1103: The Lord of Alessa's Mansion

Fran and Urus.h.i.+ ran through the empty streets of Alessa. Everyone had hidden themselves in their houses, and all the stores were closed.

Back in Gordicia, there were actually crowds of people walking around even in towns under attack. I guess antidemon raids were so common that they lost their sense of danger. Hiding inside is probably the normal reaction.

There were some patrolling soldiers, but none of them tried to question Fran. She was way too fast to be an enemy undead, so they probably a.s.sumed she was an adventurer on a messenger job.

Of course, they stopped us before we could enter the lords mansion, though they immediately let us through after a flash of her adventurer card. It seems Fran was way more famous in Alessa than I thought.

I didnt expect her adventurer card to grant us entry without the slightest question.

An emergency command center had been prepared on the first floor of the mansion, with many important people gathered. The guildmaster Klint, the Alessas Knight Captain Urth, and a simple-looking man in the back.

Apparently, the simple-looking man was Alessas lord. He didnt have much of an aura, nor a sharp gaze, looking like an ordinary, well-dressed man.

Looks pretty unreliable, but is he good at his job? Maybe he was like Izario, seemingly useless, then becoming amazing when the need arises.

Fran-san Looks like I have no choice but to welcome you.

Nn. Im here.

The Black Lightning Princess! To think the girl from back then has become so famous!

Klimt looked somewhat reluctant, though Urth was in a very welcoming mood. Im guessing Klimt hated the idea of getting Fran, or rather, any child involved in the war.

However, they needed anyone they could get in this situation where the enemys numbers were still uncertain. The interests of Alessa and Kranzel took precedence over Klimts personal feelings.

Thus, Klimt had no choice but to welcome us as the guildmaster even if he didnt want to.

Klimt, I want to talk later.

Talk?

Nn, about spirit magic.

Well, fine but can it wait until this incident is solved?

Nn.

Even Fran knew we didnt have the time right now.

So you are the Black Lightning Princess? I am Zenos Amkranze, technically the lord of this town.

Technically?

Since Im more of a figurehead than anything. Dont mind me, Ill just be sitting here.

Seemed pretty easygoing for a n.o.ble. Is this guy really a lord? Well, Alessas a relatively small town, so he might be a low-ranking n.o.ble.

Or so I thought, but it seems I was wrong.

Fran. He may not look the part, but this man is royalty. Mind your manners around him even if he has no majesty.

Urth, arent you being quite rude yourself?

Huh? Is that so?

Wait, what? What did he just say?

Royalty?

From a branch family. My blood is only worth as much as the frontier town they forced on me.

Hmm.

No, what?! Royalty is royalty! Dont just hmm him like you dont care!

Honestly, dont mind me. Im not even allowed to use the family name of Kranzel. Someone like you with the power to fight is more important right now.

So it seems he really is just a figurehead.

Seeing as how Klimt and Urth were on friendly terms with him, hes probably a decent guy though.

That said, he may not be very competent if he was unable to stop the tyranny of n.o.bles like Auguste and Count Olmes. In a sense, you could say he was the type who entrusted anything he couldnt do to other people.

We the Adventurers Guild are cooperating with the knights to defend the town. I would like to ask for your help as well, Fran-san.

Nn!

Our priority is to eliminate the current undead threat.

Indeed, us knights always have trouble dealing with undead.

Really?

They are quite resilient to non-magical attacks.

Undead can continue moving after taking a couple hits from a sword or spear, so the knights lack of mages does sound troublesome.

The highest ranking adventurers having already been deployed to the border probably didnt help.

Depending on a child makes me feel rather pathetic, but please clean up the undead. Can you handle it?

Easily.

Sigh. Ive heard the reports from Gordicia, but it seems you still rush into things no matter where you go.

Heh.

I didnt mean that as a compliment.

Klimt wore a wry smile. He probably wanted to tell Fran not to rush to her death, but her impatience is what ended up benefiting the town. Thus, he pretty much lost the right to scold her outright.

As far as Im concerned, anyone telling Fran to slow down is a rarity. Please do it as many times as it takes.

Well, I guess a guildmaster cant just say dont work so hard to an adventurer doing their job.

But first, we need to deal with the undead that has infiltrated town.

The fast one?

Yes, it seems this undead is still scurrying around, boasting such stealth capabilities that even my spirits are unable to catch up. Managing to detect their entrance into the city in the first place may be considered a miracle.

An undead capable of outrunning spirits sounds really nasty. Might be even more troublesome than the undead outside.

Okay.

Please be careful not to cause any damage to the town.

Klimt! You know Fran so well!

After taking care of that, move on to support our forces on the walls if possible.

Are there any adventurers outside the walls?

There should be no one fighting outside town, since my orders as knight captain were to lure the undead in before taking them out at range!

So, its okay if I go all out?

No problem.

Fran cant be held responsible if anyone gets caught up in her attack, since anyone outside of town is disobeying orders. Well, of course Fran doesnt want to accidentally kill anyone. Guess me and Urus.h.i.+ can take a quick look beforehand.

Urus.h.i.+, let me know if you sense anyone outside the walls.

Woof!

In addition to adventurers or knights disobeying orders, there could even be Raydoss scouts. Though unlikely, its also possible adventurers from other cities came to Alessas rescue and got stuck fighting off the horde.

Either way, lets deal with the internal issue first.

Okay, heading out!

Please do.

You can ask the knights if you need anything! Here, take this with you.

Thank you.

Urth tossed the emblem of his knight order to us. I guess this acts as a subst.i.tute for his seal of approval.

Black Lightning Princess, we leave Alessas fate in your hands.

Nn!

Zenos bowed his head, while Klimt still looked as sullen as ever. With everyone seeing us off, Fran dashed out of the room.