Chapter 450 Second Day of the ‘Grand Market’ (Part VII)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Romy’s POV)
”Welcome back, Lady Romy~”
As I entered the mansion, Noo hurriedly crossed my path to greet me.
”Oh, Noo! Is Ms. Sasha still in a business meeting?”
I stopped her and immediately asked about Ms. Sasha.
”The meeting just ended, and now it’s snack break~”
”What about Ms. Kazumi and Rena?”
”They should be together, I think~”
I thanked Noo and opened the door to the dining hall.
”Huh? Where have you been, Romy?”
”Hiroya and Gunilla were worried about you!”
Probably munching on Ms. Hanna’s homemade cookies, Ms. Kazumi and Rena spoke to me like that.
”Sorry… I ran into an acquaintance who was in Raetia for business, so I got caught up…”
I bowed my head as I entered the dining hall.
”So… I have a favor to ask Ms. Sasha── is now a good time?”
I glanced at Ms. Sasha, bringing a cup to her lips.
Receiving my gaze, Ms. Sasha tilted her head slightly with a puzzled expression.
”Um… my acquaintance in business wants to talk to the leader of the Zett Merchant Guild, and they asked if I could get some time── just 30 minutes── no, 20 minutes would be enough…”
”Until the next meeting… well, there’s an hour, but── what kind of business are they in?”
Ms. Sasha placed her cup on the table and looked at the magical clock on the wall as she asked me.
”I’m not really sure… they just said they want to introduce their products.”
I replied with the answer I received from Bolt.
”It feels rude to call someone just to say ‘I want to do business,’ but… if there’s a reason like ‘I want to show my products,’ it might be acceptable.”
Hearing my response, Ms. Sasha stared at me intently.
Her eyes are very kind…
”…Ms. Kazumi, Ms. Rena. I’m going out for a bit. I’ll be back before the next business meeting.”
Ms. Sasha, who stood up, walked over to me.
”Let’s take the carriage. Time is precious, after all.”
Ms. Sasha stood next to me and winked.
”Take care, alright?”
”Rena and the others will prepare for the next business meeting.”
I waved back at Ms. Kazumi and Rena as they waved, and the two of us left the cafeteria.
* * *
”Ms. Romy… is something wrong?”
”Huh…?”
Ms. Sasha, sitting next to the coachman’s seat, immediately asked me as I took the reins of the carriage.
”I… don’t know why…”
”Hmm… it’s just that you seem different… not like the usual Ms. Romy.”
Glancing at Ms. Sasha, I saw her smiling as she gazed ahead.
”By calling me out, does that mean I can help Ms. Romy with her troubles?”
”…You know…”
”Lady Romy, your body is shaking.”
I’m called out from behind the coachman’s platform.
That’s right.
Ms. Sasha always has Ms. Shinobu on her side.
”I can’t say anything unnecessary. ──I’ve been ‘ordered’ like that…”
”Order… Could it be…!!”
The scarf wrapped around my neck is stripped from behind.
”This…slave mark…!”
Ms. Shinobu’s surprise voice.
”Ms. Romy… Who did it get to!?”
”…I can’t say that either… All I can do is take Ms. Sasha to the destination as ‘instructed’.”
I replied, trying to sound as non-committal as possible.
Now, we’re going to the outskirts of the southern residential area, as the sun leaps.
Our meeting point is an empty mansion where Bolt and others will soon be hiding.
”Lady Romy, I’m bringing Lady Sasha back.”
”Ms. Shinobu, if you do that, Ms. Romy will…”
Ms. Shinobu holding Ms. Sasha in resistance.
I stopped carriage and bowed to the two.
”Yeah. I can’t let Ms. Sasha be put in danger. ──Ms. Shinobu, please take Ms. Sasha back…”
Just as I was about to hand the reins to Ms. Shinobu, the surroundings were engulfed in darkness, even though it was still early in the evening.
”…It seems some kind of barrier has been set up. ──Lady Sasha, please do not leave the carriage.”
Ms. Shinobu said that and took my hand, leading me down from the carriage.
”Lady Romy, I apologize, but… please stay away from Lady Sasha.”
In the pitch black, I moved to the back of the carriage with Ms. Shinobu.
I couldn’t see anything, but it seemed Ms. Shinobu could see the surroundings.
”You there… do you need something from me? Or is it Lady Sasha you seek…”
I strained my eyes to see the direction Ms. Shinobu was speaking to, but… I couldn’t see anything.
”I have no business with the leader of the Zett Merchant Guild. I was instructed to bring you in…”
A high-pitched female voice rang out.
It was likely a female swordsman from Giacomo’s party.
I heard she was a troublesome one who could use magic as well.
”But… I have business with you. …You’re a skilled bodyguard, right?”
As the opponent approached, I could finally see something.
…Just as I thought.
A companion of Giacomo who was lending a hand to Bolt.
”Ms. Shinobu… this one is an S-rank swordsman…”
”It seems so. ──The killing intent is different. Moreover… judging by this barrier… it seems she can use magic as well.”
Next to me, Ms. Shinobu quickly formed various shapes with her hands.
──It was the gesture of ‘seals’ I had asked her about before.
Just as a magician gathers magical power, Ms. Shinobu could also refine her internal magical power by doing this.
”Hmph… it seems you can do it, but… you’re just a general rank. You won’t be able to keep up with my… S-rank domain…!”
I could feel the opponent’s killing intent rising, even I could sense it.
”Lady Romy! Get away!”
Ms. Shinobu pushed me aside and drew her katana.
* * *
(Shinobu’s POV)
(This overwhelming power… is it the same as when Lord Hiroya unleashed his strength!?)
As the killing intent surged, the enemy approached me at an incredible speed.
”Lady Romy! Get away!”
I shoved Lady Romy aside and unsheathed my katana.
”Physical Boost!”
I create a ‘seal’ in advance and maximized my speed using the prepared magical power.
”With just a petty Physical Boost, you think you can match my speed──!?”
I crouched to dodge the battle axes attacking from both sides, slashing at their feet.
(I was dodged… huh?)
Instantly, the female swordsman leaped back, evading my strike.
”You… can see me, huh? Hehe… this is interesting.”
Having observed the movements of the adult Lord Hiroya numerous times, I could barely perceive the speed reaching rank S.
Just…
(As expected, with my movements… I won’t be able to catch her…)
With the distance widened, I sheathed my katana and quickly formed another ‘seal.’
I thought if the enemy tried to attack during this gap, I’d counter with the makeshift katana technique taught by Lord Hiroya… but the enemy watched me with a faint smile.
”Are you ready? Then… it’s your turn to strike.”
Saying that, she moved her right-hand axe in a beckoning manner towards me.
The enemy was faster… and wielding 2 perfectly balanced axes as her weapon.
(In terms of number of attacks, there’s no doubt I’m at a disadvantage. Then…)
I activated my technique.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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