As a Reincarnated NPC, I Want to Live a Peaceful Life - Chapter 39

Night fell. The crescent moon, like a comma, scattered its silvery light across the barren land. Darkness, like a vast, invisible net, enveloped and then swallowed everything whole.

If not for the few remaining lights flickering within the woods, this place too would have succumbed to slumber.

A gust of wind swept through, stirring the entire forest—not due to the wind’s mischief, but because of a figure moving with it.

Shortly after, several men dressed like common thieves or bandits, yet wielding surprisingly refined weaponry, arrived at a marked location. They scouted the area for a while before returning to their starting point.

“(Yawn) Bro, we’ve pretty much finished the rounds today. No roaming merchant caravans or guards nearby. How about we call it an early night?”

“(Yawn) Kalan, do you think I’m that kind of guy? Come on, let’s make another round.”

“You guys go ahead. I’ll wait here with Er-Leng. We’ll keep an eye out for any passersby to nab.”

“Fine, fine, fine. Er-Leng, listen to your Third Brother. Wait here.”

Once the discussion was over, the eldest and second eldest brothers left, leaving the third brother and “Er-Leng” behind.

…

“Hey, did you hear? The Big Boss kidnapped a real looker today.”

“Of course! Curves in all the right places, and a sweet voice too… I wonder what the Big Boss has planned for her.”

“You know who in [Palte] is tight with the Big Boss? The mayor’s son. He got chummy with our Big Boss last week… that’s how it is. That guy actually got schooled by a kid today. It was a brutal sight.”

“So… so that girl is?”

“Bingo! Just what you’re thinking—!”

In the middle of their chat, the eldest brother was suddenly yanked up into the treetops. The second brother froze for a second, then drew his short sword, warily eyeing the canopy above while also checking his surroundings.

“Big Bro! Big Bro! Are you okay?!”

Just as he was about to climb up to investigate, the second brother suddenly saw a figure rushing towards him. By the time he registered it, he was already hanging upside down from a tree, right next to his eldest brother.

Then, with their eyes blindfolded and mouths gagged, they were dealt with.

…

“Sigh… Why aren’t they back yet? Don’t you think so, Er-Leng?”

“Yes, yes. Big Bro, Second Bro, slow.”

“Er-Leng, when exactly did your brain get messed up? We’ve been together the whole time…”

“Third, Third Bro… My, my brain. Four months ago… in the, the Spirit Light Woods… went with Big, Big Boss to find treasure… took a hit from a monster for Big Boss. So, I ended up, like, this.”

“[Sound effect] Third Bro! Er-Leng! Help me!!”

“[Sound effect] Big Bro! Big Bro! Where are you?!”

The urgent cries for help from the eldest brother and the panicked shouts of the second brother suddenly reached their ears. The third brother immediately sprang up and followed the sound. Er-Leng, clueless about what was happening, could only hurriedly chase after his third brother.

“Where? Where?! Lost my focus for a second and ended up outside the light’s reach. Forgot my torch, and Er-Leng’s gone too.”

The third brother had sharp ears. Detecting movement in the canopy, he instantly flipped backward and grabbed the wooden staff from his back—a makeshift magic wand.

“Who’s there?! Show yourself!”

The enemy was in the dark, he was in the light. Since the enemy could pinpoint his location, they likely had night vision. As a mage, he stood no chance against that.

“(Chanting) Flash—!”

Just as the third brother was about to cast his spell, he looked down to find his legs entangled by something. He was then violently dragged backward—plunging the area into an eerie silence.

As for Er-Leng, the shield-bearer who had run in the opposite direction, he was swiftly subdued and knocked unconscious.

“Perfect. The scouts are perfectly neutralized.”

I looked at the third brother beside me, who was still dazed but glaring at me with unwilling eyes, and couldn’t help but let a wicked smile curl my lips.

Bet you didn’t expect the one who took you down to be an underage girl! Oh man, I almost laughed myself to tears.

That would’ve been so embarrassing.

Yarje and Alan must have had it easy too. Without the support of the mage and archer, dealing with a shield-bearer was no big deal.

(—You should understand now, I’m not some ordinary kid.)

I hadn’t expected Yarje and Alan to accept this fact so readily.

Smooth sailing. So, it was this bunch of bandits who came to bother me in the [Spirit Light Woods] four months ago. Well then, new scores and old debts can be settled together.

[Azure · Patience] allows me to conjure incredibly resilient azure ropes. Since I have two hands, I can probably only create two at most. But who knows?

“See you again~, I want to see you again~.”

Humming an English tune whose meaning I wasn’t quite sure of, I headed towards the spot I had agreed to meet the vampires.

——————

….

After quietly approaching with Yarje and Alan, the bandits’ hideout gradually came into view.

Several treehouses blended almost seamlessly with the forest. For better concealment, they were even camouflaged with extra branches and leaves in obvious spots. On the ground, a hidden stone door was set into a raised hillside…

Like a cunning rabbit with three burrows… though that might not be the exact meaning here.

Since Alan was seriously injured and would only be a hindrance in a fight, we came up with an impromptu plan.

The “eldest brother” we had just dealt with had, whether from fear or something else, stopped breathing altogether.

After “searching” him, I stripped off his outer clothes.

Alan’s build was similar to an average man’s, so swapping his clothes for these bandit garments was just perfect.

But vampires have very pale complexions, unlike regular bandits. So, I scooped up a handful of dirt and smeared it on Alan’s face, turning him into a different person.

“The plan is this: Alan goes in to distract the other bandits, spreading the word that ‘the scout route was ambushed, and I barely escaped alive.’ Once that’s done, Yarje and I sneak in. We’ll question anyone we meet along the way until we find Camilla. If they don’t buy it and try to harm Alan, Yarje and I strike directly.”

“Oh, cough… Clever, very clever.”

“Shiling-san, just what are you—”

“Don’t ask. If you do, the answer is I’m not ordinary.” Honestly, going on a rampage would be easier. Gives me a chance to test my new skills.

However, things never go quite as planned.

While we were discussing the finer details, I noticed several sentries whispering to each other almost simultaneously before all leaving their posts…

Something felt off.

The swordsman drew his longsword, the shield-bearer and archer got ready, the mage took a high position… This looked like preparations for a major showdown.

If they were dealing with just the three of us, they’d probably order heightened alertness, not mobilize like this. Unless… they weren’t preparing for us, but for some other large group—

Just as I thought this, the first arrow whooshed out. It flew in the opposite direction from us. I noticed there happened to be lantern light there, and… a familiar flag.

The [Maltethes] Guard Regiment. They were here.

I’d seen those guards’ insignia when I was wanted. The pattern was exactly the same. Couldn’t mistake it.

They definitely weren’t here for me, because besides me, there were three vampires. The Guard Regiment’s goal was probably to deal with the three vampires… As for the few guards, they might be here for me.

Impossible. Lyall wouldn’t go to such trouble just for an insignificant little girl like me. Even if Alec was his friend—never mind, don’t overthink it. I’m actually quite touched.

“We’re going in now. They’ll be preoccupied with the Guard Regiment for a while. We’ll use that time to rescue Camilla quickly.”

“Okay, okay!”

“Shiling-san, we’ll follow your lead.”

Following the usual pattern of archers on high ground, warriors on the ground, hostages hidden deep inside—what kind of rule is that anyway?—Camilla definitely wouldn’t be carelessly placed in the same hut as the archers.

So, the vampires and I rushed into the stone door first. Since they needed to fight, bandits were pouring out of the door continuously… Soon, after confirming no one else was coming, I cast [Omni-Concealment] on the vampires.

“With this, unless they can sense magic, they won’t see you. Be careful not to get brushed against.”

After receiving their nods, I decided to split up with the vampires. Yarje was capable in combat and could support Alan.

With that, the operation began.

—20:47

The inside was unexpectedly neat, unlike what I imagined. All sorts of furniture were in place.

Seems even bandits live quite well, huh.

However, I searched through the armory, storage room, warehouse, and even reached the boss’s room… No, there was still one place I hadn’t checked.

The dungeon.

It should have been obvious from intuition. Hostages like Camilla would definitely be held in the dungeon. Even if Alan paid the ransom, they’d probably kill her anyway.

Such a simple thing, and I overcomplicated it.

Confirming no one was around, I forced open the main dungeon door (Effects created during time stop are collectively applied when time resumes. So, even breaking a door during time stop would produce sound.).

Once inside, I activated [Soul Vision], going to each cell without a soul signature and knocking on the bars.

The dungeon wasn’t too big, probably because hostages didn’t last long before being killed, so there was no need to expand. And, wasn’t it a bit too dark in here?

Finally, I found Camilla’s cell and dispelled [Omni-Concealment].

“Camilla, are you okay?”

“Shiling-chan! Is that you? How did you get here?!”

“No time to explain. Let me get you out quickly.”

Another forced entry operation. I pried the cell door open from the middle, bending it outward.

However, a familiar mist suddenly enveloped me, robbing me of my sight. Wasn’t this the same mist from the night before last?

Could it be that woman under the streetlamp?

“Well, hello there. Nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you, little girl.”

…

——-

Name: Tsukime Shiling
Age: 11
Status: [Normal] [Wanted – Missing]
Form: Kid / Girl
——————
Attack: ??
Speed: ? (Age 13: ??)
Magic: ???
Strength: ? (Age 13: ??)
Growth Potential: ∞
Precision: A
Mental Fortitude: A+
Airheadedness: D / Wisdom: A+
——————
Switches: [Judgment] [Injury Disengagement] [Scholar’s Mind] [Elemental Wrath] [Growth Acceleration – 2.0]
Innate Traits: [Vigorous] [Forced Regression] [KRYY’s Blood] [Recovery Healing]