Masahiko has just regrouped with the rest. During this first try to tackle Katsuragi-kun's party, he was trying to find another route with Teruko but he was too late, most of them got away.
He listens to what has happened while looking at the elf that Eri and Daichi captured. At her side is a very cautious Hoshibashi-kun who stares daggers at her. On the other hand, the elf calmly stands next to him, looking gracious and wise.
This is the first real elf Masahiko has ever seen. She looks so... different. The elves from the games have more human faces. She rather looks like a doll, her face unmoving and hard to read. Maybe she's just so old that she's above emotions at this point? The constantly moving ears adds to the aura of otherworldliness.
“To summarize,” Yoshimura-kun starts to speak softly, “we have rattled them. While having the elf is better than having nothing, guarding her will take some of our forces...”
“Maybe we can talk to her,” Masahiko suggests. “She's not resisting in any way and maybe we can find out more about what's going on.”
Yoshimura-kun obviously dislikes the idea, maybe because of his earlier encounter with the elf. Eri is stating her displeasure openly: “I don't like her.”
“Why?”
“She... she called me a copycat!”
“...why?”
“Because of my hairstyle.”
Masahiko looks at the elf and tries to imagine that this person would be something else than aloof and mysterious. “She doesn't seem like someone who would call people names. Especially for a reason like that.”
“Ah,” Daichi smacks his hand with his fist: “this sounds like Katsuragi. She's wearing the same ring as Kyou-san.”
Eri furrows her brows. “So you're saying that she was under his mind-control?”
“Sure.”
Masahiko isn't sure if he likes where this is going, but on the other hand, he believes in Eri and what she says, so this discrepancy between what she says and what he sees could be explained that way. It would also explain why Kyou ran away by herself... unless she doesn't know that it's her friends that are here for her.
Correo is sitting on a rock, listening to the conversation while observing the elf. Now he shares his wisdom: “This may be the case, but don't underestimate elves, Inoue-dono. There are many places that consider elves inherently evil.”
“They are different from us. They live longer, so their perspective of life is another one. I guess, they treat us like children.”
“I've met some elves before, Inoue-dono. Looking down on us doesn't even begin to describe what's wrong with them.”
Correo is a native person, after all, someone who was raised with all the prejudices that the world has to offer. For an outsider like Masahiko, it's easier to be open-minded about the people he meets here. “Since nobody openly disagrees with talking to her, I'll do it. Don't worry, I'll be careful.”
With a weird feeling of excitement, he approaches the elf whose ears start twitching as she slowly turns her head towards him. Hoshibashi-kun has her staff and her backpack in hand, she's basically defenseless, yet her eyes—eyes with a strange double-iris—seem unfazed. “Yes?”
“Sorry for the circumstances. My name is Inoue Masahiko, and I'm a hero.”
“I'm Ara'ainn, the hero-sage.”
“Hero-sage?”
“I devoted my life to the research of heroes.”
“Really! That's awesome.”
“Your admiration means nothing to me, Inoue-dono.” This certainly sounds arrogant, but on the other hand, with a title like hero-sage, he may be little more than an object of study for her.
Let's break the ice here. “You can call me Masahiko. Or Masa, for short. I'll call you Ara'ainn.”
Her face doesn't tell him if she likes it or not, the ears are moving strangely, so maybe her emotions are communicated by the ear-movements instead of her facial expressions? “I have started to entertain doubts towards humans at this point, Masahiko-kun.”
“Why so?”
“Because of my so-called master, Katsuragi Kenta.”
“!?” A small groan escapes Masahiko's throat as he hears these words, as the implication sounds almost like proof of all those thoughts about mind-controlling rings.
“I suspect,” Ara'ainn continues, “that you already know about the rings? When Katsuragi Kenta visited me, claiming to seek knowledge about the hero-system, I treated him like a guest. The first few days he may have acted impolite at times, but I dismissed this as usual human behavior. The way his female companions behaved should have told me that something was amiss. Then he slipped this ring on my finger while I was asleep and yes, he sought my knowledge, in addition to my body.”
Her body!? Does this mean, Kyou has also... Masahiko feels anger rising in himself, he feels betrayed. Teruko starts screaming her anger out, most likely listening to the conversation with her sharp senses. Katsuo, who also has [Perception], has this fierce expression on his face. Hoshibashi, who is standing right next to the elf, is staring down at her, though it doesn't impress the elf in any way.
“Don't worry. We'll capture Katsuragi-kun and then he owes us some answers. We will take upon your grudge. Can you remove the ring?”
“No, it's impossible.”
The same as with Kyou. Distance to Katsuragi seems to be a factor in how much control can be put on a person. Everything considered, the whole mind-control story seems to be true. Masahiko allows himself to have that little doubt, but at this point, it may be just his wishful thinking.
“Do you know where Katsuragi-kun is?”
“I can point into the exact direction.” Kyou was also able to give them hints as to where Katsuragi-kun was. “Do we pursue him now?”
“I wish I could, but we need everything you know that might help us. Also, if you get too close to Katsuragi-kun, you might fall under his control again, so we need to decide how to handle it.” It would be great to have her along. Teruko may be able to exactly outline how the rocky environment looks like with her [Rockmap]-skill and guess good points to plan ambushes, but she can't find people or monsters with this. While Correo's relic can do that, it just shows the general direction and you can roughly estimate the distance, so with both together, they could narrow it down to two spots.
That's why they have split into two teams with the last assault, sending Masahiko, Correo, Katsuo, and Teruko to the less likely position, so that they can catch up to the rest with Teruko's help if needed. It was sad to split the party, but they wanted to strike both places simultaneously to deny them any more advantage, especially seeing how the terrain favored small groups.
Now they need to come up with another plan, yet other than before, they have a source of information right in front of them and can work on improving their performance and choices. “I know, it may be hard for you, but would you mind telling us about Katsuragi-kun?”
“I suppose that all of you will try to capture Katsuragi Kenta?”
“To be honest, we are actually just trying to find our friend, Momokawa Kyou. Though there are some here who want to bring the princess back to her home.”
“I see. So you want my knowledge as an insider, as a slave, to attain as much intelligence as possible?”
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“Yes. I'm sorry.”
“No need. I can tell you what you need to know.” Masahiko brings everyone together so that they can listen to Ara'ainn's tale.
What a tale it is. She spoke about how she was captured and about her first orders. At the beginning of this, Masahiko harbored the urge to vomit, especially because of how descriptive Katsuragi-kun's... well, sexual demands are portrayed. What sexual fetishes that boy Masahiko's age had, including anal intercourse, scat, SM, and things that can be done with ears that Masahiko never dreamed to be possible.
Due to this first, horrendous part, it was no surprise how calm all of them are as Ara'ainn explains how he makes the girls with him act like slaves, abusing them verbally, calling them names, and such. Even forcing them to disclose their innermost secrets and sexual desi- they're at sex again!
“Miss Ara'ainn,” Correo is the one who interrupts this lecture-like talk, “We already know about this. We would like to know about the combat potential and goals.”
Being totally overwhelmed with Ara'ainn's talk about the vileness of Katsuragi-kun and his perverted desires, Masahiko has somehow forgotten about these most important aspects at this point.
“Katsuragi Kenta is looking for other females to join his harem. The more powerful, the better. So while he never mentioned it, I'm positive that his next destination is Zethtrin.” This is a place Masahiko never heard about.
“This is rather far away...” Correo-san thinks aloud. “For your information, Zethtrin is the capital of an alliance of city-states. There are several powerful factions running that city, as well as many guests, as the government stages the Games once every decade. Many countries of the continent are sending people for diplomatic missions there. It's like a gathering of the powerful in a rather neutral setting.” He leaves these words, giving the teenagers time to understand what this means...
These games will be a stepping stone to infiltrate any nation he sees fit.
Correo also doesn't like it, it's apparent in his face. “What can we expect from him?”
“Using me, Katsuragi Kenta has also infiltrated my village and learned the [Ranger]-class-up. This allows him to speak with animals and plants. He made Momokawa Kyou learn the way of the [Herbalist] to increase his ways of subjecting people, powerful drugs, hallucinogens, poisons, stimulants, and aphrodisiacs.” This earns another collective groan from Masahiko and his friends. “Princess Katarine von Stolzherz, on the other hand, couldn’t learn anything, so Katsuragi Kenta used his spare time to thoroughly discipline her. Not only to diminish her last sparks of resistance, but also sexually.”
“Katsuragi-kun... just what have you done?” It's clear as day that Ara'ainn is holding a grudge against him, and Masahiko can't help but feel sorry for her, and angry about this whole mess. It shows that power leads to corruption when it's not reigned in.
Time to straighten him out, that's the least Masahiko could do for his classmate.
―○●○―
“Finally, Katsuragi Kenta is capable of causing despair into others. The only way to counter it is by laughing. So when fighting him, you should laugh as hard as you can.” This is also technically a truth, as when talking to Kenta-kun, he can usually point out all the bad things in any given situation and being cheerful despite of it makes him feel uncomfortable. This is usually Katarine-san's part.
These humans are strange, and if it weren't for the equipment, I would have problems discerning two of them because Masahiko-kun and that Katsuo-person just look too alike. The other males are easier to differentiate, mostly by their hairstyles.
“Thank you, Ara'ainn.” Masahiko-kun looks at some of his people, the ones that are in his actual party. “We need a moment to digest everything and discuss what to do. So would you wait?”
“Don't worry, Inoue-dono,” the man with the hat says, “I'll keep an eye on her.”
“Thanks Correo-san.”
The humans other than the hat-wearer are distancing themselves, around two kuooaf. Then the small girl starts in outrage, claiming to kill Kenta-kun. Maybe she's jealous? The only question is whether her sexual interest lies with males or females.
Suddenly, their conversation is muted. I look at the most likely source, the man with the hat. “You must be the famous Correo.” Kenta-kun said that he's the one behind the attack of Aroahenn and the theft of some of our relics and other magic items. They may be worth next to nothing, as it only made sense to give the heroes who were active at the time the useful things, but it's a theft nonetheless. It wasn't even a prank-theft.
“I'm surprised that you didn't start trotting out the truth.”
“With you present, I was sure that you had counter-measures in place.”
“So you decided to feed them false intel?”
“Only to motivate them more. Also, I didn't tell any lies about what Kenta-kun and the others are capable of.”
“It seems that way.”
“It's good that you agree.”
A smile appears on his face, while his voice is ice-cold. In this regard, he reminds me of Momo. “I know your people. I also know that you are trying to manipulate these poor children, who are desperate to find their friend.”
“That's why I motivated them, giving them more and more reasons to confront Kenta-kun. What is your reason to help them?”
“You would like to know, right?”
“That's why I'm asking, obviously. I mean, it's hard to believe that I just met a person who thinks that asking questions without any intention of having them answered is so unlikely that they need to make sure. So yes, Correo, so that you also understand: When I inquire information, I want to know it.”
Correo tips his hat once, still a smile on his face: “So we're both in a position where we want to know what the other is planning and how it conflicts with our plans.”
“Ah, poor Correo. He sees himself as the equal of a mere sex toy for a pubescent human, which is also a prisoner of war...”
The man laughs at it, it's a jolly laughter. “Good one.”
“So as thanks you will tell me about your plan?”
“Sure.”
...this is suspicious. Especially as he had put some resistance before. I mean, for an alfr it would be natural to do so, but Correo is a human, so I would have expected him to make sexual demands of me.
The man with the hat looks to the juveniles. “I'm nothing more than a mere courier, driven by greed. The true mastermind is someone else.”
“Who?”
“As you know, her goal is to capture Princess Katarine. This is because she's a unique case.”
“In what way unique?”
“Using her, my master will have enough resources to start her conquest.”
“Conquest of what?”
“So as a courier, it's my task to deliver her Princess Katarine, and you have foiled me before. Yet as someone who is barely able to defend myself, I need others to work for me.”
“The oni, the mercenaries, demons, and the monsters?”
“That's why I went to Feuerberg to learn about the heroes beside Princess Katarine, and met Inoue-dono and the rest.”
“So you have convinced them to help you?”
“By the way, the two others, Star and Lent, are borrowed from my master.”
“Did you realize that you have answered none of my questions?” This is infuriating and while I'm happy about every exposition that isn't an arduous task, it's hard to be neither the one who explains, nor the one who has her questions answered.
Which means that Correo is inherently evil!
So I need to start making assumptions if I take the bits Correo told me about as the truth. I start with the assumption that he has several ways to deal with any interference I may come up with, as I predicted. Otherwise he wouldn't have told me about his plan.
I'm also curious about the [Skill] or [Spell] he used to blend out our conversation with that of the heroes. “Why are you not partaking with their planning?” Maybe he'll answer this question at least.
“Several reasons. My former plan didn't work, I had little chance to make proper preparations, but mostly, because Inoue-dono and Lent are both strong personalities and when both met, I knew that I needed to take a step back and see how it works out and only interfere when necessary. I’m starting to believe that it's up to the two of us who will win this conflict. Up to our ability to manipulate these heroes.”
For Correo, this is a game of the mind, while I believe that I'm just warming the bench.
[https://kentusauthor.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/araainn-base-stats-2.png]
―○●○―
Lent Wood, formerly known as Yoshimura Rentaro, clenches his teeth. There is a lot going on in his mind, everything is as grating as the next.
First the elf. It's the same one that fought them in the elven village. He expected her to claim that he's the enemy, telling about how he seemingly sided with demons. Yet she told them in too many details about how horrendous and vile Katsuragi Kenta is.
He doesn't know whether this is the truth or not. So he can't be sure whether she is trying to trick them or if she just decided that Lent and Star are the lesser evil to align with. This deep-running doubt makes it nigh impossible to make sound decisions about how to deal with her, other than killing her, which would offend Inoue and his companions. How can he come up with a strategy with so many uncertainties?
Knowing more is better than knowing less, but knowing false is worse than knowing nothing. What is her plan? Did she let herself be captured on purpose?
Nonetheless, Inoue and his party are motivated. Their leader makes his suggestion: “Let's use Ara'ainn and let her lead us to Katsuragi-kun. Then we can talk it out or do whatever is necessary.”
What a weak way to deal with this. “Masa,” Akiyama says, brandishing her ponytail: “I don't trust her one bit. She may lead us into a trap.”
“But what are we supposed to do? Twiddle our thumbs?”
“Yes, Eri!” Kurosawa agrees, the shorty and the hulking Yamauchi were always in a rush, so this pattern repeats. Even the silent Kitamura seems to take their side.
“Yoshimura-kun,” Akiyama says to Lent: “Tell them how stupid it is.”
Lent, who was busy thinking and listening, clears his throat: “It's not stupid, but complicated. Yes, she may lead us into a trap. However, when the elf knows where Katsuragi is, he might know where she is as well, so they may ambush us any time. We have the superior numbers, but it won't do us much good if we're sitting ducks. Rushing to them may also cause an ambush. So my suggestion is: Give up our advantage in numbers and split up. One group will find Katsuragi's group, the other will stay here and guard the elf. If he comes for the elf, we have a strong group ready. If he prepares for us coming, we have a fitting answer by choosing the right members.”
“That is risky,” Akiyama says. “Is it worth it?”
“At this point, I can only make assumptions. I think Katsuragi's group is in a similar dilemma as we are, so if we can rattle them quickly enough, we might be able to break them apart before they can form a sound strategy.”