Thanks for the Invitation, I'm on Terra, and I'm a Parasite Chapter 17

"It wasn't supposed to be like this. Originally, originally, everyone along Iberia's coastline shouldn't have become like this."

As she spoke, her hands unconsciously tightened around her scabbard.

"Deliberate... no, was it a test?"

In the shadows, the masked man watched through the opening as Laurentina, who had originally been walking ahead of Irene, suddenly slowed her pace. Then, within his sight, the three of them remained in a straight line with Irene at the center.

Most of the other woman's body was obscured by Irene. If he wanted to attack her, whether from afar or up close, it would inevitably affect that petite Inquisitor first.

But what was the point of doing this?

Watching her keep part of her body hidden beside Irene, the man thought it was truly a nasty move.

Just as he thought that, an indescribably icy killing intent suddenly came from nowhere.

It was as though the Grim Reaper had silently placed its scythe against his neck.

"Is that so... She's not using her as a shield, merely as a smokescreen to conceal her attack?"

He sighed, raised the lantern at his side, and stepped out of the shadows.

[The test is over. The other party doesn't appear to harbor any hostility.]

Laurentina felt her slightly floating skirt suddenly settle.

Why were we hiding behind Irene?

[To conceal our means of attack.]

[Her body happens to block the skirt, so the other party cannot observe this area. Therefore, they won't have a chance to evade.]

[In fact, the little Inquisitor is safest in this position.]

[If you stood in front, then once we were attacked, our first action would inevitably be to block that attack. That would mean losing the initiative.]

[But now, we've concealed the means by which we launch an attack to prevent retaliation, while also seizing the other's movements.]

[Once that guy in the corner harbors hostile intent—]

A faint crimson tainted Zuo Jian's pupils.

The skirt in the blind spot possessed absolute initiative.

Three tentacles would immediately block Irene's front, forming a shield. The other three would swiftly attack the humanoid creature in the corner at three points: the head, neck, and left chest.

Even if they couldn't kill him, as long as they cut even the tiniest wound, it would be his victory.

Even if all of that failed—

The tentacles that withdrew would become a massive barrier, shielding Laurentina and Irene.

In that instant, Zuo Jian believed Laurentina would be able to react to what had happened.

Then, the moment the wall of flesh vanished, the Abyssal Hunter wielding her absurdly large saw would charge forward with a body strengthened by who knew how many times.

For some reason, this feeling of having the situation under control made Zuo Jian a little intoxicated.

Anyone who wanted to hurt them was completely guarded against by him. He could keep everyone within his sight safe and sound.

And those so-called enemies would be—

Zuo Jian?

Zuo Jian!?

[?!]

Laurentina's consciousness kept calling out, pulling Zuo Jian back from his thoughts.

What's wrong with you?

[...I'm... fine. I just spaced out for a moment. In any case, the person in the corner doesn't seem hostile. He appears to be planning to walk out openly.]

Zuo Jian's warning made Laurentina look up.

Then she saw a man slowly emerge from the street entrance not far away, dressed in clothing with a style not too different from Irene's.

Only, compared to Irene, he had wrapped himself up more tightly.

The mask beneath his hat made it impossible to tell whether his eyes were still sweeping over her.

"Teacher!"

Upon seeing him, the little Inquisitor at the side seemed excited and quickly walked over.

"Mm, Irene. You're two days earlier than the expected rendezvous time. Did something happen?"

As the senior Inquisitor Dario spoke, he also raised his head. Clearly, the "something" he mentioned seemed to be referring to something specific.

"And who is this?"

"She's a bounty hunter passing through, Teacher. She saved me once."

Irene leaned close to him as she spoke, then began whispering something else.

[It's about the Seaborn. So these creatures haven't been made public yet?]

That's not strange. After all, land-dwellers know very little about the Seaborn.

"Hello, Ms. Laurentina."

After listening to Irene's account, Dario stepped forward and gave Laurentina a slight bow to express his gratitude.

"I never expected my student to encounter something so dangerous. If it hadn't been for your help, we would have lost an excellent

Inquisitor."

"Not at all, haha... It was nothing, really. Nothing at all."

[Laurentina, why do you feel guilty?]

...Who do you think caused that!?

"Regardless, without your help, the Inquisition would have suffered a tremendous loss. This is a token of thanks."

As Dario spoke, he took a pouch from his waist.

Laurentina hadn't intended to accept it, but before she could speak, her left hand moved on its own, taking the pouch and weighing it.

"In that case, I'll accept your kindness. Thank you, generous senior Inquisitor."

Dario watched her accept the pouch without hesitation and seemed to freeze for a moment. Then he turned and led Irene away in another direction.

"Teacher, why are we leaving in such a hurry?"

Irene looked at Laurentina gradually receding behind them. It wasn't that she was reluctant to part with her; she was simply worried whether Laurentina would truly keep her promise not to talk carelessly.

"Irene, that woman is dangerous."

Dario's hoarse voice came from his throat, leaving Irene somewhat at a loss.

She had never seen such a serious expression on her teacher's face.

"Dan... dangerous?"

"It's best not to have any contact with her."

"Can't tell it from looking at you, but you're quite greedy for money?"

Laurentina looked at the pouch in her hand and couldn't help sighing.

[Greedy for money? Not really. But he was testing us just now. Refusing it or hesitating would both invite unnecessary suspicion.]

"Testing?"

[Do you remember what you called yourself?]

"My title..."

Laurentina froze.

"A bounty hunter."

Right.

How could a bounty hunter possibly hesitate over money? A group of people willing to risk their lives for money would hesitate over such rightfully earned payment?

How could that be possible?

"Achoo—"

The white-haired girl sneezed again.

...Looks like she really had caught a cold.

"Benefactor, do you really not want anything?"

The Ursus merchant stared blankly at the girl before him, who had a greatsword slung over her shoulder.

She merely shook her head. After hesitating for a moment, she ignored the money he offered and took a map from among the goods nearby.

"Can I take this?"

"Yes, yes, of course. Take whatever you want. After all, if it hadn't been for you, all of this would have been taken by those damned bandits."

"Thank you."

The girl took the map, left behind a word of thanks, and departed.

Leaving behind only a bewildered merchant.

"A bounty hunter... A bounty hunter who isn't interested in money? How could that be possible?"

..

Skadi unfolded the map.

Strange.

She should have been traveling along the coast, so why was it snowing?

And why had she been sneezing so often lately? Had she really caught a cold?

Derivatives

"The Seaborn have appeared in a nearby area? That's not a good sign."

After hearing Irene's account, Dario frowned.

Originally, they had come to this small border town only because the local church often had believers disappear without cause.

Saltwind City served more as a place to stop and rest. Irene was still a newcomer, and this operation was mainly meant to familiarize her with an Inquisitor's procedures.

If nothing unexpected happened, after dealing with the nearby bandits and investigating Saltwind City's situation, they would head straight for the coast.

After all, according to the original plan, the coast was where they would first come into contact with those things.

But... if nothing unexpected happened?

Dario shook his head. Since when had he begun placing his hopes on something like that?

The very purpose of an Inquisitor's existence was to deal with such "unexpected events."

However.

He turned his head and looked at Irene, who was traveling with him.

The church's abnormalities, people vanishing without explanation, Seaborn appearing far from the coast.

And—that strange "bounty hunter."

Years of experience told him that the current situation was far from a mere coincidence.

When several unusual things happened at once in a short period of time, it often meant that once their connections were uncovered, they would reveal something very... bad.