Approaching danger.
Felice’s group that was taken to the jail had decided to listen to the stories of those who were imprisoned there before them.
They have decided to let Gai, who was acting as the party leader to ask. When Gai asked, a man with a good physique but exhausted face replied to him.
“Excuse me, I would like to talk to you. I am Gai. An adventurer. I am in a party with these two.”
“I am Felice.”
“I’m Albert.”
“I’m Yahar, a merchant that does business in Branca. These people are my family and employees of my shop. Those children are?” (Yahar)
“Ah~… we had not asked that yet. Sorry, but can you tell us who you are?” (Gai)
When Gai spoke to the four that were brought with them, the beastman boy replied.
“I, I am Gray. We are also adventurers and forming a party.”
“I’m Nick.”
“I am El.”
“I’m Rona.”
Gray and Rona were beastmen, while Nick and El were humans.
Gray seemed to be the party leader.
“Why are you here, Yahar… -san.” (Gai)
“You can call me Yahar. We were attacked by bandits on our way back.” (Yahar)
“Bandits, huh… are there others who got captured?” (Gai)
“Only us are here. However, there is another jail further inside, so I can’t say for sure.” (Yahar)
“I see. Why were you in that place, Gray?” (Gai)
“We went there for a babysitting request and got caught.” (Gray)
“Same as us, huh.” (Gai)
Within the gloomy silence, Felice talked via telepathy.
(I have a reaction from further inside. I think there are more prisoners over there. Also, there’s a large reaction of magical power coming from the deepest place.) (Felice)
(Oh, you are right. This size, is it a monster?) (Albert)
(However, how troublesome. I can’t make a connection with it because of others.) (Gai)
(First of all, let’s report… Al) (Felice)
(Indeed. Let’s inform them of what we know. Right… Al.) (Gai)
(… Do I have to?) (Albert)
((Of course.)) (Felice & Gai)
Albert, who was hesitating to contact Claude had finally connected the communication.
(To, Tousama~) (Albert)
(What is it, Al?) (Claude)
(You see… re, report~~) (Albert)
(I know.) (Claude)
(Eh?) (Albert)
(There are guys picking a fight with the Faust family, right?) (Claude)
(Err~… it’s a bit diff—) (Albert)
(Are you there?) (Claude)
(Y, yeah. But——) (Albert)
(Be at ease. We know your location. Listen well, alright? Don’t clean up on your own, understand? Those fellows are the prey of our entire Faust family, got it?) (Claude)
(Entire!? Tousama, as I was saying——) (Albert)
(We are departing immediately.) (Claude)
Albert who finished talking with Claude explained their exchange to Felice and Gai.
(Did Otousama really say ‘entire’?) (Felice)
(Yeah. He was not listening to my explanation at all.) (Albert)
(Anyhow, it would probably be better to contact Lewis, right? The opponents are bandits, after all.) (Gai)
(They have prisoners too, but Otousama and others might attack straight away.) (Felice)
(I had contact Tousama, so it’s Gai’s turn now, right!) (Albert)
(… I understand.) (Gai)
When Gai contacted Lewis with a reluctant expression, Lewis properly listened to the whole situation.
(Geez, why do you guys keep getting entangled in one incident after another?) (Lewis)
(We don’t do it because we like it, that’s for sure.) (Gai)
(I understand the situation. Claude is being accompanied by Austin and others, so I will explain the situation to them first. You guys stay as obedient as possible, please.) (Lewis)
(We will do our best, but I can’t promise anything.) (Gai)
(I won’t mind if you act when you or the other prisoners are in danger. Keep in touch.) (Lewis)
(Roger that.) (Gai)
Gai explained his exchange with Lewis to Felice and Albert.
The three who finished their telepathic session felt gazes on them, so when they turned towards them, Yahar and Gray’s group were looking at them with complicated expressions from a little further away than before, so Gai who found it weird inquired.
“Why had you taken a distance from us?” (Gai)
“It’s nothing…” (Yahar)
“N, no reason.” (Gray)
“If you have something to say, then say it.” (Gai)
After Yahar and Gray who heard Gai’s words exchanged glances, Yahar spoke up timidly.
“T, then… pardon my rudeness, but do you guys suffer from some kind of illness, Gai-dono?” (Yahar)
“””Illness?”””
“N, no, it’s just your state was kind of… a little while ago.” (Yahar)
“State? We are not ill or anything.” (Gai)
“Even in the carriage, you guys were silently staring at each other while laughing or feeling down. To be honest, you are… err~” (Rona)
“Weird.” (Nick)
“Hey, Nick!” (El)
“Mentally ill.” (Rona)
“Rona!” (El)
They were told something rude.
However, Yahar and others must have thought so too, because they were nodding in agreement.
Felice’s group received a shock after hearing those words, but they decided to explain to Yahar and others to clear the misunderstanding.
“Sorry for startling you. We were contacting family and friend.” (Gai)
“Family and friend, is it? However, how?” (Yahar)
“We used a magic tool.” (Gai)
“A magic tool like that? However…” (Yahar)
“Have you really contacted them? They have sealed your magical power, so you can’t use magic tools either, no?” (Gray)
“It’s as Gray-kun said. You can’t use magical power with those shackles, right?” (Yahar)
“Ahh, this thingy here overwrites the shackles’ effect, so we can use magical power, no problem.” (Gai)
“”… Hah?”” (Gray & Yahar)
“Are they sick, after all?” (Nick)
“Nick!” (El)
“Fantasist.” (Rona)
“Rona!” (El)
They were told something rude.
Moreover, Yahar and others were nodding too.
Felice, Albert, and Gai each lit up a small flame on the tip of their index finger with their mouth cramping.
Yahar and others who had seen that stared at the flames with their eyes wide open.
“They really seem to be overwritten. However, why have you not put up resistance then?” (Yahar)
“… Is it perhaps because of us?” (Gray)
“No, if we were to do it, we would save you without having you suffer any injuries. But, we did not know their identity nor objective.I feel sorry to you guys, but that’s why we did not put up resistance.” (Gai)
“Come to think of it, that woman said you were a B-ranked adventurer.” (Gray)
“Yeah. I am sure she also said something about the nobility.” (Rona)
“Yeah. She certainly did say that.” (El)
“Faust Household.” (Nick)
“Did you say Faust Household!?” (Yahar)
“”””???”””” (Gray, El, Rona, Nick)
Yahar and others were shocked to hear the Faust family’s name here, but Gray’s group showed only bewilderement.
It appears that they do not know of the Faust family.
“Yahar-san, why are you so surprised?” (Gray)
“You guys aren’t aware, Gray-kun? The Faust family is a Ducal Household, and the head of the family, Claude-sama, is the current Prime Minister.” (Yahar)
“”””Eh!?””””
When the four looked at Gai in shock after hearing Yahar’s words, Gai supplementary explained with a wry smile.
“Only Feli and Al are from the Faust family. I am… what am I again? A butler? Guard? Or was it a babysitter?” (Gai)
“Don’t say babysitter!” (Albert)
“A butler-type guard? But, Gai is a family too.” (Felice)
“Thank you, Feli. That being the case, I am a butler-type guard.” (Gai)
“I, is that so? So you have contacted the Faust family a little while ago, I see. Then, the friend?” (Yahar)
“Ah, it was Lewis.” (Gai)
“… If I did not mishear you, you said Lewis, right?” (Yahar)
“Lewis.”
“The Lewis-sama that helped bring up His Majesty the King?” (Yahar)
“N? That Lewis.” (Gai)
“Lewis-sama is a friend… I see.” (Yahar)
Yahar looked with a distant look for a while, but recovering his spirit, he inquired from Gai.
“In that case, will we get saved?” (Yahar)
“That’s, you see~ to be frank, it might be dangerous if we stay here.” (Gai)
“W, why is that!?” (Gray)
“The help won’t come?” (Yahar)
“No, the help will come, but the guys that will come to help are dangerous.” (Gai)
“”Haah?”” (Gray, Yahar)
‘What does he mean that those who will come are dangerous…’ Felice continued the talk while Yahar and others were thinking such.
“There’s a possibility that we will get rolled up in the mess if we don’t escape before everyone comes.” (Felice)
“It will take some time for them to arrive from the Capital, but it would be better to hurry up.” (Albert)
“Yeah.” (Felice)
“Umm, you two, I don’t think there’s much time left.” (Gai)
“”Why?”” (Albert, Felice)
“You made them able to teleport, did you forget?” (Gai)
“”…… Ah.”” (Albert, Felice)
“Claude did come to Branka before, so there’s not much time left until he comes here if he teleports there.” (Gai)
“Wh, wh, what do we do, Gai!” (Felice)
“Come to think of it, Tousama said he knew of our location… do we teleport back to the hall and get rid of the bandits first?” (Albert)
“Wouldn’t it be better if we don’t? We don’t know where the point of the spear will be turned to when Claude and others come and they won’t have any prey to hunt.” (Gai)
“”Ce, certainly.”” (Albert, Gai)
Yahar spoke reservedly to the discussing three.
“Umm~ may I?” (Yahar)
“What is it?” (Gai)
“Guessing from your conversation, everyone has means of teleporting, yes?” (Yahar)
“Correct.” (Felice)
“What about it?” (Albert)
“In that case, how about transferring all the prisoners into a safe location? The bandits won’t notice, and your family will have p, prey left to hunt.” (Yahar)
“””………… Ahh!””” (Albert, Felice, Gai)
The three who heard Yahar’s proposal clapped their hands and nodded after considering for a little.
“There was such a way, indeed. We should just move everyone away.” (Felice)
“Killing was much easier method, so I did not think of this way.” (Albert)
“True. The lecturing time should be shorter by leaving the prey behind, rather than exterminating and setting the prisoners free.” (Albert)
“Since we have decided such, let’s quickly save them and escape!” (Felice)
“Gathering them in one place first would be much easier. Let’s work in groups.” (Gai)
Yahar and others who were watching the three’s exchange were thinking the same.
(((((I, I wonder if things will be all right…)))))
Just when Felice’s group intended to act, they heard several pairs of footsteps approaching.
When they kept silent to wait and see, several men appeared, but some of them continued walking deeper, behind Felice and other’s cell.
“Everybody, come out! Chief is calling for you!”
“Don’t be loitering around!”
“Hurry! Get up!”
Even though Felice, Albert, and Gai were irritated that their start was spoiled, they obediently left from the cell.
They were brought to a place with several prisoners and other bandits.
Felice saw a familiar face beside the person they called ‘Chief’ so she tried asking Albert.
(Al, the man beside the chief, we have met him yesterday at Branca, right?) (Felice)
(Eh? Hmm… possibly, the baggage carrying store’s…?) (Albert)
(Right! He’s the one who drove us away.) (Felice)
(Since he’s here, it means that he’s the bandits’ companion, right? Then, that baggage…) (Albert)
(What’s the matter?) (Gai)
(Gai, actually——) (Felice)
While Felice and Albert were explaining to Gai, the bandits’ chief spoke up.
“Is this everyone?” (Chief)
“Yeh! 25 men, 30 women, 15 children.”
“This time, there are 7 adventurers, one of them B-rank, two nobles! The B-ranker is grouped up with the nobles!”
“I see. Oy! How long until the slave trader comes?” (Chief)
“Less’ see~ about an hour?”
“It’s a good time for some entertainment then. Who are the nobles? Stand up.” (Chief)
The two stood up without hesitation and Albert stepped before Felice to protect her.
The bandits were grinning and the chief spoke to the two.
“What rank are you, brats?” (Chief)
“We registered yesterday, so we are E-rank.” (Albert)
“I see, I see. Hey, Noble-sama, I have a proposal for you.” (Chief)
“What is it?” (Albert)
“Don’t look so angry. It’s just a little wager.” (Chief)
“Wagger?” (Albert)
“Right. If you two win, I will release all people that are here. But, if you lose… the elderly and babies will end up fodder for my pet.” (Chief)
Hearing the chief’s words, the families with eldery and babies let out a short yelps.
Commonly, no one would believe that E-rank adventurers who registered just yesterday would be able to win against the bandits, and besides, there are stories of nobles buying ranks with money floating around.
Yahar and others looked at Albert and Felice with despairing gazes.
However, the two in question were thinking the opposite.
(What a nice proposal! Let’s swiftly finish and evacuate.) (Albert)
(What’s the pet, I wonder? I will cast a barrier around Yahar and others just in case. Gai, protect everyone when the necessity arises.) (Felice)
(Got it. I don’t think these guys are going to keep their promise anyway.) (Gai)
The chief who thought that the silent Albert and Felice were faltering, so he looked at Gray and others while laughing.
“If necessary, I am also fine with those adventurer brats over there, ya know? Ahh, you can fight while being such skin and bones, yeah? Right! I will have you kill these nobles.” (Chief)
“What!? As if we would do something like that!” (Gray)
“Why? I will release everyone if you kill them. Looking at you, you guys must be orphans, right? You will get money when you kill them, I may even consider making you our companions, how about it?” (Chief)
“”””!?””””
Hearing the chief’s words, Grey’s group were bitting their lips while trembling.
To the other prisoners, rather than the nobles defeating the bandits, Gray’s group had a higher chance of killing the nobles.
With all gazes on him, the four glared at the chief while Gray replied.
“I refuse! We certainly might be orphans with no money! However, if we do that, the sister who helped us… Mother will be sad! I won’t be able to face my little brothers either. That’s why… that’s why, I refuse!” (Gray)
“How wonderful. In that case, do your best at cheering for the nobles!” (Chief)
The bandits approached Felice and Albert while brandishing their weapons.
The prisoners huddled up together nervously, but a carefree voice echoed around.
“Say~ is it fine for us to use magic and weapons too? Or should we not use them? If we don’t give you at least a handicap like that, it will end way too fast, after all~” (Albert)
“… Ahh? You have some nerve! Why don’t we accept your handicap then!”
The frenzied bandits rushed at Albert, whose words were looking down on them, at once.