Chapter 61

I managed to reach the town of Catena while dealing with Geni’s tendency to spin in circles.

It seemed to be a fairly desolate place even by Sutrena’s standards, as many broken fences and houses could be seen throughout the town. There were many abandoned buildings; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a decaying ruin.

From the sky, I had spotted vacant plots of land scattered outside the town—former fields that looked like they had been trampled by magical beasts.

As we walked down the street, Lord Nazel frowned.

“This is terrible. There are claw marks from magical beasts everywhere. It looks as if they’re under frequent attack.”

“In all likelihood, they are,” Henry said as he dismounted from his pegasus, looking like he was about to collapse. I wondered if he was airsick?

“I had to abandon my investigation halfway through because of interference, but there has been a food shortage here for the past few years as well.”

That sounded fishy. I wondered if the faction interfering with Henry’s investigation had something to hide.

Lord Nazel and Henry’s subordinates began moving around to question the townspeople.

“Agnes, you must be tired. Let’s take a break.”

“Oh, yes.”

We had secured lodgings nearby, so I decided to head there with Henry, Kelly, and Torre, but…

“Is it just me, or is the atmosphere of the town getting worse?”

The expressions on the people’s faces were unsettling.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, a commotion suddenly broke out right in front of us.

Loud shouting and the sound of thundering footsteps echoed through the quiet town.

All of us looked at each other at once.

“Thieves!”

The moment someone screamed, a group of rough-looking thugs came charging toward us from the direction of the disturbance.

“Wh-what’s going on?”

Faced with about ten large men, Torre shifted into a combat stance.

Radiating an air of violence, the rowdy group shouted over one another.

“Look at those fine clothes you’re wearing! Hand over your valuables and your food!”

“And leave the women behind, too!”

Lord Nazel smoothly drew the sword hanging at his waist. He looked angry.

Also, the ground was cracking open, and the stems of some jagged-looking plants were saying “hello.” Those looked like the type that really hurt.

“Lord Nazel…”

“It’s alright, Agnes. Get back behind Kelly and Henry.”

“Yes, sir!”

The three of us huddled in the shadow of a building to stay out of the way.

A few seconds later, the men who had been charging at us were all collapsed on the ground in spectacular fashion.

The serrated plants had gone on a rampage, essentially ending the fight in an instant.

“Oh dear, that was underwhelming,” Kelly remarked, her expression not changing one bit as the soldiers we brought began the task of tying them up.

“Hahaha! What weaklings! There wasn’t even a need for them to grow to full size! As expected of Lord Nazelbert.”

Torre recovered the luggage the thieves had presumably stolen and began returning it to the victims.

Without hesitation, Lord Nazel ran straight back to me.

“You’re safe now, Agnes. That must have been frightening.”

“No, not really. They were defeated so quickly that I didn’t have much time to be scared.”

I tried to tell him I was fine, but the overprotective Lord Nazel just pulled me into a tight hug.

After a moment, a well-dressed woman came running from Torre’s direction.

Unlike the other townspeople gathered there, she was clad in an outfit that was clearly expensive.

“Thank you so much for capturing those thieves!”

The woman approached Lord Nazel with a familiar attitude, reaching out to take his hand.

However, since Lord Nazel was still busy hugging me, both of his hands were occupied.

I observed the woman as she froze with her hand still extended. Flashy clothes, a flashy hairstyle…

Does she look like someone I’ve met before…?

Undeterred, the woman continued to address Lord Nazel.

“Um, you’re the Lord of Sutrena, aren’t you? I heard you were staying at an inn in town.”

“I am.”

“Then please, come to my home instead! Unlike a humble inn, we can offer you truly wonderful hospitality!”