185: Unforgivable ①

"—I can't forgive this."

Without another word, Belk dispelled the magic binding the girl's iron cage.

That alone was enough to stun me.

The cage was supposed to be protected by a heavy-duty magic Barrier. It was a seal so powerful that, normally, you shouldn't be able to break it without using Time Lapse.

And yet, he’d dismantled it on pure instinct.

Good grief. This guy is the real deal—a total genius.

I thought he was just going to rescue the children and be done with it, but for some reason, he reached up and ripped off his mask.

"I won't let this stand! What the hell were you people thinking!?"

Hah. They say a fool doesn't think about the consequences, but I guess a true fool is someone who acts even after they’ve weighed them.

"That kid... Isn’t he Belk Friede?"

"What is a member of the Royal Family doing here...? This is bad."

"Kill him! Hurry up and tear him to pieces!"

The excited scum began to raise a ruckus.

I suppose House Friede is terrifying enough to warrant that reaction. Of course, this trade is illegal. To be strictly accurate, though, it’s less about the 'slaves' and more about the 'tax evasion' and 'violating municipal ordinances' part.

"What are you idiots doing!?"

"That’s right! Hurry up! Do you want everyone in this room to be ruined!?"

At that, several men who looked like guards stepped forward.

Each of them drew a sword. Belk, on the other hand, was empty-handed. The strict body search we’d undergone had been designed specifically for a moment like this.

"—Belk, this is going to be a disaster," I called out to him.

But he just raised his voice again, shouting that he couldn't forgive them.

I couldn't help but let a small smile slip.

Damn. I guess my heart’s starting to change a little bit too.

The next second, the men lunged at Belk.

They were guards for the nobles and the auction organizers. They were likely reasonably skilled.

"—Senpai..."

"Well, I’m the one who brought you here, after all."

I stepped forward and shielded Belk. I had already manifested my Dual Sword.

I summoned Debi and handed over a wooden sword I’d been concealing.

"Don't kill them. I don't care about them personally, but the paperwork afterwards would be a nightmare."

"...Got it."

"Now then, it’d be pretty cowardly of me to let you shoulder all the risk alone, wouldn't it?"

I ripped off my own mask right then and there.

I’m sure they’d already guessed who I was, but this makes it official. As his senior, I can't exactly let him take the fall by himself.