Then the man laughed heartily, rubbing his rough hands together.

“We are not servants of any family…”

As he snapped his fingers, the seven behind him simultaneously drew their swords. The five who hadn’t dismounted kept their distance and surrounded us, while the other two took care of the horses.

“Ah, milady!”

Hade got scared and hid behind me. I couldn’t help but chuckle. They claimed to be a guard for me just a while ago.

“We’re just passing travelers, but to someone who looks like a noble, we usually charge a toll.”

They must be bandits, though they looked quite presentable.

Mildred tried to draw his sword, but I immediately stopped him.

“No, Mildred.”

“But, milady.”

Mildred’s gaze, looking directly at me, seemed anxious. It was unreasonable to let him fight in this condition.

Moreover, I had no intention of letting the injured Mildred engage in a fight.

People come before money.

To reassure him, I gently lifted the corners of my mouth.

“It’s okay.”

I extended the purse of money towards the leader of the bandits.
“I don’t want a conflict. Although this is the only option for now, it’s not a small amount for fifteen people. I hope you’ll take this and just pass by.”

“Good, talking works.”

The bandit leader, who snatched the purse, scanned me with greedy eyes. It was quite unpleasant to witness. Since he looked like he was about to demand everything I had, I quickly spoke up.

“Our business is done, so it would be better if you leave now.”

“No, we need a woman too.”

The bandit leader tried to grab my wrist with his pot-like hand.

At the moment I couldn’t endure, my fist had already shattered the bandit leader’s nose.

Stumbling backward, the bandit leader wiped his bloody nose with a fierce expression.

“You…! Argh!”

The enraged bandit leader’s curse ended with a painful groan.

My upper roundhouse kick landed perfectly on his face.

As his large figure fell backward, the atmosphere surrounding the bandits surrounding us became more menacing.

“Milady, I’ll stop them, so please step back.”

Mildred tried to step forward.

Despite being in pain, he was still willing to sacrifice himself.

I quickly stopped him.

“Hade! Terry, move Mildred to a safe place!”

“Yes? Yes, milady.”

The frightened Hade stuttered as he grabbed Mildred.

“Let go, Hade!”

Mildred tried to push Hade away. However, despite his condition, Hade managed to lead Mildred away as he resisted.

“Release him!”

“How dare you, leader!”

“Milady!”

Oh no, at the moment of Mildred’s surprised shout, my spine chilled.

One of the bandits was unexpectedly swinging a sword towards me.

I missed the opportunity to respond to the attack while looking at Mildred, who was attacked.

Simultaneously, the clash of blades echoed sharply.

As the bandit’s sword whirled through the air, it accurately stuck into the ground a little distance away.

Silence fell around, and I, too, swallowed my breath.

I couldn’t understand what had just happened.

The well-forged tip of Mildred’s sword was on the bandit leader’s neck, ready to pierce it.

And the one holding the sword was Terry.

It was unbelievable. In an instant, the musician Terry was overpowering the opponent.

In the gleaming eyes of the silent Terry, there was a sharp determination.

The bandit, who was taken aback, stumbled backward and fell flat on his back.

Meanwhile, the bandit leader, who had risen from the ground, contorted his already unpleasant face more fiercely.

“These guys! Kill them all except the woman!”

At the leader’s command, the bandits attempted to surround us even more tightly.

Mildred and Hade retreated to the rear, leaving only Terry and me.

2 against 13.

The bandit leader, seven with swords, and five on horseback surrounded us.

Fighting against armed opponents was very risky, but there was no choice.

One bandit, overwhelmed by Terry’s spirit, had already crouched down, and the remaining two were still holding the reins, which was somewhat fortunate.

I kept an eye on their movements, tightly gripping the hem of my dress.
And I thought about how many people we had on our side. Currently, there are nineteen hidden workers.

Since everyone was unarmed, it was a disadvantageous situation, but if we could fill the numbers, it might give psychological pressure to the bandits.

‘But what if no one steps forward?’

I was secretly anxious. Nevertheless, there was nothing I could do. At least, with my shout, the attention of the bandits would scatter. I tensed my neck and shouted.

“Change of plans! Surround the bandits!”

“Whoa!”

With a thunderous cheer, the workers emerged with spears and axes.

As planned, the surprised gaze of the bandits was scattered.

At the same time, I was genuinely surprised.

One, two, three…

In response to my command, all the workers immediately emerged.

Soon, the broad shadow of Hade’s back also covered me.

Hade still had a terrified face. However, while tightly gripping the bamboo cup I crafted with both hands, he was glaring at the bandits.

Trembling, he scolded the bandits.

“You, you, you can’t lay a finger on the lady!”

Before he finished speaking, Terry also pointed his sword at the bandit leader.

And nodded vigorously.

In agreement with Hade’s words.

Then, nineteen workers erupted in anger, wielding their spears.

“Protect the lady!”

“Yaaaa! Protect the lady!”

…

Except for a punch and a kick to the bandit leader.

Surprisingly, I didn’t have much to do.

After a moment of chaos, our side subdued all the bandits. Moreover, our side was not hurt at all.

Overall, the bandits had much better equipment and weapons.

However, the bandits couldn’t overcome the workers who attacked with spears, Hade’s bamboo cup that distracted their attention, and Terry’s sharp sword.

“Take these guys down! How dare they in front of the lady.”

“Shameless bastards! Complaining about some safety. Uh? Do you know who our lady is?”

“They should be thrown as beast food.”

The workers cornered all the bandits, gathered them on one side, and beat them thoroughly. Then, they carefully collected weapons and horses on the other side.

It goes without saying that the pouch of gold coins offered to the bandits returned to me.

Hade brightly smiled as if asking when he got scared.

“Phew, I’m relieved that milady is unharmed.”

Terry, who returned the sword to Mildred, also smiled broadly, seemingly pleased with something.

Unbelievably energetic Terry, but now that the situation was well under control, he was calm as if nothing had happened.

Mildred, with a bewildered expression, pointed in the direction of the capital.

“Milady, someone else is coming.”