Chapter 58
If I had listened any longer, I think my ears might have started bleeding.
Good thing it ended before I died.
“Even so, we’re only taking you because we’ll be going in carefully and leaving just as quickly. Next time, there will be no chance.”
Wait, didn’t he just say that with these artifacts I could destroy an entire fortress by myself?
Still, I was so exhausted by Tower Master Damian’s barrage of explanations that I just nodded.
“If there’s even the slightest hint of danger, we’ll send you back first. Understood?”
“Yeees, I understand.”
And with that, we headed toward the place where the hostages were being held.
At first glance, the house looked like an ordinary civilian home, but a closer look revealed something off.
The people pretending to loiter nearby had a strangely trained air about them—too muscular, too stiff.
It looked like loose surveillance on the surface, but Damian said the people inside wouldn’t be able to leave at all.
“It’s not a perfect guard formation, so we should be able to retrieve only the hostages and leave. I’m relieved there’s no real danger to you, Representative.”
That would mean all his earlier overprotectiveness was pointless, but Damian actually looked more at ease.
Didn’t even seem to regret the effort.
Anyway, I agreed that we didn’t need to cause a big commotion.
When I nodded, Damian snapped his fingers, and a small light flickered from his fingertips.
It was illusion magic.
“Honestly, why is he so fussy about everything…”
The magic only distracted the sentries for a moment, but that was all Damian needed.
He quickly cast a barrier around the house.
“No matter what happens inside, anyone looking from outside will see it as it was a moment ago.”
Then Damian and I calmly walked through the guarded path, opened the door, and stepped inside.
There was a locking spell, but he dispelled it in an instant.
Click.
The door opened cleanly, and we entered.
The interpreter’s family inside looked startled by the sudden intrusion.
“Wh–Who are you?”
Considering they had been detained and abused, of course they were wary.
“Hmm.”
They hadn’t expected anyone to attack this place, so the only precaution was preventing escape.
But to make sure they couldn’t cause trouble, they had been fitted with restraints—
even the child.
The poor little one couldn’t even lift their head properly under the heavy collar.
“We’re here to rescue you,” Damian said simply.
…That’s it?
I sighed quietly to myself.
‘Good thing I came along after all…’
I gave the frightened family a gentle smile.
“Don’t worry. As he said, we’re here to rescue you. Let’s remove those devices first—you must’ve suffered so much.”
I approached them warmly.
Damian snapped his fingers a few more times, undoing the painful restraints binding their necks and limbs.
“Th–This is…!”
“Your husband asked us to come. You’re Lena, and your son is Beel, right?”
“Hic… my husband sent you?”
“Yes. You don’t have to worry anymore. But let’s talk more once we’re out of here.”
The barrier would hold for a while longer, but there was no reason to linger.
I gently patted the child’s shoulder and helped him stand.
Seeing my calm demeanor, the terrified hostages gradually relaxed and followed without protest.
After that, everything went smoothly.
While the illusion still cloaked the area and I spoke to the family, Damian swiftly completed several setups.
Flash!
Flash!
Each time he snapped or clapped, light burst forth.
“Waaah…”
The child, who could barely lift his head moments ago, quickly regained energy thanks to the magic.
“I’ve created dummy illusions for each person. To anyone else, it’ll look like they’re still here.”
“So you mean you cast illusion magic to make it seem like the family’s still in the house?”
I kindly asked the question the family seemed too nervous to ask.
“Correct.”
Not only would it appear that people were inside, but even subtle details like eating meals were realistically simulated.
A gasp of awe came from beside me.
“Ama–Amazing… Are you two fairies?”
“The fairy race can’t actually use this kind of ma—”
Ha, did he really need to crush the poor kid’s innocent wonder like that?
I quickly cut Damian off with a grin.
“That’s right. He’s a fairy.”
Damian’s face twisted oddly at suddenly being turned into a fairy.
“I–I knew it! I knew a fairy would come to get us!”
“That’s right. You were so brave. You must have been scared, but you did really well.”
The child brightened for a moment at the praise, then quickly looked down, worried for his father.
“Then… what about my dad? The bad men threatened him.”
“Don’t worry. When you open your eyes again, your dad will be waiting for you.”
I patted the child’s head softly. Then, mouthing the words “sleep spell” to Damian, I gestured.
Thankfully, he caught on.
Moments later, the child’s eyes closed peacefully in magical sleep.
“Thank you, truly—thank you so much!”
The interpreter’s wife kept bowing her head in gratitude.
We moved them into a carriage and traveled for a while.
I wanted to let the family rest after what they’d endured, but first, there was someone we needed to meet.
“Honey!”
“You’re safe… Thank the heavens, you’re safe!”
It was the interpreter himself.
We’d arranged to meet after the rescue.
When he saw his family unharmed, tears streamed down his face.
“Since I heard my family was taken, I haven’t slept a single peaceful night. I’ll never forget this debt of gratitude.”
It seemed like the right time to move to the main topic.
I checked that the reunion was over and that the child was still asleep.
“Actually, about Marquis Ingda…”
As I explained, the interpreter’s eyes began to tremble.
He’d suspected something himself while working near the marquis, so the conversation went smoothly.
“Because my family was held hostage, I couldn’t stop him even though I knew he was insulting the Imperial Family.”
“Sir Interpreter,” Damian interjected, “can you leave behind evidence of the Marquis’s deeds? It will ensure your safety as well.”
“Yes. If this is exposed, you’ll need protection from being accused of being an accomplice,” Damian added.
The interpreter nodded, understanding that it was the wisest choice.
We discussed how he could record evidence and stay in contact later, then parted ways.
After finishing the arrangements with the interpreter’s family, I turned to leave.
“You did great work today.”
“You too, Tower Master. You must be tired after all that explaining…”
Honestly, he probably spent more time lecturing me than rescuing hostages.
I wanted to point that out—but still, he’d done it out of genuine concern.
If I complained now, I’d be less of a person than a frog.
“How are you feeling, Representative Clotilde?”
“The artifacts were heavy, that’s for sure.”
I may be a duke’s daughter, but I’d never worn this many trinkets in my life.
And unlike jewelry, these were loaded with massive mana stones for effectiveness…
“Still, thank you for worrying about me.”
Honestly, the rescue went so smoothly that I wondered if all his concern was even necessary.
But looking at the size of those mana stones, I could tell how precious they were.
He probably dug through the Tower’s treasure vault just to ensure my safety—
while still letting me do what I wanted.
Protecting me without holding me back.
It hit me again just how capable he was.
‘Yep. I really picked the right person for this contract engagement…’
