Chapter 13
The Fear that Starts to Move (1)
Maia and Meer entered the Knights’ station, which was now completely empty.
“n.o.body’s here.” (Maia)
“Huh? Dang it, don’t call us if you’re not even here!” (Meer)
Walking through the Knight station with vigilance as they looked for the Master Knight, but where the weapons and horses should have been it was empty. Meer was sulking, completely in a bad mood. On the other hand, Maia was thinking about what had happened. The two people, of course, thought the Knights had also fought in the defense line preparing for the monster attack. In review of the Lizardmen attack six months ago they didn’t know that the knights had forcibly confined Ririade.
“If you think so. I did not see any Knights in the town’s defense line. I wonder why?” (Maia)
“c.r.a.p! They ran away?” (Meer)
Meer’s a.s.sumption was close, not too far off. Actually though, the knights had abducted third Princess Ririade with brute force before running away from this city.
“That possibility is highly likely. Meer, you go to the guild. I will try going to the castle.” (Maia)
“Eh- troublesome~” (Meer)
Maia shook her fist in dissatisfaction to the reply of Meer. *Gon*
“Gya! That hurts- Maia-!” (Meer)
Holding her head down, Meer wriggled around in fear. As for Maia, her face is certainly smiling sweetly, but her aura of anger had risen.
“Now is not a time to act playfully. Understood?” (Maia)
Meer nodded with a half-cry, and galloped towards the guild.
Maia also soon arrived at the castle, and just like the Knights’ station it was completely empty.
“…This is really terrible! The Knights and Princess abandoned the town and escaped, I wonder if the town knows.” (Maia)
Maia had no choice but to be filled with foreboding. Looking up at the now-empty castle, it had become a fantastic spectacle bathed in the orange of the sunset. If it were the usual Maia she would have been impressed, but currently she only sighed.
When Meer, after being hit by Maia, rushed into the guild semi-crying, the guild had already begun a feast for the adventurers. The older men smiled and were cheerful. The adventurers aggressively invited the crying Meer to come and drink, attaching abusive language.
As for Meer, this was not in her mind at all.
“Call the guildmaster quickly!” (Meer)
She showed the officials her Mithril Guild card denoting that she was in an S rank party, allowing her to speak with the Guildmaster. The receptionist flew to the back of the guild, saying “Yes, of course.” Waiting for awhile, only Gin came back out.
“And the Guildmaster?” (Meer)
“He seems to be missing. Sorry Meer-chan.” (Gin)
“Huh? Why the heck isn’t he here!?” (Meer)
“Well said.” (Gin)
“…infuriating!” (Meer)
“Didn’t I say it? I’m the grandson of the Guildmaster?” (Gin)
Thinking that the grandchild was good enough, Meer reported that there was no one in the Knight station. And also that Maia was now heading to the castle–
“Of course it was those guys!” shouted Gin and the adventurers who also heard the story. Meer, who does not know what happened to cause their anger, was still half-crying.
Then Maia, after looking at the circ.u.mstances of the castle, arrived at the guild. Glancing at Meer, she spoke to Gin.
“Gin! The Guildmaster is-?” (Maia)
“He is absent. I think he is probably out in the reconstruction of the city.” (Gin)
“I wonder if you know where?” (Maia)
“I’m sorry, but tell me instead if there is an important matter.” (Gin)
Maia tells him that there was not a single person in either the Knight station or in the castle. “That can’t be!” (Gin) (「そんな！」)
As for Gin, he knew that previously during the lizardman attack the knights did not partic.i.p.ate in the defense, and instead only solidified the defense of Ririade at the castle. The adventurers there who were listening about the knights not staying in the castle also became upset.
“I don’t know, but it is my guess that they probably fled the city with her Royal Highness…” (Maia)
“That’s not true! Riri would not forsake the people by running away! Even at the time of the Lizardman she regretted being shut in!” (Gin)
With the shout of Gin the guild was silenced. Some adventurers muttered, and Maia and Meer were dumbfounded.
At that time — the town, the very earth, began to tremble as if in fear of something —