The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet

Chapter 408: Infiltration

(TL:By Rafael,valhallatls.blogspot.com)

"Wh-what do you think...?"

"...Yeah, looks like there's no one ahead. Let's move."

"Y-yessir!"

After using insects to scout the area, we confirmed no sign of the Phoenix Clan.

No Fang Wolf Clan members, either.

Once we were certain, we advanced.

Finia was determined to convince not only Elphin but also her comrades.

However, the Phoenix Clan members who left to hunt me were working in groups of at least three.

One-on-one might work, but negotiations often get tricky when the other side is grouped up.

Even Finia admitted it would be tough to handle several people at once.

So, we decided to move forward stealthily, avoiding detection.

If we encountered a lone Phoenix Clan member, Finia would try to reason with them.

If none appeared, we would head deeper into their territory toward Elphin.

That was the plan.

"Fmmph! Fmmnnggh! Nmmph!"

We carried Lin and Monica, still restrained, on Sakura's back.

Dragging them along was a hassle, but leaving the true culprits behind wasn’t an option.

We had to bring them with us to present as the real offenders to Elphin after Finia's persuasion succeeded.

Otherwise, even if Finia managed to convince them, my name wouldn’t be fully cleared.

Since they were noisy, I gagged them.

Still, they squirmed and made muffled sounds, which were somewhat irritating.

If only I could use sleep magic, but that was beyond my abilities.

"Ughhh..."

Sakura let out a weary sound, clearly frustrated by the noisy Lin on her back.

Her tail drooped, showing her annoyance.

Monica, on the other hand, remained quiet.

Perhaps she was waiting for a chance to escape—she needed close watching.

"Sorry for the trouble, Sakura."

"Woof!"

Sakura barked as if to say, "Don't worry about it."

What a kind-hearted companion.

"I’ll prepare a special meal for you once this is all over."

"Pant, pant, pant!"

Imagining the treat, Sakura seemed ready to drool.

Seeing this, Finia chuckled softly.

"Hehe... Sakura, you're so easy to please."

"Woof..."

"I’ll make you some delicious food too, okay?"

"Woof!"

They made a good pair.

I’d heard that the Fang Wolf Clan and Phoenix Clan often interacted, and it seemed they were good friends.

The thought of them playing together warmed my heart.

Yet, at the same time, guilt stung my chest.

Because I brought unnecessary trouble, these two got dragged into this mess.

I owed it to them to set things right.

Resolving this case was my responsibility, and I was determined to see it through.

"...Stop."

Lowering my voice, I signaled Finia and Sakura to halt.

They immediately stopped and followed me to hide in the shade of the trees.

Peering out cautiously, I saw three men who seemed to be from the Phoenix Clan.

They moved slowly, appearing to search for something.

Though unarmed, they didn’t need weapons—they could wield flames.

"W-w-what should we do? There's nowhere to hide ahead... I-I can’t convince three of them!"

"It’ll be fine. Somehow."

"Huh?"

I formed a provisional contract with a squirrel perched in a nearby tree.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t an ordinary squirrel—its claws were unusually long.

Apparently, it wasn’t one of the strongest species but a type that had evolved uniquely on the northern continent.

If I had the time, I’d love to observe and study it more.

For now, I had the squirrel rustle the bushes beside the Phoenix Clan members.

As expected, they reacted immediately, shouting, "What was that?"

Once I had their attention, I had the squirrel move further away, making deliberate noise.

The Phoenix Clan members followed, chasing after the sound.

Eventually, they disappeared into the distance.

"Alright, that went well."

"..."

"What's the matter? Why are you staring blankly?"

"I-it's amazing... Being able to command animals like that..."

"Well, I'm a Beast Tamer. Controlling a squirrel is no big deal."

"Eh? But... That squirrel is a rare species, the kind that can even defeat monsters like Needle Squirrels. I-I don’t think it's something a normal person could control."

"...Is that so?"

"Y-yes."

"..."

"..."

"Well, whatever."

"Is that really okay!?"

It worked, so there was no point in overthinking it.

For now, I decided to focus on moving forward instead of dwelling on it.

"...Rain, you're... a mysterious person."

"Am I?"

"V-very mysterious... You're not at all like the humans my mother described. I mean, um... You feel closer, somehow. T-that’s how it feels."

Closer, huh?

Does that mean she feels a bit more comfortable around me?

If so, I’d be glad.

While I did want Finia's help as a member of the Phoenix Clan, I also genuinely wanted to befriend her, even if that weren’t the case.

If the distance between us was shrinking, that made me happy.

"Ah...!? Th-there are more hunters ahead. This time, it's a group of five... But if we do the same thing as before, maybe..."

"Got it. Leave this to me again."

As expected of one from the strongest species, Finia had exceptional eyesight.

She also had the ability to detect the presence of her own kind.

Thanks to her, we were able to keep moving deeper and deeper.

The number of Phoenix Clan members we encountered steadily increased.

If they caught us, we’d be surrounded in an instant, and that would be the end.

On the flip side, the fact that their numbers were growing meant we were getting closer to their village.

No reward comes without risk.

Resolving myself, I pressed onward with Finia and Sakura, who carried our captives.

"Eek...!"

"This is..."

At last, we spotted the entrance to the village.

However...

Surrounding the entrance were more than ten Phoenix Clan members, standing guard with a tense, watchful demeanor.

TL Note- Enter the Phoenix.....

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