A group resembling soldiers clad in armor. Perhaps around twenty of them. A few in the rear are dressed more elaborately and ride fine horses.

The soldiers were leading several men dressed shabbily, bound with ropes. Who are they...?

I thought for a moment and arrived at a hypothesis. The name of this place is "Bridge to the Abyss." That would mean it's a place where someone is sent off. Why build stairs in a deliberately sealed-off location, only to send someone down? And those men walking with their heads bowed, tied with ropes—anyone can see at a glance. They're sinners. This must be a place of execution. Perhaps it's de facto capital punishment, but with a roundabout method: survive, and you're spared. Or maybe it's simply for the amusement of those watching from above.

...Good thing we didn't destroy that lid—or bridge.

They're slowly descending the hill.

There's still distance between us, but they can see us clearly. And we're clearly visible to them as well.

Aya-chan is invisible, so to them I'll look like I'm alone... but of course, I'd end up colliding with her. That's just bad luck.

I need to figure out what to do.

(For now, it's certain they're soldiers—well-equipped and organized. Probably regular troops from somewhere. They're unlikely to attack suddenly, but at least they're not a band of thieves.)

I'd considered the possibility that they might be a village girl picking wild strawberries, but that's a disappointment. Just rough, rough men. It makes sense that they're the ones in charge of this fortress.

Will they attack? No, even if there's a suspicious young girl alone, they wouldn't suddenly turn hostile.

Well, if they do attack, I'll deal with it when it comes. But I should prepare for a more complicated situation. As for what I personally want, my ideal would be to avoid contact and just say goodbye. But that's already impossible.

Their weapons across the way are swords and spears. Are there any archers among them? At least, that's what I can see from here.

They don't look particularly strong at first glance, but they are soldiers. They can't possibly be weak. Still, they don't seem strong enough to defeat A-chan.

(A-chan. If they launch a long-range attack, put up your shield.)

A-chan can use spirit magic to create a shield.

It should be able to deflect attacks from their spirit magic or arrows.

— Shall we take them down?

(No. We don't know if they're enemies yet. Don't attack under any circumstances until I say so. And don't break your invisibility either.)

— Got it.

While we're talking, we can hear the soldiers starting to chatter and stir.

Thanks to the enemy freezing in place, we've regained a bit of composure.

Perhaps it was because I'd spent days in the desolate wilderness after twenty days of brutal training, making my nerves frayed. Logically speaking, what difference did one little girl make? I could have easily pretended to be a village girl gathering wild strawberries and slipped away.

　　

I really don't want to make contact, but avoiding them too obviously might seem suspicious.

This fortress is likely a state-owned facility, and I was just an odd figure loitering nearby. A serious soldier would probably at least listen to what I have to say.

The danger level is only 2, and it's practically deserted.

The distance between us is still about fifty meters.

They're pointing at me and talking, but I can't make out what they're saying.

"This is exactly when I need a clue,"

I manipulated the status board and unlocked the 'Hint to Live' with one crystal.

To flee, to fight, or to talk.

Waiting for an answer.

<'Acquire a horse'>

"So that's why I don't need a sideways hint...!"

This doesn't tell me how to deal with those soldiers.

I have plenty of spirit stones here, and exchanging them for a horse might... perhaps be possible, but that's not the real issue.

The soldiers seemed to have reached a consensus, and a middle-aged man resembling their leader came forward alone.

He wasn't drawing his weapon. Seems like they're going for negotiation—slightly relieved.

The man stopped at a considerable distance, clearly keeping an eye on me.

I am from the Gemless Spain Kingdom! I have come to send sinners to the trial of the Abyss! Who are you? What are you doing in such a place!

The Gemless Spain Kingdom was a small nation in the northern part of the Ringpil Continent, wasn't it? I believe there were a few transferees there, as I recall.

Just as I suspected, those people bound together were sinners.

The trial of the Abyss must mean sending those sinners to the 'Abyss Skull Plains.'

In essence, it's a death penalty that keeps one's hands clean. Even if I had a weapon, it wouldn't matter—being completely unarmed, there's nothing I can do.

Now, how should I respond?

I can't reveal the truth. I'll have to lie and bluff my way through.

"I'm just a traveler. I came here on business nearby, but since I'm already this close, I thought I'd take a look at the bridge used to send people to the Abyss—just out of curiosity..."

It's a gamble, but it should look plausible. There's nowhere else around here with stairs, and there's even this grand fortress. It's not unreasonable for a traveler to think, "I'll just stop by for a moment." At least, it shouldn't be.

I'm not good at lying, unlike Serika-chan... I'd like to escape before my cover slips.

Ai-chan is invisible, apparently unseen by them as well.

My own appearance—worn adventurer's clothes and a mithril breastplate—shouldn't raise suspicion. I'm carrying a bow and arrows, and a backpack on my back. I look every bit a traveler.

"We're leaving now, so please don't worry~"

I said that and turned to leave in a hurry, but was suddenly stopped. "Wait!"

My hasty escape plan has failed.

Was it a mistake to ignore the hint about acquiring a horse?

"This woman seems suspicious. This place is under national control. I've heard there are spies calling themselves travelers. I can't just let her go like this."

"Eh, eh...? I was just looking down from that board a little...?"

"Captain! There are signs someone used the fortress!"

Another young soldier ran over to report.

Even though it was only for a single night, bad luck.

(What should I do...?)

I could use the barrier stone. But that's only meant to keep hostile entities at bay. We don't yet know if they're hostile.

There's still a chance we could just question them and let them go.

"You're not letting her go...? What exactly do you plan to do?"

"Let's interrogate her at the fortress."

The man answered as such, yet the words that reached his mind were different.

— I don’t recognize that face, but she’s quite a pretty girl, isn’t she?

— This time, only a man was the culprit, so the mission was boring, but I guess I got lucky.

— Just send her to the abyss in the end.

Yes, that’s it. Out.

Well, I’ve heard plenty about law and order from Serika-chan.

Unlike big cities with great spirits, places run solely by humans tend to rot, so be careful.

Even without that, it might be the same back on Earth.

Anyway, if they’re bad people, we won’t have to hesitate.

"Understood. There’s nothing shameful about me, so please go ahead and investigate as you wish."

"Ah, so well-behaved,"

The man smirked and turned his back.

I slowly followed behind him.

(Aichan. Can you take them all out without showing yourself?)

— I think I can.

(Then I'll give you the signal. Oh, just don't kill them, okay?)

I definitely don't plan to kill anyone. I don't have the courage or the resolve for that.

I'll just make the soldiers and the criminals unable to move for a bit.

The problem is if they're stronger than us... In that case, maybe the barrier stone.

Or maybe I'll have no choice but to kill them... But I'll deal with that when it comes.

After all, we're no longer on Earth—so we have to accept that.

I pretend to be obedient as I follow behind.

Aichan floats silently above and to my left, hidden from sight.

The man called Captain reunites with the other team members.

The other soldiers were mostly relatively young men, a bunch of smirking, thoroughly untrustworthy types. To be blunt, they were exactly my type of people I dislike.

As long as I don't initiate conversation, communication will be nonexistent—my "inner voice" won't reach them, but even if it doesn't, I can still tell.

(Then, A-chan, please.)

—Got it.

—Windscreen.

Just as the soldiers gathered, A-chan activates her spirit magic.

"Wha—!? What's this!?"

"Spirit magic! A woman! Are you the one doing this!?"

The soldiers draw their swords and become agitated.

But Aichan's spirit magic was powerful. Unless countered by an opposing element, there was nothing we could do about it. In this case, using Earth Wall—a defensive spell of earth element—should be able to nullify Aichan's magic. However, it seemed none of the soldiers present were earth spirit mages.

"I-I don't know! What is this? Aaah! Scary!"

Pretending to be uninvolved, I took a slight step back, seizing the chance to create distance while appearing calm.

To give Aichan a better chance in battle.

I kept my gun ready, prepared to fire at a moment's notice, but I hesitated—firing would definitely kill the target. I just couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger.

—Wind Wall

—Wind Wall

—Wind Wall

Aichan continued unleashing spirit magic in rapid succession.

Soldiers being pressed from all four directions by a wall of storm, forced into a single spot.

Ai-chan can manifest spirit magic simultaneously as many times as the number of tentacles and eyes she has.

— Ice Coffin

And finally, Ai-chan chanted her ultimate technique.

Ice Coffin, a superior water-based spell.

Though I've seen it a few times over the past ten days, when it hits, it nearly guarantees the opponent's defeat—quite a powerful technique. The only drawback is that it takes a little time to activate. But as long as it's used when the enemy is immobilized, as in this situation, it will surely succeed.

Since Coffin Magic only exists in water and darkness, it cannot be countered by any attribute.

The soldiers and criminals, cornered by the wall of wind, were all imprisoned together within an icy coffin.

Even the shouts of the soldiers just moments ago now seem like lies, so quiet.

"Thank you, Ai-chan. ...You didn't kill it, right?"

— Alive inside

"Then let's just get out of here fast."

Ice Coffin is an upper-level water technique.

Lower-level Water Bind is known for its weak restraint, and even more difficult to use than Shadow Bind, but the upper-level Ice Coffin is excellent—it nearly completely traps the opponent while also dealing cold damage.

After just five minutes, the opponent will be frozen stiff and utterly drained.

"Horse... So that's it. Get a horse... right?"

Seeing the horses the soldiers had ridden tied up, I spoke.

"Is there anyone who'll come with us?"

— What about them?

— Where are we going?

— I'm hungry

— Either way is fine

— The horses respond with a whinny, sounding pitiful.

Apparently, they really don't mind which option they get. Well, they're warhorses, so they're naturally treated well, and dragging them along might be too cruel, especially since this journey will be quite long.

When I had Ai-chan remove the spell, most of the horses became frightened of her.

If they're going to travel with us, it's essential that they're not afraid of Ai-chan. Though they seem relatively calm—perhaps because they're warhorses—still, they're clearly terrified of Ai-chan, chanting in unison, "Scary! Scary! Scary! Scary!" Well, Ai-chan may look harmless, but she's actually a carnivore, so from the perspective of herbivores, she's basically a predator. That’s just unavoidable.

Still, the horse is intelligent. It didn't take long for Ai-chan to realize it wasn't an enemy, and gradually she started acting like, "If you're not going to eat, that's fine."

There were six horses in total, but we decided to select two. These two seemed relatively calm around Ai-chan.

They might be a bit wilder in temperament, but we'll manage somehow.

"Well then, let's go. Ai-chan, you can ride too."

— Ride?

"Like this. If you stay floating and follow along like that, you'll get tired."

— I'll try.

We brought out two horses because we wanted Ai-chan to ride one as well.

We want to minimize calorie expenditure as much as possible.

Calming the horses, we helped Ai-chan onto the back of one.

Once seated, her sense of balance was good, and she could hold the reins with her tentacles. For now, everything seems to be going smoothly.

"Then, let's go. That ice technique—does it automatically解除 when you're far away?"

—It does, but

—you have to remove it when it disappears

—once it's out of sight, you remove it, right.

It's an incredible range.

As long as I can't be seen, my appearance doesn't matter much. Even if I'm being hunted, the chance of being identified should be low. ...Probably.

It's crossing national borders, after all.

By the way, I've already learned horseback riding with Serika-chan. Back then, I used to join her in trying everything, along with Hii-chan, just because Serika-chan wanted to try everything. I never thought it would end up being useful like this.

I mounted the horse and galloped straight south.

I took a rather long detour, but now I just need to get to Meltya, where Hii-chan is.

Wait for me! Hii-chan!