The Attackers

"You too, get over there next to him. You're in the way."

"Understood."

Finn spoke, and Orleans came to stand beside me.

Even if the Fire Elemental would protect her, Orleans herself couldn't fight.

It would probably be easier for everyone if she stayed put rather than having the Fire Elemental run wild unpredictably.

The clattering of the clappers stopped.

Alexia brought her index finger to her lips.

A gesture meaning "be quiet."

I nodded in response.

And so, only the ticking of the clock echoed through the room.

Then there was a sound near the window.

Glass shattered, and three figures in black clothing burst in.

An attack.

"… It's not the Crown Prince."

A man's voice came from the person in front.

The instant I tried to ask what that meant, Finn had already kicked off the ceiling and was bearing down from above.

She must have moved the moment they broke in.

I could only say she was impressive.

A kick struck the nape of the neck, and the man collapsed, convulsing.

To the attackers, Finn must have appeared out of nowhere.

They hastily raised their weapons, but by then Alexia and Elza had circled to the sides.

They swung their respective weapons.

There was a thud as bodies hit the floor.

No blood was flowing, so they must have used the blunt side of their weapons.

"Let me tie them up real quick."

With a voice lacking any tension, Elza deftly gathered the attackers in one spot and bound them tightly.

I was a bit curious why she was so skilled at this, but whatever.

No follow-up attack came. Everyone sheathed their weapons.

Then we pulled off the hoods concealing their faces, revealing three men with shaved heads.

"Finn, do you know who these guys are?"

"I don't know their faces, but with their heads shaved like that, they're probably one of the factions stationed in the Empire. They're nothing special though. Lots of numbers but not much quality."

"I see. Their reactions were slow, so that fits."

Alexia nodded in understanding.

Having subdued them in an instant was impressive.

"Setting that aside, they said something concerning. They definitely said 'it's not the Crown Prince,' didn't they?"

"I heard it too."

Orleans agreed with Azu's words.

The attackers had seemed to hesitate the moment they muttered that.

Finn and the others didn't miss that opening and had subdued them in an instant.

"What does that mean?"

"We can worry about that later."

Finn clapped her hands to cut off the discussion before it could start.

"There's no guarantee these are the only ones who came. I mean, they didn't even notice the clappers I set up, but they'd still be a threat to you."

"Well, business is my specialty."

"No sense of urgency, huh."

Finn snorted dismissively.

Seeing that, Azu hurried over.

"It's alright. We'll protect you."

"Do your best. I'm not great at protecting people."

Elza said that while patting Azu's head and turned toward Finn.

"So what do we do? Stay put here?"

"That's fine too, but I'm not fond of staying on the defensive."

Alexia gently declined Elza's suggestion.

Finn nodded in agreement.

The most reliable ones here in this situation were probably Finn and Alexia, given their experience.

Thinking it best to let them take the lead, I stayed quiet.

"For now, if we go to that Crown Prince's place, we'll probably learn a lot. These guys won't be going anywhere tied up like this. They're just underlings who don't know anything anyway."

"Okay."

In no time, Elza had also bound their hands and feet, and the three men were rolled onto the floor, practically mummified.

They should be grateful they were still alive after attacking us.

Finn and Alexia took the lead to guide us.

Outside, with the lights out, it was pitch black.

I could barely see anything in front of me.

"It's alright. Just don't let go of my hand."

"Got it."

I grabbed Azu's hand.

My other hand was holding Orleans's so we wouldn't get separated, leaving both hands occupied.

Both of them seemed a bit tense.

Elza brought up the rear, sandwiching us protectively.

The path was quiet, but as we got closer to the Crown Prince's residence, we started hearing sounds like metal clashing.

There were black-clad figures lying collapsed along the road.

"Don't look away."

Following Alexia's words, we finally arrived at the Crown Prince's residence.

The sounds were still audible.

The door was open, so we went inside and found the black-clad men fighting another force.

Presumably the other side was under the Crown Prince's command.

The black-clad men appeared to be losing.

"Run."

Finn said just that and broke into a sprint.

At the same time, my hand was yanked hard.

Azu was pulling me.

Carrying my and Orleans's weight like it was nothing, Azu ran after Finn and Alexia.

We made it inside without being obstructed.

Bursting into the room where we'd met the Crown Prince, blood was splattered everywhere.

"Oh, you were attacked too?"

Kelves greeted us, wearing blood-stained clothes with Gloria at his side holding a long sword.

"Ah, this is just the enemy's blood, don't mind it. I can't exactly change clothes right now."

"I would imagine not."

A quick glance showed blood dripping from Gloria's long sword.

The black-clad assailants who made it this far must have been cut down.

She was someone even Finn was wary of. Perhaps that was only natural.

"How pitiful for them, being thrown into a fight they couldn't win."

"They were probably blinded by money. That sort only knows how to maneuver for position."

"Harsh, aren't you."

Kelves laughed at that.

To make jokes and laugh in a situation like this was anything but normal.

Meanwhile, the smell of blood was making me nauseous.

Was someone who would become Emperor just different somehow?

"I had spread information that I was staying in your house. Oh right, I forgot to mention that."

"So that's why we were attacked."

"Exactly. Sorry about that. I thought it would be fine while you were there, but that child is so impatient."

He sighed wearily.

I had bigger concerns, but saying anything would be pointless.

To him, we were guests but not even citizens of his nation.

The surveillance must have been lifted because this place was attacked and they were called back.