Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 4 Episode 2 (section)

===Part 13===

Under the same dark sky of the night.

「……I see, so those bitches already overtook us. That’s unfortunate.」

At the dock of Ries Island, the sound of sea breeze and surging waves could be heard.

In that place far away from the base of Lux and the others, there were the figures of Marquis Dobar and his private forces.

「We have no excuse. For us who aren’t used to Ruin investigations, also coupled with our encounter with the Abyss, it will be hard to raise our speed further than this.」

A man in the prime of his life who seemed to be the leader of the group made his report quietly.

「I see, it’s something that I have anticipated beforehand. Don’t worry.」

In contrast Dobar showed a large-hearted smile without any sign of impatience.

Dobar’s post in the New Kingdom was as an adviser to the military, but he almost had no experience in commanding in a real battle.

He was a man who was rising up only by buttering up the strong, disdaining the weak, and made liberal use of trickery.

The person himself was almost powerless in using a Drag-Ride or in battle.

But, the man who was the group’s leader thought that this man’s point of favor was that he understood about that fact

Therefore, even in the mission this time to snatch the treasures of the Ruin, Dobar wasn’t hastily doing anything reckless but──

「Then, let’s triple our marching speed tomorrow. We will choose only the shortest route that is easy to pass through.」

Dobar showed a smile that filled his whole face which distorted his flabby cheeks.

「-……!?」

That very reckless plan caused the leader’s face to cramp.

It was his first time questioning the sanity of his master since he worked for this man named Dobar.

「With all due respect, certainly we will be able to progress faster if we choose the path that is easier to travel. But, doing that will raise our encounter rate with the Abyss, if we move at high speed through a path where our sight is obstructed, it might cause various incidents. With our force’s composition and the troop’s proficiency, our speed today is our limit──」

The leader took a deep breath and objected.

This kind of common sense was applied not only in the Ruin, but also when marching in an undeveloped area that had wild beasts or the Abyss living in it. Surely there was no way Dobar didn’t know about that.

Therefore, the leader didn’t understand about the true intention of his master who was trying to force his way.

When everyone present gulped their saliva nervously while observing Dobar’s reaction──

「Ha-ha-ha-ha!」

After a pause of a few seconds, Dobar raised his voice and laughed out.

It wasn’t a crazed laugh, but a bright voice.

The men of Dobar’s private force showed a dubious face, it was then Dobar snapped his fingers towards the large ship behind him.

「No, sorry for that. Looks like I surprised everyone a little. Of course, I’m aware of the problem you mentioned. Don’t worry.」

「Then…… our march tomorrow will be the same as today?」

「……No, there is no change in what I said. Triple the speed, just like I said.」

Dobar’s cheerful smile went through a round-about change and his eyes glared fiercely.

「It’s not impossible if the unit’s composition is focused on mobility. For the sake of the New Kingdom, no matter what method I have to use, I have to expose the deepest part of the Ruin!」

「Ho, however……. If we are lacking in vigilance and encounter a lot of the Abyss or traps, our forces might get annihilated. More than this is──」

*GAKIiiiiN*

A dull sound of scraping metals resounded. Dobar’s private force all raised their faces.

A square lump of iron was dragged out by a <Wyrm> from the military ship behind, it crossed over the ship and brought it to the land.

When the lump of iron was placed above a stand that was attached to a pulley and arrived before their eyes, the troops shuddered.

「Oo, it finally arrived. My trump card.」

「Trump card……? Is it a new weapon? Or perhaps──」

The leader felt an air of unrest and reflexively asked that.

That box that could also be called as a lump of iron──.

No, that thing that was encircled by firm locks and chains looked like a cage.

「Open it.」

Dobar didn’t reply and instead gave instructions to the soldiers lowering down the cargo.

The thick iron door was opened and the contents became clear.

「This is……!?」

The men of Dobar’s private forces became speechless after taking a glance.

It wasn’t an armament, it also wasn’t a Drag-Ride, it wasn’t even a weapon.

It was a person.

A shackled black haired girl, her eyes blindfolded, and her body clad in a foreign outfit they had never seen before.

Not even caring about the binding that was painful to even look at, the girl’s mouth was smiling.

「Gentlemen, I’ll introduce her. This is the trump card that was hidden by that Old Empire Arkadia──she was called the Empire’s Assassin Dagger, the worst and the strongest Drag-Knight.」

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