Chapter 4 – Hunting Hound of Mists (Part 4)
In the pitch dark forest, Fino’s Celestial Wooden Horse was gliding along like it was sprinting.
(Selo… Selo…)
She called out the youth’s name in her heart, and frantically looked around.
From when she had left home to find Selo, a long time had passed —— But she didn’t know exactly how long ago.
Perhaps it was a long time, but she also felt that it was really short, she even thought that no time had passed.
She often had hallucinations about Selo standing safely in the darkness, the place would be empty when she got closer, and then she when she looked into the darkness once more, a hallucination of him would be there —— The repeated cycle cause her mind to tire.
“Selo! If you can hear me, then answer!”
In the forest at night, Fino’s hoarse voice rang out. Her voice was almost a wail, and it echoed endlessly in the forest.
Then, replying to Fino’s scream, wasn’t Selo, but another existence.
“—— Ojou, excuse me.”
The bright voice above her head scared Fino, she hurriedly stopped the wooden horse.
When she turned around, she saw a black figure jump down.
Underneath the lighting of the light magic tool in Fino’s hands —— the “Light of the Night”, stood a black cat.
It was a prideful cat, with beautiful fur, his golden pupils contained a mysterious light.
He was wearing a feathered hat, a short sword was adorned on his waist, and he wore military boots as well as a black coat, which made his figure seemed like human.
Meeting with the resolute gaze of his golden eyes, Fino shook in surprise.
“… Were you the one who just talked?”
The cat standing on its hind legs slowly nodded.
“En, it was me. You are Fino right?”
“… En. Yes I am… But, this is bad. It is my first time meeting a hallucination and hearing it speak, what should I do?”
Fino asked confusedly as she got down from the wooden horse.
She had read from books that there were wild beasts that could understand human speech, and there really seemed to be this kind of wild beasts far away. But, a talking cat seemed to only exist in fairy tales.
Fino thought she had fallen asleep and was in the land of dreams.
The cat smiled.
“Since you are in the land of hallucinations, then are you willing to trust an unknown cat? Although I say that, but this isn’t your hallucination. Selo is in danger, he needs your help.”
Hearing this name, Fino leaped towards the black cat.
“You know Selo!? Where is he——!”
She grabbed the cat’s paws and raised him from the ground.
The black cat’s soft body was stretched out, and he squinted his eyes.
The black cat revealed a confused expression and used her paws to lightly tap on Fino’s arms.
“Ahh~ Calm down a bit, calm down a bit. Also, this is very uncomfortable, you should be more careful. Suddenly raising an unknown cat up is also against common etiquette…”
“This type of things doesn’t matter! Where is Selo!? Is he alright!?”
Fino shook the black cat’s body and continued to ask.
The unique cat cried out in pain.
“Uwhh, very… very painful…!”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Fino quickly stopped and let him back down. She finally got information on Selo, she was just scared of missing this opportunity.
The black cat awkwardly shook its head and let out a long sigh.
“…. What an impatient child. Never mind that, we really don’t have much time… Selo is fine. At least for now.”
“Really!?”
Fino, who had already imagined the worst scenario calm down temporarily. But, the black cat had said “at least for now”, triggered her unease.
The cat pointed towards the wooden horse.
“I won’t run, I hope you can let me ride on the wooden horse, and take me to town. I will tell you the details on the way.”
“But, Selo he…”
Towards the emotional Fino, the cat squinted an eye.
“Selo was caught by bad guys when he was trying to find you. He is in the Doriarudo mansion right now. Now, I must go and save him ——“
Hearing this, Fino widened her eyes.
“How! Then we missed each other…”
As if trying to calm her down, the black cat lightly chuckled.
“Isn’t the relationship between humans just like that. Precisely because of this, the joy of seeing each other would increase. Okay, now, let’s get going. That fellow Helmbekt is already mad. You’re also a sorcerer right? I hope you will also help.”
The cat that was placed back onto the floor fluttered its cloak and jumped up onto the back of the wooden horse.
“Helmbekt, is it that guy from the Magic Knight Squadron…?”
The black cat nodded on the back of the wooden horse.
“His real identity is one of the “Magic Race”. He has targeted Zerdonato-san’s magic tools, and wants to kill Selo. It was I who saved Selo. After you left, Selo and the people at the mansion were captured as hostages, they want to lure me out ——“
Hearing this unexpected turn of events, Fino was shocked.
She was already vigilant of Helmbekt, but what the black cat had said far surpassed her imagination.
“I’ll save the details when we’re on our way. If we don’t get there in thirty minutes, he will kill a person. Especially because that man —— has deteriorated.”
Fino hesitated for a moment, but still chose to believe his words.
The black cat’s golden eyes held a rational sage-like aura. At least she didn’t feel the same disgust that she felt towards Helmbekt.
Holding the soft black cat, Fino rode behind his back.
She immediately allowed the Celestial Wooden Horse to fly, then accelerate towards the city.
The breeze fluttered her hair, and Fino asked by the black cat’s ear.
“You know Selo?”
“En, I just met him yesterday —— I am Alcain·Darkferido·Lomnalius. I became like this under special circumstances, I am also a sorcerer. Please take care of me.”
His turned face was very friendly, yet also possessed a noble aura that made him seem hard to approach.
Fino returned a greeting to the cat named Alcain, and also said her name.
I am Firiano·Misthound·Doriarudo. Since my name is too long, please call me Fino. You said you saved Selo… Is that true?”
“En. I saved him when he was pushed down a cliff. But, despite how hard it was to save his life, he still wanted to go to somewhere dangerous. It seems like you are very important to him.”
Hearing Alcain’s teasing words, Fino forgot about the situation, and her cheeks turned a peach red colour.
“Did Selo say anything about me?”
“I didn’t hear about anything special. But when I advised him to run away, he said ‘I can’t leave Fino behind’ and ran back, that’s why he got caught by those fellows. Originally I thought he could succeed, but I was too naïve. Helmbekt may not be as foolish as I imagined.”
Alcain murmured like he was reflecting, and turned his back towards Fino.
“I also have some responsibility. Fino, I leave protecting Selo to you. I will get those people’s attention, then take him and run. But, it would be good if you can release the people in the mansion as well.”
Towards his determined words, Fino was very surprised.
“Wait. You can’t be planning to fight those people of the Magic Knights alone? Although it is just a squadron, they are real magic knights right?”
Alcain showed a slight smile.
“I don’t plan to fight with them till the end. When you and Selo escape, I will also retreat. Only ——“
A small light flashed across the black cat’s eye.
“… No matter what, I will get rid of Helmbekt. As long as I defeat the commander, they will be unable to return to Lonbordo.”
Boldness could be felt from his voice, and a sense of inexplicable unease jolted through Fino’s body.
She was worried that if Selo and herself had brought the black cat they just met a whole lot of trouble.
As if seeing past her thoughts, Alcain showed her a warm smile.
“I have to bear the responsibility for letting Helmbekt go. Also, Selo is Zerdonato-san’s grandson. I visited here under such conditions, might be due to the deceased Zerdonato-san’s guidance.”
“You know Selo’s grandfather?”
Although Fino didn’t know the black cat’s age, Selo’s grandfather passed away three years ago, and he had lived a secluded life before. If they knew each other, then that means this cat was far older than his appearance showed.
Alcain squinted his pondering eyes, and shook his head.
“We never met. He seemed to be my master’s old friend. I didn’t know that Zerdonato-san had passed away, and wanted him to tell me something, that’s why I came here…”
“Who is your master?”
“En.”
Alcain lightly smiled.
“‘Majin’ Fandal —— One of the Six Sages.”
Hearing the name he said, Fino was shocked.
Just last night, she had heard this name from Helmbekt.
When they were eating dinner, Helmbekt had mentioned the disappearance of the ‘Majin’ leisurely with laughter.
Fino quickly asked.
“Ne, is the disappearance of Fandal-sama true? When I was a young kid, Fandal-sama helped me…”
“Oh, you met master? That is rare. Master usually wouldn’t get involved with people from the outside world.”
Hearing his thoughts, Alcain took a deep sigh.
“… As opposed to disappearing, it should be said that his location is unknown. Did Helmbekt tell you this?”
“En, but he said that it is only a rumour…”
“We are already setting off to find master’s location. Helmbekt and them should be in the same boat as us, and are searching for Fandal-sama. Ah, a lot of things happened after all.”
Speaking to this point, Alcain’s eyes revealed signs of loneliness. Fino didn’t continue this topic.
Chapter 4 – Hunting Hound of Mists (Part 4)
In the pitch dark forest, Fino’s Celestial Wooden Horse was gliding along like it was sprinting.
(Selo… Selo…)
She called out the youth’s name in her heart, and frantically looked around.
From when she had left home to find Selo, a long time had passed —— But she didn’t know exactly how long ago.
Perhaps it was a long time, but she also felt that it was really short, she even thought that no time had passed.
She often had hallucinations about Selo standing safely in the darkness, the place would be empty when she got closer, and then she when she looked into the darkness once more, a hallucination of him would be there —— The repeated cycle cause her mind to tire.
“Selo! If you can hear me, then answer!”
In the forest at night, Fino’s hoarse voice rang out. Her voice was almost a wail, and it echoed endlessly in the forest.
Then, replying to Fino’s scream, wasn’t Selo, but another existence.
“—— Ojou, excuse me.”
The bright voice above her head scared Fino, she hurriedly stopped the wooden horse.
When she turned around, she saw a black figure jump down.
Underneath the lighting of the light magic tool in Fino’s hands —— the “Light of the Night”, stood a black cat.
It was a prideful cat, with beautiful fur, his golden pupils contained a mysterious light.
He was wearing a feathered hat, a short sword was adorned on his waist, and he wore military boots as well as a black coat, which made his figure seemed like human.
Meeting with the resolute gaze of his golden eyes, Fino shook in surprise.
“… Were you the one who just talked?”
The cat standing on its hind legs slowly nodded.
“En, it was me. You are Fino right?”
“… En. Yes I am… But, this is bad. It is my first time meeting a hallucination and hearing it speak, what should I do?”
Fino asked confusedly as she got down from the wooden horse.
She had read from books that there were wild beasts that could understand human speech, and there really seemed to be this kind of wild beasts far away. But, a talking cat seemed to only exist in fairy tales.
Fino thought she had fallen asleep and was in the land of dreams.
The cat smiled.
“Since you are in the land of hallucinations, then are you willing to trust an unknown cat? Although I say that, but this isn’t your hallucination. Selo is in danger, he needs your help.”
Hearing this name, Fino leaped towards the black cat.
“You know Selo!? Where is he——!”
She grabbed the cat’s paws and raised him from the ground.
The black cat’s soft body was stretched out, and he squinted his eyes.
The black cat revealed a confused expression and used her paws to lightly tap on Fino’s arms.
“Ahh~ Calm down a bit, calm down a bit. Also, this is very uncomfortable, you should be more careful. Suddenly raising an unknown cat up is also against common etiquette…”
“This type of things doesn’t matter! Where is Selo!? Is he alright!?”
Fino shook the black cat’s body and continued to ask.
The unique cat cried out in pain.
“Uwhh, very… very painful…!”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Fino quickly stopped and let him back down. She finally got information on Selo, she was just scared of missing this opportunity.
The black cat awkwardly shook its head and let out a long sigh.
“…. What an impatient child. Never mind that, we really don’t have much time… Selo is fine. At least for now.”
“Really!?”
Fino, who had already imagined the worst scenario calm down temporarily. But, the black cat had said “at least for now”, triggered her unease.
The cat pointed towards the wooden horse.
“I won’t run, I hope you can let me ride on the wooden horse, and take me to town. I will tell you the details on the way.”
“But, Selo he…”
Towards the emotional Fino, the cat squinted an eye.
“Selo was caught by bad guys when he was trying to find you. He is in the Doriarudo mansion right now. Now, I must go and save him ——“
Hearing this, Fino widened her eyes.
“How! Then we missed each other…”
As if trying to calm her down, the black cat lightly chuckled.
“Isn’t the relationship between humans just like that. Precisely because of this, the joy of seeing each other would increase. Okay, now, let’s get going. That fellow Helmbekt is already mad. You’re also a sorcerer right? I hope you will also help.”
The cat that was placed back onto the floor fluttered its cloak and jumped up onto the back of the wooden horse.
“Helmbekt, is it that guy from the Magic Knight Squadron…?”
The black cat nodded on the back of the wooden horse.
“His real identity is one of the “Magic Race”. He has targeted Zerdonato-san’s magic tools, and wants to kill Selo. It was I who saved Selo. After you left, Selo and the people at the mansion were captured as hostages, they want to lure me out ——“
Hearing this unexpected turn of events, Fino was shocked.
She was already vigilant of Helmbekt, but what the black cat had said far surpassed her imagination.
“I’ll save the details when we’re on our way. If we don’t get there in thirty minutes, he will kill a person. Especially because that man —— has deteriorated.”
Fino hesitated for a moment, but still chose to believe his words.
The black cat’s golden eyes held a rational sage-like aura. At least she didn’t feel the same disgust that she felt towards Helmbekt.
Holding the soft black cat, Fino rode behind his back.
She immediately allowed the Celestial Wooden Horse to fly, then accelerate towards the city.
The breeze fluttered her hair, and Fino asked by the black cat’s ear.
“You know Selo?”
“En, I just met him yesterday —— I am Alcain·Darkferido·Lomnalius. I became like this under special circumstances, I am also a sorcerer. Please take care of me.”
His turned face was very friendly, yet also possessed a noble aura that made him seem hard to approach.
Fino returned a greeting to the cat named Alcain, and also said her name.
I am Firiano·Misthound·Doriarudo. Since my name is too long, please call me Fino. You said you saved Selo… Is that true?”
“En. I saved him when he was pushed down a cliff. But, despite how hard it was to save his life, he still wanted to go to somewhere dangerous. It seems like you are very important to him.”
Hearing Alcain’s teasing words, Fino forgot about the situation, and her cheeks turned a peach red colour.
“Did Selo say anything about me?”
“I didn’t hear about anything special. But when I advised him to run away, he said ‘I can’t leave Fino behind’ and ran back, that’s why he got caught by those fellows. Originally I thought he could succeed, but I was too naïve. Helmbekt may not be as foolish as I imagined.”
Alcain murmured like he was reflecting, and turned his back towards Fino.
“I also have some responsibility. Fino, I leave protecting Selo to you. I will get those people’s attention, then take him and run. But, it would be good if you can release the people in the mansion as well.”
Towards his determined words, Fino was very surprised.
“Wait. You can’t be planning to fight those people of the Magic Knights alone? Although it is just a squadron, they are real magic knights right?”
Alcain showed a slight smile.
“I don’t plan to fight with them till the end. When you and Selo escape, I will also retreat. Only ——“
A small light flashed across the black cat’s eye.
“… No matter what, I will get rid of Helmbekt. As long as I defeat the commander, they will be unable to return to Lonbordo.”
Boldness could be felt from his voice, and a sense of inexplicable unease jolted through Fino’s body.
She was worried that if Selo and herself had brought the black cat they just met a whole lot of trouble.
As if seeing past her thoughts, Alcain showed her a warm smile.
“I have to bear the responsibility for letting Helmbekt go. Also, Selo is Zerdonato-san’s grandson. I visited here under such conditions, might be due to the deceased Zerdonato-san’s guidance.”
“You know Selo’s grandfather?”
Although Fino didn’t know the black cat’s age, Selo’s grandfather passed away three years ago, and he had lived a secluded life before. If they knew each other, then that means this cat was far older than his appearance showed.
Alcain squinted his pondering eyes, and shook his head.
“We never met. He seemed to be my master’s old friend. I didn’t know that Zerdonato-san had passed away, and wanted him to tell me something, that’s why I came here…”
“Who is your master?”
“En.”
Alcain lightly smiled.
“‘Majin’ Fandal —— One of the Six Sages.”
Hearing the name he said, Fino was shocked.
Just last night, she had heard this name from Helmbekt.
When they were eating dinner, Helmbekt had mentioned the disappearance of the ‘Majin’ leisurely with laughter.
Fino quickly asked.
“Ne, is the disappearance of Fandal-sama true? When I was a young kid, Fandal-sama helped me…”
“Oh, you met master? That is rare. Master usually wouldn’t get involved with people from the outside world.”
Hearing his thoughts, Alcain took a deep sigh.
“… As opposed to disappearing, it should be said that his location is unknown. Did Helmbekt tell you this?”
“En, but he said that it is only a rumour…”
“We are already setting off to find master’s location. Helmbekt and them should be in the same boat as us, and are searching for Fandal-sama. Ah, a lot of things happened after all.”
Speaking to this point, Alcain’s eyes revealed signs of loneliness. Fino didn’t continue this topic.
