125 Children and Mature (1/2)

–Aegir POV–

Two children went missing. After I heard that from Dorothea, I throw off my formal wear, change into leather clothes I can easily move in and put on my steel arm guards.

「Explain the situation first. In as much detail as possible.」

The only thing I asked about was the two kids who went out to shop and didn't come back.

「Memel and Ami...if they don't return. Aah! It would have been better if I went myself!!」

The conversation won't go anywhere when Dorothea is so agitated. Myla explains in her place while she changes her clothes as well.

「The two who went missing are girls – one who is 8 years of age and the other is 12 years of age and both of small build. They went out before evening and the sun was high enough for them to return home after a short period of shopping at the nearby marketplace.」

So two little girls went missing after they went out for a little shopping.

「It's probably an illegal slave merchant or something of the sort. It happened to both children at the same time when the sun was still out and they were on their way to the busy marketplace. If those guys weren't used to doing it, it wouldn't be possible for them to capture the kids.」

「Aaah...」

Dorothea holds her head while collapsing to the floor, which prompts Miti and the other kids to hurry over and support her.

「What should we do?」

Celia is already finished her preparations and is holding the sword made by the dwarves. As expected of Celia and Myla, they are used to being on the battlefield so they don't panic even in emergency situations.

「Even if the kidnapping occurred in the evening, they shouldn't have time to transport them. If a covered wagon were to run at night, it would catch the guards' eyes, and it would be the end if they get stopped, so they probably won't take that chance. If they want to sell the kids, they would need to wait until after the sun comes out before they can move them.」

「So until then, they should be in some building?」

「Most likely. If we can find them tonight, we can bring them back.」

「Is that true!?」

Dorothea swiftly lifts her head up.

「I'll do as much as I can, so wait quietly in the house. Gido, Kroll, protect the mansion. Celia and Myla will come with me.」

They probably aimed at random orphan kids, so there's a chance they will aim for the kids at home too. Nonna and Claudia are at home too so I can't just take the entire fighting force.

「If the escort squad enters, we can overwhelm them.」

「The guards will be a bother if we gather soldiers within the capital. It would be a waste of time to explain things, and worst case the kidnappers will run away if they sense a large gathering.」

It would be all over if they leave the capital. The girls would become playthings for perverts or be headed for the brothels.

Celia, Myla and I head out on a stroll at night wearing light armor and swords at our waists. If we wear heavy equipment, it would ultimately aggravate the guards and eat up our time.

The door closes, as if interrupting the voice of the worrying Dorothea and the bolt gets locked in place.

「Where should we search first? Perhaps a place where criminals are likely to gather?」

「Should we try the slums?」

Celia and Myla propose some ideas but eventually get rejected. If we were to run a fine-tooth comb through all the suspicious places in the wide capital, we wouldn't even get through a tenth of the places by morning.

「Search for a prostitute.」

「「Huh!?」」

Don't be too loud, we'll stand out.

「Hardlett-sama!? You were in the capital, eh? I didn't get any customers today, you see~ I'll make it cheaper, so one round...-wait, you have girls with you? The three of you together? It's fine I guess, but doing it with girls isn't my forte, you know?」

I find a street prostitute I know on the path. I've been with her many times already.

「That's not what I'm here for today. Actually...」

I tell her about the place where the children were believed to have gone missing and ask about any rumors regarding illegal slave merchants targeting small kids. Those kind of guys don't just pass along casually. In order to slip past the eyes of guards and citizens, it would require much experience and familiarity with the land.

「Aah...over there, huh...then it's probably those guys...」

「Please tell me where their hideout is.」

「Mmm, well it seems that they're going out with our boss here and...I can't really say much, and it might mean we can't continue doing business here...」

「Please tell me.」

I hand her the several gold coins in my pocket. This should allow her to live for the next year or two.

「Geh!? I-is this all gold!?」

「If you can't stay here, I can bring you to Rafen and introduce you to a nice shop. Tell me quickly, please.」

Celia draws her sword.

Please answer quick, I'm begging you.

「The ones who are targeting kids in that area are probably Baroll's party. Their hideout...well I don't know if they have one, but they are often seen entering and exiting that warehouse with a blue roof on the main street.」

「Alright, let's go.」

I take Celia and Myla and run to the place we were told.

「Ah! Don't forget about what you said about taking me with you, okay?」

I reply by turning back and raising my hand slightly. I can do something as long as I know the place.

「So using a thief to catch a thief...is it?」

「Exactly, playing with women can be useful sometimes, don't you think?」

「I admit that but...in the end, you made another one into your woman, didn't you?」

「Keep it a secret from Nonna.」

We joke lightly while keeping our feet moving quickly. As we head to the district of warehouses the prostitute told us about, we see only one place with a blue roof. I move to the front, Celia moves to the side and Myla stabilizes the formation behind us.

We silently move all the way to the entrance but the warehouse doesn't look any different from any of the others on the surface. Putting my ear to the door, I hear two men chatting idly but I can't make out what they're saying. Geez, this is troublesome, if I make a mistake when I charge in, I can just use my authority to suppress it.

I knock on the door violently.

「-!! Ya, yama.」

A code? If this was a regular warehouse, the person who filled the place wouldn't say something like that.

I draw the sword I received from Claudia and kick down the door forcefully. It wasn't a thick wooden door so it breaks and falls into the room.

「Gueh!!」「Who is it!?」

The man standing behind the door fell over along with the door, while the other one tries to unsheathe his sword.

「Shi-!」

But Celia tumbles in quicker than he could do so and stabs the man in the chest. The sword with the dwarven marks is able to easily pierce through the leather armor and the man's body.

「You're not used to it. Don't go up front too much.」

Her movement is far slower than usual. She's being held back by the heavy sword.

「Yes.」

To be precise, the sword pierces the man's heart and when the weapon is pulled out, blood squirts all the way up to the ceiling. In a flash, Celia swings her sword down towards the head of the man who was pinned under the door. As usual, she is merciless.

「We've caused quite the ruckus. They should be fairly vigilant.」

A rattling sound can be heard from the room around us. It appears our next opponents will be heavily armed.

「Won't we allow them to move the kids?」

「They shouldn't think we've come to recapture the kids. Guys who are in this occupation have many enemies after all.」

I grab the corpse by the neck and lift it up, taking it to the connecting corridor and hurling the body after opening the door. As soon as I did so, a bang could be heard and the corpse was pierced by a bolt.

「Let's go.」

When we jump out through the door, we see a man aiming a bowgun at us from the end of the corridor. In a panic, he tries to reload, but there's no way he could do so in a few seconds.

「Hiiiiih!!」

Estimating that he wouldn't make it in time when I charge at him, he abandons his bowgun and pulls out the knife attached to his waist, but it doesn't look too reliable.

I run towards him without paying attention to his weapon and sideswipe him with my sword.

「Giieh...」

The right hand which sticks out to try and block my attack dances in the air while still gripping the knife. I would lose precious time if I got hung up by this man so I don't stop running and pass him.

「Please stop, agh! Gogh!」

The two following behind me similarly slashed at him. I don't think he'll remain alive after that.

「Hey, stay here!!」

「No...I want to go home...」

A man's angry shout and the crying voice of a girl, must be that room.

I try kicking down the door of the room I heard the girl from, but it seems something is blocking from the other side and I can't open it.

「What should we do?!」「Let's escape from the window for now, we can beat them up when we round up some people.」

It would be problematic if they escape outside.

「What do we do?」

「Myla, can you go?」

「Of course, but if the door is blocked, unless I can go around to the window...」

The wall separating the corridor and the room is made of wood, and it isn't thick like the walls made with a stack of logs. From the voice of the man I heard before, I know that one of them is along the wall close to us. I stick my sword into the ground and swing my arms barehanded.

「No way...it's impossible.」

「Are you serious?」

「Fuun!!」

When both of my fists crash into the wall, they break through and stick out from the other side.

「Wha-!! The heck-?!!」

Once I feel the sensation of the man by the wall, I grab him and pull him towards the wall with all my strength. After several snapping sounds, a large hole opens in the wall and I pull the man completely out of the room. Like so, another entrance is made.

「Monster!!」「Hiiiiiih!!」

There are two other men in the room, who are confronted by Celia and Myla after charging through the gaping hole.

「You are-! Count Hardlett!?」

The man I pulled out draws his sword. I would be at a disadvantage if he distances himself since I have no weapon, so I'll finish him off now.

「Nonna, I'm borrowing your technique.」

「What are you saying-, Gyaah.」

While grabbing the man, I give him a vigorous headbutt, causing the man to squirt blood from his forehead after one strike. The man grimaces in pain and drops his sword, but I don't let go, following up my headbutt with a second and third strike, tossing him aside to retrieve my sword after a fourth headbutt caves his head in and causes the man's entire body to spasm.

「Are you unhurt?」

「I'm alright. Please check on the children.」

Myla and Celia are each crossing swords with their respective enemies. The children are in the corner of the room clutching their heads and trembling in fear. I was thinking about saving them.

「Kuh...you-!」

Celia's situation doesn't look good. The heavy sword doesn't match her style as it is, but combining the fact that it's large and she can't swing it around in the room, it works against her, putting her at a disadvantage. It's fortunate that her opponent is not much better than an amateur or else Celia would probably be dead if she faced a skilled knight.

「Celia, stand down and take care of the kids.」

「I can still...no, I'll step back.」

As Myla sees Celia turn towards the children, she also goes on the offensive. I guess she was worried about her.

「Damn, how can a woman, you...guwah!!」

After parrying the enemy's sword, she leans in and slashes once at his knee, then skillfully lops off the head as the man unconsciously lowers it. Myla can't fight like Irijina, who overpowers a male opponent with brute strength. But she's sufficiently large for a woman and is pretty muscular, so her attacks aren't powerless, plus she's capable of exchanging blows skillfully and beautifully. In terms of swordplay, there is no one more skilled than her.

「I'll back you up.」

「No need.」

Myla comes over after finishing off her opponent, but there is no need.

「Uooooh!!」

It appears it wasn't just the sword that caused Celia to struggle against the man I'm facing off against. He must have returned from the war because his movements are quite sharp. But even so, it doesn't matter.

「I guess that's it.」

When I block the man's slash and take a step back, he swings his sword down with his full strength to finish me instantly. I sidestep his attack and swipe at the man's side after he exposes a fatal opening by slamming his sword to the ground.

「Gyaaaah!!」

Fresh blood sprays out as my blade digs into his body and cuts him open. The man tries to hold back the guts gushing out from his body but ends up dying anyways.

「Are the children safe?」

「Yes, they're alright.」

Celia seems to have secured the two girls. She's covering their eyes with her hands and clumsily trying to comfort them.

She's doing well. With heads flying and innards gushing out, the room has become a total mess after all.

「I'm counting on you to look after the kids, Celia.」

As long as we can bring back the kids, there is no need to look for the slave merchant. Let's hurry and return home.

But it seems it isn't over yet.

「What an idiot.」

When we go outside, about 10 men wearing leather armor and holding swords and short spears are waiting for us. A man who appears to be the leader is holding a large sword and yelling at us.

「Did you think you could just go home!?」

「That is for our mutual benefit.」

I leave Myla and Celia with the children and step forward. Since there are so many of them, there might be some idiot who goes after the children.

「If you hand over the kids and women behind you, your life will-...」

「How noisy. Hurry up and come at me.」

I only have the one weapon Claudia gave to me, but I think I'll manage somehow.

「H-hey. Isn't that guy Hardlett?」

「The fierce god Hardlett...can we win with a mere 10 people?」

As expected of the capital, people know my face. I participated in the triumphant war celebration twice after all.

「Look closer, you cowards, he only has a single one-handed sword! Where do you see the great spear he wielded on the battlefield?!! We'll kill and bury him!!」

The leader shouts, the other men agree and get into a stance with their swords. Fine by me, it would be annoying if they scattered all over the place.

「Dieeee!」「Uraaah!」

I evade the two slow swords that jump ahead of the vanguard and cut up the men holding those swords – one gets cut below the knee and the other's head gets lopped off and falls to the ground with a plop. If they were heavy cavalry, it would be harsh for me, but a single one-handed sword is enough to deal with this group. It would be easier if I had a spear.

「My leg, aghhhh!!」

「Shut up.」

I kick the face of the man who was crying in pain to quiet him down.

「Now, who's next?」

「You guys, surround him! Stab him with your spears!」

A man wielding a short spear yells and charges at me. He appears to be aiming for the center of my body so I won't be able to dodge. Because of that, it's easy for me to grab his weapon.

「Wha-...」

I firmly grab the tip of the spear and lift him up. In that opening, a man charges at me from behind, in which I respond by piercing my sword through his throat and slash him up. Uwah, his blood is flying everywhere...how dirty.

The man abandons and releases his grip on the spear, so when I turn around, I stab the man in the throat, causing the man to laugh with a stiff expression.

「Hah, hahaha.」

「Hahaha, is it funny?」

「Yeah, I'm actually, gugyaah!!」

After returning the spear to him deep into his right eye, I turn around to face the remaining enemies. There are six of them remaining, including the leader.

「If you don't kill me quickly, it'll be morning, you know? What was the punishment for illegal slave trading again?」

「Shit! Get him all at once!!」

Five people attack me after surrounding me. I block the sword of one person coming at me from the front with my own sword and deflect another with my metal arm guard. I twist my body to evade the spearhead of the third person and use my fist to punch him to the ground.

「Sorry!!」

「Uwaah! What are you doing?!!」

A man wielding an axe attacks me from behind, but when I wait until the last moment to dodge, the man loses his balance, stumbles forward and sticks his axe into the thigh of another man in a stance with his sword.

Attacks from all direction will cause friendly fire if weapons without range, like a spear, are used. Even more so for an amateur group, that level of attack is too high for them.

I kick the back of the man holding an axe and cause the two of them roll together, pushing my way through the enemy locked sword to sword with force. The powerless man is unable to hold back my strength and gets flipped over, splitting his head half open.

「Hiieeh!!」

One of them ignores the leaders cursing and runs away, but that shouldn't be a problem. An object shining in the dark – the short sword thrown by Celia – soars through the air and stabs the man in the head.

「Guh...it hurts...」

The man I punched tries to gets up while holding his broken nose, so I gently run my sword through his throat. The only ones left are the leader and the two who committed friendly fire.

I behead the man desperately struggling to pull the axe stuck deep in the other man's thigh, causing the man's pathetic ally to cry out for his life due to his serious injury.