Disclaimer: Black Clover is owned by Yūki Tabata, Studio Pierrot, and Shonen Jump.
Saga 33: Hellhound on my Trail Part 1
Blue Rose Knights Headquarters, Clover Kingdom, Noble Realm, Afternoon
For the past several weeks, both before and after the attack on the Capital, the Blue Rose Knights have been following the trail of evidence of the recently-unearthed human trafficking ring permeated across the Clover Kingdom.
Even as the headquarters themselves were currently being repaired, the investigations still continued for them. While the Blue Rose Knights have lost over 20% of Knights, the rest remaining were still remaining vigilant, if not, more than ever.
As Charlotte along with a few other Senior-ranked Blue Rose Knights looked through the evidence (all of them intact, only a few of them covered in blood), the Captain sighed out in exhaustion from built-up fatigue from overwork.
"Captain, you can leave the rest to us, you know." One of the knights stated.
"No, it's only the afternoon." Charlotte protested. "If I leave now, it'll be irresponsible of me to do so. As Captain, I must set a proper example for my subordinates."
"An hour won't kill you, Captain." Another knight stated. "And besides, you're not the only one setting an example."
"... Fine. But only an hour." Charlotte grumbled out as she headed out the door. "But as soon as I get back, all of you are to take a break for two hours, understood?"
"Yes yes, Captain. Now, off you go." The knight stated as she pushed Charlotte out of her own office.
Charlotte then heads out to the headquarter's rose gardens (miraculously, it was spared amidst the attack and remained untouched), sitting down by the marble fountain, looking out to her roses for solace.
Charlotte takes off her silver helmet and lets out a sigh.
"It's been nearly a month after that attack, and the entire Kingdom is doing what it can to repair the Capital." Charlotte thought to herself. "And even then, we lost nearly a fifth of the entire Magic Knights during that attack, stretching our staff extremely thin..."
She brushed her hand over her bandaged nose, remembering that Spade Kingdom vagabond's odd magic that nearly ripped her nose off of her face, but leaving a massive scar running across the equator of her face.
"... Just wondering, are all of the mages in the Spade Kingdom strong as he is?" Charlotte thought. "This whole state of affairs that we're in... Can it be all just a calm before the storm. I mean, who knows when the Spade Kingdom will stop fighting entirely and turn their might against us?
She shook her head, trying to shake off those unpleasant feelings.
"No, get a hold of yourself, Charlotte." She said to herself. "The worst is over, and there's more to come."
As she tries to relax from this crazy-ass fanatic scheduling of hers, she then hears footsteps coming her way.
"BIG SI-OWOWOWOWOWOW I MEAN CAPTAIN!"
Charlotte then finds Sol and Cole still bound together by her [Tough Love Cuffs], both of their wrists now heavily scarred from the thorns around them.
"What is it?" Charlotte asked the Magic Knight.
"You see-ACK!"
"Let me take it from here." Cole cut in, pushing aside Sol. "About the human trafficking ring-"
"We found em where they been hiding at-"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP!? YOU'RE INTERRUPTING ME FROM GIVING THE REPORT TO CAPTAIN CHARLOTTE!"
"And you two are interrupting me in my break."
The [Tough Love Cuffs] tighten once more, digging their thorns into their wrists once again, causing them to stop arguing with each other, due to the pain caused by the briars piercing towards their bone.
"Reconvene at my office within an hour." Charlotte dispassionately stated as the two Knights in disciplinary action were squirming in pain. "Because right now, I'm not in the mood."
She then heads to a nearby tea table and rests her head onto it.
"Wake me up in an hour, or get someone else to do it."
An Hour Later...
"Finally, we may cover on this update." Charlotte spoke to Sol and Cole, both accompanied/chaperoned by Juniper, Noire, Lyra, and Cygnus. "So what's the news?"
Juniper clears her throat before speaking.
"Over the past few days, our division has been following various eyewitness reports and missing-person-cases throughout the Kingdom." Juniper stated. "Recently, the trail started around the Diamond/Clover Borderlands, but all of the sudden, the trail went cold, resulting in a dead end within our search. However, the cutpurse that the Green Mantis Knight apprehended few months back turned out to have some connection with the ring, leading us to restart our trail all the way back out in the Forbidden Realm. From there, the trail continued from the Spade/Clover Borderlands to the general areas scattered around the Common Realm, with the most recent report stating that their most recent activity is being held around Nean."
"So Nean then..." Charlotte pointed out. "What could be their purpose? And what evidence indicates that the ring are going to be in operation around that area for a while, assuming that they just won't go up and back before going elsewhere?"
"Probably because of these two." Noire stated as she set down posters depicting a portly man with a sneer and a wispy-looking man with messy snow-blue hair. "Baro Sluice and Neige Sluice. The two of them are small-time contractor-specialists in the criminal underworld. Fatty there is smarter then he looks, [Mud Magic] was reportedly used to dispose of bodies, where shrimpy there has [Snow Magic] that specializes in convert operations involving espionage to abduction. The two are together known as the Avalanche Brothers, as those two are known to leave no witnesses during their work."
"So how are they still considered small-time despite their reputation?" Cole pointed out.
"Mainly because those two are so unimpressive around the criminal underworld for due to being so slippery." Noire answered. "As soon as they're found, they're going to make a run for it, no questions asked. Despite that, they're constantly hired since they are good at what they're doing. But thanks to them, we've managed to capture other rouge mages due to them only prioritizing their own skin, which is how we're going to bust this human trafficking ring."
"So they're the lure." Juniper spoke out. "So, that concludes our report. What are your orders, Captain?"
Charlotte then looks over the recently-filed evidence of this trafficking ring.
"Remain on standby until I finish going over the files." Charlotte stated. "Remain prudent, for one misstep will cost us the entire operation, understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" All of them saluted.
"Dismissed."
Juniper, Lyra, Cygnus, Noire, Cole, and Sol all step outside of the Captain's study and all of them begin discussing their thoughts on the matter.
"So, we're getting close." Juniper spoke out. "After an accidental encounter, months of investigation, and an out of the blue attack on the capital that left both countless Magic Knights and civilians dead... only to finally corner them in some random town. Kinda feels anticlimactic, after all the crap we went through."
"A job's a job." Cygnus coolly stated. "As long as we get it done, we won't have to worry about it later on."
"Not only that..." Lyra quietly pointed out. "... But less people will likely get hurt."
"... I suppose you're right." Juniper sighed out. "Sorry about acting like a bit of a downer."
"Eh, it's alright!" Sol replied in a chipper tone. "Happens to the best of us!"
"Which is all the time for you, Miss Marron." Cole snidely remarked.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY-"
The thorn bindings then constrict the two's wrists, forcing them to kneel down in pain.
"OH MY GOD! WHY FEELING THE PAIN!?" Cole screeched out. "I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET USED TO THIS!"
Noire just walks ahead with a resigned look on her face.
"Happy place, happy place, happy place..." Noire thought fervently as she tried to ignore the cringefest behind her. "Mistress Corrin is all that matters to me..."
Golden Dawn Headquarters, Noble Realm, Early Evening
"ACHOO!"
Corrin scratches her nose.
"... Wait a minute, didn't pollen season pass about two months ago?" Corrin pointed out. "Ugh, I'm going to bed early today..."
Nean Outskirts, Clover Kingdom, Common Realm, Midnight
In the darkened forest, two cloaked figures look out towards the sleeping town.
One was slightly taller than the other, the former carrying a massive greatbow, the latter having twinswords sheathed around the waist.
"So..." The figure with the bow spoke to the figure with the twin swords. "Anything going on in that village?"
"A few Magic Knights, all female, wearing blue with roses on their robes, have been stationed within the village." The shorter figure stated. "Internal recon is now nigh-impossible."
"Any sighting of the Demons?" The archer asked.
The swordsman shakes its head.
"Then assume that they're onto us." The archer replied. "Tell the others. The village is off-limits during the duration of our mission."
Nean, Clover Kingdom, Common Realm, Late Afternoon
"Yuno, are you should be walking around?" Jericho asked. "I mean today's our day off, but you just got clearance two days ago."
"I'm fine." Yuno grunted out. "I'm already used to walking with crutches."
His metal foot clanks against the stone-paved streets of Nean along with his wooden crutch, stumbling along with the massive Jericho as his traveling companion.
"I'm only being a friend here, Yuno." Jericho pointed out. "You're strong and all, but you still can't tell if you're straining yourself."
"If I don't strain myself, how will I become the next Wizard King?" Yuno retorted.
"How you're supposed to become the Wizard King if you break?" Jericho pointed out.
"I won't, that I swore." Yuno replied sharply. "A missing foot won't stop me."
"... Can't stop you, can I?" Jericho sighed out. "But still, that doesn't mean I'll just leave you hanging."
"That's what friends are for?" Yuno asked.
Jericho nods.
"Heh." Yuno scoffed. "Thanks."
The two then continue walking down the streets of Nean, only for a little girl to bump into Yuno's footless leg, causing both to stumble.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" The girl apologized.
"No, it's kinda my fault." Yuno replied. "Anyway, are you all right-"
Yuno and Jericho both freeze upon seeing the girl.
"Hmm?" The girl tilted her head. "Is something the matter?"
The two Black Bulls look at each other before nodding mutually.
"Umm, excuse me..." Jericho asked nervously. "... Do you happen to know a person who goes by Gauche Adlai?"
"You mean my older brother?" The girl replied innocently.
"Oh shitpickles."
"RUN-"
A beam of light shoots towards the two, with Jericho tackling Yuno out of the way of the blast, sending debris flying.
"Oi."
The two look up, spotting Gauche, on his broom, carrying several bags of toys and dresses, surrounded by several magic mirrors, and glaring holes into the two Black Bulls.
"What did I say of what happening to you two if you so much as touch my sister?" Gauche's voice rumbled out as he himself emitted a murderous aura.
"... In our defense, Mr. Adlai?" Jericho pleaded as a last attempt of mercy. "You didn't exactly tell us that she lived in Nean. Small world, really."
"Die."
Several rays of light fired upon the two Black Bulls, causing them to flee from Gauche's wrath.
"BIG BROTHER, STOP IT!" The girl screamed out. "THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!"
"THEIR CRIME IS THAT THEY MADE MY LITTLE MARIE TRIP AND FALL! SHE COULD'VE SCRAPED HER KNEE!" Gauche retorted as he sent his mirrors to pursue the two fleeing Black Bulls. "THE ONLY SENTENCE IS DEATH!"
Gauche then descends down to Marie, hand offered to the girl, with his initial bloodlust now completely disappeared behind his facade.
"Now come, my little angel." Gauche smiled. "No one's here to interrupt our long-awaited date."
Suddenly, Gauche hears barking.
He turns his head, only to find a runty-looking mutt with black and white fur, barking at him.
"No doggy!" Marie cried out. "That's Gauche that I've been talking about!"
Gauche's murderous intent then resurfaces upon coming to the realization that his Marie was accompanied by a mere dog, of all things, before himself.
In instinct, Gauche punts the mutt away, striking it against a nearby wastebasket.
"Big bro!"
"We're leaving now, Marie-"
"That's enough, you siscon delinquent."
Behind Gauche and Marie, an elderly nun with a single scar running down over one of her eyes, accompanied by other kids around Marie's age.
"Oh, it's you, you friggin' old hag."
"I'd watch your mouth, you insufferable twerp." The nun replied. "Your sister's here, after all. You're enough of a toxic influence on her."
"Right back at you, she-devil."
"Ungrateful cretin."
"Has-been amazon."
"Pedofile."
The nun and Gauche stared each other down, with Marie and the other kids as witnesses, while the kicked puppy simply limped away from them, shivering in fear.
"... Regardless, Marie, please don't run off on your own." The nun spoke to Marie. "Nean is your home, but it's still my responsibility to watch over your well-being."
"I can take care of her on my own just fine, Theresa." Gauche bit out.
"Yeah, you should've told me that after you got your rear thrown into the slammer." Sister Theresa snidely remarked. "Are you sure you're not breaching your parole agreement?"
"One day per month, that's what the parole agreement said." Gauche pointed out. "I spent all of my pay so I can spoil my little angel rotten, so don't you dare stop me or my love, you bridge troll!"
"You know that she's going to share that with the other kids in my care, right?" Theresa pointed out, with Marie nodding in agreement.
"For in order to see my little Marie smile, I'll pay any price." Gauche boldly declared.
The Sister sighs out in resignation.
"Fine, but I better see her return safely back home by sundown." Theresa stated. "Also, call off your [Mirror Magic] before someone gets seriously hurt."
A sound of an explosion was heard from a distance, followed up by screams of pain from Yuno and Jericho.
"*Sigh* I said any price." Gauche stated. "So I shall, but only for Marie's sake."
He snaps his fingers, with the mana signatures of Gauche's mirrors disappearing.
"Alright, have fun, you two." Theresa stated. "Just don't get too crazy."
"We'll be back soon, Sister!" Marie waved as she and Gauche flew up on the broom.
The two siblings then fly off towards the directions of a nearby bakery, as evidenced by the scent of raspberry scones coming from their trail.
"... Hmph, the brat hasn't changed a bit." Theresa remarked. "But I suppose he's got that going for him."
"Um, Sister Theresa?" One of the kids asked. "Will we have families like that someday?"
The nun sighs out.
"Hope for the best, kiddo." Theresa replied. "Sephira knows that this kingdom can use more of..."
At the other end of the Nean, Yuno and Jericho lie on the stone streets, completely battered and burnt slightly.
"... So much for a day off." Yuno grumbled out.
"Mm hm." Jericho grumbled out in agreement.
"What the hell are the Black Bulls doing here?"
The two look up, only to find a short, pigtailed girl with the Blue Rose Knights robe draped over her shoulders.
"... I'm assuming today's not your day off." Jericho pointed out. "And no, our captain stated that our day off is mandatory."
"Hmph, then I won't pry." The Blue Rose Knight stated with a slight huff.
"So you're Noire?" Yuno asked the girl. "Juniper mentioned you in her letters."
Noire ignores Yuno's words, opting to leave the two and head elsewhere.
"... Curious, but what did the letters say about this Noire character?" Jericho asked. "I mean, I did see her during the Decoration Ceremony, but that's about it."
Yuno lets out a tired sigh.
"Yep, aloof as hell."
Nean Outskirts, Common Realm, Clover Kingdom, Evening
Outside of the town, a special detachment of Blue Rose Knights were secretly sent out to survey the surrounding areas around Nean.
The Five Divas, led by Masquerade, traverse the surrounding forest under the night sky, searching for any signs of the rumored human traffickers.
"Just where the hell are these guys?" Bastet gritted out, accompanied by her [Beast Magic: Canis Minor], sniffing our the earth. "We've been searching for hours, and there's no sign of them!"
"Aion, did we cover the entire forest?" Masquerade asked the blind swordswoman.
"We did." The blind mage replied. "About an hour prior, but someone withheld that information from us."
"Oh my~!" Morrigan remarked with faux-shock. "It seems we've been walking in circles all this time!"
"Why didn't you tell us sooner, Morrigan!?" Papillion cried out in frustration.
"Dunno~" The witch replied. "I thought our fearless leader knew this whole time, am I right, fearless leader~?"
"Ladies, focus!" Masquerade shouted out. "The more time we waste, the more likely that our target will get away!"
"Agreed." Aion stated. "Let's try the cave nearby."
As they all turned towards where the cave stood, all five of them hear a branch snap.
Masquerade turns her head, and sees two cloaked figures running away from them.
"AFTER THEM!"
The five give chase through the forest.
"Your orders?" Bastet asked Masquerade.
"MINIMAL FORCE! TAKE THEM ALIVE FOR QUESTIONING!"
"Copy that." Bastet stated. "[Beast Magic: Lynx]!"
An astral projection of a lynx gave chase towards the two cloaked figures.
"Get em', Sugar!" Bastet ordered.
As the lynx gave chase, one cloaked figure drew out a greatbow, and pulled back two arrows towards them.
The arrows fire, but one hits the ground in front of the lynx, while the other flies over their heads.
"Ha, you missed-"
The ground shot by the arrow then opens a portal, akin to [Spatial Magic], causing the lynx to fall into the hole, landing right on top of Bastet's head, slowing her down immensely.
"Dammit, they're getting away!"
"Not on my watch!" Papillion boldly declared as she drew her rapier. "[Silver Creation Magic: Jardin d'épées]!"
Several silver swords burst out of the ground towards the two cloaked figures.
The other cloaked figure then casts a spell, causing both of them to suddenly float off of the ground and fly away.
"Oh no they don't~!" Morrigan stated in a singsong fashion as she got on her broom-staff and flew towards them while opening her grimoire. "[Dark Binding Magic: Underworld Prisoner Shackles]!"
A ball and chain made of darkness clasps the two cloaked figures' ankles, weighing them down, and anchoring them back to the earth.
"ALRIGHT, APPREHEND THEM!"
The lynx and [Canis Minor] pounce onto the two, allowing the rest of the Five Divas to catch up to them.
"Alright, we got you now." Masquerade stated to the cloaked figures as she herself donned [Mask Magic: Mr. Xavier]. "Now reveal yourselves."
"Tch, do what they say." The taller cloaked figure stated. "It's not worth the trouble."
The two then take off their hoods, revealing a male and a female.
The male was to be in his late-twenties, small goatee and mustache, long black hair draped around his head, and his left eye covered with an eyepatch emblemed with a silver cross over it.
The female was a young woman in her early twenties, braided raven-black hair, small, slightly visible pink blushes on her cheeks, and sharp blue eyes staring down at the Divas with defiance.
"Alright, here's how it'll go down." Masquerade stated. "My mask allows me to discern truths from lies from your tells, body language, and nervous stimuli. Bullshit me, I dare you."
Aion readies to quick-draw her sword while Papillion points her rapier at the two.
"First question." Masquerade asked as her blue monoeye glowed menacingly. "Just who are you two, and what are your intentions?"
The eyepatched man lets out a deep sigh before speaking.
"... Name's Dragunov." The eyepatched man revealed. "The lass with me is Kalashnikov. And we're here on a mission from Avalon."
"Where is this 'Avalon'?"
"Spade Kingdom, westward, constantly snowing even around this time of year, hard to miss." Dragunov answered. "And no, we're not here to invade or anything. It just happens that our target of pursuit slipped through the borders, and we managed to corner it around this area."
As audacious as Dragunov's claims were, there were no indications of him lying.
So instead of pressing on that matter, she continued to press for more questions.
"Just what is your target?"
"A bloody Demon, you suka." Kalashnikov spat out in disgust. "Don't tell me you've never gone around and seen one yourself."
"Niko, not now!" Dragunov shushed at the lass. "... Sorry, she's just a little temperamental."
Kalashnikov spits out to the side before huffing her head away.
"A Demon~?" Morrigan pointed out. "Aren't they just mere myths~?"
"Believe in what you want, lady." Dragunov stated. "Point is, that Demon finds a foothold, then this whole kingdom gets fucked."
The lynx snarls at Dragunov, with the attempt of intimidation failing at the unflappable man.
"Regardless of your reasoning, it still doesn't change the fact that you've illegally crossed the borders into the Clover Kingdom." Masquerade stated firmly. "You two will be apprehended for further questioning. Come with us quietly, or we will use force-"
"LADY, GET DOWN!"
Dragunov picks up his greatbow, and shoots an arrow right across her masked cheek...
... Nailing a black-furred wolf onto a tree behind them, the arrow itself impaling through the wolf's open maw and out the back of its head.
"... Gówno, they're onto us." Dragunov cursed. "Hey hat lady, get these things off of us!"
"And why should I-"
Morrigan was interrupted by more wolves pouncing upon her.
"NIKO!"
The blushed lass draws her twin swords and throws them at the wolves, stabbing them into their necks, killing them dead.
"No time to explain, you diswki!" Kalashnikov cursed out as she reached out for her swords. "Release us before we all get ourselves killed!"
"Fine..."
Morrigan snaps her fingers, releasing the [Dark Magic] shackles from their ankles.
"What's going on?" Masquerade asked Dragunov. "Are these wolves actually Demons that you were talking about!?"
The eyepatched archer lets out a deep sigh as the braided lady affixes a small rod-like object with a red thread tied to the end of its brass tip between the corner of her lips as she retrieves her twinswords.
"Here they come, ladies..." Dragunov stated grimly as he nocked an arrow onto his bowstring.
A loud and foreboding howl echoed across the mid-spring dusk skies above the darkening forest.
"... The Hellhounds are coming."
Nean, Common Realm, Clover Kingdom, Night
"... It's official, this day off sucked." Jericho glumly stated while Yuno was packing away food into his mouth at a local eatery.
"To be fair..." Yuno spoke through his food in his mouth. "... There wasn't much to do here to begin with."
"Now that I think about it..." Jericho pointed out. "... You do nothing but train, do you?"
"Right back at you." Yuno retorted. "At the base, I see you doing push-ups with your shirt off."
"That's not what I meant, Yuno." Jericho spoke out. "What I mean, Yuno, is that... do have a hobby?"
"... What's a hobby?" Yuno asked.
Jericho pinched the bridge of his nose.
"... I feel like a man dying of thirst while watching another man drown." Jericho muttered out. "... Look Yuno, what I'm saying is, life is simply more than just being the next Wizard King."
"What else is there for me but to become the next Wizard King?" Yuno asked in confusion.
"Is that all that's there to you, Yuno?" Jericho asked. "Just you and the throne of the Wizard King? What of your family back at Hage? The Black Bulls? Juniper? Corrin? For god's sake, Yuno, your [Sylph] is worried sick of you dying from overwork."
The small fae creature sitting on the table nods glumly, taking a small bite out of her serving of Moguro Fruit.
"... Look Yuno. I'm not saying that your dreams aren't worth chasing after. In fact, I think your dreams of becoming the next Wizard King is quite pure and earnest." Jericho pointed out. "... But tell me, is it really worth literally dying for?"
Upon hearing those words, Yuno stares into his mug of ale in contemplation.
"... Can I really become the next Wizard King if I die before I can become one myself?"
Yuno gulps as his fervent thoughts began to race through his head.
But as Yuno continues his thoughts, the doorbell rings, indicating another customer.
"Welcome!" A young woman called out. "Can get you started on anything."
"Ugh, water." A deeply-accented voice spoke out. "Apparently, this town doesn't have anything good to get wasted on."
Yuno looks at the new customer, a short male (only slightly taller than Charmy as reference) with slightly messy mustard-blonde hair, wearing a white suit with a black suit jacket and shorts, with a pair of leather boots strapped around his feet.
The short male then looks at the two, before getting off of his seat and approach the two.
"Pardon me, but you two with that Yami fellow I've met before?" The short man asked. "I mean, those robes."
"Uhh... yeah." Jericho awkwardly replied. "... And you are?"
"Eh, just a traveling bartender." The short man stated. "Thought I try the booze around here, but all I got for my buck are nothin' but mugs of piss, I'd tell ya."
Behind the counter, the redheaded kids all chortle.
"Hey now, you two." The woman sighed out. "Don't make fun of the man just because he's short."
"For your information, I'm 32!" The short man pointed out towards the kids behind the countertop.
"So where you from?" The redhead kid asked.
"Spade Kingdom." The short man answered. "I kinda like it there, but I thought that I'd expand my business to this little kingdom. I like my loyal customers and all, but can I go one week, one bloody week, without having to mend my tavern's rooftops?"
The two Black Bulls look at each other awkwardly, trying to figure out what's going on.
"And before you think that I'm trespassing, I'd like to point out that I kinda made an agreement with the Wizard King himself to allow me to stay here temporarily, or at least until I get a few customers here." The man pointed out at the two Black Bulls. "... But, that happened after I hospitalized several of those Magic Knight schmucks that tried to burn down my establishment. Swear to god, I just can't go a single week without getting my tavern caught on fire..."
"Wait, you were the one who injured Vice Captain Magna!?" Yuno asked.
"... Sorry kid, they didn't ask for names, so gonna have to be more specific than that." The man replied while he waved away at the youth. "Although if you're talking about that kid with the weird-ass broom, don't worry, I just broke all of his ribs after he set my roof on fire."
"Everyone, upstairs." The lady whispered to the kids as she shooed them away for their safety.
"YOU NEARLY KILLED HIM!" Jericho roared out.
"Well, that was after I noticed that none of those so-called Magic Knights can take a single punch." The man stated. "Special mention goes to that snide-looking prick with the [Spatial Magic]. Tried to kill my pig, I killed all of his children still swimming in his bawbags."
Jericho sort of knew that the man was talking about Langris, and for him, good riddance.
But still, it didn't change the fact that this short man had hurt one of their own, and Jericho and Yuno had every right to feel this boiling rage inside of them.
"... Allow me ask you this question once more." Jericho growled out. "Who are you?"
The short man scratches his hair before answering.
"Name's Dagda." The short man introduced. "And I assure you, I'm just a traveling bartender from the Spade Kingdom."
"That's all needed to hear."
Jericho than forms [Stardust Knuckles] and swings his fist towards Dagda's face.
However, the massive gauntleted fist was blocked...
... By the man's pinky.
"What!?" Jericho cried out. "And without [Mana Skin]!?"
"Huh, guess we got a fighter around these parts after all." Dagda pointed out. "And a half-Jotun, no less."
"Wait, half-Jotun?" Jericho pointed out.
"Doesn't matter." Dagda sighed out in disappointment. "All of my fights end the same; usually as the other guy get sent flying out of a window."
Dagda then begins to emit a powerful aura.
"[Counter Magic: Full Counter]."
With a massive explosion of mana, Jericho was sent flying out of the door.
"Jericho!"
Yuno stumbles out the door, only to find out that the whole town was snowing.
"Wha-What the hell!?" Yuno cried out in surprise.
"Umm, don't wanna be that guy, but I'm pretty sure that it in the middle of May right now." Dagda pointed out. "Either that, or this shite is magic."
"Enough of that..." Jericho groaned out as he got back up. "What's going on here?"
From the looks of it, the sky has gone completely dark, with snow falling from the sky, in the middle of May.
"Yuno?" Jericho spoke out.
"Dagda's right." Yuno responded. "This snow ain't normal."
The three look around the snow-covered town, with the temperature steadily dropping, their breaths becoming visible to the air.
"... Yuno, look."
The two Black Bulls see the children leaving their homes, all of them having vacant expressions on their faces, like in a sort of a trance-like state.
"... Wait a minute, weren't there kids inside the eatery we were in?"
"Wait, where are my younger siblings!?" The woman cried out.
"Ah! They're sneaking out back alley!" Dagda stated as he broke to a sprint and grabbed the entranced children. "Here you go lady."
"I have a name, you know." The red-haired woman stated as she held onto the hypnotized kids. "It's Rebecca."
"Well, Miss Rebecca, I suggest you keep a tight grip around those kids." Jericho stated. "I don't think they're going to wake up anytime soon, at least until the snow stops falling."
"Then let's go and where the snow's coming from!" Yuno stated as he tried to stumble on the snow, only for the reduced friction to make him slip and fall onto his face.
"... Laddie, I'm no one to judge or anything, but I think you should stay with the lady." Dagda pointed out bluntly.
"No!" Yuno protested. "I can still fight-"
Yuno slips on the snow, falling face-flat once more.
"You can't even walk on the bloody snow, ya daft punk." Dagda pointed out. "At least keep the lady company in case some arsehole breaks into her shop and takes the kids by force."
Yuno begrudgingly steps down, extremely reluctantly.
"Don't beat yourself up, Yuno." Jericho reassured. "Just keep her and the kids safe, and if we don't come back in about an hour, call for backup."
Jericho tosses Yuno the [Magical Communication Device] to his hands, right before he and Dagda followed where the kids were heading.
"EVERYONE! KEEP THE KIDS INDOORS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!" Jericho cried out as he ran through the streets. "THE SNOW IS TAKING THE KIDS AWAY VIA BRAINWASHING! LOCK ALL OF YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!"
The adults then slowly wake up from their slumber, slowly spreading the word of the abnormal snow, and taking action to prevent their kids from being abducted.
"Dammit, some slipped through." Jericho cursed. "Regardless, better than nothing-"
"MARIE!"
Jericho then finds Gauche frantically running about, calling out for his sister in increasing desperation, with each successive cry being more distressed as the last.
"MR. ADLAI!" Jericho cried out towards Gauche. "I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOUR SISTER IS!"
"WHERE!?" Gauche roared out in unrestrained hostility. "WHERE IS MY MARIE!? I SWEAR TO GOD, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HER, I'LL-"
"That's enough!"
Behind the two, an elderly nun approaches them.
"Theresa, you old bag..." Gauche growled out. "JUST WHAT DO YOU WANT!?"
"In case if you haven't noticed, the orphans have gone missing." Theresa stated in the gravest of seriousness. "At least the young man next to you knows what he's doing."
All Gauche could to was growl at the nun like a wild animal.
"Mr. Adlai, please calm down." Jericho stated. "Now tell me, what happened before your sister was spirited away?"
"I dunno..." Gauche spoke out in a panicked tone. "I was taking her back to the church after our date together, but suddenly, it started snowing, so I offered my sister my robe for warmth, but as I turned around, I... OH GOD, PLEASE DON'T TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME! SHE'S JUST A KID, DAMMIT!"
"Um, guys?" Dagda's voice called out. "Call me crazy, but I think I just saw a little lass ride on top of a wolf, leading the other kids outside."
Gauche then rushes towards Dagda.
"Was that little lass Marie, the girl that looks like this?" Gauche pressed Dagda while presenting the picture of Marie to him.
"... Yep, it either her, or I'm somehow getting drunk on water." Dagda confirmed.
"MARIE!"
Gauche then summons his broom and flies towards the outskirts of the town for his sister.
"That idiot..." Theresa sighed out in exasperation. "I swear, whenever little Marie is involved in any fashion, all of his rationale gets thrown right out of the window like a dumpster fire."
"Well, no time for that." Jericho stated as he whistled for his broom. "Ma'am, you know what's outside of this town?"
"Other than the brushes of trees surrounding us, there's an old cave system nearby." Theresa stated.
"That'll do, thanks." Jericho stated as he got on his broom.
"Wait, I'm coming with you." Theresa stated. "I may be old, but I'm a former Magic Knight. Not only that, but in good conscience I cannot leave the perpetrators unpunished."
"... If the lady says, then I shall abide." Jericho reluctantly replied. "Don't die before you come back home, understood, madam?"
"Hm, aren't you quite a gentleman." Theresa pointed out.
"I'm many things, Sister Theresa." Jericho stated. "A gentleman, scholar, aspiring diplomat, and Magic Knight. Now hang onto something! The snowfall is slowly turning into a blizzard!"
Jericho than flies off to the outskirts, leaving Dagda behind.
"... Friggin' dick." Dagda spat out. "Eh, not my first time running in the snow."
The half-Demon then sprints towards the town's outskirts, leaving behind a massive trail of kicked-up sleet in his wake.
Cave System Outside of Nean, Common Realm, Clover Kingdom, Night
"Oh?" A motherly voice called out. "A human kicked you aside out of spite?"
A black and white pup whines in response.
"... How dare that human." The motherly voice growled out. "Come here, my treasure. I'll lick your wounds."
The pup then transforms into a little girl with black hair, wearing a wolf's hide over her head with a single white stripe running down at the wolf head's center, before cuddling up to the owner of the motherly voice.
"*Slurp* Good girl. You've done well to make it this far." The motherly voice soothingly reassured. "Now what did that human look like?"
The little girl with the pelt whispers something into the voice's ear.
"Oh really now?" The motherly voice spoke out. "... Kingu?"
A massive humanoid wolf monster with a white spade running down its head appears out of the darkness.
"It seems that there are... Magic Knights coming for us." The voice stated.
The little girl then whispers something else into the voice's ear.
"... And the damned Inquisition too?" The voice gasped out. "Surely, this cannot stand!"
The wolf monster snarls in agreement.
"It seems that we've reached an impasse, dear Kingu." The voice stated in a chilling tone. "Kingu dear..."
The wolf's snarls become more vocal and feral.
"Tell our benefactors..."
The wolf growls menacingly, licking its lips for its next meal.
"... That if they fuck up their end of our bargain?" The voice spoke out, slowly revealing herself out of the darkness, revealing a busty-looking female with a pair of black eyes ashen-gray hair that flowed down to her thighs like a messy waterfall, with a pair of vulpine ears jutting behind her battered golden crown, and a single bushy tail with a gray tip, twisting and unfurling behind her dress made of miscellaneous animal pelts stitched together with mishmashes of royal regalia, with a single sheathed dagger tied around her upper right thigh.
She then draws her dagger, and licks the blade.
"... Then tell them Tiamat's children will feed."
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: Time to fuck up the canon once more!
I'm looking forward to this arc, since not only it'll be the biggest Cerberus Syndrome (look it up) for this fic ever yet, but also, after this little arc, nothing will ever be the same ever again.
Also, who's watched the Radiant anime? If so, then the Inquisition should look familiar (even if they're swearing in Polish).
Possible Voice-Overs (For Funsies):
Dragunov: Koji Yusa (JPN), Ivan Jasso (ENG)
Kalashnikov: Ayane Sakura (JPN), Amber Lee Connors (ENG)
Tiamat: Saori Hayami (JPN), Corrine Sudberg/Megami33 (ENG)
So what do you all think of this Saga?
Please leave a comment or a review, for I'd like to know what my readers think of this fic!