The expression on Viscount San Miguel's face froze.
Antoniozo, excited, embraced his companions and cheered triumphantly.
The members under the Deputy Commander also asked, brimming with excitement:
"What happened?"
"They say the little master was actually a disinformation agent."
Antoniozo grinned, and a member of the Deputy Commander's team gasped.
"Incredible… But how exactly did he stick to Miss Marina?"
"He didn't follow her. He waited."
The Deputy Commander explained.
While everyone else was keeping an eye on Marina, the Deputy Commander had been observing Yustea.
Her travel route had been suspicious.
"She traveled along the river."
She had taken a small boat from upstream and quickly moved downstream.
The current was swift, and it was faster than traveling on horseback.
But why would the search party looking for the kidnapped girls follow the river?
While watching this suspicious behavior, Marina departed toward Beechwood Mountain.
It was at that moment that he realized:
Yustea's destination had been the entrance to Beechwood Mountain downstream.
And she had been waiting by climbing a tree before Marina arrived.
Marina, perhaps thinking things had gone wrong and that the viscount had moved the girls, rushed frantically.
After they disappeared, Yustea climbed down from the tree.
The squad members who had been hiding, holding their breath, came running.
[How did you know we'd come here?]
[Yeah. I even thought the little master had given up on the test when we boarded the boat.]
Yustea said with a calm expression.
[If we were to frame a kidnapping, a mountain-dwelling village would be perfect, right?]
[Huh?]
[Yes?]
Yustea folded one finger at a time as she explained.
[We can't involve outside forces. Otherwise, a territorial war might break out. And since Viscount San Miguel's biggest asset is his mine, he wouldn't want to touch the miners' village. That leaves only the mountain villagers.]
"…!"
"…!!"
Antoniozo's team gaped.
The Deputy Commander's team also stuck out their tongues in disbelief.
One of the retainers remarked:
"Seeing it like this, we realize how broad Miss Marina's perspective is."
─or so they said.
But the person with truly broad perspective was someone else.
Viscount San Miguel's face had turned pale.
His retainers glanced nervously at him and remained silent.
And the Deputy Commander…
"Deputy Commander?"
He couldn't take his eyes off Yustea in the maze.
Antonio snorted dismissively.
"Feeling a little regretful now?"
"Who said I regret that girl?"
The one weighed on the scale alongside her had been Antonio.
A comrade who had walked the thin line between life and death.
It was only natural to prioritize Antonio over an outsider girl.
So even if time had been reversed, he would have chosen Antonio.
But that didn't mean it wasn't worth it.
[Then let's go.]
[To the mountain villagers' village?]
[No. To the dry riverbed below.]
[Why the dry riverbed?]
[If the mountain villagers spot the girls, who look valuable at first glance, they'd likely kidnap them for ransom immediately. We need to keep the girls safe until the test ends, so hiding them in the dry riverbed is best.]
How could anyone not value someone like her?
I and the search party headed toward the dry riverbed of Beechwood Mountain.
We had to hurry.
'If Marina's search party comes here again, a clash might occur.'
Of course, we would win.
No matter how many elite soldiers Viscount San Miguel assigned to Marina, we had the Irregulars.
And Antoniozo was the roughest of them all.
'But that was in a 7-on-7 scenario.'
The original kidnappers might still be nearby.
We couldn't openly team up with them, but they could secretly support Marina's squad.
'We must prevent the kidnappers and Marina's search party from joining forces.'
We climbed the mountain without pause.
When we reached the dry riverbed…
"Little master, over there!"
A large carriage sat there, all alone.
Truly alone.
No one was guarding it.
'They just leave a carriage here like that?'
It was far from the mountain villagers' village, but what if someone stumbled upon it by chance?
'This feels wrong.'
I hesitated for a moment, pondering.
Then the team members started running toward the carriage.
At that moment, an idea struck me.
'No way…'
"Wait, everyone."
I stopped the search party just as…
Kraaaang—!
A loud explosion shook the area.
The searchers, holding back in surprise, stepped back.
Fortunately, none of them were caught in the blast thanks to my timing.
I picked up a nearby rock.
And with a swift motion…
Bang!
"…!"
The searchers' faces stiffened.
I glared at the magical relay device hovering nearby, clearly dissatisfied.
"Cheating…"
Viscount San Miguel must have placed the explosive items around the carriage, anticipating that I might reach the girls first.
And having played this "game," I knew what the item was.
Elgani Nest
A buried trap.
It explodes even with slight contact.
It wasn't highly powerful, as it's used in the early game.
But a single mistake could trigger multiple explosions where the nests were planted.
The carriage could have flown away.
"Damn it. What now?"
The searchers looked at me tensely.
We needed to rescue the girls, but as long as the nests were there, approaching was impossible.
By the time Marina's squad arrived, I'd have to deactivate the nests.
I sighed heavily.
"Seems like there's no choice."
"Yes, it'll take time to deactivate each mine and move—"
"I'll blow them all up at once."
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"What?"
The searchers looked at me as if they misheard.
I casually sat down and picked up a rock.
"…?"
"…??"
They stared at me, confused.
Yet I had gathered a handful of rocks and stood up.
I was ready to throw them at the carriage.
That is, if the masked figures hadn't jumped out from the riverbed in alarm.
"Wait!"
"Hold on!"
The kidnappers appeared, pale as death.
They feared I might blow up the nests and kill the girls.
'But I can't kill them.'
Viscount San Miguel would never allow it.
Killing all those noble girls would draw the authorities' attention, something even the viscount couldn't handle.
As expected, the kidnappers shouted, panicked:
"Are you trying to kill the girls?!"
"You monstrous fiends!"
The masked men scolded us instead.
The searchers exchanged baffled looks.
Yustea's squad in the maze let out a hollow laugh.
The viewers watching the broadcast were equally shocked.
A member under the Deputy Commander said:
"Who are the kidnappers to lecture…"
At that moment, Yustea shouted:
[Come down, or I'll detonate them!]
The kidnappers…
[W-Wait!]
"…."
"…."
The Deputy Commander's squad glanced at each other.
So… the masked people really were the kidnappers?
They hesitated. Could they really descend?
They looked to their leader for guidance.
But Yustea was faster.
Bang!
She threw a rock, detonating one of the nests.
[We're coming down now.]
Bang!
[I said come down!]
The Deputy Commander's squad watching the broadcast remained silent.
The side that seemed terrifying was not the kidnappers, but the rescuers.
It was baffling how the roles had reversed.
The masked men leapt off the cliff.
With a thud, they landed in the riverbed, weapons in hand.
Some were as big as twins.
Maces.
Crossbows with long metal skewers instead of arrows.
A member of the Deputy Commander flinched at the sight.
"Isn't that the Fang of Unmu?"
Antonio replied:
"You should've known from the jump. That bastard's still alive."
The Deputy Commander's member stiffened.
The Fang of Unmu—once a notorious mercenary group.
Skilled criminals who had escaped northern prisons.
Even at a glance, their numbers seemed well over thirty.
Could seven of us win?
The Deputy Commander's member said:
"Even if the girls are safe, Yustea might be in danger. She isn't a noble, so the central authorities wouldn't intervene. And…"
He glanced at Viscount San Miguel.
The viscount's expression, watching the maze, was pleased.
'If she dies in an accident during the test, Marina's victory will naturally follow.'
Antonio stood up.
A sword in hand.
The Deputy Commander asked:
"You plan to go to Beechwood Mountain?"
"The little master entered the test for Charly and me."
"So?"
"If she survives until I arrive, I'll bring her back. If not, I'll massacre those bastards and Viscount San Miguel to repay my debt."
Antonio glared at the Deputy Commander coldly.
And ground his teeth as he spoke:
"Unlike someone who only knows how to count beads, I understand gratitude."
"Foolish."
"Let's keep it reasonable."
Antonio's eyes blazed.
The Deputy Commander's members quickly reached for their weapons.
Antoniozo's team rose to their feet.
The sudden commotion froze everyone watching the maze.
"What…?"
"What is this?"
The viscount snickered at the tense atmosphere.
If the two sides clashed, he would benefit.
And if the Fang of Unmu dealt with that cursed girl, he'd get everything he wanted.
Then the Deputy Commander spoke again.
"There's no need to go. Sit down."
"…What?"
Antonio frowned, confused, as the Deputy Commander gestured toward the maze.
All eyes turned back to the maze.
And inside…
[W-What?]
Kraaaang─!
[Ah!]
The Fangs of Unmu were falling one by one.
[That's your side. Move them.]
At Yustea's command, a large searcher pushed three or four of them at a time.
[NW, 2 meters. Throw it.]
Another searcher hurled a rock where Yustea directed.
Bang─!
"Th-This…!"
"What on earth…!"
It was as if Yustea knew exactly where the explosives were.
The searchers pushed, Yustea detonated.
The Fangs of Unmu collapsed in groups.
Even the carriage was safe thanks to her precise timing.
Antonio looked stunned.
"What's happening?"
"That explosive item is probably an Elgani Nest."
"A land mine, then. How could she know its location buried under dirt?"
"She knows how to detect Elgani Nests."
"Detect them…?"
The basic method involved using their internal magnetism.
The sand in the riverbed contained iron particles.
When iron meets magnetism in the sand, the sand shifts slightly, forming small pits.
'But the difference is minimal.'
Recognizing it was extraordinary.
Plus, she knew about items like the Elgani Nest.
Explaining this, Antonio and the others chuckled.
"What is this little master?"
The Deputy Commander smirked, crossing his legs.
"Let's ask when she returns."
Having her in this test was unexpected fortune.
Viscount San Miguel's face had turned completely pale.
I brushed off my hands, looking at the fallen Fangs of Unmu.
'Good. None can fight.'
Then…
I approached the one-eyed leader.
And rummaged through his pockets.
"Wh-What are you…!"
Even fallen, he had energy to shout.
I ignored him and checked his pouch.
"Found it."
The Elgani Nest deactivation key.
Having planted these traps, she would have prepared a key for later deactivation.
I pressed the key.
And threw a stone at a slightly sunken spot.
'Good, all quiet.'
All the nests were deactivated.
The searcher who had tied the Fangs of Unmu with ropes asked:
"All done?"
"Yes. Let's go to the carriage."
We subdued the Fangs and headed to the carriage.
One searcher opened the door.
And what we saw was…
"Ugh…"
"Mmm. Mmm."
The girls had gags in their mouths.
They looked at us with teary eyes.
These were the noble girls scheduled to participate in the test.
I quickly removed their gags.
"Are you okay?"
The girls glanced at each other nervously.
The searchers, showing pity, said:
"They must be suspicious. It's normal after being kidnapped."
"Don't worry. We're from the castle. See? The Viscount San Miguel's crest."
But the girls stiffened, unsure what to do.
I removed the gags from the others and crouched.
"Hello, Miss Nicola."
The red-haired girl flinched.
I smiled warmly.
"You don't know me, but I know you."
Very well indeed.
In the original story, she would pass the test and become the Deputy Commander's adopted daughter.
I looked at Nicola's hand.
It was tense.
"Why would someone like you…?"
I muttered, and she turned sharply.
"Getting involved in crime is like a disaster. Blaming victims for not being careful is foolish."
"Exactly. If you were really victims."
The searchers looked puzzled at my words.
"What?"
"What do you mean, little master?"
Unlike the confused searchers, the girls remained stiff.
I whispered softly.
"You weren't kidnapped. You followed the kidnappers on your own."
And I glared at the magical relay hovering in the air.
No, I glared beyond, at Viscount San Miguel.
"Isn't that right, Viscount?"
Viscount San Miguel's Broadcast Room
"What do you mean by this? Were you involved in this, my lord?"
The retainers glared at the viscount.
He panicked and dismissed them.
"Step aside for a moment."
"No, it's not stepping aside but explaining this situation…"
"Later! I'll explain later."
"My lord!"
He even used soldiers hidden among the troops to drive the retainers away.
The viscount, pale, glared at the Deputy Commander.
"That wretched girl who dared accuse her lord will pay dearly."
"Think about excuses for the dismissed retainers first."
The Deputy Commander smiled faintly.
Antonio chuckled.
"I don't know if the excuses will work."
The viscount gritted his teeth.
In a dark room blocked by curtains, a man sat alone, watching the maze.
He held a glass in his long, straight fingers.
The dark red liquid swirled gently.
[Isn't that right, Viscount?]
His gaze lingered briefly on Yustea's face.
The man murmured:
"Impressive."
The words, unexpectedly evaluative, slipped through his well-shaped lips.
Truly unexpected.
For Aslan, the Irregular's squad leader, this was unusual.