We talked as we approached the closing date.
"Then we'll take action in two days."
We decided to do it before then, considering the interval at which our mana would be taken away.
"For me, tomorrow would be fine." (Yuna)
"I have things to do as well, so I need some time in the day."
"I have to carefully examine the quests I give to the knights, so it's not too far or too close."
It was said that if it was too far away, there was a possibility that they would not go there. It seemed like they took this into consideration when deciding where to send the knight.
"Well, since that's the case, you guys should get some rest until the day comes."
The guild master and Carla-san got up from their seats and left the room.
"Then, I will take your word for it and let us rest, but what will Yuna and the others do?"
"Hmm, I don’t want to do anything that stands out, so I guess we should go back to the inn." (Yuna)
There was nothing I could do now. If I got dragged into trouble, all that we discussed today would be wasted.
Noa looked disappointed at my words.
"After all, it's not good to walk around the city. I wanted to explore the city a little to study." (Noa)
By the way, when Noa went to another city, Cliff told her to study about that city.
Maybe it would be the same this time.
"Hey, Noir-chan, is she the daughter of some merchant family?" (Rosa)
"Her words, her way of thinking. She's not a normal kid." (Ran)
Rosa-san and Ran asked about Noa's identity.
"Of course, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I'm a little concerned."
Apparently, they were aware that Noa was hiding her identity.
Noa and I looked at each other, wondering what was wrong.
"If Yuna-san is okay, I have no problem talking." (Noa)
Rosa-san and others knew that we were not residents of this town. They also knew that we came to this country using the power of fairies. Either way, they would find out if we returned to Crimonia together. Besides, Rosa-san and the others wouldn't have any problem even if they found out about Noa.
"Noa is the daughter of the lord of Crimonia." (Yuna)
Rosa-san and the others were surprised by my words.
"So, does that mean Noir-chan is the daughter of an aristocrat?" ()
"Yes. I'm Cliff Fauchrose's daughter, Noir Fauchrose." (Noa)
Noa introduced herself like a young lady.
"Maybe I'll be punished for lese majeste?" (Rosa)
"I want you to die comfortably." (Ran)
Rosa-san and Ran started saying strange things.
Glimos was the only one who didn't open her mouth, so her expression was indescribable.
"No, it's not everyone's fault. If you're going to punish, just punish me." (Rosa)
"Well, I have no intention of punishing you all for lese majeste. Besides, it's no good that I didn't come forward." (Noa)
"Um, Noir...-sama thank you." (Rosa)
Rosa-san thanked Noa in an awkward manner.
"Also, please call me Noir as usual." (Noa)
"That's..." (Rosa)
Rosa and the others looked at me as if asking for help.
"It's not a big deal. I call her Noa, and also I keep calling Noa's father Cliff." (Yuna)
"......"
Blitz and the others looked at me incredulously.
Well, normally it would be impossible to call a nobleman without an honorific title.
"Yuna-san can't help it but if you're in front of my father or other people, you can just call me a different name." (Noa)
"I can’t help it?" (Yuna)
"Well, aside from me, someone who works at home got a little angry when he heard that I was calling out Father, but Father told me not to worry about it. He was laughing." (Noa)
"Umm, then if I go to the mansion too, should I call you Noir-sama?" (Yuna)
"Please stop. I'll get angry if you call me that." (Noa)
Noa puffed out her cheeks.
"Okay, Noa." (Yuna)
Noa looked happy when I called her that.
"Then I'll call you Noir-chan as usual, is that okay?" (Rosa)
"Yes." (Noa)
Now that Noa's case is over, we went back to the inn, taking a slightly detour to make Noa's wish came true.
Noa and I returned to the inn and were relaxing.
Prim was fidgety, as if she couldn't calm down.
"Hey, are you really going to come with us? It's dangerous." (Prim)
"I guess that's why she's going with me. I'll protect her if anything happens, so Prim will have to convince Rhone properly." (Yuna)
"To be honest, I’m scared, but I will definitely find Rone-san, so Prim-san will find Rhone-san." (Noa)
"...Thank you, you two." (Prim)
Prim smiled.
That day was spent with Noa, Prim, Kumayuru, and Kumakyu. However, Rosa-san, Ran, and Glimos also came to the room on the way, so Prim seemed to be having fun, although she wasn't relaxing.
And then, the day of the decision. We waited for contact at the inn.
Regardless of us, Blitz was being watched. If he acted poorly and got caught, he would definitely be in trouble. So, I was waiting at the inn until I hear from the Adventurer's Guild.
"Rhone-san's connections...we're moving out of town." (Noa)
Noa closed her eyes and felt the knight's actions.
Noa understood the actions of the knights who were receiving power from Rhone.
"Also, there are reactions from both the mansion and the city." (Noa)
It might be the reaction of the knights remaining in the mansion, the knights patrolling, and the knights on the lookout tower.
However, Noa said that more than half of the responses went out of town.
If you thought that your strength had been cut in half, we had done well.
"Then maybe it’s about time." (Yuna)
The knights would leave the city and took action for a while.
I didn't want to move right away because I wouldn't be in trouble even if I came back.
After a while, there was a knock on the door, and a receptionist from the guild came.
"This is a message from Carla. The knights have left the city. After this, the guild master and the adventurers will attack the watchtower. If there is a commotion, the knights remaining in the mansion or in the city will be attacked. I think the knights here will also gather around guild master. Once they do, please enter the mansion." (Guild's receptionist)
The woman explained the contents as planned.
"Hey" (Yuna)
"What is it?" (Guild's receptionist)
"Do you trust me when I look like this?" (Yuna)
"Actually, I was watching guild master fight. At first, I thought you were a cute girl, but when I saw you fighting guild master, I thought it was the real thing. Like Carla, she has seen many adventurers. So she'll know if you're capable or not." (Guild's receptionist)
This receptionist was probably one of the few remaining employees of the Adventurer's Guild.
"Please, return the vibrant Adventurer's Guild of the past." (Guild's receptionist)
"I can't promise the future of the Adventurer's Guild. All I can do is take the fairies who are by the lord's side from the city." (Yuna)
Even if the fairies disappeared, it didn't necessarily mean that adventurers would return to the Adventurer's Guild. That was something I couldn't do anything about.
"Yes. That's our job." (Guild's receptionist)
The receptionist smiled.
"Please, save the city." (Guild's receptionist)
The receptionist bowed her head and left the room.
"I have to try my best." (Yuna)
"Yeah, I'll definitely wake my sister up." (Prim)
This was not just a problem for Prim and us. There were various thoughts on it. I didn't know what the future would hold, but I had to take Rhone out of town no matter what.
When we got ready and left the room, Blitz and his party also came out of the room. We moved to the first floor together. Then, on the first floor, the innkeeper's daughter, who didn't know what would happen next, sent us off with a smile and said, "Go ahead."
For the sake of this child's future, we must return it to its original city.
We said, "I'm going," and left the inn.
Parting ways with Blitz and his party, I summoned Kumayuru and Kumakyu in cub forms, and hid in the forest near the mansion.
It was quiet.
I used my detection skill to check inside the mansion.
Although they were scattered, a quick count showed that around 30 people responded.
Maybe there were also servants such as maids and cooks, so the number of knights should be less than this number.
"Ugh, I've never broken into someone's house before, so I'm nervous." (Noa)
"I don't think anyone would normally break into someone's home without permission, because that's what thieves do." (Yuna)
"Hehe, I do. When I went to the village, I went inside the house." (Prim)
"That’s nothing to be proud of." (Yuna)
Besides, fairies can't be seen by normal people, so they could invade as much as they like.
"Yuna-san, there’s smoke." (Noa)
Noa, who was looking in the opposite direction of the mansion, let out a small voice.
This was the signal that guild master, Blitz, and the adventurers launched an attack on the watchtower where the device to steal magic power was installed.
The purpose was to inform those of us who were far away, and to make the knights inside the town think that something had happened at the lookout tower. The knights in the mansion must have noticed the smoke, and about 10 knights come out of the mansion.
"Once those knights leave, we'll go inside the mansion, okay?" (Yuna)
That was the strategy I discussed with the guild master and the others.
But looking at that number of people, I felt like it would be better to defeat them here.
"That's what I was thinking, but I'll deal with it." (Yuna)
If these knights went to guild master and the others, they would be caught in a pincer attack.
Even if that was not the case, there were knights wandering around the city as well. Such a knight should be heading towards where the guild master and the others were. The smaller the number, the more likely they were to win.
"But, Yuna-san. Now, the strategy..." (Noa)
I knew it. Guild master and the others accepted the role of decoy, knowing the risk.
However, if the decoy operation failed, guild master's lives would be in danger.
"Noa and all of you, stay here. Kumayuru and Kumakyu, please be with Noa and Prim." (Yuna)
"Kuu~n" (Both Kuma)
I came out of the forest and stood in front of the knights in a place far away from the mansion.
Author's Note
Finally, Yuna and the others started to move.
*Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Please note that some kanji have been revised to match the book, so some may not have been revised.