Quest for Hikari - Episode 7

[ ~ Chapter • Start ~ ]

[ PoV: Rance ]

I found some clues after visiting Sill at Paris Academy, yet those clues weren't really enough for me to point out who was the mastermind behind the kidnapping, as there were several previous cases of kidnappings from other parts of Leazas.

Yes, Kanami Kentou (or Kanami for short, I'll just call her by Kentou for now), that girl from last night was a suspect, as Sill said that Hikari was taken from her bathroom around two weeks and two days ago, four days before I arrived here in Leazas to investigate.

I'm missing several clues, really. Going to Khien Mansion requires me to have the Ghost Buster Sword so I can effectively deal with ghost-type monsters, and I need to go to the coliseum first, too.

On second thought, Rance Sword MkIV can deal with ghosts if I ever willed it to. It's my strongest weapon plus the Mansion's door is somehow still locked. Breaking it down

Though, I still considered going north to the Coliseum.

.... My thoughts were halted as I noticed a blonde girl being taken away by some former Endless Tomorrow Gang members. They were too focused on the girl.

It seems like those thugs haven't noticed me approaching them, so I'll take this chance to come close enough and surprise them.

"Hey, is the girl still deep asleep?" I suddenly asked as a thug still didn't notice me.

"Well of course! Somehow, each time we try to capture her, something happens that would stop us in our tracks! We've tried to knock her out, use drugs, and whatever we do, it just doesn't work!" The thug said, as all of them still didn't notice me.

"You must be really unlucky to not capture her then. Rance eye jab to knockout hand chop to rescue girl." I spoke with blunt enthusiasm as I immediately did just that to the thugs that quite literally look alike somewhat.

And then, I caught the girl before she fell, making her groan a little, yet showing no signs of waking up.

Glancing at the thugs who were unconscious while some where bleeding from either eyesockets, I proceeded to walk towards an open shop where several thugs have gained a concussion from the falling weapons.

.... That might take a while to clean up.

"Huh? Rance-kun? I didn't expect you to be here."

I turned around with the girl still on my hands, to see Patty the Summer looking at me questionably.

I explained what happened earlier and Patty gained a slightly mischievous smile.

"Fufu~! Let me guess, you sneaked to the academy to get a view of girls'underwear, right?"

"I don't like that joke of yours, Patty. Anyways, where's Millie's room?"

After silently putting Millie to her room, I had to help Patty clean up the front of the weapons shop before a few Leazas Guardsmen arrived and arrested the unconscious thugs.

"Thanks for helping out, Rance-kun! I hope you'd visit my shop soon, 'cause I have a few special deals for several items there." Patty said, just before I rolled my eyes.

"I'm just there for some snacks and ibeprofun, Shrimp. Plus, I'm going north to the castle to investigate further. Time is running, and if I don't act now, Hikari-chan might die. I might take you out for a date once I finish investigating, how about that?" I replied, before turning around and exiting the shop, leaving a pouting Patty behind.

Next stop: Northern Gate

When I arrived at the northern gate, a Leazas Guardsman glanced up towards me, lifting her visor up as she stared at me.

"Sorry, no entry unless you have a pass." She spoke sternly, blocking my way like a guardsman should.

I took off my backpack and began searching through an old pass I used to have while I was with my sister those years ago.

The girl began inspecting the old pass, before nodding.

"Since when was the last time you used it?" She asked.

"No, my sister used it several years ago when we wanted to visit the coliseum. Fun times, I say." I chuckled to hide the solemn emotion I have just by remembering her.

"Hm? Hey, you look like you could cry at any moment even with a stoic face, what's wrong?"

"Me, crying, huh. I, Rance wouldn't cry out of nowhere! Anyways, I need a coliseum pass, I want to spend time fighting there." I replied, not letting her know that I have a few more intentions inside.

"Well, I do have a coliseum pass..... Though I am unable to use it because I focus on my duties, that doesn't mean you would be able to take it from me for free."

When she said that, I thought about something else.

"Let's see.... how about I help you do something, then you give me your pass, cutie?"

She stared at me with a surprised look. Probably because I called her a cutie, or that I figured she could use some help, or both.

We introduced each other afterwards, though having to spend time seducing the innkeeper, Nami to wait was necessary.

[ ~ Chapter • End ~ ]

Millie Lincle - A very gloomy girl with an absurd, impossibly absolute luck. Due to the same luck, she became so bored that she considered suicide. Though with a certain close friend (Patty the Summer), she was unable to consider that.

- Bond Level: 1/10 (She barely meets Rance through the events of this volume)

Patty's Bond Level Increased to 3.

Menad Shisei - A Leazas Guardsman on duty. Still a virgin till two chapters later.

• Bond Level: 2/12

Extra Notes:

*1: See two guys wearing a maroon vest and a green vest somewhere in the Episode one of the OVA? Yeah, those fodder guys.