Fars and Herda initially suspected the momentary event before their eyes was a dream.
However, no matter how many times they blinked, the fact that the men who had been chasing them were lying on the ground remained unchanged.
Furthermore, while the two were still surprised, the men’s leader and one of the women were conversing, making them realize it was reality.
“Y-you…”
“I suspect you understand, but I deliberately left you behind. I wanted to hear as much as possible from you.”
Floria, who brushed off the leader’s accusatory gaze with a nonchalant expression, continued.
“If possible, I’d like you to tell me who ordered you to act while we have the chance.”
Hearing Floria’s words, Fars had an internal realization.
Fars had simply assumed they were attacked by common thugs from the town.
Indeed, the men who had chased them were dressed as such.
Even when they were being pursued, they had uttered words that suggested they were only after those who looked good on the outside.
Moreover, it was purely by chance that they had left the town without their guards in the first place.
They had never imagined that pursuers would come by targeting that coincidence.
Therefore, they had inadvertently erased the possibility of being hired by someone from their minds.
Floria and the leader’s conversation continued, as if ignoring Fars, who felt ashamed of his own misjudgment.
“Hah! Do you really think I’d tell you something like that?”
“Indeed. I see. Despite your appearance, you are surprisingly loyal. Well, it’s an unnecessary loyalty.”
Floria nodded with a hint of admiration, but her next words were sharp.
“If you don’t want to say, that’s fine. It has nothing to do with us.”
When Floria said this so easily, the leader, realizing she was serious, contorted his face.
In reality, for Floria, the fact that she was able to save the children before her was all that mattered; the background was irrelevant.
This was because she knew their legitimate family would thoroughly investigate.
The reason Floria had tried to question the man was simply to save herself the trouble.
The leader’s futile resistance was shattered just as easily.
Before the leader could say anything further, Floria swung the sword she held and quickly knocked him unconscious.
By the way, the men lying around weren’t killed either.
This wasn’t out of any particular regard for their lives, but because they believed information could be obtained from each of them.
Floria, judging in an instant that questioning the leader was futile, quickly rendered the man unconscious.
Then, with a look that conveyed nothing out of the ordinary, she turned to Fars.
“—Well. Now that the malice has departed… is there anything you have to say?”
As Floria asked this, Fars shielded his sister behind him and glared.
Seeing this, Floria showed a surprised expression for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“I see. From your perspective, I must seem like a suspicious person. Not trusting someone who just saved you at face value is a necessary caution.”
Floria said this, chuckling softly, while Mia next to her looked on with a puzzled expression.
Normally, one would expect a word of thanks to the rescuer, so it was natural for Mia to be confused by Floria simply smiling happily.
However, if one considered Floria’s demeanor before intervening, her current attitude was understandable.
The problem for Floria and Mia was the boy’s subsequent attitude.
In response to their expectations, Fars, who had been suddenly wary of the two women who had saved them, quickly changed his attitude and bowed his head.
“I deeply apologize. Given the circumstances, I couldn’t immediately trust you.”
“It’s fine. There’s no need to worry about it. If I were in your position, I would likely do the same.”
Floria waved her hand dismissively, saying not to mind it, and Fars bowed his head again.
At that point, a small problem arose.
Herda, who had been trembling behind her brother until then, suddenly stepped forward and spoke.
“Aren’t you being rude! Why would you speak to my brother like that…?”
“Herda!”
Fars raised his voice slightly, stopping Herda from complaining about Floria’s tone.
Herda, her words stopped by Fars’s scolding, looked bewildered.
“…Brother?”
“Ah, I apologize for suddenly shouting. But, you shouldn’t be rude to someone who has, after all, saved you.”
Fars smiled warmly, and Herda fell silent, unable to say anything more.
What Fars said was not simply to reprimand Herda.
Herda now realized that it was to prevent them from revealing their identities to the other party.
This difference in their response was, indeed, due to the nearly seven-year age gap between them.
Floria, watching the sibling’s exchange with a smile, suddenly remembered something and took it out of her pocket.
The item was a cloth that looked like a handkerchief and a pen (brush). While it was actually in her Item Box, she couldn’t show it, so she pretended to have taken it from her pocket.
Floria smoothly wrote a certain message on the handkerchief and tossed it to Fars, who was still on guard.
“…What is this?”
“It’s just a small request.”
Hearing Floria’s words, Fars’s caution intensified.
Floria chuckled at his reaction and continued.
“Your guards should arrive soon. I thought it would be better to give this to you before they do. — If you feel even a little grateful to us, I would like you to deliver this to someone.”
“Someone?”
Fars tilted his head, not understanding. Floria nodded and said.
“Ah. That person is—”
At the name that followed, Fars’s face took on a look of surprise.
“It’s true that you saved us, so I don’t mind that, but only if we can reach home safely, understand?”
“Of course. We mustn’t let our guard down until the very end.”
Fars, who issued a firm warning, simply nodded in agreement.
As Floria had predicted, Fars and Herda’s escorts arrived within ten minutes.
At that time, Floria and Mia were met with suspicious glances, but this was only from a few and eventually subsided.
As a result, Floria and Mia were able to safely depart from the escorts under the pretense of receiving remuneration later, after being asked for the inn where they were staying.
Their true identities will be revealed in the next chapter.
…What? You already know?
That’s something you’re not supposed to say. It’s still a secret.
