--The silver longsword blinked and cut the horse and the man on the horse, and the knife wet the blade reddish-black and cut off the neck again.

　It was a brilliant surprise attack, and only one rider escaped. He fled like a rabbit without looking back. He was out of breath and the only thing running through his mind was fear. The two figures watched him go. They did not say anything, nor did they chase. The silence was even more eerie.

　He survived, and later said. I was attacked by a red-black demon and a silver-haired witch.

　I was attacked by a red-black demon and a silver-haired witch.

　I sneeze as the unfamiliar vibrations of the horse rock me. I sneezed as I swayed on the unfamiliar horse, wondering if there were bad rumors about me.

　I managed to save my life, but I was covered in cuts and scrapes all over my body. I grit my teeth at the pain of the lacerations.

　In addition, the juice that had dripped into my hair began to emit a strong odor as time went by. I'm used to the stench, but it's torture to smell something so sweet and overpowering.

But aren't you more suited to be an assassin than an adventurer?

　As I sniffed repeatedly as if I couldn't stand the smell, Kalia Vardnick, who was holding the reins of the horse right in front of me, turned around and said so.

　He sighed heavily and turned to look at me with a crooked mouth.

It's nothing to scoff at. There's a certain sense required for surprise attacks and dark arts. Breathing, timing, luck. You've got that in spades. You move like a trained man.

　The way you wrinkle your nose and blink your eyes. You look like a cat that's been tickled by curiosity.

I'm not particularly prone to unnecessary head-on collisions. I'm not a fan of unnecessary head-on collisions.

　Wipe off the juice and blood as much as you can. The smell of iron mixed with the sweet smell of the blood almost made my nose go stupid.

The smell of iron and sweetness mixed together and made my nose feel stupid. It will be troublesome if they come after us from here. It won't work this way next time.

"Yes, sir. It's not something I like to do on foot against horsemen. Hold on.

　I don't think that's what he meant when he cut off the rider's head and the horse's head, even though it was a surprise attack. I wonder if this woman has a distant ancestor of giants that she doesn't know about, causing her to go back to her ancestors.

　Kalia Vardnick nodded as she tightened the reins, and in response, grabbed onto her waist. Her touch was oddly thin and unreliable. It's hard not to recognize that this woman is no different from any other woman. It was natural, of course, but I felt a strange sense of discomfort and embarrassment.

But I never thought I would be attacked on a street like this. The security of the country has become desolate. As a knight, this is shameful. The Order's policy is to say that only the capital and its surrounding area are countries.

　These were words of pity and self-discipline.

　It is a fact that the security of this era was not very safe. And so, perhaps, the master of the previous attackers. The fact that he was the main cause of the whole country being shaken and further devastated was also a fact of the past in my mind.

　Oh, perhaps it will happen this time, too. Before I knew it, I was genuinely accepting it.

　A man who looked like a commander wearing a helmet. The engraved ring the man wore on his finger with care. He nodded wordlessly in reply to Kalia Vadnick's words, keeping the ring he had misplaced in the confusion gently tucked in his pocket.

　I'll be back.

　Fort Coryden is a relic left behind by history.

　Many of the forts, gates, and defenses were rebuilt and redone during the reign of the previous king, who was known as the King of Architecture. Although there were some people at the time who said that this great project, which was carried out with enormous wealth and taxes, was a bad policy, it was definitely the achievement of the previous king that he was able to prevent three invasions by different tribes and two major invasions by foreign enemies.

　And what was left behind from those achievements was none other than this frontier fort, Coriden.

　Its mountainous terrain made it easy to defend and difficult to attack. In history, this fort has been mentioned many times in battles against the West, but since the time when relations with the allied nations in the West turned friendly, it has not been active at all.

　Nowadays, it is said that being brought here is a convenient transfer.

But still. Oddly enough, they let me through pretty quickly. But they're not very friendly.

　We're dressed like this," he said, showing me a rag covered in blood and juice.

　Inside, the fort was made of stone and clay, just as it looked from the outside. It was deteriorated in many places, smelled of dust, and the atmosphere was gloomy even though it was a visiting room. Even though it is a visiting room, it is hardly ever used. Or is it that this kind of room is enough for us?

　In response to my light-hearted comment, Kalia Vadnick moves her lips in a strangely nervous manner.

...... Well, yes. Keep up appearances so as not to be rude. Where's the letter?

　He took out a letter from his pocket, which was wrinkled and soaked with juice that it looked less like a letter and more like a rag of some kind.

　Kalia Vadnick took the letter from him and wrinkled her brow as she tried to straighten it out. It's a very healthy thing to do.

　But what was she waiting for when she had only come to deliver a message? He scratches his nose and tilts his head. Adventurers, no matter what kind of work they take on, are rarely allowed to make a formal entrance. At best, I would have expected to drop off a letter to a sentry or his superior and be done with it.



　I wonder if this is because of her presence. He glanced at her.

...... Oh my god, be a little more careful .......

　It seems to be so. You will find a lot of people who have been in the business for a long time. I'm sure she came with you on this job because she had something to do with it. If so, this meeting must be related to her business.

　But, well, I'd be happy to give it back. What would you do with a completely unrelated adventurer?

　--Gee!

　The wooden door gave a terrible creak and spat out a man.

　A sharp, almost stern look in his eyes. He has a large scar over his right eye, and his clothes are far more well-made than my own raggedy clothes. It's not luxurious, but it's of a different quality than that of the common people. The ornaments, which are not too ornate, accentuate the quality of the garment.

　And above all, the gilded sword and scabbard that he carries at his waist. The coat of arms on it. There's no doubt about it, this person is...

"-Long time no see, Father.

　Kalia Vadnick knelt down, hung her head, and said in a gentle voice, "It's been a long time, Father. I followed suit, kneeling on the cobblestones.

"I told you not to call me that in public, Kalia.

　No doubt. This is Kalia Vardnik's father.

　The current head of the Bardnick family. Burbage Bardnick, that's who.