The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-92

Thanks to Jamad defeating Kango, Mira was able to barely keep her life.

Mira couldn’t help but be shocked after Jamad saved her.

‘I thought he was just one of Snowman’s summons…’

Despite willingly injuring herself in a desperate fight against Zoze, Jamad managed to defeat the axe-wielding troll, who was as strong as Zoze, with a single powerful blow.

Even if it was a surprise attack, Mira couldn’t fathom how powerful Seol actually was.

She only knew Seol as someone skilled enough to take on Heka, this was the first time she had seen anything specific about his powers or abilities.

It was also through Seol that she learned people could transform into trolls and make them their servants.

‘How strong… is he actually?’

Even though she didn’t know how many summons Seol had exactly, if they were all as powerful as Jamad, he would probably be the strongest transferee.

Obviously, Mira didn’t know every transferee. Still, that was the feeling she got from him.

“Hurry! Quickly!

“Ah, yeah.”

She did not expect to form an organic connection with a troll like this and to feel safe after being saved by him.

She also didn't expect that troll to be a special one made from shadows.

Today was filled with things that Mira couldn’t comprehend.

Click.

Creak…

“I-I thought I was going to die.”

“Thank you, Mira! I’ll pay you back for this.”

“But that troll… is he on our side?”

The captives stretched their backs as they stood up, relieved they were now free. And as time went on, Mira freed more and more people.

Click.

She even freed them from the strange restraints around their neck with a key displayed near the cells.

“Cough… Cough… I couldn’t use my skills because of that.”

“Those damned monsters! They took all my equipment!”

“What do we do now?”

The freed prisoners chattered amongst themselves with hesitation, resembling lost ducklings. They all seemed unsure of what to do unless someone issued orders.

“Follow that troll. He’ll protect you.”

“R-Really?”

“You can trust him. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have made it here either.”

“He looked incredible then, too… If he’s on our side, then it’s completely doable!”

Mira then approached Jamad and asked, “Would it be alright if I went looking for Kibo?”

“Do as you please. We need time until everyone’s freed anyway.”

“...Thank you.”

“Hmph. You already played your role the moment we entered the altar without getting caught.”

What kind of troll even helped alleviate the burden on a person’s heart?

Mira thanked Jamad’s consideration and passed the key to someone else.

After that, she approached a middle-aged man who seemed to have a clue about Kibo’s whereabouts.

“Where is Kibo…”

“He was… He was dragged in that direction. I think they did it because it seemed like everyone was following him…”

Mira ran in the direction before the man could even finish.

Jamad quietly continued freeing people while remembering Seol’s orders.

- We have to find Hamun. Don’t forget why we came here, Jamad.

Since Seol came here to rescue Hamun, falling short in rescuing Hamun would practically make this Adventure a failure.

Since Seol learned through Mael about the power one helper could have on an Adventure, he requested Jamad to ensure Hamun's safety.

“Hmph… how annoying…”

Jamad kept opening cells, freeing multiple people, in search of Hamun. Jamad still somewhat remembered what he looked like.

Since the cells were dark inside, he couldn’t tell who was inside until he opened it.

Click.

Creak…

“Th-thank you, S-Sir Troll!”

“We’re alive! We’re alive!”

“Sob… I thought we were going to die…”

They had various reactions as they were freed from the cells.

However, in the deepest corner of the cell, someone was hesitating and didn’t leave immediately.

“Look, stop being so slow. We’re still in their headquarters.”

“Ah, I apologize. I was just thinking about something…”

“That voice…”

“...Huh?”

“I feel like I’ve heard that voice before?”

Creak…

Jamad bent the steel bars.

It was to properly check who was inside.

“Kyaaaaa!”

“H-He can do that?”

They were all in fear of Jamad’s incredible strength.

Jamad practically tore off the cell’s walls to check who was inside.

And when he saw who it was, he smiled.

“It’s you, Hamun. I’m glad that your head’s still attached to your body.”

“Do you know me… Wait, a shadow? If you’re a shadow, then… Snowman!”

“Yeah, Snowman sent me.”

“Oh my god! Why would you guys cross the border to…”

"Why do you think we did this? It's because the person who requested us went and got himself kidnapped, didn't he?"

“N-No way… Did you really come here for me? Even though you could die?”

“We did come here for you, but saying that we could die is an exaggeration.”

Only Seol and his party could say something so arrogant in the Fire Altar.

“Anyway, come out already.”

“By the way, I think I heard Mira’s voice too earlier… Where is she?”

“She went to find Kibo.”

“Oh no…”

Hamun’s face turned pitiful, simply looking in the direction he assumed Mira went.

“What’s wrong?”

“No one’s returned after being dragged away by them. It worries me quite a lot.”

“...It’s not like worrying changes anything.”

Click.

Creak…

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

While Jamad and Hamun were having their conversation, Mira also arrived at the place where Kibo was most likely at.

Though she ran into a few trolls on her way, she was not so weak that she had to waste time on trolls who weren’t Zoze or Kango.

After all, she was also one of the strongest people in Nobira.

“Urgh…”

The smell of blood.

The sticky smell of blood oozed out of the door.

She had looked everywhere else.

This was the only place she hadn’t checked yet.

She didn’t check this room first because she was nervous. Nervous that this blood could belong to Kibo.

Because if, by chance, Kibo was already dead… She didn’t know what she would do.

Click.

Click.

The door was locked.

BAAAAM!

She forcefully kicked down the door.

It reeked intensely of blood.

“Bwrgh…”

If her eyes were telling the truth, the things on the floor were human limbs.

She tried her best not to step on the cold, lifeless body parts and passed through them.

“Kibo… Kibo, I’m here.”

Stick…

The sticky blood clung to her boots.

She then saw corpses all over the room.

It was clear that they endured painful torture before they died. Nothing about their bodies was intact.

Please… Please…

Please don’t let Kibo be here.

She then resolved herself before bravely taking one step at a time.

“...Is that you, Mira?”

However, her wishes did not come true.

“Kibo? Is that you, Kibo?”

“Come… closer, Mira.”

She walked toward Kibo, who was sitting on a chair clearly designed for torture.

“Why did you come here?”

“Because when I came back… Sob… You were… You were kidnapped.”

“You idiot. I knew you were dumb, but I didn’t expect you to be dumb enough to come here. What about your party members?”

“They all died… because of me.”

“Did you force them to come with you?”

“I didn’t, but…”

“Then it’s fine. Ruin hunters weren’t meant to live long anyway. It’s enough that they could choose where they died.”

Even in a horrible situation like this, Kibo was still calm and poised. And the more he acted that way, the more it pained Mira.

“You hurt your eye… It must have hurt a lot. You can put yourself into dangerous situations, but you should’ve tried your best to not get any scars on your face.”

“Sob… Sob… Grgh… I’m… I’m not what’s important right now…”

Mira couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.

It was because of Kibo’s appearance.

All of his fingernails were ripped off, and he was missing a few fingers too.

But more importantly, more than anything, both of his legs were cut off.

“I’m fine. But the trolls were pretty good. I don’t remember when the last time I screamed was… The styptics were painful, but they at least did their job and stopped the bleeding.”

“Kibo… Ahhhh, Kibo!”

Kibo patted Mira’s shoulders as she fell to her knees, sobbing loudly. And then, he slowly told her something.

“Don’t cry, little wolf.”

“Sob… Sob…”

“The world is not brimming with hope like what the few empty transferees claim. It is a place where people’s beliefs clash with others, and emotions only get in the way.”

“I… I…”

“You’re the wolf now, Mira. I, your faction member, am hurt. Are you just going to cry when you’re the leader?”

You’re the wolf now.

It was like a dagger straight to her heart.

The scar on her eye completely changed her childish looks. Now, she really had to become a wolf.

“I’ll… I’ll bring a cart.”

“Yeah.”

Creak.

Mira, remembering there was a cart nearby, went and brought it back.

Kibo then stretched his arms forth.

“Load me into it.”

“Yeah.”

Mira lifted Kibo then placed him into the cart.

It was something she couldn’t even think about doing before.

Kibo was as big as a giant before, but now, that his legs have been cut off, he felt so small.

Only because of that was Mira able to load him into it.

“What do you think? I’m pretty light now, no?”

“...Don’t make me laugh.”

“The new captain is so harsh, hahaha…”

Creak…

Creak…

Mira pulled the cart toward the other prisoners.

Though people were talking to them, and about them, Mira and Kibo could only hear each other like they existed in their own world.

“Mira.”

“Are you really going to call your captain by their name?”

“Haha… You got used to it so fast.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“I did. I’ve met and gone through many different captains in my life, but the ones who stayed the longest were always the cheerful ones.”

“You’re… not going to die, right?”

“You keep saying that almost like you want me to die. I’m not going to die, you brat.”

“That’s a relief, old head. Even if it’s like this… I’m glad that you’re alive. Let’s go back to Nobira, no matter what.”

Kibo laughed.

Through the many ups and downs in his life, this might have been the most sincere he ever laughed.

“This reminds me of something…”

“What? You’re not trying to call me a horse, are you?”

“I’m not. I just think that this situation is a lot like life.”

Kibo then continued.

“If the journey is difficult, then all you have to do is lighten the load a little. It becomes a lot easier once you do.”

“.....”

“Losing my legs is also just something like that.”

“Sob…”

“So don’t cry, little wolf.”

* * *

[You have successfully rescued all of the survivors.]

[Rewards are being arranged.]

[The Linked Adventure continues.]

[You can only collect your rewards after all of the Adventures have been cleared.]

When Mira arrived with the cart, everyone was in shock.

“K-Kibo…”

“How could this be… How did you…”

“Calm down, I’m not dead yet.”

“What should we do? Should we just try to escape the volcano now?”

“Why are you asking me? You should be asking Mira and the troll here.”

“Because… A-Ask Mira?”

“I’ve stepped down from being the captain. I know it was already separated, but Mira’s succeeding my ruin hunter group.”

Mira looked at Jamad. Jamad nodded back.

She then looked at the freed prisoners before sharing her intent.

“There’s… one thing I haven’t told you guys yet. Right now, the Sulfur Skull Tribe’s reinforcements have nearly arrived.”

“Th-then we should escape immediatel—”

“It’s too late to escape. Not only is it difficult to escape, but if they chase after us, the majority of you will die since most of you can’t fight.”

“Ha… Haha… S-So we’re going to get imprisoned again?”

“I don’t want that! They’ll kill us! Sob…”

Jamad and Mira once again locked eyes before nodding. Since Mira was the one to explain the situation, Jamad had to suggest the alternative.

“We won’t be heading down. We also won’t be escaping either.”

“H-Have you lost your mind? What the hell are we going to do then?!”

“We’ll be heading up. Our only solution exists there.”

“What?”

Mira explained to them what their last resort was.

“We will be heading to our ally. We need to hurry! He’s our only way out of here!”

If their plan went as expected, Seol should have arrived at the top by now.

There was a path.

It was definitely there.