Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 116
“For now, I need more information about the Devotees of Darkness.”
―What kind of information, for example?
“The location and scale of their base, the forces or subordinates they have, anything that might be useful.”
I didn’t know how Larry managed to obtain this kind of information, but if I could use him, I intended to make full use of him.
―Yes, I’ll do as you asked. But it might take some time. They’re hiding too thoroughly, so infiltrating them won’t be easy. I don’t think I’ll be able to respond if you call me during that time.
“Alright. Thanks, as always.”
―No need to thank me. I’m your loyal servant. If I can be of help to you, Master, I’ll do anything. Then I’ll be off!
After leaving his final words, Larry fluttered up into the sky. I watched him disappear into the dark night for a moment, then decided to return to the group.
“Gah.”
But the moment my feet left the ground, a sudden chill ran through me, and goosebumps spread across my entire body.
My heart began to throb heavily, and my breathing grew rapid. I pressed a hand against my chest. My heart was pounding so fast it felt like it would burst through my ribs.
“Urgh….”
It felt as if someone were gripping my heart tightly. A groan slipped out as the pain surged.
My vision went dark, and the strength left my legs. I grabbed the nearest tree, but my body swayed violently before I collapsed forward.
Fortunately, I fell into a bush and wasn’t seriously hurt. I was barely managing to gasp for breath when, at some point, the pain suddenly disappeared as if it had never been there.
“W-What was that?”
I slowly pushed myself up and looked around. The surroundings were exactly the same as before. It had happened so suddenly that I couldn’t understand what had just occurred.
I brushed the leaves and dirt off my clothes while looking around. Then I suddenly felt something vibrating in my pocket.
“No way….”
I reached in and took out the mana crystal. The black crystal was emitting a faint glow and trembling slightly. I was certain this was connected to the pain in my chest.
Once that thought occurred to me, I couldn’t go back to the group.
Gripping the mana crystal in my hand, I immediately began walking, searching for the direction where the vibration was growing stronger and clearer.
But my steps slowed as the terrain became rough, with no sign of anyone around. Unknown bushes had grown up to my waist, and unfamiliar leaves brushed against my face with every step.
Some of them were sharp or covered in thorns, and before long, the backs of my hands were covered in scratches.
At some point, the softly humming crystal went still.
I stared blankly at the mana crystal in my hand, its light gone, now nothing more than a useless stone again.
“……Where am I?”
Not only had I failed to find any clue about the mana crystal, I had completely lost my way. I was beginning to regret wandering through the forest alone.
“Larry!”
I called out to ask for directions, but there was no response. Then I remembered that I had sent him to gather information.
“Of all times….”
I let out a short breath, then closed my eyes and calmed myself, focusing my mind. If I followed Gerard’s mana, I could find where the party was.
There was a risk that Gerard might sense my mana as well, but I would just have to pretend otherwise.
But before I could even detect Gerard’s mana, I sensed something much closer.
It wasn’t one or two people. Dozens of presences were surrounding me. I prided myself on having sharp senses, yet I hadn’t noticed them at all until now.
“Who’s there?”
I opened my eyes and shouted. At that moment, something dropped down from above.
Instinctively, I pulled out the dagger hidden on me, but a blade reached my throat even faster.
“If you want your head to stay attached to your body, don’t move. I sharpened the edge very well.”
A cold voice whispered near my ear. I froze, unable to move. When I swallowed, the sharp edge nicked my skin, and a thin line of blood trickled down with a stinging pain.
“Where did you come from?”
There was no way someone would hold a blade to a passerby’s throat for no reason. I was certain someone had sent them to target my life.
“Where did you come from? Why are you sneaking around someone else’s forest?”
But the cold voice asked the same question in return.
It felt like a familiar situation. Come to think of it, it was very similar to what had happened just the other day in the snow mountains.
