Chapter 22

The servants who had descended from the carriage, displaying the emblem of the royal family, looked around.

"Even summoning golems... You're really overdoing it in the middle of the city, aren't you?"

"Just take them out one by one, right? Tomason."

"I think being too rough isn't good, Mina."

Tomason, Mina, and Misha followed, and finally, Ren descended from the carriage. Ratts, who was sitting on the driver's seat, confirmed this and drove the carriage away, apparently taking a detour to head towards Will and the others.

"Ren!"

Will waved his hand to Ren, who had just descended at a distance. Ren, after confirming Will's safety with a glance, turned back to face Gram and his men.

"Fools who dare to oppose the Turquis family, are you prepared?"

Gram stepped back at the quiet but angry voice.

"Damn it!"

The men, who were not about to give up, attacked Ren. Ren dodged the man's strike with a slight movement and delivered a blow with her gauntlet as they passed each other. The steel gauntlet sank into the man's abdomen, and he fell unconscious. Without checking the fallen man, Ren continued to knock down the others one by one. When the last man was knocked out, the golem attacked Ren.

"Too late. Come back another time."

Ren easily dodged the golem's arm and struck its chest with the magic power she had raised. A faintly red-black flame pierced the core in the golem's chest.

The private soldiers gasped at the lingering flames on Ren's extended fist.

"Black flames...?"

A murmur spread among the private soldiers as they recognized the fire attribute magic unique to the woman called Ren.

"Hehe..."

Shiro, who was watching from a distance, smiled wryly, as if to say, "Oops."

The private soldiers began to murmur, one by one, as they realized her identity.

"The Dawn Dancer..."

"The Inferno Fists..."

People give nicknames to those who have achieved great deeds. Some are officially recognized, while others are not. Some are honorable, and some are dishonorable.

"The Bloody Nightmare... Ren Gracia!"

Ren, called by an unwilling nickname, glared at the private soldiers. The men shrank back just from that.

Morgan and the others looked at the paralyzed private soldiers with pity. They now understood why Shiro had muttered, "It's over," earlier. The woman who had appeared before the criminals was the worst possible presence for them.

"Is Ren also famous?"

Nina looked up at Aika, who nodded.

"Ren is a member of Shiro-sama's adventurer party and a former top-ranked adventurer, holding the eighth seat. She is a master of fire attribute magic... but..."

Aika's words became hesitant at the end, and Nina tilted her head in confusion. The people present, like Shiro, could only smile wryly.

In the past, a notorious band of bandits, hearing of Ren's reputation, had dared to challenge her. Enraged, Ren single-handedly stormed their hideout and defeated every bandit, one by one. When the knights of a certain country arrived at the scene, they found a sea of blood and a single girl standing in the middle.

"I was too arrogant. I'm sorry. Every time I sleep, I see my blood-covered comrades lying on the floor. Please, just let it be... really, really..."

These were the last words of the bandit leader, who cried as he met his end. After that, criminals who sought to make a name for themselves often attacked Ren, but they all met their end, and began to have nightmares of being covered in blood. This rumor spread, and Ren became feared by criminals as "The Bloody Nightmare."

"She's a very reliable companion."

Nina looked at Aika, who smiled charmingly, with a puzzled expression. There are things in this world that one doesn't need to know.

"However, well..."

Shiro sighed and looked around. The disturbance, which had been calming down thanks to Shiro's strength and the royal family's backing, was becoming noisy again with Ren's appearance. For the private soldiers, both the front and back doors were no longer just tigers or wolves. Then, as if to add fuel to the fire, Tomason and Mina began their "hunting" as a form of punishment.

"Shall we begin, everyone?"

"I'll leave that to you!"

"Then, I'll take care of this golem over here~"

Misha, with a relaxed tone, increased her strength with earth magic and lifted a huge hammer with one hand.

"Here we go~"

Misha shattered the golem's extending arm with the hammer and, using the momentum, swung it again. The golem, with one leg shattered and leaning, fell to the ground.

"Here we go~"

The hammer, swung down, crushed the golem's chest and shattered its core. Ren, who had been watching, nodded slightly.

"Excellent work, Misha."

"Thank you~"

Misha, praised, smiled bashfully.

"Then, I'll go too."

Ren, who had muttered, dashed to the remaining golem, climbed its body, and reached the chest where the core was located.

"Ha!"

With a short cry, Ren's gauntlet, imbued with black flames, pierced the golem's chest. The golem, burned from the inside, lost its power and collapsed.

"Wh-what...!?"

Gram's face twisted in shock and despair. The golems, which he had considered an absolute force, had been easily defeated by just two maids. It was no wonder.

"Relying on others' magic and being arrogant, you have no future. Excuse me."

Ren left these words for Gram and, with Misha, went to finish off the remaining private soldiers.

"Ren, Misha!"

Will clapped his hands, delighted by their performance.

"Mina, Jiiya, do your best!"

"Will-sama, please watch us!"

"Ho ho, Jii won't be left behind!"

Encouraged by Will's cheers, Mina and Tomason put in more effort. Mina, with her dual swords, danced in battle, and Tomason, wielding a long rod enveloped in lightning, skillfully knocked out his opponents.

"Isn't the direction you're pushing them in the wrong way?"

As Shiro smiled wryly at the four who had started the battle from the entrance to the back, a carriage that had taken a detour stopped beside them.

"Serena! Nina! Will!"

Cecilia, who had rushed out, hugged the children. The knights, looking flustered, knelt, and Morgan and the others followed suit.

"I'm glad... you're safe."

"Mother..."

Serena and Nina hugged their mother back, who gently combed their disheveled hair with her fingers.

"Kaa-sama, welcome back."

Will, in a completely relaxed manner, as if at a sports day, greeted Cecilia.

"Cecilia-sama..."

Elise and Aika bowed their heads to Cecilia, who then hugged them as well.

"My dear sisters... you must have been so scared..."

Cecilia, with tears in her eyes, hugged Elise and Aika back. But it was only for a moment.

"We're fine, Cecilia-sama..."

"Will-sama and the幻兽 helped us..."

"Will...?"

Cecilia, looking puzzled, had Will bring the three children to her.

"This is Will's mother. Kaa-sama, we've become friends with the wind spirit, Sere."

The three spirits bowed politely, and Cecilia, following their lead, bowed as well.

"Oh, really? Prince, you've become friends with the spirits?"

"Sure, kid. You're not just anyone."

John and Ratts, who had descended from the carriage carrying luggage, patted Will on the head. At that moment, Will suddenly realized something and clung to John's leg.

"What's wrong, Prince?"

"John-uncle, you're not going anywhere, right?"

"Huh?"

John, not understanding, tilted his head, and then,

"Ah!"

John, Ratts, and Cecilia looked at each other, suddenly realizing something.

"John-uncle said he was going to quit..."

"My father..."

Aika, who had accidentally blurted it out, quickly closed her mouth and looked at John.

"Ah..."

John scratched his head and looked up at the sky.

"Is the Prince's outburst my fault...?"

Looking at Will, who was standing behind with his hands clasped and pouting, occasionally peeking at John with a sidelong glance.

"About a third, I'd say."

A piece of wind came to Will's aid.

"A third?"

The piece of wind nodded at John, who looked up.

"Yes. When Will came to me, he was worried about his father and sisters, and the sorrow of the family. If your departure is added to that, considering Will's character, it would be about a third."

Though the time they had spent together was short, the piece of wind had noticed. Will is a child who treats everyone equally. No one is special; everyone is special. This is not a common trait in children who have clear likes and dislikes.

"I see..."

John patted Will's head, who was looking up at him. Putting down the luggage, he knelt and looked into Will's face.

"Rest assured, Prince Wilber. This John Simon will not abandon the daughters and grandchildren of my beloved wife. If allowed, I wish to serve the Turquis family for the rest of my life."

"John..."

Elise, unable to hold back her tears, and Cecilia, with shining eyes, were moved.

"You're not going anywhere, right?"

"Yes."

John's sincere response made Shiro sigh and smile.

"That's good, Will."

"That's good."

Will, having his head patted by Shiro, beamed with a "Hehe!" smile. Then,

"Watch out!"

Morgan, sensing something flying towards them, raised his sword and deflected it. The object, a small knife, embedded itself in the carriage.

"You bastards..."

Morgan readied his sword. Unbeknownst to them, a few men had surrounded Will and the others.