Chapter 206 Midnight Commotion
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Kazumi’s POV)
(Huh…? The entrance is noisy…?)
I sit up in bed and check the time.
(It’s 2 AM… What’s going on at this hour?)
I throw on a gown over my nightwear and step out of the bedroom.
As I go down the stairs…
”L-Lady Kazumi! It’s a big deal!”
”Sir Hiroya and Lady Liz haven’t come back!”
”They left about 4 hours ago with Ms. Simona~~~!”
The wolf maids surround me, speaking in order: Noo, Suu, Uu.
”I thought Captain Simona was supposed to come here last night… Was it tonight?”
Looking towards the entrance where the voices are coming from, I see 2 armored knights.
”You are…?”
”I’m Helena, the sub-leader of ‘Rose Hip.’”
”And I’m Frieda.”
They are members of the clan I met on the way to the new dungeon. Behind them, there are many more armored members.
”We’re really sorry to disturb you at this hour. We thought Captain Simona might have been kidnapped…”
”She left the inn last night and hasn’t returned. When I asked the maids, they said she chatted with Lady Liz here last night before leaving to go back to the inn. Then, she came to invite Lady Liz and Mr. Hiroya to a rally with the ‘Rose Hip’ members tonight…”
The expressions of the two are worn out.
”For now, let’s talk inside. Everyone in the back, please come in too.”
I led them to the dining room.
* * *
”So, you’re saying you haven’t held any rally or anything like that──right?”
In response to my question, the two sub-leaders nod.
”But, but, there’s no doubt that Ms. Simona came to invite them in a carriage~~~!”
Uu, dressed in black pajamas, asserts confidently.
”So, that means… on her way back from our mansion last night… something happened to Ms. Simona… or maybe──”
The expressions of the two grew more anxious at my words.
”──Did Ms. Simona deliberately lure Hiroya and Liz out last night… but without consulting anyone from their clan… what on earth for…?”
”Lady Kazumi, that’s not possible. Our captain has always said she wants to build a friendly relationship with Lady Liz.”
”She’s a ‘good woman’ worthy of respect, both as a woman and a leader.”
(So, Ms. Simona didn’t approach them with any bad intentions…)
”Suu and the others will go look for Sir Hiroya and Lady Liz.”
”Noo can track Sir Hiroya’s scent!”
”We’re not just sniffing Sir Hiroya’s laundry for nothing~~~!”
”You guys…”
Let’s just set aside the wolf maids’ little confession for now…
”Anyway, wake up Rena, Martina, and Dorothy.”
The wolf maids immediately sprang into action at my command.
”I hope nothing’s wrong… We’ll rely on the maids’ noses to find Ms. Simona and our 2.”
”C-Can you really do that?”
”I’ve heard that beastfolk have a good sense of smell, but…”
The two sub-leaders looked worried. Other clan members were at the table, but they seemed quite restless.
”It’s okay. They’re not just beastfolk; they’re Snow Wolves. They’re in human form now, but they have a better sense of smell than beastfolk.”
The room buzzed with chatter. “Is that true?” “I can’t believe it,” they murmured.
”Anyway! …Just leave it to us. ──Is there anyone here who can use ‘Telepathy’?”
At my question, several hands went up. The sub-leader Frieda raised her hand too.
”I can use it too.”
”Alright, you all wait here. If we make too much noise at night, it might cause trouble for the village. If anything happens, I’ll contact you right away through ‘Telepathy’.”
”B-But…”
”Given the current situation, if someone sees you two, they’ll definitely think ‘Rose Hip attacked Famière’.””
””Ugh…!””
The two sub-leaders were at a loss for words.
”Leave this to us. And if it gets out of hand──your cooperation will be needed. Is that okay?”
”Yeah… I’ll leave it to you. Please take care of the captain.”
Helena bowed her head with tears in her eyes. In response, Frieda and the other members also bowed their heads.
* * *
(Helena’s POV)
”It really was a Snow Wolf…”
”I know it’s not the time, but… I want to cuddle something fluffy…”
Frieda said something strange, but when the 3 maids who had taken off their night clothes instantly transformed into beautiful white wolves, I was left speechless in shock.
Then, Lady Kazumi, along with Rena, Lady Martina, and Lady Dorothy, chased after the 3 Snow Wolves on horseback.
”Can we really leave it to them…?”
”…We have no choice but to.”
In my mumble, Frieda patted my shoulder in response.
”But… not just Lady Liz, that girl Kazumi too…”
”Yeah. No doubt she’s exceptional. In such a short time, she made quick decisions, organized everything, and has already taken action.”
(I might have underestimated this young clan…)
”This clan is centered around a special task party that was entrusted with conquering that S-rank dungeon. If I had been misled by just the party members’ ranks… I would have misjudged their true nature…”
Frieda sighed.
”Anyway, we have no choice but to wait quietly here. Just as Lady Kazumi said, it’s understandable that we might be seen as having attacked ‘Famière.’ Everyone is worried about Captain Simona. That’s why we all need to hold back here.”
All the members nodded at my words.
* * *
(Kazumi’s POV)
(No hesitation, just charging ahead… Haya knows exactly where Hiroya and Liz are.)
Haya, without taking the reins, is chasing after the Snow Wolves, as if they understands my intentions.
”This way──Kazumi! Could it be…”
”Yeah, they’re heading towards the edge of the village. Most likely…”
That ‘haunted house.’ The most dreaded place for Martina.
”Wolves! Stop!”
At my voice, the 3 Snow Wolves turned around and came back.
”From here, it’s just a short walk.”
Rena dismounted and started petting Suu and the others.
”Are Big Brother Hiroya and Big Sister Liz up ahead?”
”Are we close already?”
Martina and Dorothy also dismounted and walked over to us.
”Martina… listen carefully. Hiroya and Liz are probably in that haunted house.”
”──!”
”The haunted house… you mean, that one?”
Martina’s expression stiffened for a moment, and Dorothy looked at her in surprise.
”We don’t know what’s waiting for us, so let’s walk quietly from here. ──Martina, are you okay?”
”I’m worried about Big Brother Hiroya and Big Sister Liz. Don’t mind my stuff.”
”Got it.”
We pulled the reins of our horses and quietly headed towards the haunted house, with the Snow Wolves leading the way.
Then it happened. A carriage came rushing towards us from the front. The one controlling it was…
”Liz!”
”Kazumi! Rena! Martina! Dorothy!”
Liz’s carriage came to a stop right in front of us.
”Perfect timing! I’ll explain later. ──Dorothy and Rena, Kazumi, you go to the haunted house. Right inside, there’s a man tied up, so keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t escape. Also, there are men locked up in the basement, so make sure they don’t come out…”
”So those guys are the ones who kidnapped Hiroya and Liz, right?”
Rena mounted Shiro again.
”Ah. Me and Simona are heading to the barracks now. We’ll go straight to Knight Müller and the soldiers──oh, and Martina.”
”?”
”Please take care of Hiroya. After using ‘that power’ and going all out with ‘Physical Boost’… he’s passed out.”
”Big Brother Hiroya!?”
Martina hurriedly jumped into the carriage from the back. Rena also jumped off Shiro and hopped into the carriage with me and Dorothy. Inside, Hiroya was deeply asleep.
”Hiroya… Hiroya!”
”Kazumi, calm down. Martina, take him to Papa right away.”
”Okay… got it.”
”Kazumi and Dorothy will go to the haunted mansion with Rena. First, let’s follow Liz’s instructions.”
Even though he was breathing, seeing Hiroya not moving at all made me… unable to hear anything.
I could only bury my face in his chest… and cry.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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