Interlude: The Creeping Shadows

Traba—a city where villains roam like stray dogs.

I stood in a small shop, stocking up on a mountain of fruit. With my short black hair, dark eyes, and a sturdy build wrapped in a black coat, I suppose I had what people call "Eastern" features. At the very least, I didn't look like I belonged here.

"Much obliged, 'Roz-san.' You're a real lifesaver, buying this much every time," the merchant said, his voice dripping with faux-friendliness.

"No, no. The fruit on this side is truly exquisite. Let me see..."

I pulled a small cloth purse from my pocket and spilled some coins haphazardly into my palm. I made a show of checking them one by one with the fumbling, unpracticed hands of a complete amateur. The merchant didn't even wait for me to finish; he snatched several coins out of my hand with the speed of a bird of prey.

"There we go. This one and this one."

"Ah, how very kind of you. Thank you."

"Don’t mention it. Just a word of advice: don't handle your money like that in this city. If you're lucky, you'll just get ripped off. If you're not, they'll strip you of everything but your skin."

I gave him a sheepish, self-deprecating smile. "I've just come from the countryside, you see. I still haven't quite found my bearings."

"Well, business is business. I’m happy as long as you’re buying."

"About that... it's actually been decided that I'll be leaving the city soon."

"Oh? Is that so? Well, damn. If I'd known that, I would've given you a proper send-off service."

"That’s quite alright. Well then, until we meet again."

"Take care now."

As I walked away, I didn't need to look back to know he was flipping one of my coins in the air, probably wondering if he should have squeezed me for even more. Go ahead, laugh it up, you greedy vulture. I could practically hear his eerie, snickering cackle echoing behind me.

---

I maintained my slow, unassuming pace until I reached a nondescript inn. After a polite greeting to the receptionist—and a small bribe in the form of a single piece of fruit—I headed up to the second floor.

I stopped at the large room at the very end of the hall and gave a specific, rhythmic knock.

The door clicked open. Standing there was a blonde young man, also dressed in a black coat. He was barely in his late teens, his face still holding a trace of boyishness.

"Roz-san! Did you find the good stuff?"

"I did, Sham. I made sure to get all the things you like."

I stepped inside, and Sham immediately plucked a piece of fruit from the bag, biting into it without a second thought. Juice sprayed everywhere, droplets staining the front of his coat, but he didn't care in the slightest.

"Man, the apples on this side are seriously exquisite—gah!"

A sharp smack echoed through the room as Sham’s head snapped forward.

"Have some respect! It’s 'Lord Roz,' not 'Roz-san.' And you’re the lowest-ranked member here—what gives you the right to start eating before everyone else?!"

"Shut up, Peach! We’ve been cooped up in this room for ages! Cut me some slack!"

The culprit was Peach, a girl about Sham’s age with a pink short-cut. She turned to me, offering a polite bow of gratitude before selecting a piece of fruit for herself. The moment she took a bite, her prickly expression melted into a blissful smile.

"Oh, this is wonderful... Lord Roz, why is the fruit on this side so much better than back home?"

"It’s likely the climate," I replied. "There are four distinct seasons here. Plus, the merchants are shrewd. They're greedy enough to rip me off the moment I pretend to be ignorant, but I suppose that same cleverness goes into their agriculture. —Kuro, wake up."

In the corner of the room, a boy smaller than the rest of us stirred in his bedding. He rubbed his sleepy, droopy eyes, his messy black hair sticking up in every direction.

"Ah... welcome back, Roz-san."

"It’s 'Lord Roz,' Kuro," Peach corrected him sharply.

"Don't worry about it," I said, handing the boy a piece of fruit. "Here."

"Thank you..."

Kuro began to eat, his head nodding as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Within seconds, his eyes were closed again. Peach let out a long, weary sigh while Sham just snickered.

"Enjoy it," I said, my voice dropping to a serious tone. "Because that will be our last meal in this city."

Kuro’s eyes snapped open. Sham stood up, his face lighting up with a bloodthirsty excitement.

"Wait, does that mean it’s finally time for the mission?!"

"The location of the Artifact has been confirmed. It appears a noble in the frontier has been keeping it in storage. We seize it, we return, and the job is done."

Peach raised her hand tentatively. "What is it?" I asked.

"Is it really just going to be the four of us? No help from the Demon Race? No reinforcements at all?"

"They won't be lending a hand directly. According to the Demon King, 'that’s just how things are.'"

Sham’s face twisted in a scowl, and he slammed a fist against the table. "That again?! Those bastards are so full of themselves! They look down on us like we’re nothing but a nation of eternal defeat. They ship us off to the Human World to do the dirty work, and I bet they’ll swoop in to take the credit at the end!"

"Don't be so bitter," I cautioned. "Think of the reward. If this mission succeeds, they’ve promised to return all our sovereign territory."

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. The petty bickering vanished, replaced by a heavy, stunned silence.

"Is that... for real?" Sham whispered.

"Lord Roz, did the Demon Race actually promise that?" Peach asked, her voice trembling.

"Yes. And for all their faults, they do not tell lies. However... we should expect interference."

Kuro, now fully awake, asked quietly, "What kind of interference?"

"You all know the Demon Race’s recent invasion was a disaster. The humans who repelled them are still active. They'll likely try to stop us."

"I don't get it," Sham complained. "How would those guys even know we're going after the Artifact?"

"I don't have the answer to that. Future Prediction Magic, mind-reading, or perhaps they have a mole in the Demon World. There are plenty of possibilities."

Peach frowned. "I find it hard to believe such magic even exists. And humans shouldn't even be aware of the Demon World's inner workings, let alone be able to spy on it."

"Likely so. But the fact that the Demon King is willing to trade our entire territory for this mission tells me one of two things: either the difficulty is astronomical, or..."

"Or we're expected to fail," Kuro finished my sentence.

"The probability is high," I admitted. "But this is an order. Unlike the higher-ranking Demon Race, the King doesn't do things just for 'amusement.' If the mission succeeds, he gets the Artifact. If it fails but he gets data on the humans, that’s also a win. And if we’re all wiped out in the process? He probably considers that the best outcome of all."

"I get why they'd want to get rid of you since you're a General, Lord Roz," Peach said, casting a side-eye at Sham. "But killing Sham seems like a waste of effort."

"Hey! Who do you think you’re talking to? I could take those Demon Race punks any day!"

"In your dreams. Kuro, maybe. You? No."

"What did you say?!"

"Enough," I barked. "Stop fighting. You are all exceptional—strong enough to hold your own against the Demon Race. If this mission succeeds, the reconstruction of our Demon Kingdom, Ataolas, will finally be within our grasp. We will reclaim the Artifact, and we will all return home alive. Is that clear?"

"""Understood!"""

As Sham started changing into his combat gear, he asked a final question. "By the way, I know you said to keep the body count low, but what if they come at us first?"

"Then we handle them. We aim for minimum casualties, but we do what is necessary. Fortunately, the target is a manor in the outskirts. As long as we aren't intercepted, there shouldn't be many enemies to deal with."

Kuro swallowed the last bit of his apple—core and all—and spoke with a chilling flatness. "And if things go south... we can just kill everyone, right?"

Suddenly, Peach’s posture stiffened. Her eyes went sharp. "Lord Roz... fifteen humans. They’re armed and surging with Mana. They just entered the building."

Sham’s grin returned, wider than ever. "Ooh! A fight? Are we starting already?!"

"Your orders, Lord Roz?" Peach asked.

"I believe I told you all I wanted to stay as inconspicuous as possible," I said with a sigh. Sham slumped his shoulders, disappointed—until I continued. "However, I can't have them thinking they can look down on Ataolas. Peach, the moment they open that door, warp them away."

I couldn't help but let a small, dark smile slip onto my face.

---

"W-What the hell?! Where are we?!"

"A forest?! How?! We were just in the hallway!"

"Get a grip! It’s magic, obviously!"

Fifteen burly men, weapons drawn and Mana flaring, were suddenly standing in the middle of a dense thicket instead of the inn. They were seasoned fighters, several of them wearing B-class Adventurer tags that glinted in the dappled sunlight.

"Dammit, I didn't know they had a high-level warper," the leader spat. "Everyone, stay together and—"

"Wait... Gah! Hey, what’s wrong with you?! Why’d you just fall over?!"

"Gi—higioyaaaaaaa!"

"Ugoiyaaaaaaaaaaa!"

One by one, the men collapsed into the dirt, clutching their throats or falling limp without a sound. We didn't even show ourselves until the very last one had hit the ground.

Sham stepped over a fallen body, poking it with his boot. "Wow. What a bunch of losers."

"I thought B-class Adventurers were supposed to be somewhat competent," Peach remarked, sounding genuinely disappointed.

"Their Mana levels were high enough, I suppose," Kuro added, yawning.

I pulled my hood low over my face and began to walk.

"The ones who defeated the Demon King's army will be far more dangerous than these thugs. Do not let your guard down. Move out. Our target is the outskirts—House Antwerp."