Perhaps due to yesterday's exhausting journey, Lily didn't erge from the small wooden cabin until about two hours later.
The Lolita dress wasn't suitable for activities in a forest environnt, so I had prepared more lightweight clothing for Lily.
"Good morning, Lily."
"Mm... good morning, Anna..."
Lily clutched the hem of her skirt, looking at sowhat timidly. Was she worried about not washing the bed sheets properly? I didn't particularly mind, though that incident was quite embarrassing for —I hoped Lily wouldn't dwell on it.
"The washing supplies are over there. Please wait a mont for the al."
"..."
Lily didn't respond, standing at the cabin doorway, seeming like she wanted to say sothing several tis.
I was puzzled about what Lily wanted to say. Was it about using the toilet? Or perhaps... worrying about whether it was safe?
Finally, Lily seed to steel her resolve and raised her head with determination.
"Anna."
"?"
"Lily has sothing... she wants to tell Anna. It's about... Duke Borgia..."
I didn't know the exact reason why Duke Borgia was hunting Lily. Although Sigrdrífa and I had so speculation together, we had ultimately been considerate of Lily's feelings and neither of us had asked her about it.
"Don't force yourself, Lily."
"Lily just feels... this isn't right. Not saying anything and waiting for Anna to help ..."
She wanted to be helpful—Lily's behavior last night was also based on this sentint. She had probably realized that she was too young to help , so she decided to muster the courage to at least tell the circumstances.
She was definitely forcing herself. I didn't believe that in just a few days, Lily could completely overco that nightmare.
However, just as Lily was about to speak, my constantly active [Detection] skill sensed the arrival of uninvited guests.
"Lily. Co here."
Lily was slightly startled, then quite obediently ran behind . Although I hadn't said anything explicitly, Lily had probably guessed sothing from my serious expression.
There were intruders.
Calling them intruders might not be entirely accurate—I recognized both of the people entering the area.
One was Carol Cat, and the other was...
Baron Hurst, Trafalgar.
It was normal for Carol Cat to find us, but Trafalgar... he had no relationship with Carol Cat, so why would he be acting together with her?
Although I hadn't spent much ti with either Carol Cat or Trafalgar, I clearly lacked sufficient understanding of Trafalgar. What kind of person he was, I had no idea.
Unable to understand the reason, I judged this as sothing I couldn't ignore and had to take action.
Locking onto the direction where Carol Cat and Trafalgar were located, I threw my chains straight ahead.
[Aim], target Carol Cat, silence magic attached.
Activating skill [Hook Lock].
A skill that could be triggered when using whips or other weapons with elastic properties, dealing damage to a single unit while entangling them, then forcibly dragging them to oneself.
The chains flew into the forest. Within my [Detection] range, I sensed Carol Cat's figure tremble, then close the distance to at lightning speed.
"ow ow ow ow—?!"
"My apologies, Lady Carol Cat."
Using the hook lock skill, I cleanly pulled Carol Cat over first to ask what was going on. If this was a trap, I'd deal with her, then handle Trafalgar outside afterward.
"An...Anna... so scary mya..."
Carol Cat's legs went weak and she collapsed to the ground, her speech slurred. Her experience was probably like suddenly riding a roller coaster without warning, with the constant possibility of crashing into trees—in reality, she might have wet herself from fright.
"Ugh... so noisy..."
Sigrdrífa was awakened by Carol Cat's shouting. I took the opportunity to stand up. Although I had been lap-pillowed by Sigrdrífa for two hours, I felt no discomfort upon standing.
"Lady Carol Cat, I need an explanation."
"Mya?"
"Did you lead Baron Trafalgar here?"
"The baron asked to deliver a ssage to Anna... No ow! I'm innocent ow!"
Carol Cat whimpered as she defended herself. Had she been coerced by Trafalgar?
"Anna, what's wrong?"
Sigrdrífa asked anxiously what was happening while pinching her cheeks to wake herself up more quickly.
"Baron Trafalgar has also co."
I replied simply. In the short ti, Trafalgar had already successfully broken through the outer traps with magical assistance. Having lost Carol Cat, Trafalgar's direction was slightly off, but he was generally still approaching this way.
Sigrdrífa's expression changed, and she quickly entered stealth mode.
"Wait, wait!"
But Carol Cat frantically tried to stop us as we prepared for battle.
"He said he won't attack you mya!"
"Then what is he here for?"
Sigrdrífa obviously didn't believe it, but one detail caught my attention.
Trafalgar had followed Carol Cat here alone.
Either he believed he could break through Sigrdrífa and to kill Lily and monopolize Duke Borgia's bounty, or... he had another purpose.
Before long, Baron Trafalgar's figure finally appeared in the forest.
His sword never left his hand, constantly alert to his surroundings. I guessed he was guarding against Sigrdrífa's sneak attacks—moon elves' stealth almost certainly guaranteed first strike.
However, when he stepped out of the forest shade, both Sigrdrífa and I were dumbfounded.
How should I put it... Baron Trafalgar had completely lost his noble bearing. He hadn't changed his outfit, but his entire body was covered with cat scratch marks, his face bore three claw marks, and what was on his wrists were... bite marks...?
Had he been attacked by vicious wild cats on the way here?
Trafalgar seed aware of his embarrassing state and waved his hand awkwardly.
"Don't pay too much attention to my injuries. Anastasia, I hope we can have a chat."
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