Chapter 245: Night Visit

[A/N: At the end of every month, I’ll be mentioning the Top 3 Golden Ticket donators and the Top 5 Power Stone donators in the Author’s Note! Thank you all for the support! ❤️]

Sure enough, outside the walls, a crowd of people had gathered on the road right in front of us—close enough that I could feel it. In the middle of a noble district at midnight? This wasn’t a normal place. Diplomatic residences, ambassadors, nobles... normal people didn’t hang out here at night. Even if it wasn’t a crime to gather three or more people, these guys were clearly up to something. They were peering over the wall, trying to see inside the embassy.

Are they going to break in?

"Probably," Rudolf answered. "They wouldn’t be standing there otherwise. This is the edge of the noble quarter—barely any night patrols, thin security. Thieves can do whatever they want."

Why the hell is the embassy placed here anyway? I wondered, but that was Mainz Kingdom’s decision. I didn’t complain.

"But our poor little embassy... why would they attack us?"

"That’s something you’d have to ask them."

Before I could answer, Lily walked in. She wasn’t in pajamas or her maid clothes tonight—she was wearing the same outfit she’d worn when we passed near the Marie Kingdom border.

"Robbie, what are you going to do?" she asked.

"Definitely counter-attack. Shoot arrows over the wall. Lily, take out the bow and arrows."

Lily pulled them from her mana bag. Even Rudolf, who’d seen it before, didn’t look surprised.

"These are Marie Kingdom arrows?"

I asked.

"No, I bought them here. If they’re Marie Kingdom arrows, who knows what kind of trouble they’ll get blamed for later."

Good girl, Lily.

"Sounds good."

While we talked, Rudolf asked:

"Lord Robin, are you going to fight too? With bow and arrows?"

He sounded surprised.

"Yeah. Even though I look weak, I’m actually pretty strong with a sword. But I don’t want Rudolf worrying, so tonight we’ll use bows and arrows. Honestly I’m better with a sword. What about you, Rudolf? No weapons? Are you going to fight with your bare hands?"

He held up a fist. Between the knuckles was a glint of metal.

"These are knuckle-dusters. They deliver a lot of impact."

"You’re not using a sword?"

"I can use one, but this is more convenient. When nobles see a commoner using a sword, they complain and blame the wrong person. This looks like nothing when you wear gloves."

"I see. Then I’ll wear one too. Make me one, okay? It could come in handy someday."

"Certainly. I’ll have it custom-made. As for you, Lily—will you be fighting too?"

Lily showed him a short dagger.

"With this."

"A tanto?"

Rudolf’s strange terminology made me blink.

"What was that? A short sword?"

"Long ago I heard about something called a ’tanto’—not a short sword, but a small sword. The man I knew called it Tomita-style tanto."

"Tomita? Tomita?"

"Yes."

"Have you met him? Do you know where he is now?"

Rudolf shook his head.

"I don’t. I was still in the Marie Kingdom back then, studying swordsmanship. The man I lived with—the one who taught me—said something like that twenty years ago. I have no idea where he is now."

Too bad. I’d have liked to meet him.

While we were chatting, movement erupted outside.

"See? They’re starting to move. They’re climbing the wall! Rudolf, Lily—go down and deal with them. I’ll shoot from the window. That way you won’t have to worry about me."

"Understood."

Rudolf looked a little reluctant. He doesn’t want me to fight, I thought. Fine. Let’s show him I can handle myself.

The moment Rudolf and Lily jumped down, the first two men dropped over the wall. Their movements were sloppy—nothing like the professional soldiers I’d fought near the Marie Kingdom border. They clearly didn’t know we were watching them, or that Rudolf and Lily were already waiting below.

I leaned out the window and fired. The arrow flew silently through the air and buried itself in the first man’s chest.

"Gyaa!"

He tumbled back onto the road. I shot the man next to him. The first man’s body was still twitching; he kept swiveling his head, searching for the shooter. My second arrow took him in the chest too.

"Ugh!"

He reached for the arrow in his chest—only for another one to pierce his arm and go straight through. Does it feel good? I thought as the arrow punched through. He stared up at the wall in shock. Two more arrows hit the men climbing up. The last one dropped, head first, with a silent ...!?

A few more men had already dropped inside. None of them were carrying shields. They must have thought we were too weak to fight back, or that we’d only use bows. They were hiding behind the trees, waiting.

Rudolf and Lily moved silently toward them. Rudolf punched the first man in the stomach. No scream— he just folded forward and dropped. Rudolf spun and drove a fist into the face of the man behind him. The punch connected with a wet crack and the man flew backward, cartwheeling over his own body and crashing to the ground.

When Rudolf went for the third, Lily drew her short sword and slashed across the man’s neck. Bright red spray shot across the grass.

Ugh... Lily, tomorrow’s cleanup is going to be hell. There were severed arms and legs scattered around. I learned today: swords are a no-go if you don’t want to leave a mess.

From the road, the remaining men on top of the wall were staring down, terrified. They could see us only because one guy was still perched on the wall, too scared to come down. They were whispering furiously.

They’re probably saying "We should stop... let’s go back..." But then something shiny flashed behind them. A sword was being drawn. They were probably threatening us—If you don’t come out, we’ll kill you!

Fine. Let’s drag the cowards inside so Rudolf and Lily can finish them off.

This embassy’s grounds were technically foreign territory. I didn’t think we’d break any laws by killing intruders here. But this is borrowed land... Nah, screw it. All the dangerous bastards who came to rob us deserved to be wiped out.

I’m going to slap that guy’s ass and make him cry out loud for not stepping forward himself!

I can’t see very well from the window. I’ll climb up onto the roof. Now, just you wait!