However, even though I stopped Sigrdrífa, the fact that she attempted to assassinate Trafalgar still won't change, but I believe this is absolutely much better than if Sigrdrífa had succeeded.
Adventurers have the right to revive, so when they encounter unsuccessful assassination attempts, they don't rage like NPCs would. Unless they're notorious, dying once is merely waiting a day—there's no substantial loss. Of course, this absolutely doesn't mean adventurer nobles will unconditionally allow assassinations; it's just that once Sigrdrífa succeeded, it would mean truly forming a mortal enemy with Trafalgar.
The game doesn't completely shut off pain for adventurers, but it cancels pain when receiving fatal damage. In other words, the strike that causes a player's death won't make the player feel the fear of death.
Trafalgar, who jumped aside, is still shaken. No matter what, he couldn't have predicted that an elf was lurking inside the house.
"Silver hair and black eyes... damn, you're a moon elf?"
"Lord Trafalgar, please forgive us. I will compensate for your losses."
"What losses are there?"
Carol Cat pats her chest.
"It's fine, Miss Anna. If he dares to push his luck, I'll beat him up. My big bro... no, I know a super rich tycoon. I'll contact him later to buy Miss Anna's house back."
"I appreciate Lord Carol Cat's kind intentions... but no matter what, we can't continue staying in Rothschild."
"Mya?"
"Rifa, we need to pack up and leave here quickly."
There's no time to explain—we must escape from Rothschild as soon as possible.
I expand my [Detection] skill's range to the maximum. Uncle François complains about wanting to retire all day long, but when he handles business, he absolutely doesn't allow half-hearted results.
Uncle François isn't outside... the guards are scattered around the estate's perimeter, monitoring the estate's movements without blind spots. No matter which direction we escape from, we can't avoid their eyes.
But they absolutely can't guess my escape route. You think I'll flee through the window, but actually I'll use spatial transfer!
As for Uncle François's whereabouts, I suspect he went to get reinforcements. Combining the clues that Lily likely used a spatial transfer scroll when escaping, that whoever issued the wanted poster can command top-level artists, and has the authority to demand guard units from various villages conduct searches—the person hunting Lily is probably an extremely powerful [Noble].
Within the Kingdom of Michel, the nobles capable of doing these things are only the king and the seven great dukes.
Whichever one it is, we can't afford to offend them... I've already prepared for the worst-case scenario of taking Lily and leaving the Kingdom of Michel.
"...Hmph. Beat me up? It's been a while since I've met such a loudmouthed adventurer."
"Don't believe it, mya?"
"Are you a newbie? To become a noble in human kingdoms, merit is one thing, but powerful combat ability is also essential. Don't think that nobles in human kingdoms are all trash landlords who only know how to oppress civilians."
While Sigrdrífa and I hurriedly pack our belongings, Baron Trafalgar sheathes his single-handed sword, annoyed by Carol Cat's trash talk, and starts bickering with her.
What Trafalgar says is absolutely right. Logically speaking, kings and dukes as rulers should emphasize governing ability over personal valor, but in the game's setting, within the three great human kingdoms, both kings and their great vassals possess considerable combat prowess. The Kingdom of Azrael and the Kingdom of Garuda are exactly the same—their kings and great vassals are all among their nations' top fighters.
But this doesn't mean you can become a noble just by mindless brute force. Management ability is also indispensable—simply put, you need to excel in both civil and military affairs.
"From what you're saying, you're quite brave, mya?"
"Of course. I was personally enfeoffed by the hero of the Kingdom of Michel, Duke Borgia himself..."
Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through my arm.
Lily?
Lily, whose recovery had been going well, suddenly turns from rosy-cheeked to a bloodless, ghastly pale.
Her pupils contract, her lips tremble incessantly.
Gripping my arm... it's just Lily's unconscious behavior.
"...Lily."
I crouch down and embrace Lily. She's like someone awakening from a nightmare, her beautiful Lolita dress soaked with cold sweat.
"Sister Anna..."
Lily's voice carries a faint sob. Just hearing that name is enough to reawaken Lily's nightmares.
Duke Borgia.
One of the seven great dukes within the Kingdom of Michel, and also the lord of Chris's father, Count Montefeltro. But how could it be... the one hailed as the hero of the Kingdom of Michel...
I won't doubt Lily. The urgent matter is to leave quickly.
Having few possessions, we soon pack up all our belongings, putting everything we might need into my storage space as much as possible.
"I'm so angry...! You better watch out when walking at night in Arcadia!"
Carol Cat seems to have lost her verbal battle and runs back angrily.
"Miss Anna is already packed, mya?"
"Yes... Lord Carol Cat should also leave quickly. This place isn't safe to stay in."
"Eh? Can't I... go with Miss Anna...?"
"It's not that, but due to certain unavoidable circumstances, I need to avoid using the front door. So I'm planning to use [Spatial Transfer] to leave Rothschild. The number of people carried and the distance will be affected by the headcount."
"[Spatial Transfer]?! Miss Anna can actually use such amazing magic? Nyo... then I really can't go with Miss Anna. I get motion sick from spatial transfer, mya."
Huh? I've heard of car sickness, seasickness, airsickness, and milk sickness, but spatial transfer sickness?
Miss Carol Cat comes close to me, almost close enough that one head-patting squad could make our lips touch. I can even feel Miss Carol Cat's warm breath.
"Eh? Lord Carol Cat?"
"Good... I've memorized Miss Anna's scent, mya~"