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Chapter 72 Part 6 – The Beginning of a Tragic Night

The town mayor’s legal wife and his mistress, Marielle, are on good terms.
With the legal wife managing the front and Mariel managing the back, they get along well with each other.

The three old warriors strode out of the door and stared far into the distance of their surroundings. The longer they stared, the sharper their gaze became.

「I can see sparks of fire and black smoke in the direction of the government office building. And in the slums as well.」

The brown-bearded Bill grunted.

The black-bearded Bobby had been lying on his side on the ground to listen to the sounds coming from the distance. He looked up with a grim expression.

「It seems that a lot of people are on the move.」

「…… It’s a riot.」

At the white-bearded Brian’s words, the attendant nodded in haste.

「That’s right!! Right after the mayor was taken away, a large number of people came rushing in from the slums. They made a big fuss about hearing that the mayor ordered people to burn down the slums that are a disgrace to this town ……!! They wouldn’t listen to what we say. I could only save the madam and the young master. We barely escaped there alive and rushed here ……」

「My husband would never give such an order even if it killed him.」

The mayor’s legal wife answered resolutely despite being pale.
Marielle nodded.

「I know. He is a man of integrity, except for his lustfulness for women. He is not the kind of person who discriminates against someone just because they are poor. I won’t let Matthew do to him what he did to the hostess of the inn. I won’t let him kill any more people I care about.」

Marielle smiled at the mayor’s legal wife and son after hearing that the Inquisition had established themselves in an abandoned church and that the mayor and the others were being held there.

「Madam, please don’t worry. Even though I may not look like it, I am capable of moving stealthily. I will go and free the mayor and the others at once.」

As a former member of the 〈Lawless Crew〉, it’s a piece of cake for Marielle to sneak into the prison and pick the lock.

「Please, I’m counting on you. Even though I’m his legal wife, I’m always relying on Marielle-san ……」

「Please don’t say that. The madam is always there to support the master during times of peace. You even treat me, his mistress, very well. You are the best Madam. At least during times of crisis, please leave it to me.」

Marielle took the hand of the depressed legal wife and encouraged her.

「I want to go help my father as well.」

With a determined expression, the mayor’s young son stepped forward with his small body.
The three old warriors smiled.

「…… You have a good, determined expression. But will you let us take care of this?」

「Don’t forget that feeling even after you grow up.」

Seeing the disgruntled expression on the young master’s face, Marielle smiled.

「Young master. These old men may look like this, but they are actually the teachers of the strongest Imperial Guards in Hydrangea. They are extremely good at fighting. They are very strong, so you can rest assured and leave it to them.」

Hearing this, the mayor’s son’s eyes lit up and the complexion of the legal wife and the attendant brightened.

「…… Come on now, you must be tired. First of all, please make yourself at home. Rona-chan, could you please guide them to the living room?」

The power of the name of the Imperial Guards was immensely powerful and all of them obediently followed Marielle’s words.

Rona could not hide her surprise as she guided them.
She’s going to be working as a maid for these extraordinary people.

In this kingdom, the Imperial Guards of Hydrangea is a narrow gateway to success from commoner to knight. It is a dream job that every boy dreams of once. Hydrangea is said to be inferior to the four great kingdoms in terms of military power, but the Imperial Guards is the only exception and is a force to be reckoned with. The Imperial Guards’ fame and prestige is the pride of Hydrangea.

Before Teddy’s legs became crippled, he used to say, 「Someday I’m going to join the Imperial Guards and let Ronny and Sister Rona live a better life.」

It’s no wonder that those hoodlums opened the way as the brown-bearded Bill walked through the slums.

The three old warriors had casually mentioned that they would give Rona’s younger brothers some training when they came here. Teddy would be so happy to hear that.

Rona was filled with hope and was about to take the tea she had prepared to the living room, but then she heard the words of the mayor’s attendant coming from inside and her whole body stood frozen.

「…… This is all because of that dirt poor, outrageous kid named Ronny that accused the mayor and the others of being pawns of the devil. Thanks to him, the town is in chaos. Everyone is making a fuss about hanging him on the gallows by the river, but I wouldn’t be satisfied if he is not burned to death on the stake.」

The tea set fell from Rona’s trembling hands.
The sound of the tea pots and cups cracking and shattering resounded like a scream as hot water splattered all over the floor.

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On the other hand, Marielle was arguing with the three old warriors.

「We’ll go to the Inquisition building by ourselves. Marielle, you stay here and protect the mayor’s family.」

Said the white-bearded Brian.

「I can sense the presence of a bastard that we’ve previously encountered.」

「Yeah, I’ll never forget that horrendous way of doing things.」

The black-bearded Bobby and the brown-bearded Bill agreed.

Marielle had no idea what they were talking about and was not convinced.
The white-bearded Brian spoke to her with a stern expression.

「There was a heinous and vicious fiend that was good at creating hell by making the people inside a town or fortress have a fall out and fight against each other whenever he found a place that he wanted to corrupt. But that guy was a mercenary, not a member of the Inquisition. He was a shitty bastard that would burn down the town along with the women and children. Some of our acquaintances got caught up in it.」

The white-bearded Brian’s eyes burned with rage.

「It’s just my intuition as a warrior, but I have a feeling that he’s involved in this matter. If so, he’s not an opponent that you can handle. You must not think that it would be something as easy as sneaking in there. Unless you’re prepared to crush the entire Inquisition building to the ground, you’re going to lose your footing.」

While explaining to the stunned Marielle, the white-bearded Brian put on a battle gauntlet on his arm and grabbed the cape made of woven chainmail and put it on. The black-bearded Bobby and the brown-bearded Bill followed suit.

「If Matthew is that guy, then he’s a heretic that is exceedingly sly and cunning. The only countermeasure against him is to smash everything with sheer brute force.」

Mariel had no choice but to back down after seeing the three elder warriors taking out their favorite large sickles and tucking them away on their body. When the three old warriors are clad in bloodlust, even Marielle can’t stop them.

「I-I get it. Rona-chan!! Help me get these old men ready!!」

Marielle hurriedly called out, but there was no response from Rona.

Instead, the mayor’s attendant appeared timidly.

「Umm, just now, that girl named Rona ran out from the back door in a rush with a panicked expression. Maybe it was because of what I was talking about ……」

After hearing the details from the attendant, Marielle turned pale and the three old warriors groaned.

All four of them were always concerned about the younger brothers that Rona requested them to find.
They never thought that they would find out about their whereabouts in such an unfortunate way.
They were at a loss for words.

Wendell opened his mouth quietly after staying silent until then.

「…… I’m going to go save Rona. Old men Brian, Bill, Bobby will go directly to the Inquisition building to rescue the mayor and the others.」

Contrary to his calm tone, his red eyes were shining brightly.

「Rona’s life has been too sad. That’s why I’ll stop her from crying. Because what suits the kind Rona is not tears but a smile.」

The brown-bearded Bill and the black-bearded Bobby listened to Wendell’s determination and smiled proudly. The two veterans saw in Wendell the same bloodline as the great lord that they respect.

「As expected of the young lord. You understand very well the reason why warriors fight. Then, I shall leave Rona to you, young lord.」

「To think that your first battle is for the sake of saving a girl. How befitting of a splendid successor to the Lingard family.」

But Marielle was taken aback.

Rona’s destination was most likely the hanging platform that was probably overflowing with mobs.
It is an insane act to let the master who should be protected, especially a slender boy like him, to go to such a terrible place alone.

「You two, don’t say something so stupid!! Brian, say something!!」

But contrary to Marielle’s expectations, the white-bearded Brian actually yelled at her.

「Be silent, Marielle!! This is the young lord’s battle as a man. Even if it’s you, I won’t let you interfere.」

His loud voice resounded throughout the mansion.

「Just as women have their own battles, men also have their own battles. Now is that time. If so!! Even if it costs us our lives, we must fulfill our master’s wish.」

The black-bearded Bobby and the brown-bearded Bill nodded

A long and harsh night of battle was about to begin.