Ch#103
* * *
"Catch the intruders!"
At Reginald's shout, a well-honed blade came whistling down from above.
Raoul barely dodged the blade and drew his own sword from his waist.
"Enzo! Watch my back!"
Enzo shoved away the soldier he was facing, then rolled low across the ground to stick to Raoul's rear.
"We need to buy time."
Raoul nodded at his urgent words.
Turning his head, he saw Astie still rummaging through the hay pile inside the stable.
Reginald yelled furiously from beyond the knights.
"What are you doing! Capture them right now!"
The knights hesitated visibly.
But Reginald glared at the soldiers in disdain before screaming.
"Don't just stand there gawking—spread out! Capture the one who did this to me alive first!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The knights hurriedly split into several groups.
One rushed at Raoul and Enzo, while the rest bypassed them and charged toward the stable.
Seeing a soldier brush past him, Raoul shouted urgently.
"Sir Basto!"
Basto, standing in front of the stable, nodded.
He pulled a small dagger from his pocket and tossed it to Veil.
"Veil!"
Veil caught the dagger with his less injured hand.
He spun it lightly in his grip with a tense expression, then lowered into stance.
And immediately engaged the soldiers charging at him.
"S-Surrender peacef—urk!"
Veil first tripped the lead knight rushing at him by hooking his ankle.
Before the man even hit the ground, he struck the second soldier's neck with the flat of his blade.
But dodging the third soldier's spear thrust forced a pained groan from him.
"I can't hold out long! I'm injured!"
Basto, who had just begun fighting, glanced back at Veil.
"No choice! Hold on as long as you can!"
Basto was similarly surrounded by soldiers.
He was even facing them barehanded, without a proper weapon.
Basto gritted his teeth and drove his fists into the charging soldiers one by one.
'Should've grabbed the war hammer if I knew it'd come to this.'
In truth, their plan had been to sneak Veil out quietly.
Not to engage Reginald's army head-on like this.
Basto recalled the situation from moments ago.
'The will!'
He had been startled at first when he heard those words.
The will?
And understandably so—this situation called for one specific item referred to as the will.
The missing document left by Adelin's father, the former lord.
But there was a problem.
'You think we have time to leisurely search for the will right now?'
Of course, that will explicitly stated Adelin's legitimacy as lord.
But even if they found it now, what could they immediately do with it?
Reginald and his soldiers were already swarming toward the stable with swords drawn.
So for that brief moment, Basto had hesitated.
'Should I just grab Tie and run?'
Even if they resented him later, everyone would be safe for the moment.
But then.
'Ahem! Uh... I feel like I should mention this now.'
Veil, glancing toward the approaching soldiers, turned to Basto.
He whispered while eyeing him somewhat nervously.
'They took my mercenary registration. They searched me more thoroughly than I thought.'
Veil showed the empty inner pocket of his collar.
That was where he usually kept his mercenary registration.
It was now empty, taken by the soldiers.
A short groan finally escaped Basto's lips.
He pressed his throbbing forehead.
Then, eyes flashing open, he ordered Raoul and Enzo.
'Hold them off! We need to buy time until Tie finds it!'
Veil losing his mercenary registration.
That meant Agavert was already in dire straits.
Reginald had likely prepared to lodge a complaint with the Imperial Family.
An expulsion order from the Capital was just a matter of time for Agavert.
Escaping unscathed wouldn't resolve the issue.
'Then there's only one answer left.'
The sole way to turn the situation around—and to enter the central Capital as planned.
Proving that Reginald had usurped the lordship unjustly.
If Reginald's treason was confirmed, Veil's assault would be justified too.
'Adelin! Go help Tie search for the will!'
At Basto's words, Adelin, frozen near the fence, stiffened with confused eyes for a moment.
But she soon rushed into the stable.
"Hah, huff! Basto! I-I can't hold out much longer......"
Then, Veil's groan from ahead scattered Basto's thoughts.
Veil was visibly staggering, his legs giving out.
"Just a bit longer!"
Basto shouted.
He quickly scanned around, picked up a nearby chipped spear, and tried to shove back the gathered soldiers to reach Veil, but
"Where do you think you're going."
A burly soldier of similar build suddenly blocked his path.
"Capture him!"
At the knight's command, the surrounding soldiers began tightening the encirclement bit by bit.
Just then, as some unidentified liquid trickled down Basto's forehead in panic.
[Hah, this is why humans are...]
With a ping, a clear glass-like barrier formed around them.
Lifting his head, he saw Lucarion hovering in the air, cloaked in black smoke.
Back in his young dragon form, he still wore the device Berugon had made obediently.
His vivid red eyes fixed on Basto and Veil.
[Don't get the wrong idea—I'm not helping because I like you. It's for Tie.]
Veil and Basto's eyes widened.
At that moment, Reginald's voice rang out from not far away.
"Dear! Destroy that barrier right now!"
He was pointing furiously at Lucarion's barrier.
"Hurry! Breaking barriers is your specialty!"
Then, the slender woman standing beside Reginald hardened her expression.
Letchia, Reginald's wife and the mage.
She glared at Lucarion and began gathering her magic in the air.
But it was futile.
"Wh-what? Why isn't anything happening?"
Letchia's condensed magic couldn't even scratch Lucarion's barrier.
As if he'd expected it, Lucarion smirked, lifting one corner of his mouth.
Letchia's brow furrowed.
* * *
Meanwhile, inside the stable.
"Are you sure it's really here?"
Adelin asked, checking the outside situation.
Tie wiped the beads of sweat on her forehead and nodded.
"Neeeng!"
But even after clearing all the piled hay, not a glimpse of the will appeared.
All that remained was hard-packed dirt studded with stones.
"This won't do. Come out here, Tie."
Adelin finally stepped forward as if resolved.
She rolled up her sleeves and began digging the dirt with her bare hands.
As Tie watched Adelin in surprise.
Thud-
"Waaah!"
Someone approached silently and roughly grabbed Tie by the scruff of her neck.
The child's face paled upon turning around.
"You damn intruder brat!"
The one lifting Tie by the collar was one of the soldiers who had been unconscious in the stable.
"Astie!"
Adelin, grasping the situation late, shot to her feet.
But it was already too late.
"You're next!"
Pushed by the knight's gauntlet-clad arm, Adelin lost her balance and tumbled into the corner.
"Kill them! Capture and kill at least one quick!"
As the soldier turned a cold gaze on Astie at Reginald's shout from outside.
[...How dare you.]
Suddenly, humid air rushed in, and a massive shadow loomed over the soldier.
The soldier faltered and looked up.
[Who do you dare lay hands on right now?]
Ppuppu, now enormous, loomed over the soldier, spewing crimson smoke around them.
