Chương 26: The Phantom lock (FILLER)

Hours slipped by as the carriage continued across winding roads, rolling hills, and dense forests. Mochi had long since fallen asleep, curled up against his backpack while the rhythmic rocking of the carriage lulled him into a peaceful nap. The horse eventually slowed to a stop.

"... Mmm." Mochi stretched his arms above his head with a huge yawn.

"Ahhh..."

"That was a nice nap." He rubbed his eyes.

"... Are we here yet?" Julio smiled from the driver's seat.

"Yep."

"We're here." Mochi climbed out of the carriage, followed shortly by Amelia and Tony. The moment they stepped outside, they were greeted by a city unlike any they'd seen before. Nensho was alive with warmth. The streets were paved with smooth black stone streaked with glowing crimson crystal that shimmered faintly beneath their feet. Tall buildings of dark volcanic rock lined the roads, their rooftops decorated with copper ornaments shaped like dancing flames.

Blacksmiths hammered glowing metal in open workshops, filling the air with the ringing of steel. Food stalls filled the streets with the irresistible aromas of grilled meat, roasted vegetables, and freshly baked bread. Crowds bustled through the marketplace carrying bundles, chatting excitedly, and haggling over goods from distant lands. In the distance... A colossal mountain rose above the city. Its peak glowed faintly red, with thin trails of smoke drifting lazily into the sky. Mochi stared in amazement.

"... Whoa."

"This place is incredible." Tony's tail wagged excitedly.

"It feels completely different from Azuma." Amelia admired the architecture.

"It's beautiful..." Julio climbed down from the carriage.

"First things first." He unfolded a small map.

"We're looking for somewhere called the Everflame Palace." Mochi tilted his head.

"The Everflame Palace?"

"Never heard of it before."

"What's that?" Julio nodded.

"It's a place famous throughout Nensho."

"They say it houses flames hot enough to burn nearly any material." Mochi whistled.

"Sounds dangerous." Julio chuckled.

"It probably is." He folded the map back up.

"Unfortunately..."

"I don't actually know where it is."

"So our first stop should be the local Adventurers Guild." Amelia nodded.

"Yeah."

"That sounds like the best place to ask." Tony suddenly pointed farther down the street.

"... Is that it over there?" Everyone followed his paw. Standing proudly near the center of the city was a massive stone building displaying the familiar Adventurers Guild crest above its entrance. Mochi blinked.

"It looks way different from the one back in Azuma." Unlike the cozy wooden guild hall they were used to, this one resembled a fortress. Massive obsidian pillars supported its entrance. Large stained-glass windows depicted legendary adventurers battling dragons and mythical beasts. Bronze flames burned inside enormous iron bowls flanking the front doors. Julio smiled.

"... Looks like that's it." He walked up the stone steps and pushed the heavy doors open. CREEAAAK. Warm air washed over them. The inside was just as impressive. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The ceiling stretched nearly three stories high, supported by enormous black columns carved with intricate flame patterns. Adventurers of every race and background filled the hall. Some wore gleaming suits of armor. Others carried staffs taller than themselves.

A pair of fairies laughed over a card game while several mages discussed maps around a large table. Near the center of the room stood an enormous circular fireplace, where weary travelers rested after completing their journeys. Despite the crowd, the guild was surprisingly organized, with multiple reception counters helping adventurers without long queues. Julio smiled as he looked around.

"Seems like this is the place." He looked back at the others.

"Come on, guys." Mochi adjusted the straps of his backpack.

"Let's find this Everflame Palace." Amelia and Tony nodded in agreement before following Julio deeper into the bustling guild hall. The moment Julio stepped through the guild hall doors... Something felt off. The lively conversations continued. People still laughed. Drinks still clinked against wooden tables. But... Dozens of eyes slowly turned toward the group. One by one. Then more. Mochi noticed it immediately.

"... Uh..." He leaned toward Amelia.

"Is it just me..."

"... or is everyone staring at us?" Amelia subtly glanced around.

"... Yeah."

"I've noticed it too." Tony whispered,"They're not looking at us..."

"They're looking at Julio." Julio frowned.

"... Me?" Whispers rippled throughout the guild.

"Look..."

"That case..."

"It's made of gold..."

"Those jewels..."

"That thing must be worth a fortune..."

"No wonder..." Before anyone else could approach... A young woman stepped confidently through the crowd. She wore a sleek black coat with silver trim, her long dark hair tied into a high ponytail. A playful smile rested on her face as though she already knew the outcome of every conversation.

"Hey there..."

"You guys new to Nensho?" Julio looked at her cautiously.

"... Who are you?" The woman placed a hand against her chest.

"Oh."

"My bad."

"I forgot to introduce myself." She smiled.

"My name's Avery."

"I'm a C-Rank Voyager." Julio gave a polite nod.

"I'm Julio."

"I'm not a Voyager." He gestured toward the others.

"But as you can see..."

"I'm accompanied by three of them." Avery's eyes drifted toward the ornate scroll case sticking slightly out of Julio's satchel. A sly grin spread across her face.

"... I see." She pointed toward it.

"I couldn't help noticing that thing in your pocket."

"... What's that thing in your pocket?" Julio instinctively placed a hand over it.

"Nothing much."

"... Just a scroll." Avery laughed softly.

"Just a scroll?" She stepped closer.

"Look at the casing."

"Pure gold."

"Inlaid gemstones."

"That alone must be worth a fortune." Julio shook his head.

"Sorry."

"I won't be handing it over if that's what you're wondering." Avery leaned in until she was only inches away from him. Her smile became teasing.

"... Maybe..."

"If you do..."

"I'll give you a little peek." She gave him a playful wink. She showed more of her chest.. Julio didn't even flinch.

"... No thanks." He stepped around her.

"Now..."

"If you'll excuse us." For the first time... Avery's smile disappeared.

"... Very well." She quietly muttered,"... Initiate."" Phantom Lock." Two hooded men suddenly emerged from opposite sides of the crowd. Both extended one hand toward the party.

"Magic Skill: Phantom Lock!" A pulse of purple energy exploded across the guild hall. Everything froze. Julio's eyes widened.

"W-What?!" He tried moving.

"... I..."

"I can't move!" Mochi strained with all his strength.

"... Me neither!" Amelia gritted her teeth.

"My body's..."

"... Completely frozen!" Tony desperately tried lifting a paw. Nothing. Not even an inch. Everyone caught inside the pulse had become statues. Only Avery... And the two hooded men... Could still move. Avery casually walked over to Julio. She smiled sweetly.

"Well, well newbie..."

"I guess you didn't know who you were messing with." She gently pulled the scroll from his pocket.

"You could've had a good time in exchange for this." She stuck out her tongue.

"Now you're getting nothing." She twirled the scroll between her fingers.

"See you, suckers." She said sticking out her tounge The three thieves calmly walked out of the guild hall. The doors shut behind them.... Minutes crawled by. No one could move. No one could speak louder than a strained whisper. Almost half an hour later... The purple aura finally disappeared. Julio stumbled forward.

"... They're gone." He looked at his empty pocket.

"Those bastards..."

"They took the scroll..." He clenched his fists.

"Now I'll never be able to do it." Mochi looked toward the entrance.

"Who even was that lady?" An older adventurer approached them. His expression was grim.

"... That was Avery Harlatcher."

"The leader of the Black Cats Guild."

"They call her..."

"... The Phantom Bandit."

"Her signature magic skill is called, Phantom Lock, releases a magical shockwave that completely immobilizes anyone caught within its range."

"The effect only ends once the caster is roughly thirty miles away from their victims." Julio's face turned pale.

"... Thirty miles?"

"They're already that far away?!" The man nodded.

"If they planned this..."

"They're long gone." Amelia lowered her head.

"... We were fooled so easily." She turned toward Julio.

"I'm sorry."

"We should've protected the scroll better."

"... Don't apologize." Everyone looked at Mochi. He folded his arms.

"... This is kind of his fault afterall." Julio stared at him.

"My fault?"

"... How is this my fault!?"

"Huh?"

"You should've done a better job guarding the scroll."

"This is what I hired you for!" Mochi shook his head.

"We could've..."

"If we'd actually known how important it was."

"You barely told us anything."

"All we knew was that you needed an escort."

"Then, out of nowhere, you started talking about the Everflame Palace."

"That wasn't even mentioned in the quest."

"I said it was okay when you didn't want to explain because I thought it was something personal."

"But hiding everything..." He looked Julio directly in the eyes.

"... Is exactly why you lost it in the first place..."

"You need to be more open with people you know."

"We aren't mind readers." Julio fell silent. Tony quietly nudged Mochi.

"... Hey."

"I think you were a little hard on him." Julio's fists trembled. After several long seconds... He finally spoke.

"... That scroll..."

"... Belonged to my late grandfather."

"He was..." Julio looked away.

"... A terrible man."

"He stole."

"He lied."

"He drank."

"He smoked."

"He never made time for his family."

"I hated him with every fibre of my being.."

"He gave me that scroll shortly before he died."

"And told me...""'Keep it safe.'" Julio laughed bitterly.

"... But why would I honor the dying wish of someone who meant nothing to me?"

"I tried destroying it."

"I burned it."

"I smashed it."

"I even tried cutting it apart."

"Nothing worked."

"That's when I learned about the Everflame..."

"A flame said to burn through absolutely anything."

"I hired you because..."

"... I wanted to destroy it forever." Silence followed. Mochi smiled faintly.

"... Now then."

"Was that really so hard to get off your chest?" Julio sighed.

"... You don't have to make fun of me."

"I'm not." Mochi replied.

"I'm just saying..."

"It would've helped if you'd trusted us sooner." Amelia nodded thoughtfully.

"So..."

"You don't just want the scroll back."

"You want it gone." Julio nodded.

"As long as it exists..."

"It reminds me of him."

"I need it erased which is why im still not satisfied with if being stolen." Tony suddenly raised a paw.

"... Then why don't we get it back?" Julio blinked.

"... How do you plan on doing that?"

"They're over thirty miles away."

"They could be anywhere by now." Tony grinned proudly.

"... Actually..."

"I put a tracking Naxallite on them." Julio stared.

"... A Naxallite?" Tony nodded.

"It's basically a magical tracking device."

"I know exactly where they are." Julio blinked twice.

"... That's..."

"... A surprisingly useful piece of equipment.."

"When did you get time to place it on them?" Tony puffed out his chest proudly.

"When those two guys leapt just before phantom lock was enabled.." He grinned"I know."

"It's random..."

"... because it's so useful." Mochi cracked his knuckles. A determined grin spread across his face.

"Alright then."

"Let's go get your scroll back Julio." He looked toward Tony.

"You lead the way." Tony saluted enthusiastically.

"Alright!" Without another moment to waste, the four rushed out of the guild hall, following Tony as he led them toward the trail of the Black Cats Guild and the scroll they were determined to reclaim.