Chapter 114

“Hehe, what’s the matter? You talked big earlier, but now you don’t have any tricks?”

Ouch! They really hit where it hurts! Damn it, the consequences of relying on the cursed blade for combat are catching up with me now!

“Let the kid go! If you have business with someone, it’s me!”

“Haha, we did chase after you, but that doesn’t mean we’ll ignore a fine catch right in front of us.”

“Don’t worry. If you’re concerned about this brat, I’ll gladly sell you both to slave traders. Well, you won’t get much for yourself, but it’s better than nothing. Gahaha!”

The man gritted his teeth, glaring at the bandits. But they didn’t seem bothered and continued their lewd grins, encircling him.

Unable to watch any longer, I shouted to the injured man, “Don’t worry about me! Get out of here!… Ugh!”

“Don’t say unnecessary things!”

The bandit holding my arm twisted it in the opposite direction of the joints. Ouch, that hurts! Human joints aren’t supposed to bend that way!

“I-ugh…!”

“Hehe. Yeah, that’s it. Just stay quiet and behave. If you’re good, we might even sell you for a high pri—eh?”

Just as my arm was being twisted to the limit, tears welled up in my eyes. But suddenly, the sound of rushing wind was soon accompanied with a loosening of the grip on my hand. The bandit’s words also abruptly cut off.

“What…? M-my fingers, my hand…”

The bandit looked bewildered. The four fingers that were just twisting my arm were now cleanly severed at the first joint. A throwing knife was embedded in the nearby tree trunk, still quivering from the recent throw.

“You seem to be having quite a lively conversation. Let me ask you again. What do the likes of you plan to do to my dear Takumi?”

With a resounding voice, a figure emerged from the shadows of the forest.

“Gazelle!”

Upon closer inspection, Gazelle was holding two throwing knives in his right hand, mirroring the ones lodged in the bandit’s thighs.

“Ugh… Gaaah!”

In pain, the bandit collapsed to the ground. Witnessing this, the remaining two bandits turned pale.

“W-what the hell are you!? How did you get so close…!”

“Damn it! We’ll use him as a hostage—!”

The two bandits reached out to capture the injured man, and I hastily tried to run towards him. However, before I could reach him, a swift figure appeared from the side and with a flash, both bandits collapsed to the ground.

“I won’t let you do that!”

“Gyaaah!”

With a sharp voice, Felix made his entrance. Gripping his beloved sword, he moved at an incredible speed, striking the men’s knees and slashing through their shins. The pain-stricken bandits screamed and rolled on the ground.

“Gazelle, Felix…!”

I rushed towards Gazelle with a radiant face. He had just finished tying up one of the incapacitated bandits. As I approached him, Gazelle smiled and extended both hands.

“Takumi, you little rascal!”

With a sharp grip on my cheeks, Gazelle playfully pulled them in opposite directions. Ah, right. I’m probably going to get scolded…

“You were explicitly told not to act alone! Do you realize how worried we were? Huh?”

Apologizing, I couldn’t find words as he continued to pull my cheeks. It’s a bit painful! But, well, I guess I deserve it this time…

“Gazelle, Captain Felix…!”

I greeted Felix, who had just finished tying up the other bandit. As I approached, Gazelle, still holding my cheeks, frowned.

“Takumi, I told you not to act on your own. Do you understand the trouble you’ve caused us?” 

“Uh, well, I’m really sorry…!”

Trying to apologize, my words were muffled as my cheeks were still being pulled by Gazelle.

“Felix, you…”

“I’m not trying to defend Takumi. It’s just that I also have faults in this situation.”

Felix hung his shoulders, looking dejected. When he looks like that, I feel really bad…

“I’ve heard stories from the married knights in the order. They would say things like, ‘I looked away for just a minute, and then we had to spend two hours searching for him. I thought he activated some time manipulation magic,’ or ‘The moment I let go of his hand, he disappeared without a trace. Got scolded by the wife for that.’ Despite hearing all that, I carelessly took my eyes off Takumi for a moment. It’s my mistake.”

“…”

Gazelle and I fell into a stunned silence. Um, Felix…? That story is about the three and five-year-old children of the knights, right? Could it be that, in Felix’s mind, I’m being treated on the same level as those three and five-year-olds? Wait, please hear my side of the story too! I do have reasons for what happened this time!

“Um, are you two, uh… Takumi’s guardians?”

“I was saved by him. If he hadn’t found and nursed me back to health, I would have been captured by those bandits by now.”

“Is that so, Takumi?”

Gazelle released his grip on my cheeks and looked down at me with narrowed golden eyes. I nodded vigorously, fearing my head might come off.

“…Jeez, you…”

Gazelle reached out again, this time not for my cheeks but to ruffle my hair.

“…Helping people is fine, but please, think about your own safety first. Especially when you’re in that state.”

“Gazelle, I’m sorry…”

It seemed Gazelle had forgiven me. It might be because of the man here, but I still feel relieved. Then, a hand reached out from behind and effortlessly lifted me up.

“Felix. I apologize for causing you worry as well.”

“No… Helping someone powerless is a knight’s duty and an honor. I love your sincerity in fulfilling that duty.”

When he says that, I can’t help but feel even more apologetic! As Felix gently whispered those words near my frozen ears, he continued.

“But… a promise is a promise. Tonight, Commander Gazelle and I will remind you just how much we care for you.”

“…I-I’d rather you spare me from that…”

Felix smiled, silent at my words. Is that smile forgiving, or is it a warning that there will be no mercy?

***

“Thank you so much. Not only did you save my life, but you’re even giving me a ride to Gorera City… I really don’t know how to thank you enough.”

“Don’t worry about it. By the way, do you have any plans for after we arrive in Gorera City?”

Once again, we boarded the carriage headed for our destination, Gorera City.

Of course, the brother I just met was with us. His name is apparently Rido.

His leg wound had completely healed, but he was terribly exhausted and had lost his horse during the attack by the bandits. That’s why we decided to let him ride in this carriage.

As for the bandits from before, we gagged them and tied each of them separately to tree trunks.

It would be impossible for the injured men to escape from there. Once we arrive in Gorera City, we plan to inform the local lord’s knights.

By the way, this “Luxury Magic Carriage” seats four and is quite spacious inside, so there’s no problem even with Rido joining us.

Rido sits opposite Gazelle, with Felix next to Gazelle.

As for where I am sitting…

“…Takumi has been awfully quiet. Are you feeling seasick?”

“No, it’s not that. Just, um…”

While Gazelle and Rido were making lively conversation, Felix whispered in my ear.

The ticklish sensation of his breath made me shiver involuntarily, causing Felix to tighten his grip around me.

That’s right – for some reason, I am sitting on Felix’s lap.

Seriously, why?

I mean, Gazelle had me on his lap earlier, but, but now Rido is sitting opposite us…!

Rido occasionally glances over with a seemingly amused look, but I’m sure if he knew my real age, that gaze would turn cold…

“…Felix. Uh, you’ve been letting me sit here for a while, aren’t your legs getting sore?”

“No, not at all. Takumi feels as light as a kitten right now.”

I tried to subtly suggest that I wanted to get off his lap, but my plea was instantly rejected with a smile.

Ugh, ugh… It was fine when Gazelle had me earlier since there was nobody else around… but now with Rido here, it’s so embarrassing… I can’t wait to reach our destination!

“So, by the way, Rido-san, why are you heading to Gorera City? From the looks of it earlier, it doesn’t seem like you’re here for sightseeing…”

To divert attention from my embarrassing situation, I decided to join Gazelle and Rido’s conversation.

Considering my appearance, I thought it would be rude to address him without honorifics, so I used ‘san’.”

“Ah, that reminds me, I haven’t told you yet. Actually, I live in a town on the outskirts of the Gorgora territory, quite far from Gorera City… My town has long been sustaining itself with silver mining.”

“Really, there’s a silver mine?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Come to think of it, silverware and silver accessories from Gorera City have started to become fashionable among the nobles of Ritzheim City recently. …Ah, no, I mean, I’ve heard such stories.”

Felix hastily corrected himself because we hadn’t revealed our identities to Rido.

Gazelle and Felix are the commander and vice-commander of the Black-winged Knights, and Felix is also a noble. Revealing their status would have made Rido too embarrassed to even ride in this carriage.

After all, at first, he had said, “I cannot possibly ride in such a luxurious carriage! Being saved is more than enough for me!” 

Even after that, he had been reluctant, insisting “I am fine on the driver’s seat,” until Gazelle, with his innate communication skills, convinced him to sit inside.

“Is that so! To think that the silver we mined in the capital city is becoming famous and is being used by the nobles… It’s truly gratifying.”

Rido beamed with joy.

But… I felt a bit of discomfort and stared at him.

Rido’s clothes were, how should I put it… quite worn out.

The sleeves were frayed, the elbows and knees were worn thin to the point where his skin was showing. The fact that his ankles were quite visible from the hem of his pants was probably due to his height increase. In other words, he couldn’t afford new clothes even as he grew taller.

Despite the silver mined there being so famous in the capital city, the reason Rido, a resident of the mining area, was wearing such clothes was, in other words…

“It seems like not much of that is being returned to you guys.”

It seemed Gazelle felt the same way I did.

He addressed Rido straightforwardly, typical of his blunt manner. In response to Gazelle’s candid words, Rido showed a bitter smile.

“Yes… You’re absolutely right. In fact, that’s exactly why I’m heading to Gorera City.”

“To Gorera City?”

Rido shared the circumstances of his situation. 

In his town, under the mayor’s leadership, reckless development of the silver mine had been aggressively pursued recently.

Previously, the townspeople mined enough silver just to get by and lived a peaceful life. But now, the men are being forced to work tirelessly, with hardly any time to sleep.

Although there’s a vigilante group to protect the town, they’ve sided with the mayor. Instead of protecting the townspeople, they capture and punish anyone who tries to resist, including their families, by whipping and beating them.

The vigilantes don’t hesitate to use violence even against women and children. This has caused the townspeople to live in constant fear, complying with the endless demands for silver mining and extraction.

“If this situation continues, it won’t be long before people start dying. But with our own strength, we can’t oppose the mayor…”

The townspeople secretly sought a solution without being caught by the vigilantes. The plan they came up with was for Rido to sneak out of the town, avoiding the vigilantes’ eyes, and appeal to the lord in Gorera City about the town’s current situation.

“Why were you chosen as the representative, Rido-san?”

“I lost my parents to a pandemic when I was a teenager. Since I have no family, even if my escape is discovered, there will be no family members to be tortured as a lesson.”

Rido’s dry smile left me at a loss for words. Then, Felix, who had me on his lap, spoke up.

“So, it was decided that you, having been singled out, would head to Gorera City.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You are a brave man. It must have been difficult to travel alone without anyone’s help.”

“No, no… I’m not someone who deserves such praise.”

At Felix’s blooming smile and words of comfort, Rido’s face turned red, and he became flustered.

Gazelle, too, offered him a lively smile.

“Felix is right, you do have guts! It’s not something anyone can do, even for the sake of their hometown.”

“No… in the end, I couldn’t have achieved my goal without everyone’s help.”

“Then, our meeting here must be divine providence. We will definitely ensure you reach Gorera City, so rest assured.”

“Thank you so much!”

Tears welled up in Rido’s eyes as he repeatedly bowed deeply to us, clearly overwhelmed with gratitude.

But still… having spent most of my time in the capital since arriving in this world, I had the impression that the Ritzheim Magic Kingdom was a peaceful country… But it seems that there are indeed people suffering under the rule of lords and mayors.

I realized how fortunate I have been.

After arriving in this other world, I quickly met everyone in the Black Wing Knights. The thought of what might have happened to me if I hadn’t is chilling.

I’m terrible at magic and fighting. I would have probably been quickly captured or killed by pirates or bandits.

“…Takumi, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”

Felix, noticing my silence, asked with a concerned look. I hurriedly shook my head.

“No, it’s not that I’m feeling sick. It’s just that hearing Rido-san’s story made me realize how lucky I’ve been…”

“Lucky?”

“Remember, I met Felix and Gazelle on a pirate ship? If I hadn’t met you two there and been rescued, I wonder what would have become of me now.”

“Takumi…”

As I was speaking, Rido suddenly made a shocked face and exclaimed, “A pirate ship!?”

“Takumi-kun was on a pirate ship and was rescued by these two?”

“Yes. I think I was lucky.”

“That is… wow, you’ve really been through a lot, haven’t you?”

Rido looked at me with sympathetic eyes and nodded as if understanding the situation.

“I see, I was wondering about your relationship since you two don’t look like family, especially with Takumi-kun’s rare black hair and black eyes… But now I get it. Takumi-kun was kidnapped as a slave and put on a pirate ship, and you two rescued him.”

“Hmm?”

…Ah, right.

From Rido’s perspective, our trio must seem like an odd combination. We certainly don’t look like siblings by blood, and moreover, I’m in this form now.

“Yes, that’s right. That’s how it is. I find him so adorable that I can’t help it.”

“What!? Hey, Felix…”

It seemed Felix decided to fully play along with Rido’s misunderstanding.

He smiled mischievously and hugged me tightly with both arms, while gently patting my head.

Wait, Felix! 

It’s really embarrassing in front of people…!

However, unaware Rido looked at Felix and me with a warm smile.

In this situation, I couldn’t possibly confess, “Actually, my real age is… and this appearance is just temporary due to a magic potion…” It would be too embarrassing.

Ugh, I can’t wait to arrive in Gorera City…

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