Chapter 10: The One Who Touched the Wrath
A few days after Mr. Bennett came for a check-up, there was a reaction from the Barrier.
Since I had already given permits to Ivern and the other two who usually come here, it wasn’t them.
That leaves either a lost soul or… an intruder.
“Meileen, it seems someone got caught in the Barrier. I’m going to check it out.”
Today, Meileen seemed more energetic than usual, with morning sickness not weighing her down too much. I called out to her as I headed for the entrance.
She walked me to the door.
“Be careful, okay?”
With that, Meileen gave me a kiss to send me off.
“…One more time.”
“Hehe, you’re such a spoiled daddy.”
Meileen rubbed her still-flat belly and kissed me again.
Ah, it’s moments like this, when I’m with Meileen, that I truly feel alive.
“Alright, I’m off.”
I finally stepped out of the entrance and moved toward the location where the Barrier had reacted.
As I followed the response, I found them—three figures.
They were wearing armor, but… they weren’t knights.
I had seen Weimar knights a few times, and they all wore matching armor.
The armor these guys wore was all different.
They must have gotten their gear from different armorers. So, they were either explorers or bounty hunters, not knights.
If they were just lost explorers, I could eliminate them without a second thought, but that would lead to more trouble.
So, the first thing I needed to do was confirm their identities.
“Hey. What are you doing here? Lost?”
As I called out, the three of them jumped in surprise and instinctively reached for the hilts of their swords.
“Whoa, whoa, I just asked because I was worried about you, alright? Put those dangerous things away.”
I raised both hands in front of my face, waving them to calm them down.
However, they didn’t let go of their swords.
Ah, so they’re bounty hunters, huh?
“…Kenta Maya, right?”
Just as I suspected, they called my name.
Confirmed bounty hunters.
“That’s right.”
When I confirmed it, the three of them looked around nervously and let out a sigh of disappointment.
“You live around here, don’t you? Can you take us there?”
“Why should I?”
Are these guys stupid?
Why would I invite bounty hunters to my home?
My pure curiosity led me to ask, and one of the hot-headed men glared at me, trying to intimidate me.
“What the hell!? Just shut up and take us to your house!!”
“Why should I?”
Of course, I didn’t want to invite such rough characters into my home.
However, it seemed that this short-tempered guy didn’t like my attitude and got even angrier.
“You bastard!! Don’t underestimate me! I’m Nigimaar, the strongest bounty hunter!!”
“Huh? I don’t know you.”
Run away? Well, that kind of provocation wouldn’t work since it’s not in Japanese.
By the way, the reason I could speak fluently with the people of this world is due to some summoning bonus.
Sigh, convenient plot device, huh?
Anyway, as I taunted him, Nigimaar’s face turned bright red, looking like he was about to burst a blood vessel.
“Y-You… this is the first time I’ve been treated like this… I’m completely pissed off now… Fine, I’ll tear you apart. Then, I’ll make you scream and tell me where your house is.”
“Hmm. And what will you do after you find out where I live?”
When I asked, Nigimaar grinned lewdly.
“I’ll have some fun with the girl you’re protecting…”
The moment I understood those words, I swiftly decapitated the other two.
“…Huh?”
“Hey.”
“Yikes!?”
As I grabbed the hair of the two decapitated bodies and dangled them in front of Nigimaar, he let out a pathetic whimper.
Ignoring him, I kicked him in the stomach, just enough not to kill him.
“Gah!!”
“Who told you that?”
Looking down at Nigimaar, who was clutching his stomach and spewing vomit, I asked.
“Ugh…”
“Hey, answer me quickly.”
“Ugh!?”
I stomped on Nigimaar’s head, forcing his face into the vomit.
“Who told you that?”
Depending on his answer, I would have to decide my next course of action.
So, I wanted him to answer quickly.
“I-I’ll tell you! Just let me go!!”
“No way. Talk while you’re still like that.”
Why should I do something that would benefit him?
I rejected Nigimaar’s pleas and pressed down harder on his head.
“Ugh! It’s gonna crack!! My head’s gonna crack!!”
“You can still talk, can’t you? If you hurry up and tell me, it won’t crack.”
“I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!!”
After a brief pause, Nigimaar pulled a wanted poster from his pocket while still lying on the ground.
It was my wanted poster, and it seemed to be a recent issue.
I took it and read the contents.
The moment I read it, I felt my blood boil.
The poster stated…
“Wanted: The Most Fearsome Summoner, Kenta Maya, and his lover. A double reward will be given for capturing the lover alive. Issued by the Weimar Kingdom.”
…Oh, really.
So, they decided to use Meileen as leverage since they couldn’t subdue me.
Moreover, since it only said “capture alive,” it could be interpreted that they could do whatever they wanted as long as she was still breathing.
“Haah…”
I bound Nigimaar’s hands and feet with rope while keeping my foot on his head and hoisted him onto my shoulder.
“W-Where are you taking me!?”
“Huh? That’s obvious.”
They issued something like this.
It seems the Weimar Kingdom… wants to go to war with me.
“We’re going to the Royal Castle of Weimar. Since I don’t know the way, you’ll guide me.”
“W-What!?”
“Oh, if you lead me astray, I’ll chop you into pieces right on the spot, so make sure you guide me properly.”
“Yikes… I-I understand…”
And so, I began my journey to the Royal Castle of Weimar, guided by Nigimaar.
Oh, but first, I need to inform Meileen through telepathy.
Um…
“Meileen. It seems Weimar wants to go to war with me, so I’m heading to the Royal Castle. I’ll be back by dinner.”
“Okay! Be careful!”
After hearing Meileen’s reply, I set my sights on the Royal Castle of Weimar… and began to fly through the sky.
“Whoaahhh!!!”
“Shut up. Are we going the right way?”
“Y-Yes! It’s right! A little to the right!”
“Right, huh? Where?”
“Wow, it’s so fast!! The road looks so tiny from up here… and we’re moving so fast…”
“Hey, I’m asking where we are.”
“Yikes! Th-That road down there leads straight to the Royal Capital!!”
Suddenly, he started talking like a lackey.
As expected of someone who’s running away… Nigimaar.
Trusting his directions, I flew straight down the road, and in the distance, a large city came into view.
“Hey, is that it?”
It was a big city, but that didn’t necessarily mean it was the Royal Capital of Weimar.
So I checked, and Nigimaar nodded vigorously.
“Y-Yes! That’s it!! Amazing! It usually takes a week to get to the capital, but we’re here in an instant!!”
The moment he switched to lackey mode, he got excited about the situation.
What a disgusting guy, this Nigimaar.
“Alright. Let’s land and have a chat.”
I muttered, beginning my descent.
“Huh? A chat?”
“Yeah. Because of that ridiculous wanted poster you issued, I’ve been inconvenienced. I’m demanding an apology and compensation.”
As I said this while descending, Nigimaar started shouting again.
“W-What!? Are you crazy!? That’s like picking a fight with the Royal Family!!”
What is he talking about?
“This isn’t a fight.”
No, what I’m about to do is…
“War.”
“Gyahhh!!!”
As I said that, Nigimaar kept screaming beside me as I descended.