Chapter 144: Leaving the Duke’s Mansion

After dinner at night, we returned to the room. A while later, Linda showed up. Since I had already told Lily that I was leaving, she didn’t seem surprised by my outfit.

"You can sleep in the bed."

"What are you saying? We were waiting for you awake."

Lily sounded so prim and proper, but she was obviously sleepy after a busy day at work. No no, she’s supposed to be on night duty — that’s her job. I was impressed by how dutiful she was, but it felt a bit off.

We climbed onto the roof. Lily and Stevie were already waiting. When Stevie saw my face, she smiled happily. She might be glad to see me, but we’re going to a killing tonight. Well, her shoulders were relaxed, so maybe it was fine. I might have been over-excited.

Lily led the way, leaping lightly across the roofs with pon! pon! sounds. I followed, and Stevie came last. Stevie suddenly exclaimed,

"Eh?! What’s wrong? You’re not as fast tonight?"

She’s right. Lily had become noticeably quicker and lighter.

We reached Anderson’s ducal mansion in no time. A bonfire burned in the center of the garden, surrounded by people. In the middle stood an old man in plain clothes. So he’s staying behind.

The old man opened his mouth.

"You’ve come. Tonight I won’t go — I’ll stay here to guard the mansion. I’m sorry, but please follow this man’s orders. He is battle-hardened and experienced enough. I believe he will never put you in danger."

The old man patted the shoulder of the man beside him. The tall, lanky man bowed deeply.

"I am Steve Howe. I am the head of security for this residence. I apologize, but please follow my commands. Although some of you may not agree, tonight we must work together as one. If we don’t move in sync, we may suffer unnecessary casualties. I look forward to your cooperation."

There was a faint reluctance in his words, as if he didn’t want to include us. Of course — with only a few people, he probably didn’t want a child and two girls slowing him down. We were clearly dead weight.

"I’m terribly sorry, but could you please wear this helmet?"

He handed over an iron helmet — a classic "Dutch helmet." It felt surprisingly light. The metal was thinner than I thought. Lily and Stevie made weird faces, but I put it on without complaint. I want to take this home. The way Lily and Stevie looked wearing it was hilarious, but it wasn’t cute at all! Reminds me of how some young female employees in safety helmets and suits look "moe" during site tours in Japan... but it doesn’t suit Lily or Stevie at all. What a shame.

They also lent us leather armor and gauntlets. There were safety boots available, but not for us. Our feet were smaller than expected. In my previous world, my feet had been proportionally wider for my height, but after the transfer they had become small for my current height.

I decided to have a craftsman introduce me to the safe boots anyway — probably something transferred people from the past had also used. I wanted to spread this technology.

They also gave us spare swords, which I put into my magic bag. Lily and Stevie did the same. The security team saw this and whispered:

"Hey, all three of you have magic bags!"

"Amazing!"

"Envy!"

We ignored them.

"Let’s go."

Captain Howe’s voice echoed. A loud cheer rose. The mansion gates opened and the team marched out. I thought they would leap across roofs like us, but they simply walked. Lily walked calmly, but Stevie looked a little surprised. Stevie was usually expressionless except when I was around, so her widened eyes meant she was shocked. From her common sense, night movement should have been on the rooftops.

We walked along a pitch-black road at night. Every few people carried a lantern, which probably looked like a thief patrol from the side. Of course they were showing their license, but in this darkness it was suspicious. Then, from the opposite direction, a public noble-district security team approached. They stopped abruptly and waited for our reaction. We were relaxed, but they were on full alert with visible tension. One side is a royal security team, the other is a private duke’s team. Who’s "superior"? Obviously the royal one... but in reality, the difference in strength is crystal clear.

"We are from the Anderson ducal residence," Captain Howe stepped forward and showed them something. The other captain replied,

"Welcome. Please proceed."

They opened the road for us. What does it mean for a private security team to be respected by public security? Is that allowed? I wondered. The royal security team seemed to hold a strangely low position, but perhaps they prioritized strength.

We walked at the very back of the column, but the public team said nothing. They didn’t know who I was.

The patrol passed through the mansion gate and then through a collapsed section of the wall into the commoner district. The noble district was dark, but the commoner district was even darker. There were almost no streetlights — only scattered bonfires and flickering house lights. A silent group of armed people walking while clanking their equipment was bizarre. People vanished from the road like spiderlings.

After walking for about thirty minutes, the team stopped.

One person went down the line, placing his hand on each member’s arm for an instant and glowing. What are they doing? The man who performed it explained when he reached me.

"This is mana light. It only lasts for the duration of combat, but it marks us as allies. Since only our group can see the light, it prevents us from accidentally cutting down our own. Is this acceptable?"

"I see. Then please do it."

"Thank you."

The man placed his hand on my arm and chanted something. My arm lit up brightly. Looking around, the arms of the men who had been marked earlier were glowing. It had looked like a momentary flash before, but now it was constant. What a convenient skill!

"This light can only be seen by our group. The person who cast it probably can’t see it, so the enemy won’t notice it either," Lily explained.

"Wow!" Stevie exclaimed happily, eyes sparkling as she waved her glowing arm.

Captain Howe arrived.

"There is a thief hideout just around the corner ahead. We will block the rear exit and storm from the front. You three will take the front entrance. If anyone comes out through a window or tries to flee, disarm them if possible — but don’t overdo it."

So we’re rear support, huh?

Lily asked,

"Are the street security teams aware of this?"

Captain Howe shook his head.

"No. If we told them, the thieves would find out. There’s probably a spy in the street security team. That’s why tonight’s assault is known to only a few."

There’s a thief spy in the security team? That’s hard to believe, but...

"What if the street security team shows up?" Lily asked.

Captain Howe pointed at the man who had marked us.

"Leave him behind. He has the ducal crest, so the street team will recognize him."

"I’m low on mana, so I’ll wait on the road," the man said, then vanished right in front of us.

"Stealth," Captain Howe explained. He’s concealing himself and waiting.What a busy night.

The lanterns were turned off, and only our glowing arms remained visible. Captain Howe raised his hand and lowered it. The team advanced in perfect formation around the corner. Ahead stood a two-story stone building that looked more like an apartment than a house. It had almost no windows. Light leaked from inside, and faint female voices could be heard. Is that wine party in there? Are we going to kill all the women, or let some escape?