Chapter 40

After waiting for a while, Father arrived with his knights. He was stunned by the scene before him.

It wasn't that bad, but the fact that four adults had been defeated was unbelievable.

(Ah, crap, I didn't think about what to do in this situation.)

He was still a man who let his guard down.

"Hey, Rain, how did you defeat them?"

Sure enough, that question came up.

"U-Uh, Father!! Right now, rescuing the princess is more important than that!"

I tried to dodge the question.

"U-Um... You're right! That's urgent! Where is the princess?"

"Sir, she's in the fourth warehouse in the Sals region. There are 38 of them in total, but excluding them, there are about 35. Their levels are around 20 to 30! The boss is a man named Vagd."

I answered the questions I knew would come.

"Good work! Leave the rest to me. Take your time... No, if you can, come with me."

...What should I do?

(I'm honestly tired, but I have something to say to that princess. Well, I guess I have no choice... I'll go.)

"Understood! Let's go together."

Father's 25 elite knights and 60 guards headed to the warehouse.

Sure enough, there were guards on the way. They hadn't noticed us yet. With my Divine Eye, I could see through several houses, so there was no way they would notice us.

Since there were only two of them, I subtly instructed Sukuna and Aina to take them out from behind. I cast Slow on the enemies before taking them down, just to be safe.

"Rain, what did you do with Sukuna and Aina?"

"Ah, they're in the bathroom?"

I made a poor excuse. Father just said,

"......I see."

He knew. This would definitely lead to a knee-to-knee talk later.

Well, it can't be helped. I need to think of an excuse now.

After running for a while and adding about 10 more people, we arrived at the fourth warehouse.

Father spoke first.

"Hmm, the information seems to be correct."

Indeed, even to a layman's eye, the atmosphere was tense and clearly not normal. It was obvious that they were guarding something important. With my Divine Eye, I could see the princess tied to a chair in the middle.

(She's really here. What the heck is she doing?)

Moreover, she wasn't trembling in fear; she looked confident that help would come. What a princess.

"Well, what should we do..."

He glanced at me.

(I don't know what to do either...)

From the previous battle, I knew that Sukuna and Aina lacked practical combat experience. Being level 30+ without magical talent made them formidable. Their combat experience was worlds apart from Sukuna and Aina. Even if their stats were doubled, it would be a tough fight. So, the previous plan wouldn't work.

Going in from the back with just us wouldn't be good either, as the boss was right next to the princess. I really wanted to avoid a boss fight. The boss's level was different from what we heard. They said he was level 36, but my Divine Eye showed he was level 38, two levels higher.

(He's as strong as a first-class adventurer!)

[Vagd / Level 38]

[Male / B / 6471 / 12 / 13]

[Werewolf / Kidnapper Vagd Bandits]

[HP 565

MP 425

STR 135

VIT 126

AGI 116

[Spells]

Fire Magic Level 4

Earth Magic Level 5

(He's much stronger than the previous one... And he's a duo mage, which I didn't know about.)

He was definitely strong. I didn't want to face him. Moreover, there were about five more of them.

(Damn! They must have planned this to avoid detection!)

The fourth warehouse was the only fact, and they trusted their companions to detect us before we got there. They were quite clever.

"This is quite a tricky situation. The opponents are all beastmen. A frontal assault is out of the question."

We had used an item to mask our scent while running. However, Father judged that approaching with this many people would be noticed by their senses.

"Of course. That's why I'm hesitating. Do you have any good ideas?"

...No.

But saying that would be bad, so I thought of a plan.

(From my past knowledge, a flashbang and a surprise attack... Wait, didn't I bring some magic tools from home?)

"Ah, I have a plan, Father!"

"Great! What is it?"

"It's like this..."

---

"Hmm... Aren't you the most dangerous one?"

"But this is the most reliable plan. We can't avoid a fight anyway."

"You're right. Okay! Let's go with your plan! Count on you, Rain!"

"Yes! Leave it to me."

Saying that, I, Sukuna, and Aina took our positions. I waited, bound from behind.

After confirming that Father had explained everything to everyone, he walked towards the warehouse.

"Hey! Stop! Who are you?"

Aina spoke.

"Ah, um, I, I'm here with a message from Mr. Waro Bariant!"

"Ah!? From Bariant? Who are you?"

"Ah, I, I'm a slave."

"Huh?... Indeed, it's genuine. And this kid?"

"Ah, this kid found out about our deal. Bariant said to bring him to Vagd for instructions."

There was a moment of silence, and they searched us. Aina said Bariant gave her a knife for protection and handed it over.

"Tell Vagd."

The beastman behind them said, "Yes!" and went back into the warehouse.

I watched with my Divine Eye.

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I could tell from their faces.

"Huh?! Three kids came? Is it a trap? The two girls are slaves. They might be forced. But would they use kids as hostages? They look like well-dressed young masters. What about their items? We searched them, and they only had one knife, which they handed over. Bring them in."

I understood what they were probably saying.

"Hey, kids, follow me!"

They walked into the warehouse. We followed.

We were brought to Vagd, and the princess was next to him. She looked happy.

I wondered if we had been tricked.

Vagd immediately stood up and approached.

"Ah!? This kid? He's really just a kid! Damn, that guy let a kid hear this. I'll beat him up later! So, kid, who are you?"

He leaned in to look at my face.

I opened my mouth, pretended to speak, and extended my tongue. In the next instant,

Flash!!!

The room turned white.

"Ugh! What the hell!"

He staggered.

I had already closed my eyes and was using my Divine Eye. Sukuna and Aina had adjusted to the light and knew the timing, so they covered their eyes and were unharmed.

I moved quickly to the princess and cut the ropes with a small, razor-sharp blade I had hidden in Sukuna's mouth. The blade was made of orichalcum, the hardest metal, so the ropes were easily cut.

"Hey! Kill the kids! But don't kill the princess!"

Vagd barked.

The light stone in my mouth didn't affect the beastmen much, but Vagd, who was close, was still holding his eyes.

Suddenly, there were sounds of running and screams from outside. I had instructed them to attack from the front once the light stone was used. Multiple blinding lights shone from where Father was.

"Enemies! Vagd! The kingdom's soldiers have found us! What should we do!?"

"Capture them as hostages! The plan has changed drastically!"

Everyone's attention turned to us. We turned and dashed. Even the beastmen couldn't catch up to me with my godspeed and the buffed Sukuna and Aina. I was carrying the princess in a princess carry. My strength was more than enough.

Before reaching the wall, it turned to earth and melted. I had given the order.

As we charged, someone shouted from behind,

"Flameball!!!"

A wave of heat came from behind.

It was a level 5 Flameball.

"Sukuna! Aina! Take the princess and go ahead!"

"Understood!"

I handed the princess to them and turned to Vagd.

"Ugh! Hot! Hot!"

He staggered from the heat but stopped and raised his hands.

"Magic Power Absorption—!!!"

I clenched my teeth and shouted.

The Flameball touched my hand and was absorbed.

"What... What? My Flameball was so easily countered?"

He was in a daze. It was understandable. The scene was that shocking.

I took the opportunity to escape through the hole.

"Not yet!!! I can't end here!!! At least the kid!!!"

He shouted and created a wall with earth magic in front of me.

(Too bad...)

The wall crumbled like sand when I touched it.

"Why...?"

He had used up his MP. He had used level 1 earth magic to surround me from dozens of meters away. Level 1 magic had a short casting time but poor MP efficiency. It was no wonder he collapsed.

I finally left the warehouse and headed to where Sukuna and the others were.

"Master! You're safe! Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine! Are you hurt, Princess? Aina, use Heal."

"Understood!"

Aina cast Heal.

"Hehehe, you really came! You really came!!!"

The princess suddenly hugged me.

"You really came! I was sure it would be you! Amazing! You're amazing!!!"

She was overjoyed.

I, on the other hand,

(Whoa!! A girl hugged me!!

I'm not happy... I can tell I'm calm.

It's like a 'hmm' feeling.

When Prim hugged me, I almost pushed her down.

I wonder what Prim is doing now? I hope she's not still mad about me leaving early...)

I was already thinking about another girl.

"Hey, you should be happy that a girl hugged you."

"No, I'm... happy, yes."

I almost gave a casual answer. I chanted in my mind, "She's the princess, she's the princess," to change my mood.

"You really are... But I'm glad you came. Thank you."

"I just did my duty as a subject. I'm glad you're safe."

I maintained my composure as a subject.

"Hmm..."

Before the princess could say more,

"Hey, Rain!!"

Father came over. With my Divine Eye, I saw the situation inside was already over. (Father's elite are strong.)

"Father! Over here! The princess is here!"

I successfully changed the topic.

"Great! Princess! I'm sorry for the delay."

He bowed.

"It's fine. This was my mistake. The Duke is not at fault."

She changed her attitude quickly as usual.

"Ha! Thank you. I'll contact the castle. Please wait a moment."

He left.

"Father! I'll come too!"

I didn't want to be left here.

"No, you stay with the princess! You did a great job! Saving your fiancée, your future is bright! Hahaha!"

He left me behind and returned to the scene.

(I don't know what to say...)

I reluctantly returned to the princess.

"You're really amazing! I'm surprised! That last move was incredible!"

She gushed.

"Thank you."

"Relax, talk like you did at the tea party."

...

"Alright, I was a bit nervous at the end. It was my first time."

"Yep! It was amazing! It was absorbed into your hand!"

"Is that so... By the way, you mentioned a goal. What did you mean by that?"

I asked while I was at it.

"Hmm? That? Well... It's my purpose in life, my dream. I live for that. I believe you're on the path to that dream. I want to join you."

(...?

I don't understand.)

"Sorry, I don't understand..."

"It's a secret! But..."

She suddenly looked serious.

"If that dream comes true, I'd give up everything. I'd abandon my status as a princess. I'd even become your slave."

She said.