Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 768: Presumed Dead

A day had passed after the grand destruction of the desert. Everyone was holed up in the city of Eclanor with the exception of the hero and his party. Thought to have succumbed to whatever must’ve happened back in the desert. The soldiers having been plunged through the dimensional tear didn’t remember much–the same was the case for the aid that had been sent by the giants.

Flitza, Frazer, and his party, along with two demonic prisoners. The right and left hands of the demon general were both crippled by the assault, leaving them in a state where they could barely move their charred and exhausted bodies. For the right hand–the axe-bearing half-devil, her suffering was in the form of burns, and her sister, the ghost, had turned into a small ball of spirit currently being contained within a translucent ball made by Linkle.

"What the fuck are we even doing here talking to these cunts?!" Slamming her feet against the ground, Regalia began grinding her teeth in anger. "WE SHOULD BE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR THEM! NOT TALKING TO THESE CRIPPLED WHORES!!"

Heaving a sigh, Linkle shook her head.

"I knew this would happen. Just...Join the other mourners at the tents; we’re gonna figure out what to do next by ourselves."

"UGHH! WHATEVER!!" Storming out of the mansion’s basement, Regalia left the two alone with the prisoners.

Past her departure, silence took hold of the place, but not for long, for as much as Linkle was pretending to be okay, she too was feeling anxious–so much so that the side of her arm was now covered in cuts from anxious scratching.

"They haven’t come back." Glancing sideways at her, Mono matched the witch’s gaze. "Now I’m not one to talk about the dead not rising from their graves, but we do need to know what has happened before making any serious decisions."

"Why do you think I brought you here? You’re the queen; making difficult decisions should be part of your daily schedule!" Linkle retorted, far from stable at the moment.

Turning her head back to the barely alive sisters, Mono folded her hands and leaned sideways with a curious look donned on her face.

"Regalia used to make military decisions for the king, and right now, we don’t have a military back home." Lifting her shoulders, the queen took a deep breath and turned her head again. "Now, I can deal with criminals with my automatons, and the same goes for any trouble makers, but an army? I may have fought as an occasional soldier back then, but I’m no general or even a leader for a battalion."

"Then Regalia–"

"In her state?" Shaking her head, Mono cut Linkle off. "Forget it; given her state, the only decisions that she can make are rash decisions right now."

"Then what are we supposed to do? Sit on our asses and just let the army and the people freak out? This is a serious matter, you know. The hero and his party venture out and get themselves killed..." Just speaking that sentence out loud was making Linkle anxious. The very thought of those once pesky little customers now being gone felt...surreal. "Gods, tell me I’m dreaming. I don’t even know what kind of magic that was that teleported us here."

"Magic?" Her eyes still locked onto the prisoners, Mono shook her head and reminded. "The holy order’s shepherds claim that they felt Athenia’s presence. Hmm, maybe asking her can be of help?"

"Who? The goddess?" Scoffing at the very idea, Linkle waved her hand. "As far as I know, she has no control of this territory, and even if we try to connect with her, it’s not going to be easy. We don’t even know how to start."

"Either way, it makes sense for her to deliver the news if it’s really the truth. Anyone else says anything, and we’d be floating in rumors for days, weeks, or maybe even years."

Confused by her statement, Linkle squinted her gaze and moved towards Mono. Placing a hand on her shoulder, she made her look at her and asked.

"What the hell are you talking about? They all saw what happened; what rumors would even be there to spread?"

Having been a part of many conspiracies, however, Mono was much more mentally prepared for such an ordeal. Even her death was questioned at times, and her revival just as much.

"You’d be surprised by how many people blamed Shamisha for my death even though I was the one who asked her to cut my heart and put it in the iron core." Without even looking at her, the queen brushed off her hand and placed her own on the witch’s shoulder. "I only realized what I must’ve put her through after I woke up and learned about those rumors. Now imagine that we go out and tell the people that the hero is gone. Do you really think they’ll take our word for it when we stand to gain control of this whole operation?"

"But we’re not doing it for control!"

"Nobody cares what we’re doing it for; they only care about what they think we’re doing it for! It has to be Athenia, or nobody would believe it! And even then, there will be those who just can’t be convinced!" Finally snapping at the witch, Mono moved her a few steps back and turned to the door. "Forget it, do what you want. I should head back to my city."

"Head back where?" The familiar voice of another woman walking into the room turned everyone’s attention to the entrance. Helga, it was her. Standing at the entrance with a neutral look on her face. "What, you really think they’re dead? Have some faith, would you?"

Walking a few steps closer, she glanced over Linkle’s shoulder to get a closer look at the prisoners. Humming herself a quiet tune, she stared at them for a while before breaking her gaze and turning to the other two.

"I know they’re alive. Let’s just wait a while before any announcements, alright?"

"Alright..." Given her experience overshadowed them both, they did as they were told, and for the next three days, the soldiers were left in the dark about what became of the hero. That is until he returned with his companions, injured but very much alive.