Chapter 19 (1/2)

When the talk was settled to some extent and I was considering if I should have A1 drop everyone off, I heard the voice of Ayla.

「U, umm……」

When I turned around, the girl who had lost consciousness earlier was standing behind Ayla while pressing a knife against her neck.

「Re, release everyone……!」

She said that in a voice like a sound of a bell comparable with her petite appearance and I somehow turned around to Baltic. Then, I saw the face of Baltic that grew pale and turned to deep blue.

「Can, can you stop it, Mea? Taiki-dono saved us!」

The girl called Mea heard the angry voice of Baltic and looked around a while observing the situation around her.

Baltic who spread out his hands with a pale face, I who stood in front of him, and the family members lined up unrestricted in front of the carriage were seen by her.

After looking at all of us, Mea shifted her gaze to Ayla who she pointed the knife at.

Seeing Ayla’s eyes looking straight at her eyes, beads of sweat formed on Mea’s forehead.

「I, I, I’m sorry!」

Removing the knife from Ayla, Mea knelt on the spot and apologized. Ayla’s neck doesn’t seem to have a scratch.

When Ayla was released I became relieved, Baltic sincerely bows his head to me.

「We, we are really sorry…..! We repaid your kindness by putting our hands on the wife of Taiki-dono…..!」

「Wi, wife……!?」

Hearing the words of Baltic, a shocked voice was heard from behind. It’s was Ayla.

Despite receiving a little shock, she lightly waved her hand from side to side.

「No no, I am a temporary resident. I will be sent back to my home after this so……」

In the flow of her speech, she inadvertently said that she don’t want to stay. She became slightly depressed by her own words and Baltic looked at Ayla with a difficult expression.

「I see, so that’s how it was. However, it is true that we pointed a blade regardless of you being a resident…… Allow us to apologize from the bottom of our hearts. Mea!」

「Ye, yes! I’m sorry!」

「Well, I’m glad nothing serious happened. Then, all those who want to go down to the surface, get in the carriage.」

The place has calmed down somehow and all of them got in the carriage leaving behind Baltic’s wife and his two siblings who received a slave mark.

Then, Mea turned her face to Baltic with a puzzled expression.

「Um, won’t mother and the rest get in?」

Hearing Mea say that in an anxious voice, Baltic knit his brow. What? So, she’s a daughter of Baltic?

「Torraine and the rest have received a slave mark on their bodies…… It’s sad, but they will not be able to protect the small shrine. Mae, father wants you to protect the small shrine together with me…….」

「No way! If that’s the case then I will stay together with mother!」

「Mea!?」

Hearing those remarks from Mea, Baltic made a face like it was the end of the world. Well, he’s just at his awkward age as a father, probably.

I could somehow understand the feelings of Baltic and Mea, so I will try to make a suggestion.

「…… How about this. For the time being, we will look after Mea-chan here for a short time, so she can spend time together with her mother, her uncle and her aunt」

「….. N, no, please wait. Maybe, Mea doesn’t really understand the story yet. You see, Mea. It’s not like you will not be able to see your mother and the rest again. Taiki-dono also said that they will come back occasionally. So, we should do our duty to protect the small shrine…..」