Mezametara Chikashitsu!? ~Tensei Shoujo no Yume no Saki~ Chapter 124.5

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When it doesn't go as planned.
"That's some amusing magic you have created." (Gai)

"It's quite similar to Life Assimilation, though." (Albert)

"The effect is different from that one. This magic does not absorb life force, it just puts the body to sleep while retaining consciousness." (Felice)

"Do they still feel pain or?" (Gai)

"Yeah. They only can't move." (Felice)

"It's a magic fir to instill fear, huh. Would I be able to learn it as well?" (???)

"It's fine, Olivia. I will teach yo………… did I say Olivia just now? Al, Gai, was it my imagination? I think I heard Olivia's voice." (Felice)

"You are fine. I heard it as well." (Albert)

"I heard it too." (Gai)

"Yes, it's Olivia. Felice-sama." (Olivia)

Felice's group who heard Olivia's voice turned around robotically.
There, Olivia clad in black clothes stood while smiling.

"I am glad you are safe. Are the people on the ground those who did wrong to the Faust family?" (Olivia)

"Faust family, perhaps… you came alone, Olivia?" (Felice)

"No, I am a scout." (Olivia)

"Then, Tousama and others aren't here yet?" (Albert)

"Sire's group had already besieged this cave." (Olivia)

"Say, you planning on taking these fellows, right?" (Gai)

"Naturally. The preparations in the mansion are mostly completed." (Olivia)

(((… Preparations, what preparations!?))) Albert, Felice, Gai

After interjecting to themselves, they first had something they ought to do.

"Y, you see, Olivia, there's something we'd like to talk with Otousama before you take them." (Felice)

"Understood. And so, what about these people?" (Olivia)

When they looked where Olivia was pointing, they saw Gray on others who were frozen in place even now.
Felice's group had no self-awareness to consider them being the cause, so they restricted the unconscious bandit chief while tilting their heads.
They couldn't leave them absentminded like that, having said that, they were not sure they would come if they did not tell them that it's safe now, so they asked Olivia to call Claude over while they approached Gray and others.

"O~y. It's over~" (Albert)

"The help has arrived." (Felice)

"The monster had been defeated, so no need to worry." (Gai)

"Wha! …… just what have we…" (Gray)

"If I am not mistaken, a Chimera… were we just dreaming, I wonder?" (Yahar)

When they explained what happened to Gray, Yahar and others whose sanity had returned, they embraced each other and bowed their heads to thank Felice's group.
At that moment, Claude, Nathan, Miguel, Austin, Blake, and Meison entered the cave and called out to the three.

"Are there any injuries?" (Claude)

"Nope. We are fine, Otousama." (Felice)

"And so, what did you want to talk about?" (Claude)

"You see~~" (Felice)

Felice, Albert, and Gai narrated the information they got to Claude and others.

"In short, these guys are bandits who kidnapped low-ranked adventurers with a fake request. Moreover, they were also supported by the soldiers." (Claude)

"Even though Al and Feli received that request by a coincidence, those people were aware that they are from our Faust family. It's highly likely that someone has leaked the information, Father." (Miguel)

"The most suspicious ones would be the soldiers or staff of the Adventurer's Guild. Either way, we have no choice but to hand over the bandits to the country. It's just… Felice, can I ask you something?" (Nathan)

"What is it? Nathan Oniisama." (Felice)

"I heard something worrying when Olivia came to call us." (Nathan)

"Hmm?" (Felice)

"She said that a part of your hair become shorter." (Nathan)

"My hair? It certainly was cut off with a knife. But, it will soon grow back, so it's fine. I can recover it with magic too." (Felice)

""Hoh…"" (Claude, Miguel)

Claude and Miguel who heard Felice's words started surrounding themselves with a turbulent aura.
Nathan was naturally the same, so Felice took a step back without thinking.

"That's not the problem, is it?" (Nathan)

"… Yes." (Felice)

(Huh? Haven't we had a conversation like this before?) Felice

"By the way, who cut it?" (Nathan)

"Ehh~… who was it again?" (Felice)

"That woman did it." (Albert)

"I have collected the hair already." (Gai)

"… They won't notice if there's one person less." (Claude)

"Stop it! If you want to do it, do it after she gets condemned." (Austin)

"… Tch." (Claude)

(((So it's fine after she gets condemned…))) Albert, Felcie, Gai

When Austin who was silent up until now was stopping Claude after hearing his muttering, Olivia's communication came through.

(Sire, a slave trader's carriage came. There are approximately fifteen people. They are coming from the opposite direction, so they shouldn't have noticed yet.) Olivia

(Got it. Continue observing them.) Claude

(Understood.) Olivia

Claude ended the communication and gave out instructions.

"A slave trader will soon arrive, so we will be taking him too. As planned, Al's group shall take the victims to the carriage and stay on alert." (Claude)

""Okay~"" (Albert, Felice)

"Roger." (Gai)

"Miguel, Nathan, take Riley and a few people to Branka and commence a 'search' for your kidnapped little brother and sister." (Claude)

""Yes."" (Miguel, Nathan)

"Austin, are there any trustworthy people in Branka?" (Claude)

"Yeah… there's a few people." (Austin)

"Then, cooperate with them to catch the rat. You may use our own to interrogate the rat." (Claude)

"Ou. Meison, stay here. Blake, come with me." (Austin)

"Got it." (Blake)

"Good grief." (Meison)

"We will be fine here by ourselves, though." (Claude)

"It's to watch over you! I am uneasy leaving the Faust family here alone!" (Austin)

"Are you trying to say that our family lacks common sense? What a rude fellow. Aren't you getting quite similar to Evan?" (Claude)

"You are way ruder!" (Austin)

"Leave it at that. We have no time, let's depart, Austin." (Blake)

Like this, the bandits and the slave trader's group will be detained in the cave under the supervision of the Faust family until the collaborators from the town arrive. However, will those guys stay safe until then?
Their fate was entrusted to Meison.

"Meison, I have tasty alcohol here." (Claude)

"I won't fall for that." (Meison)

"I have side dishes Feli made for your birthday too." (Claude)

"… I, I won't fall for that! You mustn't fall for that, me!" (Meison)

"That reminds me, I heard that Al and Gai got an unscathed Chimera for you. They said that they quickly want to show it to you." (Claude)

"… Ee~i! I will only go to take a look, alright!" (Meison)

"Yeah." (Claude)

Seeing Meison leave towards the carriage with heavy steps, Claude shifted his attention to the bandits whose consciousness returned.
The bandits who saw his eyes were too frightened to speak.

"Now then, what should I try first? Don't worry, I won't kill you. A judgment is awaiting you guys, after all. It's just… we don't know when accidents may happen. It's in your best interest to not think too much." (Claude)

Correction, their fate was left in Claude's hands.

Chapter end