For a while, we had been unhindered, and hope was beginning to form that we might be able to escape the forest this way.

Thud!

Suddenly, the horse running ahead tripped over, causing the man riding it to roll on the ground.

Upon closer inspection, ropes had been set up in the forest. Bells were tied to these ropes, loudly announcing that a trap had been sprung.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The noisy ringing of the bells gave away our position.

The men who had followed Dekein put on resolute expressions. Before we could say anything, they dispersed in all directions and started running.

“Ah……”

Their actions implied one thing.

They were willing to serve as bait to ensure my safety.

As I looked on with a blank expression at the men who had disappeared, Dekein spoke in a voice deeper than usual.

“Those who came along were prepared for this. I only brought those I could trust.”

“……”

I was speechless.

I could not believe that someone had to make such a sacrifice for me. I was once again reminded of how serious the situation was.

Askan and Dekein proceeded to cut the ropes set up in the forest as much as they could.

While our movements caused the bells to ring, it was hard to distinguish the real from the diversion because those who had scattered to act as bait were also making the bells ring.

But this tactic did not last long.

Whiiik─

Suddenly, arrows started flying from all directions.

The soldiers of the Regent Empire had not accurately identified our location. It seemed that they were willing to kill me rather than let me go.

Dekein also seemed to realize this, his expression hardening.

Suddenly, Askan stretched out his arm to take an arrow flying towards me.

“Askan!”

I was startled and called out his name, but fortunately, Askan’s arm had hardened into steel and was unharmed.

Seeing Askan’s ability, Dekein asked with an incredulous expression.

“What on earth…… is his identity?”

“Explaining it would be a bit complicated.”

In fact, Askan was the ultimate human weapon created by the Kahlua Empire, but I wasn’t sure if I could tell Dekein the whole truth.

Moreover, it wasn’t the situation to be explaining such things in detail.

Askan, shielding me, spoke in a low voice.

“Let’s avoid the arrows first.”

I nodded and dismounted the horse as led by Askan. I then hid behind a large rock nearby.

Dekein, Askan, and I exchanged serious glances.

I was the first to speak.

“Dekein, as you said, they seem willing to kill me if they can’t capture me. It might be better for me to go to the Regent Empire voluntarily instead of this.”

Dekein’s face darkened.

“Well, maybe that’s better than dying here…… but once you’re captured, who knows what will happen.”

Askan, who had been silent until then, nodded in agreement with Dekein.

“Because of the new magic stone, they might keep you alive for now, but after the kidnapping, the chance of them killing you to hide the fact is high.”

It would be safe for now as they needed me, but my life could not be guaranteed after they had achieved their purpose.

It was obvious that they would face widespread criticism if it became known that the Egteon trading post, which had contracted the distribution of magical engineering weapons, had betrayed me and that the Regent Empire had attacked me out of greed.

Not just that. If this fact became known, the Orland and Breloff families and the Arwen Empire would not sit still.

The Regent royal family was likely to kill me to keep their terrible actions a secret, after extracting information on how to create a new magic stone.

With a grim expression, I watched the arrows flying from all sides and said,

“But it seems like there’s no way to break through these arrows…… Even if we escape here by luck, we don’t know what’s waiting for us ahead…….”

I was scared. If I did not make a decision, Askan and Dekein would also be put in danger.

“I guess I have to……”

“There is one way.”

Askan cut me off.

I looked at Askan with a puzzled expression, and he looked back at me with dark eyes, speaking in a lower voice.

“I will stay here and stop the soldiers of the Regent Empire.”

“By yourself?”

“You know. My ability.”

I certainly knew about Askan’s abilities. The unextinguishable flame, the ability to harden his body into steel to avoid easy injuries.

But even Askan was not able to handle it alone.

The opponents were not individuals or organizations but soldiers dispatched by the Regent Empire. The number of them was incomparably huge.

Moreover, at this point, the location of Askan was revealed to the Kalua Empire, so they did not know when the pursuers would come.

“If the pursuers come….”

“Then it’s better. They are people sent from the Kalua Empire and would want to capture me secretly. So, they can’t leave the soldiers of the Regent Empire here alone.”

In other words, Askan was going to be the bait and pit the pursuers of the Kalua Empire against the soldiers of the Regent Empire.