39. Delinquent Adventurers

I spun around. Ludovis and his cronies had taken up positions right by the entrance.

"Tch. I missed?"

"You’re slipping, Laberia."

"Shut it, Baldog!"

Laberia was the one who had loosed the arrow. Baldog, the shield user, was the one jeering at her. And standing behind them was that ominous black wolf. Just as I’d suspected, Ludovis’s group were the ones who had unleashed the Plague-Cursed Black Wolf.

"To think you would find it first... though I suppose I should be glad we caught you before you made off with it."

Ludovis wore a wicked, twisted smirk. It seemed they were also searching for the Prayer Stone of Benevolent Rain. I suppose if they knew a way to counter the Black Wolf existed, it was only natural they’d come looking for it.

"Talk about luck. To think I’d find the Maiden of the Destiny God who slipped through my fingers in a place like this. Once I offer the Maiden’s blood, the Black Wolf will regain a massive amount of its power."

Utterly convinced of his own superiority, Ludovis was practically preening as he delivered his little speech.

The Maiden of the Destiny God. So that was Halfa. Me, Shiroru, and now Halfa—could it really be a coincidence that so many people connected to the Destiny God were gathering like this? Shiroru had claimed she didn't have a specific mission, but this felt almost... orchestrated.

No, now wasn't the time for idle speculation. I had to figure out a way to get us out of this. Dealing with Ludovis’s group was one thing, but with the Black Wolf in the mix, the odds were heavily stacked against us. Our only real hope was Dolga-san, but...

Wait, where was he? I couldn't see Dolga-san anywhere. Was he planning a surprise attack from the shadows? When did he even move? I hadn't noticed a thing. As expected of a veteran.

"And as for you, I remember that face. You’re the one who interfered with the kidnapping at the black market, aren't you? No, it’s more than that. You’re the brat who somehow survived the Black Wolf! I assumed you’d crawled off and died in a ditch somewhere after that teleportation trap. I never imagined you were still breathing."

Oops, now the spotlight was on me.

So that was the secret. I’d always wondered how I survived that encounter, but it turns out I’d triggered a teleportation trap to escape certain death. I guess I really was lucky... in a way. I did end up right back in the hands of slave traders, but compared to being dead, it was definitely a win.

Luck aside, if I could keep their attention on me, it would give Dolga-san more room to maneuver.

"I won't forgive you! I don't know what you're plotting, but I won't let you have your way!"

I shouted my defiance, but even I had to admit it sounded forced. My acting was stiff, to say the least.

"Hey, Boss Ludovis. That kid is up to something!"

Arock, the dagger user, called out. He’d seen right through me. It couldn't be helped; I didn't exactly have an Acting Talent. Still, it didn't really matter. I’d succeeded in drawing their eyes to me.

"What are you—"

"Gah! You... when did you get there?!"

Just as Ludovis opened his mouth to demand what I was doing, Dolga-san reappeared from the void and slashed Laberia. It was a perfect surprise attack, but she must have moved on pure instinct; she managed to avoid a fatal blow.

However, the blade had caught her dominant arm. With a wound like that, she wouldn’t be pulling a bowstring anytime soon.

"〈Shadow Hiding〉."

While Ludovis and his men were in a state of confusion, I used my magic to erase my presence. My target was the Plague-Cursed Black Wolf. I couldn't destroy it without the Rune Breaker, but veteran adventurers had repelled it before. If I could deal enough damage, I could at least drive it off.

Dolga-san was already trading blows with Arock and Laberia. With Laberia injured, Dolga-san clearly had the upper hand, but it wasn't going to be a quick finish.

Rei and Mil moved to keep Baldog in check, while Shiroru began harrassing Ludovis to prevent him from casting magic. Halfa and Sally were waiting for an opening to provide support with their bow and spells, but the melee was so chaotic that they couldn't find a clear shot.

"Hey, Ludovis! These brats are tougher than they look. Quit stalling and do something!"

"Very well... Black Wolf, devour the Maiden! Reclaim your power and slaughter them all!"

This was bad!

Whether it was overconfidence or something else, the Plague-Cursed Black Wolf had been idling by Ludovis’s side until now, but he had finally given the order to kill.

But I was already there, hidden and waiting. I had to hit it before it could move!

"〈Dehydrate〉!"

I lunged forward, touching the wolf’s hide as I activated the spell. Against any normal living being, this would be devastating; after all, most creatures are made almost entirely of water. But—

"The magic... it didn't work?"

I felt the spell activate. It hadn't been repelled or resisted. There was simply... no feedback.

Then I remembered what Shiroru had said. The Plague-Cursed Black Wolf wasn't so much a monster as it was a manifestation of a curse. It wasn't a normal biological organism.

If it wasn't a monster... then...

Pausing to think, even for a split second, was a mistake. As the wolf lunged forward, it slammed its tail into me. It was a casual, secondary movement, but it was enough to send me flying.

The Black Wolf didn't even look back as it sprinted away.

Straight toward Halfa!