There really was no way they could win, but the people from the merchant group didn’t seem particularly worried.

Even the leader was just calmly looking up at the wyverns with an impassive face.

“They’re really calm.”

“Be careful.”

While I was wondering if we should flee, given their lack of concern, someone who looked like a lieutenant shouted toward the leader.

“Master!”

“I know.”

What did he know?

As I narrowed my eyes to observe, he held his sword against the air and slashed horizontally. Very lightly.

Swoooosh-

Then a golden sword energy extended and struck the flock of wyverns.

The wyverns fell into the grass in pieces without making any noise or screams, not even knowing they were dying. And the leader’s subordinates began moving in unison to harvest the magical beast cores.

I, no, we stared at the scene in astonishment.

In the middle of the forest path where magical beasts had been instantly slaughtered, only my voice echoed.

“Grand Duke Kalschmitz?”

At my voice, the Grand Duke turned around, his eyes curving into a gentle smile. At the same time, his deep voice settled in my ears. It was the real Grand Duke’s voice, slightly deeper than before.

“I’ve been found out.”

Rustle-

As he raised his hand to push back the hood covering his head, brilliant golden eyes and hair were revealed.

Despite his words about being discovered, his calm tone, that relaxed expression, and his tremendous beauty that wasn’t overshadowed by his brilliant coloring.

‘It would be strange not to know at this point? You gave too big a hint. Golden sword energy, really.’

“Found out my foot— why would you travel with us if you weren’t uncomfortable somewhere.”

“Miss…”

Demian sighed while holding his head, and Irena called me with a dumbfounded face.

To my innocent face that completely failed to grasp the situation, Sion whispered through ventriloquism.

“I think you said the opposite of what you meant.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I closed my mouth and whispered back through ventriloquism.

“This is bad.”

“Yes.”

This must be why they say that right thinking leads to right speech, and right speech leads to right action.

Resolving to thoroughly manage even my thoughts from now on, I used ventriloquism again.

“I wonder if Grand Duke Kalschmitz will spare my life today?”

Beside me, Demian whispered in a desperate tone as if he wanted to cover my mouth.

“Miss. Please be quiet. Please.”

“I am being quiet. This is ventriloquism—how can I be any quieter?”

“Even so, His Grace the Grand Duke, who is a Swordmaster, can hear everything.”

“Why are you only telling me this now?”

He sighed deeply. I turned my stiff neck like an unoiled rusty iron door to check the Grand Duke’s reaction. Fortunately, he didn’t seem angry, but one could never be too sure.

At that moment, the Grand Duke opened his mouth.

“You are.”

I swallowed hard and stared intently at his lips. If words like “execution” or “beheading” came out, I would have to rush over and somehow stop him. But what came from his mouth was unexpected.

“You are exactly as Ante described.”

Hmm.

What on earth did Ante say about me?

I had some idea, but also didn’t. I was thinking I should interrogate him when we reached the Grand Duke’s residence, when the Grand Duke, who had been looking at me, pulled up the corner of his mouth in a slight smile.

Well, in conclusion, he had heard everything I said, but it seemed he wasn’t planning to tear me to pieces or kill me.

A sigh of relief escaped me. He’s going to pretend this never happened, right?

After calming my heart, I opened my mouth with a refreshing smile.

“Now that we’ve properly introduced ourselves, shall we get going?”

However, he just stared at me blankly. The surroundings became so quiet you could hear an ant’s footsteps.

It seemed like he wanted something, but I couldn’t figure out what.

As I rolled my eyes and scratched my head, the Grand Duke’s lips suddenly moved.

Everyone focused on his action. Someone gulped. It sounded as loud as a bomb exploding. At the same time, the Grand Duke, who had been looking at me with a languid face, turned his body.

“Let’s do that.”

“Phew.”

This time, everyone let out a sigh of relief. At the sound, the Grand Duke turned his head and directed his gaze at those who had sighed.

I thought his face looked indifferent, but apparently others didn’t think so.

From then on, not even the sound of sighs could be heard.

***

Clop-clop- Clop-clop-

In the tension and silence, only the sound of horses’ hooves could be heard.

It would be nice if magical beasts appeared at a time like this, but the forest was lush green and the wind exceptionally calm.

I don’t like this atmosphere.

It was extremely awkward. However, I couldn’t escape to the carriage either. The knight whose leg hadn’t fully healed yet was riding in it.

“Haha. It suddenly became really peaceful.”

As soon as I opened my mouth out of boredom, Demian immediately gave me a look that said to be quiet.

Slightly miffed at this, I was contemplating whether to say something like “Grand Duke idiot” to startle Demian, when suddenly everyone except me froze.

I was dumbfounded at what happened right after my words ended.

Sion placed his hand over mine, which was holding the reins, and pulled. My horse stopped as well.

“What is it?”

“Something is coming from over there.”

Looking carefully, I could see the grass rustling.

Indeed, saying things like “it suddenly became peaceful” was a key. A key that invites incidents.

With reliable forces present, I stared at the grass without tension when something jumped out.

Rustle-

“Hahaha- You’re all dead! Hand over everything you have, and I’ll spare your lives!”

The typical attire with clothes crudely made of animal hides and weapons so rusty that just brushing against them might give you tetanus.

Bandits had appeared.

“This is my first time seeing bandits.”

As I marveled at seeing bandits for the first time, those around me gave me strange looks.

I continued to observe them. Demian stepped slightly forward to protect me.

The Grand Duke and the other knights showed no sign of agitation as they looked at the bandits. The Grand Duke merely raised one eyebrow and lowered it, seemingly questioning why such things existed in the northern region he governed.

Feeling disappointed by the lack of response, the bandit leader shouted once more.

“Eek- Why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t think you can pass safely just because you’re nobles!”

I frowned as my ears hurt, but apparently I wasn’t the only one.

The Grand Duke spoke with overwhelming pressure.

“Noisy.”

“E-eek- H-how dare!”

The leader stammered under his overwhelming presence. He looked completely intimidated.

The earlier bravado about lives was gone, and he was wildly swinging his weapon, but his form was incredibly clumsy.

I clicked my tongue.

“They don’t have the basic posture of bandits.”

“What?”

“This kind of thing should be done with guts.”

“Guts? What’s that?”

“Courage, I mean.”

Anyway, today wasn’t my funeral day, but theirs.

The bandit leader’s face turned red and blue with anger at our dismissal, and he raised his decibels even higher. But we remained calm. The Grand Duke, visible diagonally from me, still had a relaxed expression.

Eventually, the leader dug his own grave.

“How dare you! You’re ignoring me, the leader of the bandits with the longest history in this area? I won’t let this slide! Boys, go!”

“Uaaaaaah-“

“Kill them!”

The bandits charged with tremendous battle cries, and blood droplets sprayed in all directions simultaneously.