Chapter 13

"Damn it..."

The man, wary of the knights in front and behind him, cursed.

He himself had taken a hostage on the spot when cornered, but he didn't want to do such a thing.

He felt deeply apologetic for the child's trembling that he could feel through his arm.

However, he couldn't afford to show any weakness now.

(How did it come to this...)

He and his companions had just stopped by the capital city on a whim, thinking they might complete a request as a memento.

As he was walking down the street, his shoulder bumped into a knight, who then started a quarrel and threatened to imprison him unless he paid money.

A group of unsavory characters gathered, and he couldn't fight back, so he fled.

But at the place where he had shaken off his pursuers, he ran into a different knight.

Just as the man was doubting the character of the Filfarria Kingdom's knights, another man—Shiro—spoke up.

"Sorry, adventurers."

Shiro approached without any guard, and the man turned to face him.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to come near—"

"Could you please lower your sword?"

The adventurers were speechless.

The knight standing before them was flanked by maids and was even accompanied by a child, standing boldly.

The adventurers blinked in astonishment.

"The maids are trying to pick up my daughter, so I need you to clear the way."

"Huh!?"

The man let out a surprised voice at Shiro's request.

Elise and Aika bowed and passed through the side of the stunned adventurers.

Nina stopped, bowed politely to the adventurers, and then followed them.

After confirming that they had reached Serena, Shiro spoke up.

"We don't intend to capture you. You don't want to do this to a child, do you?"

"What do you mean by 'we'...?"

The man looked at the armband.

He seemed to know that they distinguished their affiliation by armbands.

Shiro signaled with his hand, and the knights removed their armbands and replaced them with the original sky-blue ones.

Shiro smiled at the adventurers, who were wide-eyed with surprise.

"We belong to the Third Knight Regiment. We are different from the Second Knight Regiment, which patrols the capital. Would you like to hear our story?"

After hesitating, the man finally lowered his sword and released the child.

The child looked up at Shiro and the man.

Shiro nodded with a smile, and the child ran towards the teacher who had been watching the scene from the grounds.

"This is just a monologue, but..."

While watching the child being embraced by the teacher, Shiro began.

"We are investigating the incidents caused by the members of the Second Knight Regiment."

"I also have a monologue, but I already know they are the culprits."

"I have a monologue too, but I witnessed you being harassed by the Second Knight Regiment without resistance."

"Hey, hey..."

The adventurers looked exasperated as the knights revealed their internal information one after another.

They couldn't complain if the Third Knight Regiment was rumored to have loose lips.

However, the knights in front of them didn't care about that.

"Basically, I can't stand those who act superior just because they are nobles."

"I wish they would learn from our bear... Knight Commander Gaius."

In front of the stunned adventurers, the knights continued their complaints.

Shiro gave a thumbs up to the adventurers, summarizing the situation.

"By the way, all three of us knights here are former adventurers. We are on your side."

The adventurers' expressions softened as the knights smiled warmly.

It seemed they finally recognized Shiro and his companions as allies.

"My name is Morgan. These are my subordinates. I'm sorry, but please bear with us."

The man who introduced himself as Morgan extended his hand and shook hands with Shiro.

"Anyway, let's find a place to—"

Just as Shiro was about to suggest a location, a group of unsavory men appeared, pushing through the crowd.

"Oh, I thought you were knights associating with criminals, but what are you doing here, stray dogs?"

The knight at the center directed a condescending gaze at Shiro and his companions.

This was probably the son of Count Cardy, with a thin, mean-looking face and a lecherous smile.

The unsavory men around him were not knights, but probably the private soldiers of Count Cardy.

"What are we doing? Just taking statements, that's all."

Shiro shrugged, and the man's smile disappeared, replaced by anger.

"Rude! Do you know who I am? I am Lord Gram Cardy, the son of Count Cardy! Show some respect!!"

"Once you put on the uniform of the knight regiment, it doesn't matter if you are a noble or a commoner."

"You...! Do you intend to defy the House of Cardy!"

"Maybe."

In the past, the mention of a count's name would have made people cower, but Shiro—no, the Third Knight Regiment—was different.

No one flinched, and they stood side by side with the adventurers behind them.

"You won't be able to stay in the capital—no, in Filfarria!"

Despite this, Gram, still waving his father's authority, sighed deeply.

Shiro, who completely ignored him, seemed to have annoyed Gram, who then gave an order to the man next to him.

"Hey, arrest those adventurers! Don't hesitate to beat up the knights who interfere! It's a warning! Show them what happens when they defy me!"

At Gram's command, the unsavory men stepped forward with lecherous smiles.

"Hehehe... You're going to get a taste of pain."

"Hey! Get out of the way!"

Two men, wielding clubs, lunged at Shiro.

"Hmph..."

Shiro laughed through his nose, closed the distance in an instant, and punched one of them in the sternum.

"Ugh...!?"

"Ugh...!?"

Ignoring the groaning men who fell to the ground, Shiro looked around.

"What are you doing! Attack all at once! Use magic too!!"

The men, spurred on by Gram's shouting, raised their weapons.

"Arrogant! Get out of the city!"

"Right, right! Don't get too cocky!"

The onlookers, emboldened by Shiro's victory, started shouting at Gram and his men.

"Don't get too cocky! Once I'm done with these guys, it's your turn!"

"You're really beyond saving..."

Shiro's low, growling voice stopped a few men who were about to go after the onlookers.

"Nobles have obligations to the people. Knights must be the sword and shield for those they protect. You are neither a noble nor a knight!"

"...Just wait and see!"

Gram gritted his teeth.

The private soldiers of Cardy had gathered in numbers, swelling to about fifty.

Four knights flanked Gram.

In contrast, Shiro's group consisted of two knights and four adventurers, totaling seven.

The numerical advantage was roughly eight to one.

The private soldiers continued to gather, and it was unclear how many had surrounded them.

However, Shiro, seemingly unconcerned, turned his gaze to the onlookers.

His gaze stopped a maid who was about to rush forward.

It was Myne, with her light brown hair tied in side pigtails.

She seemed to be out shopping, as she was carrying a shopping basket.

Myne, who had stopped before rushing into the crowd, met Shiro's gaze.

(We need the Third Knight Regiment to handle this number... Myne)

Seeming to understand Shiro's intention, Myne nodded and ran off.

"Men, don't hesitate! Do it!"

Gram, reaching the peak of his anger, raised his arm.

At the signal, the private soldiers surged forward.

"Fall back to the courtyard! Elise, Aika, take the children inside!"

The two, who had been preparing for this, guided the children and the teacher to safety.

"Too many... Damn it!"

Morgan cursed as he saw the opponents behind him.

There were mages casting spells from the rear of the advancing private soldiers.

It was a reckless act, especially in the city, with children behind Shiro.

Morgan, touching the ground, quickly cast a spell.

"Come forth, spirits of the earth! Rise, earth's bulwark,

Protect us from the impending disaster, wall of earth!"

A sudden rise of earth formed a barrier, intercepting the spells.

Though it was a defensive wall of earth, it was a physical barrier and was gradually worn down by the spells.

However, it bought some time for the children to escape.

"Leader, we're outnumbered."

One of the adventurers, tense, reported.

The private soldiers, forced to detour around the earth wall, would soon appear.

The numerical disadvantage was undeniable.

However, the Third Knight Regiment had no intention of retreating from this place.

"In the name of Shiro Turquis, I authorize the drawing of swords! There's no reason to be taken down without a fight!"

"Alright!"

At Shiro's command, the two knights of the Third Knight Regiment drew their swords.

"We'll do our part too! Get ready, everyone!"

Morgan and the others, half in a fit of desperation, also readied their weapons.

(Please... Myne!)

Thinking of the maid who had run off, Shiro dodged a strike from an attacker and delivered a chop to the back of the man's neck, rendering him unconscious.