A mysterious mansion stood silently near the academy.
Its darkened facade concealed the comings and goings of several bad-looking men.
…I—no, we recognize them.
「Is something the matter?」
Williams-san, noticing our strained expressions, inquired.
TN: ウィリアムさん(William-san) suddenly turned to ウィリアムスさん(Williams-san). No idea why.
「The men that just entered the mansion… They’re the same criminals who attacked Nathan Village earlier.」
「! Nathan Village… Ah, yes, I recall that incident.」
Indeed, even Williams-san had heard of it.
Nathan Village, renowned for its thriving agriculture within the kingdom, had fallen victim to armed men. These assailants planned to restrain the villagers and set fire to the vast fields. At that critical moment, Simone transformed into her dragon form and drove them away with a single roar. But to think they were causing trouble here as well…
My failure to apprehend them had led to unnecessary harm.
Upon explaining this to Williams-san, he reassured me,
「I’ve heard about that. You’re not at fault. Don’t worry. The true culprits are those who persistently engage in wrongdoing.」
His words were a balm to my soul.
However, we couldn’t allow these troublemakers to continue wreaking havoc on the herb garden at the academy that Williams-san held dear.
I was ready to storm in and hand them over to the knights, but then, a potent magical energy emanated from the mansion.
「「「「「「!?」」」」」」
Not only us, but the academy faculties accompanying us also reacted to the eerie aura of magic.
「W-what kind of magic was that just now?」
「It hardly seems human…」
「My skin is prickling.」
「Awawawa…」
The girls also tremble with unease.
In that case, there must indeed be a mastermind pulling the strings behind these individuals—and they are currently inside that mansion.
However, we cannot afford reckless actions here.
The fact that the men from Nathan Village are involved suggests a high likelihood of their connection to the incident in Eva Village, which suffered from a shortage of wood.
If they can control colossal beetle-like monsters, their power likely surpasses our initial assumptions.
Challenging such opponents with mere impulsive force would be futile. Even before victory or defeat, they might slip away.
Faced with an adversary of countless unknowns, I reached the conclusion that cautious judgment was necessary. But before I could voice it, Williams-san took action.
「There’s a mastermind in that mansion! Let’s storm in and apprehend them!」
「Wait! Hold on!」
Perhaps blood rushed to his head, as Williams-san forgot about the presence of detection magic and led the academy faculty in a charge toward the mansion.
However, the people here are also affiliated with the prestigious Magic Sword Academy. That means we have quite a formidable group ourselves. Rather than being caught off guard, this might be to our advantage.
「What do we do, Bale-dono?」
「Shall we also enter?」
「…………」
Though Martina and Kiara entrusted me with the final decision…right.
We have Hanon and Simone with us.
Perhaps this chance won’t come again.
「Let’s go!」
As I uttered those words, the four of us nodded in unison.
And so, slightly trailing behind Williams-san’s group, we infiltrated the mansion.
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