“Come, let’s go outside. I will escort you to the Alway Ducal Family. — By the way, where are Jared and Olivier-sama?”
“Olivier-sama and Jared-sama were taken by the attackers,” Trane replied to Luzer’s voice.
“N-no, really? Were the enemies that powerful?”
“No. Olivier-sama was taken hostage, and Jared-sama couldn’t fight.”
“—Tch, just like Jared. I’m worried about them too, but first, everyone. Please follow me.”
Trane may have withheld the information that Ernesta was with the attackers as a form of consideration. Luzer, who offered a hand and helped Hannelore to her feet, stood guard while the group began to head out of the mansion. However, the moment they stepped into the hallway, Lily called out a halt.
“Fisher-dono, wouldn’t it be a bit dangerous to go outside?”
“It might be dangerous. However, I will protect you with my life. Though I suppose you may not trust me, a stranger.”
From outside the mansion, the sounds of combat could still be heard. Although Jared and the others had been taken, it meant that the entire Royal Mage Corps had not retreated. The question was why the fighting was still ongoing. Lily and the others had no way of knowing if Jared was resisting or if a third party had come to help like Luzer.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just, even if you appeared alone and saved us in this dire situation, I don’t know if we will escape safely…”
“How did Luzer-sama get into the mansion?”
Lily shared Trane’s unspoken question. It was unclear how he knew of their predicament and how he broke through the siege of mages to arrive.
“I didn’t do anything special. I was able to tell something was wrong when I sensed Jared’s strong magic power earlier. That something had definitely happened. As for how I entered the mansion, it’s because my magic is lightning.”
“Could it be that Fisher-dono turned into lightning and entered the mansion?”
“Yes. Although it is not perfect, I have no intention of falling behind any ordinary mage.”
No one doubted his words. After all, they had witnessed his power firsthand. His ability to appear with lightning speed, unleash purple lightning, and defeat enemies in an instant was astonishing. Lily felt that his skill was comparable to a Court Mage she had met once in her childhood. Considering he was Jared’s older brother figure, he seemed trustworthy. More importantly, staying in the mansion had more disadvantages.
“We should seek help from the Alway Ducal Family, and we can’t stay here forever. We need to get somewhere safe.”
“Understood. I apologize for doubting you. Please, I’m counting on you.”
“Leave it to me.”
Luzer bowed respectfully, and his gaze was directed towards Hannelore. Hannelore had acted tough for years to protect her daughter, but her face was pale because the daughter she was supposed to protect, along with her fiancé, had been kidnapped. Luzer’s haste to get to the Ducal Family and Lily’s hesitation to risk heading there were both out of consideration for Hannelore.
“The sounds have stopped.”
“That’s right… has the fighting ended?”
The sudden cessation of combat sounds bewildered the four. They were anxious about what had happened now.
“Get down. Stay away from the windows.”
Luzer gave his warning, then cautiously approached the window himself to survey the situation outside. Tension hung in the air.
“It seems to be alright now. Come, let’s go outside.”
Luzer let out a deep sigh and smiled reassuringly at the three.
“Fisher-dono? What do you mean?”
“The fighting is over. Thanks to reinforcements. At the very least, this mansion is safe now.”
He pointed outside the mansion, and Lily and the others cautiously peeked through the window.
“Pfeil, and that person… is Laurentz Herring-sama?”
It was Trane who voiced his surprise and confusion. Hannelore was relieved to see the boy she lived with, and Lily also breathed a sigh of relief, knowing Pfeil’s capabilities. Though not clad in combat uniform and without a bow, he was indeed an assassin of Waalthe, holding a knife in one hand and standing leisurely amidst fallen mages. Lily did not recognize the other boy, but from the name Laurentz Herring, she recalled he was a friend of Jared’s from the Royal Academy. The boy with flaxen hair was trying to catch his breath, his Royal Academy uniform stained with dirt and blood. In contrast to Pfeil, who seemed to have no visible injuries, Laurentz’s uniform showed bare skin in several places as he bled. The fact that just two people could fell about fifty mages was undoubtedly proof of their true strength. Pfeil, noticing the four observing them from the window, was seen speaking to Laurentz.
“First, let’s join up with them. And then, to the Alway Ducal Family.”
No one opposed Luzer’s suggestion, and Lily and Trane took Hannelore’s hands and went out of the mansion.
