Chapter 5 – Lessons

Hmm. I don’t really understand, so let me try thinking from Oslo’s perspective.

If I just suck my thumb and do nothing… In that case, I might be held responsible, lose my job, and depending on the lord, possibly even get imprisoned.

If there’s evidence, I’ll still be on the path to losing my job, but if there’s been wrongdoing, it could completely reverse and become a credit to Oslo.

So that means he has to find fault or he’ll be at a disadvantage… Is that it?

“First of all, were you slacking off?”Ah, no, the tavern’s security was perfect.””

Ah. That’s no good.

Because they didn’t properly exterminate the monsters, the “food” became abundant and the Killer Ants probably increased at an accelerated rate.

Oslo flew into a rage at Beryne’s sarcastic remark.

“Don’t mock me, little girl! First of all, a brat like you fought a swarm of Killer Ants!? Don’t go too far with your tall tales!”

Oslo seems to be speaking under the assumption that we’re the ones doing something wrong. Is that why he spoke up?

The fact that he’s going all-in like this makes me wonder if the reality is that bad if the lord finds out. …It probably is. If it’s not something that can be resolved with just losing his job, I can understand this desperation.

“So you’re saying if I show you the ability to repel a swarm of Killer Ants, that should suffice? Should I demonstrate Seventh Tier Magic right here and now?”

“Wha, seventh!?”

Using Defense Field again would probably get in the way of the street traffic.

If I were to use something, what would be good? I expanded a Magic Circle at my fingertip to show I could fire at any moment, and Oslo stared blankly for a moment with wide eyes before shaking his head as if to pull himself together.

“N-no! Even if you could use it, that wouldn’t prove a swarm appeared in that forest! You’ll stay in this town until my subordinates return!”

“So… by what authority?”

When I tilted my head, Oslo said this, perhaps thinking I was just a child.

“Th-that’s… naturally as the Garrison Captain!”

“I thought you were a goodwill citizen…?”

“……”

When Robin interjected with what sounded like exasperation from the side, Oslo finally fell silent.

Guild work is supposed to be handled within the Guild, so whether to pay the reward money or whether there was any wrongdoing should be investigated and judged by the Guild.

If soldiers or the Garrison could act on Guild-related matters, it would only be after receiving a report of wrongdoing, unless it was in the act.

“By the way, the Forestbird members are quite well-known in both name and face. So even if there were wrongdoing and they fled, issuing a warrant would be simple. In that case, for the Guild’s honor, they would be captured dead or alive. As for their employer Theodore Gartner-sama… he appears to be someone with solid credentials. I don’t think we need to forcibly detain them to worry about them fleeing.”

…… Beryne has completely figured out the Count family situation, hasn’t she?

Forestbird knows I dislike my family home, so they wouldn’t have told her about my family.

The reason Beryne doesn’t state it clearly is probably because I haven’t announced it myself. Even if her speculation is wrong, she’s using phrasing that doesn’t give any definitive statement.

Perhaps Oslo sensed it too, as he looked back and forth between my clothing and Grace’s attire standing beside me, his complexion growing increasingly worse.

Basically, what did Oslo even want to achieve by detaining us here at this point?

He probably thought I could exterminate the ants since I showed him the Magic Circle. That’s why he immediately countered that it wouldn’t serve as evidence.

Killing or threatening to silence us is already meaningless. Since the Guild is aware of the situation, the only thing affecting his position is whether there are ant remains in the forest or not.

…Ah. If there doesn’t seem to be any wrongdoing, he probably wants to coordinate stories before his subordinates return and claim he was also involved in exterminating the ants to protect himself.

That would explain why he approached us. But since the Guild is watching, he couldn’t drop his tough attitude and came at us arrogantly with commands.

So his next move would likely be to soften his attitude and try to win us over. Separate Beryne and me, then offer some tempting deal—.

“H-hey, sorry. It seems there was a misunderstanding. If we talk calmly, we can understand each other. Let me speak with you inside the stables? Don’t worry, I won’t do anything bad. Hey, you?”

His voice became syrupy as he said this in a low voice that wouldn’t reach Beryne’s ears.

It’s so obvious… I hate that I can read this kind of person’s actions. Probably from seeing too much of the idiot brothers and Kathryn up close.

Why should I cooperate with something like that? I’m already being unnecessarily detained because of the ant extermination and this situation.

When it comes to a Killer Ant swarm outbreak, if handled poorly, it could lead to one or two settlements being wiped out. If this happened due to clear dereliction of duty, imprisonment wouldn’t be strange, let alone job loss. Since it was prevented beforehand it’s fine, but if it had actually happened, execution would be certain.

Hmm. The lord hates adventurers, right? With this outcome, isn’t he making the lord lose face?

Before talking about wrongdoing to others, Oslo would undoubtedly be the one charged with a crime. I have absolutely no intention of protecting him, but if I did, I’d probably get splashed with sparks. It’s not even a matter of conditions or deserving sympathy.

“…Wouldn’t it be slightly better to resign on your own and apologize to the lord?”

“You! Captain Oslo is bowing his head, and that’s your attitude!?”

“Hey, hey you…!?”

If the boss is like that, the subordinates are even worse, it seemed. The man next to Oslo tried to punch me. Oslo let out what sounded like a surprised scream.

I immediately activated Magical Power Circulation. Enhancing my physical abilities while responding with the Martial Art ‘Water Wheel Throw’. I deflected the man’s fist, grabbed his arm, stopped the foot he was putting weight on with my body to disrupt his balance. Using that momentum, I spun him cleanly through the air and—since he might die if I slammed him back-first, I threw him down butt-first onto the ground. I judged he wouldn’t be able to perform a Break Fall since he was still dazed during the spin.

“Guh!?”

It seemed that added centrifugal force. Unable to land on his feet, the man who took a direct hard hit on his butt was writhing in agony.

Normally, Martial Arts consume stamina or spirit energy when activated, but when in circulation state, they consume magical power instead. This is also one of the characteristics of a Battle Mage, but whether stamina consumption or magical power consumption is better depends on the situation, so it can’t be simply called an advantage or disadvantage.

“Brat! Don’t resist!”

The other one drew the sword at his waist. This guy too… Or rather, drawing a sword in this situation is unthinkable.

Glancing briefly at Oslo’s face, I saw he had turned pale and was in a daze. If he can understand that much of the outcome, he should have just done his job properly.

“Theodore-sama.”

Grace took a Magic Staff from her bundle and offered it to me.

“Thank you, Grace.”

After confirming Grace had stepped back, I lightly swung it around to check how it felt to use.

Both ends of the staff made light, crisp sounds cutting through the air. She said it was for beginner practice but… yeah. Not bad.

If I channeled strong magical power through it, it would probably break immediately, but as a mere weapon, it has no quirks and is easy to handle. The shopkeeper really did understand Staff Martial Arts. Now then.

“Uh…”

When I took a Stance with the staff like a spear, the man froze. Did he remember that I’m a Magician? Not that I need a Magic Staff to use magic anyway.

“U, ooooooooooh!”

Even so, or perhaps because of it.

He probably couldn’t withstand the pressure. Or maybe he thought he could strike first since the distance was close.

Shouting loudly, he took a sword stance and charged. But my reach is longer. To seize the initiative, I lightly flicked the tip of the staff upward from below against the man’s chin. When he stumbled, I swept his legs out from under him to make him fall. Since he was still gripping his sword, I stomped on his fist from above.

“Guah!?”

He screamed and finally dropped his sword, so I flicked it away with my staff to the side of the road.

Immediately after, to construct a Spell Formula, I pointed the staff tip and my palm toward the two fallen men and expanded a Magic Circle.

“Light Bind.”

Fifth Tier Light Magic. A ring of light appeared around the men, and as it narrowed tightly, their bodies became bound and immobilized. It’s hard to tell which side is the Garrison here.

“That’s enough, right?”

I looked at Oslo, who was trembling with sweat beading on his forehead.

Who made the first move? And the reason.

We have plenty of witnesses, starting with Beryne. This is the kind of case that would be treated as a scandal caused by the Garrison. The ant situation or whatever, it feels like we don’t even need to wait for a conclusion.

Oslo dropped to his knees on the spot.

“Wh-what should I… do?”

“So… shouldn’t you just apologize to the lord?”

I’m not really mocking him, but I genuinely think that.

Fleeing or evading responsibility… this guy can’t pull it off. It’s checkmate.

“Hah… haha. Why should I do something so pathetic?”

He shook his head while wearing a peculiar… broken smile. Then he slowly looked around.

Something about the impression in his eyes… feels vaguely familiar, or rather, it evokes something. Not my current self, but something that calls forth Kagehisa’s memories.

He looked at Beryne, looked at Lucian and Monica.

When his gaze finally turned toward Grace, and as Oslo reached for the sword at his waist—

The Magic Staff held in reverse grip was already touching Oslo’s neck, ready to activate magic at any moment. It was charged with magical power, emitting a pale blue light and a humming sound.

Oslo remained frozen with a smile on his face, still gripping the sword hilt.

“Release the sword and step back.”

I commanded, deliberately excluding emotion.

No other action would be permitted. I had no intention of hesitating.

Was he planning to take a hostage and flee or something?

Beryne was in a bad positional relationship, Lucian and Monica are adventurers. He probably thought Grace, who doesn’t look like combat personnel and is close by, would work.

People die easily—and can be killed. The heat of being stabbed returns to my side that should have no scars. I haven’t forgotten that heat yet.

There was clear fear in Oslo’s eyes as he looked up at me. When our eyes met, I narrowed mine as if to expose my current frayed inner state, and Oslo’s expression crumpled into a distorted mess.

“U, …hi…”

It felt less like resignation and more like having his fangs broken. Oslo released the hilt, sat down hard on his butt, and scrambled backward. After confirming that, I also put away my staff.

What kind of judgment the lord will hand down after this… I’m not really interested. It’s their problem, I suppose.

More importantly, I need to think about self-defense means or tools for when Grace’s Ring is active. What would be best?

While pondering this, I heard the sound of wood splitting from the staff again.

…It seems I misjudged the amount of magical power to channel. To already ruin one in less than an hour.