Night.
We were led to a room with no window deep in the mansion. There's one bed and a sheet made from bundles of straw.
The oiled door is the only thing looking new.
"I'll be sleeping in the straw."
"But. Keika-sama, please use the bed."
"No, I shouldn't fall asleep you see. So it's just right."
"Eh?"
"And also, gather up the baggage so we can leave immediately."
"I understand."
Celica looked at me wonderingly, but she obeyed without question.
After that, I asked someone in the house for some water. Celica wiped her body in the room, but I told her that I wanted to wash my whole body.
I draw water in the courtyard, wiping my limbs.
From top to bottom. Water drip from my simple black hair. The coldness wakes my eyes.
Many stars are scattered about in the sky, beautiful.
However, I can't see the bright moon. It's disappointing, but also convenient.
However, I wasn't just bathing.
I memorized the layout of the mansion while going back to my room.
And then I slept.
Midnight.
In a pitch black room with no light.
When I felt some presences I opened my eyes while still leaning on the straw.
I can hear the deep slumber of Celica.
I concentrate my mind.
Sounds of tiptoes in the corridor and the garden. However, they can't erase the faint vibration.
It seems they're talking but I can't hear them.
"--"
The surrounding sounds flow into my ears.
Voices of men.
"Did they fall asleep?"
"They did."
"Is she really a Sinner?"
"The crystal ball shined red. There is no mistake."
This was a hoarse voice of an old man.
A middle aged man asks.
"Won't they get up?"
"It was a sleeping drug for monster. They'll be fast asleep until tomorrow morning."
This was the voice of an old man again, mixed with laughter.
An old man's voice.
"Alright. Someone go to the city and call the guard--"
"Now now wait. Our achievement will be robbed if we call the guard."
"However, they looked like strong adventurers."
"They're sleeping right?"
"That's right but...."
"We'll arrest them and bring them to the guard ourselves."
There's only five men in the corridor. Including the village mayor.
Around 10 men in front of the mansion. There are sounds of armor and metals from this direction. Looks like they're armed.
However, judging from their conversations, I had guessed it wrong.
I thought this was a village where the people kill vagabonds and steal their belongings, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
One of the men chuckled while I was in doubt.
"That babe is a 『Sinner』. She's worth 10 big gold coins. Might even be one pure gold coin...."
"Righto."
A man who's strangely breathing roughly asks.
"He-hey.... Before we take her to the guards, er, we can...."
The village mayor scolds them in low voice.
"Fools, if even one of you have anything to do with a Sinner, your whole family will be slaughtered. The village will be cursed too. Did you forget the terror of that epidemic! You must not put your hand on her."
"Tch, I know I know."
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
--They were aiming for Celica huh.
Celica said that it was alright, but it seems the village has an item that can perceive a Sinner.
By the way, it seems judging if someone is a Sinner does not happen frequently, it's only done when a baby is born or when an outsider comes or when you're studying to be a priest.
We were found out because we were outsiders this time.
Still, they're not letting people to get their hand on one even though the Sinner will be killed.
They're probably afraid that a child might be born.
A light elemental girl has a high chance of giving birth to a child with even bigger light after all.
That means, all girls with Light element are all chaste huh.
I'll prioritize helping them once I become a hero.
--Oh.
Someone is touching the door. And then opening it without a sound.
Four young men enter first before the village mayor.
Two to the bed, two to my direction. Tiptoeing with ropes in their hands.
The moment they entered the right distance, I jumped!
Thud, thud, two dull sounds.
"U"
"A"
My right hand hit the two's abdomens. They couldn't breathe when I hit their diaphragms.
I jumped over the collapsing two.
I hit the two who were going to tie Celica, robbing them of their consciousness.
The village mayor was going to shout in surprise.
"W-wha--gwu"
My hand was faster.
I wrap the rope that was going to be used to tie Celica on the village mayor's neck.
"U, ga"
The village mayor is desperately trying to take off the whip-like coiling rope with his fingers.
I move like a wind and strike the village mayor's abdomen.
"Gu...."
He falls down. I untie the rope on his neck immediately.
I check his clothes and snatch a key.
And then I tie their mouths and arms with the rope they brought themselves.