Palma, who was suddenly called out, gently raised her face from its prone position.

　There stood Cain, who smiled. And behind her, Riltana, who had come to the store, was also standing there.
　Palma looked incredulous that the two of them had appeared in this place.

''Palma!　Well done!　I'm glad you're safe. I'm here to pick you up.

　Riltana smiled and called out to her, but Palma was still in a state of confusion.

'Master Cain ...... His Highness Riltana ...... and why are you here ......

'Mr. Tamanis jumped into the mansion to tell me that Palma had been kidnapped. So I did my best to find her. He wasn't hurt and I'm glad he's okay.

　Smiling at Cain, Parma's eyes began to fill with tears as she gradually loosened up. The tears flowed down her cheeks and wet the floor.

"Gusu ......, ah, thank you ......go, thank you ....... I won't be able to see everyone anymore ....... The man who kidnapped me said he was going to sell me as a slave...... gushoo.

It's all right. Let's get out of here for now: ......

　Cain gently grabbed the bars with both hands - and twisted them in one go. The space enough for one person to pass through is bent as if nothing happened.

　Riltana and Nigito, who were watching behind him, look at him in disbelief.

　Cain didn't care and went inside through the gap in the iron bars and took Palma's hand to stand.

　--and slowly stroked Palma's head.

'It's going to be all right now,'

　Palma jumped into Cain's chest as he laughed at that.

'Uwaaahhhh!　It was scary!　I was afraid I wouldn't see anyone else!　　I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see my dad and everyone at the school!

　Cain slowly stroked Palma's head, which was crying loudly, without saying anything, with a gentle face.
　As he continued to stroke the crying Palma for a few minutes, she seemed to gradually calm down.
　And when she realized that she had been hugging and crying to Cain all this time, her ears flopped down and Palma, whose face was bright red, looked embarrassed.

'Have you calmed down?　I think it's time to go upstairs. I've got to get home, and Mr. Tamanis is worried about me.

　Cain, who didn't mention it, took out one of the blankets from the item box and hung it over Palma.
　At Cain's words, Palma wiped her tears with her arm and turned her smile to Cain.

''Yes!''

　Nodding with a smile to Palma, who replied cheerfully, Cain took Rilutana and the others to the stairs to the top.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

　The time goes back a bit.
　The three of them went down to the basement and Dalmatia was standing alone in her room.

'Oh dear, ...... the timing of this ...... is totally inopportune ......'

　Dalmatia sighs with her guards, who have fallen unconscious, in her wake. Then gently sinks into the shadows and disappears.
　At that time, a carriage was attached to the front of the Chamber of Commerce.
　From there, two men with large, heavy bellies swinging, get out of the carriage.

''Well, well, my dear Marquis, thank you for taking the time to come to this place. Thanks to you, I think this case will go well. We have our daughter in custody, and if you can exchange your rights with it, you will have .......

'It doesn't matter!　You do understand, don't you?　If it works, you can go to .......

'Of course. I've even hired some high-ranking adventurers to do the behind-the-scenes work for me. Well, when I'm done with them I'll take care of it.

　The smiling Marquis Corzino and Matthias, the president of the Narnis Chamber of Commerce, have returned to the Chamber of Commerce.
　The Marquis of Corzino seems to be in a good mood as Matthias rubs his hands together and sesame.
　Then Mathias notices that the big door, the sign of his chamber of commerce, is missing.

''? ...... What happened!

　Matthias entered the building with great vigor, followed by the Marquis of Corzino.
　What they saw was a group of adventurers who had fallen and were now conscious. One of them had his arm severed and his severed arm was also lying on the ground.

''Nah!''

　When they saw the situation, their eyes widened.

''You guys, protect the Marquis Lord!

　The handful of soldiers who were escorting the carriage stand around the Marquis of Corzino.

'Is this ......?　What happened ...... Mathias ...... what's going on?

"...... I'm not even sure what happened ....... Hey!　Wake up Geltzer. Ask him what's going on!

　Mathias calls out to one of the guards, and the guard wakes up Gerther.

''--Ugh, .......''

　When he regained consciousness, Gelter slowly raised his body and looked around.

'Gelter!　What happened?

　Gelter, who was still in a dazed state, slowly opened his mouth.

''--Bakemono......''

　At the same time, Riltana and her butler, Nigito, appeared from the back of the room.

'You guys!　The one who caused this disaster!

　Liltana and Nigito were also upset by the fact that as soon as they returned to the hall, a large number of soldiers pointed their swords at them, but Liltana quickly countered.

'You are the real culprits who kidnapped Parma!　I'm calling the guards at once!　You'll have to wait for me!

Liltana gasped, but Mathias smiled, not seeming to mind.

'This is a live little girl. We just have one more prey to transport ....... You guys, I don't need a man. Just this girl...''

What did he say about my daughter only ......?

　Cain interrupted as he came up the stairs after them.

'Kid ...... you did this ......?'

　Cain tilted his head at the words.

'Kid ......?　Mr. Matthias, is that what you're saying to me: ....... Hey, Marquis Corzino?

　At Cain's words, Mathias, the soldiers with their swords pointed at him, and the Marquis of Corzino's eyes widen.
　Corzino's eyes widen as he peers through the interstices of the soldiers surrounding Cain, who is dressed in an adventurer's style, to escort him.

"...... Silford, the Earl of ...... ...... why ...... in a place like this ......?

　Corzino's words of Earl Silford startled the soldiers, and the one who was most surprised was Matthias.

'Si, si, Earl Silford!

Mr. Matthias, it's been a long time since ...... my unveiling, hasn't it?


　Cain smiled suspiciously, as he always did.