Chapter 98

"Ziel! What are you doing?!"

Though this was an unexpected turn of events, Reta glared at the one responsible for the situation.

"Don’t call my name so casually!"

In response to the angry shout, another angry shout came back.

However, Reta was not intimidated.

On the contrary, her anger grew even more, as she could not forgive Ziel for hurting her family.

"I heard you really became a bandit. But I don’t care what happened to you. Let go of my precious daughter!"

"…Dad"

"Min, wait. I’ll save you soon."

The captive daughter nodded slightly at Reta’s words.

"…Dad"

"Luna, I’m sorry. If I had returned earlier, this wouldn’t have happened."

"No, Dad, it’s not your fault! This man stabbed Riggs and hurt Hilde!"

From Luna’s words, Reta understood roughly what had happened while he was away.

Indeed, this was unforgivable, or rather, he had no intention of forgiving it.

"Hey… what did you just say!? You said you don’t care about me!?"

"Then what do you want me to say?"

"Because of you, I’ve fallen so low! And you didn’t even know!?"

"I can somewhat sympathize with your situation, but don’t blame others! Since we parted ways in the capital, we hadn’t even seen each other. What could I have done for you?"

"Hah, that’s right. You didn’t know anything! Your firing and my downfall, it all started with you, Reta!"

Ziel continued, spitting out the words.

"The nobles found out about the secret healing magic you kept hidden. That alone wouldn’t have been a problem, but the nobles tried to poach you with a high salary!"

He already knew he had been used, but the idea that the nobles in the capital had considered poaching him was new to him.

"Moreover, the treatment was so good that it made being an adventurer seem ridiculous!"

"Are you saying you fired me just for that reason?"

"Yes. If you stayed in the capital, you would have been poached. Then I would have had to see you succeed! That’s why I kicked you out of the party!"

"But even if you did that, it wouldn’t have meant anything."

"Of course, I planned to drive you out of the capital afterward, but thanks to your promiscuous lover, you left on your own! It was hilarious! But because of that, I’m ruined by potion costs and medical bills!"

It was a very self-centered argument.

Reta, who had been listening, was beyond angry; he was even exasperated.

"You tried to drive me out of the capital, but now you blame me for leaving… Don’t make everything my fault. Wake up, Ziel!"

"Shut up!"

"Right now, I can mediate with the guild and the lord. Stop this foolishness and surrender!"

"You’re talking down to me in this situation? You’ve got some nerve, man!"

Ziel’s grip on Min tightened.

Reta silently apologized to his suffering daughter.

Even as he continued the conversation, Reta was looking for an opportunity to rescue Min.

"You can’t do anything to Min. If you do, I’ll kill you. I promise you that."

"…You’ll kill me? What a bluff."

"A hostage is only a hostage if they’re alive. If you hurt Min, I’ll kill you, no matter the cost."

Reta was serious.

If anything happened to Min, he had no intention of letting Ziel live.

He was determined to kill him, no matter the price.

Perhaps sensing his resolve, Ziel’s movements stiffened.

"It was a mistake not to bring my comrades."

"I don’t have any comrades like those scumbags!"

The proud Ziel couldn’t admit to becoming a bandit.

When called a comrade of the bandits, the man, driven by emotion, tried to swing his sword.

(—Now!)

If he could just take the weapon, it would be manageable.

Luna was also waiting for an opportunity to attack.

Just as Reta was about to slip into Ziel’s guard and rescue his daughter—

"Hey, Dixon! What are you doing? Is this inn safe!?"

Nexsen, who was supposed to be waiting outside the inn, couldn’t stand it anymore and came in.