Life as an Adventurer with the Banished Marquis' Daughter - Chapter 05: The Return of the Marquis's Daughter, Part 1

Chapter 05: The Return of the Marquis’s Daughter, Part 1

A magical attack struck from outside the detection range of a Rank 6 (probably) scout-type adventurer. 

This led me to conclude that our attacker was at least as skilled as a Rank 6 adventurer, if not more.

As I endured the pain in my eardrums, caused by the shockwave from the explosion magic hitting the carriage’s barrier and the magical energy when the barrier deflected the spell, I predicted the attacker’s abilities. I grimaced, not just from the pain.

“Young Man!”

At the same time as the coachman, Merseja, shouted, I leaped onto the carriage.

The barrier, as expected from a carriage chosen by the chancellor to send off his beloved daughter, was sturdy. 

The carriage remained unscathed.

Merseja, seeing me grab onto the side of the carriage, didn’t wait for me to get inside before driving off at full speed.

Since we didn’t know where the shot came from, he chose to move forward to avoid the hassle of changing direction.

The carriage’s barrier could withstand a few more hits, but not knowing the attacker’s full strength made it hard to feel secure.

It would be too optimistic to think we could escape their range just like this.

I climbed onto the roof of the carriage to get a better view.

There are many skills and types of magic that hide one’s presence, but few that completely fool human vision. If our opponent had such capabilities, it’s doubtful that the barrier would have withstood even the first attack.

“Merseja, just to ask, is this still within the contract?”

I shouted over the sound of the carriage racing forward.

“Of course, young man!”

If Merseja, a rank 6 adventurer, says it’s within the fare, I’ll trust him. 

Thanks to the chancellor who spared no expense.

I focused my attention forward while enhancing my body to its maximum. 

If the attack was coming from behind, the barrier should hold long enough for us to escape the attacker’s range, so I ignored that direction.

The fact that the attacker wasn’t launching a series of spells indicated their level of skill.

At least one person was capable of using magic strong enough to strain the barrier.

If there were more, they would have launched a full assault after the first attack was deflected.

My enhanced vision caught sight of them.

If the first shot was blocked, the second one would likely be an all-out attack without worrying about being exposed, right? The light from the gathered magical energy leaked from behind a rock up ahead.

“There they are!”

“Young Man!”

Merseja also spotted them and pointed to the rock while steering the horses.

“I’ll go!”

I stated the obvious division of roles and jumped off the carriage roof. 

The priority was to ensure Erika Solnzari’s safety. 

I knew Merseja wouldn’t get it wrong, nor would the chancellor hire someone who would.

As I leapt, Merseja called out, 

“Don’t hesitate, young man!”

I ran without responding, as I had already resolved myself earlier.

Their reaction to my jump was quick.

A person in a robe, likely a magician hiding their face, leaped out from behind the rock. 

They seemed ready to cast a spell, as I could see the flow of magic aiming straight at the carriage. 

The attacker prioritized attacking the carriage over approaching me.

Their target was…

“Horses!”

It seemed they had given up on a single decisive blow and aimed to stop us by targeting the horses first. 

If that was the case, there was no problem. I was prepared to shield with my body, but if the horses were the target, even if the barrier was breached, the carriage would be safe.

Just two or three breaths away, the attacker unleashed their spell. 

The surge of magic flew past me as I ran. 

Seeing me charging without even attempting to dodge the spell, the attacker hesitated for a moment. Even so, they managed to block my sword aimed at their neck.

The attacker grunted in pain and deflected my sword with a dagger. 

I failed to take down a magic user in one blow. 

At the same time, I sensed the magic barrier on the carriage deflecting another spell in the distance.

Internally cursing, I spun halfway around.

I locked eyes with a man raising his sword to attack me from behind. 

Of course, it wouldn’t just be one attacker. 

The man looked startled.

Thinking this was likely his first fight, I decapitated him and threw my dagger at the two men behind him.

One fell to the ground with a dagger in his throat, but the other just collapsed with it in his chest, still alive. 

I quickly approached the man and brought my sword down on his head.

The sound of his skull splitting drowned out any potential screams.

With that strange thought in mind, I rolled away desperately, without thinking about my posture.

An explosion occurred where I had just been.

Covered in grass, I scrambled to my feet. 

Hesitating would mean death.

As I regained my stance, the robed attacker stood there, unguarded. 

His face hidden behind a mask, he looked down and muttered curses like, “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” and “How could a kid like this…” and “Will I have to give up my humanity for this?”

Without pondering these details, I readied my sword and stepped forward to behead him.

No matter what he did now, I was certain my sword would reach him. 

At that moment, a shockwave from beneath my feet sent me flying several meters away.