Aozaki Aoko Case File [484] (Patreon)

Simon and Doric sneaked into Neverwinter Castle from the docks, then slipped out again, knocking out many city guards in the process.

Other than those bewitched by magic, they didn’t kill many—most were just knocked out or magically subdued.

But when they returned to the docks, things had changed—Forge was there, holding Edgin’s daughter Kira’s hand, preparing to board a ship with his loyal henchmen.

“Hey! Forge, stop right there!” Simon shouted as he ran, “Let go of Kira!”

“Oh?” Forge stopped, looked at Simon calmly, and grinned. “Long time no see, Simon. Still as clumsy with magic as ever?”

“Let Kira go and return the Tablet of reawakening, and we’ll let you leave in peace!” Simon said sternly. “Otherwise, you’re dead today!”

Even Edgin’s daughter now sensed something was wrong and tried to pull away from Forge.

But sadly, a girl barely ten years old was no match for a seasoned trickster.

“Hahaha, you always did like to joke about ridiculous things...” Forge shook his head, then suddenly seized Kira in front of him, pressing a dagger to her throat. “You don’t understand the situation at all—it’s you who should surrender.”

Doric signaled to Simon, asking if she should transform and charge, but Simon hesitated—he couldn’t risk Edgin’s daughter’s life to take down Forge. The situation was a stalemate.

“Kill them!” Forge ordered his henchman Blackwood to deal with Simon and Doric.

Blackwood drew a new axe, though it was far inferior to the great axe Holga had taken.

Simon had no choice. He couldn’t just stand there, so he came up with a plan. He conjured a cloud of fog, throwing it down so the docks were instantly shrouded.

Forge knew Simon’s tricks.

Forge, dragging Kira and gripping his dagger, retreated cautiously.

He was already thinking of running—even abandoning his henchmen was fine, as long as he had money, he could get more minions.

As for the girl... Forge had to admit, he rather liked being a dad these past two years. Kira was a cute kid, and he was confident that after dealing with Simon and the tiefling, he could explain things to Kira—she was just too easy to fool.

But things didn’t look good. Forge heard screams and beastly roars from the fog—those damned Emerald Enclave druids!

Forge decided to flee. He slung Kira over his shoulder and ran for the ship, but was hit by a wave from ahead, knocking him and Kira to the ground.

Forge struggled to get up, but felt a sharp pain at the back of his head—and lost consciousness.

Kira, scared and soaked, looked up toward the fog. Soon she saw Simon and Doric emerge—Doric’s wrist-mounted folding crossbow still deployed. She must have knocked Forge out.

“Sorry, Kira,” Simon said, looking at the shivering girl. “This was the only way I could think of to get you away from Forge safely.”

“...Where’s my dad?” Kira asked, still wet.

“Edgin is fighting Sofina and the others,” Simon explained. “Forge worked with her, but Sofina is a Thayan Red Wizard—do you know what that means?”

“...I know. They killed my mom,” Kira said, head down. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Doric and I need to get back right away,” Simon said. “Aoko is probably already fighting Sofina. I saw someone cast a 9th-level Meteor Swarm earlier.”

“Hey, Simon, look what I found!” Doric emerged from the ship, having searched it while Simon talked. “Check this out!”

She dangled an ancient-looking stone tablet, inscribed with unknown runes.

It was the Tablet of reawakening made by the witches of Rashemen!

“Great! Edgin will be thrilled!” Simon said, then turned to Kira. “Do you know what this is?”

“Forge called it the Wealth Tablet...” Kira replied.

“No, it’s a Tablet of reawakening made by the witches of Rashemen. It can resurrect anyone who didn’t die a natural death, ignoring all conditions,” Simon said seriously. “Your father only went to the Harpers’ fortress to revive your mother, and it was Forge and Sofina who betrayed him.”

Kira lowered her head in guilt, silent—the truth was right there. Even the slowest person could see what her father had done.

“Let’s go, Simon,” Doric urged. “The fighting at the arena is getting intense—we need to help them.”

Simon nodded, magically dried Kira’s clothes, and led her and Doric away from the docks.

As for Forge, they tied him up and left him on the dock—his henchmen defeated, there was no way he could escape now.

….

The stone dragon statue, animated by Sofina’s 7th-level spell, became her psionic stone golem servant.

The stone dragon rampaged, sending two Harpers flying, and not even Holga in rage mode could stop it.

Sofina maintained her concentration, directing the stone dragon at Aoko, testing her ability to handle such a heavy summon.

But Aoko, expressionless, didn’t chant or anything. She just made a strange gesture at Sofina, who suddenly felt her concentration waver—the spell she was maintaining slipped out of her control.

“Spell Steal!”

Since gaining this metamagic ability, Aoko had never used it in actual combat—until now.

Whether it was because Sofina underestimated her, or simply didn’t understand metamagic user abilities, Aoko easily snatched control of the spell away.

The stone dragon, now under Aoko’s control, did a sudden 180-degree turn and charged its former master.

Your summoned creature is powerful, but now it’s mine.