The cold winds of Brunhild howled through the narrow alleys as Juichi and Sakura sprinted across the empty streets, their cloaks snapping behind them. The echoes of armoured boots thundered behind them — the city guards were closing in fast.
"They're following us like rabid hounds," Juichi muttered, glancing back over his shoulder.
Sakura, running alongside him, gritted her teeth. "Someone betrayed us."
There was no need to say the name. They both knew it — Edgar Lorran.
Juichi's expression darkened. "I can't believe it."
"Neither can I," Sakura admitted, voice tight. "He's a merchant, sure, but Edgar valued trust more than gold."
Their boots splashed through shallow puddles as they zigzagged between alleys, slipping into a narrow passage to hide for a moment. The sound of pursuit grew distant.
Juichi leaned against the wall, catching his breath. "What could've made him do it?"
Sakura's eyes flickered. "Mira…"
Juichi turned sharply. "His wife?"
Sakura nodded slowly. "He'd never turn on us willingly. Someone must have threatened her."
A heavy silence hung between them.
Juichi clenched his fist. "Then whoever forced Edgar's hand... they're the real enemy."
Sakura's voice hardened. "We have to find Mira."
"But how?" Juichi asked, scanning the dark streets.
A thought flashed through his mind. He exhaled sharply and summoned his Status Window.
『Status Window — Open』
A translucent blue screen shimmered into existence, casting a soft glow over his face. His eyes darted over his abilities.
Skill: Mana Detection – Level I
(Ability derived from Martial Arts Skill)
He focused.
『Activate Skill — Mana Detection』
A pulse of energy spread from his body like ripples in water. In a heartbeat, he sensed every mana signature nearby — citizens, patrolling guards, even rats scurrying in the gutters.
And then —
A faint, trembling mana deep within the slums.
He opened his eyes, sharp and sure.
"I found her."
Sakura blinked. "You're serious?"
"Her mana's faint, but she's alive. We have to move."
Without wasting another second, they sprinted through the maze of rooftops and alleys, closing the distance toward Mira's location.
---
They stopped in a shadowed corner of the slums, breathing heavily.
Sakura's eyes flicked around. "We can't do both."
Juichi understood immediately.
They needed to stop the mastermind and complete their mission — but they couldn't leave Mira behind either.
Sakura spoke first. "We'll split."
Juichi nodded without hesitation. "You find Edgar. Find out who's pulling his strings. I'll rescue Mira."
Sakura's hand brushed against the hilt of her dagger. "Be careful."
"You too," Juichi said with a faint grin.
And then, without another word, they parted — each disappearing into opposite shadows.
---
Juichi followed the weak trail of Mira's mana deep into the city's underbelly.
The buildings grew twisted and abandoned.
The air itself felt heavier — filled with rot and despair.
The trail ended at a decrepit warehouse on the city's edge.
Juichi slipped inside silently.
The faint torchlight revealed two armoured soldiers standing guard before a locked door.
Juichi crouched low behind a crate, assessing.
『They're holding her inside.』
Swiftly, he drew a dagger from his belt.
With a silent burst of movement, he slammed the hilt into the first guard's neck — the man dropped without a sound.
The second soldier turned just in time to see Juichi's shadow before being slammed to the ground.
Both are down in under ten seconds.
Juichi approached the door. His Mana Detection confirmed Mira's faint life force within.
"Mira?" he whispered.
No answer.
He gritted his teeth, then broke the lock with a swift strike.
The door creaked open, revealing a petite woman with ash-brown hair, tied and trembling. Her wide eyes filled with terror—until they recognized him.
"You're...!"
"I'm here to get you out," Juichi said firmly.
She stumbled toward him, and he caught her.
Together, they slipped back into the night.
But before they could get far—
Juichi's senses screamed a warning.
Dozens of mana signatures surged from the alleyways around them.
Armoured soldiers blocked the exits. Their leader, cloaked in black steel, stepped forward.
"Hand her over," he ordered coldly.
Juichi shifted Mira behind him. His stance hardened.
"Not happening."
Without another word, the soldiers charged.
Juichi's dagger flickered in the torchlight as he met them head-on.
He ducked under a spear thrust, elbowed the attacker hard, and rolled forward, weaving between the armoured bodies.
Another came from behind — Juichi caught his wrist, twisting it until the sword clattered to the ground.
The black-armoured leader lunged.
Their blades clashed, the impact jarring Juichi's arm.
『Tch… These aren't normal city guards.』
Gritting his teeth, he activated his Martial Arts footwork, dancing between attacks with razor precision.
One soldier collapsed, then another.
Juichi's movements were relentless — a blur of strikes, feints, and throws.
Finally, only the leader remained.
Juichi disarmed him with a brutal twist and sent him sprawling against the wall.
The remaining soldiers, seeing their leader fall, turned and fled into the night.
Juichi turned to Mira, panting.
"Let's go," he said. "You're safe now."
Supporting her, he vanished into the maze of shadows once more.
But in his chest, a cold certainty gnawed:
This was just the beginning.
---
Meanwhile, at Edgar's residence...
Sakura stood silently in the dim room, her eyes pinned on Edgar Lorran.
"Talk," she said sharply. "Now."
Edgar stood frozen, trembling.
His eyes darted toward the back door.
Sakura's gaze followed instinctively — and caught the fleeting glimpse of a shadow disappearing into the darkness.
『Someone was here.』
The air between them thickened with tension.
Sakura stepped forward, the glint of her dagger catching the moonlight.
"Start talking, Edgar," she said, voice cold.
"Before it's too late."
---
To Be Continued...