Seriously?
Our party had just exited the Purgatory Forest and was headed toward the cities of the Urizen Federation. When the forest thinned out, we were overjoyed. It was an unforgettable moment.
The situation that was unfolding in front of us, however, was a real problem. I was at a loss for what to do. But...
“I can’t just abandon them...can I?”
I gave Cath and the kobolds orders as I rushed out. “We’re going to save that coach! Mataza and Liber, you’re with me. We’ll take out the guys nearby. Cath, back us up. Everyone else, take them down one by one!”
There was a coach ahead of us, a common sight among the highways and foot traffic we’d be coming across now that we were outside the forest. But this coach was currently under attack. Not by monsters, but by humans.
Judging by their attire, I couldn’t be certain that the assailants were bandits. They gave more of an impression of being rogues. Meanwhile, the people fighting back were fairly well-dressed, but there were only two of them. There had probably been more of them before, but I could see the corpses of soldiers littering the ground. The assailants must have lost some of their number as well, but there were still ten or so of them, outnumbering the rest. We had to go help them.
Honestly, considering my status, I shouldn’t have gotten involved. I didn’t know what might give away my identity. But I felt like if I abandoned them, I’d lose some vital part of myself. So I didn’t have much of a choice.
I do have a few backup plans just in case, so I should be okay. In the worst-case scenario, we’ll just retreat back into the Purgatory Forest. Nobody would chase us all the way there, or at least not as far in as where our base is.
Having a stronghold I could run back to made me feel a lot more relaxed.
✦ ✦ ✦
∗ ∗ ∗
“Milady, I believe we are at the breaking point. Please, you must run. I have here a robe of concealment. If you quietly leave with it on, you should be safe. I’ll draw their attention.”
This was the northern region of the Urizen Federation, in the state of Altair. Inside the coach stopped on the road, a man who looked like a butler respectfully addressed the girl sitting across from him.
The girl shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly do that, Greg! I won’t abandon you.”
“But milady, at this rate, all of us will be killed. It is crucial that you survive. You will one day succeed Lord Pagauss. You must not die in such a place.”
“Anyone can become the representative. It doesn’t have to be me.”
“But you will inherit the title of marchioness as well. Lady Katarina, as the sole daughter of Lord Pagauss, you are the only one who can succeed that title.”
The girl he called Katarina was the only daughter of Pagauss, the Marquess of Trahn, and a prominent member of Altair’s state legislature. In Altair, noble succession was not influenced by gender, and thus Katarina had a right to the title. Marquess Pagauss’s position in the legislature also made him eligible to become state governor, and he served as the leader of state representatives. He held sway in the federal government as well, and was a man of considerable influence. The daughter of such a personage could not be permitted to die in this place. That was the opinion of Greg Burton, the steward of House Trahn.
But Katarina disagreed. “Nonetheless, I don’t want to le—” She suddenly stopped herself when more noise came from outside. “What just happened?!”
“I don’t know! What could it be?!” Greg exclaimed as well.
The sound of swords crossing had already been clamorous, but it had just gotten exponentially louder. Not only that, there was even more groaning. Had the enemy gained reinforcements? It was highly possible. Katarina’s forces couldn’t have increased. There was no longer a moment to waste.
“I beg your pardon, milady!” Greg threw the robe over Katarina, causing her to become hard to detect due to the effect of this magic tool. Greg had kept it with him so that at least his mistress could escape in an emergency.
“Greg!”
“Stay quiet, milady. People are coming. You must run away the very moment the door opens. I’ll draw the enemy’s attention.”
“...ngh!”
The situation no longer allowed any protest. Katarina held her breath and waited for the sound of approaching footsteps. Once the door clicked open, she attempted to bolt out. But then...
“Meow.”
Katarina heard an animal cry, and a moment later, she bumped her nose into an invisible wall. She could tell it was probably some kind of magical barrier. She could also tell that despite the robe, her presence had been detected. Her face turned pale. She knew that this was the end for her.
But then she heard a weirdly nonchalant voice say, “Cath? What’s up? ...Hm? A girl?”
Katarina raised her eyes and saw a boy around her age standing there, looking down at her.