Death March — Fixed

“Tek here, there are a lot of stories where nobles take revenge on the main character for some small or imagined slight--it never ends well for the noble. I wish they weren’t such proud, and arrogant people, and would just get over it. As everyone knows, however, Intelligence is always the inverse of pride--the more pride someone has, the dumber they are--and vice verse.”

 

“I said wait! That person is also a noble! He’s not someone who would bad things.”

 

“Move out, Kon.”

 

“That’s right, we’ll be given one silver coin just to join the encirclement of the inn.”

 

“Right, right, how many Goblins do you think that is?”

 

“Even a good-for-nothing like you can get some money, you know? Only fools would miss this chance.”

 

I can hear this conversation from the Magic Hunters who are gathering in the bar.

 

So, that arsonist noble is still trying to do something, huh?

 

I check on the map and see that there are around 20 Magic Hunters gathered in the vacant lot near the governor’s mansion. There are also many young people beside the Magic Hunters--they seem to be a gathering of outlaws, when I look at their Rewards&Punishments.

 

Considering that there aren’t any guards among them, it seems that Baronet Poton isn’t involved this time. There are about 42 people, but there isn’t anyone with Magic Skills, they are only warrior or thief types. Since their levels are only ranging from 10 - 15, none of them are a match for girls, except maybe Lulu--the Beastkin girls could take all of them out without any help.

 

The arsonist noble is staying in the mansion without moving. I can guess why, since the Alchemists in this city are all pretty low leveled. Since he is only at 30% of his max health, and his bone fractures are terrible--he wouldn’t be able to move, even if he wanted to.

 

At the bar in front of me, there is the one-armed boy, Kon, the four Magic Hunter women who were with him, and eight other Magic Hunter Beastkin. The Beastkin called Ord and his friends are strong, even among the Magic Hunters, their levels are around 17 - 20. The other Magic Hunters here are around 8 - 15, which isn’t too different from the ones in the vacant lot.

 

“Ord and the others, please stop drinking and make big sister and her friends stop.”

 

“Isn’t it alright, let them go.”

 

“Wa, Ord!”

 

Apparently, the Beastkin are neutral, and won’t help the boy named Kon.

 

“Please, big sister.”

 

“Kena, I’m not going to stop you, but--”

 

“What’s this, Ord? It’s not like you to give advice to other Magic Hunters.”

 

“This isn’t advice--but a warning. We’re on the side of the noble who is staying at the inn. He’s the benefactor of Sis-Boss, and we’ve been requested to protect him, by the Assembly of the Beastmen.”

 

Oh? Is that in thanks for curing their burns? I don’t know who this Sis-Boss is, but she’s probably one of the people who I helped heal their burns. If I didn’t overhear this conversion, they might become victims to my Remote Magic along with the Magic Hunters employed by the arsonist noble.

 

I will have to use Remote Stun, these people may be hired to capture or kill me--but I cannot just kill random people in a town. I should even keep the outlaws alive, so the nobles can’t tie me up in laws and cause me even more trouble.

 

Now then, I can’t keep listening to them secretly forever, can I?

 

“You serious? Ord, I know you guys are strong, but the opponents aren’t just the twenty-something Magic Hunters--there are also more than 50 guards, right?”

 

“Don’t worry about that, the guards won’t come.” I took this chance to interject.

 

“Who told you that? Your mother? Stay out of this!”

 

When I cut into the conversation between the big Rabbitkin man with only one eye, Ord, and the leader of the women, Kena. Kena spoke sharply without turning around to me. It seems that she may have mistaken me for a random Magic Hunter.

 

“I stopped Baronet Poton, because of my connections in the Duchy Capital. He won’t let out those soldiers unless he’s an unparalleled idiot who wishes to be ruined.”

 

While I was talking, Kena and her companions turned around after noticing Ord’s eye signal--she noticed me, her face going pale white, before she and the girls rapidly knelt, “Sorry, Sir Noble!”

 

I introduced myself, while waving to Kon, who’s being trampled on by Kena, “Heya, nice to meet you--I am Chevalier Tek Felspar.”

 

While introducing myself, I look around the bar.

 

“I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but I heard your talk. You’re--miss Kena, right? Hopefully, you guys can accompany me for a drink.”

 

“Of course, Sir Felspar.” She said, lowering her head.

 

I walked over and helped her up, before leading her and the other girls of Kon’s group to a table, and ordered some drinks.

 

“If you heard our talk, then you should know the situation, right? Shouldn’t you escape with your companions, sir Felspar? If you ask Ord over there, he’ll open the gate at least.” Kena talks respectfully as she held the wooden mug.

 

Ord looked over at her words and gave me a nod, raising his own mug. I returned the gesture and had a drink--Kena saw the movement and quickly copied me.

 

Once one mug was finished, I stood up, “Well, I’m going to prepare. Thank you both for the information.”

 

My presence was causing too much fear from the people drinking with me, it was uncomfortable. I placed 5 silver coins on the table, “This is what you would have been payed right? Keep it.”

 

Of course, I had no idea if she meant one silver each or for all of them, but 5 silver coins wasn’t much for me.

 

“T-Thank you, sir Felspar.” Kena spoke quickly as she grabbed the coins off the table.

 

I left the bar, going back to the separate building.

 

***

The attack on the inn started way past midnight.

 

I ask Tama and Pochi, who noticed it very quickly, to wake everyone up, and I stopped with my experimenting on new Spells.

 

Since everyone was sleeping with their armour and weapons near them, ready for the call to arms--they were prepared very quickly. Since we’re pretending to be sleeping, we leave the lights off in the room.

 

Checking my map, I see that there are three separate groups approaching from the street. Kena and the others have successfully managed to slip in behind one of the groups. I asked them to arrest the retainers of the arsonist noble, or at least to stop them from escaping.

 

They’re caught red-handed attacking a noble of the Shiga Kingdom at night. It’s unfortunate that the person himself isn’t present, but he probably won’t be able to escape getting deported outside the Kingdom if I just pull some connections.

 

“Bows, three people?” Tama looks back at me, pointing at the archers that she saw.

 

“There’s also one in the shadow of the roof there, so it’s four.” I pat her head, and point out the one she missed.

 

Pochi and Tama, who are looking outside, found the archers--though Pochi was a little late.

 

I shoot the two who have Murder and Rape on their Rewards&Punishments--straight through the hearts. I killed them because they would die anyway, with their crimes, and my way of killing them is both quicker and could be explained by saying I misfired.

 

The others, who have Thief, Intimidation, similar thing--I hit them with a powered down Remote Stone. The guards can deal with them later.

 

Since there wasn’t anyone near the archers, they probably won’t realize that they’re being ambushed.

 

I also use Remote Stun to neutralize the other people, who seem to be thieves, who are approaching from the roof. It was annoying trying to match the timing with their movements so that they wouldn’t fall off and suffer serious injuries.

 

“Then, shall we go?”

 

I leave Mia, and Arisa who are our Mages. As well as Lulu, who’s holding the Magic Gun, on the top floor where they can snipe. I bring the vanguards downstairs.

 

When we arrived on the first floor, the guards hired by the inn, who have finally noticed the unusual situation, are furiously knocking on the door--to alert us to the emergency.

 

They looked surprised when they saw us come out fully armed, but I asked them to go to the main building of the inn to protect it.

 

When the masses have finished encircling the inn, of the the retainers of the arsonist noble steps forwards and begins his speech. Or rather, tries to proclaim a death sentence--it looks like these retains are lower nobles.

 

“Upstart who has foolishly taken the side of those accursed white tigers!”

 

Is this guy an idiot?

 

“Your sin is supporting the filthy Beastkin!”

 

Sheesh, you shouldn’t discriminate people by race--if we did that, then every other race could rightly hate and kill every human, since they are by far the worst race.

 

“Your sin is injuring our great master, Dasles!”

 

In my opinion, they probably shouldn’t have mentioned his name--but, maybe they think they’re in the right.

 

“Your sin is--” And he continues, on and on--

 

From what I can infer from the retainer’s speech, it seems that even though the Marquis Dasles had taken in the white-tiger Princess’s party, who were running from Weaselkin, they had suddenly massacred his family, stole his money and treasures, burned the houses of the citizens and killed the people--in addition, the late king, who was visiting the mansion at that time was killed.

 

I’d like to say that then it can’t be helped that he harbours a grudge, but it’s too unnatural. Killing your protectors creates nothing but disadvantages, and there’s even less of a reason for them to burn and kill the people.

 

Instead, if you think about it a little--it’s obvious that the Weaselkin, who would be in trouble if the Humans and Tigerkin joined hands, did all of those deeds and laid the blame on the white Tigerkin Princess and her companions.

 

Well, regardless of the situation, they still have to be dealt with, so the details don’t really matter.

 

I open the gate to the courtyard from the inside, and stand in front of them, “Are you satisfied yet? Your speech is much too long--the outlaws around you will get tired, y’know?”

 

“You’re making a fool of yourself. I’ll make you regret coming out from behind the wall. Do it! Slaughter this guy!” The lower noble orders the men, his face reddening in anger.

 

The outlaws respond to his words by taking out their weapons--they sure are excited.

 

Kena and her friends slip in beside the two retainers of the foreign noble who were staying at the back of the mass--both of them are of a higher rank than than the one who was giving the speech.

 

“You virgins, declaring that I will be your opponent.” Nana provoked the the outlaws who were attacking, then jumped at them.

 

Uhh--well, that probably is a good provocation. There are several people who attack Nana.

 

Pochi and Tama activate Shell on their Magic Swords, and mow down the outlaws like we’re in a Superhero Movie.

 

Nana, who activates her Physical Reinforcement, pushes several people. She also repulses the Magic Hunter who came at her with a great-axe, with her Shell-covered Magic Sword. She’s quite reliable.

 

And, Liza pierces the shoulder of the retainer who was giving the speech, while leaving a red afterglow.

 

Eh?

 

Red afterglow?

 

Wait, Liza?

 

When I look at her while feel nervous, it turns out that she just put too much fighting spirit into the blow, she didn’t really use Magic Edge--so the retainer is still alive.

 

Thanks to that injury, the other outlaws have begun to run away.

 

“O-Oy, it’s that a Magic Spear?”

“Those three also have Magic Swords.”

“Oy, oy, I didn’t sign up for this. As if I’d fight those guys, even if I was a knight.”

 

A lot of the outlaws now begin to run now.

 

They’ve been neutralized when Mia shot a Mustard Bomb, and Tama throws rocks toward the outlaws who have stopped--coughing violently.

 

I knock out the two retainers which Kena has caught, using the still-sheathed Fairy Sword.

 

Kon, who had been knocked down at the very beginning doesn’t seem to have any injuries.

 

By the way, the outlaws on the opposite side of the inn have been captured by Ord, with cover fire from Arisa and Lulu.

 

***

“S-Sir Felspar?! What is this uproar, so late at night?” The Baronet asks as he sees me.

 

I’ve come to the Baronet’s mansion, while bringing along the outlaws--who have been tied up together with the retainers of the foreign noble.

 

As I thought, the uproar this time doesn’t have anything to do with the Baronet. However, let’s follow Arisa’s advice, and act as if the Baronet is involved, forcing to act in his own self-protection.

 

“You say that as if you weren’t involved. The retainers of Dasles had brought these outlaws to attack the inn where I was staying.” I really can’t get used to talking in this tone…

 

“Wa? It doesn’t have anything to do with me, I’m unrelated.”

 

Alright, I only have to make him arrest the foreign noble and take him to the Duchy Capital, and it’ll be mission complete.

 

However, as it always does, the situation changes in a way outside my expectation.

 

“So, you even harmed our retainers, you pawn of Tigerkin! It can’t be helped then, I’ll take care of you with my own hands!” Dasles comes out, shaking and supporting himself with a staff.

 

Since his coat is only hanging off his shoulders, I can see that he has bandages covering the upper-half of his body.

 

The fool started to chant Fire Magic, so I threw the nut, that I had pulled out of storage when I saw him, at his head.

 

When Dasles falls to his knees, the guards finally react and pin him to the ground.

 

“Baronet Poton--just now, Dasles tried to shoot a Fireball at me with clear intent to kill. Moreover, you were standing right beside him. As a governor, you have to give judgement.”

 

“S-someone like me, with a low rank, cannot give the death penalty. First, we have to transport him to the Duchy Capital, then drag him to the Royal Capital, and entrust the judgement to the King.”

 

Oh?

 

He can’t be punished at the Duchy Capital, huh?

 

It seems that there is a tool to restrain rogue Mages, its something called a Chain of Magic Sealing. If he tried to chant, the Magic will flow into the Chain and get dispersed, although it cannot always cancel all Spell. They also put Dasles in the dungeon.

 

It should be case closed, I hope.

 

I write a letter, for Marquis Lloyd, to explain what arsonist noble did.

 

Now then, I guess I’ll go back to the inn and take a nap.