Chapter 29: The Adventurers Excuse

How insolent! How dare you stop the carriage of the Frontier Counts Household!

Alberts angry voice echoed and master rested his head in his palms at this scene.

So, theyre on the move too now.Really now, if you obediently go spend a night or two in jail, youll be able to leave after that. With this, by stopping the Frontier Counts Households carriage, youve just added to your crimes, you know?

The carriage has already stopped.

Well cancel our trip, right?.In my dreams.

Theyre relying on the Frontier Counts Household to ask for help, you know, its not decent to simply ignore them. Its not good to only listen to the soldiers story, but if we wouldnt have trusted them, the imperial capitals army wouldve complained.Ah! Its so troublesome.

Dont look at me so intently, master. Are you trying to say Do something?

..So, we must judge both parties?

Well, it really helps that your understanding is quick. Such an excellent son-in-law-dono.

Smiling, he passed the whole task onto me.

But he specifically said son-in-law-dono, that in itself is full of meaning.

Ah, Alberts got ahold of the womanI left the carriage and called out.

Albert, its all right, let her go. Im Zest of the Varnam Frontier Counts Household, tell me what you have to say.

Albert bowed and released the woman, after which he positioned himself to my side.

The patrol soldiers cant intervene.They cant oppose the Frontier Counts Household if we say we want to listen to them.

Tthen, I wont refrain myself to tell you our story.

The woman with both her hands tied up, was trembling, and her voice did sound very young.

Her face is hidden and I cant see it, but I could figure that her stature is very slender through the leather armor that she was wearing.

We are adventurers, but if nothing is done now, we will become slaves! Please save us!

..What? Youll be turned into slaves?

I glanced at the soldiers only to find that they were hiding their faces.

Wait a minute! Can it really be

Now that youve mentioned slavery, I cant overlook this. Albert, bring that Kenes squad leader from earlier to me.

Yes sir! At once.

One way or another, he caught him in the blink on an eye.

The other soldiers were surrounded by the black nights.

Kenes was dragged along to stay in front of me, his complexion was really bad.

Good, now everyones gathered. So, what did you mean with being turned into slaves? Continue explaining.

Yes sir, we were harvesting inside the forest when the soldiers called us to halt and ordered that me and the other girl go with them.

She sent a fleeting glance at her companions.

It was true that among the other 4 members of her group, there was one who had long hair and looked like a girl.

I was shocked.It was the first time I got so angry that I couldnt feel anything but shock.

Oi, Kenes. I dont want to believe it, but I got to ask it. Did you want to take away these women forcibly? If thats the case, then was the story with the thieves a lie?

Squad leader Kenes was looking downward, his face ghastly pale, and didnt answer, moment in which Albert silently hit him with his spear.

Lord Zest is asking you a question, how dare you ignore him? If it happens again, youll lose one leg.

Dont draw your sword yet, Albert.

Ah! Even the black knights drew their swords already.Why is the Frontier Counts army so fast in acting!?

Hii! Wwe cant oppose them! The squad leader will speak! We cant go against the black knights! We surrender!

..Yes, thats the right choice.

They wouldve killed you in the blink of an eye.

I started talking louder, in order for no one to realize that I was in fact pretty scared inside.

Kenes, I am asking you whether youve lied to the Frontier Counts Household or not.

Yes. Pplease, my lifespare my.

I decapitated him before he could even finish.

Since my master was watching from behind, if I were to be too soft in handling this situation, I would end up being unwanted sooner or later.

Youve also heard it, right? This guy wanted to deceive the Varnam Frontier Counts Household, therefore he died for his crime. You lot will come to the imperial capital to receive your judgment. If you have any objections, Ill listen. Step forward.

The soldiers were collectively staring at the severed head that was rolling on the ground.

These idiotsTheyve made more unnecessary work for me.

The ten or so soldiers were tied and the black knights were pulling them by a rope.

Oh well, itd be impossible for them to run away, the difference in ability between ordinary soldiers and the black knights its too big to even be mentioned.

On the other hand, the already released adventurers were prostrating themselves before me.

Thank you so very much, Zest-sama, you have saved.. us.

Pipe down that friendly tone a bit..Albert, dont stare at him like that.

Dont be so tense, you were the victims in this case. For now, well be traveling together to the imperial capital. I have to report the circumstances after all.

When they heard that, the two young women moved their bodies a little in an attempt to slightly intoxicate me.

Dont worry, I wont order you to entertain us. There are no scums in the Varnam Frontier Counts army.

We wont ask for your bodies as a means for thanking us for saving you, you know? We are gentlemen after all.

To be honest, the black soldiers are the most popular of all elites, so they dont really lack the attention of women. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Theres no need to even remind my soldiers of this.

As a matter of fact, the Knights Commander is very strict of this matter, so theyre actually too afraid to act improperly to the women.

There were no adventurers who couldnt ride on a horse.

Thats to be expected of another world, the horse is the main transportation means, so it was only natural.

While the captured soldiers were dragged along by the horses, we were moving towards the next village.

Well stay there for the night and well get to the imperial capital early tomorrow.

Were finally arrivingThe last part of our journey was a disaster. Really now, I ended up with more unnecessary work than I was actually disposed to do

He he he, dear knights. They look really expensive, those armors of yours. Leave them behind obediently!

A bandit group showed up.

.Oi, patrol corps, youre not doing your job properly.

Ah! Weve seized them so they cant actually work, ha ha..

I quietly looked up at the beautifully sparkling sky and I really wanted to think that it wasnt so because of my tears.