Chapter 23
If you use a lightning spell in the middle of town, it's obvious it'll cause a huge uproar. And if you use it on a person, you won't get off scot-free. At best, they'll suffer severe burns; at worst, they'll die from electrocution. I can't let Ellie become a murderer.
I've got no choice but to endure it here...
"This guy... without a staff...?"
"Just a fluke."
Perhaps regaining her composure, Scarlet came up to my face while dusting off her uniform and looked down at me.
Wind came to a sudden stop.
"So what if I like Lord Bob? What's wrong with that?"
"...Bob doesn't like you even a little bit."
"......Oh really. Then do you know? Who he likes?"
"My sister."
Scarlet seemed unable to react and just stared down at me in silence.
"For someone like Bob to harbor feelings for Sister... I'm too dumbfounded to speak. You and Bob both—idiots really should just get together."
With ragged breath, I said something that would probably cause the most mental damage.
"You want Wind that badly, huh?"
At Scarlet's command, Wind was unleashed all at once.
This time, the Wind spell had a pebble spell called Sandstone mixed in, and pebbles rained down like a storm, crackling as they rode the wind and slammed into the ground.
A barrage of pebbles, now with more force behind them, struck my body.
When one hit my head, the impact felt like being punched, and it hurt so much I almost cried. Until the attack stopped, I clenched the dirt in my hands and held back the groans threatening to escape my mouth. If I showed weakness, they'd only get more aggressive.
A strange taste spread in my mouth. It seemed the blood from my head had gotten into it.
"Hmph, your fat must be protecting you like armor."
Scarlet, who had kept some distance, once again stomped on my back.
"Say one more bad thing about Lord Bob, and I'll do this to you every day. A Wind target, a Sand Wall dummy. A filthy practice dummy, at that."
Her minions laughed like petty villains.
I tried to clear my mind and think of nothing. I can't beat them as I am now.
The spells I can use are few.
Beginner light spell "Light." It only illuminates the surroundings.
Intermediate light spell "Light Arrow." It's an offensive spell, but only really effective against spirits or the undead, so it doesn't do much to humans.
Beginner wind spell "Wind." Due to lack of training, it can barely knock someone onto their butt.
It's frustrating, but I can't win. I'm being overpowered.
I can't use my trump card, Thunderbolt.
Damn it!
"Lady Scarlet. I'll shut this Piggoo up."
The pigtailed girl raised her staff like she was saying "how irritating."
Just as the Sand Wall spell was about to be cast, a passerby who had noticed the scene in the back alley shouted for help.
"Someone's fighting over there!"
Upon hearing that, Scarlet and the others moved quickly.
Leaving me behind, they ran in the opposite direction of the street.
On the way, the pigtailed girl noticed the paper bag in my pocket, turned it upside down, and dumped the contents on the ground.
After glancing at the spilled 'Holy Mud Water,' she picked it up and, making sure it was visible, slammed it to the ground. The bottle shattered, and the 'Holy Mud Water' was mercilessly absorbed by the dry dirt.
"Zoe, hurry up!"
One of Scarlet's lackeys yelled at the pigtailed girl.
The pigtailed girl, called Zoe, looked down at me in satisfaction, then used my back as a springboard and ran off.
After a while, a pair wearing patrol uniforms and flat caps came running.
"Hey you! Are you okay?!"
"Yes, I'm... okay."
One of the kind-looking patrolmen wiped my face with a handkerchief.
"Heal."
An intermediate light spell, a basic healing magic.
The pain in my body eased, and the bleeding from my head stopped.
While tending to me, the patrolmen conducted an interview. I told them I was attacked from a blind spot and didn't see the culprits. I answered truthfully about the magic used.
There's no proof even if I name them here.
Besides, I just can't let this debt go unpaid.
More than anger, the frustration is stronger.
I should have easily imagined this could happen. Then why didn't I practice for human combat?
......I underestimated this other world.
Normally, I would've assessed the risks and taken precautions before making such a mistake. Why didn't I this time?
Seriously... I'm acting like a newbie who just joined the company.
I'm angrier at myself than at Scarlet.
I gave a brief goodbye to the patrolmen and headed home. Since my uniform was dirty, they offered to take me by carriage, but I gently declined. If I returned home in a patrol carriage, it would worry my family.
I hurried with my thick legs, and after about fifteen minutes, the house came into view. It was the first time I'd ever felt so relieved to see my home. Apparently, I was more mentally shaken than I thought. While I'd faced many crises in the workplace, I'd never been physically cornered like this. In Japan, doing something like this would be a crime.
A muscular gatekeeper, like a bodybuilder, spotted me and ran over with a shocked expression.
After checking if I was okay, he immediately ran into the house.
......In the end, this might turn into a big deal.
Apparently, the gatekeeper immediately went to call Amy, who could heal.
As I entered the entrance from the front door, Amy came running down the stairs, her beautiful face filled with sorrow.
"Ellie!"
Amy hugged me and immediately chanted Cure Light.
It was far warmer and more comforting than the healing spell from the patrolmen. The scrapes on my arms and legs vanished before my eyes. Literally vanished. I was so amazed by the effect that I silently watched for a while.
"Ojou-suuuuuwaaaaaaaaahhh!"
"Clarice?!"
Clarice leapt down from the landing in the entranceway.
Seeing the old maid perform an action scene like in a Hollywood movie was surreal beyond words.
"Are you all right... are you truly all right!?"
"Ellie, how did this happen to you?"
Amy asked, now that the magic was finished.
"Indeed! Who on earth did this to you, Miss...!"
Clarice looked as if she was about to dash out the front door.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, I answered like this.
"I just tripped, that's all."
The two of them looked down in pain.
Then they quickly looked up.
"Ellie... you're such a kind girl. But this time, we can't just stay silent. Please tell us. Where and who did this to you?"
"That cut was likely caused by Wind Break. The culprit must be someone with decent magical skill."
Saying that, Clarice disappeared into the back room.
"Thank you for casting Cure Light."
"No need to thank me. You're my little sister, and you were hurt."
"Sister, there's something I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Are you the strongest in the Golden family?"
"...Why are you asking that?"
Amy seemed confused as to why I was asking about strength at a time like this.
"I want to become strong. Sister, please teach me magic."
"Ellie..."
"That won't be necessary, Miss."
When I turned around, Clarice was standing in front of us.
"W-wait... Clarice, what is that?"
Dressed in a black coat and black hood, she had Chinese-style broadswords at both hips, a massive hammer on her back, and about twenty magic staves sewn into the coat lining for instant access.
"I already have a lead on the culprit. If you'll wait here, I'll return with their severed head."
Clarice was dead serious.
This is seriously bad.
Her eyes were glittering with madness and murderous intent.
"Severed head... you..."
I reflexively chimed in.
If I don't stop her, she'll seriously go on a suicide mission.
"Indeed. I shall go and kill them."
Clarice smiled sweetly.
She's scary!
This old maid is terrifying!
Amy's face was twitching in fear!
"Please rest assured, Miss. I, Barry, would not hesitate to give my life for your sake."
"Eek!"
When I turned toward the voice, a tough-looking man with brown crew-cut hair, sharp eyes, and a scar on his cheek was glaring at us. There was no way I couldn't scream.
"Barry, you're too close! Your face is scary! And your face is scary! Also, your face is scary!"
"Any scum who dares harm the young lady shall be eliminated by us, husband and wife."
He had an ominous look like he might do something crazy.
"What are you planning to do?"
Just in case, I asked.
"I don't know who they are, but I'll definitely blow their brains out."
"Don't say such horrifying things!"
"This time, my patience has been completely, utterly, and violently torn apart. Yes, I snapped."
"Stop the two sisters!"
Amy looked at Barry's appearance and gaped.
Barry wore two swords on his hips that looked like katanas, a headband with 'Surekill' written on it, and candles stabbed into either side of the headband. He also wore leather armor resembling a bulletproof vest, and about ten magic staves were jammed haphazardly into his belt. It was like a scene straight out of a gangster film. This was bad. This was not something you show people.
"Despite appearances, my husband is a former adventurer. He's a seasoned warrior who's explored some very remote places."
"Indeed. I could handle one or two mages without any trouble."
"Shall I bring back the severed head?"
"No! I don't want a severed head! And don't go!"
I desperately stopped them.
"Head chef—!"
Then, four young men in chef uniforms came rushing in from the kitchen, looking flustered.
"Why'd you abandon the food?!"
"Please get back quickly!"
"We're already past mealtime!"
After shouting one after another, the four chefs froze when they saw Barry's face.
"What's going on?"
"A raid."
Barry answered shortly. Despite his Western appearance, I felt like I was watching a yakuza movie.
Then, from all around the house, six maids in uniforms ran into the entrance, lifting their skirts slightly to move faster.
"Head Maid!"
"Why are you dressed like that?!"
"What in the world is going on?!"
The maids gasped when they saw Barry was also armed.
"What happened?"
The eldest-looking maid took a deep breath and then spoke.
"What happened here?"
Barry gave Clarice a look, signaling her to explain.
Clarice nodded slowly.
"Lady Ellie was attacked by someone."
"What did you say?!?!"
The chefs and maids opened their eyes wide in disbelief.
First, they looked at my torn clothes and mud-covered arms and legs, then silently looked at each other and nodded. They seemed to understand with just a glance.
All at once, they said:
"Let's kill them."
"Let's kill them."
"Let's kill them."
It was a beautiful harmony.
Then, from the direction of the dining room, Father, Mother, the eldest daughter, and the second daughter arrived.
"It's long past dinnertime already!"
Mother shouted sharply at Barry, a bit hysterically. But when she saw the gathered servants of the Golden family, me, and Amy in the entrance, her angry face quickly shifted to suspicion.
"What is going on?"
Father, handsome with droopy eyes, raised an uncharacteristically angry voice.
Clarice and Barry immediately bowed respectfully, and the other servants either removed their hats or placed their cleaning tools on the floor and followed suit.
"Father, Ellie was attacked by someone..."
Amy said, her face on the verge of tears, still hugging me.
"What!?"
Upon hearing that, Sister Edwina and Sister Elizabeth rushed over, knelt down, and hugged me. "Are you okay?" "Are you hurt?" Kind words rained down from above. Surrounded by three beautiful women and enveloped in a pleasant scent—this wasn't bad. Yeah, not bad at all.
"Dear, please grant us permission for the raid."
"We shall blow out the brains of the scum."
Clarice and Barry are terrifying.
"Silence!"
Mother's icy shriek silenced everyone.
Everyone present froze and stared at her.
"Darling."
"Yes."
Mother and Father nodded at each other and went up the stairs. Less than a minute later, they returned—fully armed.
"We won't let them get away with this."
"Yes."
I don't know why, but their extreme calmness made them all the more terrifying.
Especially Mother's eyes—they widened like a wild hawk's, gleaming as she hunted her prey.
Mommy is the scariest of all!
Today, I truly understood—there's no joking around in the Golden family.
Clarice and Barry quietly followed behind Father and Mother. Before I knew it, the chefs and maids, now equipped with spears, buster swords, and brass knuckles, had joined the formation.
"You four stay home."
Mother strictly ordered us four sisters, then glared forward and raised her staff.
"I'll make them understand firsthand what happens when you anger me, the one once called Amelia of the Exploding Flame."
I understood everything.
The strongest in the Golden family was Mother.
Without a doubt, Mother was the strongest.
It took nearly an hour to persuade Mother, Father, Clarice, and Barry not to go on the raid.