After a long moment of silence, having absorbed the contents of the map and the reality of her situation, Runa exhaled with a heavy sigh, as if even the air itself weighed on her lungs once again.
Runa: "We're lost..."
The door burst open abruptly, without warning. This time, there were no polite knocks or requests for permission. Someone simply barged in.
A tall man, clad in partially damaged armor and with his right arm wrapped in bandages, entered without ceremony. His bearing was imposing, but his expression carried the sharpness of someone long accustomed to sarcasm.
Roderick: "Ah, finally. Took you long enough to realize the kind of mess you've dragged us all into."
Runa: "Silence. And next time you enter without knocking, I'll cut off your arm again."
Roderick: "My bad, my bad! It's just that... I couldn't contain my excitement. I now have the privilege of seeing two beauties every morning at my workplace. How generous of my new ruler."
Lynell (from a corner, with disdain): "Filthy human."
Runa (with a sarcastic smile): "Thanks for the compliment. And since you're so grateful to be in my service, how about you start by handling that stack of documents over there? That mountain is yours now. Don't they say that giving land to your subordinates is a sign of a good ruler?"
Roderick (staring at the table in horror): "...Wait, a mountain of papers isn't the same as a mountain of land. You're merciless."
Runa: "Remember, you chose to follow me in this stupid war. Obviously, you'd have a lot on your plate. You're the former commander of this city—there are things only you can handle."
Runa (after a pause): "By the way, how are your men?"
Roderick (crossing his arms): "You can see some of them around, helping with the reconstruction and assisting civilians. I told them the Empire would never forgive us after this defeat... especially after allying with elves. Most of them have holed up in the military academy. They're training. And they refuse to follow my orders."
Runa (thinking):
If someone told me I had to be a guard in a world where creatures can appear out of nowhere and raze fortresses or burn villages in seconds... I'd be training until I collapsed too, just out of paranoia.
Runa: "I understand. They must be mentally exhausted. And they likely still hold resentment for their fallen comrades."
Runa (after a longer pause, almost casually): "Tell me, Roderick... do you resent me?"
Roderick (shrugging): "Resent you? That's war. If I did, I wouldn't have chosen to follow you in the first place."
Runa (nodding): "I see. Then let's get to the point. If you've come all the way here, that means you've made contact with them... haven't you?"
Roderick: "That's right. Looks like they're willing to negotiate."
Runa (rising to her feet): "Perfect. Let's go at once. If we hurry, we can make it before noon... and there's still a lot left to do."
[Separator]
Just as every world had difficult professions depending on the region—like a fisherman in lands without lakes, or a farmer on barren soil—there were also trades that simply couldn't flourish. Such was the case for bandits and mercenaries in the Empire of Algorythia.
Because yes, if someone wanted to try their luck at the noble profession of crime, they'd soon be met with a disappointing reality: there was no one to rob, and no territory where threats or pressure could be effectively applied.
This was due to the empire's extreme militarization. Algorythia wasn't just well organized; it was a nation where nearly every man, upon reaching a certain age, was either recruited or voluntarily enlisted into the army. They left their villages in exchange for the security of a salary, a roof over their heads, and recognition.
With so many military assets patrolling roads and cities, not even stealing a pouch from a lone merchant was an easy task. The roads were always guarded, villages responded quickly, and even minor crimes were met with swift and severe punishment. It was, quite simply, the worst country to be a petty criminal.
And yet, in this hostile environment, he had managed to survive.
His name was Cisco Romar, one of many nobles whose families were dragged into ruin for failing to meet the strict demands of the imperial system. But unlike the others, Cisco didn't fall completely. He held on to the essentials: education, intuition, and an innate talent for combat. That was the bare minimum for anyone who dared call themselves "Leader of the Bandits"... in a country like Algorythia.
A figure approached the center of the hidden camp, nestled among thorny trees and dry branches that cracked beneath his worn boots.
Malrick Varnen was the first to speak. Thin, with a long face and a scar over his left eyebrow, he was the kind of man who always seemed to be expecting things to go wrong.
Malrick: "So, when exactly were we supposed to meet?"
Cisco (without looking up): "I made the message clear: noon. They're probably already on their way."
Drexan Kolbur, better known as Drex, showed up shortly after, chewing on a bitter root and wearing a smug grin. He was tall, strong, and spoke with a casualness that bordered on reckless.
Drex: "Hope some elven beauties show up. That'd be interesting..."
Cisco (serious, cutting him off): "Don't even think about doing something stupid. Remember why we agreed to this meeting. These aren't just anyone. The elves managed to take Bytea... in a single day."
Malrick (narrowing his eyes): "What if it's a trap by the Empire? Maybe they just want to draw us out."
Cisco: "Impossible. I know Duke Thalion. He wouldn't waste so many resources just to eliminate a small, insignificant group of bandits."
Malrick: "Then... if it's true, those elves are dangerous. Shouldn't we disappear while we still can?"
Cisco (firmly): "Don't even think of showing doubt during the negotiation. They won't try to get rid of us. They're in a worse situation than we are. They need us as allies, not enemies."
Cisco: "That's why we have to appear useful. The more useful we seem, the better the deal we'll get in return."
Such were his men. Malrick—ever vigilant, always looking for threats. Drex—clumsy with words, but strong as a bull. They had followed Cisco for years. They knew that if he was betting on something, it meant there was a real chance of winning.
Malrick: "So... 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend,' huh?"
Cisco (nodding): "Exactly."
In the distance, through the thickness of the forest, the sound of a carriage approaching broke the silence.
It stopped in a hidden clearing, far from well-traveled routes, with no signs of escort or banners. Two figures stepped out: an elf with silver hair and noble bearing, dressed in garments that evoked royalty, and a tall man clad in worn armor, one arm bandaged. His upright posture and alert gaze spoke of a military past.
From the shadows, Cisco Romar watched closely.
"Is that her?" whispered Malrick, his gaunt face tense, eyes darting nervously.
"Seems like it," Cisco replied calmly. Then, raising his voice: "Welcome. I suppose you haven't come to set a trap, have you?"
The elf stepped forward with confident poise. Her amber eyes glowed like embers, and her voice, though soft, carried an undeniable authority.
Runa: "If I wanted to wipe you out, I wouldn't have bothered with a letter. Blood needs no words... But today, I came to negotiate."
Cisco tilted his head, intrigued. There was something about her that didn't match the rumors of forest savages. Her demeanor was cold, measured... trained. She didn't behave like a reckless warrior, but like a strategist.
Beside her, the man cleared his throat before speaking, his tone deliberate, like someone used to playing a role:
Roderick: "As I've already explained, this is the strategist from the south. She was one of the leaders who directed the assault on Bytea. The city fell under her control in a single day. I... was captured. And now, I serve as her advisor. At least while she decides what to do with us, the humans."
Cisco: "An elf from the south? I thought they never left their homeland."
Runa (flatly): "Shadows sleep beneath the ashes. And when the right wind blows... they awaken."
An uncomfortable silence fell over the group. Cisco, still wary, couldn't deny the aura of authority she carried. His men felt it too. No one had reached for a weapon, but the air was thick with tension.
Cisco: "I see the rumors fall short. Now that we're here... I'm Cisco Romar, the one in charge of this part of the forest. And you must have a name, or do you prefer to keep the mystery?"
Runa (with a faint smile): "Runa. That name will suffice... for now."
Cisco (narrowing his eyes): "Then, Runa... what is it that you want from us?"
Roderick (trying to step in): "The bandi—"
Runa (cutting him off): "It's fine, Roderick. Looks like they've already seen through our little act."
Roderick: "As you say..."
Runa: "I'll be direct. As you've likely guessed, we're currently at war with the Empire. We've taken the city of Bytea and are holding its citizens as hostages, for now. But that alone isn't enough to keep the city alive on our own."
Cisco frowned. He was already starting to sense where this was going.
Runa: "Exactly. The nearby villages that supplied Bytea still don't know what happened. Out of fear or convenience, they'll avoid trading with us once the truth comes out. They'll cut off supplies."
Cisco: "Makes sense. Whoever becomes an enemy of the Empire can only expect their head to end up in a fruit basket."
Runa: "That's why I need your help. You only need to do what you do best. Intercept any caravan or trade route headed to any city other than Bytea. Take whatever you want. As long as the goods reach us... I don't care how."
Cisco (arms crossed): "Interesting proposal. But you're leaving out a few details. First: if the Empire notices a string of repeated raids, they won't hesitate to send troops to wipe us out."
Runa: "That's where you're wrong."
Runa: "Due to the distance between Bytea and the other imperial cities, most of these villages traded exclusively with it. Those routes aren't regularly patrolled. It won't raise suspicion... at least not right away."
Runa: "And if the Empire does notice the attacks and decides to respond... tell me, Cisco, who do you think they'll target first? A group of petty bandits, or an entire city under enemy control?"
Cisco remained silent for a moment. The logic was sound, and he knew it.
Cisco: "All right. Let's say that makes sense. But there's still one detail: why should we help you? What do we gain from all this?"
Runa: "I don't expect you to work for free. The duke's mansion holds piles of gold coins. You can keep them all. Humans like that sort of thing, don't they?"
The words hung in the air like a bomb.
Not only Cisco and his men were stunned, but visibly stirred. After all, Bytea's prosperity—and thus the duke's immense wealth—was no secret. Just the mention of it caused Roderick to grimace, which only fueled the bandits' growing enthusiasm. Once again, their greed was palpable.
Cisco: "W-wait... when you talk about gold coins... how much are we talking here?"
Runa tilted her head slightly toward the carriage she had descended from.
Runa: "Roughly the contents of two of those carriages."
Silence. The bandits all swallowed hard at once. This wasn't just wealth—it was a fortune that could guarantee a carefree life for several generations. Even Malrick, always skeptical, stopped frowning.
Cisco didn't need to confer with his men. He could already see the fire in their eyes.
Cisco: "All right... so we just have to make sure the nearby villages don't trade with any other cities besides Bytea, right?"
Runa: "Exactly. If you can ensure that, then all that gold is yours."
They shook hands to seal the agreement. The scene felt almost ceremonial, more like a blood pact than a simple deal.
But then, Runa added casually:
Runa: "So... once ten years have passed, I'll give you all the gold in the mansion."
Cisco blinked. Had he heard that right?
Cisco: "...Ten years? Are you saying we have to keep this up for a decade before we see a single coin?"
Runa (confused): "And what's the problem? Ten years is a fairly short time."
Cisco stood silent for a moment, incredulous. Now he understood: she was serious.
Of course... she was an elf. For someone like her, ten years were nothing but a passing breeze. But for humans—especially a group of bandits risking their necks daily—that time frame was practically a death sentence without reward.
Cisco: "In that case, we'll cancel the deal. We can't accept that. We don't live as long as you do, and many of my men might not even survive five more winters. It doesn't make sense for us."
Runa (narrowing her eyes): "You..."
The air changed suddenly. The temperature seemed to drop, and the whole forest held its breath.
Runa: "Are you trying to deceive me?"
The magical pressure emanating from her was overwhelming. She hadn't moved a muscle, yet the message was clear: she could kill them all in seconds. Cisco knew it. And for a brief moment, he also knew—there would be no room for regrets if he made one more mistake.
But he didn't back down. Not completely.
Cisco (cautiously): "Please understand. It's not about greed. It's about time. Our lives are short... and this job is dangerous. No one here can wait ten years just hoping to one day receive their share. It's just... not viable."
Runa (frowning): "Mmmh..."
She fell silent, considering his words. Inside, she acknowledged her mistake: her sense of time wasn't the same as that of these humans. She had taken something as basic as longevity for granted... and forgotten it in her calculations.
Finally, with a barely audible sigh, she relented.
Runa: "Fine. In consideration of your short lives... the payment will be made in five years."
Cisco exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Cisco: "That's... somewhat more reasonable."
Runa: "So, do we have a deal?"
Cisco (nodding): "Yes. We do."
With the agreement sealed, the bandits returned to their hideout—though not without casting one last wary glance at the elf who, with a single look, had made them feel like insects under a magnifying glass.
Once they were at a safer distance, Cisco and his men resumed their more relaxed tone.
Cisco: "Well... we survived again. Somehow."
Malrick (muttering): "Are we really going to wait five years to claim that reward?"
Cisco (shrugging): "What other choice did we have? If I hadn't agreed, that elf probably would've killed us without blinking. But don't worry... I didn't say yes without a plan. As long as they rely on us, sooner or later we'll be able to renegotiate. And if things get tricky... we can always sell them out."
Drex (laughing): "That elf was a real beauty... maybe we should negotiate for some of their women too."
Cisco (snorting): "Wish I could think as carefreely as you do. Maybe... maybe we'll land a good position on their side, but for now, going all-in is too risky. Her position is still unstable. Only time will tell what the best move is."
Meanwhile, back in the forest clearing, the two figures who had yet to depart were exchanging words before returning to the conquered city.
Runa (in her mind):
"The shadows sleep beneath the ashes. And when the right wind blows... they awaken."
...What the hell was that? Ugh, how embarrassing. I hope I don't fall into the habit of blurting out dramatic lines in tense moments...
As she squirmed internally, suppressing a shiver of secondhand embarrassment, a familiar voice broke her thoughts.
Roderick: "I'm glad everything went according to plan."
Runa: "Yes. It was a productive visit. Now we don't have to worry about supplies or trade. I told you, didn't I? I already had a solution in mind when I took over the city."
Roderick: "With this taken care of, I can look to the future with a bit more clarity."
Runa: "Tell me, Roderick... how long do you think it'll take for the Empire to strike back?"
Roderick: "Ah, right... I forgot to mention something. Before we took the city, I sent a messenger to the capital, reporting the duke's abduction. My apologies."
Runa: "Mmm... I see. Given the situation, that was the sensible thing to do. You're smarter than you look, Roderick."
Roderick allowed himself a rare, genuine smile. It wasn't often he was praised for his intellect—most compliments he received were about his skill in combat. So whenever someone acknowledged his mind instead of his sword, it brought him a quiet kind of happiness.
And then—
WHAM!
A well-placed punch to the gut folded him in half.
Roderick: "GAHGH...!"
He clutched his abdomen with both hands, coughing up saliva and stumbling back.
Runa: "You really are a damn genius. Scoring your best goals right before switching sides."
Roderick (choking): "S-sorry for... being so smart..."
Runa: "It's fine. Now, tell me how much time we have."
Roderick: "Considering the first thing they'll do is send scouts to assess the situation, and then the time it'll take to organize a response force... I'd say we have about a month. Maybe a month and a half if we're lucky."
Runa: "Ahhh... so I have to turn this pigsty into a defensible city in one month. What a mess I've gotten myself into..."
Roderick: "But we'll win, right?"
Runa replied with a confident smile.
Runa: "Tell me, among the Imperial forces... is there anyone close to your level?"
Roderick: "I hate to admit it, but yes. There are several stronger than me. Among them... my former mentor. Even in my last days in the capital, she could still crush me effortlessly during training."
Runa: "Oh? You lost to a woman?"
Roderick (resigned): "That makes two women I know I can't beat..."
Runa: "Who's the other one? ...Oh. Wait. Never mind."
She almost forgot she was part of that equation.
Runa: "Between her and me... who do you think is stronger?"
Roderick: "As terrifying as my teacher was... I don't think she could defeat you."
Runa: "I see..."
Roderick: "However, that doesn't mean the Empire doesn't have people who could stand against you. There are several covert military organizations under its command—some of them host individuals with... monstrous abilities. But among all of them, one stands at the pinnacle of Imperial power."
Roderick paused. His tone turned more serious.
Roderick: "The Rootaris. They're considered not only the strongest in the Empire... but possibly in the entire world. There are currently only six active members. Each one possesses such devastating power that their very existence serves as a political deterrent. Unlike other secret units, their identities are public. The Empire wants everyone to know they exist... and to fear them."
Runa: "Are you saying they could be stronger than me?"
Roderick: "I don't know. I never saw you fight seriously in our duel, so I don't know your true limits. I also don't fully understand the extent of the Rootaris' power. I just remember one phrase from my mentor...
'If there were seven Rootaris, the Empire would have already conquered the continent.'"
Runa: "Hmm... I see. That means each of them is worth an entire army. Best to avoid facing multiple at once. I'll keep that in mind."
Roderick: "No kidding. As for me, I just hope they don't send my mentor. Running into her again... and under these circumstances... would be a real pain."
They walked in silence for a few more steps. Then Roderick raised his voice again, in a different tone.
Roderick: "Runa-sama... may I ask you a question?"
Runa: "Go ahead."
Roderick: "Understanding the bandits' true intentions, knowing how humans perceive elves and using that perception to your advantage... It's hard to believe that an ordinary elf from the south could grasp human nature so quickly. So tell me... what the hell are you?"
The air grew tense once more.
Runa (looking at him calmly): "I see... you don't believe I'm just a southern elf. Why do you say that?"
Roderick: "It's just a hunch. Intuition."
Runa (lowering her gaze, almost amused): "Intuition, huh...?"
Her voice returned to its usual light, almost carefree tone.
Runa: "Well, let's just say I'm simply a southern elf who likes to train. You don't need to complicate things by thinking otherwise."
It was a kind but firm way of setting limits.
Roderick: "Understood. Let's leave it at that then. May I ask you one last question?"
Runa: "Go ahead."
Roderick: "The first time we met, at the mansion... you laughed out loud. Why?"
Runa (with a nostalgic smile): "Ah, that... You reminded me of an old friend. Nothing important."
Roderick: "An old friend, huh...?"
Both looked up at the sky. Slow clouds drifted across the serene blue.
Then, without another word, they returned to the carriage.
End of part 14