Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 152: Battle of Outpost

A few days after Arein joined Lucci.

Rio-tachi has arrived at the trading city located on a ridge on the national border that separates Galwark kingdom and Bertram kingdom.

After having just arrived in the city, they headed to an inn located outside the fortress with Rio as the vanguard. Since they had walked tens of kilometers in one day without rest, they wanted their night to be a comfortable rest time for their bodies to recover.

Celia walked by Rio's side as if curled up nearby, Christina and Vanessa were behind them, followed by Kouta and Rei. Everyone wore a veil so as not to carelessly expose their face to others.

As the sun had yet to set, there were still many people walking down the street forcing the group to weave their way through the crowded street.

「Quite a lot of people, right. 」

Christina who was born and raised as a princess curiously looked around.

Although they had visited various places during their trip, those places were post towns or small towns. And, since he almost never left the royal castle when he was staying in the royal capital of Bertram except for his trip to the royal academy, he was curious about his surroundings, and the crowd.

「This city is the most prosperous city because of its trade with Galwark kingdom. Please pay close attention so as not to be separated from each other―― 」

Vanessa walks next to Christina as she gives him a warning and then—,

「Kya. 」

Christina collided with a large man who suddenly emerged from the crowd.

Or rather, the man was the one who hit him. He failed to avoid it because he came from his blindspot.

The man dropped the box he was carrying almost simultaneously, and a sound resembling a porcelain shatter echoed.

「P-. . Are you all right? Young woman . ? 」

Although Vanessa almost said Miss 」 lady a little while longer, she immediately turned her into a young Miss」 lady, and started checking Christina for any injuries.

「………. Yes I am fine. 」

Although she is shocked by it, she tells Vanessa that she is fine.

But on the other side–,

「Are you okay, aniki? 」

「OUUUCH, DISCARD IT. I WAS MADE TO. TRANSACTION ITEM IS SET. YOU BASTARD, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO? 」

While alarmed by the two young men who were seen to be his subordinates, the man who bumped into Christina started to pick a fight in an unnatural manner.

Then, some people who were curious about the commotion started to take some distance from them forming a circle around them. Their attention gathered at the center of the ring.

The man who chose to fight with Christina had a sword on his waist and looked like a mercenary or a rogue adventurer and seemed to be used to fighting with strangers. .

「What are you talking about, you're the one who hit me!」

Christina objected to the pouting voice. If only her younger sister Flora who was the victim met the man, she would start apologizing to the man by reflex now.

「HaaAN？ You are a woman, right ?? 」

The man with the huge body narrowed his eyes and looked at the face of Christina hidden behind her hood.

"You motherfucker!"

Vanessa stepped into the gap between the man and Christina with her hands already on the handle of the dagger on her waist by reflex.

「Woah, it's dangerous!」

The man started smiling happily instead. But, his eyes looked at Christina and Vanessa warily.

On the other hand, Rio and Celia were calmly observing a series of events from behind.

（Finally came yes ..?）

The man looked like an accident maker at a glance, but, Rio was almost certain about their origin.

They are Lucci and Arein who are stalking Rio-tachi under Reis' orders. Their information was basically leaked to him when their actions were monitored by Aisia.

According to him, the two of them will try to contact Rio-tachi. For this reason they move individually, with Lucci and Arein going to wait for them in this city.

By the way, since Arein started to take different actions at the same time when Rio-tachi arrived in this city, he is Aisia's current priority.

Therefore, he would have gotten the previous contact from Aisia just in case the man in front of him was Arein.

Nevertheless, since he had not heard anything from Aisia, Rio concluded that the arrogant man in front of Christina was Lucci.

Although it did not rule out the possibility that he was really an accident forger ……. .

「Cecilia, go to the side of young lady Tina. 」

To avoid injuring Celia, Rio ordered her to go to Christina's side.

「U-Uhm-s. 」

Celia timidly nodded at him and went to Christina's side half-running.

On the other hand, Kouta and Rei who were completely forgotten stood still in their place. But, Rio was grateful for their choice because it would mean more trouble for him if they were to move recklessly.

Rio suddenly started to move and came to Venessa's side and,

He calmed down Vanessa who was about to explode with a calm voice.

「But, Haruto-dono ......」.

Vanessa put on an almost frenetic expression as she kept her guard up against the man in front of her.

He may feel upset that he cannot prevent the incident.

Nonetheless, the way Lucci erased his presence and his footwork was great.

Since even Rio was unable to sense his presence until right before the collision, it really could not help that Vanessa failed to prevent the collision.

「……. . He just hit her. …… . PAIN it will soon 」

Rio warned.

If this man really tried to commit a forger-like scam with Christina, a noble, he would not be able to complain because he would be killed right where he stood. [TL: Something similar to what the idiot duo [Stead and Alphonse] tried to do against Rio in Almond] It was a suicide.

But unfortunately, he could not use his authority, as he was currently traveling undercover.

Perhaps realizing that she had just been scolded by Rio, Vanessa loosened her semi-battle stance with a frown.

「Sorry. My head is cold. 」

"It's okay . 」

Rio and Vanessa exchanged voices in low voices.

「Yeah, now what, come as a group. My business with this young man. So, are you going to step aside? 」

The large-bodied man said as if threatening them while looking at the exchange between Rio and Vanessa.

「The person who hit him is you right?」

Rio answered the threat with a cold voice.

「HaaAN？ It was an important commodity that broke down here. I'm not going to let you go unless I get compensated for the commodities. 」

The big man replied with a typical phrase used by accident makers.

Perhaps it was not an act because his tone really forced people to doubt whether he was really an accident forger or not.

"I saw . By the way, may I ask what commodity is in that wooden box? 」

While asking so, Rio looked at the wooden box that fell on the ground.

「Ou, it's tea equipment made of porcelain. I will sell it for 5 gold coins. What are you gonna do? 」

The man took the wooden box and showed what was inside to Rio-tachi. It was definitely a tea set.

"That is.......... 5 gold coins? Your lie, isn't it just cheap stuff? 」

Celia who had excellent insight on tea equipment stared at the design on the damaged product as she muttered those words in a displeased tone. As long as people see a good looking broken item, they will know that it is a cheap item at first glance.

"I saw . Then, you say that you want us to refund your money for these items? 5 Gold coins right? To be sure, you don't mind as long as we pay that amount of money, right? 」

Rio asked specifically about the request made by the other party in an indifferent tone.

「………. Good if you want to. 」

The big man replied with a slightly wary expression when he heard a business-like answer from Rio. On the other hand, his two so-called subordinates were watching silently from side to side in a sinister manner.

「I'll hold your word. 」

Rio took out 5 gold coins as he said that.

「Wha, H-Haruto! ? Why would you give 5 gold coins for such an inferior item that is not worth that amount of money ?! 」

Celia shouted at him in a confused voice. But, he was not the only one who was shocked by it.

Christina-tachi, the spectators and of course the two subordinates of youth who were standing at the side, looked puzzled by what was happening before them.

The only person who remained looking calm was the big man who chose to fight with Rio.

「What's up？ Won't take this money? 」

Rio asked in a provocative tone. Although the man could not see Rio's expression hidden by the hood of his robe, he might sneer at the big man.

「.........................Oi, Orin. Quick grab. 」

After a short silence, the big man instructed his subordinates in a displeased tone.

「Y-Yes!」

The young man called Orin was startled by the voice of the big man, quickly walking over to Rio. He returned to the side of the big man after he received 5 gold coins with trembling hands.

「Ceh, let's go. 」

The big man clicked his tongue as he turned to leave. As expected, he was unable to find fault because the other party was willing to pay the damages.

The two subordinate youths followed after the man rushed over.