595 In the dark, the plants hunt

The vice-captain lowed his shield and looked behind him. He saw his soldiers were injured and understood capturing the mage who escaped in an unfamiliar building would be similar to sending a few of his men under him to their death in their current condition.

The vice-captain moved his head and looked at Iris, Lilith, Jun Ye Rim, and Plow. He saw Plow waving her tails and tiny fragments of the projectiles she blocked falling on the ground.

The vice-captain sighed in relief to see them uninjured, yet he understood the little fox with mysteriously tough tails had protected the three women he failed to protect completely.

“The criminal doesn’t have anywhere to go now.” The vice-captain moved his head to look at Ester and Lupa. “Leave the situation to me. The soldiers I command are injured, but they will protect everyone here. Do not worry. They will do their duty no matter what.”

The soldiers secretly sighed in relief and thanked their vice-captain in their hearts for worrying about their safety and letting them stay outside. It wasn’t uncommon for a vice-captain to give orders to raid a dangerous criminal gang’s place.

“He is my prey. I will hunt him myself...”

*Cough* “How about you stop speaking nonsense and look at the condition of your body?” Ester interrupted Lupa while looking at her with a frown.

“Your maid companion is correct. Leave the criminal to me. I can capture him by myself.” The vice-captain told Lupa.

Lupa lowered her ears and became sad. Hearing how prey was about to be taken care of by a person she didn’t know hit hard for her. However, Lupa’s sad moment didn’t last long.

.....

“I will capture him for you. ” Ester told Lupa with a smile.

Lupa smiled brightly and hugged Ester. She glanced at the vice-captain and taunted him with a smirk. Her prey was going to be taken care of by Ester. It was okay in her book.

“Nonsense. I can’t let civilians encounter danger. I will...”

“I will go. ” Iris said while taking a step forward.

All eyes went on Iris. The soldiers, vice-captain, and the five victims looked at Iris and wondered what the gray demi-goblin meant.

On the other hand, Ester, Lilith, and Jun Ye Rim became worried, while Lupa liked the idea while overlooking how Iris needed to keep her class hidden. Plow wagged her tails and didn’t understand if there was a problem or not.

“Are you sure?” Lilith asked Iris.

“Yes. I want to do something. I can’t let Plow protect me while I remain to observe all the time.” Iris said with her purple eyes burning with the desire to prove herself.

*Sigh...* “I understand.” Lilith agreed.

Although Lilith had a worried frown on her face, she didn’t feel right to keep forcing Iris to remain a spectator. Lilith didn’t want Iris to feel like a prisoner of her own class.

Iris was a part of their family, and she was someone they could share their joy and sadness together instead of pushing her away. Lilith wanted to respect Iris’s determination and give her the chance to do as she wished.

“Baroness... is it alright to send the maid to such a dangerous building?” The vice-captain asked. After hearing Ester, Lupa, and now Iris wish to enter the building and capture or kill Deadeye, the vice-captain yielded to their eagerness.

historical

“Ahem. My maid is a gardener, and she is great at cutting weed.” Lilith told the vice-captain with a faint blush on her face. Her heart was beating quickly while her eyes could notice everyone looking at her, yet Lilith tried her hardest not to give into anxiety.

“Good luck.” Said Ester with a motivating smile.

“Hunt him good.” Added Lupa while winking at Iris for some reason.

*Cough* “Don’t get hurt. My arm needs your medicine.” Jun Ye Rim said. It was apparent she wanted Iris to return safe and sound.

“Iris Iris. Have fun.” *Pho*

The vice-captain, the soldiers, and the five victims couldn’t believe the people who knew the frail-looking gray demi-goblin wearing a maid outfit was being encouraged to enter after Deadeye.

Iris nodded and started walking forward. On her gaze was no sign of hesitation. The courageous Iris was in their presence, and she was ready to defeat Deadeye with her powers in a dark, damp, and smelly building without any people other than her target inside.

Iris stopped in front of the entrance. She turned around and said with a beaming smile, “Thank you for believing in me. I will be back soon with the bad human.”

The vice-captain, the soldiers, and the five victims wondered if Iris could actually defeat an E or D Ranker earth mage. However, after watching Ester, Lupa, Lilith, Jun Ye Rim, and Plow show a lot of trust in Iris, they could not help but wonder if the goblin about to enter could pull this off.

Iris faced the entrance and entered the dark corridor. She took two Seed Guardian seeds and threw them on the ground when no one could see her in the darkness.

The seeds sprouted, and their core didn’t light red. In the past week, Iris managed to control two completely at the same time, but she forgot to reveal her growth after focusing on making Zero grow bigger.

Iris and her two bent seven-foot tall Seed Guardians walked the dark corridor looking to capture their target alive.

The vice-captain ordered the least injured soldiers to make a report and bring back up. Then he looked at Lilith and asked, “Baroness Lilith Lionheart, is your gray hobgoblin servant going to be okay? I am still doubting if I should have respectfully declined the idea of sending the servant alone.”

Ester and Lupa approached them.

Ester said, “Unfortunately, we killed two of the thugs intending the make the five F Ranked adventurers sign an unreasonable and probably life-threatening magic contract.”

Lupa proudly grinned and stated, “I killed one of them, hehe.”

The vice-captain didn’t know how to respond. The two women dressed as maids in front of him publicly announced murdering two people.

*Sigh* The vice-captain looked at the six remaining soldiers. “Can you guys take the details from the five adventurers?”

The soldiers nodded and went to question the five adventurers.

“So what you are trying to say is the gray hobgoblin maid can take of the wanted criminal Deadeye?” The vice-captain questioned.

“Yes. ” Lilith responded. She showed a poker face with a friendly smile and lied, “Iris is our gardener. She is also my husband’s concubine, similar to the two maids in front of you. They only like to dress up as maids.”

“I am a D Ranked adventurer too, hehe.” Lupa boasted.

“I am an E Ranked adventurer. But registered before we became stronger. We haven’t checked our rank after the training we have been doing.” Ester honestly continued after Lupa.

The vice-captain could start to understand what was happening now. The maids were actually low-ranked nobles. Not only that, but they were strong as well.

“They are at the range of C Rankers, I think. ” Lilith added, shocking the vice-captain by the information.

*Gulp* “Could the lady gray hobgoblin also be a C Ranker?” The vice-captain curiously asked.

“Her plant familiar is strong. She could be a C Ranker.” Ester considered.

“Sister Iris is strong, hehe.” Lupa simply responded.

“I agree. We have plant familiars that strangely only obey Iris. With their help, she can subdue its enemies with its vines easily.” Lilith said before requesting, “However, could her special familiars remain a secret?”

“S-sure. Baroness. Ladies. I will keep the matter of the special plant families a secret. I will also order the soldiers to keep their mouths shut and the five adventurers as well.” The vice-captain respectfully promised.

“I think Vincent wouldn’t mind sponsoring you if you have a problem that needs solving. ” Ester said after feeling the vice-captain was doing what he could to be in their good books.

The vice-captain became delighted. “I heard the Lionheart branch family offers free medical treatment to the people they sponsor. Is it true?” He asked.

Lilith noticed Ester wink at her. She understood this could be the time to recruit more soldiers to offer them protection.

“Yes. Iris, the gray demi-goblin who entered the building, works as a gardener and herbalist. She can offer medicine if needed.” Lilith continued after Ester.

The vice-captain smiled. He was interested in becoming sponsored by the Lionheart family. “May I know when I can visit to offer my loyalty?” He asked.

“You can visit us in the Emerald Lionheart Mansion this week and ask our husband.” Suggested Ester, as she was already told about the loyalty system. Knowing if a person had intentions of betrayal was important.

“Thank you very much, my lady. I will visit and serve the Lionheart family with all I have.” The vice-captain said.

The soldiers and the adventurers were standing near the building. While talking, they could hear the faint sound of an object breaking inside the building. Sometimes the sound and a heavy object crashing sounded louder than the other sounds.

The adventurers couldn’t say what happened without feeling distracted while the soldiers were finding it difficult to remember as their attention was on the building and the fight happening inside.

The building momentarily shook before multiple vines shot from the roof. The adventurers and the soldiers were perplexed. They couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

On the other hand, the vice-captain started to understand why a noble would make Iris his concubine. Being able to control mysterious and powerful plant familiars was unheard of. Even though it was a rare sight to see and hear a familiar speaking, a talking blue fox was near him.