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On the way home - and the inn - I suddenly feel a presence.

It's following behind me at regular intervals, too sticky to be called a passerby.

It's already dusk. The sun is just about to be swallowed by the horizon for a few minutes, or maybe ten.

I'm walking down the main street, but they can't do anything with it either.

(...... Nothing to do.)

It's a hassle if they continue to follow me to the inn.

I used detection magic to go into the back alleyway I found at random. I've confirmed that there's no one there except for the people following me.

Come out. What the hell do you think you're doing?

I call out to them.

The men who had been holding their breath showed up.

The clothes they wear and their appearance are plain and ordinary. Or it can be said that they are so common that they blend in with the landscape. That's why we can infer that their abilities and skills are high.

'...... Give me your life, please.'

Everyone takes out a small sword.

I've seen that shape before. I think it was probably Yuu's.

''--That's very kind of you to speak to me.

Should I praise him for being stupidly serious? Something like courtesy and compassion must have preceded it.

Five in number.

That's the number at the front only.

Still three from behind. They were closing in on me, hiding their presence well.

Was it a dummy who had called out to me?

But.

Huh?

Ha!

First up are the men in the back.

Temples. Chin. Your solar plexus.

This one is definitely faster.

The five men in front of us who came to take advantage of the gap are the same.

We'll take them all out.

They're not weak. But they're not strong either. If we were to apply the guild's rank system, they'd be about C or B rank. They're veterans or people who have made an effort to be a cut above the rest. ...... Are they strong when you think about it that way?

Well, it doesn't matter now.

What the hell are you people doing here?

...... not yet.

The four of them stood up.

I squeezed their trachea or poked at a kryptonite, but do they still get up?

They seem to be in a lot of pain, but they seem to be fired up.

The other four are the ones who are unnatural. They haven't moved an inch. There is too much of a gap. No, this.

The four people who stood up point the small sword at me even as it trembles. Toxic liquid is dripping from the tip.

''--tch.''

I think I was witnessing a bad moment. I left it unnoticed.

Shoulder mouth. Knees. Cervical vertebrae.

Incapacitating the four of us coming at you this time.

And at the same time.

"Agh!

He sticks his hand inside each one's mouth.

I pull out the back teeth filled with unnaturally smooth pills. Disgusting sounds and blood fly.

When I look at what I took out, I see ...... still had a small purple sphere stuffed into the tooth. This is definitely a poison.

'What do you want to do with all this?'

I ask the men who have rolled their limbs to the ground.

Four of them seem to be breathing, but the other four have already died out. Did they take the pills out with their tongues or did they chew them up? Either way, they had swallowed it. The reason why they didn't appear to be suffering was because they were instantaneous and deadly.

'Kill ......!'

Impossible. Answer the question.

This was a clear intent and determination to kill.

He's not just a killer. This is some kind of organized crime.

"......

That's why my question is not easily answered.

Suddenly I remember that I've been saying ' please give me your life' right before I attacked you. Just before you attacked me, you said something like '...... please give me your life'.

If I'm right.

'You want to kill people indiscriminately?　He's one hell of a villain.

Who is--

As expected, they were overly reactive.

They seem to have their own sense of propriety and courtesy. However, if they attacked him indiscriminately, it would surely be disgraceful.

The man continued.

'We are from Towa!　I'm going to hold you hostage at ......!　That's the goal, not indiscrimination: ......!

A hostage.

Isn't that pretty cowardly?

Well, we're probably talking about being at war with the Towa, so I won't mention it, as it's not surprising that they consider that part of their strategy.

More than that.

'Isn't it indiscriminate after all. I'm a civilian who doesn't know what's going on. I can't believe you're a hostage by involving me in this.

You don't know what's going on?　You don't know what's going on?　You talk about being a civilian: ......!　It's cracked that you're related to Yui!

Yui?

''It's Yu, a survivor of the old Wu-Tou Tou Tou family!　Don't tell me you don't know!

I heard that she's at war with the Towa Nation, so well, it's definitely her.

Come to think of it, she was talking about how her parents were all killed. I'm sure that's what she's talking about.

Well, I don't know. Why are you trying to kill me?

"...... because they tried to disrupt the 'harmony' of the Tohu nation.

It came out of my mouth sloppily. I'm sure it's something they value. Without stirring things up, this is something that seems to have been answered on its own.

'What the hell is harmony?'

Collaboration. We don't want to be warring fools like the Continent. With strong unity, the Towa Nation will exist. And it will be the one to break through all difficulties ......!

Wow.

I'm not sure what they're saying.

I guess it means there's something like that.

But.

I asked for more than that, but he didn't answer me. Does that mean it's not my role any more?

I had no choice but to send them off to the knights.