This marks the second time in my life that I, Kiwi Alaya , have been kidnapped.
The first time was on the orders of Jahm, the former king of the Land of the Dead, when I was abducted by Shes and her group back when she was still the Zombie Queen. That one was a rough ordeal too, but it might have been better than my current situation.
“My body’s starting to ache here…”
I had been tied up, hands and feet, and crammed into a narrow wooden box. After attempting to infiltrate a research facility and supposedly being captured, I was now rattling inside a creaking, rough-riding carriage for the past several minutes.
The box was unloaded from the carriage, carried for a while, and eventually set down. The lid of the wooden box finally opened about ten minutes later.
“Hey, get out of there, you reckless little spy.”
I strained my stiff neck, twisting to look upward. Peering down at me was a fierce-looking tiger beastkin—the man who had abducted me earlier from the new elixir research facility.
“You people are crazy, you know that? Knowing it’s our research facility and attacking it with just two people—what were you thinking?”
“I was curious, that’s all,” I replied.
I poked my head out of the box. The place was a narrow, windowless cell. There was only one exit behind the man, no other wooden boxes in sight, and no sign of Shes.
“Curiosity, huh? And this is the result? Caught and stuffed into a box like this. Pathetic,” he snorted mockingly.
But no need to worry. I don’t need anyone’s pity. In fact, there’s no need for help at all.
This was all according to plan.
This is an infiltration mission.
Honestly, it’s a hassle, but this is the cost of taking full control of the research facility. Leaving that organization unchecked would likely cause problems in the future. It’s better to seize control while we still have the upper hand.
With that in mind, I enlisted the help of Iwagane, the spider beastkin. She contacted the organization’s headquarters, reporting that “agents from a rival faction infiltrated the research facility.” As a result, Shes and I were captured and labeled as targets for elimination.
I’ve heard that the so-called Eight Execution Guardians of the organization show up for purges. When they extract information from their targets, the higher-ups of the organization tend to gather as well.
Might as well kill two birds with one stone. If we’re going to take out this group, it’s most efficient to lure as many of the higher-ups into one place and deal with them in one sweep.
“I did send strong bodyguards, though. I guess they were no match for Iwagane’s protectors,” I said, feigning regret.
“What? Beaten by Iwagane’s guards?” the tiger man scoffed, shrugging in disbelief.
“If those bodyguards lost to them, they weren’t strong in the first place. Good thing it wasn’t me. If you’d faced the likes of me, one of the Eight Execution Guardians—‘Razorclaw Tiga’—you’d all have been shredded to pieces.”
Ah, how generous of him to introduce himself.
So, this is one of the assassins from that group.
Revealing his identity and name like this is careless, though. Even if he thinks I’m immobilized and helpless, there’s no advantage for him in sharing that information. Seems he’s got a strong need for recognition. Well, that works for me.
“Wait a second… Are you telling me you’re the infamous Razorclaw Tiga?”
“What?!”
“I’ve heard about you… The terrifying and notorious Razorclaw Tiga, known for your efficiency and sharp mind, who flawlessly completes any mission…”
“You… you know of me?”
Not in the slightest.
Nor do I intend to learn more.
I was just buttering him up with random compliments, but…
I nodded earnestly, keeping up the act.
“Of course I know! Who in the underworld doesn’t? Such a fearsome individual!”
“Hah! Well, naturally.”
Tiga nodded repeatedly, clearly pleased with himself.
“I’ve made a name for myself, haven’t I? Even entrusted with overseeing the transport of purge targets like you.”
“Is that so? Impressive as always, Razorclaw Tiga. By the way, just to confirm—this is the correct destination, right?”
“Huh? Obviously! I’ve transported you directly to headquarters.”
Perfect.
Feeling confident, he carelessly spilled the critical detail. Just as Iwagane informed me, we’ve been taken to the organization’s headquarters as purge targets.
So far, everything’s going according to plan.
Now that I’ve confirmed our location…
“Zombie Thief, if you would, please.”
“Huh? Zombie Thief? What are you talking abou—”
My shadow rippled.
In the next moment, Tiga’s knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground.
“Wha…?”
Tiga turned his head back, staring in disbelief at his legs. The tendons at his ankles had been severed.
As blood began to seep out, he opened his mouth wide, but no scream came. Only the rasp of air passed through his throat—it had already been slashed.
“Zombie Thief, that’s enough. Don’t kill him just yet.”
Behind me stood the Zombie Thief. Blood dripping from a knife, with the holy sword entrusted to him by Shes strapped to his back.
“Now, could you cut these bindings on me, too?”
“…”
In an instant, the ropes binding my hands and feet were severed without a sound or even a breeze.
“Alright, let’s get out of this box.”
I climbed out of the crate for the first time in about an hour and approached Tiga.
Placing my hand gently on his head, I cast Dark Heal.
“…There we go.”
Tiga blinked, looking down at his healed body in confusion.
No need to worry. Everything’s been fixed.
“Now, let’s have a little chat—”
“You bastard! What did you do—?!”
Just as I began, Tiga sprang to his feet with the agility of his kind, claws glinting as he aimed a vicious slash at me.
But he’s nowhere near as fast as the Zombie Thief.
“That’s troublesome. I’d prefer to talk… But since you’re so eager, would you mind if I kept one of these claws?”
Tiga’s claws, along with his fingers, were cleanly severed. One of the claws landed near me—a valuable sample, as tiger beastkin claws can expand and contract based on their magic reserves. A fascinating trait.
“…!”
Once again, Tiga couldn’t respond—his throat was already cut. As he crumpled to the ground, I pocketed the claw and cast Dark Heal again, restoring him.
“Now then, let’s—”
“Kill—!”
Before I could finish, Zombie Thief struck again, this time slicing through Tiga’s arms and legs. His throat was slashed once more, rendering him mute.
At least this time, he’s not bleeding too heavily. He should survive long enough for us to finally talk.
Kneeling beside Tiga, I smiled.
“Tiga, listen carefully. You have two options: serve as our guide, or die where you are. Choose wisely.”
“…”
“I’ll heal you again. Think it through before you answer.”
And with that, I began casting Dark Heal once more.
