Chapter 72: Sherry, the Hardworking
ㅤ”Nee-san, we should apprehend this one!”
ㅤ
ㅤThe young magic user was the only one still fired up.
ㅤ
ㅤ”If you drop your sword now━━Lightning, transform into a single bolt and strike my enemy━━”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ether Shot”
ㅤ
ㅤI shot the young magic user’s hand with an Ether Shot, reducing its power.
ㅤI think it was about the same force as a light punch.
ㅤ
ㅤThe young magic user stopped moving.
ㅤHe should have known what would have happened if I hadn’t held back━━he’s a magic user.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Just so you know, you’re the one who started this. And it was a cowardly sneak attack, too. Trying to use magic on someone who’s agreed to disarm.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Lewis! Are you trying to shame the Knights?”
ㅤ
ㅤThe female knight was furious.
ㅤ
ㅤ”B-But, she looks suspicious no matter how you look at it! She was hiding the fact that she could use magic like this!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s not the point! I’m saying your actions are against the code of chivalry! You saw me make a promise with this person!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”B-But, you’re the one who made the promise, Nee-san, I’m not obligated to be bound by it.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I told you not to call me Nee-san while on duty! I guaranteed her safety as a representative of my position! Are you, a mere assistant, going to overturn that on your own?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Th-That’s… That’s a minor detail in the face of a major issue! We can find out if this woman is innocent or guilty after we catch her! That’s more logical!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That thinking of yours isn’t logical, it’s just plain cowardly!”
ㅤ
ㅤThe female knight and the young magic user started arguing.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Well, no matter how you look at it, the boy is in the wrong.）
ㅤ
ㅤHe doesn’t seem to care about breaking promises.
ㅤI don’t know what their relationship is, but he’s bringing his personal relationships into his work.
ㅤMoreover, this boy is convinced that what he’s doing is “logical” and “right,” and he’s not listening to anyone.
ㅤ
ㅤSoon after, the boy fell silent, looking very dissatisfied, and the female knight sighed, holding her face in her hands.
ㅤ
ㅤ”…Um, could you perhaps remember me now?”
ㅤ
ㅤThe female knight looked up, startled, and turned to me.
ㅤ
ㅤ”M-My apologies. My subordinate acted rudely. Allow me to apologize in his stead.”
ㅤ
ㅤThe female knight bowed to me.
ㅤAnd quite deeply, too.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hey, Nee-san!?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”You bow too.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”B-But, I didn’t do anything wrong…!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s an order. Bow your head.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Guh…”
ㅤ
ㅤThe young magic user reluctantly bowed his head.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ahaha, don’t worry about it… I can’t say that, but I’m not hurt or anything. I understand why you’d be jumpy in this situation.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”My apologies.
ㅤHowever, even so, we still need to investigate.
ㅤI personally believe you’re innocent, but is there anyone who can testify to your innocence?”
ㅤ
ㅤHer words reminded me.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ah, that’s right, I left Hamuto-san waiting.”
ㅤ
ㅤJust as I said that,
ㅤ
ㅤ”━━Hey! Young lady! Minato! Are you alright!?”
ㅤ
ㅤHamuto-san’s voice could be heard from the direction of the village entrance.
ㅤ
ㅤI told the female knight,
ㅤ
ㅤ”I have a companion. He came to this village with me, and he’s a resident of the neighboring village. I’m currently staying at his and his wife’s house.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”What? Then why didn’t you say so sooner?”
ㅤ
ㅤThe female knight said, slumping her shoulders.
ㅤ
ㅤAfter that, Hamuto-san, who quickly joined us, testified on my behalf, and the suspicion against me was almost completely cleared.
ㅤ
ㅤHamuto-san seemed to know about the old man with the axe, and after hearing about his circumstances, the two knights looked convinced.
ㅤ
ㅤAs a precaution, we decided to go to Hamuto-san’s village to confirm my alibi.
ㅤ
ㅤThe female knight ordered the young magic user to fire a signal flare, and her subordinates arrived in about half an hour to keep watch over the destroyed village.
ㅤ
ㅤOn the way, the female knight said to me,
ㅤ
ㅤ”I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Sherry Hampshire. I’m the Captain of the Mistradia Tree Country Patrol Knights.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’m Minato. You probably already know that since Hamuto-san called me that.”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san nodded.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Indeed.
ㅤThis is Lewis Belmont. He’s my assistant.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”By assistant, do you mean adjutant?”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san made a bitter face at my question.
ㅤ
ㅤ”He’s… in my care, let’s say. The adjutant is someone else.”
ㅤ
ㅤShe said in a low voice.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Let’s see, if he’s not an adjutant but in her care, that means she’s keeping him under her watchful eye because he causes trouble with other people, right?
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s… Thank you for your hard work.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”My apologies. Despite the age difference, he’s a childhood friend, so my guidance hasn’t quite reached him. I want Lewis to properly learn chivalry, but…”
ㅤ
ㅤThat’s… probably impossible, judging by his behavior.
ㅤ
ㅤI glanced back at the young magic user━━Lewis━━and he was following behind us with a clearly sulky expression.
ㅤLewis had neatly trimmed black mushroom hair and, well, you could call him a handsome young man. Being able to ruin a blessed face with just expressions and attitude might be a talent in itself.
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san was a beautiful woman with honey-colored hair and sharp features, but if you looked closely, she had dark circles under her eyes.
ㅤYou can tell how much she’s been through.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You said 『Awakened』 earlier, right? I think you were talking about the old man from before, but what exactly is that?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Indeed. Minato has the right to know.
ㅤBut before that, tell me. You said you defeated that old man alone. The magic you used to stop Lewis was also quite impressive, and from what I saw, your swordsmanship is also quite good. And yet, you’re a Thief, correct?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ahaha, yes, well…”
ㅤ
ㅤIt’s hard to hide it at this point.
ㅤ
ㅤ”In that case, haven’t you had a strange dream since entering this forest?”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san’s words hit a little too close to home.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Um, you mean the 『Do you desire power?』 one?”