Then came another series of sounds of battle.

  Since this time it was much closer, Miko heard it clearly.

  There were only four or five people fighting, and one of them was making an unusually loud commotion.

  Before long, silence fell again outside.

  Just as the three were confused.

  Boom——!

  The prison gate was forcibly blown open.

  "Alice——! Where are you? Answer me——!"

  Having defeated several guards, Arthur rushed into the prison and shouted loudly for Alice.

  "It’s Brother Arthur!"

  Upon hearing that voice, Alice immediately shouted happily,

  "Brother Arthur! I’m here!"

  Hearing the response, Arthur ran straight toward the sound and soon found the cell where Miko and the others were being held.

  "Alice——!"

  Through the iron bars, seeing Alice inside, Arthur’s hanging heart finally calmed down.

  "Brother Arthur!"

  "Alice, wait for me—I’ll rescue you right away!"

  With that, he raised the sword in his hand.

  "Please step back a little!"

  Upon hearing this, Miko quickly hopped away from the cell door.

  Boom——!

  In the next moment, the cell door was forcibly smashed open.

  "Alice——!"

  Arthur rushed into the cell and hugged Alice directly.

  "Thank goodness! Alice, you’re safe——!"

  "Brother Arthur, thank you for coming to save me!"

  "I promised you I’d always protect you, didn’t I?"

  "Brother Arthur......"

  "Sorry to interrupt...... Could you two save the reunion for later? How about rescuing me first!"

  "Ah, sorry! By the way, may I ask who you are?"

  Arthur said awkwardly.

  "Just call me Miko."

  "Okay, do you want me to untie your ropes?"

  "No, just help me destroy that anti-magic bracelet."

  "Hmm......"

  Arthur looked at the bracelet and frowned.

  "Ms....... Miko, sorry, but could you bear with me for a moment?"

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  "Go ahead—I’m ready."

  Miko flattened her hands on the ground as much as possible to make it easier for him to destroy the bracelet.

  "Very well then......"

  Arthur gripped his sword with both hands, pointing the tip at the anti-magic bracelet.

  "......Flame Sword!"

  Whoosh——!

  Flames suddenly wrapped around the sword blade.

  "Wait! Isn’t this a bit——"

  Clang——!

  A crisp sound rang out. The anti-magic bracelet was shattered with one strike, and the ropes binding her hands were even burned through.

  "S-Sorry! Are you okay?"

  Miko’s hands trembled slightly as she gritted her teeth and said: "I-I’m fine......"

  "......Strengthen!"

  A faint white light emanated from her body.

  Thud!

  The ropes around her feet were snapped instantly.

  Miko jumped up from the ground and stretched her limbs. Although her hands had some burns, with Strengthen activated, this level of injury was negligible.

  Seeing that Miko was indeed unharmed, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief.

  He swung his sword a few times to cut the ropes binding Clea and Alice.

  "We’re not out of danger yet. Only my companion Hulim and I came here. Let’s quickly rescue everyone, then gather all our strength to rush out together later."

  "Huh——?! Wait, who did you just say!?"

  "Hulim...... Do you know her?"

  "Of course I do! Hulim’s my roommate——!"

  "Come to think of it, Hulim did say she was here to rescue someone...... Could it be you?"

  "Where’s Hulim! Where is she!?"

  "She went to lure away the enemies. That’s how I was able to sneak in."

  "What——!?"

  Miko immediately panicked.

  "I have to go help her!"

  "Wait a minute!"

  Arthur quickly stopped her.

  "Saving people comes first. Gather everyone, and we’ll go help her together!"

  "It’s no use—these people are probably all drugged by those guys. They won’t wake up!"

  "Hmm, really?"

  Arthur looked at Miko, then at the other cells. He immediately walked out and broke open the door of a nearby cell.

  He carefully examined the unconscious student.

  "You’re right—there are definitely signs of poisoning...... But......"

  "Why aren’t you three poisoned?"

  Arthur turned around and asked.

  "Arthur, we were brought back by someone who seems to be their leader. That person didn’t drug us."

  "I see......"

  Arthur thought for a moment.

  "Then there’s no other way. We’ll have to leave first. The Garrison Knights will have to rescue these people......"

  "Hey, Arthur! You take the two of them and leave. I’m going to help Hulim."

  "......Okay, but don’t act recklessly. I’ll send Alice and Aunt Clea to a safe place, then come back down to save you right away!"

  "Deal—let’s go!"

  As soon as the words fell, Miko rushed out of the cell.

  "Alice, Aunt Clea, let’s hurry too!"

  "Okay!"

  "Got it, Brother Arthur!"

  Arthur carried Alice on his back, with Clea following behind. They soon reached the prison entrance, only to see Miko still standing there, holding a weapon she’d picked up.

  Arthur quickly ran over.

  "What’s wrong?"

  Miko gave him a solemn look.

  "It seems we won’t be leaving that easily......"

  "......"

  Arthur fell silent, then said calmly:

  "Aunt Clea......"

  Clea stepped forward and lifted Alice off his back.

  "Brother Arthur?"

  Alice looked confusedly at Arthur’s back.

  Arthur didn’t turn around.

  "Alice, don’t be afraid. Could you wait a little longer in the cell? Brother will be right back......"

  "Brother......"

  "Okay, Alice, don’t hold them back. Let’s go."

  Clea carried Alice back into the prison.

  "Are you...... okay with this......"

  "Ah, don’t worry—I’m used to this kind of thing...... By the way, you’re that righteous thief, aren’t you? Thank you for helping the orphanage."

  "No need for verbal thanks! Since you claim to be Hulim’s companion, repay me by not holding us back——!"

  As soon as the words fell, Miko’s figure disappeared from the spot. She darted forward at extreme speed.

  As she moved continuously, various buff spells were constantly cast on herself.

  At the same time, the dense sound of footsteps echoing through the passage arrived outside the prison.

  "Dammit! There really are intruders!"

  "How dare they mock us!"

  "Kill them——!"

  A large number of armed men appeared in front of them.

  "He said I’d hold them back......"

  "If that’s the case, let’s compete! Flame Sword——!!!"

  Arthur waved his burning greatsword and charged straight at the armed men.

  ......

  Some time earlier.

  "......Don’t run!""......Stop right there!""......Dammit, we must kill you!"

  A large group of armed men chased closely behind. And because of the commotion, more and more armed men from other areas joined the pursuit.

  But no matter how hard they chased, no matter how many spells they cast.

  The figure ahead didn’t show any signs of injury. The distance between them didn’t shorten at all—instead, their numbers kept decreasing as more and more of them were hit by her spells.

  "Judging by the time, it should be about right......"

  At a certain moment, Hulim suddenly stopped.

  "Hmph! Finally giving up, you damned bastard!""Submit to death obediently!"

  Seeing Hulim stop, the armed men thought she’d given up running.

  But Hulim looked at them calmly.

  "There’s no need to run anymore."