Letitia’s Trial
Letitia Barrow/Odrant Side
“…Ugh… mm…”
—I woke up. The first thing I felt was the cold of the floor. And the musty smell of a moldy, closed-off room.
My vision slowly cleared. The first thing I saw was a metal grate. Beyond it was a chaotic pile of wooden boxes and a brick wall. It was very dim since there were no windows; only a few scattered lamps provided light.
“Where is this place…? What in the—Ugh—!” A dull ache shot through the back of my head when I tried to sit up.
—That’s right. I remember waiting for Alban and the others, and Shanoa being hit by someone… And then I was—
“T-That’s right! Shanoa is…!” I frantically looked around.
Shanoa was right beside me, still unconscious and slumped over. Worse, there was a trail of blood from her forehead.
“…! Shanoa, hang in there! Shanoa!?”
“Ugh… Mmm…” Shanoa responded with a small groan when I gently shook her. Thank goodness, she’s alive.
Shanoa slowly opened her eyes.
“W-What…? I’m…—Ouch!”
“It’s alright, calm down. Please don’t move…” Shanoa was still groggy.
I checked the back of her head to assess the injury.
…A small laceration. From the look of it, it didn’t seem too severe. The bleeding was still continuing, but I’d heard that head injuries often look worse than they are. Still, I couldn’t be too careful until a doctor could examine her properly.
All I can do right now is this—
“—Heal.” I gently placed my hand on the back of Shanoa’s head and used magic.
The wound immediately began to close, and the bleeding stopped.
“Hmph, that should be enough as a first aid measure.”
“Huh…? L-Lady Letitia, you can use magic…?” Shanoa asked in surprise.
“Just a little bit. I’d been studying it on my own since I was at the Odrant Territory, just in case it might be useful someday.”
Although, it was nothing compared to the magic Alban uses. He could already wield everything from S-rank Advanced Magic to “Hybrid Magic.” I couldn’t manage such a feat yet. I could only use the most basic spells. I planned to at least catch up to him in support magic eventually.
“T-That’s amazing…! Oh, a-and thank you so much…!”
“No need for thanks. Besides—it’s still too soon to be relieved,” I said, looking around.
The fact that I didn’t know where we were was a secondary concern. The real problem was that Shanoa and I were locked in a cage.
From the cage’s shape and size, it was likely a portable container for temporarily holding large animals. A very sturdy-looking padlock and chain were on the door, preventing our escape.
Who, exactly, has done this to us—
“…Well, look who’s finally awake.” Just as I was thinking that, two men appeared with the sound of footsteps. I recognized both of them.
“!” It was you two…!”
“Remember us, huh? We were at that crummy tearoom, remember?”
It was the two thugs who had been trying to seize Shanoa’s tearoom property. They grinned sickeningly, looking down on us. The moment I saw them, I roughly pieced the situation together.
“…I see. So this is revenge for driving you away, is it?”
“That’s right. You really thought you could mess with us.”
“Heh-heh-heh, look at the bruise on my arm…! The scar left by that guy you were with is still clearly visible! I won’t be satisfied until I return that pain tenfold!”
“Oh? Shouldn’t you consider yourself lucky that your arm wasn’t broken?”
“What did you call me, you little bitch!?”
“Hey, cut it out. —Boss, the women are awake!” As one of the men turned and spoke, a middle-aged man guarded by several thugs approached. He wore black-lensed round glasses and had slicked-back hair in a side part—the classic look of a “small-time, wealthy villain.”
“A pleasure to finally meet you, Letitia Barrow. I’m afraid you’re going to be our tool for making money.”
“…I don’t know what you’re planning, but stop it now. It would be in your best interest to release us quietly.”
“Hahaha, you’re as feisty as the rumors say. But unlike at the tearoom, threats won’t work now, will they? We have a ‘supporter’ on our side now.”
“A supporter…?”
“Yeah, some creepy masked bastard called the Impaling Baron, Scuyer. He gave us a massive amount of support. Plus, he gave us intel on your movements. Best business partner ever.”
“And that’s not all! He even arranged with several noble houses to cover up the incident, no matter what happens to you!”
“Yeah, yeah! That means we can do whatever evil we want without worry!”
“Arranged with noble houses…?!”
—Who is it? It’s highly likely, no, it’s certain that a noble is pulling the strings behind this. Someone of high rank with clear hostility towards Letitia Barrow, determined to remove her at all costs.
Otherwise, mere thugs wouldn’t dare take such a bold action. And why would multiple nobles even associate with common town thugs?
The most likely culprits are the “Alban Odrant criticism faction” that appeared after the Mauro incident. Or perhaps… those who want to personally disgrace me, Letitia Barrow. I don’t recall the name Impaling Baron, Scuyer, but I never expected them to move so brazenly.
“…So, what do you intend to do with us?” I asked.
“Well, we’re thinking about it now. But first, let’s smash that tearoom you like so much.”
“Heh-heh-heh, if the daughter is taken hostage, that old woman will quietly hand over the land, I’m sure.”
“N-No…! P-Please! Please spare the tearoom…!” Shanoa pleaded.
“Shut up! You don’t get a choice!”
“Kyaah!” Shanoa flinched back when the thug kicked the metal bars.
I hugged her tightly.
“…Don’t think that everything will go exactly as you wish. I promise you will pay for this.”
“Woah, hold your horses. Don’t go getting any funny ideas. This place is guarded by over a hundred men; there’s no way out.”
“That’s right, that’s right! And no one saw us bringing you here, either!”
“Don’t expect any help to come!” The thugs laughed, completely convinced of their victory.
…I see. The situation is dire.
But I must find a way to escape somehow…
Alban—I will absolutely make sure to reunite with you, alive.
▲ ▲ ▲
“…According to Dark Assassin-maru, they were taken to a warehouse on the west edge of the castle town,” Carla said, as if translating the crow on her shoulder.
“Caw!”
“—Is that true?”
“If you don’t believe me… go outside the dungeon… you won’t find them anywhere…” Carla replied.
“…………I see. Understood. Lead me to that warehouse.”
“…Alright, but that’s one favor you owe me…”
“I’ll owe you a hundred favors. Just take me there as fast as you can.”
“Caw!”
“…By the way, that warehouse is guarded by over a hundred thugs…” Carla added.
“So?”
“Eh…?”
“What’s a hundred-plus men? Is that a reason not to rescue Letitia? Huh?”
—Ah, damn it. If I stand here talking any longer, my arm is going to slip and I’m going to cut someone down.
That’s how furious I am right now.
“W-Wait, Baron Odrant! At least report to the Academy first…!” Leonil shouted, trying to stop me.
Sorry, Leo. Right now, your voice sounds like noise to me.
“No. This is my personal problem.”
“T-Then at least let me come with you—!”
“Leo, have you… ever cut a living person?”
“Uh…? N-No…”
“Then you’ll just be in the way.”
—I have. I severed Mauro’s arm.
But I felt nothing then. I probably wouldn’t have felt anything even if I’d cut off his head. And it’s the same now. I don’t care about that.
More than that—Letitia is much, much, much more important.
“Let’s go, Carla.”
“…Understood.”
I started walking with Carla toward the dungeon exit. My sword was not sheathed.
“—Massacre.”
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