After returning from the king’s place, we relaxed in the room once again, then went to the hot springs at night to heal both body and mind.
Then, the next day—this was the day we were expecting to hear from Merell—so we waited in the room from the morning.
However, even by noon, there was no contact, and before we knew it, evening had arrived.
“She’s late...”
“Maybe the investigation is taking longer than expected? I’m linked to Koma-chan’s vision, but there’s no one in the room.”
So she hasn’t returned yet...
“Let’s wait a little longer.”
We continued waiting and had dinner.
Even after quite a long time, there was still no word from Merell.
“Master, even if it was taking time, I think she would have at least sent some kind of message.”
I think so too.
Merell, being a former soldier, was always thorough about such things.
“Something must have happened...”
“Trouble?”
“I don’t know. But just waiting here isn’t going to—”
“Master... Koma-chan just reported in. Someone is approaching Sven’s house.”
Someone...
It’s not Merell... Could it be Sven?
“Tell her to hide. If necessary, eliminate the target.”
“Understood... The person tried to open the front door, but it was locked. They gave up and left somewhere else.”
So it wasn’t Sven.
That means...
“Erase Koma-chan.”
“Understood.”
I erased Koma-chan from a distance.
“Now then, what should we do...?”
“Something definitely happened,” Annie answered as I muttered to myself.
“Yeah... Who was it that came to Sven’s house? It obviously wasn’t Sven himself, so that leaves either a guest, an ally, or...”
“A guest wouldn’t come at this hour, and they’d knock. The same goes for an ally.”
So, the chances of it being an enemy are high...
“We’ve been found out.”
“Probably. At the very least, we should act under that assumption.”
Was Merell captured?
Or... killed?
She said she would rely on Sven, but he’s not there, and with the kind of soldiers that town has...
“Either way, we have no choice but to go.”
I’m concerned about Merell, but our course of action remains unchanged.
“Master, if the person who visited earlier was an enemy soldier, there’s a high chance they’re keeping watch around the house. I don’t recommend teleporting there.”
That’s true...
“Leanne, your teleportation works as long as it’s a place you’ve been to before, right?”
I confirmed with Leanne.
“Yes. It might be a bit risky, but let’s teleport to the street. If it’s late at night, there shouldn’t be anyone around.”
From what I remember, that seems likely.
There were plenty of soldiers near the east gate, but the town itself was completely deserted.
“Let’s wait a little longer before teleporting. Then we’ll head to a safe inn or somewhere similar.”
“Understood.”
Leanne nodded.
“I’ll go with Leanne and AI-chan. AI-chan, I’m counting on you for illusion magic and search.”
“Leave it to me.”
“Since we’ll be moving late, you guys can go ahead and sleep.”
I tell the remaining five.
“We’re awake.”
“We’re worried, you know.”
“It’s hard to sleep when we’re this concerned.”
“...It’s impossible to sleep in this situation.”
“Yeah, we’ll wait.”
They’re such good girls...
Well, if the roles were reversed, I’d definitely be awake too.
“Alright, then we’ll wait until it gets later.”
We decided to wait a little longer and kill some time.
Then, when it was about the time we’d normally be asleep, we made our move.
“Yuuma-sama, I will teleport us to the street first. There’s a chance that enemies may be at the destination, so be ready to neutralize them at any moment.”
“I know. AI-chan, as soon as we arrive, scan the area and relay the results through telepathy. Leanne, do not speak under any circumstances.”
Saying that, I held Leanne.
“Understood.”
“Yes... Then, I will teleport us now.”
As Leanne, her cheeks flushed, said that, AI-chan reached out and touched her.
“All good.”
“Alright, here we go.”
The moment Leanne spoke, my vision went completely dark.
Feeling the cold air outside, I knew the teleportation was complete, but since we had been in a well-lit place just moments ago, I couldn’t see anything in the darkness.
((“Master, there are no people in the immediate vicinity. However, I’ve confirmed two hostile presences walking along the street beyond the house.”))
Patrolling soldiers, huh?
((“Avoid the soldiers and find an inn.”))
((“Understood. Please follow me.”))
((“I’m counting on you.”))
Ending the telepathic conversation, AI-chan began walking.
AI-chan zigzagged through the streets, sometimes walking along the main road and other times slipping into narrow alleyways.
Meanwhile, Leanne, still being carried, remained completely silent and entrusted her body to me.
As we continued moving, the darkness made it difficult to tell where we were.
However, trusting the highly capable AI-chan, we followed along and eventually emerged onto a relatively well-lit street.
((“Master, sorry for the delay. There were more soldiers than expected.”))
((“It can’t be helped. Where are we?”))
((“It appears to be a pleasure district. There are numerous unusually close bodily reactions all around.”))
Ah, I see...
((“An inn?”))
((“Please wait a moment... This way.”))
AI-chan started walking again, and we followed.
Eventually, we arrived in front of a building with a faint light at its entrance.
((“This appears to be an inn.”))
((“It’s not a brothel, is it?”))
((“No, but it is that kind of inn.”))
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I see.
((“Got it. I’m going to unsummon you for now.”))
((“Understood.”))
After deactivating AI-chan, I entered the inn while still carrying Leanne.