Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you're all enjoying your holidays. I also hope you enjoy this chapter, the two halves of these chapters were supposed to be 2 different chapters, but then I just thought why not just combined them.
Shizuku marvels at the sight of the moving clouds and the tiny places down below and of course the wind on her face. She enjoyed the view from the aft deck of the airship. She still can't believe Hinata built all this. She has ridden in a plane with her family for vacation before. But this definitely felt different.
Mostly the fact the fact that the pilot wasn't a teenager that made the aircraft all on her own. She's apparently been designing this since clearing the Reisen labyrinth.
"There you are Shizuku." Shizuku looks up and sees Kouki coming down from the hatch. "Hey Kouki, where are the others?"
"Ryutaro is eating Shu's cooking with the guards. Lily and Suzu are in their rooms. And everyone else is with... Hinata." He said her name with a bit of bitterness in his tone.
"Are you still jealous?" Shizuku asked teasingly.
"Tch of course not." He stated while flustered. But it didn't take long until- "What the hell is her problem? How can she just abandon the people of this world?"
Shizuku lets out a sigh. She figured Kouki still didn't agree with Hinata's reasoning. It might seem cruel but...
"Kouk-"
"Because that's her choice." A third voice came in the form of Kaori.
"Kaori."
"Hinata is her own person. It's not fair to force her to protect people when she doesn't want to."
"Wha-are you saying you don't care about the people here?!"
"Of course I do. But Hinata doesn't, and that's fine."
"Kaori, with her power she can save so many people. If I had her power, I would definitely use it to help people."
"But you don't. That's the power that she earned, so it's up to her how she uses it." Shizuku feels so awkward being in this position. These two had never argued with each other. And yet here they are having a heated debate.
"I suggest you be less judgemental and more grateful that she was patient enough to bring all of us along." Kaori advised while glaring.
"...I don't understand." Kouki grumbled under his breath.
"I mean it Kouki. Stop harassing Hinata, you can't force people to follow your ide-Huh?" All three of them suddenly felt the airship switch direction. "What the?"
"What's going on?" They all went back inside and see everyone gather around a crystal. The crystal was an observational device, made to view what's happening on the ground.
"Seiji, what happened?"
"Oh well, we kinda spotted something." He pointed at the crystal. Through it they see two rabbit girls getting chased by soldiers with another squadron behind them.
Lily confirmed that they were from the empire because the squadron's wagons, were ones used for slave transport in the empire.
'Was this why we changed course?' Shizuku wondered. There's now way Hinata would've cared. 'Are they someone Shu knows?'
"They're in trouble, let's go help them."
Hinata's party, including Meld paid no attention to him whatsoever.
"Stop ignoring me!. Fine. If you won't help then I will. Let me of-"
*Smack*
Hinata cut him off with a right hook. "What did I say about mouthing off? I would love to kick you out thousands of meters up in the air, but shut up."
"Shu." Meld calls the rabbit closer. "Do these two look familiar?"
The rabbit observes the crystal closer and gasped. "That's Lana and Mina no doubt about it."
"I thought so…and it looks like-"
"Why are you so calm?!" Kouki shouts while holding his bruise. "Shu, if they're your friends, we sho-"
"Shut up." It wasn't just Hinata, he was getting the cold treatment by all of her harem, even Seiji sometimes. Having enough, Kouki heads for the entrance, he was going to try to pry it open. He knows he can't survive jumping from such heights but he can at least use ma-
"Uh Kouki, you might want to see this." Shizuku called out. He walks back in and is horrified at the new scene. The two girls were still alive and the soldiers that were chasing them were covered in arrows or beheaded.
The two girls just look at the corpses with stone cold eyes before crouching down and revert back to cowering like before.
"What the hell happened?!"
"I-I don't know, one second they were being chased and then-"
"Shhhhh, keep watching." Hinata silenced them. They all see the commander of the squadron getting tired of wating and sent some scouts...to their doom.
The scouts find the bodies of their allies and try to interrogate the "cowering" rabbits. The two met the same fate as their comrades. Arrows shot out of no where and the two girls beheaded them in an instant.
The others were shocked and then turned to Shu. The rabbit boy awkwardly laugh.
"Are all rabbitmen like this?" Lily asked.
"Well the ones in my tribe are. They got training from Meld and Hinata."
They all turned to the two- no wait, they're just looking at Hinata, who was ignoring them and looking at the cube.
The two girls were now joined by their sniper friend and three other rabbits making a total of six.
They sprint towards the direction of the the squadron. Everyone watched as they run like special operatives. The squadron were easily eliminated by the rabbits. They surpass them in speed and strength. Some of the soldiers were even killed before they got their weapons out.
Everyone but Hinata's party were disturbed watching the massacre. No one was left alive , not even the mage hiding behind the wagon.
"Ok, that was seriously cool. " Kaori gushed, much to everyone's shock. "It's so awesome that you trained your own kill squad. But wait, if you knew they would be ok, why did you change course?"
"Curiosity. I was wondering why they were fighting in some ravine that's far from Verbergen." Hinata flatly explained.
Shu also expressed his concerns. "Yeah, I don't think my family would ever invade the empire."
"Well, let's find out."
Hinata makes the airship slowly descend. After she, Meld, and Akira walk out, they are welcomed by the six rabbits who are all saluting. There were also other beastmen of many variety including elves. They all came from the wagon and were all in shackles. And let's just say a bunch of strangers soming from a flring aircraft didn't exactly help valm their nerves.
"GREETINGS BOSS HINATA, BOSS MELD, BIG BROTHER AKIRA!" Just when they thought their brutality was disturbing, they went ahead and talked like they were in the military.
"It's good to see all of you."
"You seem to be doing well."
"Good job not wasting our training."
"THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAISE, BOSS HINATA!" Kouki and Lily's groups felt so weird seeing Hinata being treated like some general and receiving so much adoration.
Of course they heard of Hinata's good deeds, including helping Shu's family, but this is definitely not what they expected.
One rabbit stepped forward ,a boy with a crossbow. "It's an honor to see all of you again. When we saw the odd transportation, we just knew it was you. Let me, Bartfeld the executioner to compliment your amazing entrance."
Meld blinked at the boy. "Bartfeld... wasn't your name P-"
"Hey, so um where's my dad?" Shu spoke over Meld. Cam was the first person he thought about when he saw members of the Haulia clan. "Also Par, you really need to cut out that habit of yours."
"Elder brother Shu please calm down. It is only the six of us here. Also, my name is not Par anymore but Baltfeld the Executioner." "Baltfeld" suddenly strikes a very over dramatic pose.
"Eh...?" Was everyone's collective reaction.
Shu however was especially shocked. "Lana...Mina... what's with him?" His words stutter as he ask the two.
"My name isn't Lana anymore Shu. It is...Lanainferina, the Swift Gale!" She also struck an odd pause. With his jaw dropped, Shu turns to Mina.
"And my name is Minasteria the Skybreaker!" One by one the other rabbitmen starting introducing their names with extensions to it along with chuuni like titles.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Shu fell to his knees completely, feeling distraught by what his family has become. While he suffers, the others started accusingly turn their eyes to-
"I know none of you are looking at me." The sky, yes the sky, definitely not Hinata.
Par or "Baltfeld" approached Hinata. "Boss Hinata, which one would you prefer, Rondo of Chaos or Tempest of Conquest?"
"What?"
Just then Lana and Mina appear next to Meld and Akira. "Boss Meld, I think the Crusher of Mountains would be perfect for you."
"Huh?"
"Big brother Akira, how do you feel about the Crimson Gale?"
"What does that even mean?"
As the Haulia kept talking about nonsensical names.
"Uh excuse me?" They all stooped and look at one of the slave elf girl that spoke up. "Are you...by any chance...Hinata Nagumo?"
Hinata narrowed her eyes. "How do you know my name?"
"I see.." Oddly enough, she breathed a sigh of relief, despite being shackled and covered in wounds. "My grandfather spoke of you. He says that you at least do not discriminate against beastmen like us."
"Grandfather?"
"Let me introduce my self, I am Altina Heipyst."
"Heipyst...Are you Ulfric's granddaughter?" The slave girl nods to Meld's question.
"Oh him...Wait. That would make you royalty."
"The emperor kidnapped the Verbergen chief's granddaughter?!" Lily gasped.
Hinata looks to the distance, wondering if someone like Altina was kidnapped, then what is going in Verbergen? "Ok, everyone to the airship. Meld, you drive while I remove the shackles." She turns to the Haulias. "Then you can tell me what happened."
*Clang*
"And that's it, that's all the shackles." The former slaves all cried tears of joy and thanks Hinata. They were all skeptical at first but Altina and Par managed to keep them at ease.
"Ok, so Par, what's going on in Verbergen?"
"Boss Hinata, my name is Bal-"
*Smack*
Hinata slaps him across the face. "I'M NOT PLAYING ALONG WITH THIS CRAP, NOW TALK!"
"Y-Yes Mam!" Although they have gotten stronger, the Haulia's are still no match for Hinata's fury. The kidnapped children replaced their feelings of gratitude with fear.
And so Par began his tale. Starting with the reveal that all of this started not with empire but the demons. Everybody gasped at that revelation.
Yes. The demons came into Verbergen, they used their special monsters to navigate through the fog. Verbergen was decimated, it was so bad that Ulfric had considered abandoning Verbergen.
After they found out the demons were after the "true" labyrinth like Hinata was, Ulfric tried to negotiate with the demons, in exchange for leading them, Verbergen will be spared.
However the general that came refused outright. Declaring that "lower beings" such as beastmen doesn't even have the right to negotiate on equal terms with "true beings".
The elders were overwhelmed by the demon's advance magic and were about to killed. Until a certain tribe stepped in.
Par explains that the Haulias actually couldn't care less about what happened to Verbergen. The only reason they killed the demons was because they were after the Labyrinth, their boss's price.
Everyone on board was disturbed by Par's gruesome narrative of how Haulia slaughtered the demons. How they lobbed off their heads, the traps they used, and their bloodlust.
Well maybe not everyone...
"That sounds...awesome!" Hinata exclaimed. "You saved me some trouble, Thanks." The Haulia once again gush over Hinata's praise, some even crying. They all feel relieved that their training and hard work paid of-
"Don't praise them!" Shu shouted. He then started shaking Hinata. "My family became a bunch of savages! What do I do?!" Hinata stops Shu and simply tosses him away.
"Suck it up. Now keep going, Par." She was genuinely excited to hear what was next.
After the demons were dealt with, both Verbergen and Haulia's village were focused on recuperating and replenishing supplies.
But they didn't have that luxury.
A couple of days later...the empire strikes.
Not only were they inadequate to protect themselves, the beastmen also couldn't count on Verbergen's fog...
After the empire set the forest on fire.
"That was a option?!" Hinata asked in genuine surprise.
Everybody stares at her while thinking. 'Seriously?'
As for the Haulia. "Hahaha. Boss Hinata is as brutal as ever."
"Good thing he met up with Shu first."
"Please don't joke about that." Shu begged.
Back to the story. The empire did set the forest on fire , but it was not for an invasion. The soldiers were solely kidnapping beastmen and making them slaves. After some interrogation, they had learned that the empire had also recently been invaded by the demons. They were kidnapping beastmen for labor slaves.
Everybody gasped, reminded the huge army that attacked Heiligh. To think the demons still had enough forces to invade two other kingdoms. Lily was especially shook, she realizes that she's asking help from a kingdom that had recently been invaded.
Hinata remains calm and then asked Par a question. "Did they kidnap rabbitmens too?"
Par nods. "Yes. Rabbitmen are mostly captured as sex slave." Everybody was disgusted by that fact. "Although we hold no attachment Verbergen, we still care for our fellow rabbitmen. Cam went to the empire with a rescue squad...and has yet to return.
Shu's pupils shrinks in shock and he looks down in despair. While Hinata kept looking at him.
Par finished by saying that they're planning a rescue, though at a much slower pace by collecting information first. With nothing more to say, they continued with their original destination.
Lily and her attendants were dropped of on the outskirts of the imperial castle. They will make their way to the empire by the carriages they had brought.
And then it wasn't long until Hinata's airsphip reached Verbergen or what's left of it. The burnt remains of the forest brought everyone's mood down.
"Uhm Hinata." Seiji called out.
"What?"
"Do you think...I can fix this? You know , with regeneration magic."
Hinata strokes her chin. "Hmm with an apostle's body and ancient magic...it should be possible..."
"Ok..here I go!"
"Huh? Wai-"
"Tetragrammaton."
Casting the same spell he used Ankaji. Everybody watches in amazement as the forest starts morphing from a desolate black to a lush green. Seiji stood proudly admiring his ow-
*Bonk*
"Ow! Akira, what was that for."
"Look." Akira pointed to the rejuvenated forest...the fog covered forest.
"Ohhhhhh..." Seiji started to retreat to to squatting position while burying his face in his arms. Kaori and the kids started tried to cheer him up.
Hinata tiredly stares at the fog. "Welp, guess I've got no choice." Hinata brings out her flame-
"Nononononono." Meld grabs her hand. "Shu you'll have to lead us again."
"Of course!"
"Ugh fine." Hinata puts her flamethrower away.
"Oh master." Tio spoke up. "Ruthless as usual, I will never sto-"
"We're too big of a group. Shu can't lead all of us." Hinata shoves Tio towards Kouki's party. "You watch over them. Let's go." Hinata then starts running while shoving Shu towards the fog with Meld, Akira, Seiji, Kaori, the Haulia and the slaves quickly following.
"Wait master, you're leaving me behind with them?!"
"Oy Nagumo, you can't be serious!" Kouki shouted.
"Hmm it's not the same when it's coming from you."Tio said.
The group carefully thread through the forest. It seemed fine, Shu was leading the way, the kids were getting along with Seiji, until...
"Someone's coming." Shu's ears caught them. They soon came face to face with a bunch of armed tigermen. They were all hostile, until the leader came face to face with Hinata.
"It's you..." The man in front widened his eyes.
"Ugh you again.."
The tigerman turned out to be Gil, the same tigerman that Hinata's party first met when they got to Verbergen.
"So do I need to ask nicely again or-"
"Is that Lady Altina?!" Ignoring Hinata, Gil spots Altina and breathes a sigh of relief. After thanking Hinata, they were all guided to the city.
Everybody grimaced at arrival, especially Hinata, Meld, Shu, and Akira, the four of them had saw how the city was before the invasion. And to see it in such a sorry state.
The beastmen immediately rushed over after spotting Altina and gave her welcome hug. They also gave their thanks to Hinata's party. Soo a certain someone was seen.
"Grandpa!" Altina called out.
"Altina." Ulfric and his granddaughter embrace each other. After they were done, Ulfric walks tup to Hinata. "It seems our path crosses again. It also seems I have you to th-"
*Smack*
Everybody went slack jawed when Hinata slapped Ulfric. "Save your thanks. I still don't like you. Don't think I forgot about what you did. Besides, it was the Haulias that saved her."
Ulfric frowns while holding his cheek, he knows what she meant. "Your right. However, you are the one who guided them to becoming...that. You also showed me the error of my judgement. If it were not for you, Verbergen would have fallen. So once again, I thank you." Ulfric bowed his head.
Kouki's party can't help bit feel a little embarrassed. Here they are considering themselves to be heroes. Yet , while they were training in Orcus, Hinata has been saving people, cities, even kingdoms. All while not meaning to.
"Anyway, Par said that some of the Haulias are staying in Verbergen . Where are they? I got some things to tell them."
"They went on patrol earlier, they will be back soon. Please, fell free to wait in my house until they return."
"Fine, Seiji." The boy flinch. "Go do your thing and help the beastmen. Yes, your look of sympathy was obvious as hell now just go, I honestly don't care."
"Hehe, thanks Hinata."
And so as they wait, Seiji and Kaori were running around Verbergen. Kaori healing the injured and Seiji helps rebuild the houses with regeneration magic. And it worked well...too well.
Soon nearly evey beastmen was chanting the names of the siblings. The others couldn't believe they managed to steal the hearts of the beastmen so easily. But for Hinata, it felt just like highschool again.
Soon the Haulia returned and just like Par's group they happily greet their bosses with army style salutes. Unfortunately, also like Par, they came up with very...odd names.
"So Io, wh-"
"My name is Ioni-"
"Io!" That shut the rabbit up. "How's your tribe doing?"
"Oh, well despite our losses, we still have over a hundred fighters. Mostly because other rabbitmen have reached out to us."
"Great, gather everyone that was going to the empire, then meet me back here."
"Huh? O-Ok, right away boss!" Everybody was perplexed as Io and the other rabbits leave.
Shu decided to be the one who asked. "Hinata what are you-"
"You're worried about Cam."
"Ah! Well..."
"You seriously expect me to believe that you would stay quiet when you just realized your dad was kidnapped?"
"...You just seemed so upset after-"
"Shu." Hinata stops him. "We were suppose to come here earlier but we got delayed because we had to save my teacher, Seiji's sister, and Meld's home." Hinata made no attempt to hide the fact she was pointing at Kouki's group as whispered something. "Which was filled by a bunch of people I did not give a shit about."
"Seriously?" Kouki grumbled
"Wait, are you pointing at me too Master?" Tio asked.
Suzu and Ryutaro just kept quiet, not really sure how to respond. While Shizuku looks a little hurt by that statement, she can't blame Hinata feeling that of course. But...
"So it's no problem to take another detour right?" She turns to her party. "You guys ok with that?"
"Sure." Akira nods.
"Of course." Seiji exclaimed.
"..." Meld was quiet for a second. "I want to help a comrade, but..."
"You're worried that you'll cause problem for the kingdom ." Hinata guessed.
"Yes." Meld confirmed.
"Then just stay here. We'll handle it, they can't accuse you if you're not there."
"That makes me more worried actually." He dreads what Hinata might do without his supervision. Especially after what she did to Lundel. "If we do this, it has to be under the radar. Our actions might reflect badly on the kingdom." He can only hope the princess will be fine with this.
"Sure." Hinata turns back to Shu. " So, what do you say?"
"Hinata...guys..." Shu starts tearing up. He then leaps at Hinata out of joy. "Thank you so muu- aaaahhhh." Hinata grabs Shu's arm and pulls it over her, slamming Shu down to the floor.
"No hugging." She simply said as she walked over Shu.
"So first she offers him help then slams him to the ground? I seriously don't understand her." Shizuku exasperated.
"Well that's just how Hinata is. That's what makes her so fun to hang out with." Kaori said.
"Fun huh?" Little to anybody's knowledge, Shizuku had gripped her arm while feeling quite frustrated.
"Hurry up!"
"Move it , slave."
"Well don't you look fine?"
The girls had to hold in their puke, and the guys held in their urge to punch the people around them. Hinata was holding back both.
On they way here Hinata was briefed on how the empire worked. It's a kingdom that's ruled by strength. Their ideology is that the weak serve the strong, that's why the whole kingdom has no problem with the harsh slavery of beastmen, that they consider weak.
Hinata's party was surprised to learn that Seiji and the others had actually met the emperor himself, Gahard D. Hoelscher. He visited the kingdom and disguised as hos bodyguard, challenged Kouki, beat him, then criticized his lack of resolve.
Hinata laughed for a full minute after hearing that. And then laughed another two minutes when Kaori said that Gahard apparently proposed to Shizuku. And that brings them to now, Meld and Seiji had disguised themselves to not draw attention. Amd the Haulia were hidden somewhere in the outskirts of the empire.
As they stand there, they can see all they can see the disturbing around them. Beastmen slaves, young and old, male or female, all being treated cruelly, bring ordered with commands and having to follow it no matter what. It didn't really help by the fact that some random thug tried to rob them nor that it had happened eight times.
Everybody kept moving while being surrounded by the horrific sights. Everybody was disgusted, especially Shu. And Kouki seemed ready to pounce. They couldn't look away even if they wanted to. One turn and you can easily spot another slave suffering.
As they were walking they see one young dogmen was some rubble, he trips dropping the rubbles everywhere. One of the soldiers sees this and starts marching, it's clear to see what he was about to do.
Having enough Kouki decided t-
*Smack*
Hinata hits Kouki at the back of his head. She then pulls him back picks up a small stone, she charges it with electricity using her Lightning Field skill. She flicks the stone and it hits the soldiers dead square on the forehead, knocking him out.
Other soldiers came by and decided to take their ally away to help him, completely forgetting the dogmen boy, who immediately collects the rubble and gets back to work.
Hinata angrily looks Kouki. "I can't believe I even have to say this, but can you not fuck up today?"
"Do you feel nothing when you see this?" Kouki angrily asked back.
"It doesn't matter how I feel, we're here to save Shu's family. We can't do that if you go around picking fights."
"Even so-"
*Smack*
"For your information, this whole mess has been happening since before we got here. If you really cared, why didn't you try to get rid if it? Oh wait, you couldn't, Gahard kicked your ass, that demon lady kicked your ass, and then you were too busy making out with the librarian's assistant." Hinata mocked.
Kouki can only grit his teeth as Hinata brought up all his past failures. He grips his hands. "How dare y-"
"Kouki!" Kaori shouted. "Stop talking like you're the only one who's sicken by this, we all do. But there's nothing we can do right now."
"She's right." Meld chimed in. "No matter how you hate it, we are in the empire's territory. And they have considered all of this to be...legal." He admitted with disgust. "Should you try to interfere, you will be seen as nothing but a criminal."
Kouki looks down, reluctantly accepting Meld's logic. Shizuku feels bad for her friend, she can only imagine how hard Kouki is-
"Enough, let's go. We're not here to care about Amanogawa's dumb feelings. The adventurer's guild building is near." She ordered.
They all make their way to the building, the reason they came here was for information. They had no idea where Cam and the others were being held. So they had hoped the adventurer's guild would give them what they need.
Hinata goes to the receptionist and gets straight to the point. She asks about rabbitmen while making sure the receptionist sees her gold rank card. The receptionist instead directs her towards the bartender in the guild.
But the man was not very welcoming, on the fact he immediately said. "I don't serve kids."
"We have three adults with us, isn't that good enough?" Hinata countered.
"I'm only here to serve alcohol" The bartender kept wiping the glass in his hand.
"Fine." Hinata narrows her eyes, picking up on what the bartender meant. "Give me the best alcohol you got
He places a bottle of alcohol on the table and slides it to Hinata. "Drink it all, if you vomit, I'll throw you out."
"You can try."
"I will."
"You can try." She grabs the bottle and opens the lid. The smell alone makes it clear of how strong the alcohol is.
'I'm not exactly happy about this.' Meld asked using Telepathy.
'I've eaten raw meat and I have a poison resistance skill, so I won't get drunk.'
'I meant I'm not happy about seeing you drinking while being underaged.'
'Haha, you're such a dad.' Hinata then chugs the bottle, not caring about the taste. After she was done, she slams the bottle down. "There, happy?"
"Alright, you're now proper costumers."
"So what do you know about rabbits?"
Later
They all step out of the guild, the bartender had given them a new lead. He reveals that the emperor knows about abnormally strong rabbitmen and has imprisoned them in an under ground prison. Some of Shu's worries were alleviated when he learns that his family was being kept alive at least.
They tried asking about how to get there, but the bartender was hesitant about answering that. He instead told them to find a guy named Nedil, a former prison guard for more information.
"Meld and I will go find this Nedil guy. You guys go do what you want." Hinata's harem quickly objected that idea.
"Huh?"
"Wait, why do you gave to go alone?"
"And with Meld of all people."
"What...?" Meld asked, somewhat offended.
"If we all gang up on him, it might cause a scene and I need a little support, in case Nedil decides to be difficult." Hinata explained.
"Well you can just take m-"
"I need someone competent." She grabs Meld's hand and drags him away. "It won't take long."
And it didn't.
But...
"Meld, why do you look so..." The man seem very distressed and not even making eye contact.
"I rather not talk about it."
"Hinata." Shizuku glares at her. "What did you do?"
"Hey, I got the info we needed. Nedil just needed some...convincing."
"Meld?"
"..." The paladin remained quite while Shizuku noticed that he was slightly crossing his legs. Imagining what Hinata did in her interrogation, Shizuku realized what had happened and decided to keep qui-
"Did you step on the guy's balls?" Kaori spoke up.
The guys were all shocked and looked Hinata who responded with a "Yup."
"And Meld must've used regeneration magic so that you can do it more than once?"
"Right again." They didn't know who was more disturbing, Hinata for doing it or Kaori for admiring it.
"Anyway, here's the plan. We have to be stealthy so me, Akira, and Shu will be the only ones to sneak in. The rest of you just wait with Par and the rest."
"That's it, we do nothing?" Kouki asked, he didn't the feeling of not contributing anything or at least that's what believes. "Isn't there anything we can do?"
"Well there is- Nah, it's probably too much for you."
"What, what is it? Tell me, whatever it is is, I'll do it." He eagerly volunteered, just like Hinata planned.
"Since they got invaded, the empire have been super cautious and buffed up security. It's no problem, but it would be easier if there was a decoy."
"Then you just need to us to be a decoy right? We can do that?"
"Great, put this on." Hinata pulls something out and tosses it at Kouki, upon catching it, he sees that it's a mask, and silly one at that.
"Uh..what?"
"To hide your identity. I made it so that it won't fall off unless you take it off and it's really durable, it's practically face armor. I have one ready for all of you."
"Guh, even us?" Shizuku asked nervously.
"Even me?" Kaori asked excited.
"I-I didn't know you watched tokusatsus, Hinata. I didn't think you were into the hero genre." Suzu said.
"I'm not, but it had a lot of explosions, and I love the fact that the characters technically blow up and kill someone every single episode, which actually makes their kill count way higher than the villains, so it was somewhat entertaining." Everyone tries to ignore that revelation. "Anyway, the red is the leader so I gave Amanogawa the red mask."
"H-Hold on, is there nothing else you can make us wear? This is too embarrassing." Kouki continued to object.
"Yeah, I'm not comfortable with this either." And Suzu agreed with him.
"Oh come on, this can be fun." Kaori eagerly said.
"I don't really see the problem." Ryutaro sided with her.
"Looks like your split, Yaegashi it's up to you."
"Wha, um.." Shizuku was conflicted, agree with Kouki and avoid embarrassing her self or agree with her best friend and put on...that. As she was being indecisive she noticed Hinata starting to scowl and see her lips moving.
"You really are just baggage."
After hearing what the synergist mumbled, Shizuku made up her mind. "Let's do it."
"Wha- Shizuku you can't be serious!"
"Think about it Kouki, we can cause a distraction by freeing some of the other slaves. Right, Hinata?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a good distraction."
"We can free them...then I'll do it!" Kouki changed his tune immediately. Being outvoted, Suzu also conceded.
"Alright, in that case." Hinata prepares more different colored masks. "Kaori, you get blue."
"Nice, female blues are so rare."
"Sakagami, you're a musclehead, so you get black."
"I don't really get it, but ok." The monk caught the helmet and gave a thumbs up.
"Of course you don't, Taniguchi."
"Umm do I get the pink one?"
"No, yellow."
"Why?"
"Because you're the least smart girl in the gang."
"What?!" The barrier master gasped as she caught the yellow helmet.
"Just be glad I didn't call you a dumb b- Mpf." Meld covers Hinata's mouth, while Shizuku grew worried.
Then, she realized. "Wait, doesn't that mean-"
"Yup, you're pink."
"Seriously?!"
"I'll have you know, that the pink one have been portrayed as a strong figure in some seasons."
"Well...that is kinda ni-"
"Who also has a cute side that she tries to hide."
"W-What cute side?!"
"Kaori told me about your stuffed animals."
"Kaori!" Her best friends simply giggles.
"Ok, time to go. See ya later Meld."
"Yes, but before you leave." Hinata turns back to Meld. "Be careful."
"Oh come on, who do you think talking to?" Hinata scoffs. " You seriously think I'll get hurt?"
"No, I meant be careful to not get caught and cause trouble for me or the princess."
"Hahahahaha. Alright, later." With that Hinata's group left, but after they did, Seiji and Tio raised some eyebrows.
"What was that?"
"I've never heard you talk to master like that before."
Meld scratched his head. "Oh really? Well...guess things change."
Hinata , Akira, and Shu thread through the filthy and reek of blood dungeon. They can only imagine what the prisoners here go through. There were traps everywhere and near indestructible walls. There isn't even any natural source of light to give any hope to the prisoners.
The onky good thing for Hinata's team is that the prisons are so awful that even the guard barely come here.
"Over there, I hear them." Shu's ears was the prefect navigation device. And Hinata's transmutation skills easily takes care of the traps. They near the Haulia's prison, where they can her them talking.
"How many this time?"
"All of my fingers and two ribs."
"Then I win, fingers and three ribs."
The three was very disturbed by hearing this. The Haulia was actually competing of who got tortured more. As they talk, Hinata's team learned that Gahard was genuinely impressed by the Haulia's strength and tried to recruit them. When that didn't work, he resorted to try interrogate them to try and find out who trained them and gave them their weapons.
Committed to not sell Hinata out or help the empire in any way. The Haulias accepts their..in their own way. It has come to the point when their jailers are feeling uncomfortable.
They kept nervously listening to their conversation until a certain subject appeared.
"How do you think the chief is doing?"
"Probably giving them hell."
"Yeah, he's been getting scary,remember when he was training the newbies."
"Yeah , he almost looked like boss Hinata."
"But she's still way scarier."
"Haha you got that right."
"The same goes for these dumb soldiers."
"This is nothing compared to Boss Hinata's training."
Akira and Shu tries not to laugh as Hinata gritted her teeth. "Bite...me."
They go to the front of the Haulias' cell.
"I don't think anyone can match Boss Hinata's scariness."
"You got that right." Hinata spoke up.
The rabbits, confused by the new voice, turns to the cell's door. There, they see Hinata with her arms crossed.
"Hey guys, I think I'm starting to hallucinate."
"Yeah, I'm starting to see boss Hina-Guh!" That last guy got hit by stone, that was thrown by Hinata. "Still think I'm fake?"
"...BOSS HINATAAAAA!"
Akira heals the Haulias, after Hinata tested her new artifact, a gate key. The key is enchanted with spatial magic, meaning it can open spatial rifts, but only to limited locations. The key is connected to a sort of anchor, when the key is used it can only open a portal to the locations where the anchors are.
It was Hinata's own way of using spatial magic , though limited, it can still be very useful.
Hinata uses it and sends the Haulia on their way. They still need to go find, who's being interrogated. After avoiding more guards and traps, they soon arr-
"BRING IT ON BITCHES!"
"!"
"Was that...Cam?"
"COME YOU PUSSIES, GIVE ME YOUR WORST."
"Shut it rabbit!" Another voice ordered.
"Yeah, this is...starting to get weird." A third voice nervously said.
They can hear Cam continuously scream and taunting his torturers to do more.
"Do we even to save him?"
"I'm wondering if we should save those other guys instead."
"I'm really sor- Wait a minute! You're the one who made him like this." Shu pointed at Hinata.
"Bite me."
"IS THIS ALL YOU GOT? THIS IS NOTHING TO CAMBANTIS ELFALIA RODELIA HAULIA, HUNTER OF THE ABYSS."
"Not him too." Shu cried into his hands.
"That one's on Par, not me."
"Ok screw it, I'm out." One of the torturers held us his hands.
"W-Wait, you can't leave."
Hinata hears the guards heading to the door, she pulls a small gun, unlike her usual ones, these were simply dart guns. She fired hitting both torturers on the neck with tranquilizer darts made from monster poison.
They rush inside the room. "Boss Hinata, is that you?"
"Yes and I am real."
They free Cam and heal their wounds. The first thing Cam did was apologize to Hinata for his failure. They told him that it was and fine and that the others were free.
"But boss Hinata, those bastards took the artifacts you gave us."
"They were just of short swords, I'll give you something better."
"Oh, that sounds fun." Shu was scared of his father's devilish grin. As they leave, Hinata wonders something.
"Wonder how Kaori's team is doing."
"Beware mortals! We, the masked squadron of the demon army have come for you." A blue masked figure loudly declared. "I am the azure scion, Mask Blue."
"Who are theses weirdos?!"
"They freed the slaves and they're seriously tough!"
"The blue one, is the weirdest one of all!"
Mask Blue's allies all stared at her concern.
"Kao-I mean Mask Blue , just calm down ok?" The one with the yellow mask begged. The one in red and pink mask felt the same level of concern.
Either way, that was an unforgettable night in the empire. It was the night a group of masked weirdos with some familiar looking gear attacked the emperor.
They were welcomed back by a very happy group rabbits. Hinata finally managed to ask Cam of how he got captured. Turns out that attacking slave traders had recognized by the empire. So Gahard had used of group of slaves as bait to lure in the Haulia.
Soon, Kaori's team came back, they returned after Hinata messaged them through one of her Telepathy artifact.
Kaori was the only one who was fine, the others looked...dejected. Even when they return the mask. Meld felt sorry for them, but Hinata didn't.
"You sure you don't want to keep it? It's really good face armor."
"Just...get it away from me." Shizuku's sounded so tired and dry.
"So Cam, what're you gonna do now?" Hinata asked the rabbit chief.
"Well first, we gotta regroup with the rest of the Haulia. And after we get our new weapons from boss Hinata..." Cam suddenly went silent and his face became serious. "We're going wage war with the empire."
Everybody was shocked by that news especially Shu. "What, are you nuts?! You might be stronger and have over 100 members but that's nowhere near enough to the empire." Shu was frantic , especially since his family so much. "Don't tell me you've all gotten this arrogant. If that's the case then I'll just knock all of yo-Ow!"
Hinata chops Shu's head just as he pulled out his hammer. "Calm down."
"I'm sorry...I got too worked up."
"Eh, you were worried for your family. It's cool."
"Oh my, you two have gotten better together, does that mean I can expect my grandkids." Everybody's eyes were on Cam. One was more fierce than the rest.
"That's it." Hinata brings out her knife. "You and your delusions die tonight, Cam Haulia." Although her voice was calm her actions speak otherwise.
"Now you need to calm down!" Meld needed everyone's help to hold Hinata back from the terrified Cam, who was profusely apologizing.
After Hinata got rid of her bloodlust. Meld was finally able to ask his question. "So Cam, why are you suddenly declaring war? Right after being captured nonetheless."
"Boss Meld, I swear this is not an instantaneous decision." He then turns to his son . "This is also not a matter of conquest...it is of survival. Verbergen has been invaded twice. The emperor has set his sights on us, because of that he might start targeting other rabbitmen. We cannot let that happen." Cam's face hardens. "We will fight."
"But C-"
"And I know we are no match for the empire's army. That's why we will use a different approach. We don't have the manpower, but we do have stealth."
"Wait, are you...going to assassinate the emperor?" Meld asked in concern, Lily us trying to request assistance from the Gahard. He does not want to strip the Haulia of the right to fight, but...
"No of course not."
Meld breathes a sigh of relief.
"Being the emperor, he would surely have made preparations against assassins. So we are targeting his close associates to make an example."
"It'll still be dangerous." Hinata points out.
"Yeah, she's right." Shu chimed in, still worried about this plan.
"We know, but it is our only choice, not just for Verbergen but for us as well. We must fight for our right to exist." Cam places a hand on Shu. "Do not worry about us my son. You've made your choice now go with it. Enjoy a happy life with your friends. "
"Dad...I..." Shu slowly shifts to-
"Don't you look at me." Hinata spoke up, noticing where his gaze was going to. "This is a personal matter of your tribe's pride. None of us can help you, especially not Meld. How would it look if the knight commander of Heiligh killed a bunch of empire nobles."
Kouki was about to step up and offer his help. But Kaori pulled him back and points out that the circumstances holding Meld back, also applied to them.
"I know..." Shu had already understood what Hinata meant. But he just can't help but-
"So that means I can only offer menial support."
"Huh?"
Hinata turns to Cam. "I'll shoot down any ideas that doesn't meet my standard. In addition to your new short swords, i'll also give you a specific artifact if you need it. But nothing too grand."
"Boss Hinata..."
"I told Shu we were gonna save you. And that means not letting you march to your death."
"But Hina-"
"Yes Meld i know your concerns." She cuts him off with her hand. "Don't worry, as long as Gahard doesn't die, the empire will not be in too much disarray that they can't support Heiligh. And I'll make sure he can't put any blame on you or the princess."
"But still..."
"If Gahard keeps doing this. He'll have two wars on his hands. This might be better for everyone." Meld accepts that logic and puts his worries to rest.
"Hinata...thank you do much." Shu goes in for a hug. But instead of Hinata's small body, he felt something big and cold and hard, it was Meld.
"No hugs."
"Can you please not use me as a shield?"
Hinata now faces the Haulia. "Alright you dumb rabbits. Are you ready for this? Are you ready to change the empire and make them fear you?" She asked while shouting.
"U-Uh..yes mam."
"I can't hear you!"
"MAM YES MAM!"
"Are you ready to show them your blades?"
"MAM YES MAM!"
"Are you ready to kill anyone in your way?"
"YEAAAAHHHHH! KILL! KILL! KILL!"
"Ahem." Meld coughed for Hinata's attention, which she noticed.
"Uh..and by that I mean anyone but the emperor! Make sure that bastard is alive to watch as his beloved empire falls before the Haulia name!"
"YEAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
The others can only watch the horrifying scene. "Shizushizu, please hold me. I'm scared."
Shizuku pulls Suzu closer. "Me too Suzu. Me too..."
Surprisingly, Kaori wasn't the only one that was admiring Hinata right now. "Man look at her go, she looks like a real drill sergeant."
"Ryutaro?! You can't be serious, this is nuts!"
Motivated by their boss, the Haulia prepares for battle. As he watched, Meld can only hope the princess is ok.
In the empire castle.
A man and a little girl sat across a table from each other. The man was grinning wile the girl was trying to remain calm.
"So princess." The man spoke softly. "What can you tell me about Hinata Nagumo?"