Disclaimer: I don't own Rokka no Yuusha. Some lines in this story were copied directly from NanoDesu LN translation.
12. Hostage
"Goldof?" Nashetania stilled. "What do you mean?"
"I saw it," Goldof repeated. "When we...arrived at the temple, I saw Adlet...standing in front of the pedestal...with his hands...on the sword."
"Meowhehe! Anything you've got to say now, Adlet?" Hans grinned.
"That's a lie!" Adlet pointed fingers at Goldof. "He's trying to get me, the strongest man in the world, killed!"
"I'm not lying. Right...Princess?" Goldof stared fixedly at Nashetania, who looked confused and unbelieving. A strange emotion swimming in her red orbs.
"That's..."
"Princess...I know you have feelings...for him. But now isn't the time...to cover...for him."
"Meow, what a playboy you are, Adlet. Winning two women's hearts at once? Tsk tsk, you badboy."
"So it really is you who activated the barrier, Adlet." Mora then sent a reprimanding glare at Rolonia, who was staring blankly into space, as if her brain had been frozen. "What should we do now?"
"KILL Adlet time!" Chamo exclaimed and, before Mora could stop her, stuck the foxtail grass into her mouth, pushing it into the back of throat. Under the wary eyes of everyone, she began retching loudly and vomiting out a mix of black, brown, and yellow-colored liquid which was ten times the size of her small body.
"Meo...meow meow!" Hans said in fear, quickly somersaulting onto the staircase to avoid the vomit. Adlet backed off towards the entrance and Rolonia edged closer to moved into a corner. Goldof pulled Nashetania toward the staircase, ready to jump up if the vomit comes near.
The vomit began taking forms, from snakes to slugs to roaches.
"Hehe..." Wiping the drool off of her chin, Chamo ordered, "Attack!"
The water-dwelling fiends began lunching towards Adlet and Rolonia.
"Damn it!" Adlet immediately pushed Rolonia away, who bumped into Goldof, sending both of them crashing onto the ground. At that moment, Hans leaped into the air, sword ready to slash at Adlet.
Adlet had no time to think. Stuck in between tens of fiends and a murderous assassin, he reflexively drew out a secret weapon and threw it into the ground without thinking.
The weapon released a strong light, momentarily blinding everyone in the room, even the fiends. While everyone covered their eyes in surprise, Adlet's brain moved rapidly as he searched for a way to escape.
If he had more time to think, then he probably wouldn't make such a suicidal move.
The effect was ending. Adlet glanced at Rolonia, who was stuck in a heap with Goldof on the ground, then at Nashetania, who was covering her eyes in pain, with no one surrounding her. He have to make a decision quickly.
When the others regained their vision, Adlet was carrying Nashetania on his shoulder. A sleeping dart was inserted into her neck, and Adlet's sword was pressed against her skin.
"Nobody move!" Adlet said. "If you do, I will kill her."
AN: I will be writing this story parts by parts. Not chapter by chapter, because I just couldn't figure out where a chapter should end in a story like this.