The next day I returned to the unoccupied house together with Crescent Moon.

The five men, Gyan and company, were getting ready and waited.

Oh, Akatsuki, Crescent Moon, we waited for you. Are you ready?

Gyan greeted us liked nothing happened.

Though we pretended not to notice him and shook him off.

Yeah, we are well prepared. Domur, Im sorry about yesterday.

N, no, that was my fault, dont mind it.

When I spoke to Domur he wore a fake smile on his face.

Looks like my medicine worked better than I thought.

We went to our destination on the horses they prepared.

Of course, everyone was wearing a mask to prevent their faces to get known.

I hid together with Gyan and Crescent Moon.

The carriages will pass here soon. Domur, youll block the front, well attack from behind.

What about the bodyguards?

Kill them. Just let one person escape so that they can report it was a kidnapping of the Highway Thieves.

Gyan gives us instruction like its nothing.

Compared to him my seniors are completely amiable.

It came, thats it.

After less than an hour a carriage passed the highway.

They seem rather cautious, constantly looking around like that.

Stop! We are the Highway Thieves! We have some business with that carriages content. Come out quietly!

At the moment Domur shouted this four people jumped in front of the carriage.

The three bodyguards hastily pulled out their swords.

Akatsuki, well also go out!

According to Gyans words, we also jumped out.

The other four people are already battling the three bodyguards.

Hehe, This is an easy victory Whats this?!

After the smiling Gyan turned around, became stiff and his eyes were wide open.

When I also turned around I saw a cavalry group emerging from the dust behind us.

You people over there, wait! We are the Imperial Guard Orders first corps! Surrender quietly!

Shit, were we caught in the Orders patrol? You guys, scatter!!

Gyan hastily shouted and we got on our horses to run away but our opponents were knights who received training so they were faster.

They caught up to us in the blink of an eye and a battle broke out.

Damn it, we dont have any other choice but to do this. You guys, open up an escape route no matter what!

Yeah!

The knights who chased us were five and in the front was Lunos.

Everyone got into battle.

Hmpf, its 10 years too early for you knights to be this awesome mes opponent!

Even though Crescent Moon is fighting against a knight she is in no way inferior.

I dont have to worry about her.

Shit, I wont be done in, in a place like thiiiiis!

Domur was fighting the knight in front of him but he seems to get by.

The problem was lying with the remaining three people.

Guhaa!

First, one of the guys battling a knight was pushed off his horse and somersaulted on the floor after having his shoulder slashed.

Waaaa!

A different man who tried to run away in a panic was about to be cut down by two bodyguards.

He fell from his horse and didnt move an inch anymore.

ShiitGah!

The knight who cut down the first man proceeded to cut down the next from the side who was fighting another bodyguard.

He got his neck cut, blood came spraying out like water and then he fell down.

Three people were cut down in no time and the men remaining were Gyan and Domur.

Lunos who was once called Brahams strongest attacked him inexhaustibly.

Gyan desperately tried to block him but in this situation its only a matter of time for him to get killed.

Not to mention, while our numbers decrease their numbers increase.

If I dont do something our annihilation is inevitable.

Uoooo!

I swung my great sword down on the knight in front of me.

The knight attempts to block it with his shield but got blown off of his horse from the shock.

Gyan, are you okay?!

I entered Gyans and Lunos fight.

He skilfully blocked my great sword with his shield and attacked Gyan with his sword.

I blocked Lunos sword with my great sword.

Hoh, whos the one going against this Lunos?

As one would expect, Lunos noticed my skill.

But I cant afford to have a fight with Lunos here.

Ill do something about this fellow. Run away!

Sorry, you should also run away!

Gyan found a gap and ran away.

I waited while being surrounded by Lunos knights until those three people had ran away far enough.

Sorry, but I dont plan to be your opponent. Ill leave

I cant let you do that. Lets have you slowly tell me on whose order youre acting, shall we?

As the knights gradually approached I took one hand off of my sword.

I call the salamander spirit, Reus in my mind.

Do you want to surrender? What a good attitude.

While Lunos approached me I formed a seal with my left hand without being careless.

Firewall!

A wall of flames instantly emerged from the ground and formed an obstacle between me and the Order.

I used that chance to ride my horse and somehow succeeded in escaping.

I just rode for a while and returned to the town through another gate after I checked for pursuers.

I went to the unoccupied house where just Gyan was waiting.

Akatsuki! Are you fine?!

Like I thought Gyan returned earlier.

See, I told you hed be alright. Akatsuki isnt the type of guy to be caught at a place like that.

Domur and Crescent Moon came together.

You really saved me there a while ago. If you werent there we surely would have been annihilated.

Youre amazing. How did you get away from them?

As Domur asked I chanted the aria for the light ball spell and let some fireballs float in the air.

As you can see, I am able to use fire magic. I made a flame wall and blocked them. Well, its my trump card.

What a guy, can use magic and swing that great sword. Amazing, youre too amazing

As I laughed fearlessly Domur seemed surprised form the bottom of his heart.

Im really sorry for cheating.

But why were the Order Knights at a place like this?

Gyan said this in vexation.

Its like you said yesterday, I guess, their vigilance became stricter. Isnt it that?

I see, thats why they were patrolling. Damn it.

It seemed like they were convinced by Crescent Moons words but both Gyan and Domur are frustrated because their comrades were killed.

What are we going to do then? Is this the end of the job?

As I asked Gyan looked troubled for a while and then opened his mouth.

I cant decide. I cant tell you that either. I guess I have to talk to the boss but if I go alone I might be killed to take responsibility. Akatsuki, Im sorry but could you go with me to explain what happened? I would feel safer.

Okay, there it is, there it is.

But I cant get impatient, careful.

To be honest, thats rather troublesome for me. Well, I wouldnt be able to sleep knowing you got killed, theres also something I want to say about the reward. So, cant be helped, lets go.

Thank you, Akatsuki. Im very grateful.

Now its time for the wire puller to finally appear.