We slowly descend the stairs and see a surprisingly neat room in the basement. We can hear them talking.

"But you've thought of a good way to recover for free, haven't you?

"Yes, it's true. But you've thought of a good way to recover people for free, haven't you?



　It seems that the two men are talking to each other, which is a bad thing to do.

　He signals to Patra with his hand.

　3......2......1......GO!



　The two jump out at once and kick the man on the left in the jaw. The other man is instantly tied up by Patra except for his nose and rolled over in a flash.

　Even though he is conscious, he is unable to move.

　I was beginning to feel that Patra was completely superior to me in terms of stealth.



　There were about 20 people lying chained together in a small room.

"Uncle who?"

　The smallest of them spoke to me.

"We're here to help you," he said.



"I think they all woke up and came to help us.

Nayuta was right. I didn't think anyone would actually come to help us.

　One of them murmured to the girl who had just spoken to him.

"You mustn't give up at any time," he said.

　He then casually removes the chain attached to his hand.



"What?　You took it off yourself?

"I have an older brother who is a crybaby and can't do anything, so I couldn't stay in a place like this forever. I was going to run away by myself when the time was right. ....... But thank you for coming to my rescue. My name is Nayuta. It would have been very hard for me to save this many people by myself.



"Wow. Are you Liran's sister?

Yes. Did that brother of yours call for help ......?"

　Nayuta looked at us as if she couldn't believe what she saw.



"Yes, he did. You did a great job. I'm Rock and this is Patra. We'd like to take our time to introduce ourselves, but with this many people, we never know when we'll be discovered on the run. Let's get out of here as soon as the chains are off."

"Okay. Let's all remain calm and quiet.



　Nayuta then proceeded to remove the chains with a piece of wire that she had taken out of her purse.

　I took the key from the fainted man and started to remove it, but Patra followed her example and started to jiggle the key with a wire that was nearby. But it didn't open so easily.



"Have you ever unlocked a lock before?"

"No!"

"Then you'd better watch carefully.

　Nayuta, who couldn't bear to watch, borrowed Patra's wire and began to show her how to open the door by slightly changing the shape of the wire.



"Give it to me. The angle is like this. And you have to raise it up from the front. It's a good etiquette for women, so it's important to remember it.

　As I was teaching Patra, the key clicked open with an easy sound.



"The rest depends on your practice.

"Thanks."

　He gave the wire back to Patra, and after a few tries, she opened it immediately.

"Oh, papa, I was able to open it too!

"That's great!"



　I was curious to open the door with the wire too, but I searched for the key steadily.

　Once Patra was able to open one, she kept opening more and more.

　When I found the key and decided to open the door, we opened the door almost by ourselves.

　I ...... was too cool.



"Patra, a girl has to be strong.

"Yes, sir!"

Let's go then. Everyone, please move quietly.

　I pretend this never happened and take my place.



　I went up the stairs I came down and quietly went out the front door. So far nothing unusual has happened.

On my way through the garden, Nayuta speaks to me.

What happened to the white coyote in the yard?

"You were in the wagon and you couldn't see what was going on around you, and you knew that?"



"Yes, I heard his voice. I thought this would be the most difficult part of the trip when we got out."

　Nayuta is looking around cautiously, as if she is on high alert.

"I sent her away so that I could go to the back of the garden. "That's what a woman does!"

　Patra said happily,

"That's great, Patra!　That's great!"



　I hugged Patra as hard as I could and gave her a big pat on the head.

　When we went through the main entrance, the soldiers didn't seem to have noticed the commotion yet.



　We went straight to Griz's house and asked him to take them to safety.

　Since we had been informed in advance, the rescued people were taken to the guest rooms, leaving Nayuta behind.




"Grizz, thanks for saving the night."

Don't worry about it. But I never thought you'd actually break in and come back undetected. I was surprised. Oh, and ......, that was just as Rock predicted.



Okay, then. ......

Oh, no, Liran's already left for King's Landing.



"My brother is no longer here?"

　Nayuta had borrowed some clothes from Griz and was now dressed neatly.



"Yes. I asked your relatives to send him to the capital."

"I see. My brother is lucky in the strangest ways. Thanks to you."

　Then I'll ask Griz and Nayuta to take care of tomorrow.　

　Everything should be ready.

　After a short meeting, we disperse.

　I rented a room from Griz and went straight into the box with Patra.



　We had to be ready for the next day's slave market.

　I did what I could.

　I lay down beside Lucky so as not to wake him from his quiet sleep.

　Patra lies down on my stomach as a pillow.



　All I can do now is hope that everything goes according to plan.

　Patra seems to be tired and falls asleep soon, but I have a hard time falling asleep.



　While I was mulling over these thoughts, Lucky placed his tail on my chest and gently tapped out a rhythm. It was a gentle rhythm, like a mother soothing her child.



　Lucky's gentle tail lulled me to sleep, and before I knew it, I let go of the thoughts that were spinning around in my head. The next day, despite the short sleep, I felt quite awake.

　Now it's time to hunt down Chad.