The civil conflict between First Prince Austrin and Princess Cujastria had already come to the knowledge of many. Some humans even know the information that a multinational Einvist army is assembling in the Leather Elka and is attacking the King's Capital.

I naturally knew if I were to be a "Bandit Guild".

residential area within the underground, sewer area of Pond. A man was roaring at the center of it. If you look at the face with flaming tattoos on the short, pruned red short hair, you'll see that you're not a decent person. The man was releasing an unusual force, including the sharpness of his eyes.

But he —— the botanical paper that is placed in front of Kelbeck -- has a surprising lettering. That's dozens. Those are situation reports on this war, but they contained fairly advanced political content. It is an intelligent Kelbeck, contrary to appearance.

"Boss! I'm a guest!

I can hear my men from across the door.

"Ahhh? Nobody goes through this time. You're stuck!

"Well, that's..."

Bad tooth cut. Disturbed by the time of calm thought, Kelbeck opens the entrance door in frustration.

"Where the hell would anybody be like this--"

Standing in front of him-- the same woman with the flaming tattoo in her face, was.

"--Katie, huh?

It was my real sister, Katie-Cotobi.

The reunion of brothers and sisters, which cannot be spoken without tears, could not be. We were old enough for each other to be shaken by emotions, and Kelbeck's reason for running was understandable to Katie in the first place.

However, of course not when it comes to whether it is a negligible being.

"Why did you come?

Two, sitting opposite each other. The tea placed was not a fancy one, and it was a good place to go.

Kelbeck was felt by Katie, not angry or unpleasant, but simply bewildered.

"... I heard your brother is here"

"Well, you won't be able to come without asking. Why did you come? In the midst of such a civil war, and when there are heaps of troubles"

"Trouble?

"The civil war has already begun. The Einvist beast man is a pain in the ass. Because they have a good nose... and there's already a secret detective in the pound. I'm crushing from one end, but I'm not kidding."

Katie was surprised.

I accompanied myself because Hikaru is in a hurry to Pawnsonia, but it doesn't start that soon with the war. I thought we could afford more time.

That would mean that if you believe your brother's words, "outposts" are starting. And my brother is involved in an outpost —— because intelligence-gathering is also the business of a bandit guild.

Hikaru knew he couldn't afford the time.

"If I didn't see him now, he'd tell me I might never see him again... and I couldn't have been there or not"

"I'm not going to die that easy. Where are you going? I told you..."

"A boy named Hikaru."

"Buho."

Cerbec erupted the tea in his mouth.

"You know, brother?

"That kid...... Oh, well, I know. You, you got a relationship with that one? I don't know what you're thinking, kid."

Katie is surprised. Of course my brother knew Hikaru, but his mouth is loose as he slaps his hatred.

I hadn't seen him in the past few years, but he wasn't the one who looked like this when he criticized someone. My brother admits Hikaru --.

"I'm working with Hikaru right now, and I'm working on it."

"Ahhh? That kid, can't you even do a magic guide?

"Holy Demon."

…………

Kelbeck pushes silence.

My brother also knows the existence of the "Holy Demon" —— as a fairy tale or fantasy product.

"... Katie, you, you got played in Kotobi's power struggle, so you're lost in blood and you're saying 'Holy Demon' or something. Then I guess not."

"No way. Brother, Hikaru is amazing. He showed me the ruins using a twat to the upper level of the tubra. He can read that document, too! That's not all, he discovers new ruins --"

"Ok, ok. Just shut up."

"You don't trust me, do you? Until the other day--"

"Ok, ok"

"Mmm."

It has been for a long time. This is how my brother tells me to calm down by looking up both hands when Katie gets excited and talks about the research.

While angry that she was still being treated like a child, Katie was happy to see her unchanged brother.

"... brother, I'm not lying about wanting to see you. Why don't we do some research together?

"You're here to say that."

"At first, I didn't even know why I wanted to see my brother. I just didn't want to miss this chance when Hikaru asked me what I was going to do. But now —— no. I know how I feel. My brother has a gift as a magic conductor. We should continue with more research. I don't care about the fight in Kotobi. Forrestia is now moving to get rid of the hedges of seven countries."

…………

Ugh, and Kelbeck sighs.

"I'm glad you invited me, but I can't leave here."

"Is Bandit Guild More Important Than Magic Instruments?

"No. This is a bandit guild. Bye. Well, that's what they say on the face. --There's a bunch of people here who've been eating up and who haven't been there. I need a place to eat them like that. Plus, I'm pretty chopped up right now. You can't get your ass all over this situation."

"You don't have to do this, do you?

"I know, I've been out of Kotobi before. —— Freedom. Freedom is fine. I don't care how you make a magic guide, or how you use it. It's bigger than just studying it."

…………

Katie bit her lower lip.

That's what Kelbeck is talking about. He seems to enjoy himself. I guess it's not like there's no untrained research. Budgets and equipment that can be used for lubricants are essential for the study of magic tools.

But Kelbeck's right, there's bound to be a view that's invisible from the lab.

"I get it. Brother......"

If my brother hasn't done it, if he really wants it -- that's what Katie thought.

"Huh!"

That's when Kelbeck floated his hips.

At the end of his gaze —— the entrance to this room. There is only one entrance and no windows or other exits exist.

The door was only slightly open.

"Katie, run!!"

"Eh --"

Katie didn't know what happened. Behind my brother's back, the loose space seemed distorted. Then a man with a hood deep in his eyes appeared as he drizzled out of the air —— stabbing a knife through Kelbeck's back.

"Gu Bo."

"--brother!?"

Collapsing brother. Hood man —— mouth peeking. He was swollen like an animal and thought he would be an Einvist human being.

When a man laughs,

"You've killed a lot of my people, haven't you? If I crush you, I'll be able to work easier."

"And, meh... Ein, the bist's dog..."

Looking down at Kelbeck spitting blood. And I turned to Katie.

"You die, too."

A man runs out —— it was time.

"'Answer my call, Spirit. Burn it down with the first light." "

From one side of the room —— from where no one was supposed to be, I heard voices.

!?

It was the man of the Beast who was stunned.

There was a girl in a robe —— Lavia standing.

The flame born in her palm has such a bright light that it doesn't seem like a primary magic "firebrace,"

"Gyyyyyyyy!!"

The moment it was released, it hit the man's right hand with a tremendous speed. The fireworks rose enough to carbide in a short time, and the man wandered around.

"Paula!"

"Yes!

Paula, who was next to Lavia, leans over to Cerbec. The poison painted as well as the stab wound was dangerous, but Paula has no problem with it now.

When she starts chanting about recovery magic, Kelbeck's men come in and say something, and make a scene.

"La, Lavia-kun"

"It's okay, Dr. Katie. Paula can fix it, calm down."

"Oh well... I can't believe this is happening"

"You were right, Hikaru."

Hikaru had asked Lavia and Paula to accompany him as Katie said she would meet Kelbeck of Pond. Given Kelbeck's job description, he thought it was dangerous.

Lavia is swinging two at a time on "hidden," "life blockade," "magic blockade," and "perceptual blockade," so she'll be able to accompany him like a shadow. The problem was Paula, but she wore a coat of concealed dragon leather that she had prepared for Lavia. Further, the soul board was manipulated to add 1 to the "perceptual blockade".

[Soulboard] Paula-Nora

Age 17 Grade 8

0

[Magic]

[Magic Power] 6

[Agility]

[Hidden]

[Perceptual blockade] 1

[Mental Strength]

[Faith]

[Saint] 4

[Recovery Magic] 8

[Supporting Magic] 1

Now most places could have dived in.

Lavia is trained in fire magic and has come as far as to have precise power control. If you hit it unintentionally, you hardly have to worry about shooting it out.

The assassin beast man lost his right arm, but not to death. Kelbeck's men wrap him around with a rope.

As much as he takes the arm of the opponent who has been after his life, Lavia doesn't hesitate to execute. All the more so if Hikaru asks.

"... oh, my God, are you... dead, hey...?

When Cerbec breathes back, his men raise their voices of man-smelling joy.

"Brother!"

Katie shuddered over her head. Tears spilled out of her eyes —— Kelbeck glances open as surprised.

"... I'm sorry, Katie. Your people helped you?

Yeah, yeah, nod without saying a word.

"... when this war is over and settled, come back... I'll show you my magic equipment..."

"Brother..."

"Something, now, if I do it, I'm sleepy..."

Kelbeck tries to close his eyes. Katie calmed down for a moment and nodded when Paula explained from the side, "It's necessary to get some sleep to restore strength".

The Beastman man, whom Lavia had put in place, was an executive of the Einvist secret service. Not so long ago, intelligence activity had been hampered by Kelbeck, and Eimbist could be said to have been frustrated. However, due to the captivity of its executives, Einvist's Pound intelligence operations would be a major setback.