Someday I will learn

Chapter 26: Missing children (Part 3)

After the measurements, I asked the knights in patrol about the k********g that had been happening in the city of Everfloria.

And on the way to our search of Yumi. Taki pointed out the strange “Sound” coming from the carriage that passed by. That night I traced the carriage and reached the forest beside the city of Everfloria. There I saw a wood storage facility.

The wooden logs piled up on the carriage.

If they were truly hollow inside. I can see how they could let out a sound. I thought that maybe the kidnapped children were hidden inside.

Let’s open this u and check inside.

I put my finger on the cut located in the middle of the wood. Trying my best, I’ve pulled up with all my strength.

“Hng! Mmmpphh!”

But I was a fool there is no way the strength of a 12 years old girl will manage to lift such a heavy thing.

Yep… I knew it.

Now, what to do. It doesn't seem like anyone is going to come out of that cabin. If I want to tell the knights. This would be the moment to do it, but the kidnapper with the children might disappear at that time.

If I can get at least some clues about them.

I sneak on the cabin and for some investigation. Looking at the cabin I noticed that the window is slightly open. I slowly walked and put my eyes on it.

From the window, I saw three adults. They look like the typical thieves or bandits I’m seeing in wanted posters. In short, they look untrustworthy.

The three adults are enjoying themselves with a little feast of food and bottles of booze.

“Hey, that’s enough booze for you. Because we'll be heading soon.”

“I know! By the way, I hate the idea of going out of the city at all.”

“Nothing to worry about… The adventurers should be able to deal with the monsters around the city. Don’t lose your nerve now. If we don’t deliver the caskets they will die inside you know.”

“There’s more that came from.”

“It’s not that simple… Lately, some knights from the Central city seem to have joined the investigation. I’m not afraid of any knights that are being betrayed by their own subordinates.”

“If you underestimate them you're definitely going to regret it in the future.”

“What? You afraid of them?”

“Just stating the obvious. State knights from the Central city are fearsome after all.”

“... … …”

So there are three people inside. But this looks more and more suspicious. Everfloria city is surrounded by forest so it's easy to encounter monsters at night. It’s reckless to try going out of the city at night. If there’s anyone that can do I, the guards would notice them immediately.

But, if these criminals have been going out of the city freely at night.

I’m afraid that the knights are being betrayed by their own subordinates.

These guys…

They in cahoots a part of the knights in this city. Maybe that's why they are not doing their job properly. The moment we report that our friend was missing. The knights just look at us calmly and just do nothing about it.

I can’t even rely on the knights in this city.

“You know there was this knight called Karyll right?”

“You mean that cute cat girl. I’m really into her. I wanted to capture her and chain her as my slave.”

“When I was in the north I did monster-hunting work with her. Can you believe that catgirl? During lunchtime, there was a three-headed grizzly that attacked us. She single-handedly knocked it down. Lock its movements and using a fork she stabbed it on its neck!”

“Huh?”

… State knight Karyll. I don’t know who that was but hearing the story about her. She is definitely strong. Headed grizzly is considered an A-class monster and that kind of monster is usually battled by multiple parties of adventurers.

Strong people do exist. Maybe there are more powerful adventurers besides my master Koyuki.

“A fork Just with one, she killed an A-class monster without a single scratch and without breaking a sweat!”

“You’re joking right?”

“It’s true. Since seeing that I learned to be prudent with how I do things. Monsters and demons are not the only ones we should be afraid of. Some adventurers are considered more demonic than the demons you’ve ever seen.”

“Enough with the story… It’s almost time. The buyer of the kids is waiting. After you finish that drink we’re going. Don’t let your guard down.”

So they really are going to smuggle the kids outside of the city. I don’t have time left. If I lost sight of them here. They will escape outside the city. The kids will be sold off and I’ll lose track of them.

Rescuing the kids alone? That’s impossible. I’m too weak to open the caskets and I can’t carry all of them either. Defeating the kidnappers will also be difficult.

If it was just one. I could take my chance and possibly beat them. But three people is too many.

I turned my glance to the logs with the kids inside.

“I can’t just leave these kids alone. I must save them.”

I pulled my sword and tried to use my wind magic to make a gentle cut opening the log. But it’s taking too much time. I can’t just cut down the wood with my skill. The kid inside will also be cut if I did that.

Before I even start my plan. The three bandits appeared in front of me.

“Hey, kid where you came from?”

“Umm… … I was playing hide and seek and got lost.”

What kind of reason is that? Well, that the only thing that I can’t think of while panicking.

“Hey wait look.”

The kidnapped will at my body with their dirty eyes. CHill flows through my spine and I made a step back.

“A bit dirty but she is a looker. A cute girl like her will definitely sell a lot of money.”

What should I do? It’s not my fault that I’m born cute. Anyway, I’m happy that somebody complimented me.

I must think of a way to leave this situation.

“No… Stay away…”

I put on an act. Acting like a frail weak girl. To let their guards down. I’m using a sweet-toned voice and I making such a cute face looking at their eyes.

This is the ultimate move only cute girls can use.

“She’s sacred… poor girl.”

… Well if they can’t notice my acting that's convenient.

“W-What are you going to do to me?”

“Huh? That’s… Well, introduce you to someone that will take care of you. Through you have no choice between becoming a slave or a living toy of someone else.”

“That’s enough, Tei her down quickly. Dealing with unexpected things quickly is the key to our survival.”

“Okay okay…”

This thin-looking guy must be their leader. He is wearing adventuring attire and his primary weapon is the sword on his waist. Considering that he's an adventurer. There is a possibility that he can use magic. I have to be cautious with him.

The other two look like a creepy grunt.

“Come here… be nice and I won’t hurt you.”

Sorry but that a no…

“I have to refuse! Wind skill: Wind blade!”

“What?!”

I cast my skill toward the man whose about to touch my body. I mage to give him a scratch. His reflexes indeed helped him out. But if my skill didn't miss there is a huge possibility that I cut his left arm already.

“He avoided it.”

“This brat!”

“She can use the skill? This brat is no ordinary. She might be an apprentice knight. We should be careful.”

The two grunts pulled their weapons. The one is using a sword and the other is using an ax.

I can’t expect any help in this battle. I have to defeat these guys on my own.