27 [1-27] If you eat poison, youll have to eat a duc... (2/2)

Demotion? No way!

That's all right. If that stone-headed count disappears, you'll have a chance to rise again. The old county is my garden.

In fact, Derik was not at all concerned about the possibility of demotion.

He knew the area he was in charge of both inside and out, and he had his own connections, not Night Python's. As long as he was in the organization, he couldn't ignore Derrik's presence.

For the same reason, he thought that it would be possible to recover the lost ground even if he pulled out of the Count's territory now.

I've heard that the Count's men in Korga are on their way here. The Count's men will be in Vonnegut tomorrow.

Round up the rest of them. We'll get our asses out of here tonight. Tell anyone who can't make it to Vonnegut to get out on their own.

”Yes, sir. ...... By the way, Chief. What do we do with the kid adventurer we caught?

Huh?　Let's see. ......

I'm not sure what to do with them, but I'm sure they'll be fine.

It's a captive hostage that you've prepared for battle, but what if you want to escape without a fight?

I'm not sure what to do with it, but I'm sure it's a good idea. ......

You're right, we should take it with us. If the adventurers come after you, you can use her as a hostage. She's a female, a kid, and a sorceress. Her face isn't bad either. Even if you don't need it, you can make a lot of money selling it to someone who does.

I understand.

It was snowing that night.

It was snowing that night.

The white snow blowing eerily from the depths of the blackness was an eerie view that made me feel uneasy just looking at it. I felt as if I would never be able to escape this darkness.

There were several horse-drawn sleighs with box-like carriages, holding up magical lights that had been rigged so that the light could not be seen from a distance. The thirty or so members of Night Python are fleeing along an old road that is rarely used by people.

In addition to cash, the sleighs are loaded with a few magic items, ledgers, proofs of debt, and expensive drugs (all illegal). The members of the group are riding in the gap between these large packages, and one hostage is being rolled away.

I'm sure it's safe to go on. No demons, no travelers.

Thank you.

A member of the neighboring territory who was acting as a scout reported from the small window of the horse-drawn sleigh, and Derik riding inside answered.

The scouts in their winter gear disappeared into the snow again.

Everyone took their turn to act as a guard, but Derrik, who was sitting badly with his feet on the luggage, naturally did not join in.

He was staring into the darkness of the carriage, calculating what he would have to do.

How far are we going?

I'm going to hide in the nearest tees until the Count can't move. It may be tight, but we'll be patient for three months at most.

That's when Derek said it.

”That's not good. You'll have to take me to the big boss.

A voice came from inside the luggage, and soon after, the horse-drawn sleigh that Derik was riding on flew apart from the inside.