201 She Can't Move-Part 2

"Chelsea?" Christian asked.

"I'm on it." Chelsea began using her water magic to examine Robin for any health issues.

"Aside from extreme fatigue, there is nothing wrong." Chelsea gave her verdict. "Proper rest, food, and drink will have Robin back up and running in a few days."

"Well you can't just lie there on the ground." Christian objected. "You'll get eaten up by bugs." Jasmine refrained from telling him that she had set up a bug ward in the surroundings.

"I shall have to resign myself to the fact that tonight, the mosquitoes will be able to find a meal that can't fight back." Robin joked.

"Seriously, Robin, you can't keep running yourself ragged all the time." Jasmine scolded, lifting Robin up with a levitation spell.

"I can only run myself ragged because I know I have you people to help me clean up the mess." Robin grinned. "Though I may be an advocate for peace, that doesn't mean I trust my back to just anyone."

"You could have fooled me with how honest you've been this whole time." Jasmine grumbled, rolling her eyes.

"Allow me." Keith stepped in, taking out a bedroll for Jasmine to place Robin down on.

"I knew it. You have a spacial item too, huh!" Robin noted.

Keith looked at Robin with a strange expression. "You could say that." He said.

Robin narrowed her eyes at Keith.

"Spill it. What's on your mind to make you look at me so strangely?"

Keith's head jerked a bit. "Was I that obvious?" He asked.

"You're Christian's nanny. Not mine." She pointed out.

"Hey!" Christian voiced his objection.

"Therefore, when you start acting like you're my nanny, it is indeed obvious." Robin finished her observation.

Keith nodded. "I suppose there's no harm in saying it-" But at that point, he was interrupted by the groan Sebastian made when he woke up. Robin narrowed her eyes at Jeith, but allowed the topic to be derailed, for the time being.

"Ughh, I never thought waking up to the worst headache in existence was something I'd find so welcoming!" Sebastian moaned from his place on the ground.

"That's the sedatives getting flushed out." Jasmine grinned wickedly. "What a coincidence that Bastian Lave is involved in all of this, huh?"

While they were speaking, Robin did her utmost to twitch her finger to the point where she could touch the sword next to her hand. After several failed attempts, Robin finally managed to withdraw it into her storage bracer.

"That depends upon your definition of who Bastian Lave is." Sebastian replied, frowning. "And this has nothing to do with sedatives."

He glanced over at Robin. "When I returned, there was a new book. About the Trader."

"Hmm?" Robin was surprised. "The Trader?"

"Anything I should be aware of?" She asked.

"Well, yes, I suppose. If the fact that there are three demon guardians in the Peg Lake City is something important to you, that is." Sebastian replied, dropping an information bombshell.

This unexpected piece of news surprised everyone.

"Three!? Three guardians are in the city?" Jasmine's voice rose in pitch.

"Yes. But, before we continue with the conversation..." Sebastian struggled to his feet. He then bowed with the highest formality.

"I heartily apologize for everything that happened. I know you might not believe me based on mere words, but-"

"What are you going on about?" Robin cut him off. "I told you before, it wasn't your fault. Nobody here will blame you, as we are all aware of the situation."

Sebastian paused, before straightening up again.

"That doesn't excuse the fact that my hands were used for evil schemes." He said, regretfully. "The truth is, I need your help."

"Well, as long as it isn't against the law, there shouldn't be a problem." Jasmine sighed. "But really, though! You're Bastian Lave of Lave Mercantiles! If you're asking us to do grunt work, then you should just order your subordinates!"

"No, the truth is, there is also a Dark Guild headquarters in town." Bastian explained. "While I am..." He glanced ruefully at the perfectly halved golden mask nearby.

" While I WAS a gold member due to the Trader's frequent purchases, I never really found out who the head was. In order to uproot this cancer from beneath my city, I can only ask newcomers like you to help."

Robin groaned from the ground. "I'm out." She joked. "But, while I'm out, I don't mind if you all stretch your legs for a bit. Haha~ I can't even move my arm to tap out." Robin chuckled listlessly.

"No need to spend the night out here! It's a simple enough matter to get transportation. I invite everyone to come stay at my mansion as guests!" Bastian instantly offered. While others might think Bastian seemed a bit obsequious, Robin could tell he was merely trying to express his gratitude.

"We'll take you up on that offer, then." Christian nodded. While Robin usually didn't like people answering for her, she didn't object to it when Christian did so. Chelsea blinked, and glanced between Christian and Robin, a smile slowly spreading on her face.

"And, speaking of which, isn't that carriage headed our way?" Liam pointed to a cloud of dust that was gradually drawing closer.

"....young masTEEEEERRRR!!!!" As it drew closer, it was apparent that the driver was a venerable old butler. The carriage stopped not ten feet from where Bastian stood.

"Ah~ You caught up, huh?" Bastian chuckled.

"Young Master, I won't say not to venture outside the city, but please, tell me when you intend to do so! Look, your outfit is caked with dust and dirt now! Did you get swallowed by that dust devil that blew through?"

Everyone looked at each other's dust-covered clothes, and laughed.

"You could say that..." Sebastian admitted, before introducing Robin's group. "The reason I left was because these are some acquaintances of mine, and they just arrived here. I have invited them to be our guests during their stay in Peg Lake City."

"And what of the youth lying on the ground?" The old butler inquired.

"We had a contest of skills, just now, but due to a hardworking personality, that one overdid things, and ended up like that." Bastian explained. At that, everyone in the party nodded vigorously.

"I plead the fifth." Robin joked.

"Those rules don't apply here." Bastian grinned nostalgically.

"You do realize you are the reason why I am in this situation, right!?" Robin jokingly growled.

"Right, right. I am the one at fault. Please allow me to bow to your truly hardworking spirit." Bastian joked, ducking his head in playful imitation of a Eunuch before an Emperor.

At this point, Robin sniffed, and turned her attention back to her party.

"And don't you think I didn't see those heads of yours wag in agreement, earlier! Hmmph!" Robin could only harrumph, as she couldn't even find the energy to turn her neck.

"Oh no, Robin is mad!"

"Whatever shall we do?"

"Ah. You're right. This is a serious matter." Quinn nodded solemnly. "Ponzu is still back at Ragnok. So the only other food would be..." He glanced at Robin, who was ignoring them all.

"What?"

"Oh no!"

"Oy, Quinn, can't you bring Ponzu over with your...method?" Christian asked, seriously uninterested in any food that had not been invented by Robin.

As the group was discussing things, Robin drifted off into a natural sleep. It was free of nightmares, and dreams alike. However, it was filled with a sense of peace and security that she hadn't felt in the longest time.

When she awoke, her surroundings had completely changed. Skye was purring on the bed next to her hand. She glanced around, with a somewhat blank look at the room, before it came to her.

'Ah...We're in Dawkin's mansion. I suppose I should be calling him Bastian now.'

She glanced at the figure sitting next to her bed, and was mildly surprised. The figure mildly reading a book while seated by her side wasn't Christian.

"Keith?" She said.

"Mmn. It appears you have awakened normally this time." Keith said, marking the book with a bookmark before closing it. Robin blinked.

"This is about the topic we were discussing earlier, wasn't it?"

"Mmn." Keith nodded.