Episode XXII.　

Sorry for the delay.

　By the time Cain returned, the battle had already begun.
　As if to avoid the rift, the raiders split into two groups.
　Claude and Lina split up, with Milly, Nina, and the other two adventurers on the other side.
　Lina and Nina split up and unleashed their magic, making it impossible for the raiders to even get close.
　Still, those who approached in between magic were prey to Claude's sword.

''Ouch!　So how's it going over there?
In the meantime, I'm keeping them all out of here, so I'll deal with it later.
That's the enemy. ......
Yes, that was Viscount Bard's move.
Seriously?" ......

　Cain replies to Claude, who opens his mouth while waving his sword, while drawing his own sword.

''All right, let's take these guys out first.
Yes!　For now, go to .......

　Similarly, Cain puts his hand on the ground.

''Pitfall (Earthfall).

　Like Viscount Bard and the others, the ground sank down to swallow the raiders.
　In no time at all, they were all trapped under the hole.

「「「「............」」」」

　Claude and the others also popped their mouths half open and then looked at Cain.

''For now, here's how it goes: ......

　However, a cold stare from Claude, Milly and the others pierced Cain.
　The other two adventurers were unaware of what had happened.
　The attackers who were suddenly trapped in the hole that had been created were equally stunned.

''I understand that you are ...... substandard S-ranked, .......

　Claude scratched his head and chuckled, looking down at the attackers trapped in the hole.

'So what do we do now?　These guys: ......

　A fireball flies towards Claude from inside the hole, but he cuts it down in an instant.

'You're persistent, do you want to burn it all?'

　Nina says something horrible, but Cain shakes his head.

'I thought I'd ask the country to take you in for now. If we don't, we'll have a war to fight. ......
'I know, ....... It's too much of a burden for us.
You're gonna reduce it all to ashes?
Nina!

　As Nina floats a flame in her palm, Millie stops her.
　That's when Cain's exploration (search) felt another new group of people heading towards him from the Esfort Kingdom side.
　Cain mutters while looking at the kingdom side.

''Maybe ...... there's a new group again.''

　They all listen to Cain's words.

'We'll be watching here. 'Claude, head over to Cain.'
Hey, Cain, let's go.
Okay.

　They nodded at Lina's words and headed in the direction where Viscount Bard was trapped.
　The group heading towards Cain and the others had a single rider running at the front of the group, with about twenty people following them as they headed towards them.

　However, Cain's cheeks loosened when he saw the lead.
　The one running at the front was Tifana, a woman with white and silver armor and green hair dominating her body.
　When she stops her horse in front of the great hole where Viscount Bard and the others are trapped, Tifana looks down from above and sighs.
　She then rushed up to Cain as she made a big circle around the big hole and jumped on him with great vigor as she got off her horse.

'Cain, I've missed you! But still, ...... what's this?

　He looks once at Viscount Bard and the others, who are unable to do anything under the big hole, and questions Cain

We've been attacked by both, so I thought I'd lock you in for now: ......

　Claude also looked down at the trapped soldiers and sighed.

'It's like this on the other side too. We're all trapped.'
Oh, yeah, ....... You're my fiancé, after all.

　Cain nodded, smiling at Tifana, who answered with a pat on Cain's head.

'So ...... why is Tifana here ......?'

　As if remembering, Tijuana opens her mouth.

'Yes!　When I got word of what Viscount Bard was up to, I immediately ran out of the royal castle.

(It would be a bad idea if you left King's Landing alone and the Commander of the Kingsguard jumped out of it. ......)

　I heard from Tifana that she learned about the attack on Cain and his friends in King's Landing, and that she split the Kingsguard in half, telling only Duke Eric that they left King's Landing.

''So these guys are .......
Of course we'll capture them all and take them to King's Landing.
The assailants on the other side seem to include a former member of the Illustin Republic, as well as the Dark Guild.
"Mmmm ...... so you can't just transport them to the kingdom without permission. ......
How about we just lock him up in a prison at the border fort for now?

　Cain nodded widely to the troubled Tijuana as he suggested.

''Let's do that. But Viscount Bard will have to listen to you separately. ......

　Tifana sends her sharp gaze to Viscount Bard, who is unable to do anything under the big hole.
　As Cain and the others were talking, the Kingsguard, who had followed Tifana, also arrived.

''Commander!　It's too fast. No matter how much Cain-sama is attacked, ....... What is this? ......

　The arriving Konoe Guards were also stunned as they looked down at the raiders trapped in the large hole.

''This isn't ...... quicksilver, is it ......?''
'That's right ....... It's not even a fight, this .......
'You can't win with a sword, but magic is also substandard (this). ......

　The arriving knights also discussed the situation in a whisper.

''Alright, let's get them all first.

　At Tifana's words, after everyone drew their swords and prepared for battle, Cain called out to Viscount Bard and the other assailants, who were unable to do anything under the big hole.

''Everyone, drop your weapons. We will now capture them all.''

　But no one gives up their weapons at Cain's words.
　On the contrary, the words of abuse are returned.

''Just because we're trapped here doesn't mean we've lost!

　The soldiers speak, but the words - in an instant - are gone.

　A ball of fire that must have been several meters long hovered above Cain.

''I see ...... then .......''

　As Cain smiled at them, one of them threw down his weapon, and one after another the soldiers threw their weapons away.
　They all let go of their weapons and raise their hands.

''Wait a minute!　Drop your weapons!　Please. That's all you need to know: ......

　Cain nodded and diffused the ball of fire as he discarded his weapon, and the attackers looked a little relieved as well.

'Well then, I'll make a staircase and you can come up one by one under instructions.

　Cain held his hand over the side of the great hole and cast a spell, and the earth rose up to form a staircase that was large enough for one person to pass through.
　Everyone gasped at the situation.

'Then, Viscount Bard, please come up first.

　At Tifana's words, he slowly climbed the stairs one step at a time, despite the expression on his face as he bit down on a bitter bug.
　Then, just before climbing the stairs, he took out a dagger from his pocket.

''When it comes to this, it's ...... regrettable.''

　With a prepared look on his face, Viscount Bard pointed the tip of his sword at himself and thrust it into his own neck at once.
　The knights in the Kingsguard were surprised by the situation, but Cain approached at once and pulled the dagger out of his neck and threw it away, before casting a recovery spell.

''We don't want you to die so easily. ......

　Viscount Bard, who had thought he had chosen suicide, touched the stab wound to his neck with his hand and fell to his knees without effort, with a resigned expression on his face as the wound was closed up.