Right from the start, Katsu was engaged in a fierce battle with the Gnolls.

Using the ‘Run and Fight’ strategy.

He would slash with his sword, then sprint away to create distance.

A tiring way to fight. Yet, it was better than being surrounded by the enemy.

If that were to happen, even he couldn’t survive it.

This far into the fight, Katsu had managed to kill four of the Gnolls.

But this was the most he could do. Openings to strike back were rare.

He was focused on dodging the blood-stained axes, rapidly swinging.

Any mistake could cause him to lose a limb, or worse, death.

This fact didn’t necessarily bother him all that much, he was used to danger.

Amaya’s hand was gripping the handle to her blade, ready to reveal its sharpness. She steadily proceeded toward Jackal, who wore a grim smile.

“Dumb lady, aren’t ya. I promised to remove your head if I ever say that to you again.” He pointed his broadsword in Amaya’s direction, planning to keep that promise.

“Just tell me this. Is Emi okay?” Amaya asked, keeping a fiery gaze.

“Ah. You mean that Demi-human? She disobeyed me, so I had to put her to rest.”

Amaya reminisced about the poor fox-girl. Malnourished and starving.

Clothes torn and dirty.

Because of the man at front, Emi’s life was horrid.

She truly deserved better. A Lot better.

Amaya's soul was in pain, knowing she failed to help the girl afterall.

And that she was dead because of it.

‘If anything. I’m at least glad I was able to make her happy for a little while. Even if it wasn’t for long.’

Amaya recalled Emi feasting on drumsticks, a sparkling joy in her eyes.

A wide, cheerful smile.

Amaya unsheathed her blade and shot a killer-stare at her opponent.

‘That man,he’ll pay. I’m not a killer, but he doesn't deserve to live.’

Just this once, she was willing to kill a living person. If he could even be called that.

[ ‘Burst’ Activated ]

Swoosh!

Amaya’s body leaped forward, shaking the air. A quick swing of her sword almost took Jackal’s head, but he ducked at the last second.

“WHAt THe hell?!..You’re fast!” A sweat flew from the side of his face.

This was Amaya’s new skill. She could move a short distance at incredible speeds. Once Every five minutes.

Jackal’s hand raised his sword and swung it left and right. None of his slashes were connecting, Amaya parried and danced around them all.

Though it looked grateful, it took every bit of her energy.

The slashes kept on, coming faster each time.

Both of their blades clashed, causing sparks to jump in every direction.

At first glance, it would seem to be an even match. But as the skirmish continued, Amaya’s faults became clear. She didn’t know how to properly wield her weapon, she was just throwing it around at random.

Jackal, on the other hand, had years of experience under his belt.

This was where he could turn the tides.

Clink!

A heavy slash came from the side, knocking the sword from Amaya’s grip.

Her eyes watched as it landed a great distance away. Far enough, that she would be cut down before reaching it.

Laughter erupted from Jackal’s mouth.

“You put up a good fight. It's a shame I gotta kill ya. HAha.”

He lunged his sword at Amaya’s face.

Gently, the back of her hand deflected the broadsword, which struck the ground instead. Then with all the power she could muster, she slammed her elbow into Jackal’s stomach, tossing him back.

The air was knocked from his lungs and he choked on his spit. Never, in his entire life, had he felt a strike like that. Especially from a girl.

“..No woman…could hit that hard.” He was still gasping for air.

Amaya wasn't all that great with a sword, but with her hands, she knew how to fight.

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Due to her tough childhood, she practiced martial arts for a long time. Though she wasn’t a master, she could manage in a fight.

Jackal didn’t learn his lesson yet, he ran straight at her, swinging his broadsword from above.

“Fuckin’ Die!”

His voice was explosive, but his attack was nothing.

Amaya weaved around it, then snatched it out his hand.

The tables turned well. Jackal was now at the mercy of his own blade, being pressed against his throat.

Amaya made a demand, “Tell the Gnolls to stand down. Now,”

If he didn’t comply, he’d be impaled through the neck.

Jackal admitted he wasn't ready to die. So, he complied.

“Alright…My Gnolls, calm yourselves!”

As soon as the command reached their ears, the monster’s halted their attacks, standing by, waiting.

Amaya’s hand tightened around the broadswords handle, a hate burning in her soul. She was about ready to remove Jackal's head, but he spoke up.

“W-wait! The Demi-human isn’t actually dead. I made that up.”

He explained that he only said that, in hopes to gain the advantage during the fight. It seemed to have played against him, though.

Jackal, still fearing for his life, pulled a key from his pocket then gave it to Amaya.

“Take it. That key will open all the prison cells. That demi-human you care so much about is there too.”

In the end, Amaya allowed him to live. As long as Emi could be saved, that’s all that mattered.

Katsu walked over to her side, hand on her shoulder.

“Go ahead and release the prisoners. I’ll question his motives in the meantime.”

He was sort of like a detective, the way he investigated things. A detective that was wearing a knight’s helmet.

Amaya gave a firm nod then rushed off down the hall.

Once she reached the end of it, she was disgusted by what she found.

It was a place where numerous people were trapped, forced to live behind rusty iron bars. Men, women, children.

Even demi-humans were prisoners here. They all had the same thing in common. Dirty clothes, and malnourished faces.

The law wouldn’t care if it was only demi-humans, but there were also fellow humans here too. It was safe to say Jackal would receive a life-sentence after all this.

Amaya moved from cell to cell, unlocking the doors and freeing the captives.

Finally, she made her way to a cage that sat in the corner.

Locked inside, was the familiar fox-girl. Emi.

Her cheeks were sinking in due to starvation. Her eyes were emotionless, but lit up when she recognized Amaya’s figure.

“You came for me?” Emi softly spoke.

“Of course I did. We still need to see the river, remember?”

____________

After everything, the prisoners were freed, allowed to return to their homes.

Jackal Redwiin, leader of the claws, was handed over to the guards. He was behind bars now, just like the innocent people he once starved and abused.

As for the tunnel system, Katsu destroyed it with explosion magic.

There was no longer a chance that monsters could use it as their home.

Katsu rested his body, his back laying against a tree trunk. Droplets fell from the stormy gray sky. The dirt became soaked, turning to mud, and all the forest plants had gotten their share of water. Softly, raindrops tapped on his silver helmet, over and over.

Tmp..TMp. Tmp..

One thing was being heavily thought about in Katsu's mind.

The information he had gotten earlier.

Jackal’s goal was to use the tunnel system as a stronghold, where he planned to build a force of at least 300 Gnolls. Then, he would lay siege to the town, causing chaos and destruction.

As to why?

This wasn't Jackal’s idea, alone. He was working for someone who promised to make him powerful. A promise to give him a small army that hec odul command.

It was short-lived, however.

“And who is this leader of your’s?” Katsu had asked at the time.

To which Jackal had given a reply.

“I honestly don’t know. I spoke to him through a messenger. From what I hear, though, he’s an ogre. Not a normal one. He has some crazy abilities. Like mind control and other stuff.”

The Ogre was the one who placed the Gnolls under Jackal’s command.

But, who was this ogre?

Katsu laid in the middle of the storm, silently piecing it all together.

Nightfall spreaded across the horizon. Like it did every other night.

The billions of stars twinkled within the black sky, the crescent moon wearing a white haze.

The town was silent. It was that time where people were laid in bed, deep in slumber. All except for the adventures at the guild, the only ones still awake. They were all drinking tall glasses of foamy beer, not stopping till their hearts were satisfied. The armor-wearing men were always rowdy with their conversations, but this is what gave life to the guild.

Even the women were loud. In fact, the only quiet person was Katsu.

He was sitting behind a table, taking the last bite of his meal.

Once finished, he wiped his mouth and put his helmet back on.

“Are You just going to stare? Or do you have something to say?”

He said this, directing it to the lady who was watching him.

She was an acquaintance of his, a dungeon strategist named Alice.

Alice was the one who taught him everything he knew about combat.

“That's quite a rude way to greet me. I suppose that I was staring a tad much.”

She took a seat across from him, leaning a bit forward, “If I had to guess, I'd say you’re thinking a lot.”

“And if you said that, you’d be right.” Katsu gazed down at the table’s wooden texture, asking a question, “I’m not socially perceptive. So that’s why I ask this. Have you noticed anything strange recently? Specifically: people having gaps in their memory.”

Alice sat wide-eyed, unsure of what brought on this sudden question.

Eventually, she shrugged off whatever the reason may have been.

“It’s strange that you brought that up. Because yes, I’ve seen a few examples.”

For 1, the guild lady couldn’t remember anything from today or the day before. It was as if she suddenly lost part of her memory. It was indeed strange, but wasn’t anything to fret about at a glance.

Second example: An adventurer came in after losing his party to some monsters in the forest. However, he couldn’t remember what monsters were. He only remembered seeing the aftermath.

Alice also recalled more events like this happening, but Katsu stopped her.

“That's all I need to hear. I got my answer.”

He got up and started to leave.

“You’re going already?” Alice pouted.

“It’s been a long day. I need some rest. We’ll catch up some other time.”

When he left the doors of the guild, Alice was left behind, air held inside her cheeks.

“Sometimes, I wonder if he has any emotion.”