TN: Chapter 30 was repeated in Chapter 31, but this has been corrected. Please take a look!
Ahem, Almoa cleared her throat.
“I’ve been watching for a few days, and it seems they’re waiting for the client to arrive.”
“Client?”
“Probably a human trafficking merchant.”
A brief answer.
…It reminded me of an unpleasant person.
Almoa continued her calm analysis.
“This fortress isn’t the kidnappers’ main base. It seems they temporarily secured it to hold the children. A building that large would be impractical for a small number of people to use.”
“I see.”
“However, it looks like the client is delayed, and those guys are getting lazy. I saw them cheerfully bringing in alcohol earlier; they’re probably having a drinking party in the middle of the day.”
They’re really letting their guard down…
Whether it was the kidnappers’ cunning or the adventurers’ skill that allowed them to fend off those Citrine-grade adventurers remains unclear.
Almoa asserted.
“If we’re going to charge, now is the time.”
“Got it.”
I slowly guided Raderia to the edge of the swamp.
The weather was clear, and the temperature was pleasant. I squinted.
It would be perfect for a nap after a drinking party.
“Do you know where the children are being held?”
“I don’t know for sure yet. But I think they’re probably in the tower at the back of the fortress. It would be easy to monitor from there, and they couldn’t escape easily.”
With that, Almoa looked at Rodo, who was standing beside the iron carriage.
The girl’s guardian spirit was already in battle mode, with shards of ice flickering across its body.
“If we can infiltrate the fortress, Rodo’s sense of smell can locate the children.”
“Ah. Sorry for being a trash can with low sensitivity…”
Raderia seemed dejected.
I’ll comfort her later.
“If the enemy is careless, we should strike first.”
“Right, let’s charge in!”
Fiole leaned forward as usual. Almoa silently nodded in agreement.
Alright, it’s decided.
“Raderia. I’m counting on you.”
“W-Wait!”
Even if her response was pitiful, her momentum was genuine.
With Raderia’s power, we would burst into the fortress.
We took a moment to wait inside Raderia, ready to jump out of the driver’s seat as soon as we charged in.
“Charge!”
At my command, Raderia dashed forward.
She ran along the gravel road at an even more incredible speed, crashing into the iron door ahead.
“Break through!”
“Yes!”
BAM!
The sturdy iron carriage collided with the door, and the massive door flew open like a leaf caught in a gust of wind.
Inside Raderia, we felt almost no impact.
“Is this carriage for real?”
Almoa muttered softly.
The large door seemed to connect directly to the interior of the building.
In the grand entrance hall fitting the scale of the fortress, thugs were lounging around.
Bottles of alcohol were scattered about.
They all stared blankly at the crumpled, rolling iron door.
After a moment…
“Wha—”
“Enemies! Enemy attack!”
“What are those guys?!”
They started to panic.
But it was too late.
By the time they picked up their weapons, we had already infiltrated deep into the hall.
They must have been completely off-guard, thinking that door was sturdy.
Fiole and Almoa leaped out of the iron carriage.
Fiole and Almoa flanked the thugs, while Rodo, who had arrived a little late, positioned himself at the shattered entrance, surrounding the thugs from three directions.
Caught in confusion and panic, the thugs changed their attitude upon seeing Fiole and Almoa.
“W-What? Just kids? You’re trying to scare us?”
“From Miniigel? Ha! You came to rescue your friends, huh? How touching.”
“Hey, that carriage is impressive. What kind-hearted kids, preparing an escape route for us.”
…Are they saying this on purpose? Or is their thinking just impaired?
Caught off-guard by unknown assailants and surrounded, the thugs were still laughing mockingly.
Probably because Fiole and Almoa looked like nothing more than children.
They’re feeling too relaxed.
Ignoring the thugs’ taunts, Almoa shouted.
“Where are the children?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll take you to the same place soon, little lady.”
“Looks like you’re all armed up. Let us show you how adults fight.”
As they spoke, the thugs began to arrange themselves into formation.
I started to understand.
They were provoking us to buy time to regain their footing.
This adaptability.
It’s clear that they managed to fend off those Citrine-grade adventurers.
I generated a short spear using Raderia’s Droplet Forge. I needed to support with this and Long Throw.
“Hey, old man over there!”
Annoying. I’m only 21.
You all look much older than me!
…I wanted to yell back, but I held it in.
“Quit lurking around like that. It’s pathetic. I’ll deal with you all, so you better come out now, you beanpole!”
“What did you say?!”
I was thinking I wouldn’t fall for such cheap provocation when an angry voice came from an unexpected direction.
Hey, Fiole, come on now.
Don’t get provoked.
With her blonde hair standing on end, she looked completely ready for a fight.
“Did you just insult Isto-san?!”
“Eh?”
One of the thugs turned around.
“Hey, little lady. You should join us instead of that pathetic beanpole. You’d be much better off with us—”
“Gifted Skill Activation! Flash Thrust!”
With a roar from deep in my belly, I swung Enestia’s spear.
With all my might.
No tricks, no holding back.
A full-powered Gifted Skill.
A blinding light filled the room, and I felt a strange sensation as if the very air in the entrance hall was sucked away.
The light blade created by Flash Thrust shot over the heads of the thugs, piercing through the second-floor wall.
The shockwave sent debris flying outside.
A massive hole was created, easily five meters wide.
From there, a magnificent clear sky peeked through.
The thugs froze in place.
Almoa froze too.
“Now…”
I pointed the tip of the spear at the thugs.
“Prepare yourselves!”
