Volume 1: The Noble Bandit
Prologue - Rumor of a Bandit
"Hmm ......?"
I turned over and felt something touch my hand. It was something warm. It was quite large.
I opened my eyes to see what it was, but it was Alec's back.
I see, I slept in the same bed with this guy. ...... Ugh.
But Alec doesn't like me because of what he did to get revenge on me.
Loveless, pleasure-obsessed sex-――.
When I thought about it, I started to feel discouraged.
"Uuuhhh, *hiks*, I'm such a jerk to this guy. ......"
I don't know why I allowed myself to do it.
"Hmph, If you don't like it that much, you can leave the party and go solo or have another party as you like. I'm not forcing you to do anything."
It looks like Alec is awake.
"I know, but this party, it's easy to do, and it's ...... Ugh, *crying*!"
"So, what the hell. You're crying because you're into sex?"
"I-I'm not. I thought I wanted to do that kind of thing with my lover who I've firmly decided to marry. Like on Christmas Eve."
I said my ideal (longed for) love.
"Ahh, then why don't you do that?"
"Because I already lost my virginity to you."
"It doesn't matter if you're not a virgin. I'm only going to have virgin girls, but I'm sure some other guys don't care about that."
"That might be ...... true."
"Then get out of the way."
"Ah!"
Alec touched me. I panicked and covered my breasts, thinking he was going to touch me again.
"Don't worry, it's a decent daytime adventure."
"Ah ...... Geez, if you made me your woman, you could have been nicer to me."
"Hey, don't get me wrong, Serina. The only promise I made to you was that we'd form a party. I don't remember becoming your boyfriend, and you don't want to get married to me, right?"
"O-of course not! Who would ever want to marry you?"
"Then I have no reason to be nice to you."
"Muurgh."
What? Isn't it okay for you to be nice to me.
Still, my stomach rumbled, so I got dressed and headed to the inn's dining room.
"Good morning, Serina-san. Today's soup is very delicious."
Meena kindly called out to me. I think I can get along well with Meena.
"Is that so. Then, let's eat it. Ah, really, it's delicious!"
The soup, with a hint of sweetness from the onions and carrots, warmed both my heart and my body, which was a little depressed.
"Well then, Meena and I are off to the dojo."
After finishing their breakfast, Alec and Meena left their seats.
"Yes. I have some research to do, so I think I'll be at the castle in the morning."
"Okay."
After splitting up with Alec and the others, I headed to the castle first, hoping to get in touch with Isabelle.
I figured that if she was a noble person, I would know how to contact her there. I had been asked by Isabelle to search the southern half of the capital, but due to various reasons, I had left the bandits untouched.
I'm not a very hero like, isn't it? I'll reflect.
I thought it would be easier to talk to a higher-ranking knight than a soldier guarding the castle gate, so I went in and talked to Kojima-sensei, who said he would look into it himself right away. He showed me to the library.
"Excuse me, Kojima-sensei, I know you're busy. ......"
"No, no, it's fine. To be honest, I'm thinking of giving up on returning to my former world for a while."
The doctor still has dark circles under his eyes, but I wonder if he's okay.
"I see. ...... Didn't find it after all?"
"Yeah, I can't help you. I can't find anything that looks like it. Well, the person you're looking for is Isabelle von Archibald, a Marquise, right?"
"Yes."
"Archibald, Archibald. ...... Hmm, I don't see any. Are you sure you're pronouncing it correctly?"
"No, she said her name clearly, and I'm pretty sure it's Archibald."
"Well, then maybe she's not a noblewoman of this country."
"Oh, that's a possibility. ...... I'm sorry, I didn't think that far."
"No, you don't have to apologize to me, but I don't think I can help you with that."
"No, don't worry about it. Thank you for looking into it, doctor."
I smiled at Kojima-sensei and decided to take the opportunity to show me the books in the library (here).
Especially about skills.
For goodness sake, I have to do something about that awful [Climax of Pleasure☆] skill.
『Eehhh? You're having the best time, aren't you, Serina-san?』
『Shut up. That's why. If I don't do something about this skill, I'm gonna turn into a whore.』
『Aahhh』
I'm really worried. I feel like I can't go back to being a normal high school girl even now.
I've been looking around for books in the library until lunchtime, but it seems the only way to get rid of the rare skill is to have it taken away with a powerful [Robbery] or use a [Seal].
Unfortunately, neither of those two appear in my list window.
"It can't be helped. I guess Alec and the others should be done with the dojo by now, so let's join them."
I went to the Adventurer's Guild and found Alec and the others there. He was talking with Ione about something.
"We've found the location of the bandit group Blood Shadow."
"Eehh?"
"We want to round them up, so can you help us out, Alec-san?"
"No, we're still beginner, so――"
"Let's do it."
I say from behind.
"Hey, don't be selfish. I'm the leader of this party, remember?"
"But can we leave these people who are also killing in the streets alone, right? I think they're the reason why I misunderstood and slashed at you."
"No, that was your fault. You can stop shifting the blame. I'm expelling you by the authority of the leader."
"Ugh, I understand. ......"
"Alec-san, I just need a lookout. Can you please help me?"
Ione continues to ask, but Alec does not shake his head.
"If so, why don't you ask another adventurer or soldier to do it for you? It doesn't have to be us, a beginners."
"No, we can't do that. It seems that some of the soldiers and adventurers are in contact with the bandits."
Ione says in a hushed voice.
"I see. There a Insider among soldier?"
If that's the case, then it makes sense that they've been repeatedly committing crimes in the city without being caught by soldiers or bounty hunters.
"Then――"
"No, I know what you're saying, but I heard the other guy killed an B-ranked swordsman too. And Ione, Fritz was worried about you."
"As for the bandit skill, I have an idea. The Bandit targeting women, so if I can act as a decoy, I think they'll let their guard down."
"Decoys are dangerous, aren't they? Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes. We can't afford to let criminals do whatever they want in our city. A friend of mine is a victim of this. She can't smile brightly anymore, and I'm afraid that other people will do the same. ......"
Ione said with a serious face, and it seemed useless for Alec to stop her. Just when I was about to intervene and persuade Alec, Alec agreed.
"All right, then, I'll cooperate."
"T-thank you very much!"
"That's the spirit!"
"However, only Serina will be able to help."
"Ehh? Alec, aren't you going to show her what a man looks like?"
"No. At least you're better with a sword than I am. This is not a game. You only have one life, and if you die, that's over."
"Hmmm, I understand. Okay, Ione, I'll help you."
"Thank you, Serina."
"Then be careful, okay? Meena, let's go."
"Um, master, why don't I help Ione? I'm sure I can be of some help, since I have a good nose."
Meena offered. I see, as a dog-eared person, her sense of smell would be useful.
"That's fine, but no rough stuff. Your life is mine."
"Yes!"
It's settled. We were wary of being overheard, so we worked out the details of our plan in the inn room instead of the Adventurer's Guild.
"I'll go get Fritz."
"Yes, please."
Fritz――a name I overheard when I was asking around, I believe he is the head instructor of the Welbard Kenjutsu Dojo. He was a young man with silver hair and all back. The more skilled one of us is, the better. Incidentally, Fritz is a childhood friend of Ione's and has a thing for her. So he should be able to help us.
At that time, I was innocently convinced of our victory and the destruction of the bandits without any doubt.
I didn't even realize that it was a dangerous mistake.
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