Chapter 80

「To make Witch-sama this sad……! Unforgivable!」

　I was merely hiding behind Noel and watching because I was frightened of the criminals, but Noel seemed to think I was sad, and his fur stood on end as he grew angry.

　The merchant, still tangled in the net and unable to move, seemed emboldened by the fact that Noel was a beastfolk child and spat onto the ground.

「Tch. Shut up, you beastkin brat……」

(Hmm……Seeing this, Ilai-san really might be quite a good person after all.)

　I had never seen Ilai discriminate against Noel. He might look somewhat suspicious and seem greedy for money, but whether someone was a beastfolk or a witch, he probably treated them as an equal business partner.

　While living in Bit Village, I had rarely felt any discrimination against beastfolk. But perhaps that was merely the sort of tolerance unique to a remote rural region, and beastfolk might be more disliked the closer one got to the cities.

　I hated tense, hostile atmospheres because they frightened me. Besides, I needed Noel, and there was no reason to deliberately go somewhere he would be hurt.

(I’ll stay away from cities……Living here really is best for me.)

　Both Noel and the village boy looked down at the culprits with extremely cold expressions. The net restraining them would actually lose its stickiness quite easily if water were poured over it, but I did not particularly want them moving around, so I was unsure what to do.

「Sorry to keep you waiting! I brought the knights!」

　The other boy who had gone to fetch help returned with the holy knights led by Leonhart. Relieved by the arrival of someone dependable whom I knew, I lowered the hands that had been covering my face. Leonhart immediately looked around at the situation, then approached us with a stern expression.

　Seeing him look so unusually severe sent unpleasant possibilities racing through my mind.

(I think this was self-defense……but what if they say a monster harmed humans recklessly, or hold me responsible……!?)

　I had equipped the young sprouts with defensive measures. What if that was judged to be dangerous behavior? Trembling with fear, I took a small step backward.

「Witch-dono……It’s all right. I’ve already heard what happened from one of the village children, and we will judge the matter properly.」

(What are you going to judge……!? M-Me……!?)

「Theft is a serious crime. They will undoubtedly receive severe punishment. ……So please don’t be so sad.」

　Apparently, I was not the one about to be judged. I sighed in relief. Leonhart swiftly issued instructions, had his subordinates bring water and pour it over the merchants, then removed the net.

　Surrounded by knights, however, the merchants made no attempt to flee. They raised their hands in surrender while grinning carelessly.

「This is a misunderstanding, Knight-sama. We haven’t done anything. In fact, we were suddenly attacked and have no idea what’s going on……If anything, shouldn’t you be disposing of that mandragora?」

「Liar! You tried to steal the mandragora!」

「You shouldn’t believe what children say, Knight-sama.」

　This was truly shamelessness befitting thieves. They brazenly began insisting they had done nothing. Worse, they were trying to shift the blame onto the young sprout. Framing a plant that could not speak was downright wicked.

　The water sprout toddled over to the merchants and began grabbing at a bag they had been trying to hide behind their backs, pulling at it in an attempt to drag it out.

「Hey, stop……!」

　Before the merchant could do anything, Leonhart swiftly secured both the water sprout and the mysterious bag. The water sprout desperately tried to open it, while the bag itself wriggled suspiciously.

(And anyway, the young sprout’s signal is coming from inside that bag……)

　Leonhart opened the bag immediately. What emerged was the peach sprout, dressed in something resembling a maid outfit. It must have been terribly frightened, because liquid overflowed from the holes where its eyes were and leaked down its face.

　The water sprout embraced the peach sprout, and the village boy whistled and cheered at the sight. It looked just like a hero embracing the heroine he had rescued, making it seem like a rather touching scene. ……Though I had a feeling the water sprout was merely clinging to it and absorbing the spilled bodily fluid so it would not go to waste. Still, there was no doubt that the water sprout had intended to save the peach sprout.

(Eek……! Th-This presence……!)

　Startled by the sudden appearance of an enormous presence, I trembled and wrapped my arms around myself. I wished I could pretend not to notice and have it simply pass by, but the presence only continued approaching from high above.

「There is no doubt they were caught in the act. Take them into custody.」

「Yes. ……However, this village has no jail. Shall we take turns guarding them and transport them once preparations are complete?」

「Ah, there’s no need for that. I’ll send them myself.」

「……Mage-dono……You have returned.」

　The person slowly descending from the sky was Nikolaus. He looked extremely displeased, and merely seeing his expression frightened me enough to make me want to scream. Nikolaus glanced at me, snorted, and turned his face away. ……He clearly seemed to be in a foul mood, so I decided to leave him alone.

「The severity of the punishment for theft changes depending on the value of what was stolen. I’ll throw them into the harshest prison there is. ……Stealing property belonging to a demon is a serious crime. Who knows how rare the materials from one of this thing’s dependents might be?」

(Eek……! He said materials……! He really does see mandragoras as experimental ingredients……!)

　The frightening man had returned in a foul mood, and the cause was most likely the merchants who had stolen property belonging to a demon. They had truly caused unnecessary trouble. I wished they would stop making his mood worse. A frail mandragora like me could do nothing but tremble and hope I would not be turned into materials. The water sprout and peach sprout were huddled together and trembling too.

　……And Noel apparently admiring him and saying, 「As expected of Mage-sama」 was not particularly good for his education, either.

(Sigh……Please stop threatening my peaceful life……)