Chapter 8
Viscount Sanmiguel’s face froze.
Antonio’s unit cheered, hugging each other in excitement.
The deputy leader’s aide asked, thrilled, “How did she do it?”
“Little Teacher said she was an information disruptor.”
Antonio grinned, and the aide gasped. “Incredible… But how did she tail Marina?”
“She didn’t tail. She waited.”
The deputy leader said.
While others watched Marina, he watched Eustea.
Her route was suspicious.
‘She took the river.’
She got a small boat upstream and shot downstream.
Faster than horses due to the current.
But why river for a search team finding kidnapped girls?
Watching her suspicious moves, Marina headed to beech mountain.
That’s when he realized.
Eustea’s goal was the beech mountain entrance downstream.
She climbed the tree and waited before Marina arrived.
Marina, thinking the viscount moved the girls due to complications, rushed.
After they left.
Eustea crawled down and jumped.
Her hidden unit members rushed over.
[How did you know they’d come here?]
[I thought you gave up when you took the boat.]
Eustea said casually.
[To frame someone, the swidden farmer village is perfect, right?]
[Huh?]
[Yeah?]
She folded fingers one by one.
[Can’t involve external forces—might start a territory war. Sanmiguel’s biggest asset is mines, so avoid mining village. Leaves swidden farmers.]
“…!”
“…!!”
Antonio’s unit gaped.
The deputy leader’s aides clicked tongues.
A vassal had said:
“Marina-sama has broad vision.”
But the one with real vision was elsewhere.
The viscount’s face paled.
Vassals swallowed, eyeing him.
And the deputy leader…
“Deputy leader?”
Couldn’t look away from Eustea in the mirror.
Antonio snorted. “Regretting it now?”
“Who said she wasn’t worth it?”
The one weighed against her was Antonio.
A comrade who crossed life-and-death lines.
Prioritizing Antonio over an outsider was natural.
Even rewinding time, he’d choose Antonio.
But that didn’t mean no regret.
[Let’s go now.]
[To the swidden village?]
[No. The dry stream below.]
[Why the stream?]
[If swidden farmers spot obviously noble ladies, they’d kidnap for ransom. To keep girls safe until exam ends, dry stream is perfect hiding spot.]
How could such a kid not be worth it?
My search team headed to beech mountain dry stream.
We hurried.
‘If Marina’s team comes back, combat might erupt.’
We’d win, of course.
Even if the viscount gave Marina elite soldiers, we’re Irregular members.
The roughest: Antonio’s unit.
‘But that’s 7 vs 7.’
The original kidnappers are nearby.
Can’t join openly, but might support Marina covertly.
‘Prevent kidnappers and Marina’s team from linking.’
Climbed without rest.
At the dry stream…
“Little Teacher, there!”
A lone large carriage.
Truly alone.
No guards.
‘Leave a carriage like that?’
Far from swidden village, but what if someone stumbles upon it?
‘Fishy.’
As I hesitated…
Members ran to the carriage.
Then it flashed.
‘Wait.’
“Hold on, everyone.”
As I pulled them back…
BOOM!
Explosion roared.
Held members looked puzzled, then flinched back.
Luckily, timing saved us—no one caught in blast.
I kept them back, grabbed a pebble.
Threw it…
Bang!
“…!”
Members’ faces hardened.
I glared at the hovering broadcast device.
“Dirty…”
I’d reach the girls first, so the viscount acted.
Planted items around the carriage.
Having played the game, I know them.
Frostfinch.
Buried trap.
Explodes on slight contact.
Early-game item, not very powerful.
But misstep could chain-explode the area.
Carriage could fly.
“Damn. What now?”
Members looked tense.
Must rescue girls, but frostfinches block approach.
We’d be disarming until Marina arrives.
I sighed deeply.
“No choice.”
“Yes, it’ll take time, but disarm mines one by—”
“Blow them all up.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
“Pardon?”
Members looked like they misheard.
I sat cheerfully, gathered pebbles.
“…?”
“…??”
They just stared, confused.
I stood with an armful.
Aimed at carriage.
…If masked men hadn’t burst from above the stream, panicked.
“W-Wait!”
“Stop!”
Kidnappers, pale, appeared.
Afraid I’d blow the girls up.
‘Can’t kill them.’
The viscount forbade it.
Killing noble ladies?
Central would investigate.
Beyond the viscount’s control.
As predicted, kidnappers rushed, shouting.
“Planning to kill the ladies!”
“You vicious bastards!”
They scolded us.
Members looked dumbfounded.
* * *
In the mirror, Eustea’s team chuckled incredulously.
Viewers too.
The deputy leader’s aide said, “Kidnappers lecturing…”
Then.
Eustea shouted.
[Come down or I blow it!]
Kidnappers…
[C-Calm down!]
“….”
“….”
Aides exchanged glances.
So… kidnappers are the masked ones, right?
They panicked.
Can they descend?
Subordinates looked to the leader.
Before asking, Eustea was faster.
Bang!
Threw a pebble, detonated one frostfinch.
[Coming down now.]
Bang!
[I said coming!]
Deputy leader’s aides stayed silent.
The vicious ones seemed the rescuers, not kidnappers.
Roles reversed inexplicably.
Masked men jumped down the cliff.
Thud. Landing, weapons in hand.
Huge twin axes.
Maces.
Crossbows with iron skewer-like bolts.
Seeing weapons, a deputy leader member flinched.
“Mist Fangs?”
Antonio replied, “Should’ve recognized the jump. That one-eyed bastard still alive.”
Member stiffened.
Mist Fangs.
Infamous mercenary band.
Escapees from northern great prison—skilled criminals.
Over 30 visible.
Can 7 members win?
Aide said, “Girls safe, but Eustea-sama in danger. Not noble, central won’t intervene. Moreover…”
Glanced at viscount.
His face satisfied in the mirror.
‘Dies unfortunately in exam—Marina wins naturally.’
Antonio stood.
Sword in hand.
Deputy leader asked, “Heading to beech mountain?”
“Little Teacher entered for me and Chari.”
“So.”
“If she’s alive when I arrive, I’ll save her. If dead, I’ll slaughter them and the viscount to repay the favor.”
Antonio glared coldly.
Muttered, “Unlike some who only calculate, I know gratitude.”
“Fool.”
“Enough.”
Killing intent in Antonio’s eyes.
Deputy leader’s members hand to weapons.
Antonio’s unit stood.
Sudden uproar froze others watching.
“What…”
“Happening?”
Tense between units, viscount smirked.
Their discord benefits him.
If Mist Fangs kill the damn girl, all he wants is his.
Then, deputy leader spoke.
“No need to go. Sit.”
“…What?”
Antonio frowned.
Deputy leader nodded to mirror.
Eyes turned back.
In the mirror…
[W-What?]
BOOOOM!
[Aaah!]
Mist Fangs collapsed helplessly.
[That way. Push.]
At Eustea’s command, huge member shoved 3-4 Fangs.
[Northwest 2 meters. Throw.]
Another threw rock as directed.
Bang!
“T-This…!”
“What is this…!”
Eustea knew exact trap locations.
Members push, Eustea detonates.
Fangs down in groups.
Explosions precisely avoid carriage.
Antonio baffled. “How?”
“Explosive items likely frostfinches.”
“Mines. Buried, covered in soil—how locations…”
“She knows frostfinch detection.”
“Detection…?”
Basics: use internal magnetism.
Dry stream sand has iron particles.
Magnet + iron sand?
Sand slightly mounds where pulled.
‘But subtle difference.’
Her eyes spot it.
Plus item knowledge.
Explained, Antonio and members chuckled.
“What is Little Teacher?”
Deputy leader smirked, crossed legs.
“Who knows. Ask when she returns.”
Her entering the exam: unexpected luck.
Viscount’s face bluer.
* * *
I dusted hands, watching rolling Mist Fangs.
‘Good. All combat-incapable.’
Now…
Approached the one-eyed leader.
Rummaged his pockets.
“W-What…!”
Down but leader, still strength to shout.
Ignored, checked inner pocket.
“Found it.”
Frostfinch disarm key.
Knew he’d have for later disarm.
Pressed key.
Threw stone at slight depression.
‘No reaction.’
All disarmed.
Member tying Fangs asked, “Done?”
“Yes. To the carriage.”
Subdued Fangs, headed to carriage.
I nodded, one opened door.
Inside…
“Mmph…”
“Mmph. Mmph.”
Gagged girls.
Looked at us teary-eyed.
The noble girls for the exam.
I untied gags. “You okay?”
Girls glanced at each other.
Members said pityingly, “Suspicious of us too. Natural after kidnapping.”
“Relax. From castle. See? Sanmiguel crest.”
But girls stiff, unsure.
I untied others, knelt.
“Hello, Nicola-sama.”
Red-haired girl flinched.
I smiled. “You don’t know me, but I know you.”
Very well.
In original story, she passes, becomes adopted daughter.
Looked at Nicola’s hand.
Tense.
“How could someone like you…”
I muttered, Nicola snapped head. “Involvement in crime is disaster. Blaming victim for not being careful is stupid.”
“Right. If you’re really victims.”
Members puzzled. “What?”
“What do you mean, Little Teacher?”
Unlike confused members, girls stiffened.
I whispered.
“You weren’t kidnapped. You followed willingly.”
Glared at floating broadcast device.
No, at the viscount beyond.
“Right? Viscount.”
* * *
Sanmiguel broadcast hall.
“What does this mean? Is the lord involved?”
Vassals glared stiffly.
Viscount panicked, shooed them. “Clear the room.”
“No, explain this, not leave…!”
“Later! Later!”
“Lord!”
Used hidden private soldiers to expel vassals.
Viscount, pale, glared at deputy leader. “That wench slandering the lord must pay.”
“Think of excuses for the expelled vassals.”
Deputy leader smiled slyly.
Antonio grinned. “If they buy it.”
Viscount ground teeth.
* * *
At that moment, dark room, curtains blocking light.
A man alone watching mirror held a glass.
Long fingers, dark red liquid swirling lightly.
[Right? Viscount.]
His gaze lingered on Eustea’s face in mirror.
He murmured.
“Not bad.”
Uncharacteristic praise from lips.
Truly uncharacteristic.
For that man, Irregular leader Aslan.
