I dropped down the carriage, with my bangs weaving before my eyes, including a strand that I dyed silver. This wasn’t a trend but a declaration that I’m Quimora, a soul who once died from brutality. I hope I won’t be compared to a certain cockroach.

The steepness of the cobblestone road, accommodated by flickering shadows created by sun-dappled leaves, slanted my heels. Behind the branches and bushes, birds chipped and the squirrels chattered. The earthy aroma of decomposed leaves alongside fresh air diminished after the scent of burnt wood mixed alongside it.

“I’m so sick of forests,” I mumbled.

Except for Xenos, the whole gang dropped off. Rox’s brother, Lian, who stood the same height as Ellen, led us towards the disconnected bridge that hinted at marks of recent burns. His short hair with a clean cut shared the same sandy-orange hair as Rox. Luckily, unlike Rox, he’s not a puppet.

Beyond us was the road extending to the horizon where the miniature of the walled kingdom appeared. As our eyes wandered along the river, Lian commented, “It would be kilometers in Megapolis’s metrics until we reach another bridge. However, we won’t know if those were also burnt by the same person.”

“Either left or right, I suppose it’s a 50/50,” I muttered, pinching my chin. “Hey, redhead brother, you may stay here until further notice. As far as I can tell, I’ll soon send you home. Rox, do you see anyone from our vicinity? These burns are fresh.”

Wood forensics includes the analysis of debris and ashes, burn patterns, ignition sources, remnants of materials, and trace evidence. From the traces of thick smoke, the amount of ashes, and the darkness of the burn, the arsonist shouldn’t have run far enough.

In case of surveillance, Rox always readied a drone with its exterior made of glass for camouflage. That's just how pigeons work. It could sense geographic differences and various temperatures from its infrared sensor. How fast Rox processes information is beyond magnificent.

“Quimora, I’ve found a huge squirrel running away at the riverside 20 meters from us. It should be traced at our tenth,” Rox reported, even though what she spotted wasn’t a squirrel but a human body heat.

Ellen removed her heels and stepped forward. “I’ll hunt the prey.”

“Self-awareness, promiscuous woman. Swimsuits don’t go along with heels,” I replied.

“This isn't a swimsuit. It’s underwear.”

Usually, I let Xenos handle pursuits. However, he’s unavailable in most cases, like look at him now! He’s a DLC (Downloadable Content) who prices a hefty amount for a dinky effort. Unlike Ellen who’s banned in travel agencies, her physical enhancements multiply her agility faster than a cheetah and other jungle booties. Her body build was only for design, but her magic control surpasses the accuracy of a well-calculated sniper bullet.

She dug her barefoot down the cobblestone ground and launched herself loose. We cheered for her like Olympic athlete fans before she vanished from the fog she created.

“Let me go! Pervert!”

A thirteen year-old girl carrying a bag of arson tools struggled from Ellen’s grip. Ellen walked back while hanging the girl’s hands above her. The girl’s shaking never fazed Ellen’s physical enhancements.

“Can you shut up? What can I do? That’s how the author made me.”

“What are you talking about!? Let me go! You’re a masochist! A whore! You’ll just play with my body!” The girl cried, trying to break free.

“Oh? And what plays have you learned at that age? Have you heard of the slider? Scissor play? The double trouble?”

The rest of my group entered the scene. While I sat around King’s neck, I uttered, “Don’t feed irrational thoughts to children, Ellen. Do you want to get canceled?”

“Oh! Sorry, Quimora… and the author.”

“For once, can you shut your fourth wall down?” I commanded Kingsley to approach the girl so I could assess the situation. It’s best to ride over Kingsley’s head. He never dared to look back at my skirt. However, this unnatural trembling he’s emitting just won’t stop.

“W–Who are you!? Are you going to kidnap me!? Then you just better kill me!” The girl screamed.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Who on Entropy’s underboob suggested that we’ll kidnap you?” I asked with a raised brow. “We can kill you as you wish, but in this outfit, we’re law-abiding citizens and tourists. I suppose we have the option to report you to the castle’s security to avoid any problematic variables.”

“Please don’t… Just kill me…”

I dropped off from Kingsley and narrowed my eyes at the girl. “It’s a waste for younger generations to die, FYI. Don’t you have an explanation to do first? I hate inconveniences that waste my time. Don’t you have a grandfather that tells you not to burn bridges?”

The girl pressed her lips and gazed away from me. “...... I don’t have a family.”

“Hmm?” I pinched my cheek and hummed with a raised tone. Soon, her stomach growled, which scared the nearby squirrels. “I suppose you’re an ant following the scent of sweets. You should tell me who you’re working for. I could always retract a pre-plotted future.”

“She’s obviously hungry,” Guinelle commented.

“Obviously!” I exclaimed, “You wished to die? Ellen can grip you for three days in that position until you pass out of hunger. But don’t worry! We have a way to lead us to them. It looks like you’re surrounded by a bunch of good people.”

“I’m having readings that a group of people were approaching us in the opposite direction, twenty-five in total,” Rox reported.

“Twenty-five wasn’t different from one, I suppose.”

““MARY!””

Behind the trees, echoes of a name resonated within our vicinity, accompanied by crumpled leaves from the mysterious march. A group of kids, ranging from an age of eight to fifteen years old, emerged behind the trees, holding various types of rusty weapons. A teenage boy with sparkling chestnut hair took the spotlight in the middle as he was the only one who walked chest out and chin up.

“Hey, you! Free Mary now, or you’ll face… OH!” The boy suddenly averted his raven-like eyes away, the same as the rest of their group did. Flustered, he shouted, “F–FREE HER, PERVERT! Put some clothes on!”

I, staring at them with narrowed eyes, tilted my head to the side and fumbled, “Um… What the heck? Suppose, am I watching Kindergarten Forest right now? They seem to be on a field trip where they lost their guide.”

Ellen bit her lip and engaged me with wrinkling brows of worry. “Quimora… We might get canceled twenty-six times.”

“Count me in. My body’s still fifteen years old.”

Mary struggled to bail out from Ellen’s grip and shouted, “Escape now, Gavin! They’re far too strong for us! They’re just like those weirdos in helmets!”

“Huh? Weirdos in helmets?” I asked. “I never knew there’s Powder Rangers here. Would you mind telling me more about that?”

Gavin, the notable courageous leader, stepped in front and replied, “They the unknowns we’re hiding from. Inside that kingdom, children who dwell on the alleys and beyond the curfew were lost. Orphans weren’t an exception. Even outside the kingdom, we’re being hunted for the bad. Hence, we need to burn the bridges to avoid being captured.”

“Hey, your nose is bleeding. I suppose you're fine,” I commented.

Gavin’s eyes bulged. He turned back and wept the blood crawling down his nose using his shirt. “I–I’m not having dirty thoughts or anything! I’m just warning you. I know you’re strong, but they are stronger than you think. Even the kingdom took the mission to hunt them. Adventurers died every day chasing them down. If you’re here just for visits, I suggest you turn back.”

Not being noticed, I approached him from behind and pressed his shoulder, which sent shivers down his spine. “What an overprotective boy. I couldn’t care less about the uncultured. Moreover, may I know if you’re interested in stones?”

“A–Are you an addict or something similarly crazy?”

I shook my head. “I’m just crazy, and that same crazy person can erase that kingdom in a flick. Now, do you have an idea about the magic stones in the tales to revive the propagator of Entropy?”

“You really are crazy! No one would seek information about that belief. Every book in existence was already banned. The remaining is said to exist within the forbidden library. If the officials heard you, they’ll send your head flying from a chop.”

“That’s alright.” I leaned my head over his shoulder and whispered in his ear. “... After all, I've already been decapitated more than a hundred times.”

Gavin rooted himself on the ground with his trembling legs. Accompanied by his rasping breaths, his bulged eyes lost their ability to blink. He pressed his lips, forcing himself not to utter anything.

I giggled, “Ellen, let the godmother go. These elementary students should now wet their pants.” After escaping, Mary ran and hid behind Skade who now dared to face me. I said, “It’s a reward for some messed-up information. You should know I’m greedy when information is involved. We’re far different from the mask men you’re scared of.”

“Follow us to our depot. Just so you know, there are two people we don’t allow there, spies and strippers,” he said and turned back. The sound of an alarmed growl emerged from his stomach. Flustered, he exclaimed, “J–Just so you know, we have food in our hideout!”

“I suppose. I’m not here to babysit a hundred starvin Marvins.” A half-day detour won’t best an hour of information gathering. I’m already informed about the missing children of Kollaria, and it’s been a decade-long internal conflict. Concluding, there’s internal politics involved. I won’t even involve myself with an issue unrelated to my plans.

Before we set off, Ellen approached me and clasped my hand. The moment I turned at her, her pained stare greeted me. Sweats scattered down her skin visibly. She squirmed her body while fidgeting her fingers and begged, “Quimora… Can you send Luan home?”

Not wanting to experience travel distress, I understood her. I don’t want the public to name us as a group of exhibitionists. I also don’t want to enter the kingdom on this specific day with a carriage.

“Present your best disguise and slay. Also, don’t wake Xenos up.”