Chapter 78

"Regarding the treatment in the village without the knights this time, I can somewhat understand it."

Zara was born and raised in a village that was deeply snow-covered and isolated. Of course, there was no knight garrison.

The village was near the border, and occasionally, refugees seeking help would come.

"Those who made it to the village were lucky..."

In early spring, it was not uncommon to find skeletons in the forest.

People would die in the deep, harsh snow, unable to reach the village.

"When we found such people, my parents taught me to bury them."

At such times, only the bones and clothing were returned to the earth; metals, which would interfere with nature, were to be taken back.

"I would take back the metals—knives and ornaments—and sell them to merchants."

Occasionally, swords or knives would be found in the forest, which were also personal belongings of refugees.

"I would happily take them back and sell them to merchants."

That way, meat would appear on the table. In Zara's village, such things were done without hesitation to survive.

"Well, in a village without knights, selling found items is quite common. Everyone struggles to survive."

That's why Zara remained calm even when she saw the magic axe Luxuria being resold.

"Still, we don't steal from each other in the village, and we know the difference between right and wrong."

The shopkeeper probably bought it without knowing. Zara thought she would overlook the matter at the general store—until.

"That shop was selling illegal drugs."

"What!?"

This was the first time the captain reacted.

"They were selling them openly. Even when I identified myself as a knight, they didn't show the slightest sign of nervousness—"

"Are they crazy?"

"Yes, their judgment was accurate."

"I see."

The captain muttered that there might be a big fish behind it.

"Well, I'm so frustrated that I want to raid it spectacularly."

"Huh?"

It sounded like an outrageous statement from a proper knight.

I looked at the others.

Urgas had an innocent smile on his face.

Garu's tail was swaying. He seemed to be in a good mood.

Sura was on Garu's shoulder, making a motion with her tentacle-like hands as if she were punching. She seemed to be preparing for battle.

Lieslott had narrowed her eyes and was in a combative mood. She seemed to be in a bad mood.

Valli, the deputy captain, had a blank expression. There was no air of stopping the captain.

Zara was swinging her battle axe wildly. She seemed to be full of energy.

Amelia spread her wings and let out a low cry. She also seemed to be ready for action.

Wait, am I the only one who isn't enthusiastic?

Shouldn't we report to the higher-ups before raiding? Or, since we don't know who's behind it, shouldn't we avoid a big scene? Am I the only one thinking this?

"Um... why are you all so...?"

The answer was probably what the captain said earlier: "Because we're frustrated."

Is that okay?

No, it's not okay.

"Alright. I'll allow it."

What, it's okay? To hit the shopkeeper?

"Yes, hit him. I'll take full responsibility."

"Shopkeeper... I'll hit him too."

"That's the spirit."

So, the captain gave permission to hit the shopkeeper. We were going to punish him.

◇◇◇

Thanks to the river turtle's effect, everyone's complexion had improved, and they seemed to have recovered their energy.

They were too energetic, almost overexcited.

We rode our horses from the forest and arrived at the village.

A villager saw the captain in his tattered clothes and gasped.

"Hey, you!"

"Oh, oh, please forgive me! I have a wife, children, and elderly parents!!"

"Take me to the village chief."

"What?"

It seemed they would get proper permission before raiding. They were polite bandits. Impressive.

We heard the story about the general store at the village chief's house.

Amelia couldn't enter, so she and Garu waited outside. Sura jumped onto my shoulder. She seemed to be interested in the adult conversation.

The captain, who looked unkempt and unshaven, didn't look like a knight, but the village chief believed him. It was good that he was a good person.

The captain asked about the general store.

"We, too, have been troubled by the general store..."

The store had opened three years ago. The village had been peaceful until then, but it had started to attract unsavory people.

"The items in the store were all expensive, and when villagers came, they were treated rudely. We went to talk to him many times, but it was no use."

"I see."

Until then, there had been no general store in the village. They had relied on traveling merchants for necessary items, which took a week to ten days to arrive, making it inconvenient. At first, they were happy about the store, but now it was a problem.

"Why didn't you consult the knights?"

"Well, we didn't think a knight would come to such a remote place..."

"Knights go anywhere. That's our job as the expeditionary force."

"Yes..."

I couldn't help but think the captain looked cool.

"Do you understand the situation?"

"Of course."

Valli, the deputy captain, gave a good response.

Urgas asked a dangerous question, "Poison arrows are not allowed, right?"

"Paralyzing arrows are fine."

"Understood!"

Paralyzing arrows are fine, huh?

I couldn't help but comment in my head.

"Captain, what about my magic?"

"Attack magic is allowed if one person falls. But keep it small-scale."

"Understood."

Lieslott was also enthusiastic.

Sura was moving her hands, ready to fight, but the captain told her to stay in the bottle. She looked disappointed, but—

"You don't need to trouble yourself."

He said it with a serious face. Sura seemed to understand.

The plan was then announced.

Zara and I would go to the general store and demand to see the business license. We would arrest him for not having it.

"Try to keep it peaceful."

He said that, but his scary face made it unconvincing.

It was late, so we decided to stay overnight.

We stayed at the same inn as yesterday.

◇◇◇

The next day, the operation began in the early afternoon.

Zara and I, with Sura in a magic bottle around our necks, went to the dusty general store again.

The other team members took their positions. When everything was ready, we infiltrated.

"---Huh?"

"I'm asking you to show me the business license."

As the captain predicted, the store was operating without a license and refused to show it. When we pointed out that it was illegal, he claimed he had the village chief's permission.

"Go to the capital and get approval from the Chamber of Commerce."

"But I told you, I have the village chief's permission!"

"The village chief said he asked you to improve several times, but you ignored his requests and asked you to leave."

"Shut up, you old man!!"

Zara, who was insulted, moved her weapon slightly. The shopkeeper trembled, shaking his shoulders.

"Let's put the license aside for now. The plants in that bag, they're illegal drugs, right?"

"These are—tea!"

"Lie."

"It's not a lie. Where's the proof?"

"Then, I'll buy all of them and inhale the smoke from the herbs in one go."

"That—where do you have that much money?"

Zara slammed the leather bag of gold coins she had on her waist onto the table.

"Really?"

"Really."

I couldn't help but say it, following the shopkeeper. It must be the captain's money.

"Show me the proof."

"Damn..."

He wanted the money, but he couldn't inhale the smoke to prove it. It was obvious.

"Come on, hurry up."

"Damn!!"

The shopkeeper grabbed the leather bag of gold coins and shouted.

"Hey, come out! Knights are here, kill them!"

We heard footsteps. Apparently, there were companions on the second floor.

Zara and I ran out of the store.

"Hey!!"

"Stop right there!!"

Tough-looking men chased after us.

Outside, Zara's weapon was more effective in the open.

There were about ten of them.

I see. They must have thought they could handle the knights with so many companions.

But we weren't just two.

"The boss, there are only two of them."

"Right."

The large man called the boss came out of the store—but the moment he stepped outside, the captain jumped down from the roof and pinned him down.

"Ugh!!"

"Boss!!"

"Ah!!"

That was the signal for the battle to begin.

Following the captain, Garu also jumped down from the roof and knocked down the attacking bandits with his spear.

Zara was joined by Valli, Urgas, and Lieslott.

Urgas shot arrows, hitting the bandits' weapons and making them drop them one by one. As always, his skills were impressive.

Valli, the deputy captain, used close combat techniques without his dual swords to take down the bandits.

Lieslott created a ball of light to blind the bandits.

I rode Amelia and flew into the sky.

"Ah!"

"Quack~"

Amelia seemed happy, but riding without a saddle was scary—I might fall off!

As we cut through the air, a suspicious shadow appeared at the back door of the store. It was the shopkeeper.

"Hey, wait!"

"Quack, quack, quack~"

Amelia leaped and tackled the shopkeeper.

"Ah!"

He rolled and crashed into a tree, stopping.

"Put your hands up and come quietly!"

"Quack!"

He pulled out a knife and lunged at me, so I countered with my magic wand, Gura.

"Quack!"

"Ah!"

Amelia's sudden approach threw the shopkeeper off balance.

"Got you!!"

"Ah!!"

I hit him on the head with all my strength. The shopkeeper lost consciousness. I took the opportunity to tie him up.

With that, the gang from the general store was arrested.

We decided to hand them over to the knight garrison in the nearest town.

The matter was resolved.

The sky was blue and the air was refreshing!

We were intoxicated by victory.