Riot Grasper

"There are several mountains around here that are expected to be rich in mining resources, but development is not progressing because of the presence of dangerous demons in the forest. People rarely step in."

Next to me looking around as I rode Luke, I fingered the mountain Tiamo was nearby.

Is there literally a treasure buried inside that mountain, such as gold and silver... I don't mind being attacked by demons during mining operations, but it's fascinating.

- We are currently marching in a vast forest south of Amorphas. Occasionally, it is the resource-rich mountains that Tiamo has explained to us, visible from the gaps in the trees.

"You're afraid of that demon, and I'm glad the Demons barely show up around here either."

"Huh. If you encounter such a monster, you may not be able to crusade the Bandits."

Mr. Cecil, who was listening, sounded like he enjoyed his scary imagination.

For a combat lover, she may be a subject of more interest than the Bandits crusade.

"It's okay. It's burning incense that the demon hates, so it shouldn't be around for a while."

I see... from the incense furnace that the soldiers in the front row have, a strangely scented purple smoke rises. Is that to avoid demons?

But even if I can temporarily lower my chances of encounters, I feel a little scared that powerful demons live not too far from the city.

"Fortunately, there is no damage to the city because demons never come out of the woods. But my father told me to move forward if it was possible to develop this area... and I am saddened by my lack of strength. There's nothing I can do about it now."

I think I'm working hard enough just to be able to mine stable mine resources from the mines I currently hold at that age.

While I admired the humble Tiamo, I looked over at the face of the crusader I was marching on.

Even though the march... is that number about ten, including me and Tiamo and Cecil? The march speed is fast because they are all on horseback.

It seems certain that the night noise (Howl Oulu), which lost its escape due to the blockade of the streets, went into the forest to the south.

It is difficult to understand, but thin, wheel indentations and human footprints remain.

I'm in the middle of a chase right now.

With the bandits who specialize in night raids, Tiamo seems to be thinking of settling in the high sun.

By the way, I don't see Ray and Ren's twin sisters and brothers, but I'm not leaving a message.

Those two were just part of the Secret Service, and they said tracking, tailing, etc. was their specialty. Because they wanted to, they are now asked to go ahead as scouts.

If you discover Howl Oulu, you should be able to gather as much information as possible and come back.

"Bandits, there's no such thing as a demon already hit you, is there?

"I don't know about that, but if it is, it could be hard to find the luggage that was taken."

Tiamo opens his mouth to this question without loosening his guard around him.

Sensing the little sound of stepping on the grasshopper, I turned my mind forward, too.

"... I found a bunch of them. In a few minutes, there's a beast path to the right. There's a water field straight ahead of us, and apparently you're getting ready for camp. The number of confirmed people is fourteen. Ren's watching over me now."

It was Ray dressed in a unique costume who showed up. She's more serious about her face than usual as she pales out the information she needs. Maybe it's work mode.

"Thank you. Continue to monitor the subject. Watch out for ambushes, etc."

Copy that.

In agreement with Tiamo's instructions, Ray immediately disappeared into the back of the woods. As reliable as it can be.

Even for Ren, he usually has such a nasty personality, but he seems decent at times like this.

Fourteen people were able to confirm from a distance…? Maybe there will still be more, but a few elite crusaders should be able to deal with it.

As I was told, we're going down the little beast path.

It would be the work of humans passing through here that the branches of trees along the way are being struck down. Only the part that would get in the way to make it easier to walk had been cut off.

- I found it.

"Is that Howl Oulu? It's kind of different than I imagined."

Leaking confusion as Tiamo spys on how things are going.

When it comes to bandits, there is an image of a rough gathering of human beings, but this group of nocturnal ringers (Howl Oulu) was said to be out of such a concept.

There were some tents set up by the water, and it was a young child who came out of them.

It is a woman with a serene face who scolds a child who plays and shakes in the water with pleasure to avoid too much noise.

Looking only at this sight, it's like a family coming to the picnic.

Moreover, the young child has a beast ear on his head and a tail stretched from his waist. I can see at a glance that he is an animal man's child, but it was obviously a human woman who was scolding him.

Subhumans and humans act together...... it can be considered a rare sight in this country.

"After all, not everyone discriminates against subpeople..."

"Speaking of which, you said Mr. Sage wasn't from the Suaven Empire."

Tiamo responded to the words I snapped, as she whispered.

"I am also going to try not to have too much prejudice towards the subhuman, etc. Because the beasts have excellent physical abilities, and they are also active in mining operations in the mine."

I see. Was he a real angel?

Turning his gaze to the other tents, a tough looking man in possession of a weapon is watching the entrance... he can also be seen hiding a suspicious figure, so there is no doubt that these guys are still night noises (Howl Oulu). Whether you have a girl or a kid, you shouldn't be alarmed.

… how to attack depends on the commander, Tiamo, etc.

I wondered if I would even ambush him from the state lurking in the shadows of the trees, but Tiamo stood up completely and walked out toward him with dignity.

"We should try to negotiate so that we can have them surrender very manly first. I can't really inspire you so badly, so can the deputy captain and Mr. Sage come with me?"

The deputy captain of the unit, plus me and Mr. Cecil, nodded and stood up.

The rest of us wait here.

Make sure to pull out the double sword worn on the leather belt at any time because it is unclear what action the opponent will take.

Fears of being suddenly attacked by ambushes and others will be avoided thanks to their twin sisters and brothers.

The smaller lord advances without fear in front of the bandits.

"So, who is it!? You guys haha"

The moment the watchman screamed in recognition of Tiamo's appearance, the tension swelled.

Children and women of beasts who were playing by the water escape trying to run into the tent.

"I am called Tiamo Ludwar, who is entrusted with the Lord of Amorphas. If you're not just a bunch of bandits, listen to me."

A loud voice sounded and the tranquility spread.

But that's for a moment, the silence is broken by the noisy noise of several wary people setting up their weapons.

"If you don't need words, just deal with them by force. Let's just say it again. I would like to have a conversation with someone who is putting together a night noise."

This one doesn't have to continue to be a good man. If you are unwilling to engage in dialogue over there, it is the final notice to move to annihilation by force.

"That kid has a pretty good liver. I'm kind of motivated, too."

Mr. Cecil leaks his voice just because he still wants to wield the large spear on his back.

No, no, no, no, no, wait. Because it's the most important part right now.

"Whoa. Wait, wait, you guys. Just pull your weapon in."

Coming out of the back of the tent was a man who covered his face. The glance peeking through the gap in the cloth is sharp and I guess he is the leader of the Bandits. On the side there is a woman who likewise hid her face, and this one seems to be a beastly woman because of her beast ears and tails.

"Did you say Tiamo Ludwar? That's just that stubborn girl. She's got a good personality."

"Do you know my father?

"I just know this one unilaterally. Can I ask you to move on with the discussion and the doings more than that?

Tiamo's father means Sir Ludwar, a leading figure in the southern region. I don't know exactly what kind of person he is, but I know him by his name.

"I'm going to tell you straight to the point. You were the ones who attacked the wagon leaving Amorphas, weren't you? I recommend the return of the stolen luggage and the surrender of the adults. Find a peaceful solution difficult if rejected"

Tiamo, who briefly describes the matter, does not distract from his opponent.

"It's not a bad idea for a woman to say things. I think you're a little too young."

The captain scratched his head with disappointment and then sighed unfortunately.

"I am going to be talking seriously. That luggage is a precious asset mined in a mine in Amorphas. They say you're prostitutes, but is a prostitute satisfying in taking away what good citizens have earned by working?

Tiamo, roughing up his narrative about whether he had received the other's words as provocation, condemned the head of the delegation in somewhat thorny terms.

Even if they say he's a prostitute or something, it's outrageous that a good citizen takes what he worked sweating for. Impossible.

"We are…"

The beastly woman who was beside the captain tried to say something, but the captain himself controls it with one hand.

"Originally, I was going to give this package back to you. I'm not gonna refuse anything."

"Tell me for yourself what... can you tell me what you're going to do?

Tiamo questioned the captain's words, such as lightly returning his luggage, without hiding his suspicious expression.

"Dude. I said I'd do what you told me. It's out of my mind to look like that...... okay. Tiamo Ludwar - We both knew Amorphas' new lord was brilliant. But good people buy someone's grudges."

"I don't remember you resenting me."

"Don't rush. It's not like we have a grudge. Where was I supposed to send this package?

"It's Bredo territory ruled by my brother Van Ludwar, but what's that?

Did Tiamo have a brother? I wonder what kind of person he is.

"If you're going to put it in a nutshell, Van Ludwar is shit. A brother who neglects a brilliant sister doesn't feel good from the side. No... it's better for me to know I'm inferior to my sister."

"It doesn't make me feel good about being disparaged by strangers."

"... must be"

The captain laughs bitterly before continuing his words.

"Let's get the story back to normal. Van Ludwar had planned to consign luggage from Amorphas with bandits to raid. Pretending to help my sister try to get her stuff back, I was going to split the stuff I took later. Maybe Van's guy dropped by to help seal off the streets?

Tiamo, who was often silent, slowly returned the words.

"Some of the soldiers who have the streets sealed off are indeed those sent by Brother Van. If you shut up and let me through the bandits you attacked, it will be difficult to track them down."

If they bare the streets they're supposed to be blocking, they'll keep searching for the wrong direction.

"Even so... do you think I would swallow that story? In the first place, I don't know why you're here if what you're talking about is true. Wouldn't it have been nice not to escape into such a noisy forest and fall out into Bredo territory"

Exactly. If you're consorting with a soldier blocking the streets, you can just go back to Bredo territory and do it after you take your stuff.

"Become... dude. You think we're some kind of bandit consortium that's bonding with Van? I may have said it the wrong way, but that's not true."

The leader of the regiment, who raised both hands just to say it was out of his heart, denied Tiamo's words.

"We were only allowed to borrow the baggage they were after before the bandits to stop Van's mastery. If we lose what we're supposed to take, even they can't move."

... I see. I was feeling kind of weird about the thieves and all those people who are said to be robbing girls like Tiamo, but the real aim is that way?

"Like I said at the beginning, I was going to return my stuff properly. Did this convince you?

When the captain signaled, an animal man with a heavy looking luggage box entered from behind the tent.

When you open the lid of the box, you can confirm that it is packed with refined gold or beautiful gems. A pure gold mass attracts people with its strange charm... - Yikes! Why is my hand trying to reach forward?

"Certainly... definitely stolen luggage"

Tiamo carefully checked the contents of the box and nodded only once.

"If you understand. Come on, staying forever in such a noisy forest would be a lot more dangerous for a little lord"

The captain, who flickered his hand that he should just go home, tried to pull into the tent.

"Wait. You did indeed return the first baggage you presented. But I would have recommended one more thing to you."

The captain, who stopped his leg, looked back at this one quietly.

"so that you can surrender to adulthood,"

- - I can see the loose air once more straining in the woods squeaking with the sound of small animals and insects.

To the girl's words, the captain reacted with a lower voice than just now.

"... what?

Tiamo should also have understood that the Night Ringing (Howl Oulu) was not just a band of bandits, and why such words were thrown when he said that the stolen luggage had also returned safely.

I didn't seem to be the only one who doubted it.

"Whoa. Are you serious about that?

Turning back to Tiamo, the captain mixed a slight anger in his voice.

"I would like to create an opportunity to discuss it properly with my brother, Van Ludwar, sooner or later. It's probably true that you didn't do this in bad faith."

To observe from Tiamo's words and deeds, I guess a person named Van is not in her position as a 'trusted brother'.

"But it doesn't make any difference that you're bandits. It is my duty to capture you as one lord, in order to be supported by the people and called a thief in law. Whatever your purpose, you can't leave the bandits who take things away from others in the wild."

Oh, my chest hurts.

"I see. He's a brilliant lord... it's precious to have such ideas at that young age. Sometimes I don't think you're a bit of a smart lady."

The captain, looking to Tiamo, sighed that he was in trouble.

"But we're not going to get caught too."

"... then it may still be difficult to find a peaceful solution"

Even more nervous, I reach for the double sword on my hips. Mr. Cecil, who is lying beside him, also stood ready to move.

"Well, wait. We can't fight in a place like this, can we? Looks like you're burning incense that demons hate, too, but try rambling the rest of us on your territory or something. They're gonna come flying around to smell a little nasty."

I don't know if what the captain said is true, but Tiamo put the color of hesitation on his face.

Return of luggage, the highest priority, was achieved. Is it the right decision to fight until you take the risk here?

"... ok. But..."

"Se! Oh, my God!

Someone running from the woods screamed, trying to block Tiamo from saying something.

If you think of anyone, it's Len, who should have been monitoring the perimeter with Ray.

It's also unusual for him, always floating, to have a hasty look so far.

"Duh, what's going on?

"A group of twenty is coming straight this way. It's far-sighted, but from the looks of it, it felt like a bunch of bandits."

What...?

This is a little unexpected.

Tiamo is surprised too, he can't tell instantly.

That was the same for the captain in the front, who remained silent until the beastly woman beside him called. Maybe this beastly woman is like a deputy commander.

"... oh. Those are the bandits who were holding hands with Van. There's no way you're keeping quiet about us taking our prey. But... bowling is a pain in the ass at a time like this."

The captain, who scratched his head, exhaled in pain.

Were you also fleeing into such a forest to hide yourself from them?

No way... we got followed!?

Did it taste bad that you neglected to pay attention to the rear because you were in a position to track it down?

"They'll have blood on their heads. Probably going to be a fight. I'm sorry, but I'll talk to you later!

The well-motivated sword draws a beautiful curve with its full body - a sham seal.

But Tiamo did not nod, but slowly moved forward in front of the commander of the regiment.

"What? I told you we'd talk later."

"Yeah. I know."

Tiamo only possesses former magic skills, and the weapon is made of rods tipped with white demon crystals. With it in her hand, she spun the words forcefully.

"I told you. We can't leave the bandits alone," he said.

Bigeye, who has stood by his will, looks straight at the leader of the regiment before turning in the opposite direction.

"Let's get this over with. Discussion follows."

The girl received the words she had spoken and the captain laughed with pleasure.

"Ku...... Ha ha. Nice. It's not bad to be a woman with a strong heart. It's just... it's better if I grow up a little bit."