Episode 32
“Got it!”
Bartol, who had come to stand by my side at some point, answered.
I nodded vigorously and climbed back onto my horse with the map in hand.
Antonio led the combat unit forward, and the other members dispersed according to their assigned roles.
Bartol and I spurred our horses and headed behind the commercial district.
Suddenly, I felt a squirming sensation from my inner pocket. The sparrow, Polka, was inside, pecking away at some biscuits.
I thought it would’ve taken shelter somewhere since I wasn’t coming back until morning. But to think it snuck back in here again.
“Polka, you should go somewhere safe.”
[Why?]
“I’m in charge of civilian evacuation.”
[No. I’m finishing this.]
“You little… I told you it’s dangerous!”
[Just let me finish eating.]
This cheeky bird, seriously. I reached into my pocket, grabbed Polka, and lightly tossed it into the air.
“You only get to come if you behave. Don’t follow me, it’s dangerous!”
I shouted as I watched the little bird, wrapped in a pearly white light, fly toward the city wall with a huff.
Bartol and I led the civilian evacuation team to our designated location. The shelter set by the officials was an old warehouse on the outskirts of the commercial district.
It seemed the residents had already been informed, as they were beginning to gather nearby.
“This way, everyone! Over here!”
I took the Scorpio banner from Bartol, fixed it to the flagpole by the door, and threw both doors wide open.
Facing the northwestern sky, I blew the whistle Antonio had given me. A clear note rang out, and before long, Matteo swooped down.
“Let me know if a hippogriff is approaching. I’ll handle things here.”
[You’d better have something to feed me later.]
…Matteo always expected payment for any task. Since I couldn’t catch mice, I figured I’d give him some of Polka’s biscuits.
Even merchants with bulky bundles started arriving. The crowd grew thicker. Fearing people might get pushed and trampled, Bartol and I began clearing boxes and clutter from the surrounding paths.
[Peep—peep!]
A faint sound brushed past my ears.
It sounded like a chick chirping—or perhaps a newborn animal crying.
“Bartol, did you hear that just now?”
“A sound? Well, it is noisy with everyone chattering.”
“…Like a bird chirping.”
“A bird? I’m not sure.”
Bartol looked around in confusion.
So only I could hear it?
[Peep—peeep!]
The sound grew louder. I quickly turned around. A bearded merchant was clutching a large bundle in his arms.
I wasn’t certain, but the sound seemed to be coming from inside that bundle.
“You there.”
I called out to the merchant.
“…Yes?”
“Would you mind showing me what’s inside that bundle?”
As I approached, the merchant visibly flinched and took a step back.
“I don’t understand why you’re asking.”
“I heard something strange coming from it. Would you please open it?”
“I didn’t hear anything at all.”
He looked suspicious. Clutching his bundle tighter, he was sweating and avoiding my gaze.
“Why can’t you show me?”
“It’s for a private auction—confidential goods.”
“…A private auction?”
That meant one of those secret auctions for nobles—where extremely rare items not available for ordinary money were sold.
Or perhaps it wasn’t even an item…
[Peep!]
That sound again, from somewhere else in the warehouse.
I snapped my head around. A middle-aged woman held a similar-sized bundle in her arms.
Judging from the heavy leather pouch at her waist, she seemed to be a merchant too. It made sense—this was near the commercial district, after all.
[Peeeep…!]
Something was alive inside. The cries sounded tired, almost like a scream from something suffering. A strange sense of loss tugged at my chest.
But no one else seemed to notice the bundles these two held. That was the most disturbing part.
Flap-flap.
Suddenly, Matteo flew in through the open door, returning from his scouting.
[A hippogriff is coming. You should evacuate everyone to a different shelter.]
“What? Why is a hippogriff coming here?”
[No time to explain. I barely got away.]
It was a bolt from the blue. I quickly explained the situation to Bartol. He was shocked and ran to the supervising official, demanding another shelter location.
“There’s—there’s no other empty warehouse nearby…”
The official replied, pale-faced, and hurried out.
“Screeeeech! Screeeeaach!”
Out of nowhere, an ear-piercing wail echoed like it would split our ears.
The sound drew closer. The shelter fell into a stunned silence.
The continuing cry caused people to clutch their ears in confusion.
“What is that sound?”
“No… it can’t be…”
“Sir Knight! What’s going on?”
One of the residents looked at me with raised hands.
I clenched my fist and hesitated. There was no alternate shelter yet, and if I told them about the incoming hippogriff, panic would surely follow.
Could we still maintain order if I told the truth?
Crack.
Creak, crackle.
No time left to think. Suddenly, a tearing sound came from the ceiling.
CRASH!
A thick beam of light flooded the room.
A shaft of harsh sunlight sliced straight through the darkness like a blade.
I raised my elbow to shield my eyes and looked up.
The wooden roof had been torn open, and sunlight streamed through the gap.
“Th-the ceiling’s been ripped open!”
People screamed in horror.
I looked through the opening. Two giant beasts circled overhead—each with the body of a quadruped and the head of an eagle.
Their hooked beaks and strong claws were menacing.
“Screeeeaaach!”
“Screeeech!”
The hippogriffs were crying.
It was a heart-wrenching, gut-twisting cry.
[Peeeep! Peeeeeep!]
[Peep, peep!]
The suspicious merchants’ bundles grew louder, as if responding to the hippogriffs.
The two cries carried the same wavelength to my ears.
Suddenly, it struck me—the hippogriffs had a purpose.
They were targeting the commercial district for a reason.
I looked back up through the torn roof.
The two hippogriffs dove, tearing at the ceiling with their beaks and claws. Arrows shot from outside bounced off their tough feathers and skin.
“Aaaaahhh!”
Terrified citizens surged toward the exit, but Nathan blocked the way.
“If you go out, you’ll be a target! I’ll set up a barrier—stay inside!”
Nathan dropped to one knee, planted his sword into the floor, and placed both hands on the hilt. He murmured a spell, sweat beading on his brow as a translucent barrier spread outward from him.
The barrier expanded until it covered the entire warehouse.
The people calmed down. Some even collapsed from the tension.
“Please, just kill those things! They must be after our money!”
“Exactly! They’ve been raiding every market! First the southern shops, then the western ones—now here!”
Merchants clamored for the hippogriffs to be killed.
Boom!
BOOM!
The two beasts slammed their bodies against the roof, trying to break the barrier.
“Screeeeeech!”
The shrieks felt like they would tear through the protective field.
BOOM! The entire warehouse trembled. Each impact rained dust and debris as they alternated their attacks. The ceiling wavered dangerously with every blow.
