Up close, the manor looked just about how Naofumi imagined most big houses looked like: Immaculate and pristine. That was the outside, however.

Inside, he wondered what was going on. If the neatness of the outside camouflaged the ugliness of the inside. Where ever Itsuki was, Naofumi imagined that he may not be in the best condition. He's been in there for hours. No doubt he's been tortured. That's the M.O. of the Black Foxes from what Coco said. If he is then…

Naofumi shook his head. He can't think about that. As much as he detests the little brat, no one deserves to be tortured.

Earlier in the day, they made their plan. They were to wait until after midnight. The darkened hallways would be their best chance at cover. They would use the darkened corners of the manor to hide and strike should anyone be patrolling the area. They were at the back of the manor where a window was half-open. Naofumi guessed that's how Itsuki got in.

And so, here they were, Naofumi with his party along with Itsuki's party and Alistair.

Speaking of Alistair…

"OK," Naofumi says, "I have to ask." He points to Alistair. "Why are you wearing that?"

"This thing?" Alistair does a small spin. "It's all part of the show."

He was wearing the same dancing garb Naofumi had seen him in when he went to Lula's camp to speak with Mina. Even the same headdress. It was impossible to not notice him since he's practically half-naked.

"Yeah, I still don't get it?" Dodge scratched the back of his head.

"Part of dancing," Alistair begins, "is drawing the attention of the audience. Clothes play an important role in that. Imagine the surprised look on the Black Foxes when they see me dressed like this, they won't even have the chance to defend themselves when I strike them down."

Strapped to his back was a sword sheathed in a gem-encrusted scabbard. Naofumi thought it was gaudy but it fit Alistair's colorful personality. He made sure to check his stats and he's pretty balanced across the board. He was just as fast as Rowan and had a good high critical damage as well.

As for Itsuki's party, Naofumi was impressed by their stats. Mara in particular had a very high elemental attack and defense but like most mages, her physical attack and defense were on the lower side. Dodge had the best physical damage with his only flaw being below average elemental attack. Clancy had great elemental attack and higher elemental defense than Mara. Rishia had less bulk in both defenses but made up for it with her high speed and a good balance between physical and elemental attack.

Naofumi had asked Coco if she was going to help but she declined. "I have a business to run," she had said matter of factly. "Someone has to go around selling rare items. And that someone is me."

Not that it mattered if she joined them in the end. They were good enough without Coco.

With all of them using their combined strengths, they couldn't lose.

"Alright, Rowan," Naofumi nods to his friend. "Do your thing."

"Got it." Rowan takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. He lowers his head slightly.

"Um, what's he doing?" Dodge asks.

"He's a beastmaster," Mina informs. "He's using his powers to see through the eyes of the spiders in the manor."

"Spiders?" Mara cants her head.

"That's the animal he controls. If he can see where the agents are, then we'll have a better chance at sneaking past them or get the upper hand in combat."

"That's a pretty impressive ability," Clancy says. "If he can do that, then he can tell us where Itsuki is hidden."

"There's still the agents we have to worry about," Naofumi cuts in. "There's no telling how many-"

"I know where Itsuki is." Rowan interrupts.

That silences the group.

"He's… in a room. A storage room. He's tied to a chair and…" Rowan gulps. "He's not in the best of shape."

Naofumi felt a pit grow in his stomach. So they did torture him. "How bad?" he asks.

"Hang on, let me tell this spider to get close to him." Rowan's eyes were still closed. "His face is bruised, there's a cut along his cheek. He also soiled himself. Other than that, I can't tell if he has any other injuries."

"Gods," Rachel shudders. "How could they do something like to someone?"

"Because they can," Mina says, her tone icy.

"He's asleep," Rowan says. "I don't think they did anything else beyond punching him and that cut across his cheek."

Rishia starts to whimper.

"And the Black Foxes?" Naofumi asks.

"They're hiding in the shadows. There's no one in the kitchen, which is where the window and door lead to. But they're using the darkened spaces of the rooms and hallways to blend in. It wouldn't surprise me if they were using illusion magic to hide some of them."

"Can you guess how many?"

"Hmmm… twenty. Assuming some of them aren't using illusion magic. If that's the case, then maybe thirty."

Thirty against nine. The odds were definitely not in their favor. Naofumi wonders just how they'll take them all.

"Hang on," Rowan interrupts his thoughts. "There's someone in the solarium."

"Who is it?" Alistair asks.

"It's a man. A Demi-Human. He's sitting on a chair and there's a box next to him."

"Is that it?" Naofumi can't help but find it strange someone was sitting out in the open, far away from where the other agents are.

"Just him." Rowan opens his eyes. "That's all there is. Itsuki is on the first floor at the far end of a hallway. The solarium is on the opposite side."

If only they had a proper layout of the place. They can't rely on Rowan's spider to guide them when agents could pop out at any corner. What they had was enough. It wasn't as if they needed to go in any other rooms than the one Itsuki was in. And maybe where that Demi-Human is.

"Let's go."

Naofumi tested the doorknob. It was unlocked. Strange. With a manor like this, he would assume the owners would lock every door and window. Unless the Black Foxes did it. After all, they knew someone was bound to try and save Itsuki. It was an invitation. A taunting one at that.

They entered the kitchen, their footfalls as quiet as a mouse. Moonlight shone from a large bay window. The only sound Naofumi heard was their footsteps and his heartbeat.

Once they reached the door leading out, Rowan whispers, "There's three of them waiting. One is hiding behind an armchair, the other two are hiding behind corners."

"Can you get them?" Naofumi whispers.

Rowan pulled his bow and an arrow. "Yes. When I say open the door, open it as quickly as possible."

Naofumi ushers the group back, giving them enough space for the two of them.

Slowly, Naofumi put his hand on the door.

He took a deep breath and waited for Rowan's command.

3.

2.

1.

"Now!"

He pushed the door open. Rowan rushes forward. In the hall was an armchair where an agent bolted from his hiding spot, branding a machete.

The agent didn't have time to lift his weapon as Rowan released a bow in the man's shoulder. He cries out, clutching his injured shoulder, releasing his machete.

Taking the opportunity, Naofumi slams his shield against the agent's head. He fell to the ground like a rag doll, unconscious.

"Watch out!" Rachel rushes past both of them just as another agent appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

The agent, wielding a sword, slashed at Rachel who quickly ducked, just barely avoiding the blade. She punched the agent in the stomach. The agent kneeled over giving Rachel time to grab the back of his head and slam it against her knee.

Two down, one left.

"Let's move!" Naofumi ran forward until they reached the foyer. It was as grand as any foyer was in a manor. Wide and spacious too.

"Which way?" He asks Rowan.

Before Rowan could speak, a dark figure landed right in front of Naofumi.

"Fu-" He brought up his shield, protecting him from an axe. He pushed back against his attacker as far from him as possible.

The agent staggered but regained his footing.

Naofumi checked his HP. He only took 45 damage from it. Not bad but he can't rely on his defense to protect him all the time.

The agent let out a sharp whistle. They were soon surrounded by several agents, forcing them to stand in a circle.

"Should've seen this coming," Naofumi says.

"What do we do?" Rachel keeps her ax at the ready.

"There's too many of them," Mara says.

"Tch," Dodge scoffs. "If ya ask me, it's not enough. I can take these punks all by myself!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, big guy," Alistair chides. "You never know what they're capable of."

The agents had all kinds of weapons. One had two tomes levitating behind her.

"I'll take care of this." Mara lifts a hand. A dark yellow tome flew from her cloak. It reached high above the ceiling, its pages opening. Bits of static shot out but fizzled out quickly.

"Strike them down."

Lightning shot out from the tome, hitting all the agents. They convulsed under the strength of the lightning. The lightning dispersed and the tome went back to Mara's cloak.

Naofumi wasn't in the path of the lightning but he could feel the hairs of his body stand. Maybe his hair was looking frizzy. That was some damn powerful lightning. Especially from a tome and not natural lightning.

'Is that what I'm capable of doing?' Naofumi wonders. He hasn't had much time to test out his lightning magic. When this is done, he'll make time to practice.

For now though…

Mara's lightning attack stunned the agents but Naofumi could see some of them shaking off the effect.

"Don't hold back!" He yells.

This prompts everyone to fight. Rachel and Dodge knock out four of them standing in their path. Rowan used his wind magic to blow some away giving Mina the chance to launch a flurry of ice crystals.

"FUEH!" Rishia was flanked by two agents, swiping at her with daggers. With only a spear for a weapon, she ducked and sidestepped their attacks, not even trying to counter-attack any of them.

'How did she even survive this long?" Naofumi shakes his head.

He aims his shield at them, willing it to transform.

"Rishia! Duck!"

The girl didn't hesitate and fell to the floor. The agents were surprised but quickly turned their attention to Naofumi.

"Poison Dark Shield!" Flurries of sharp needles expelled from the holes striking the agents. It didn't do much damage but they were afflicted with the poison status.

Clancy whispers an incantation and a ball of light shoots from his hands. They were almost blinding to the point where Naofumi had to shield his eyes. He hears the grunts and cries from the agents. When the light disappears, both of them are on the ground.

Rishia stands. "T-thanks, Clancy!"

"No worries," he replies.

A battle cry was cut short as Alistair dances around his opponent and knocks them out with a blow to the head from the blunt end of his sword.

"Didn't even put much of a fight." Alistair chides. "A terrible dance partner, I must say."

Their battles over. Agents were spread out on the ground, some unconscious and some moaning in pain.

"That went better than I'd expected." Naofumi was thankful the fight was easy. If Rowan hadn't used his spiders to scout, things might not have turned out in their favor.

"Where to?" he asks Rowan.

Rowan points to a staircase. "Up there, to the left. That's where Itsuki is."

"Let's hurry."

They all run up the stairs and made their way to the end of the hall. Naofumi opens the door, the scent of blood and piss hitting him.

Itsuki barely registers them, only flinching at the sound of the door slamming open.

"Itsuki!" Rishia pushes past the group and kneels in front of the Bow Hero. "Are you OK?! Clancy, help him!"

Clancy makes his way to Itsuki and lifts his face.

"Clancy?" Itsuki coughs.

"I'm here, Itsuki, don't worry." With one hand on his chin holding up his face, Clancy uses his free hand and starts rubbing the bruises on his face. A faint green glow shone from his hand.

"I'll help too," Rachel joins, both of her hands glowing green.

They made quick work on his face, the bruises fading away and the cut becoming less noticeable.

"That should work." Rachel examines his face more. "There doesn't seem to be any broken bones. And his teeth are still there. He's lucky that all they did to him."

Rishia unties his hands and feet.

Itsuki begins to stand but then collapses to his knees.

"Woah there!" Naofumi reaches out and grabs him. He's heavier than he looks.

Blinking, Itsuki looks up at his savior. "Naofumi?"

"Who else?" Naofumi responds curtly. He knows he's sounding like an ass. Itsuki and the others still saw him as a villain so it made sense why he wouldn't like him. But he didn't deserve this. He only briefly saw how bruised his face was before Clancy and Rachel healed him. He'd never seen a face like that.

He'll play nice some other day.

"W-why?" Itsuki barely gets the words out.

"Look, I'll explain later. Right now, we've got a shit ton of Black Foxes in this place and I do not want to fight more of them. Just hold onto me and don't let go."

Itsuki manages a small nod.

Alistair begins to open the door when Rowan stops him.

"Wait!"

"What's wrong?" Alistair lets go of the knob.

"There's more of them downstairs." Rowan has his eyes closed. "And that guy in the solarium is still there."

Naofumi mutters a curse. Whoever that guy in the solarium is, he's the one calling the shots. If he's defeated, then…

"New plan." He gives Itsuki to Clancy. "You guys," He points to Itsuki's team and Alistair, "will take care of whatever agents there are left. The rest of us are going after the other guy."

"You sure about this?" Alistair asks.

"Definitely. He's the one pulling the strings here. If we take him out, then this mess will be done."

"Let's hope you're right about that."

'I hope I am.'

They leave the room and when they make it to the landing of the stairs, more agents were waiting for them at the foyer.

"Good luck to you guys." He gives them a reassuring nod. Itsuki's team readied their weapons and charged at the group.

"Let's go," he users his team forward.

"You sure about this?" Rachel asks.

"Positive." That is what he wanted to say, but Naofimi remained silent. Something about this guy was different than the ones they fought before. Legrand was driven by jealousy and spite over Gareth. Ryder was some asshole who didn't care if people got sick if it meant he and his crew could summon the Peacock Dragon.

This one… he wasn't sure. The obvious answer to him was that this man hated the nobility. Was that all there is to it? He tortured Itsuki, and who knows what he did to the Count and his wife. Speaking of, where were they? He was focused on Rowan finding Itsuki he didn't ask to know where the owners were.

Unless…

Only one way to find out.

Naofumi pushed open the door with a loud bang.

Had it been daytime, the solarium would've looked beautiful the moonlight did little to show the beauty of the greenery. Potted plants lining the walls. Different trees growing an assortment of fruit. Colorful flowers. It was all beautiful.

The only thing that made this place dreadful was the man sitting casually on a chair, elbow resting on his knee and his fingers tapping his chin. Beside him was a small wooden box on the floor.

"It's about time you guys showed up," he says coyly. "And here I was about to take a nap." He smiles a wolfish grin. It almost fit him if he didn't have the ears and tail of a dog.

"Who are you?" Naofumi asks. He stands tall and unflinching.

"I think you already know who I am, kid." The man stands up, easily towering over them all. Naofumi guessed he must be over six feet. "There's no point in asking such an obvious question. Or are you that dimwitted as people say you are?"

Naofumi doesn't say anything.

"Whoever the hell you are," Rachel says, "it doesn't matter. Your agents are getting their asses kicked as we speak. So play along and give up. You've already lost.

The man lets out a laugh. "Lost? No. I've already won."

"What are you talking about?" Rowan asks.

"See this here?" The man taps the wooden box with his foot. "This right here is my prize. It was hard to get, but man was it worth it. It was worth everything. Check for yourself."

He kicks it across the room. It stops in front of Naofumi. He backed up a bit. Call it intuition, whatever was inside that box wasn't good.

"Scared?" The man says jokingly. "Relax. It's just a box. Nothing more, nothing less. Open it."

"Careful," Mina warns as Naofumi picks up the box.

It wasn't heavy. The polished wood shone in the moonlight. Naofumi shook it. Something thudded inside.

There's a smell. A smell he's familiar with. Coppery.

Slowly, Naofumi opens it-

"JESUS!"

He drops the box and staggers back. The box lands on its side…

…and out rolls the decapitated head of a man.

Naofumi would never forget this day. He would never forget the smell of blood. Never forget the blue-tinted lips. Never forget the bits of bone sticking out from the bottom. Never forget the cold, empty stare of the man's lifeless eyes.

"What the fuck!" Rachel gasped.

"Gods." Mina shudders.

Rowan turns away. "I think I'm going to be sick." He moans.

"Hahaha!" The man is howling with laughter. "See! What did I tell you! You're all too late! The Cardinal Heroes couldn't do jack shit about this! Not the Bow Hero, and not even you," he points at Naofumi, "Shield Hero!"

Naofumi was still staring at the head. This was his first time seeing something like this. No matter how much he told himself to look away, he couldn't. Death. He was staring at Death.

Bile rose up but he kept it down.

The smell. The smell was too much.

"What now?" The man taunts. "You may have saved that brat of yours, but none of you were able to save that bastard." He points to the head. "Then again, he did deserve it."

Rachel grits her teeth. "How could you say that, you bastard!"

"If you're expecting me to repent for what I did, guess again. The Count and his wife have been embezzling money from the villagers for years. All those charity parties they throw were nothing but scams. The villagers had no idea they were giving their money to these asshats and not some charity. Now, tell me they didn't deserve this."

"The hell they didn't!" Naofumi shouts. "How is killing the Count going to solve anything? It won't erase what he did!"

The man scoffs. "You say that but I know you don't really feel that way, Shield Hero."

"And how the hell do you know that?" Naofumi shoots back.

"The whole freaking kingdom believes the rumor of you raping that bitch princess. Whether it is true or not, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you hate her. Hate people like her. Liars. If you were in any of the villagers' shoes, you would want retribution. Wouldn't you want to see them die one by one?"

Naofumi was at a loss for words. The man wasn't exactly wrong. He hates Malty. He hates the King. He hates Motoyasu. He hates all the people who treated him like dirt. Did he want to get revenge? Sure, who wouldn't? But not like this. Not with blood on his hands.

"It's easy for you to say that!" Mina steps past Naofumi. "Don't think for a second you're doing the villagers a favor. This was nothing but murder. How can you justify killing him for the sake of the villagers!"

"Oh-ho?" The man quirks an eyebrow. "So you're defending that he and his wife did?"

"No. They had no right to embezzle that money. But that doesn't mean the Count had to die!" Mina's voice, normally calm, was beginning to rise. "You're all monsters! The Black Foxes are nothing but murderers!"

In the time Naofumi knew Mina, he had never seen her so animated with anger. Her parents were missing because of them. That's why she's like this, he realizes.

"Don't think you won't get out of this unpunished," Mina continues.

"Is that so?" The man grins.

Naofumi could sense where this was going. Opening his menu, he observed the man as his stats showed.

Name: Ajax

Class: Berserker

LV: 46

HP: 3,842

MP: 201

PHYS ATK: 605

ELEM ATK: 297

PHYS DEF: 328

ELEM DEF: 300

SPEED: 307

CRITICAL: 219

He won't be an easy challenge. But as Mina said, there was no way they were going to let this man go without a fight.

Naofumi lifts his shield in front of him. "If you're so confident," he shifts to his Lunar Wolf Shield, "then get ready for the beatdown of a lifetime."

Rachel took out her axe and Rowan had his bow ready.

Ajax grins wider. "You four think you can beat me? Ha! I like your spunk, kid." He reaches behind his back and takes out a large double-sided axe. The blades alone were larger than Rachel's, and hers only had one. One of them has a faint brown smudge. Probably the side that decapitated the Count.

"You all are nothing but a pain in the ass." Ajax takes a battle stance. "First that brat Bow Hero, and now you four. Just a little warning, I won't go easy on you."

"Guess what? Neither will we."

And so their battle began under the watchful moon.