As the engagement announcement party drew closer, the castle town grew noisier and more crowded.
Today, Selene and Croco were accompanying me on patrol through the streets.
「The more people there are, the worse the public order gets…」
「Yes… We’ve already broken up three fights and caught a thief today alone…」
「Normally there aren’t that many bad people around…」
With so many people, I had Croco constantly watching from inside her hood while I occasionally pulled Selene’s hand to guide her through the crowd.
「Hmm… Someone’s been glancing over here for a while now…」
More precisely, they were staring at Selene.
「R-Really!?」
「Yeah, but keep your voice down so they don’t overhear. Croco, can you hide inside Selene’s clothes?」
「Yes, no problem. Onee-chan, I’m coming in.」
「Fweh!? W-Wait!? Nnngh!?」
Selene’s clothes wriggled as Croco slipped inside. Her magic shifted to the collar area.
「They might be kidnappers, so let’s stay alert…」
Selene was a rare species—a Jewel Beast (Carbuncle)—which made her a prime target. Though she had laughed it off before, saying 「No one could kidnap me anyway」.
Among Amilia and the others, her combat ranking was fourth, but her strength was still among the top in this world.
She could defeat twenty royal demon guards in pure hand-to-hand combat. In terms of raw power, she was only slightly below Suzuka.
「Hmm… We can’t just ignore this. I’ll be the bait.」
Selene suddenly suggested something outrageous after a moment of thought.
「No way, that’s dangerous.」
「It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll lure them somewhere with fewer people. If they follow, please catch them.」
Selene smiled brightly. But still…
「In that case, I can use shadow movement to get onee-chan away!」
Croco declared enthusiastically. If that was the plan, then maybe…
「Okay. Croco, you handle the rescue.」
「Yes!」
「Ehh～ You don’t trust me!?」
Selene puffed out her cheeks and leaned in close.
「No, I do trust you, but…」
「Muu…」
「Onii-chan is worried about onee-chan, right～?」
「Ugh…」
She hit the nail on the head. I faltered. Selene grinned mischievously, a little embarrassed.
「Ehehe～ I’m so happy～ Yuuki-san is worried about me～」
「Kuh… Fine, fine. Selene will be the bait, Croco will back her up. Lead them to a dead-end alley.」
「Yes～!」
「Yes!」
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
I parted ways with Selene, who was now wearing a robe. I moved to the rooftops to observe from above.
「But seriously, attacking in broad daylight like this…」
Two men followed Selene into the back alley. I couldn’t see their faces clearly, but their builds were definitely male.
「『——Appraisal』… only shows basic info like level, name, and race…」
Both were men. One was named 「Ojuuju」 with a level of 150—pretty high for a normal person. Probably a bodyguard. The other was 「Horax」 at level 45.
One thing stood out as strange.
「No status or title… Just ordinary guys. Why would they be doing this…?」
Selene gradually quickened her pace. When she reached the dead end, she turned around.
「Who are you? Why are you following me all the way here!?」
「Haa… haa… Finally stopped, huh…」
「Tch, you really made us work for it… Have you forgotten me?」
The man pulled back his hood. I didn’t recognize his face at all.
「Who’re you?」
「Gnununu…」
「Whatever, man. Let’s just grab her and have some fun already…」
「Y-Yes! If we defile her, the new Demon King’s reputation will be ruined! And I’ll get to vent my frustrations too! It’s killing three birds with one stone!!」
I dropped down silently behind them and spoke up.
「Actually, it’s only two birds.」
「「!?」」
The two spun around. In that instant, Croco transferred Selene behind my back.
「Nnaa! You bastard!!」
「…So who are you again?」
「You dare say you’ve forgotten my face!!」
「I just did…」
「Enough already! Let’s just kill that bean sprout bastard quick!!」
「Wait, Ojuuju!!」
「Dieeee!!」
The man named Ojuuju drew his sword and charged. I knocked him down with a reinforced hand, careful not to kill him.
「Gibyushuu!?」
He convulsed slightly from the concussion and collapsed, motionless.
「Damn it! If that’s how it is!!」
The other man pulled out a small vial and drank it. His limbs began melting into a slimy, sludge-like substance from the edges.
「Selene, get back!」
「Yes! Hyaa!?」
I scooped up Selene and leaped onto the rooftops, running parallel to the street.
The sudden increase in mass overflowed into the alley. It swallowed the first man and grew even larger. If this kept up, it would spill onto the main street and cause a huge problem…
「Croco! I’m going to make a wall. Can you transfer this thing outside the city!?」
「I’ll try!!」
「Got it! Do it!!」
I jumped down ahead of its path and used earth magic to raise a wall and shelter. Croco then transferred the creature all the way outside the city.
「Transfer complete! You two too!」
「Yeah!」
「Yes!」
We slipped into the shadows and transferred. We emerged on a plain outside the city.
「I’ll gk-kill you… Just a piece of m-merchandise, and you dare run away from me…」
「Merchandise? What are you talking about?」
「You thoo! You completely r-wrecked mby arena!!」
「The arena? Wait… are you the manager from that fighting arena!?」
「Ah… now that you mention it… maybe that face rings a bell?」
Selene clapped her hands as if she remembered too.
「Guzogaaaaaaa!!」
Enraged that we had forgotten him, he extended tentacles and began thrashing wildly.
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