm her rage, then she would truly be killed.
Arenea stared back at Misaki and stayed quiet for a while before giving her answer.
"That girl...
...I saw that girl cry the day she learned she couldn't use Magic, unlike everyone else, and she couldn't be the adventurer she always dreamed of...
...But the next day, that girl is proudly saying she doesn't need to be able to use Magic normally to achieve her dream...
...When you're husband died years ago, and Mifumi finally understood the thing you had always been scared of before...
...That girl, in just a day, helped Mifumi realize what you failed to realize for hundreds of years...
...Then that girl promises to show her dream of great adventure to her friends, and Felin chooses to follow her as Rozze decides to become a Spectre to protect that promise and make that dream come true."
"And what that has to do with all of this trouble you cause?!!!..."
"That girl took the position to be the one who will give strength to the person who will soon become the Protector of this town!...
...That girl took the duty to be the one who will guide the person who will soon become the Guardian of this Kingdom!...
...And if Vier will quit after experiencing what happened to her today then she better do it right away!...
...Because you and Leaena won't be able to protect them once they leave this town!...
...Because more enemies of yours will be coming to kill Mifumi just so they can get revenge on you and to be sure that no one will become your successor, Misaki!...
...Because more Rein Empire's Assassins will be coming to kill Felin just so they can finally eradicate the Bloodline of the Guardian Lightning Beast!...
...Because Rozze won't be able to protect them no matter how strong she becomes, not on her own!...
...What I have the four of them experienced is nothing compared to what is waiting for them outside this town!...
...What I did is better than what the two of you are doing all this time!...
...Always protecting them from the shadows of our town and not letting them know the truth about themselves!!!"
Everything Arenea said is true. Aside from her entertainment, she's indeed concerned about Mifumi, Felin, Rozze, and especially her dear apprentice, Vier.
With everything she said, she can only hope that it will be enough to convince Misaki not to kill her.
With a pained expression on her face, Misaki finally released Arenea's neck from the grip of her hand, and then Arenea fell, kneeling on the ground.
"Leaena-chan, please help Arenea-chan heal her injuries. I'm heading back first to the Adventurers Guild to ask Nymh-chan and the rest of the Dryad Guardian to restore the destruction I caused to this forest."
"Okay, Misaki."
...Thankfully, my dramatic speech worked. Reading some of Vier's stories finally became useful... Fufufu... I really need to finish my gift for her before she wakes up...
With those thoughts, Arenea can now proceed with the epilogue of her entertainment. The last suffering to be caused by the Black Weretiger Monster incident.