Chapter 70: Forced Summons

“You bastard! Don’t use me as a test subject!”

“But now that you’ve experienced wind magic, you should understand that getting dizzy lowers your combat ability.”

“Yeah, I get it. I can’t even stand straight, and I feel a bit sick too.”

“I only spun you around ten times. If I did it twenty, you wouldn’t be able to stand at all—you’d throw up.”

“Stop it! Doing that would ruin my earning potential!”

“Wow, I never thought the leader himself would try wind magic.”
“The look on Gains when he was spinning around…”
“He looked like he was about to scream ‘Eek!’”

“Leon, make them experience it too!”

“Is that alright?”

“Idiot, stop him!”
“Ignore whatever the leader says!”

“That dome from before was convenient, but it really doesn’t even flinch against a Black Bear’s attack.”

“I bet Jaeger-san would want to try it together sometime.”

“And to spin a whole pack of Forest Wolves and finish them off with a single strike…”

“Even through the dome wall, standing right in front of a Black Bear—that takes guts.”

“Hm, Robert, what are you doing?”

“What? I’m curious if this invisible wall really exists.”
“But you don’t have to press it with your hand.”
“Even if you don’t press it, the dome won’t disappear. Right, Leon?”

“Well… I wonder about that.”

“Hey, tell me before it disappears!”
“Folks, shoot your Ice Lances already!”
“Where should I aim?”

“I’ll make a hole now, just wait a moment.”

I could see it, but it must be inconvenient for others not to see. I made a hole in front of Folks and showed him the size with my hand. Seeing this, he did the same, reaching into the hole.

[Ice Lance… Hah!]

It seemed like it would hit with a gon sound, but it was too close and didn’t gain speed, so the Ice Lance fell to the ground.

“No good, it’s too close.”
“Well, fine. We’ll do a simultaneous bow attack.”

“Wait a moment, please.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I’ll make it easier to attack, so I’ll remove the dome.”

“Eh… wait! Hold on!”

I encircled the Black Bear with Ring! and simultaneously withdrew the dome’s magic.

“Idiot, what are you doing?”

“What? I just trapped the bear and removed the dome. This way, it’s easier to attack, right?”

In the direction I pointed, they could see a faint ring mixed with dust, so they seemed to trust me.

Instead of splitting the ring trapping the Black Bear into two vertically, I made holes in front of each person so they could shoot easily with their bows.

After providing some of the Chikki chikki Birds caught along the way for dinner, I made a dome a short distance away from Gains and the others and went to sleep before them.

“No wonder he can handle solo work.”
“His detection and awareness surpasses ordinary people, and with a dome like that, he doesn’t have to worry about being attacked and killed.”

“Speaking of detection, what’s going on?”
“I was surprised too. All that presence he had completely disappeared.”
“You mean that thing?”
“Yeah, only those with excellent awareness can sense it, but even then, it’s hard to understand. He’s special.”
“Nobody would expect a wind mage to make a dome like that.”
“Exactly. I thought my shortened incantation was good, but he just needs a single word. I almost fell over when I first saw it. And yet, when I asked, he explained it simply.”

“I almost laughed. ‘Remember the shortened incantation you’re using, and release the magic with a single word for the lance.’ I tried it skeptically, and the magic worked instantly.”
“That’s the ultimate shortened incantation. I even tried it myself before, back in the day.”
“But you couldn’t use it, right?”

Folks could only shrug silently.

“There’s a tense atmosphere here.”
“I felt the same when I came with Jaeger-san. The vibe’s different now.”
“Since the lord changed, the town’s atmosphere has gradually shifted.”
“Yeah, the guards have grown arrogant, and the townsfolk aren’t as cheerful as before.”
“Rumor has it that a bungling noble was demoted and shoved into this backwater town.”

Since this is a viscount’s territory, if he was demoted from an earl or high-ranking noble, both he and his subordinates would have their pride destroyed, leading to bad attitudes. That probably means the original guards and servants have changed too.

After talking about this, Gains and the others quietly showed their guild cards to the glaring guards and passed through.

“Phew. Better not stir up trouble with gods.”

I also showed my guild card, bowed lightly, and tried to pass, but the atmosphere suddenly turned hostile.

Using detection, I noticed guards surrounding me.

“You’re Leon, right? The lord wants to see you.”

“Yes… what is this regarding?”

“Are you saying you won’t respond to the lord’s summons?!”
“If an adventurer refuses our orders, you’ll feel some pain!”

“Guards, why are you so angry? We adventurers should be free to enter and leave any town as long as we don’t commit crimes.”

“Of course. We’re not restricting your movement. The lord simply says she has business with you and that you should come to the manor. It’s none of your concern, so stay quiet!”

“So you intend to forcibly summon me even though you know I’m an adventurer? By the kingdom and guild’s rules, you can’t issue such orders unless I commit a crime.”

“You little brat, thinking you know better, do you intend to defy our orders?!”

I shook my head to stop Gains and the others from intervening.

They seemed ready to obey the lord’s orders and summon me, and if they resisted, it could cause trouble later. Considering the Warrens Trading Company situation, I decided to comply and be invited to the manor.

“Gains, please let Jaeger-san and the Guild Master know.”

Gains’ eyebrows shot up, but he just said “Alright,” with a grin.

It seemed he understood my intention, so I’ll go to see the lord. Somehow, I seem to have connections with nobles and wealthy merchants more often than not.

When I was surrounded by guards and taken away, a sturdy carriage was waiting, and I was shoved inside.

The hard seat and the extremely reinforced windows… it was a prisoner transport carriage, complete with iron bars, and I could even hear the lock being fastened from outside.

It was literally a prisoner transport carriage—I was being treated like a criminal.

I recalled the time I was invited to the Warrens Trading Company branch, and a sense of gloom washed over me.

If I tried to escape, I’d probably be declared wanted. If I defied the nobles, maybe I’d end up a criminal slave.

I prayed that things would end as smoothly as possible, bracing myself as the carriage jolted my rear against the hard seat, taking me toward the lord’s mansion.

Good thing I bought that clothing with blade protection, impact resistance, magic attack nullification, and body temperature regulation enchantments. Although the body temperature regulation probably won’t matter.

Through the iron bars, I could see the mansion. The carriage passed the front gate and entered through the side gate, stopping at the rear.

This time, knights were waiting, giving off an intimidating vibe that made me nervous.

I heard the sound of the lock being undone, the door opening, and a single command: “Get out!”

I knew I wasn’t exactly invited, though the reason wasn’t clear.

Both arms were firmly grabbed, and I was dragged into the building.

“Um… my arms hurt, so please be a bit gentler.”

“Shut up and walk!”

Even with clothing that blocked blades, resisted impact, and nullified magic, a tight grip renders all that protection useless—it still hurt. That old man had warned me that even with impact resistance, a heavy load could crush me.

We passed through what looked like a servant’s passage and descended stairs leading underground.

The Warrens Trading Company torture chambers came to mind.

I was brought along quietly, thinking it would be bad to get in trouble with the nobles. But if violence breaks out, I’ll need to crush them thoroughly and erase my traces afterward, or it will be troublesome.

They still haven’t released their grip, and since we’re being “shown” the basement, it’s almost certainly not for anything good.

Killing immediately would be bad, so I’ll have to deal with the person holding my arms before the real fight. But no matter how much magic I have, I can’t overcome the physical size difference, so I need a good plan.

A large man with crossed arms opened the door, which was a solid wooden door over 10 cm thick—I couldn’t help but admire it for a moment.

“Enter!”

I was shoved in, and before I knew it, the sound of the door closing and the lock clicked behind me.

Unexpected, but they severely underestimated an adventurer.

From their perspective, even if I had a knife, my physical difference probably seemed negligible.

“Wiles, the adventurer named Leon has been captured and thrown into the dungeon.”

“Hm, we caught him surprisingly quickly.”

“He just showed up at the entrance, so it was easy.”

“Inform Lady Olga. Wait here for a while.”

I left my office and headed toward the lord’s study, but no knights were stationed outside.

Maybe he’s drinking in the salon again. Even if he was only being demoted to count, having his territory reduced back to a viscount’s land must be infuriating enough that he can’t stay calm without alcohol.

As long as he fulfills his duties as lord, it’s fine for his subordinates, which is a relief.

Still, I never imagined that a matter involving just one adventurer could shake a marquis’ house.

On top of that, it was incredibly unlucky that the Warrens had turned the adventurer guild and Duke Berlant against him.