Chapter 45

After a week's stay in the capital, we were on our way back to the Dorkness territory. The means of transportation was not my beloved Ryu, but a carriage I detest.

I wanted to literally put my feet on the ground and inspect the road. There must be something to see by traveling overland from the capital to the Dorkness territory.

Unfortunately, there is no carriage that can carry a dragon, so I told Ryu to come back whenever he likes.

"Ah, my body is stiff."

We were taking a break, and as I jumped out of the carriage and stretched, the sound of my bones cracking echoed. The sound was so loud that the old driver looked at me in shock. No, no, everyone becomes like this.

Next, Patrick also got out of the carriage and stretched, but there was no sound at all. Huh?

The maid sisters, Reta and Sara, also got out of the carriage. The older sister was so determined to come back with us that she threatened to harm herself if we didn't take her. There was also a reason to have Sara, who hadn't changed much, within sight before she was influenced by her sister's bad habits.

The two of them got out of the carriage with Patrick's help.

Huh? Why didn't I get that wonderful event? I wondered for a moment, but then I realized I had been the first to jump out of the carriage. Besides, I'm not that weak that I need help with such a small step. But next time, I'll let Patrick get out first. If he does the same thing, I wouldn't mind lending him a hand.

As I was doing some stretching exercises, Patrick approached me.

"Do you really hate carriages?"

"I really do. It's faster to run."

"That's just you."

"No, no, Patrick, it's faster for you to run too, right?"

Patrick's level had exceeded 80 in the last measurement. Considering that even the captain of the knights, who was called the strongest in the kingdom, was only level 60, you can understand how extraordinary his strength is. Reaching level 80 is legendary, even in the long history of the kingdom.

"Well, I think it's faster for me to run too..."

"Patrick, you're not an ordinary person anymore, you need to realize that."

"...I don't like being lectured by Yumiera."

This inspection is a perfect example. I don't need a carriage, but many people use it. I think it's important to be aware that I'm an extraordinary existence and to see things from the perspective of ordinary people. The Dorkness territory is not made up of a few strong individuals like me and Patrick, but by the majority of the residents. Despite my deep strategy, Patrick doesn't want to admit the facts.

"I'm different from Yumiera, my magic power is ordinary. I'm not in the same category as you yet."

Patrick's magic attributes are wind and earth, and he uses them skillfully, like using wind to send his voice far or creating makeshift fortifications with earth. Unlike me, who solves problems with output, I'm sure he can do it if he tries.

"I also try to control the power of my magic. Patrick, you're just used to conserving your magic power, but if you really tried, you'd be amazing."

"...Maybe I haven't used my full power recently."

"Let's try it together sometime, let's see each other's full power."

"No."

My suggestion was immediately rejected. It would definitely be fun...

Feeling dejected, I looked at the carriage because I had nothing else to do. Observing it to see if it could be improved with modern knowledge, I noticed the horses. This carriage is pulled by two chestnut-colored horses, which are very cute. The two of them were drinking water during the break.

Oh, how cute. Besides, horses are smart. They don't bark at me or run away like dogs and cats. The age of pets is over, the age of horses has come.

"Thank you for pulling the carriage. Can I touch you?"

I moved to the side of the horse and targeted one. It has big, round, gentle eyes. Is it a girl?

As I reached out to touch its neck, the horse suddenly started to struggle and neighed loudly. Oops, did I touch a no-touch zone? Just like dogs don't like their tails touched, horses must have places they don't want to be touched. This is entirely my fault. The old driver hurried over and said,

"Sorry, the horse is scared, can you please step back?"

He stroked the horse to calm it down. He was touching the same spot I had tried to touch. ...Huh?

◆ ◆ ◆

It seems I have a quality that makes not only dogs and cats but also horses afraid of me. It might apply to all animals. Oh, and I also tend to be feared by humans. It's okay, I have Ryu.

In the carriage, the road seemed to be in bad condition, and the shaking became more noticeable. The road should be properly maintained.

"Hey, what's the name of this place we're in now? Isn't the road a bit too bad?"

"We just entered the Dorkness territory."

Patrick answered my question clearly. The moment I spoke, Reta lowered her eyes. That's why.

She raised her eyes and followed up.

"It's better than before. When you entered the academy, it must have been much worse."

Now that she mentions it, the carriage to the capital for the academy entrance was much bumpier. I thought I had just gotten used to it, but that wasn't the case.

That would be a problem. What was the point of allocating a budget for road maintenance since I became the lord?

"Hmm, maybe."

"Besides, the really bad spots are where bandits appear. It's a sign that the Dorkness territory is peaceful that we can travel safely."

Reta, isn't that setting the bar a bit too low? Bandits don't exist these days. If there is a territory where bandits appear, the lord of that territory is terribly incompetent.

"I've never heard of bandits, do they actually exist... Huh? Why did we stop?"

Just as I was about to ask if bandits really existed, the carriage suddenly stopped. The driver's panicked voice could be heard from outside.

"Bandits! We're surrounded by bandits!"

Today was very educational. One, bandits do exist. Two, the noble Dorkness is incompetent as a lord. Well, since I have zero aptitude as a lord, I'll fight as a guard.

Patrick jumped out of the carriage first. When I leaned out to look around, we were surrounded by bandits. There were about thirty men of different ages, a few with proper weapons, the rest armed with farming tools. Patrick guided the old driver to the door.

"Yumiera, get out quickly and hide him inside."

Huh? What about the event where he helps me down from the step?

If I said that now, I'd definitely get scolded. I just warned Reta and the others and nimbly jumped to the ground.

"Reta, hide inside too."

"Please, good luck!"

Being surrounded by about thirty people, "good luck" is a bit much. The bandits don't seem to be battle-hardened, so there's no real danger.

Patrick drew his sword from his waist. I followed suit... oh, I left my sword at home. I stood next to him naturally.

Patrick, without taking his eyes off the bandits, said,

"Yumiera, guard the carriage, I'll capture the bandits."

"Understood."

Considering our strengths, it might be better the other way around. But since Patrick is willing to do it, I won't stop him. I stood in front of the carriage and watched the battle.

As expected, it was no contest.

Patrick knocked them down with the flat of his sword, tripped them with his foot, and blew them away with wind magic, overwhelming the bandits.

While watching this one-sided battle, I sensed someone approaching from behind. He held a sword and, unlike the bandits who were trying to surround and take down Patrick, he seemed to be targeting me. A reckless person.

I pretended not to notice him. I wanted to avoid a backslash with minimal movement, like a master. It would be cool to be asked if I have eyes in the back of my head.

He reached behind me without making a sound and swung his sword from above... but it didn't happen. Instead, his hand circled around and the sword was at my throat.

"Don't move! Drop your sword! Do you care if this one gets hurt?"

The man behind me shouted.

...What's going on? I glanced at Patrick, but he also seemed confused.

We stared at each other, frozen, and the man with the sword at my throat continued.

"If you care about this girl, drop your weapon! If you hand over your valuables, I won't take your life."

I still didn't understand what he was trying to say. Patrick seemed to have figured it out and asked suspiciously,

"...So, you're taking a hostage?"

"Of course! Look, your lover's pretty face will be scarred!"

A dull blade was brought close to my face. So, a hostage, huh? I've been involved in many dangerous situations, but this is the first time I've been a hostage.

Since it's a once-in-a-lifetime event, I wanted to act more like a hostage. I used all my acting skills to call for help.

"H-Help!"

It came out very wooden.

Patrick seemed to lose his motivation and was deflating. Hey, my fiancé is in danger. Take it seriously.

I continued my performance as a captured lady.

"Forget about me! Shoot me too! I'll drag this guy to hell!"

"Ah!"

I was trying to be a tragic beauty, but it ended up sounding like a rival character from a battle manga. The bandit was intimidated by my resolve.

But Patrick still looked extremely bothered and didn't seem to be moving. I wasn't the only one who thought he was heartless. The bandits surrounding him said,

"We won't take your life, just drop your sword, okay?"

"Your lover is saying such things, and you have no heart?"

"Patrick! Don't listen to them! It's okay, forget about me!"

With my addition, Patrick finally seemed to make up his mind. He sighed deeply and threw the sword in his right hand to the ground.

Raising both hands, Patrick glared sharply at the bandits.

"Taking a hostage is cowardly! Release her now!"

Ah, Patrick is playing along too.

The bandits, intimidated by his presence, stepped back. I couldn't help but laugh at his convincing performance.

"Hehe, Patrick, you're so cool. How can you act so well?"

"You started it, Yumiera. The farce is over now."

He picked up the dropped sword, looking embarrassed.

Being a hostage wasn't that fun. Thinking it was time to end it, I grabbed the sword pointed at me.

The cheap sword couldn't withstand my grip and snapped easily. The man behind me froze.

"I never thought I'd be a hostage. I'm grateful for that."

"...Huh?"

"Can you all gather in one place?"

"Whoa, what is this strength!?"

I grabbed his arm and threw him in the direction of Patrick and the others. He flew through the air, hit another bandit, and fell to the ground.

In the meantime, Patrick had also finished off the bandits. The thirty or so bandits were either lying on the ground or had lost their will to fight.

As I slowly walked to Patrick's side, I said,

"Good work, they weren't that strong... right?"

"Yeah, they didn't seem battle-hardened. Their weapons were shoddy, and I think they were peasants from somewhere..."

What if they were residents of the Dorkness territory? There must be a reason they became bandits, and it might be my fault as the lord.

"I'm the lord of this territory, Dorkness. Where are you from?"

I spoke without being too intimidating, and they whispered to each other.

"...The lord of Dorkness? The one who defeated the demon king?"

"Damn, we attacked the most dangerous carriage."

"Hey, don't talk even if you're tortured. Remember your family's faces!"

Seeing them in a panic, I felt depressed. It's the usual flow of being feared.

Patrick took a step forward and signaled for me to step back.

"From what I hear, you have a place to live and come here to work. Why did you target this place?"

They remained silent in response to Patrick's question. See, that's because you're being too intimidating. Interrogation requires a balance of kindness and toughness.

Just as I was about to offer to take over, he suggested it at the right time.

"If you don't talk, I'll have to switch to the lady behind me."

"We'll talk! We'll talk anything!"

Don't use me as a threat, okay?

When Patrick asked the bandits about their origins, they claimed to be villagers from a neighboring territory.

Upon hearing their story, the village was poor, and they would starve if things continued. So, the men planned to rob carriages that looked like they were carrying valuables.

The village's poverty was due to a large mountain to the south, which blocked the sun, reducing crop yields, they explained.

I, who was listening from a distance, asked a question.

"But why did you start robbing recently? You must have managed before, right?"

"Ah!"

"...Doing nothing."

Yes, as usual. Being feared...

Patrick gestured for me to step back further and asked again.

"Has something happened recently?"

"Monsters. There were no monsters around our village, but they've been destroying our fields."

Monsters rarely appear near human settlements. In fact, people live where there are no monsters.

It's worrying that they've appeared in the village. I couldn't help but ask,

"Are you okay?"

"Ah!"

"...Patrick"

Get used to it already. What kind of information about me is circulating in the villages around here?

The villagers in my territory didn't seem that afraid of me. It was more like they had made up their minds.

Sighing, Patrick asked on my behalf,

"So, have you suffered any damage?"

"We haven't been injured, but if the fields are ruined, it's the same as dying. The lord won't help us either."

A poor village in a state of collapse. No help from the lord. Hearing their situation, I had an idea.

The land reform plan I had come up with a few days ago, which involved using my power to develop the village, had been scrapped because there were no residents.

"Hey"

"Ah!"

"...Am I that scary? Well, if you hate the neighboring territory so much, why don't you become one of us?"