Chapter 409

In order to incapacitate Velmeria and Frederick, we decided to use lightning magic.

「Haa!」

『Eat this!』

The lightning magic Thunder Chain we invoked is a technique to bind and paralyze our opponent with a chain of lightning to deprives them of their freedom. The range was not so wide but it compensated for its shortcomings by using multiple activations released to our opponent.

If it is a magic below intermediate level, the Fran now can activate 2 shots instantly and i can activate 3 shots. But if i took it seriously, I was able to fire more than 5 shots.

「Gaah!」

「Hggh!」

Seven streak Thunder chain rampages like a snake, Velmeria are surely intertwined by Thunder chains one after another and fell limply on the spot.

However, Frederick is stubborn, he slashed the chain of lightning that came towards him with a sword imbued with magic. It seems to be an application of magic release skill.

『Not bad. But I will try to push harder too』

「!」

「...Kuh! Chant less magic! and she can re-cast it this much」

From 10 thunder chains i planned to shot, I cut it off until the 7th shots, it seems this number couldn't be blocked completely by Frederick. Thunder chain wrapped around his body, and depriving Frederick of his consciousness.

Thunder chain was a magic that focuses on paralyzing rather than power. Firing in rapid succession cost me unusual amount of mana. It was also difficult to hold back against Velmeria whose resistance are not very high. But that was what exactly I was aiming for.

We cast magic as an insurance on the two who fall side by side on the ground. Restraining their body with earth magic, the ground changed like an ivy and wraps around their legs and body and tied up.

Still, I'm not relieved. Frederick in particular was a dark magic user. The chances of him escaping to the shadows are not zero.

『Urushi, on guard with your dark magic』

(woof)

The use of Urushi's dark magic can even attack enemy in the shadows.

『Well, lets start questioning them』

「Nn」

Let's start with Velmeria, I don't think Frederick will answer us obediently. So, we separated Velmeria from Frederick.

Fran knelt beside Velmeria and tapped her cheeks, where she normally would kick and hit her body. That's good, don't always be so rough.

I think she's still paralyzed by thunder magic, but the impression is absolutely different between us fighting for self-defence and using violence after capture. She is a noble daughter who may be acquainted with Colbert after all. So, we must not hurt her.

「Ugh...」

「Woke up?」

「Kuh...what is this...」

As soon as she woke up, there was a black cat girl in front of her, and she was detained for some reason. Of course, she's confused.

However, she probably remembered the situation before. She glares at Fran and shouts.

「What did you do to me!」

「I was the one who should asking」

「Is my subordinate safe?!」

「Leave the trifling stuff, answer my question」

Fran activated intimidation skill; it must have break Velmeria's heart. Swallowed by the intimidation of Fran, her body quivered. There is fear in her face.

「Kuh....who are you...」

However, Velmeria said back with a determined expression. She must have accepted the calamity that was about to fall on herself. Although she is a little immature, she has her pride as a full-fledged warrior.

However, the miserable future that Velmeria imagined will never come to her.

『Fran, did you aware of it?』

「Nn」

There was a presence slowly approaching from behind us. He seems to be wary of us, but i didn't feel any hostility or malice.

「Yo. It's been a while. Could you release that lady? miss Fran」

It was Colbert who showed up. He seems to have been a companion with the assailant. Well, i thought so considering his good timing.

He raises his hands lightly and slowly approached Fran, there were no sign of sudden attack for the time being. It was supposed to be a proof that he has no hostility.

「Colberd-dono! Is she your acquaintance!?」

「We are not really an acquaintance」

「So, she must be a spy of Marquis Ashtner?」

「Fran is? It's impossible」

「How did you know」

「This girl is the Black Lightning Princess. Do you understand what i mean?」

After Velmeria heard Colbert's words, she opens her eyes and raises a surprised voice.

「Re-really? Speaking of Black Lightning Princess, isn't she is the adventurer who caused the death of Serdio Receps!」

She knows that much huh

「I'm sorry miss Fran. She told me there was someone following me. I left it to her because she said she would detain him.....but i didn't expect it was you」

Colbert are equipped with a magic tool called Wind Jewel; it seems to be an item that can pick up the voice of other party in a distant place through the wind. However, it seems to be a disposable item, the jewels are in a damaged state. She must have contacted him with this.

「Then why did you followed Colbert!?」

「Cause suspicious appearance, and being sneaky」

「Ugh...」

Velmeria frowns. She admits Colbert was looks suspicious and being sneaky. And Fran isn't lying, right? If he was dressed normally, she would have call him out with out tailing him.

「These guys, who?」

「Ah, how to say this, these guys are the subordinate of my employer, for the time being, they are my current colleague」

Given Velmeria's surname, is their employer was Count Bailleys?

「But, i didn't think miss Fran was in the royal capital. I asked Gamudo's man, they said you went to the Beastman Country. What was your purpose of coming to the royal capita? for auction?」

「Various things」

「Various things huh. And it seems miss Fran has become even stronger again」

「Nn」

「Honestly, the me right now can't win against you」

「Wha-!」

Velmeria was surprised at Colbert's declaration. From her point of view, it was unbelievable for strong person like Colbert admitted he would lose without fighting.

「They weren't trying to kill you. So, could you release them?」

「What are you raiding? Is it related to monitoring Marquis Ashtner?」

「Huft, you have seen that much huh? i never thought this would happen」

Colbert sighs as he gives up. Fran has an overwhelming advantage in here. In the first place, there are hostages. He also knows that Urushi is lurking somewhere and don't even know when Urushi will attack the hostages. On the contrary, it becomes pressure.

And then, when it comes to Frans against Colbert, Fran will win. Colbert has grown since that martial arts tournament, but we are a lot stronger. Well, it wouldn't be an easy win.

He apparently chooses to reveal the facts obediently rather than trying to bargain. Colbert talks about their situation.

「I was certainly monitoring Marquis Ashtner. My objective is to lure the spies that serve under Marquis Ashtner」

In other words, Colbert dared to act suspiciously so Velmeria and the others can follow the one who was tailing Colbert and catch him. So that was their plan huh, but Fran was the one who caught in their operation instead, not the spy of Marquis Ashtner.

Yeah, it was an unfortunate accident. Let's go along with that.

「Then, hostile with Marquis Ashtner?」

「Yeah, that's right」

It's not a lie. Maybe Colbert didn't know the information about Gallus? We decided to reveal our situation to Colbert to some extent.

「My acquaintance may have been captured by Marquis Ashtner, and was looking for his whereabouts」

「What? So that's why you were there?」

「Nn, and happened to meet Colbert」

「Huft...of all things....But, so that's why」

Colbert thinks for a few seconds.

「Do you got any information?」

「...Let's leave this place for the time being. If we talk too long, people will come here soon, and I want to hear more about it」

「Understood」

Colbert is right, so we decided to follow him for the time being. Release the restraint of the earth magic from Velmeria and the other one. It seems Velmeria will do something about Frederick.

「Then, where are we going?」

「About that...Miss Fran. Would you like to meet my employer?」