Chapter 90

"Wh-What! Y-You, you bandits!?"

"I thought it was noisy for a reason."

"So, you caught them all?"

"Yeah."

After explaining to Iefa and the others who had returned, I nodded.

It seems they hadn't noticed the commotion.

Iefa and the others' carriage was quite far ahead, and when the driver realized the attack, he immediately fled on horseback.

The bandits, clearly thinking that Iefa and the others in the hired carriage were uninvolved, let them go.

I had seen the whole sequence of events with my shikigami, but I didn't expect them to be unaware.

Now, our group has stopped the carriage and is treating the injured.

The healer with the light attribute is moving around busily. Fortunately, there are no critically injured people that can't be healed. I don't need to step in.

The bandits are tied up and gathered in one place.

Fiona and the others are probably discussing what to do with them right now.

Iefa, glancing fearfully at the bandits, says:

"Ah, that was dangerous...! It's a good thing you didn't come over."

"Huh? What do you mean? If you had come, I would have taken care of them. Right, Mabel?"

"I don't like getting involved in troublesome things."

"You guys are so relaxed."

It was quite tense on our side.

Well, these kids might be able to scatter bandits if they were real bandits.

"But... even with the army as guards, they still got attacked..."

"Hmm... Yes, that's true."

"What will you do with them? Take them all to the capital?"

"Make them walk? We might be late for the new semester."

"No... I think it will be fine."

If we try, we can fit everyone into the carriages.

The carriage used for Fiona's disguise is empty inside, and the luggage was packed with plenty of room to spare.

However, that would create other problems.

"Seika-dono"

At that moment, a voice called from behind.

Turning around, I saw an elderly man standing there. Gurai's deputy, Lauren, stood with his back straight and said to me:

"Her Highness Fiona is calling for you."

****

"Seika-sama, I am grateful for your efforts."

In the makeshift tent built by the army, Fiona, seated in a chair, said this.

There were no signs of Gurai or other military personnel. Only one attendant was present.

I glanced around and said:

"Those two scary attendants don't seem to be here."

"Oh, so you noticed, my holy knight? They are currently tending to the soldiers. The elder sister is a user of the light attribute."

"I see."

With that, I sat in the chair the attendant had pulled out for me.

Fiona, sitting opposite, was smiling despite what had happened.

"Thank you, Seika-sama. You saved me—by capturing the assassins sent to kill me."

"Ah, I thought as much."

I did.

"Did you realize it?"

"Anyone would. Attacking a carriage guarded by an army squad with such well-equipped crossbows is not something ordinary bandits would do."

"Hehehe. It seems their disguise was too weak to fool you."

"I think there were some unavoidable aspects as well."

I continued to ask:

"Did you capture them alive to pursue your political enemies?"

"Yes. First, we need to identify who sent them."

"Do you have any suspects?"

"Well... too many to know."

"You must be having a hard time, Your Highness."

"But it's fine. Seika-sama has captured so many of them. This is not something that happens normally. If we bring them all alive to the capital, everyone will be shocked. My political enemies will no longer dare to act rashly. Hehehe."

Smiling blissfully, Fiona, I asked after a moment:

"Are you really going to bring all of them to the capital?"

"Yes, of course. I will bring them back carefully. They are a gift from Seika-sama. Hehehe."

"...Your Highness must have foreseen this scene. That's why you had extra carriages prepared."

"If we make them walk, some might die, and it would delay our arrival. If we don't make it to the new semester, it will inconvenience Amu and the others."

"I appreciate your concern, but I think it's better not to bring everyone. We should leave the rest tied up here, except for the leader and a few others."

"Oh, why?"

"What if the restraints are broken and they rebel? We outnumber them, but not by a margin that can't be overturned. We could even be wiped out. We could cut their tendons, but..."

"Hehe, there's no need for that. They will be docile... waiting for an opportunity to escape is more certain than acting on their own."

"An opportunity to escape...?"

"Or the next attack, as it were."

I couldn't help but frown.

"Are you saying there's another group? If so, it's even more dangerous. Carrying a threat within while facing a possible next attack..."

"No... there will be no next attack. The other mercenary group will not come."

"Why are you so sure? Future sight is not that convenient. The future can change."

"No, Seika-sama. Fate has a storm-like flow that cannot be overturned by the flutter of a butterfly's wings. This is— their destiny."

Fiona said, gazing into the distance.

"That future will not come."