Helen began to talk in whispers.

After finishing the work near the border of the demon world, Attai was asked to patrol the border of the empire and kill the bandits.

　The work near the border of the demon world is the one that caused Nilda to come to our house.

I'm sure you've heard of it. It was also plagued by bandits, so they welcomed us.
Do you always work in units?
That's because one or two people can't do it. Well, I don't belong to any particular mercenary group, but I work with a hodgepodge.

　I asked Helen. The only one who was rescued was Helen, but if they were working as a unit, there were probably others who were captured as well.

When I went out alone to scout the area where the bandits seemed to be, I saw some strange people. I saw some strange people.
"Strange people?
Yeah. They were well-dressed and well armed. They seemed to have a lot of money for frontier bandits, so I thought they weren't bandits. And there were quite a few of them.

　Helen paused for breath. We all listened in silence to Helen's story.

We'd just finished a job, and we'd already taken down a lot of bandits, so we were probably a bit relaxed. They came up behind me and seized me.
　He was a master. If I'd paid attention, I might have been able to slash him and get away.

　So you didn't lose in a head-on fight. Well, I don't know if there are many people who can beat Helen in a head-on fight.
　Deanna gasped when she heard Helen say that she had been seized. Helen glanced at her and continued.

"After they took my weapon, they said, 'Did you hear what I just said? After they took my weapon, one of them asked me, 'Did you hear what I just said? As soon as I saw him, I shook my head, but he didn't trust me, did he?
If they did, they'd say they didn't hear it.

　Helen nodded loudly at my words.

I don't trust them either. I don't trust them either, because I saw them there in the first place. That's why they took me there.
They didn't do anything to you?
They did ask me why I was there. It wasn't too serious.

　Deanna asked with concern, and Helen answered smoothly.
　In fact, there were few obvious injuries. It's not as if you were treated as a guest because you were exhausted when you rescued her.

"Well, it's all over now. Get some rest.
"Thanks. I will.

　Helen broke down at my words, and the debriefing ended.
　Everyone went back to their rooms (Helen was in the guest room) one by one. I too went back to my room.
　The bed felt good for the first time in a few days. I think it was because everyone in the house had been taking good care of it.

　On the other hand, I had a concern. Why had Helen only been captured? Who were the people she ran into?
　It just doesn't add up. I wish I could figure it out someday. While I was thinking about this, I easily lost my battle with sleep.

　And the answer came unexpectedly from the other side.
　The next day, I did my usual routine of fetching water (with Krull, of course), preparing meals, and playing with Krull, and then the day after that, I spent a leisurely day doing nothing.

　After completing my morning routine, I loaded my luggage into the cart and headed for the city. In reality, it had been less than a month since I had been here, but I felt as if it had been a long time since I had felt this way.
　It was Helen's first time to ride in a dragon cart driven by Krull, and she was quite excited wearing the wig. It's fast, and it doesn't shake too hard.

It's amazing what a dragon can do!
Isn't it?

　Helen's words made Deanna proud. She is like a mother who is delighted when her beloved daughter is praised. In reality, there is not much difference.

This cart shakes as slowly as Camilo's, doesn't it?
"Because the original one is also on this cart.
I see. You can do a lot, can't you?
As much as I can do.

　What kind of blacksmith can even do rescue work? For example, it would be impossible for me to take command on the battlefield.
　I can only do what is within my personal reach.

　The dragon chariot moves along a leisurely street and eventually reaches the city. After exchanging greetings with a familiar guard, we arrived at Camilo's store.
　Incidentally, I hid Helen from the guards because it would be troublesome if they knew who she was, but they didn't suspect anything.

　I left Krull with him as usual, and entered the business meeting room. The number of people here has increased, but it's big enough that I don't feel cramped yet.
　I feel like I'm being looked over a little, but I guess that's just paranoia.

　After a short wait, Camilo and the manager arrived as usual. However, there was one thing that was different from usual.


　A face I knew well in this world walked in after him.

"Hello, Eizo, it's been a long time since we've met in person.

　The familiar face was that of Marius, Count of Amur.