Chapter 6 My First

In a forest, roughly a days travel to the east of Soblem, the royal capital of Sobure.

At a clearing by a spring in the dense forest, the normally peaceful atmosphere was enveloped in the tumult of sword clashes and yells.

HAHH! YAAAH! HAAH!

A group clad in orderly metal armour, and a group of people in messy clothing whose armour and even weapons were nonuniform, were currently jumbled together, fighting.

It seems that a group of knights from the kingdom and a group of bandits were battling.

Hah-!

ZUSHAA-!

Surrender! If you do it now, we wont take your lives!

The voice of the knight who appeared to be highest rank descended upon them.

Hmph, dont make light of us, brat! Well kill you all!

The bandit with the largest build wielding a greatsword replied.

Then well continue until we annihilate you all!

The knight from earlier screamed, and then cut down on a nearby bandit.

And in truth, you could tell from the greatsword bandit that he was a little impatient about the bandits being pressured.

Him! Aim for that blonde man!

The greatsword bandit pointed at the knight who had called for surrender and seemed to be the leader, and then gave orders to his subordinates.

Hearing their leaders command, a number of bandits immediately swarmed the blonde knight.

No matter how many of you come, its all the same!

The blonde knight cut down one of the bandits that came, then another.

During the moment that the blonde knight was facing the other way, an arrow flew and struct him in the left arm.

Kuh-

The wound was no big deal, but the knight stopped moving for just a moment.

And during that instant, one of the bandits came attacking, and the blonde knight immediately received it head on with his sword.

GOTCHAA!

The greatsword bandit cut down at the blonde knight from behind.

Prince!

The surrounding knights raised a cry. At that moment, something dropped down towards that bandits head.

..*

..*

Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

GOSUH-! DOSAH-!

Whilst letting out a shriek, the moment I was enveloped by the light, I was shot out somewhere. Or so I was thinking, when my behind collided with something, and I fell straight to the ground.

Owowow Whats going on, goodness!

It feels like my behind is going to break, honestly!

They appear to be shocked at my sudden appearance, dont they?

Holding those were a number of men in metal armour, and perhaps I should say messy leather armour (?), who stood stock still in poses of attacking each other. What is this, I wonder? Cosplay?

When I surveyed the surroundings to grasp the situation, a man collapsed right beside me called out to me.

Whats with this brat. The fuck they appear from?

The man who had collapsed right beside me was in a stance with a greatsword, and glaring my way.

And at the same time, the men in the surroundings who had been still up until now resumed their movements.

KASHING GAKII- DOGAH- ZASHUU-

It seems that the men are split into two groups and are fighting against each other.

I caught sight of a number of the messily dressed men, collapsed on the floor.

Damned brat! If you get in the way Ill fucken kill ya!

The man with the greatsword raised his weapon and came this way.

Im irritated because that man called me a brat, so lets silence him for now.

Matching the timing of the attacking man, I step forward.

Primarily because of height reasons.

Since theres no choice, Ill just give up on his solar plexus and drive my elbow into his lower abdomen, beneath his navel.

If this hits, it seems like itll be quite effective.

The mans body shook, and then lurched.

That should have taken his consciousness.

Boss-!

Shouts came from the bandit-ey group.

When I immediately looked to check, the greatsword man who should have been unconscious was holding onto my summer sweater (what Im wearing is the school designated short-sleeve blouse beneath a summer sweater, and a knee-length skirt over spats. As a result, despite my high kick earlier, I did not flash my panties).

As youd expect, now that were stuck together I cant do a thing about our size difference.

I may be falling down with him, but while I fall Ill remove his hand.

How dare you do that to Boss-!

One of the bandits raised their sword and attacked me.

Im still not in a stance for accepting attacks, but it cant be helped.

Normally I would just attack and take his consciousness, but my summer sweater is still being grasped so I cant adjust the distance well enough.

By stopping the sword at the hilt, I invalidated the attack.

However, without being able to properly close the distance, it hit nothing but air. This is annoying, isnt it?

I tried to jump back with all my strength. My clothes were being grasped though.

Im free now.

Indeed, the location was at a clearing by a spring in the dense forest.

In other words, what happened was

ZURU-! BASHAAN!

The place that I vigorously retreated to was the depths of the spring, and because I vigorously landed on a place with no footing, I dropped right into the pond. This was not planned for.

And there was a bandit swinging his sword down on me.

Even for me, this situation is difficult to get out of.

And because the forces were separated into the knights and I vs the bandits, I have no antagonism with the knights.

Thats whythishappened.

SEIYAHH-!

The blonde knight man had at some point gotten close to us, and cut down the bandit who tried to kill me.

In other words, it seems that Im saved.

It seems that there are no bandits left standing. No knights seem to be fallen either. Strong knights.

Are you alright?

When I look up, I find the blonde knight looking down at me, holding out his hand.

I accept his goodwill, and use his grip as support to get up.

I sure want to change already. Im going to catch a cold.

You saved me when I was in a pinch. Thank you.

Saying that, the blonde knight smiled at me.

Without letting my real feelings show on my face, I answer innocuously.

No, it was I that was saved from a pinch.

My neck sure is getting tired.

Should I try asking the knight before me?

Umm,-

Speaking of which, where did you come from? It looked like you suddenly appeared in the sky, but Are you a magus?

My question was interrupted.

At the very least, there are fewer demerits in giving the knight a good impression, rather than a bad one.

Well, I also have no idea why Im here, or where this place is to begin with. And, I am not a magus.

For now, Ill answer whatever I can.

And while Im at it, it would be good to at least confirm my situation.

Um, I suddenly happened to be here, and I dont really understand my situation. What kind of situation was it?

We belong to the knight order of this country, and are in the middle of a bandit subjugation. Theyre a bandit gang thatve been recently causing trouble on the surrounding highyway, so we were ordered to subjugate them and were in the middle of battle when you appeared.

Saying that, the blonde knight looked around.

When I followed along and looked around too, I found that the dead bandits were gathered together, and the living bandits were bound with rope. Incidentally, the man called Boss that I knocked out was in the middle of the tied-up bandits.

Umm, sorry. If possible, I would be very thankful if you would just tell me the nearest road and town.

For now, it seems that Ive avoided the most immediate danger, but even if I stay here none of my problems are going to be solved.

For that sake, I need to get as much information from the knight before me as possible.

Sure, this is a place in a forest roughly a day on horseback east of the royal capital. The nearest town would be Latis Village, but Thats right, I cant leave a small child like you alone, after all, and theres the thanks for saving my life too. If its fine with you, wont you come to the royal capital with us? We wont mistreat you.

I would be most grateful. Please allow me to take you up on your offer.

After saying that, I bowed.

Im getting annoyed at being treated like a child, but I have to endure here, endure.

First well spend a night at Latis Village, and tomorrow well head for the capital. It would probably be better to treat your wound too.

Saying that, he looked at my left hand.

It hurts now that Ive noticed. Even though I wouldnt have felt this pain if he didnt point it out

Yes, I will be in your care. Ah, Im Fujino Sakura. Over here, I suppose it would be Sakura Fujino. My name is Sakura, and my surname is Fujino. Incidentally, I am not a child. I am 15 years old.

Introducing myself after all this time. And while Im at it, I throw in a complaint about being treated like a child.

Eh? 15? To think that you were an adult But however I look at you, you look only 7 or 8 years

I get the feeling that I just heard some disquieting words just now, but

Sorry, did you say something?

No, its nothing. Im the second prince of this country, and the leader of these knights, Sedrim Al Sobure. You can just call me Sedrim.

He was a prince? No wonder I thought he looked so sparkly. And hes huge.

If possible, while on the highway Id like to ask about you in more detail. Why you appeared here, or where you came from for example. Its fine just to answer what you can.

Saying that, he prompted me to move.

I understand, Prince Sedrim. There are just too many things I dont understand, but I will answer where possible.

After replying as such, I followed the prince.

Theyre my only possessions after all.

Are those your belongings, Sakura?

Yes, I was holding them before I came here.

I replied as such as we walked towards the band of knights.

I wonder whats going to happen to me now that Im here.

And Sobure? Now thats a familiar sounding word, isnt it?