Chapter 35

Happy New Year!

My mind went blank, and I hesitated, but then I thought, "Ah, that's right."

What am I doing? This child is unconscious. I almost lost my composure, thinking about being rough in front of a child.

It's not good news, but I must have been so flustered that I even forgot about it. Thanks to that, I was able to calm down.

There's no need to worry about being seen. I just need to prioritize getting this child to a safe place as quickly as possible.

The man who opened the door was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected appearance of an outsider. In that split second, I switched my mindset and kicked the man's groin without hesitation.

"Ugh..."

He let out a muffled cry, curled up into a ball, and collapsed on the spot. The man standing behind him noticed that I was holding the kidnapped child and reached out as if to scold me. Of course, I wasn't going to let that happen.

"You... bastard..."

I grabbed the arm that was swung at me, pulled it hard, and wrapped it around my body. Then I twisted my body and broke his elbow.

"...Are you... a mercenary hired by the lord...? How did you find this place?"

The last remaining man, who had been taken by surprise and knocked down, cautiously spoke to me. I didn't respond and started thinking about my next move.

Ah, as I thought. This man is the strongest of the three. When we first passed each other, I noticed his weight shifting in a way that only someone skilled in combat would do. I didn't want to engage in a proper fight. Ideally, I should have escaped, but when I checked outside, the windows and doors were boarded up.

There's no choice, I decided. Just as I was about to act, the man who had been talking non-stop suddenly threw sand at my eyes without any warning. I had already noticed he was using magic, so I stepped back and avoided it.

"...Damn..."

I was a bit disappointed that it was just a physical attack, but I still put up a barrier to block it. It looked like just sand, but I didn't want anything to happen to the child, so I was cautious.

Putting up a barrier without any incantation or preparation is considered difficult, but I can do it for a short moment. The man, whose surprise attack had been thwarted, kicked his two groaning companions out of the way to close the distance. He seemed to be wary and didn't try to grab me recklessly.

He must have realized that I couldn't use body enhancement magic while in close contact with the child. It's fine for normal children, but I can't use magic that affects the body while in close contact with this child. Even if I can control it, it won't be zero, and it could have an effect.

This technique is commonly used not only by adventurers but also by cavalry and dragon riders. I can't be too optimistic and assume he doesn't know.

I decided to end it quickly while he was off guard.

The man pulled his upper body slightly back, preparing to kick. I jumped back lightly, and his foot hit the spot where I had been standing. He seemed to be planning to stomp with his full weight, and that made me angry.

Did he really intend to kick the child along with me?! Of course, I didn't plan to use the child as a shield. If anything happened, I would have protected the child with my body, but to think he would do such a thing.

"Ugh, b..."

Just as his attack missed and his weight shifted to his front foot, I slammed my iron-toed toe into the axis supporting his body. As he lost his balance, I punched his chin with the palm of my hand.

I must have let my guard down unconsciously because of my anger. He flew backward, knocking out the first man who was still crouching near the entrance, and lost consciousness. ...He seems to be alive, so he should be fine.

"...Phew, h... phew..."

I released the tension I had forgotten to breathe and, after confirming the boy's safety, let out a sigh and headed outside.

The second man was fleeing while protecting his arm, so I gave him a blow to the back of his head to knock him out.

It was better than letting him escape, but I hope I didn't go too far. If I had time, I would have tied them up, but the child's safety was my top priority, so I hope they will understand.

I was told that self-defense is not a problem, but I'm worried about being judged as excessive. But now, I need to focus on the child's safety.

I think they will be fine for a while, but I need to bring the patrol team to capture them properly.

Should I go to the patrol station or wait for them to patrol nearby... I stopped and thought for a few seconds, but I had forgotten something important.

"Oh..."

Just as I realized, the smoke signal I had set up on the eaves of the building fell.

I caught it with the top of my foot to reduce its momentum and managed to recover it without breaking it, sighing in relief.

Good... I want to deliver this child quietly and resolve the incident without drawing attention.

I hope they don't wake up and escape before I return. I left the scene a bit hurriedly, hoping for the best.

"Y-You really didn't know about the kidnapping case, and you just followed the suspects because of the smell? Even though you weren't one of the adventurers we asked for assistance...?"

"Yes. The medicine the child was taking had a distinctive smell and was expensive, so I just happened to notice something was off. I think it was really lucky."

"You couldn't have done that just by luck... Ah, no, I'm not saying I don't trust you."

I was truly relieved to have handed over the child and was being questioned at the patrol headquarters near the lord's residence. Actually, this was the third time I had explained the same thing.

But I heard that it's normal to be questioned multiple times by different people to check for consistency and any changes in the statement.

The female clerk of the patrol team seemed a bit exasperated, and the recorder had a similar expression. From their attitude and expressions, I could tell that I had been saying something wrong, but I didn't know what.

When I asked, "Did I do something wrong?" I was told, "No, it's just hard to believe..." and was made to feel awkward without being given any specific feedback.

No, I guess it wasn't a good idea to go in alone.

"So, just to confirm... You took down all of them, the two in the basement and the three who came later, while holding the child in your arms?"

"Yes. I was confident that I could win if I caught them off guard, but I was very surprised when their companions returned. I should have called the patrol team, and I regret that."

"No, ... In hindsight, I think your judgment was correct. You handled them without any danger, and the child was having a seizure. Honestly, if the rescue had been delayed a bit longer, the outcome could have been different. So, you are the child's savior."

By chance, the best outcome was achieved, but it was an action that is not recommended. I was already reflecting on that. If I hadn't rescued the child at that moment, they might not have been saved. The situation was that bad, so I wasn't reprimanded.

So, right after handing over the child, I was being scolded by the patrol team for going into the hideout alone. Even though I had checked before entering, it was natural to think, "What if there was someone inside who could defeat me?" I completely agree with that.

Looking back, I can't believe I did something so bold.

Rather, now that it's over, I'm trembling with fear, my fingertips cold. I need to remember that it was just a lucky break and reflect on it.

"So... You noticed that an ordinary abandoned house was being used for a crime, immediately investigated the inside, found the child, realized the critical situation from the conversation, and rescued the child, and then easily subdued the criminals..."

"Let me ask again, is this really your first time dealing with a criminal investigation? You're not some anonymous, skilled investigator, are you?"

"No, I'm not at all..."

Still, I feel uncomfortable with all the praise. Am I being impolite? I just happened to notice something off and investigated it, and it turned out to be a case I could handle. The child was found safe, and it's a happy ending, so I'm glad, but the praise is making me feel a bit embarrassed.

It's hard to say, "No, that's not true," and I've been answering, "I'm glad the child is safe," ever since I handed the child over to the patrol team.

Moreover, if I deny the praise, it might cause trouble for the investigators. I think the patrol team would have found the same building soon after I did. If someone interprets it negatively, they might say, "How could we be outdone by someone who says they didn't do much?"

Feeling a bit embarrassed by the excessive praise, I looked out the window to avoid eye contact.

The sun has set, and the west is tinged with twilight. I wonder if I can make it home in time for dinner. I heard the patrol team would contact my home, but is Anna worried? And Fred... We just talked about not drawing attention yesterday, and I caused a commotion again. I thought I would be able to go home soon after quietly delivering the child, but it seems my expectations were far off.