Rebellious Maidens - Episode 4: The Truth

Author's Commentary: I suffer from paranoia.

[ ~ Chapter • Start ~ ]

Once Rance was finished disabling Maria's Phil Ring, he pocketed it for later.

"Ow.... That hurts...." Maria spoke, just as she began to get up, groping the part where she was shot at before she sighed in total relief. ".... But at least the Phil Rings are finally off, though how did you remove it?"

When Maria asked this, Rance grinned.

"Long story short, I have learned several spells from an old witch named Mysteria and improvised and mastered them on my own in just months. Well, she did leave a part of her legacy to me, but the rest was on her granddaughter.... I wonder who could she be, though? I haven't met her or heard of her name." Rance spoke with honesty, rubbing his nape while not once revealing that he also has a Level 3 Magic skill.

Who knows she might just betray him later?

"Oh, and that means enchantments from something like the Phil Rings are not my problem."

Maria was surprised when he mentioned Mysteria, and became curious.

"Mysteria Tou? His teacher?" Maria asked, as Rance nodded.

"Other than that, where's Sill?"

Rance turned around, and walked to where he and Sill previously passed by, began to seatch for her.

"Sill! Where are you?! Tch.... she has most of my supplies, this is bad...."

After a few moments, he realized she can't do any pranks, and she's definitely not the type of girl who would trick someone who she was very loyal to. Well, unless she's been brainwashed.

"Rance! That girl, she's your companion, right? I think she's been teleported down to the dungeon where Elenoir is waiting." Maria spoke, as Rance immediately began to move further down the dungeon upset, not before facing her.

"What? Something wrong?" Rance asked her, as Maria scratched her head, smiling embarrassingly.

"You see, I know we caused trouble to the townspeople there, but I'll make amends for that. But first, I have to make sure that Ragisis doesn't get away from this! I have to save the other girls!" Maria spoke, becoming determined, even if Rance was a little confused at what she said.

"Hm? Get away with what? He said you stole his rings before rebelling against him?" Rance asked.

"It's a long story, but I'm going to take this short: The four of us started as Ragisis's apprentices four years ago. We were supposed to form a group that would defend Custom and have trained intently for that purpose..... all without suspecting a thing." Maria spoke, somewhat looking down on the ground. "Then, six months ago. Ragisis gave each of us a ring as a diploma. Those being the Phil Rings. The four of us put them right on, not knowing that we shouldn't have."

Emotions, such as anger and sadness began to show on Maria's face.

"That night, Shizuka came to my room and told me she'd overheard Ragisis talking to himself. Basically, the whole thing was planned by that bastard. The rings are terrible magic items that suck the power of ten mages, and having each absorbed nine people's magic already, Ragisis only needed the last four. We were the final sacrifices for the ring. When these Rings came off, we would no longer be able to use magic at all. That's the reason we attacked Ragisis. He was powerful, but as we were empowered by the Phil Rings, we came out on top, though the resulting battle caused the town to sink underground."

Rance sighed, crossing his arms as he felt like he should tell something to her while he took out the Phil Ring in his pocket.

"So that's why I noticed immense magical power combined from nine people, ten if I count you, contained inside this ring. That Ragisis, what was he planning to do with these Rings anyway? Gain supposed unlimited power and soon dominate the world? How foolish and dumb." Rance spoke, already doubting Ragisis.

Maria grimaced, yet Rance was speaking the truth.

"That's why I needed your help! You can remove the Phil Rings with your magic, right? The rings have a corrupting influence on it's wearers. What we were doing, building this dungeon together.... we have to save Mill, Elenoa, and Shizuka!" Maria pleaded, as Rance couldn't help but groan.

At least he can save Sill while doing most of the work, simply killing several birds on one stone.

"Anyways, I'm the Great Hero Rance. And the recently teleported girl is my partner, Sill Plain."

[ Sill has been (temporarily) replaced by Maria! ]

~ \ (0∆0) / "Hi~!" ~

Back at the town of Custom, at the Ragisis's House....

"Hey, Ragisis! You were here an hour ago right?! Come out!!!" Maria shouted, making Rance rub his ear.

There was absolutely nobody in this house, and Ragisis's spirit was not even around to answer them.

Rance began to tap his foot impatiently, not once feeling a trace of Ragisis's spirit's presence.

They've returned here a few minutes ago, with a few bystanders that were on the sidelines either seen gossiping or just minding their own business to not get any trouble.

Likewise, Maria was slowly becoming more frustrated the more time passes.

"... Ragisis.... Tch, there's no time to lose, and there's no point moping around it. Let's just focus on saving the other three! But first, I need to take my [Secret Weapon] I hid from Ragisis, wait here!" Maria spoke, before she began to jog somewhere in the damaged building.

Although Rance wondered what she wanted to do, she immediately returned carrying a cylindrical thing that looked more like a bazooka. It also had been painted with three tulips on either side.

"That thing, that's one of the [Tulip Series] weapons you've been working on, right?" Rance asked curiously, as Maria gave him a proud, confident smirk.

"Of course! It's name is [Tulip 1]! And it's one of my best inventions yet!" Maria replied, before feeling downcast even for a moment. "..... It's still missing an important part, though. But maybe we could find some of it down in the dungeon! That means you wouldn't be able to see it in action until we do find as many [Hirara Ores] as we can, that way, I can fight with you effectively...."

Rance tapped his foot, before noticing a figure at the corner of his vision.

When he approached the figure, he found Chisa minding her business. It feels like she shouldn't be here, though.

They took her back to the Mayor's House, and Gazel was almost losing his composure due to the sudden supposed kidnapping of his daughter.

Maria told him everything, though Gazel was still in the process of believing her words, though considered them. Knowing the truth was quite a hard boulder crashing to him, though.

After that, they proceeded to the dungeon again, this time, they were delving deeper.

[ ~ Chapter • End ~ ]