"Bandits!

The group did not expect to be attacked in such a place.

"This is where we came down the steep slope from the pass. They can't see us from the pass. The guards would not even notice us.

Elsa analyzes calmly.

"Normally, it's better to attack from above. But we are unarmed. The way out is up. But the slope is too steep.

"Well, they must have known we were in a place like that and attacked us."

Maybe. Maybe they knew I was coming and going and ambushed me.

If you go to Potrock, it's almost always the same way there and back. That's what they were after, Elsa said.

"How many bandits were there?"

Reiko opened the window and looked out.

The carriage had a simple but effective magic formula for magic warding, so it would be difficult to detect any sign of the bandits from inside, but only by sight.

"There are ten, no, eleven.

Reiko reported that there were 10 people attacking them and one was standing at a distance.

"I see. Oh, yeah. I know this is a bad time, but Elsa, I've got something for you.

Jin took a ring out of the bag in which he kept his personal belongings and presented it to Elsa.

"......?　Jin?"

Erza looks at the ring with a doubtful look on her face.

"You know, I made this ring, it's called a protection ring.

He says and hands it to Elsa, pressing it against her hand.

"Anyway, try it on."

"Hmm."

I looked for the right finger to fit the ring, and found it on the ring finger of my left hand. Elsa puts the ring on, looking a little happy for some reason.

"I put it on."

"Okay, in a minute the magic power will be absorbed, and if you chant the activation key word, <>, you can prevent most attacks."

"...... what?"

"I don't have time to go into details. Reiko, where's Momoka?"

Yes, she's in my luggage.

As one would expect, he could not carry a sword with him at all times, so it was stored in a compartment in the back of the carriage.

"All right, bring it out. And intercept the bandits.

"Yes, sir."

"Jin, you guys stay here. We'll deal with the bandits ourselves.

Erza said but Jin shook his head,

"That's not how it works. It's an emergency, we have to pull together to get through this.

With that, he and Reiko went out of the carriage. There was a nanny with a short knife in her hand, ready to protect the carriage.

"You guys?"

"We can fight too. We can help you."

Elsa tried to leave with her,

"Miss!　You can't!"

The nanny tries hard to stop them. And Jin,

"Elsa stay inside. This carriage is protected by magic, isn't it?"

"You know ......?"

"Yes. Yes. So it's safer for you to stay inside.

But Elsa did not listen and got out of the carriage.

"Miss ......."

The nanny was already in tears. Elsa was nonplussed,

"I can do magic if we work together. So do I."

She looks down the hill.

The bandits are about to make contact with the guards.

"You!　Do you know that this is the carriage of the Viscountess of Shoro?

the butler shouted loudly.

"I don't know! I don't care whose carriage it is! As long as it makes money!

With these words, the bandit in the lead swung his sword into the air and came at him.

The one who caught him was the guard who had said he wanted to pet Reiko.

"Well, that's too bad!　You're going to die for money!"

The guard catches his opponent's sword, slides it away from him, and moves into the bandit's pocket. He then strikes the bandit in the dove-tail with the hilt of his sword.

There is only one reason not to cut him down. He doesn't want Erza to see the bloody scene.

"Geez!"

The bandit seemed to be a good guard, and with one blow the bandit was knocked unconscious.

"I will not lay a finger on you, young lady!"

Beside him, the butler wielded his staff like a baton, flicked the bandit's sword away, and struck him a blow to the brain, knocking him unconscious.

The remaining servants, however, were shaking with fear and timidity, though they still had their sticks in their hands. He seemed to be too busy protecting the wagon.

The four men ran toward Erza and the others.

"Miss!　Why are you out here!

the butler shouts, but Erza doesn't care and holds out her right hand horizontally. And then..,

"Wind Bullet!"

She fires a volley of invisible bullets.

"What?

But each bullet is not very powerful, and the bandits approach, slowly, protecting their faces.

Reiko, go!

"Yes, sir!"

Considering Erza's pride, she gives up the first move, but it's not safe to go any further. Jin gave Reiko an order.

"What?　What's a little girl going to do?

The bandits were snickering at what a 10 year old girl could do, but their faces changed when Reiko wielded a peach blossom in her hand.

"What?

<

"Whoa, whoa!"

With two swings, two swords were cut off. With three swings, three swords were cut off. And the fourth could barely swing his sword, but...

"Hi-hi!"

Reiko jumped over the bandit's head and slashed down his sword as well. Then..,

"Wind Blow!"

Erza fired a magic blow.

"Ha-ha!"

The bandit was hit by an intermediate-level wind magic and was blown away, never to get up again.

"Three more!"

Erza turned her eyes to see that the remaining three had already been knocked out by Reiko.

"We're all right now."

Jin said,

"Miss, please don't be reckless just because you can use magic. It will shorten Meine's life.

The nanny said. Elsa was quieting her down with a few words.

"I guess it's almost over for them.

Jin muttered. Erza looked down the hill at the sound of his voice.

Thanks to the efforts of the butler and his guards, four of the bandits were on the ground, and the fifth was about to fall at the butler's feet.

"The butler is strong, isn't he?"

"Yes. Adberg is a martial arts expert.

"I see."

And Hermann is a knightly swordsman.

His bodyguard is called Herman. The sixth bandit has just been killed.

Now there is only one left who is watching from afar.

Just as I was thinking that...

"What a surprise!　You let your guard down!

two bandits came running out from the top of the hill.

"Kyah!"

Meine's dagger was hit by the bandit's sword, and blood spilled. The bandit's sword slashes her diagonally across the shoulder, and she falls.

"Meine!"

"...... get ...... to ...... get ...... to ......."

Another bandit attacked Erza.

In her panic, Erza forgets to use her protection ring and crouches down with her head in her hands.

"Barrier!"

Jin covers Erza as she crouches down and chants the key word.

The next moment, Jin is attacked by a sword that the bandit is swinging down. However, the sword is blocked by an invisible barrier and does not reach Jin.

"What?

The bandit freezes for a moment with a look of disbelief on his face, and the next moment he is struck down by Reiko's sword. The other bandit is already out cold.

Meine, however, has been cut down by the bandit and is deeply wounded.

"Meine, are you okay?　Are you alright?

Elsa rushes to him. She immediately casts a healing spell. But the wound is deep and the blood does not stop.

"Thank you, miss ......, please don't do that ....... ......."

Meine refuses the treatment with a blue face, perhaps thinking it's useless.

"No. I won't give up. I will not give up. <

The wound heals a little, but it is too big to heal.

Jin, unable to bear the sight, ordered Reiko to keep her eyes on the surroundings,

"Erza, let me do this.

Then he moved closer to Meine,

"<>"

He invoked the magic of the bracelet.

It is an intermediate level healing magic, but supported by the bracelet and Jin's great magical power, it is as effective as advanced magic.

The blood stopped flowing and the wound was sealed.

"I'm all right now."

Hearing Jin's words, Erza, who had been watching with tearful eyes, clung to Meine,

"Meine, thank God......"

"Miss ......"

Jin was relieved to see them,

"Your wounds are healed, but you've lost a lot of blood, so you should take it easy.

He then looks up.

The last remaining bandit moved.