Chapter 46: This Isn’t Right

That day—

We left the town of Ressal before sundown.

“Lev, what about your family’s grave?”

“…I’ll report to Cain’s family home, and I’m planning to build it nearby. I don’t want to go back to Ressal ever again.”

“Your attendant’s family, huh. Then we should stop by there on the way too.”

“…No. Cain was originally from a distant northern tribe. Even if we’re heading to Anat, it would be a huge detour. I’ll go alone after everything’s over.”

It seemed Lev had no intention of building a grave for her parents and brother in Ressal.

Honestly, after the way she was treated there, it was no surprise. Cain, though not related by blood, was like family to her. It made more sense to build the grave near his family’s home.

To say she never wanted to return to Ressal again—I couldn’t blame her for that.

“Nah. Lev, you’re basically family to me now. After it’s all over, let’s go together.”

“…Thanks, Karl.”

Unable to stand by and watch anymore, Karl, uncharacteristically thoughtful, pulled Lev into a hug.

Lev blinked in surprise for a moment, but then quietly thanked him and rested her head against his chest.

Even Maika, her usual romantic rival, only shrugged and silently watched over them for today.

“…I simply cannot accept this. What on earth is that ruler thinking? Instead of protecting the people, they’re seizing assets just to build a statue of their own father? What would our homeland think of such behavior?”

“Calm down, Irine.”

“How can I possibly stay calm!? Is that what nobles do!? Isn’t that insane cathedral run by the local nobles!?”

“…Well, it doubles as the administrative office, so yeah, probably.”

“Do those nobles have any pride at all? Haven’t they been taught by their supposedly great predecessors that nobles exist to protect the people?”

As for me, while I was doing my best to maintain composure thanks to Lev trying to calm me down, my head was still boiling with anger.

That wasn’t what a noble should do. Exploiting the people’s wealth for personal indulgence, under the guise of authority—utter madness.

Honestly, part of me wanted to go back and report this to my father in Sunwin, borrow the family’s troops, and crush them outright──… No. That would only get the people caught in the crossfire.

…But Lord Garius exists. Right—he said he was returning to the capital.

We’ll be passing through the capital eventually too. When we do, I should appeal directly to Lord Garius and have the nobles of Ressal punished.

“Irine, you need to cool your head. If you’re going to get this worked up every time, you won’t last on this journey.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Maika?”

“It means your household is way too clean and upright. The streets are spotless, it’s safe even at night, no bandits in sight. When I tried to arrange a meeting with your father, I got a death glare just for hinting at a bribe. I was honestly terrified—thought he might be some kind of monster.”

Well of course. My dad’s strict about corruption and puts a ton of effort into keeping the city safe.

Sunwin’s motto is to create a town where honest people can live in peace. Even if it’s not rich, it should be safe, peaceful, and filled with smiles—that’s the ideal.

“But, y’know… this is what’s normal.”

“…Normal, you say?”

“The scene you just saw, Irine.”

Maika said it with a slightly resigned expression.

“Powerless commoners are usually just prey for the nobles. Nobles aren’t protectors of the people—they devour them.”

“That… that can’t be true!! Then why do nobles exist in the first place!?”

“…If only more nobles were like you. But a lot of them think they’re special just because they can use magic. They see commoners as their servants, nothing more.”

…That’s not true. Or at least—I want to believe it isn’t.

The nobles I’ve met so far were all serious, honest people.

“Let’s hope the nobles in the next town are a little better. I swear, I really hate people in power.”

“It really is frustrating.”

But it seemed Maika’s opinion was shared by everyone.

For the first time, I understood—at least in part—why Lev had hated me, a noble, so much when we first met.

---

“Ah, stop.”

“What is it, Maika?”

The sky had started to turn red—just as we were beginning to talk about setting up camp for the night.

Maika pointed down the distant road, holding everyone back.

“…A group of people is coming this way. Let’s hide.”

“Hm, bandits?”

“Possibly.”

As expected of Maika, our scout—she somehow spotted them even in this dim light.

Unlike me, still burning with anger and sorrow, she’d already regained her composure. I needed to switch gears too.

“…Ah, I see them. I can’t believe you spotted them from that far away.”

“What do we do if they’re bandits? Should we let them pass?”

“If they are bandits, we’ll eliminate them. I’ll blow them away with a single strike.”

With my staff-powered spirit cannon, human scum like bandits would be reduced to nothing.

Honestly, I’d rather go in swinging—but close combat risks dragging my allies into danger. A good explosion from range is safer and stronger.

“I’ll talk to them first. They might be ordinary travelers.”

“…You have a point.”

But Karl stopped me as I raised my staff.

It looked like he intended to make contact alone at first.

“I’ll go with you, Karl. If they have a mage, I’ll shut them down.”

“Alright. Don’t leave my side, Irine.”

“You two better not let your guard down and get yourselves killed, okay? Bandit tribes are vicious and brutal.”

“Yeah, we’ll be careful.”

Karl answered while placing a hand on his sword’s hilt and slowly approached the distant group.

I followed three steps behind him.

“…Hm. Looks like they’re bandits.”

“They’ve got someone tied up.”

Hiding in the shadows, we got closer and saw them—half-naked men, laughing while they had a woman bound in rope.

Bearded thugs kicked her for fun and lashed her with whips.

“Her clothes are tattered, but… is that a nun’s habit? She might be affiliated with the Grand Cathedral.”

“Ugh, that kinda kills my motivation… but we can’t just walk away.”

“Of course not. It is a noble’s duty to protect the oppressed.”

Even if she’s one of those infuriating Grand Cathedral types, we’ll save her if she’s being abused by bandits. That’s noblesse oblige.

“I’ll go approach them first. We need to get that woman free.”

“What’s your plan?”

“I’ll draw their attention. A young noble lady like myself is probably prime prey in the eyes of bandits. While they take the bait, you can swoop in and rescue her.”

Karl hesitated at my suggestion. He didn’t want to put someone as ‘delicate’ as me in harm’s way.

But relax—I’m secretly pretty jacked. Honestly, I’d love to go hand-to-hand.

“…Alright. I’ll end this in two seconds.”

“No need to rush. I know some self-defense. Let’s dispatch them safely—and gracefully.”

“Hmph.”

Karl still looked reluctant, but it was time he steeled himself.

He can’t keep carrying everything on his shoulders. He needs to trust his allies too.

“I’ll cast a body enhancement spell in advance. With that, some lowlife thugs won’t be a problem.”

“Alright… Just don’t let your guard down, Irine.”

“Of course.”

I gave worried Karl a reassuring smack on the back and flashed a confident smile.

I may not look it, but I once brawled with some punks back in Rewin. Don’t underestimate me.

“Now then, time to play the bait. I like this outfit, so hold onto it for me, Karl.”

“…Huh?”

With that, I stripped off my armor and outer clothing right there, down to my underlayer. Then I smeared some dirt on myself and added a few fake scrapes.

“Wha—hey, what are you doing!?”

“A noble lady traveling alone? That’s way too suspicious. I’ll act like I barely escaped after being attacked by bandits.”

“O-oh… that makes sense. Wait—aren’t you even a little embarrassed about stripping like that, Irine?”

“No, this is just my underlayer. Doesn’t count as stripping.”

Karl turned away, blushing furiously, but I wasn’t sure what reaction he was expecting.

After all, I’m still wearing my short-sleeved black tights. It’s the inner gear for bikini armor.

It’s not underwear, so my dignity as a noblewoman is intact.

“Well then, I’ll go talk to them. The rest is up to you, Karl.”

“…R-right.”

Alright then.

Let’s see how far my acting skills can take me.

---

“…H-Help… someone…”

From the roadside grass, I stumbled out unsteadily.

Pretending to be barely clinging to life, the noble young lady (me) clutched her wounded arm and collapsed before the group.

“Huh? Who the hell are you?”

“I… I was attacked by bandits nearby… Ugh, my wound…”

“Hey hey, you’re injured, huh?”

The men looked down at me in my innerwear with curiosity.

If they were normal adventurers, they’d probably offer help. But—

“Damn, check out those tits.”

“Cute face too. Jackpot!”

Even though an innocent girl was pleading for help, all they could do was leer with vulgar grins.

Yup. Just as they look—definitely bandits.

“P-Please… if you have any healing salve… would you be so kind as to share some…”

“Healing salve, huh? Might be able to spare some.”

“But hey… when you ask for favors, there’s a proper attitude, y’know?”

Hook, line, and sinker.

The guys were completely focused on me. They hadn’t noticed Karl quietly creeping toward the tied-up woman at the roadside.

“If I can return home, I’ll have all the funds you could want… I can pay you as much as you like.”

“Oho, now that’s tempting, little lady.”

“Not that it matters—none of us can enter the city anyway. Tough luck.”

They exchanged glances and let out sleazy chuckles.

So easy to read, it’s almost impressive.

“We’re saying you can pay with your body instead, sweetheart.”

“A noble’s daughter, huh? Never thought we’d land a prize like this!”

“What…? You mean—!”

Right then, Karl, still in stealth, knocked out a guard with a surprise blow. Good job.

I timed my shout—“You mean—!”—to match the hit, covering any noise that might give him away.

Hmph, I’ve really got a knack for acting, don’t I?

“Heh heh heh. First, let’s get rid of that annoying bodysuit.”

“Gonna make sure you can’t even stand, baby.”

“You scum… So you are bandits! The kingdom will have your heads for this, I swear!”

“Ooh, scary scary~”

While I was diving headfirst into this ‘noble-damsel-in-distress’ play, Karl successfully freed the bound woman.

Pretty smooth, that Karl. In high-stakes situations like this, he actually pulls his weight.

Usually, he’s just a dumb lucky perv though.

“Hey, I called dibs first. Alright, girlie, spread those legs.”

“…Very well. Come closer, won’t you?”

“Oho, obedient now, huh? I like smart girls…”

Alright, with the hostage safe, there’s nothing left to worry about.

Following the man’s request, I opened my legs wide in front of him—

“Lady’s Secret Art: Triangle Choke!”

“Gphh!?”

And in an instant, I choked the bastard out by trapping his neck between my thighs.

Hah. Human physiology 101: cut off the carotid artery, and they pass out in seconds.

“W-What the hell?! Her thighs just made a crack sound!”

“Is he okay—!? Shit, he’s unconscious!”

…Oops. Did I snap his neck? Crap. He’s not dead, right?

“This bitch—what did you do!?”

“Goddamn, what kind of joints does she have?!”

“Heh heh… The farce ends here!!”

Well, Sakura’s around. I’m sure she can handle it.

More importantly, I’ve got a job to finish.

“I am Irine von Welmund, heir to the House of Welmund.”

“You bitch, you’ll pay for hurting our guy!”

“Wanna end up tied up naked, you damn thigh monster!?”

“As one who brings justice for the people suffering at the hands of outlaws like you, I shall now deliver divine punishment!”

I kicked the unconscious fool out from between my thighs and declared boldly.

“Prepare yourselves!”

Facing the flustered bandits, I shouted and took a combat stance I learned from Lev.

“So it was all an act from the start!?”

“Fine then, bitch! You’ll learn who you messed with—!”

Surrounded by thugs, I smirked and beckoned them with my hand.

Just like a scene from a kung fu movie. Hype as hell.

…Though honestly, my part’s pretty much over. Because—

“Yo. Good work, Irine.”

“Yes.”

Behind me, Karl stood with his sword drawn and a serious look on his face.

---

“The guy with the broken neck’s the one with the worst injury, huh? He’s got severe internal bleeding—if we’d been any later with treatment, he’d be dead by now.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry.”

The bandits were all captured and tied up by Maika.

When you take thieves alive, you can hand them over to the nearest security guard outpost for a reward.

As a source of funds, we’ll be turning them in.

“What about the woman Karl rescued?”

“Still unconscious. She was covered in bruises from head to toe—must’ve been treated horribly.”

“...Scum of the earth.”

The woman, dressed in a tattered nun’s habit, slept with a worn-out expression.

Poor thing—no doubt she’d been violated in some way.

“These guys are absolute trash.”

“They even spewed filthy crap at Irine. Even if they’re half-dead, they brought it on themselves.”

Well, let’s go with that explanation.

Me misjudging my strength a bit doesn’t count.

“...Sorry to Lev, but we should head back to Ressal. We’ve got to hand these guys over and make sure the sister gets proper care.”

“Yeah. Agreed…”

Lev nodded at Karl’s suggestion.

We were about half a day’s travel out of Ressal. It would still take several days to reach the next town.

Besides, this nun might be affiliated with the grand cathedral in Ressal. Best to play it safe and turn back for now.

“It’s already getting dark. If we’re moving, we’d better do it quickly.”

“Really, what horrible law enforcement. I can’t believe the nobles of Ressal are letting this happen.”

And just like that, we found ourselves turning right back to Ressal—a place we’d sworn never to return to.

---

“...Hey, are we really doing this right?”

Karl asked me, looking unconvinced.

“Isn’t this... kind of backwards?”

“What are you talking about?”

After all, Karl had the unconscious nun slung over his back.

“Hiiiee, stop shaking meee!”

“Help meee…”

And behind me, several bandits were tied to ropes and being dragged along, screaming.

Somehow, I, the noble lady, ended up hauling an absurd amount of baggage alone.

“Seriously, let me drag the bandits instead. That load’s clearly heavier.”

“Oh no, Karl needs to stay mobile in case something happens, right? I’ve enhanced my body with magic, so this much is a piece of cake.”

“...Irine’s magic is super handy.”

We decided the captured bandits would be tied to a rope around my waist and dragged along. If I carried four or five of them on my shoulders, I’d probably drop them with my build.

Since they were trussed up like sacks, getting dragged shouldn’t injure them. The friction also gave me just the right amount of resistance.

Heh, the perfect workout weights. Score.

“Alright, let’s hurry and get back. Once we’re near Ressal, we’ll set up camp and rest for the night.”

“Haaah. If Ressal weren’t such a mess, we could’ve gotten a room at an inn.”

Seriously. Do the people running that city even know the meaning of noblesse oblige?

If you’re a noble, act like it. Train your body and gain a proper sense of responsibility while you’re at it.

“Most towns close their gates after sunset. Can’t be helped if we can’t enter at night, Irine.”

“...We often end up camping just outside towns. Either when we arrive at night, or when we can’t afford an inn.”

“Camping near towns means we can call for help quickly if something happens, so it’s relatively safe. Though, I’m not sure the folks in Ressal would be much help.”

Yeah, closing the gates at night I can live with. We used to do that, too.

The real issue is scrapping all the inns and bleeding travelers dry. If not for that, we could’ve slept under a proper roof tonight. Camping means someone has to stand watch, and it’s never comfortable. Always a pain.

I miss my bed back at the Yuri estate.

“Normally it’d be Karl’s turn tonight, but he must be tired. I’ll keep watch and make sure the bandits don’t escape, so you ladies just rest.”

Sensing our fatigue, Master offered that kindly.

“...Master, are you sure? You kept watch last night too.”

“Pfft, don’t underestimate grown-ups. A night or two without sleep is nothing. Besides, I’m a nocturnal type anyway.”

Huh, is that really a thing? Even for an adult, staying up like that must be rough.

I’ve thought this for a while, but Master really seems like the type to get the short end of the stick.

“No, Master. I should be the one keeping watch. Even if they all ambushed at once, I could take them down.”

“Mister Karl…”

“You’ve already done so much—cooking, laundry, everything. Let me handle this for once.”

“Hmmm…”

Still, letting Master shoulder all the burden wasn’t right.

Karl, whose turn it originally was, decided to stay up and keep watch.

“These things should be done in proper order…”

“Yeah. We don’t want Master collapsing either. Let’s rest when we can.”

We couldn’t let the non-combatants—Master and the girls—handle things if the bandits acted up again.

It really was best to leave tonight to Karl.

“We could use one more male combatant, honestly.”

“Maybe we should consider hiring a mercenary along the way.”

But if we go by that logic, Karl would end up doing night watch every time we catch bandits.

Lev-chan and I could probably handle thugs, but... yeah, we really need at least one more solid close-combat fighter.

---

The next morning.

“Mmgh, mmm~”

“Yawn... Morning, Irine.”

Lying next to Sakura in a makeshift sleeping arrangement, I woke to the sunlight filtering down on us.

A warm red dawn embraced me as I lay wrapped snugly in my sleeping bag.

“Slept quite well. Seems the bandits didn’t cause any trouble last night.”

“Maika’s bindings were pretty spot-on. No way they could’ve escaped from that. If she worked at our place, she’d be our ace.”

“I shall refrain from asking what kind of ace.”

Hmm... now that she mentions it, it was Maika who tied them up.

No wonder everything went smoothly—her skill is impressive.

“Looks like everyone else is already up.”

“Yes, the gates of Ressal should be opening soon. Shall we get ready?”

Yawning at the pleasant morning sun, I took a deep breath and glanced around—

“...”

“Tch...”

I noticed Lev and Maika staring off into the distance with eyes like squashed frogs just before they pop.

“...”

Huh? They look absolutely furious. Did Karl do something again?

“U-Um... Lev-san? Maika-san? Is something the matter...?”

“...That.”

“Mm...”

I nervously asked the two, who were wearing horror-movie-level expressions first thing in the morning. Their flat responses didn’t reassure me.

Following the direction Maika pointed—

“Karl-sama, you’re so cool! Kyaa!”

“Huh? Oh, uh, thanks? Umm, well...”

There was Karl, completely lovestruck, being clung to by a half-naked nun.

...Ah.

“Wow! You’re really well built. Your arms are huge!”

“W-Well, I do make sure to practice my swings every day...”

“Karl-san, you must be so hardworking! I respect that sooo much~!”

The smiling nun was clinging to Karl’s arm.

And Karl, being clung to, was absolutely over the moon.

“...”

“...”

I see. To her, Karl’s the man who saved her life. Of course she’s grateful.

She must’ve woken up during the night and spoken to Karl, who’d been on watch.

“............”

“............”

Uh-oh. Karl hasn’t noticed we’re all awake.

He has no idea that his childhood friend and a girl who sees him like a father are watching him drool over another woman.

“Say, Karl-san♪ Mind if I lean on you a little?”

“Huh? Uh, what’s up?”

“I just feel... a little anxious. If you could let me rest against that strong chest of yours, even just a bit...”

...Yep. The LOVE squad’s faces are turning into full-on wrathful hannya masks.

This is not good.