Liliella.

So, what are we going to do now?

　After rescuing the pirates who had fallen into the sea, Megri and I managed to land in the East.
　And again, we were lucky enough to get to the port town, but there was no information about Lex and his friends anywhere.

'Should we stay in this town or find another port town?

　Currently, we had no way to contact our people.
　Because....

''I didn't think there wasn't an adventurers' guild...''

　That's right. There isn't an organization here in the east called the Adventurer's Guild.
　Because of this, we can't ask the guild to contact the other branches to find out if Lex-san and the others are there.

We're in over our heads.

I'm sorry, Miss. You're here to help us.

I'm sorry.

　The pirates we helped, Dista and Sitaba, bow their heads in apology.

'You needn't worry about them. We decided to help and we acted accordingly.

"Hmm, an adventurer's actions are entirely his own responsibility. That is the pride of being a free man and an adventurer.

　Yes, we are responsible for what we do.
　We're very proud of that.

''Ka, cool!''

　Can we please not have Dista and Sitaba frolicking around looking at us, looking strangely impressed with us?
　A passerby looks at us, wondering what's going on.
　Because the clothes in the east have a unique design, our outfit as foreigners is even more conspicuous.

But anyway, since there are no Lexes in this town, it would be better to go to another port town, wouldn't it?　And if we're lucky, we might meet them along the street.

'I agree. The people in the harbor told me the direction the clouds were raging, so I know the direction we were swept in. If we walk that way, we should be able to get to the nearest port city from where the storm hit.

　That's Megri. You were very astute in that area.

Then let's get on with it.

"Hm.

"Yay!

　So we decided to head to another port town.

'Hi!　If you want to save your life, get the hell out of there!　I'm not going to let you get away with it alive, though!

I'm going to rip your body off!

　We went out of town and walked around for a while, and we ran into some bandits.

'Oh, I've seen this before.

I'm sorry.

　By the way, it's not us who are being attacked.
　It's the carriage that's being attacked.

It doesn't look like a merchant's carriage.

The carriage is gorgeous, not even a stagecoach.

　So it's a rich man's carriage.
　But speaking of rich people, there's also the possibility that the attacker is a nobleman.
I've heard many stories of people getting entangled with troublesome aristocrats as a result of rescuing them with good intentions, so it's dangerous to move so easily.

Misses, look at the guards' outfits. They're wearing Eastern-style armor.

　Seeing the guards fighting at Dista's words, I wonder if that's leather armor?　It's a lot sloppier than what we adventurers use.

It's just proper Eastern knightly armor.

"Oh, so the knights of the East have leather armor.

Eastern knights, because of the climate and terrain, tend to wear leather armor with more ornamentation and fancy paint jobs than full plate.

　Well, I guess that means the land is suited for leather armor.

And the armor of the fallen knight is the same. So the people they're attacking are rich people who can afford to buy the same kind of equipment.

"Well, a nobleman who can provide all the right equipment for all of his men is a rich man. That means a higher rank.

Hey, that's why.

　Surprisingly, these pirates have a lot of wits about them.
　No, it's just a way of assessing their quarry.

Anyway, if this was a high-ranking nobleman being attacked, would he be able to repay you for saving him?

　You're going to help me join Lex and the others.

Liliella, I have one more thing for you.

　And Megri pulls my arm.

'What?'

Those brigands, for all their poor equipment, are overwhelming our heavily trained, heavily armored guards.

Oh.

　Realizing what Megri meant, I look at the bandits' movements.

'Indeed, they're clearly moving well, those bandits.

What's this about?

　In response to Dista's question, I explain it to her as a way of deepening my own understanding.

''I mean, those bandits are better equipped than they are, and also stronger than professionally trained professional knights.

Does that mean you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time for a strong bandit?

　Hmm, no luck.

"So those bandits are most likely skilled professional soldiers or assassins disguised as bandits.

''I see!''

　At Megri's answer, Dista and the others shouted in agreement.

''Then it's going to get kinky all at once.

You just said you weren't going to let him get away with it. If they knew he was rich, they would have demanded a ransom. It's suspicious that he hasn't done so.


　Hmm, totally black.

"What do you think?

　Megri looks at me and asks me.
　You want me to decide on you as the leader of this party.
　Is this setting me up as a senior adventurer?

'What?　Aren't you supposed to be hiding out?

You know how good he is at knocking down knights in his line of work?

　You're scared that Dista and Sitaba are going to fight, but you're pirates yourself.

I'm sure that if you are a nobleman enough to be targeted, you have a good chance of being in a good position. Then, if you help such a person, I'm sure he will accommodate you in various ways.

But there's a lot more of them than we have.

And he's strong.

No problem. I saw those brigands in action. That one could win.

　Yes, we weren't just watching them being attacked either. We were properly assessing whether we could fight against those guys.

''I'll attack them from the ground with magic, so Megri is okay with a surprise attack from above?

Okay.

So you guys will be staying out of sight, out of the way.

　...Yeah, it's good.

I'll be going then.

　Soon, Megri hides in the shadows and moves away from me.
　And when I had secured enough distance, I unleashed my magic on the bandits.

''Ice Rush Arrow!''

　I unleash a series of low-grade ice arrows of magic on the bandits.
　As a warrior, I can't use too much fancy magic because I don't have a lot of magic power, but even so, if I have a way to attack at long range, my tactical range is greatly expanded. Just like the blindfold in this case.
　However, the opponent is a skilled warrior, so it won't be much of a disaster even if he is caught by surprise, though.

Wha, what!

Gwaaaaah!

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

　Huh?　Surprisingly effective?
　And while I was surprised, Megri attacked the bandits from above.

''Guhaha!

Where did he come from?

Where did he go?　What?

　Meguri, who attacked from above, crouched down on the ground with his momentum and quickly escaped into the sky with his flying magic. In the process, he slashes the other one with a reverse kasaya.

　The bandits lost sight of Megri and searched their surroundings as the enemy that had suddenly entered their bosom disappeared in an instant.
　And normal people wouldn't expect to be attacked from above.
　The psychological surprise attack causes Megri to zig-zag through the air and on the ground at high speed many times, attacking the bandits.
　But if he does the same thing over and over again, the bandits will get used to it.
　Even if he is a skilled assassin, right?

''Upstairs!　He's up there!

It's flying!　Magic?　No magic!

　The bandit's tone, half panicked by the attack, returns to normal for a moment.
　I knew you were pretending to be a bandit.

''But well, you forgot about me, Ukatsu.　Ice Rush Arrow!

　I magically hit the side of the bandits who were looking up just as Megri escaped into the sky.

''Gwah!''

　The perfectly determined magic had severely injured the bandits, and Megri had tossed the surviving bandits.

''That'll do it.''

　The bandits have all been defeated, and the only ones standing are us and our surviving guards.

'Are you okay?'

　I called out to the guards, who were stunned, in a calm tone of voice.
　Then the guards immediately huffed and looked at us warily, their swords at the ready.

"What the hell is he?

We saw you being attacked and came to help. The only thing that's actually down is the bandits who attacked you, right?

Mmm....

　The guards glanced at the bandits and pondered slightly, wondering what their decision was.

The guards have been very helpful. But that doesn't mean that you are not another bandit. Therefore, stay away!

　I see... I've come to that conclusion.
　Maybe these people thought that the bandits were the real bandits and that we were the real target of the enemy.
　I didn't expect this.

"Stop.

　I was at a loss for how to persuade him, when the carriage door opened and an unfamiliar looking old man came out.

''Oh, manor-sama!　It's still not safe outside!　Please go back inside!

"'Show your nasty side, you fools!　If these are his men, we need only let our pursuers, disguised as brigands, attack them without helping us. There is no point in going to the trouble of killing the friends who were superior to me to get into my bosom!

　Oh, good. Someone was calm enough to see the situation.

Sorry. These people were just trying to protect me. Don't offend me.

''Oh, manor-sama!''

　The guards turn pale and upset at their master's apology.
　Hmm, how can you serve as a guard if you're upset like that?　I'm a little worried.

Please don't mind me. You were in high spirits after the battle.

I'm glad to hear that. We can't stand here and talk. If you would like, I would like to invite you to my home. I would like to thank you once again for saving my life.

　I look at Megri and I look at each other.

'What do we do?'

'I don't mind. I'm in no particular hurry.

That's true.

　Of course the discussion was an act.
And we decided in advance that we were going to get you to cooperate with us by helping you.

'I understand. Well, if that's the case, I'll take you up on your invitation.

Mm. So you can follow me.

　As expected, we were not allowed to ride in the carriage, but instead we were given a ride on the horses ridden by the guards.
　The group, perhaps mindful of the bandits' reinforcements, did not stop at any of the villages or towns along the way, but instead exchanged horses and continued on.
　When they arrived at the town just before dark, the horses finally slowed down.

'Are we going to take lodging in this town?'

　I check with the escort who was carrying me to see what my plans were.

'No, this town is our destination,'

　I see, since we were so close to our destination, we were able to push through at once.
　The carriage continues to advance through the town, entering a section of the city that seems to be an aristocratic quarter.
　And when you go deeper, you will see a mansion with high walls.

The mansion is back!　Open the gates!

　At the guard's words, the gates open and the carriage and the horses carrying us walk in.

''Ugh, wow...''

　I couldn't help but shout.
　After all, there was a mansion inside the gate that was more luxurious than I had expected.

There's a forest inside the gate?

''Hahaha, that's a garden.

'A garden!'

　On both sides of the path we were on, trees and flowers that could only be considered a forest were beautifully in full bloom, and if you ask me, there was certainly a human touch in the arrangement and shape of the trees and flowers.
　Furthermore, there are some unfamiliar decorations standing here and there.

''Great........''

　Megri is also unusually overwhelmed by something other than treasures.

''Oh, is it okay that we're in there too?

Uh-oh.

　Distas who came with me were also overwhelmed by the sights of the mansion and gardens.

''Haha, this garden is the mansion's pride and joy, you know. It's a good thing that you're able to get a lot more than this.

　That means that the old man we helped is a pretty powerful man... right?
　After a while on the path between the gardens, the entrance to the mansion finally came into view.

''Big........''

　When we got close enough to see it, the mansion was exceptionally huge.
　It was hard to see because it was dusk and the surroundings were hard to see, but it's a pretty big place.
　And in front of the mansion, dozens of people who seemed to be servants were waiting on both sides of the road.

The horse and carriage that were ahead of us stopped and we got off our horses, and finally the door of the carriage opened to reveal the old man from earlier.

"'Welcome back, O-kan-sama!'

Yeah, you worried me.

　The old man turns to us as he addresses the servants.

'Well, you haven't told me your name, despite the fact that you saved me earlier.

　He said suddenly, "After all, we don't know where the pursuers are hiding.

After all, I didn't know where the pursuers were hiding. I didn't want them to be convinced that I was the real target.

　I see, that's why you got into the carriage earlier without even saying your name.

''Also, I think it's because there are a lot of guards here even if you say your name, and even if you let them go, they can still chase you.

　Meghli adds, so that only I can hear him.
　You're surprisingly tough, aren't you, Grandpa?

"My name is Sankoukouji, Sakonosuke. I am the chief retainer of this country.

First Elder...?

　What does that mean?

''Hi, First Elder?

　I didn't understand the meaning of the words, but instead of me, the dishta and the others let out a cry of surprise.
　I'm not sure if these two sailors are surprisingly knowledgeable about things.

Do you guys know that?

Don't you know about this?

Speaking of our first chief minister, that's what they call our regent!

Hmm, Regent.

　Well, that's certainly not surprising to the Distors...

''What, Regent...?''

　I was surprised and turned to the old man who called himself the head retainer.
　Then he grinned and said with a nasty smile.

''Surprised, exotic ladies?''

"...and...

　Oh, don't be surprised if you're not
　Looks like we've gotten to know a ton of big names....