Chapter 65: Struggling
"Damn it! Why is this happening? What the hell is going on!"
Descending to the first floor and peeking from the staircase, Fernando was thrusting his head into each guest room, confirming the contents before moving to the next room, all the while occasionally sending glares with fighting intent towards the soldiers who appeared from the entrance.
Combat technique, Hiryozan. Mercedes also used it in the Twilight Forest, but it's a technique often used by swordsmen due to its ease of use. Its power isn't significant, but it's a handy means of attack from intermediate range.
But well... This is just pathetic. Pointing a finger at him being engrossed in finding hostage candidates, I gained distance without putting myself in a loop and activated magic.
"Aerobullet."
Just as he thrust his head into the room, a bullet of wind flew, forcefully closing the door.
"Ugh!?"
Fernando's scream resounded. Since his face was still stuck inside the room, naturally, if the door closed, his face would get caught.
While holding his face, he stepped back, but he kept a tight grip on his sword.
I wanted a slightly more powerful magic, but given the situation with me on one side of the corridor and him on the other, I couldn't just unleash flashy magic in case someone came into the corridor unexpectedly.
"Y-You guys!"
Well, it seems to have had enough effect to divert his attention towards us.
Recognizing our presence, he widened his eyes and angrily shouted.
"S-So it's you guys!? You set a trap for me!"
...I don't understand. It's probably just the result of his own failed actions.
"...What is he saying?"
Mercedes voiced her question without addressing anyone in particular.
I'm equally baffled. Even King Melvin probably didn't anticipate putting on such a theatrical solo performance.
Anyway, it seems Fernando is holding a grudge against us and has chosen us as his target. He glares at us with bloodshot eyes. I also prepare my wand, but Mercedes steps forward and draws her sword from her waist.
"Lord Theodore, please allow me to handle this. I owe him a debt."
"...Understood."
There's a clear sense of anger in Mercedes' words. So, I'll leave it to her this time.
After being taken hostage and then attempting a rescue, it could have turned into a tale of heroism. She seems to be restraining her emotions, but it wouldn't be strange if her anger was boiling inside her.
"Mercedes! Damn it! I told you not to kill me while keeping your eyes on me!"
As Fernando charges with his sword drawn, he shouts.
"Disgusting!"
Mercedes charges forward with her sword ready, and Fernando's voice resounds.
Mercedes propels her rush onto her sword and slams her blade against his.
Though it turned into a clashing parry, due to the momentum of her charge, Fernando, who was bound to be weaker in strength, is pushed back.
Capitalizing on his disrupted stance, Mercedes forcefully advances. With a powerful sweep, she attacks. It's a rough and aggressive technique that seems to deliberately aim to strike swords against swords, or rather, to crush them. Each clash resounds with a metallic echo.
"Damn it!"
While Fernando tries to shake her off with a forceful motion, Mercedes' movements are agile despite being pushed back. Her steps are light. Even though I firmly hold my sword, my magic isn't all that powerful, and I need to be cautious not to accidentally hit someone on this side or the other side of the corridor. So, I can't just unleash flashy magic recklessly.
"Y-You!"
Still, it seems to have effectively drawn his attention to us.
With his eyes wide and a trembling voice of anger, he shouts, "You all gathered around me and cornered me with such cowardly tactics!"
"The likes of you have no right to be selective about your opponents!"
Mercedes retorts with her brow furrowed. She's right. Even having a one-on-one duel with Mercedes is an unexpected turn of events. Even if someone had the skill to intervene, it's unlikely that Chester would interfere in the battle.
So, what's cowardly and what's unsatisfactory... Perhaps it's about the fact that even if he wins, the situation itself won't improve in the slightest.
"Let's go."
With a gap in the distance, Mercedes positions her sword with her waist bent. Fighting spirit concentrates on her sword, emitting a pale blue radiance.
Swearing under his breath, Fernando also adopts a similar stance, focusing his fighting spirit onto his sword. He grins with the anticipation that he's got a good hand.
But it seems even that was anticipated by Mercedes. Clenching her teeth, she charges in with her shoulder leading the way.
He likely thought it would at least halt her advance, Fernando hurriedly changes his stance, preparing to counter Mercedes' technique.
However, Mercedes' manner of fighting until now, her expression of anger, and the omen of the showy finishing move she displayed earlier—all of them were feints.
Mercedes bent her body and suddenly stopped her advance. The fighting spirit that had surrounded her sword unexpectedly disappeared, and in its place, her greaves began to shine a pale blue. Fernando's sword cut through the empty space in vain, in the next instant.
Utilizing the strength in her entire body, Mercedes kicked the ground, accelerating explosively.
This is the real deal. Distracted by the whereabouts of Mercedes's sword, Fernando took a direct knee kick to the face.
"Ah!"
His nose and several front teeth were broken, and Fernando tumbled onto the carpet in the corridor.
The outcome was decided. Fernando threw himself onto the floor, relinquishing his sword. Clutching his overflowing nosebleed with one hand and extending the other as if pleading for restraint, he slowly retreated to the wall, screaming.
Chester's expression as he watched this unfold became increasingly clouded.
"St-stop! It's my fault!"
Though his speech was slightly muffled due to his bloody nose, he said something to that effect.
"P-please! I only did what Greg told me to! Make a plea to His Majesty for mercy on my behalf!"
"You... enough already..."
Mercedes's expression showed clear exasperation.
At that moment, perhaps due to the cessation of swordplay, a servant timidly opened the door to the corridor.
"U-uh!"
Fernando's expression caught this opportune moment, contorting into a twisted grin as he attempted to lunge toward the servant. He even drew a knife from his pocket.
Even during his previous plea for his life, it seemed he intended to attack at any given chance.
"Too slow."
He reached into my prepared flame defense magic – the Flame Wall.
As his hand extended further, Mercedes's sword swiped, followed by Chester's spear thrusting from the side, penetrating his shin and pinning him to the floor.
"Gyaaaah!"
Despite his scream of intense pain, his impaled leg rendered him unable to writhe. He could only beat against the carpet in the corridor.
Mercedes had taken an unexpectedly decisive action, even for someone like Chester.
"...Enough. Take him away."
With a voice that seemed to carry exhaustion, Mercedes's soldiers moved in. A few of them held him down on the floor, and after forcibly making him stand, they dragged him away. He continued to shout something until the end... but the content was unbearable to listen to. Gradually, his voice faded and vanished.
Now then... as for Fernando, well, that's his problem.
Chester remained stern-faced, massaging his forehead and shaking his head to bear the headache. Well... no matter how cornered he was, it's quite the disgrace for a colleague.
"Is your shoulder alright?"
"Yeah. That pitiful technique he used in retreat won't amount to much."
"Should I apply some magic just in case?"
"...Sorry."
Mercedes gave a small smile. While the openings in her armor were shallow, even my makeshift healing magic would be sufficient.
While employing healing magic, I spoke to Mercedes.
"...By the way, there's something I'd like to ask, but is it okay?"
"Of course. If it's within my ability."
"No, it's not for you, Mercedes-san. It's more of a message or request for the one in charge of the interrogation."
Upon hearing this, Mercedes blinked.
"I'd like them to find out the whereabouts of the adventurers Fernando took to the Twilight Forest. Depending on the circumstances, it might be more important to reveal the background of this incident than anything else."
"Understood. I'll convey it right away."
For my part... there's a particular part of the conversation between Melvin and Fernando from earlier that's been bothering me. That bit about Melvin getting burned when he touched the sealed door. Our party also touched that door, but none of us were affected.
It would be fine if there was just some change in the door. However... if that's not the case...
But if I try to ask something here, it's likely that he'll want to negotiate with me, asking for help in exchange for information or something of that sort. I don't really trust his actions or words. Whether it's Jasper or Fernando, either could be the one to ask. Given the lack of trust in Fernando's behavior itself, it's probably better to have the magic interrogation extract the answers.