"Shit, I underestimated you because you look weak," Estella said while still glaring at me.
"Okay, first of all, can you tell us your purpose for coming to this village?"
Ignoring Estella who was grumbling regretfully, I asked her that.
I had freed her from Alicia, so now she was sitting on the floor crossing hers legs, while Alicia was beside me.
There's no longer any reason for us to lock hers movements using Alicia's holy body, she herself should also understand the risks if she tries to rebel.
Besides, the current her also couldn't use his magic anymore. Her powers had been sealed by Alicia, so now she was just an ordinary little girl without any powers.
"You're quite terrifying for a human, how could you think things through this far just to hold me back, aren't you being too much?"
"Thanks to your partner, because of him I learned that I can't let my guard down with the enemies I face. Even with this I still worry about your strength. If possible I would like to lock you up in a prison and bind you with chains that can seal magical power," I replied, still keeping my guard up against Estella.
Estella was a little creeped out by what I said about wanting to lock her up and tie her up.
But, I'm not kidding.
I hope she doesn't have any hidden strength to escape after all this.
"Well whatever, I'll answer all your questions as long as it's not something related to my lord and my curse. You said you wanted to know why we came here, right?" Estella sighed and confirmed it with a tired face.
I nodded. "Well, please," I said.
After that, she began to answer them.
"The reason why I'm here is because I'm on an investigation mission," she replied, which raised my eyebrows.
"Investigation?" I exclaimed wondering at the unexpected vocabulary. "Aren't you guys here to absorb the magic from the Sacred Tree?" I asked, recalling what the village chief had previously said.
But, Estella shook her head. "I am indeed interested in absorbing magic from the Sacred Tree, since it has a very pure and delicious magic content. But, that's not what we came here for," she replied, rejecting my thoughts.
I furrowed my brows suspiciously. "So for what?" I asked again, only getting more curious.
While answering, Estella glanced at Alicia who was yawning boredly beside me. "My lord said that she sensed an extremely great divine power descending around this place, so we were told to come to investigate the source of the divine power."
"...."
....
....
....
....
....
—Eh?
Hearing what Estella said, my body immediately froze and started trembling.
My mind went blank, it took me a long time to process what she was saying.
Alicia who listened to the story also could only be silent, her body froze next to me.
"Well, the reason we're here is for that, are you satisfied now?"
"Th-Then, what are you attacking this village for?!" Trying not to appear shaken, I continued asking what I wanted to ask.
"Why is your voice trembling? Well, if it was about attacking the Elf village, it was the lizard's plan, not mine. He kept insisting on burning this entire Elf village since he said he hasn't gone berserk in a long time. Of course, I already tried to stop him, after all this is the Elf village that has a barrier to not let anyone with evil intentions like us enter their village."
"Eh, a barrier?" My eyebrows shot up, and I instantly regretted asking.
When I listened to Estella's story, I remembered something we had previously done in this place, namely in a cave in the forest.
No, that can't be... right?
—Do not tell?!
Alicia seemed to have realized that too. Both of our faces immediately turned pale.
"I don't really know about the barrier itself either, I only know that it was something created by their ancestors and has the effect of repelling any monsters that approach. I think it's some kind of Crysta, though it's very rare to be able to see something like that these days," Estella replied with an even expression.
"…." I pursed my lips.
"However, if it was something that strong, it would definitely be hidden in a very secluded place, and I heard that it was also protected by a very powerful high level spirit, so it should be impossible to pillage this village if we can't even find where the barrier is placed."
No, that's enough.
Please don't say anything else.
"However, for some reason, the next day since we got here, the barrier was gone and so we were able to—"
"W-Wait a minute! I understand, so you don't need to talk anymore! I understand what you want to say in outline!" I screamed desperately. I quickly covered the little girl's mouth so she wouldn't continue what she was saying.
Estella was a little taken aback, but I ignored it.
After all, if we continued to listen to what she had to say again, I would probably die of immense guilt.
After all, the reason why this village was attacked...
—Not that it was clearly our fault!