[Aifa]

　The soldiers moving around the children went into the barracks and did not come out.

　Perhaps there must be two or three families living in these barracks. There are twelve barracks in the Imperial City. There must be around thirty families living in those barracks.

　And there are four families in two medium-sized cities nearby. This one is strong enough to be recognized as a warrior by the family, and therefore is managed away from the imperial capital to prevent it from being revolted.

　I've been sent to live in the castle, including me, but I've been separated from the rest of my family while they were held hostage, and I can't go against them at all.

　When I told Lord Taiki about it, he suggested that we first locate everyone and rescue them as much as possible at the same time.

　It was an idea I had considered before, but it was also an idea that I gave up on because I didn't know what was going on in the distant city, and furthermore, with my family in the imperial capital in a state of disarray, it was impossible to do so.

　However, Taiki-dono says it's possible if they move quickly because they can coordinate even in remote areas. In other words, he would end it all before the emperor could hear it.

　It seems impossible, but what if Lord Taiki could........

''But it's still difficult to get accurate information on who's where. That's the key to the operation....

　Biting my teeth at my inadequacy, I move on to the next location. I can only check one or two barracks in a day, but I have to be careful not to get caught, so I have no choice. And some of them are in other places other than the barracks and have not been able to ascertain their whereabouts.

　Even so, since I and two of the imperial sorcerers have split up to hit the imperial capital, we should be able to manage to finish our investigation in ten days at the earliest.

　In just a few days, I might be able to reunite with my entire family.

　I quietly hid myself in a back alley, keeping my mind occupied.

　As I walked down the dimly lit alleyway where there was no one else in sight, I suddenly saw a wooden box slurping noiselessly at my feet.

　You can't help but brace yourself, but the movement is so unnatural that you notice it. This must be the work of Lord Taiki.

　It's not like a child or an animal moving around wearing a box, it's moving as if it were sliding on the ground.

　Perhaps it's what's inside....

　As I made my prediction, the wooden box floated softly as if it could see through my thoughts.

　The wooden box that floated in front of me rotated vertically on the spot, exposing its contents.

　As I expected, what appeared from inside the crate was Taiki-dono's small golem. The curiously shaped golem begins to emit light as it half rotates on the spot.

　What appeared was, to my surprise, Taiki-dono's face.

　A translucent square board-like object floats up, and on its surface is the figure of Taiki-dono with the castle's gate in the background.

''This, this is........''

　As I was at a loss for words, Lord Taiki appeared on the board and took out a piece of paper with something written on it. I put my face close to the paper that Lord Taiki unfolded wide and see what was written on it.



　I raised my eyebrows and groaned at the written request.

　My guess is that my family all live in an environment where a soldier is always at their side. I wanted to look for lice crushing there first, but if Lord Taiki, who knows everyone's movements, suddenly wants to make changes, there must be a reason.

　Thinking that, I nodded heavily.





[Maea]

　I open my mouth, glaring at the soldiers who are shouting at me.

'Do it!'

　As I gave that instruction, the golem standing in front of me began to walk at a great pace.

　The soldiers stood side by side, swords and spears at the ready, trying to surround the golem.

''The golem is blunt! Aim for the parts one by one with your magic tools! Let's start with the right foot!

Ha!

　As the soldier standing in the center of the room called out, the rest of the soldiers quickly moved into action. With a lean movement, even from my point of view, they stood in front of and behind the golem on either side of the golem, holding a small knife that was lowered to their waist with the weapon at the ready.

　It's a short and thin knife with an extremely short handle. It would be called a magic tool.

　The soldiers who held the knife at the ready didn't wait for the words of the soldier who seemed to be the leader, and one after another threw the knife at the golem's right leg.

''Avoid!''

　I shouted in a panic when I saw the knife covered in flames and lightning, but the knife was already about to hit the golem.

　Immediately after, flames and lightning burst with a roar around the place where the golem was. The black smoking flames flared up and light flashed with a buzzing sound around them.

　Feeling the sound and the impact of that sound on my skin, I couldn't help but feel my blood run cold.

''Taiki-sama's golem is...!

　I heard my mother's voice from right behind me. It was a scream that resembled a scream, a cry that was unimaginable for a normal mother.

''It's okay ... it's Taiki-sama's golem ...''

　As I said this to myself, the two soldiers closest to me pointed their sword points at me, as if to mock me for saying so.

''The golem will be even less mobile now. But the magic tools aren't cheap either. Let's take care of the sorcerer as quickly as possible.

　As I told them that, the two soldiers looked at me and my mother and then at me, and they were coming at me in a teetering manner.

　How did this happen?

　One of the soldiers spotted me and I hurriedly tried to flee with the two elves. However, the intended elf was pointed at the sword by five soldiers and moved away.

　Instead of rescuing the elves, they were now in danger themselves.

　As I looked at the tip of the sword that was thrust at us in a daze, my mother stood in front of me.

　Her mother's back, holding a knife and glaring at the two soldiers.

''Oh, mom........''

　I didn't know what to say. I acted on my own that I could do it, and I deliberately overheard my mother's voice, yet she stood in front of me without complaining.

　Standing as if to protect me, my mother spoke up without even looking at me.

'I'll buy you some time, run away. I'm sure Master Taiki will do something about it soon.

　When my mom told me that, I hurriedly pulled out the knife I had lowered to my waist and held it up.

Wow!

'No. Who will rescue the elves if they are both dead? If I buy myself some time, you're the only one who can survive. Don't worry about me, just get away from me.

　Those words took my breath away. It was because I could hear the determination in my mother's voice. Unlike myself, who had been buoyed by being entrusted with a job by Taiki-sama, my mother had come to this town with that much determination and feeling.

'What are you doing, Maia! Now get away from me!

　When she looked up at the sound of her mother's voice, the soldier was already standing in front of her, swinging his sword at her, ready to thrust it at her.

'Oh, mother!'

　The body moved with a start.

　She kicks off the ground and jumps out of the way, before her mother, and runs towards the soldier's sword.

　She drew the knife in her hand and flicked the soldier's sword.

　Just as she thought that, it was dark in front of her.

　No, a large wall appeared in front of me. It was an awkward metal box, and it was also a piece of a human-shaped foot. It was Taiki-sama's golem, a metal box-like object that had been assembled and reshaped.

　The golem had slightly deformed the shape of its legs, but the rest of it was completely intact.

　Just as he caught sight of it, he heard the sound of two soldiers who were supposed to be right in front of him being blown away.

　A muffled man's voice could be heard, and the two soldiers rolling on the ground could be seen at the edge of my vision.



　I muttered, and I felt my mom standing next to me.

　When I was too scared to look at her face, my mom let out one sigh and opened her mouth.

''Well look, what are you doing? If you've reflected on it, now do the best you can. What is it that we absolutely must accomplish?

　He asked me that and I sniffed. Wiping away the tears with my wrist, I pulled my chin back and nodded.

''Eh, help the elf, help...!

　I replied and looked up.

'Golem! Take out the soldiers!

　I ran out as soon as I gave the order.

　The elves were taken to the center of the city. I had to find him at all costs. I ran through the city, listening to the sound of soldiers being blown away at my back.