The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 47

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 47.
“Bandits?”
“Yes. A whole gang of them.”
Artiela whispered, and tension settled across Kirien’s face.
Well, he was only now learning to channel Aura through his blade. Strip that away, and his reflexes weren’t particularly exceptional.
A man already nursing soreness from riding horses for too long.
It was hard to expect much from someone who hadn’t even rested properly because of the muscle ache. Hand-to-Hand Combat required experience to be of any real use.
“I’ll handle all of it. Just tie up whoever I bring you with rope, all right?”
“Do you think I’ll be able to bind them properly?”
“There’s a trick to it.”
Artiela loosened her hair ribbon. Her lustrous golden hair tumbled down in waves.
Holding the ribbon, she suddenly pulled Kirien’s hands forward, and he swallowed hard. Unperturbed, Artiela wrapped his wrists with the ribbon in seconds.
“If you channel just a bit of Aura into it, ordinary people can never untie it.”
An ordinary black ribbon shimmered with pale green Aura. Kirien twisted his wrists experimentally, but the mundane strip of cloth held firm, its shape unyielding.
“Remarkable, isn’t it?”
Kirien nodded quietly. His eyes held a mixture of delight and wonder as he gazed at the ribbon.
Artiela retrieved the ribbon before anyone could notice it.
“What if one of the bandits knows how to use Aura?”
Artiela answered as she tied her hair back up.
“If they knew how to do that, the Imperial Capital would already be in upheaval.”
A Subjugation Unit would have been assembled long ago. If they were as vicious as all that, petitions for a Holy Trial would have flooded in by now through the prayer slips.
Artiela told him not to worry, but concern filled Kirien’s eyes.
“Either way, we need to crush these ones if we’re going to find the Orphanage Director.”
“Where do you think they’re being held?”
“Hard to say.”
In the worst case, it was robbery and murder.
The lack of guests suggested they might have been refusing reservations for days, or else guests arrived only to disappear after being killed.
Word of missing travelers tends to spread slowly, staggered over time, so perhaps no one yet knew of the crime.
“Tell you what—if you’re too anxious, I could go to the nearest village and bring back the Guard Unit?”
“Alone?”
“Yes, I’ll stay here and deal with them.”
“No. I’ll stay and help you.”
He was uneasy about being separated, apparently.
“All right then. Shall we go?”
Artiela headed for the stairs, then boldly extended her hand to Kirien.
“To catch them off guard, we need to look like ordinary travelers.”
Kirien’s eyes widened, and he took her hand.
“A woman carrying a sword probably won’t look very ordinary, though.”
Even if they didn’t recognize it as a Holy Sword, they wouldn’t rashly attack. Kirien was armed too.
“Which is why they’ll likely try to disarm us first, won’t they?”
Artiela handed Kirien a small pouch.
“Let’s fill our bellies while we scout around.”
Dried meat—the traveler’s essential provision.
* * *
After making a lunch reservation, the two of them wandered the Lakeside grounds, carefully surveying their surroundings and piecing together the situation.
The Bandit Gang likely numbered around ten.
They couldn’t have seized this place more than a few days ago.
“It seems the nobles have already departed for the Imperial Capital, and these bandits arrived too late.”
Right—the Nobility Conference.
This year’s social season for the nobility had begun early, thanks to that blasted Imperial Consort Selection. Most were already enjoying their gatherings within the Imperial Capital.
Those who’d been delayed in arriving or were preparing to depart had all reconvened at the conference.
This inn was expensive, built exclusively for nobles—merchants and commoners rarely stayed here—which meant the stream of guests had dried up entirely.
“I don’t see any sign of the Director.”
That was unsettling. Yet if it were robbery and murder, there should have been bloodstains or the reek of blood—and there was neither.
“Let’s check the Dining Hall. It looks like most of them are gathered there.”
Thanks to the lunch reservation, the bandits had congregated in one place.
“Yes, understood.”
A tense Kirien smoothly guided Artiela to the Dining Hall. And as expected, there were only two genuine guests there.
“The two on the left—looks like they’ve seen some swordplay.”
“Hmm?”
Kirien couldn’t bring himself to turn his head; he only rolled his eyes to look at the people around them.
“Those three by the window—they look brutishly strong, that’s all.”
“Is… is that so?”
“Oh, so the cook is the leader here, then.”
As Artiela murmured this, Kirien’s face drained of even more color.
“It’s fine, trust me.”
“Y-yes.”
Artiela patted his hand to calm him before his white Aura could flare up.
“Today’s special is beef stew and bread, I’m told.”
One more staff member was serving. Seven people in total gathered in the Dining Hall. The rest must have gone to the third floor or were guarding the innkeeper.
As the two of them entered, the Dining Hall door swung shut behind them.
‘So there was one more outside.’
She heard the bolt locking from outside—a sound that reached even her keen ears.
“Meal fees are prepaid.”
Once they’d taken their seats, one of the staff spoke up.
“How much?”
“Five gold per person.”
Wow, these bandits really are just straightforward robbers, aren’t they?
If they’re planning to drug or poison them and steal their money anyway, why charge such an exorbitant price for the meal?
“Maybe if the robbery fails, at least they’ll pocket the meal money and make their escape,” Artiela whispered softly.
Of course, she said it boldly while the staff member was pouring their water.
“I suppose they’ve noticed that you’re a frightening person.”
That would be troublesome. They needed to let their guard down so we could catch them red-handed.
Wouldn’t they? Artiela set down the water pitcher and stole a glance at the now-rigid staff member, then smiled at Kirien.
The same performance she’d put on during field work with the Holy Knights.
“Oh, I’m not such a scary person, dear.”
Kirien, seated across from her, brought the water cup to his lips and spit it out violently. Artiela quickly tossed him a handkerchief and cried out.
“Spit it all out!”
Kirien coughed hard, expelling everything from his mouth.
There was no more room for doubt. The white powder visible at the bottom of his cup—that was ground Sleep Herb Root Powder.
Artiela kicked the entire table up. It struck the man’s face with perfect accuracy, and the water pitcher in the serving staff’s hand clattered to the floor.
At the same instant, the men in the Dining Hall drew blades they’d hidden beneath the table and rose to their feet. Despite their menacing faces, their fingertips trembled visibly.
They hadn’t expected to be caught this quickly.
“Stay still and I won’t kill you.”
“A-a Guard Unit?”
“No—but the men who broke into the rooms have probably spotted the blue cloaks and uniforms in our luggage by now.”
Artiela smiled wickedly as she drew the Bardo with her left hand. The unsharpened blade revealed itself in full.
“Or maybe they couldn’t even get past the entrance?”
Mother’s magical tools should be working by now.
“A-are you the Holy Sword’s owner?”
Even the villains recognized a Holy Sword.
“That’s right—Artiela Soltis, Commander of the Holy Knight Order of Edelion.”
“R-run!”
Still, these particular villains didn’t seem entirely witless. They knew the difference between when to fight and when to flee.
Although that fact only proved their stupidity—they’d already committed wicked deeds.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Artiela struck the serving staff member on the back of the neck with her Holy Sword, knocking him unconscious, then tossed him toward Kirien.
“Kirien!”
“Y-yes!”
Kirien unbuckled the man’s belt and bound him to a nearby pillar.
Meanwhile, Artiela vaulted over and systematically knocked out the men pounding at the door.
“Hah!”
The last was the cook. He came at her wielding twin blades, but he posed little real threat. She slid across the slippery floor on her side and kicked his unstable legs out from under him.
“Done.”
After binding everyone—the one outside, those who’d collapsed trying to force open the door upstairs—Artiela examined them all with her Aura-wrapped Holy Sword.
“No signs of murder on any of them.”
Finding the victims’ location was easy. As always, just drawing her Aura-wrapped Holy Sword and explaining the Holy Trial was enough to loosen tongues.
“Th-they’re in the Basement. Please, spare our lives!”
The Holy Sword’s owner doesn’t resort to threats or intimidation.
So why are they trembling like that?
Artiela bound the men more securely, then descended into the basement of the Inn with Kirien.
It was there that Kirien found a face he’d been longing to see.
Artiela recognized him just as easily.
“I’m s-sorry, Kirien.”
Kirien’s Aura flared with barely concealed rage at the sight of the man.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————