So what to do? We had to be careful about Keel and the others that hadn’t classed up yet. Thankfully, no one had been caught by the slave hunters yet. But the enemy had come to attack in droves. Even if I had nothing to worry about myself, I couldn’t be sure that the others would make it out unscathed. It was only physically possible for me to grab maybe three or four enemies at one time. By my estimates, there were easily fifty or more slave hunters there, so it would be difficult to protect Keel and the others. That said, it seemed like only a select few of them had classed up and knew what they were doing. Those were the ones right here in front of me, so . . . maybe I could manage, after all?

This was also the perfect chance for Raphtalia and Keel. The very villains that had ruined their lives had rolled right up onto their doorstep. Some of the slave hunters had realized they were at a disadvantage and tried to run, but Keel and Raphtalia were not about to let that happen.

“Tsk! You’ve forgotten your place, shield! They’ll be after us now since you had to show up!”

“Like I care? Besides, I can’t imagine there having been a single good reason for you lowlifes to run around capturing territory residents just because the governor died.”

“Oh, but there was! Or do you not know?”

Huh? He was being serious. Ohhh . . . I get it.

“Are you referring to the dogma of the Church of the Three Heroes cult? Sorry, buddy, but that propaganda won’t fly anymore.”

“You bastard!”

He sure could yell, but he hadn’t tried to attack yet. Maybe he realized that it would be pointless to attack me? No, his eyes gave him away. He was planning something.

“Take this!”

The slave hunters shot flaming arrows at various buildings around the village. What a pain . . .

“Put out those fires immediately!”

Shit! So this is what people meant when they said fighting against the odds. But it wasn’t like we were just going to stand by and watch.

“Raphtalia! Keel! Can you handle that guy?”

“Yes . . .”

“We’ll protect everyone!”

Raphtalia nodded calmly, and Keel cried out with determination.

“Good. Then you two make those dirt bags pay!”

I quietly uttered an incantation and cast support magic on Raphtalia and Keel.

“Zweite Aura!”

With all of their stats boosted, Raphtalia and Keel charged at the slave hunter boss.

“Filo! You give any slave hunters you find around the village a good kick. Same goes for your underling!”

“Okaaay!”

“Gweh!”

I sent Filo and her Underling Filolial #1 to take care of the slave hunters that were still lingering around the village.

“Mr. Iwatani!”

“Eclair, don’t even think about holding back just because you used to serve together. Put an end to these traitors!”

“I plan to!”