161-155 Raid

I hadn't heard which labyrinth we were going to go to since we left the city of Gentle, so I decided to ask the two men at the guru's table.

''I heard you were going to go around several labyrinths, but what labyrinth are you going to go to first?''

It's a labyrinth where only ant demons appear, and it seems to have only ten levels. I didn't even know there was a labyrinth that shallow.

'I'd like to refrain from fighting the ants, but Master Lionel was kind of on board, too, so I couldn't stop him, Nya.

Unlike Kefin, who was a little excited, Keti seemed to have imagined the ant demons, and didn't seem to want to go to that swarming ant-infested labyrinth.

If those two guys were going to go, of course I would have to go with them, but just imagining a little bit of it, all I could imagine was that they were going to be thrown into a hole.

''I see..... I've got a terrible premonition hearing that, but........I can't stop those two either, so I'll follow quietly.

I looked at the two guys ahead of me and let out a sigh.

It's reassuring to have a good rival (rival) hand in hand and in my party, but will I be able to reach the level those two want?

I was very anxious, but I told myself I would just do what I could, and I decided to start by easing the carriage in.

'It was only yesterday that we came to Grundle, have you two been in the country long?

'I've been here about three years. Lydia has been here for a year and a bit.

'I see. But still, you two had a party together, didn't you?　Didn't you have any other parties?　When I was a healer in Meratni, there weren't many people who worked solo or in pairs?

'Well, a lot of things happened, and I was working solo for a long time. There were a lot of troubles, but I had a solid preparation period and my physical abilities increased dramatically when I earned the title of Dragon God Priestess at the coming of age ceremony...

I don't know why I'm soloing, given my three years as an adventurer with a dramatic increase in physical ability, but is there a reason for it?

For now, I decided to talk to Lydia, who doesn't talk much.

''I see. Lydia is a spiritist and has the blessing of the spirit king, right?　The Spirit King's blessing, can you borrow power from all the spirits?

''Yes. I've never contracted with the Great Spirits, so I can only ask the young spirits to lend me their power, but I can borrow their power regardless of their attributes. Have you ever heard of Lord Leinster?

'....Yeah. I'm the creator of the church, so of course I know.

What would be your reaction if I told you that I've seen the real thing too?

Feeling a little itchy, I refrained from acting rashly.

'Lord Leinster has made a contract with all the great spirits and has met with the Spirit King. I've worked hard with your sister to meet with the Spirit King as well.

I can see that she really was awesome.

In contrast to that happy sister, there was a sinking look on her face.

It was when I was about to ask her about it, as if I didn't want her to be too adventurous, that I was concerned about the look on her face.

I heard Master and Lionel's voices from outside.

'Enemy attack!　Something dressed as a thief.

"Lady Luciel, prepare for battle.

It's a foolish bandit to set up with two people in the room.

With that in mind, I get ready for battle.

'All right. Estia, you will protect them. You two will stay in this carriage.

I activate the area barrier and move to the guru's seat and put an area barrier on Ketty and Kefin as well.

'I'm new to fighting against ... bandits, do you have any preparation in mind?'

If you hesitate, you'll think death is waiting for you and you'll fight.

If you don't want to kill him, cut off his limbs and leave him immobile.

Okay.

Even to Kefin and Lionel, who could be seen in front of them, the enemy released their bows when they activated the area barrier with a magic circle chant.

The number of them was like rain, like dozens at a time, but Master and Lionel were laughing on their horses and seemed to be talking about something.

'Those two look like they can afford it. Ketty and Kefin, keep an eye on the left and right and the rear.

Ha!

For some reason, both Keti and Kefin smiled, and as they began to be vigilant on both sides, they found the number of arrows gradually dwindling.

''Even with all those arrows, they can't hurt a horse, let alone any of them, so they can cut off the arrows and they have no choice but to come closer?

Let's just leave it to me.

I'm going to break through them, left and right.

In the next moment, they scattered to the left and right as they disappeared.

When I looked to where they were headed, I saw a small squad of about five people looking at us.

''This could be a mixture of the bandit-like adventurers who attacked the sisters, the bandits and something else. Even so, isn't that too lousy?

As I was muttering about that, the squad in front of me rushed towards Master and Lionel.

I decided to hold my holy silver bow and arrow at the Gohja seat for the first time in a long time.

If they were even slightly alerted, Master and Lionel would be able to help me.

That's what I thought.

However, not long after, the battle came to an end.

When Master saw the bandits rushing in and disappeared from his horse, the bandits stopped advancing and screams could be heard.

When Lionel saw this, he dismounted and as he swung his great sword of fire, a wall of fire appeared on either side of him, seemingly crushing the horse's energy to charge.

'As expected of Lionel-sama Nya. Even so, the whirlwind is a monster, too.''

''Indeed. I heard that he's going to be working out with Luciel-sama, though. I'm looking forward to it immensely.

The two men who had headed to the troops on either side had returned at the same time.

But Kefin. That's the equivalent of a death flag.

I couldn't believe Kefin for saying that.

'Good job. Did you find anything that identifies you as a bandit?

'There wasn't anything in particular, Nya. I was more of a rookie adventurer hired for money, Nya.

'It was the same here. He started talking before he threatened me. They said one of the carriages was being attacked and they wanted us to come in and help them.

It seemed to me intuitively that the guy who thought up this plan was the one who had set Nadia and Lydia up.

'And those adventurers?'

'They decided to run away when the arrows rained down, nya. I knocked them all unconscious and pulled out my adventurer's card.

Same here.

It was Mr. Galva who planted these two, but it's guidance that shows the blackness hidden in Mr. Galva's fresh face.

''I see. Once the masters return, let's return to Grandle. I'll need you to be vigilant until the battle is over.

Ha!

I asked them to take the groom's seat and peered into the carriage and called out to Nadia and Lydia.

'You have an idea of why they were targeted, don't you, Nadia?

They held each other's hands and nodded.

'Well, I suppose so. Then it's a question of why I didn't buy you two at the auction. That would mean they were waiting for me to fix them. There can't be too many people who know me, but if you have the skills and the appraisal skills...

I was nearly trapped in a whirlwind of thoughts, but I decided to ask who would try to bring them back if they turned out to be healed.

'Do you have any idea who would try to enslave you and your sisters or take them back once their wounds are healed?

'My father and brother, and Duchy Brange, descendant of the summoned heroes and the current head of the county, Sir Blade von Camilla, I believe.

Summoning ... I don't know where it's summoned from, but Kamiya ... considering it's Kamiya, does that mean it's summoned from Japan?

And when even the immediate family is involved, these two are noblemen.

But I had never heard of Lord Kamiya.

''........That summoned person was a brave man, right?　I've never heard of this before?

'My father once told me that it was because in the old days the achievements of the brave men were the property of the principality.

Nadia answers nonchalantly, but why did she run away in the first place?

As is often the case in stories, she didn't seem to like anyone, nor did she seem to be a man-hater?

"...why did you run away?　Even a political marriage could be a nobleman's marriage, right?

'....Yes. I was also prepared for it. However, about three months before the coming-of-age ceremony, the Dragon God gave me a sign from him, and I only prepared myself if the sign was real. And when I received my title at the coming-of-age ceremony, I saw a world where the world was closed to darkness. I decided to live to change that future.

........Isn't that the reason why you released the Holy Dragon?

When you think about it, have I changed my fate?

Taking my confusion as an afterthought, this time Lydia tells me.

'I also heard the spirit's voice before the coming-of-age ceremony, and I thought I would be allowed to marry her straight away after the coming-of-age ceremony was over, but everyone fell asleep at the same time, and I was able to escape easily, and I drove my horse as the spirit's voice said. Ahead of us was Sister Nadia, and we were allowed to join her from then on.

It's only been a little over a year since you received the Water Spirit's blessing and I'm sure there are others who have received it as well.

It's strange because even though I think that, when I look at the two of them, I can't help but feel like I've been wrapped up in their fate.

But when I think about it, I feel sorry for them.

If it were me, I wouldn't be able to recover from it right away.

Perhaps sensing my feelings, the two of them began to make excuses.

"Lord Kamiya has three wives and three members of his entourage, so our role is to prevent our father and brother from starting a rebellion we are like hostages. Then we wish to live to save the world.

Was it already Mr. Hareem?

Well, I guess it's polygamy, but the feeling of sympathy has disappeared somewhere.

'And the descendants of the brave aren't brave. My father and brother didn't even try to understand that, but your mother, who had been defending me.......

Lydia cried out as she said this.

It's not fair to use a woman's weapon... If my master hadn't told me not to drink object X, my romantic brain would have been activated and I would have been upset and thought so. Now, thanks to my job as a healer who can think things through calmly, I combine the two of them talking with the discomfort and information I was feeling in Grandle.

What if one of their opponents had an appraisal, if they were setting a trap that would divide the two strongest of them, and if they were dropping a force that would seal them off?

I think that far, and then I hasten to give instructions to Ketty and Kefin.

'If there's still any chance of that man being there, Ketty, Kefin, break through the center.

They didn't argue with my instructions, but they proceeded with the carriage.

As we got closer and closer, I could still hear the sounds of battle.

On the other side of the wall of fire, I saw my master struggling against a dozen adventurers, Lionel with a fine wound, and a man who was a smiling slaver.