We Captured the Merchants
“You are now our prisoners.”
“Tsk… Who are you people!”
“Ahhh…damn it! What do you want!”
Sebastian shouted intimidatingly as he ran to the merchants.
I thought I heard some anger in his voice… He usually spoke so calmly…
The merchants, who were clearly in pain from falling off of their horses, shouted back as well.
However, it seemed like they could not get back to their feet.
“Who are we…? We serve the duke… Does that clear things up for you?”
“Tsk. Let me go… The duke!?”
“Stop moving! Or Leo will…”
“What is that monster!?”
As Sebastian tied up the merchant, he told him that we worked for the duke. The merchant then became visibly flustered.
Johanna was trying to tie the other one, but when he continued to struggle, she threatened to set Leo on him.
Leo understood what she was doing, and so she also unleashed an overpowering howl.
As it was dark, they had not seen her clearly at first, but they were now shaking with fear.
…I was glad that they had calmed down, but it was quite rude to call Leo a monster.
“But Leo is so cute.”
I petted Leo consolingly, and she rubbed her face against me.
While everything wasn’t finished yet, she was probably relieved that this part was nearly over.
Or perhaps she was still worried about my injury.
“Now, there is nothing that you can say to defend your actions. You will be taken away… Resistance is futile… Do you understand…?”
Sebastian spoke in a quiet, low voice in their ears after they were tied up.
He did not forget to glance at Leo suggestively.
This had the desired effect on the two who saw Leo as a monster. They had completely lost the will to struggle.
“There, there…calm down. We’re sorry for startling you. Don’t worry.”
As for Johanna, she was talking to the horses in order to calm them down.
Leo joined in, and rubbed her face into them.
I was just surprised that they didn’t run away… Well, perhaps they were too scared to run.
“Now, Mr. Takumi. We have caught the two culprits.”
“Thank you. Should we put them on Leo?”
“No… The very thought of such people riding on Leo fills me with unease. Thankfully, we still have the horses. And so Johanna and I will take them with us on horseback.”
“Very well. …And I agree with you. Besides, they called Leo a monster.”
Sebastian decided to carry the prisoners on the horses.
I did not like the idea of letting them ride my adorable Leo. They had insulted her, set the orcs on Range village, and placed the glass sphere there, after all.
“However…shouldn’t you do something about that injury first?”
While my head still hurt, it had been especially bad when Leo stopped suddenly. So the pain felt mild once that had subsided.
Compared to that, this was almost nothing… I was almost impressed with myself for bearing it for so long.
“Now, I’ll make some Loe with Weed Cultivation…”
Just as I was about to activate Weed Cultivation, Sebastian stopped me.
While I wondered about this, Sebastian approached the merchants and took out a long strip of cloth.
…Where had he been carrying that?
“You will be wearing these. …So you can taste the fear of not being able to see.”
And then Sebastian blindfolded them.
It was during times like these that there was something about Sebastian that sent a chill down your spine… It had been that way with Nick as well.
“It is fine now. …I didn’t think you should be showing them it.”
“That’s true. Thank you.”
Sebastian was making sure that the merchants could not see me use Weed Cultivation.
Indeed, it might be bad if they found out about my Gift.
They weren’t the kind of people who would keep their mouths shut.
“Well, it looks like being injured has no effect on your Gift.”
“…Now that you mention it…yes. Injuries and the state of your body seem to be unrelated to it.”
I placed my hand on the ground and picked up the Loe that grew.
It was something I had done many times at the mansion,
But as he watched, Sebastian noticed something.
So Weed Cultivation really was unrelated to injury… But the pain in my head would probably affect my concentration, which would make using magic difficult.
“Uhh…the injury is…hmm… This is awkward.”
“Ah, thank you. I can’t see where it is exactly.”
I cut open the Loe leaf, exposing the insides. But when I tried to apply it to my head, I had some difficulty.
As I couldn’t see it myself, I had to rely on touch, but even that was hard, as the pain had spread throughout my whole head.
Johanna offered to help. She then took the Loe so she could apply it.
…The horses…were being watched by Leo… They were rubbing their heads together playfully.
“Sebastian, could you create a light?”
“Indeed. …Light Elemental Shine.”
“I can see much better now…so here it is…my, that is quite bad… I’m surprised you made it this far.”
“Uh…it’s really that bad?”
“Mr. Takumi… So you were pushing yourself after all…”
Johanna asked Sebastian to create a light, and so he activated the magic.
Just like before, he made his sword glow, which allowed Johanna to inspect my injury.
Compared to making a sphere of light in your hand, it was not as bright, which made it easier on the eyes.
But more importantly, my injury… Johanna was quite surprised when she saw it.
…Well, it did hurt pretty bad…
Sebastian was now admonishing me for downplaying it… However, I hoped he would understand that it was necessary so that we could capture the merchants.