A Mercenary's Fall

"That guy from yesterday."

Since they had caused quite a commotion at the Royal Tavern, there was a good chance their enemies had set up an ambush.

"I don't sense any hostility, but stay on guard. If they're professionals, hiding their killing intent is easy."

Tess drew her rapier and stepped forward first. The remaining three followed her cautiously.

When they arrived at the villa, under the faint moonlight, they saw someone standing still.

At first glance, the silhouette showed no movement, leaning against the wall motionless.

"That guy..."

The moment Amy started speaking, the silhouette lost its strength and collapsed onto the ground.

"Jis?"

Shirone hurriedly ran over.

Even after seeing his face, he couldn't be certain. Jis had been beaten so severely that he was almost unrecognizable. His entire body was covered in blood.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Shirone tried to support him, but the mere touch of his hand sent Jis into a spasm.

"Ugh! Ah, it hurts!"

"Who did this to you?"

As Shirone propped him up against the wall, Jis scowled and shook off his hand.

"Get lost!"

It was shameless to act that way toward someone trying to help, but Jis didn't care.

If they knew what he had gone through and why he had ended up like this, they wouldn't have anything to say.

More than anything, he didn't want to appear weak in front of Amy.

"Haa... Haa..."

Jis, still panting and fighting through the pain, scanned the group with half-lidded eyes and gave a bitter smile.

"Out partying until this late? Must be nice."

Given the severity of his injuries, he needed to be taken inside, but Tess didn't lower her guard.

Hadn't Jis already deceived Amy with a strange ploy just the night before, leading her into danger?

But Amy approached him without hesitation.

As someone familiar with the underworld, she didn't need an explanation to understand what had happened to Jis.

"Falcoa. It was him, wasn't it?"

Jis gave a small nod.

"Why? Was this payback for yesterday? You only did what he ordered you to do."

"Hah."

A laugh escaped his lips for no reason.

"Do you think that guy is normal? Sure, I brought you along. But I should have made more of a mess. Falcoa—no, that bastard has completely lost his mind."

Jis slumped further, his strength drained.

"He wants you back. This time, to his hideout. He's mobilizing all his men... He's serious about killing you."

"...How?"

Falcoa, Jis, and Shirone's group all knew they wouldn't go willingly.

"Loop."

Jis threw a small pouch onto the ground. A puff of white powder exploded from it.

"He ordered me to give you a drink laced with Loop. He thought you'd drink it without question. But the dose is lethal. I don't know what kind of abilities you have, but if you drink it... you die."

Hearing that, Shirone and the others tensed.

Even with just that information, it was easy to deduce what Falcoa wanted.

Shirone asked, "You refused... and ended up like this?"

"No."

Jis shook his head and grinned bitterly.

"I told him to go to hell."

"..."

"Don't get the wrong idea. I didn't do it for you. I'm not scared of some lunatic. Do you have any idea what I've gone through to survive on this island? Do you know why I fought to stay alive...?"

His voice trembled, and blood-mixed saliva dribbled from his lips.

"Yuna. My little sister. That bastard Falcoa... he took her. He said if I don't bring you to him, she dies. Why? Why?! Yuna didn't do anything wrong!"

Jis coughed violently, blood spraying from his mouth.

"Ack! Cough! Cough!"

"Jis! Calm down! Tell us slowly!"

"Ughhh..."

Jis's shoulders trembled as sobs wracked his body.

This was the inevitable outcome. Someone without power or status, no matter how much pride they had, would only end up in misery.

'Yuna... Yuna...'

To save his only family, Jis abandoned his pride and knelt before them.

"Please..."

Red-tinged tears fell from his desperate eyes.

"Help me."

The air grew heavy.

"I'll apologize for everything. For all the times I acted rudely as a lowly commoner. No one else will help me. Yuna is my everything... If something happens to her, I... I..."

Jis, half out of his mind, began rambling, unable to withstand the fear any longer.

Shirone's group exchanged glances.

It was true that they were involved, to some extent, in Yuna's kidnapping. But this wasn't a situation to act recklessly out of mere emotion.

'Falcoa's hideout...'

The men they encountered at the Royal Tavern were all skilled Schema users. If that was just a fraction of their forces, the hideout could be filled with even stronger individuals.

No one could rashly suggest going.

"Shirone."

Rian spoke first.

"If you go, I go."

Tess added, "If Rian goes, I go too."

Shirone turned to Amy, gauging her resolve.

There was no need for words. Her eyes burned with the desire for battle.

Shirone placed a firm hand on Jis's back.

"Where's the hideout?"

Jis, understanding the weight of those words more than anyone, bowed his head repeatedly.

"Thank you. Thank you..."

Amy cut in.

"Enough. Just act normal. You're making it weird. First, let's treat your wounds."

"B-but Yuna—"

"Idiot! If we rush in blindly, we'll all die first. You want to save her, right? They said they're waiting at the hideout. She'll be safe until we get there."

Amy pushed the door open. Rian lifted Jis in his arms and carried him to the bed.

They were worried about Yuna, but in his current condition, Jis wouldn't survive much longer without treatment.

Tess, who had been trained in espionage techniques before enrolling in the swordsmanship academy, immediately assessed his injuries. From the bruising patterns, she was certain his ribs were cracked.

"This will hurt."

She pressed down on different parts of Jis's body.

"Aaaagh!"

"Endure it. If your muscles tense, it'll be worse. They really showed no mercy. Now, let's check your organs."

Tess pressed down hard on his abdomen, as it was the only way to check for internal damage.

"Uuuuuuugh!"

Jis clenched his teeth and bore through it.

The sooner he was treated, the sooner they could rescue Yuna.