After a short break, the group with the bishop on board proceeded slowly with the carriage on alert.
　Periodically they detected what they thought was a reconnaissance, but they sensed that the raiders were gathering a kilometer away.
　Opening a small window, Cain called out to Claude.

'Mr. Claude, the assailants are gathering a kilometer away from here. The number--about a hundred.
'Seriously?　Do you really need to collect that much for a raid?!
'It wouldn't be normal. It's not a checkpoint, and maybe there's an agenda: ......
Mister Cain, can I have a word?

　As Cain and Claude were talking over the carriage, Bishop Harnam called out to them.

'What's the matter?　Bishop.
'Nope. There shouldn't be any such bandits in the Marineford Church State. If this is the time of year when they show up so much ...... maybe the Cardinal has a hand in it.
What ...... is that? ......
'This time, bishops are returning home one by one from various countries. It's normal for everyone to be in the faction of the four cardinals. I also have about twenty if you include the votes of the priests of the Kingdom of Esfort. If I were to vote for my opponents, some of them would be in ...... trouble. My brother is one of the cardinals. There is no way my brother would send an assassin to me. If he does, then one of the remaining three .......

　Cain and Claude raised their eyebrows at Bishop Harnam's words. They would use bandits to prevent him from voting and reap the benefits of their lives. He could see that being Pope would be tempting, but he couldn't think of any means to do it.
　Cain remembers when Hinata came to the Kingdom of Esfort. That the Temple Knights had plotted and failed to assassinate the saint. Cain looked as if he had bitten down on a bitter worm as he realized that there was a world of mountains and mountains in the name of the Marineford religion behind the scenes.

''Cain-dono ...... that number of raiders. Are you okay?''

　Bishop Harnam looked a little uneasy, but Cain and Claude looked at each other and smiled.

'Bishop-sama, it's no problem! Cain is with us over here, you know. At that point, it means the raid is a failure. Well, we'll have to catch him and interrogate him. We need to get them to reveal the mastermind. For now, I'm going to go tell everyone about the attack.

　He drove his horse and told the temple knights and adventurers. When they heard from Claude, they all got ready for battle.

　They all dismounted from their horses when they were almost to the group of attackers. If their bows and arrows hit the horses while mounted, they could be injured by falling off the horse, so it was better to dismount so they could move on the spur of the moment.
　Cain also spoke to Bishop Harnam and moved to the goshen platform.
　As he slowly advanced the carriage, bandit after bandit appeared from both sides, as if they were waiting for him. They wore dirty leather armor, but only their swords, which had already been pulled out, were clean and polished.

''Hey, hey, it's not allowed to pass through here, okay?　Everyone drop your weapons. If you want to spare your lives.

　One bandit stepped forward, grinning. However, knowing that he wouldn't tell them to drop their weapons and not throw them away, nearly a hundred bandits slowly spread out and approached Cain and the others.

''Hey, is this cult country full of these bandits?　And they all look weak. You think you're getting stronger with a piece of stick you picked up somewhere?

　Claude agitates the bandits. The temple knight of the guard has a strong expression on his face, but Claude continues to talk.

''Hey, come to think of it, which Cardinal's hand is that?　Later, when we get to the temple, I'll kick your ass.

　The faces of the bandits turned red with anger at Claude's agitation. When the first bandit came out to look out for them, they all started holding their weapons and bows at the ready.

''I wonder how long we can stay strong. There are three women as well? This is going to be fun once we've dealt with them all.''

　However, Lina, Milly and Nina didn't care about that and kept a clear face. Because they all knew that they would not lose for sure.

''Can I take care of ...... already?''

　Nina has her wand at the ready, ready to unleash her magic at any moment.

'Hey, let me have a go at it. The look on these guys' faces makes me want to punch them off.

　Lina and Nina stand side by side on either side of Claude.

'Ooh, cute little ne'er-do-well came all the way out here,'

　The bandit gave a dirty smile and laughed at his own people. But that was the last of the man.

Vacuum Blade (Air Cutter).
A firewall.

　The bandit who was leading the charge with the magic released from the two of them was separated from his upper and lower body, and was burned to death without further ado. The blade of air released from Nina split into several pieces, and it didn't stop at one person, but tore through several others.
　Similarly, a wall of flames ten meters wide and five meters high engulfed the bandits.
　The adventurers cut in on cue with screams coming from everywhere. It had been agreed beforehand that the temple knights would escort the carriage and the attack would be carried out by the adventurers.
　Even the temple knight, who had shown some difficulty at first, was reluctantly convinced when he preached that the bishop's protection was his first priority.

　Cain stood on the gohja-dai and fired his magic at the bandit with the bow in the distance.

'Vacuum Bullet (Air Bullet)'

　Cain's magic, which fired in rapid succession one after another, exploded directly when it hit a part of his body, taking the bandit's life in one hit.

'These guys are monsters!　Let's get out of here!

　More than 80% of the bandits have fallen, and as they see the power of the adventurers in their guards, one by one, the bandits, perhaps out of fear, start to flee.
　The bandits, reduced further by Lina and Nina's magical chase, throw away their weapons, which were in the way of their escape, and start running.
　But Claude and his friends did not chase them.

　The few bandits who escaped and survived were so strong that they breathed a sigh of relief that the adventurers were not chasing them.

I can't believe it. What a bunch of monsters they are ....... The guards should be about C-ranked. But thank god for ....... I'll have to explain to that person when I get back .......

　The bandits all thought they had been spared. But--'

'You don't think they'll get away with it, do you?　Would you like me to take the time to explain about that man (...)?

　For some reason, the silver-haired devilish smile that had preceded him in his escape was standing there, Cain with his sword at the ready.