The Merchant and Tavern Master

Rescue

Isabelle lay unconscious, a result of the terrible ordeal she had endured.

"Is... is she okay?" Amanda inquired anxiously.

"I'm not sure, but she's still breathing," I replied while attempting to detect her pulse.

Carefully, I lifted her and began to search for a concealed spot, with Amanda following closely.

My mind raced, contemplating our next move. I need to find a means of escaping this wretched place, but was it even feasible? My only hope lay in the possibility that we weren't too far from the city, though, truthfully, I had no clue about our whereabouts.

I want her to be treated by the priest as soon as possible.

Should I bring her to the carriage spot? But is it safe? The driver, attendee, even the syndicate people are still there, and I'm here with one child and one unconscious girl. There's no way I can win. I was able to defeat the orc who had assaulted Isabelle because the attack happened suddenly.

"Wh... what should we do now?" Amanda asked, her anxiety still evident. Blast it, she must have sensed my own unease. Take a breath. I can't allow these children to feel afraid. What good is being an adult if I can't protect them?

"It's alright. I will do something. Don't worry, Amanda," I reassured her, my fingers softly running through her tangled hair in an attempt to soothe her concerns. A small smile graced her lips, a thankful expression. Yes, that's the way a child should smile. I'll make certain their safety comes first.

But then again, what should I do? Should I steal the carriage? Can I compel them to surrender it? How many individuals make up this group? I moved cautiously, Isabelle's unconscious form in my arms.

A strange sensation washed over me. Just moments ago, cries echoed from various directions, but now, an eerie silence had settled in. What had transpired?

We arrived at the location where the carriage had been parked, yet curiously, no one was in sight. I gently laid Isabelle on the grass.

"Amanda, stay here and remain quiet, alright? I'll see if we can use the carriage."

"B...be careful, Sir," Amanda replied, her voice filled with concern.

I cautiously walked through the shadowy corners, hoping to remain unnoticed. My pace was deliberate and slow. As I neared the carriage, I noticed small splatters of blood. Had there been a confrontation among them?

"Stop!" The command came from a woman's voice, halting my steps abruptly.

"Don't harm him. He's our operative," she continued, her order clearly not directed at me.

"It's been a while, Takahiko," I recognized the voice. The presence it carried was sharp and commanding, unmistakable.

"Miss Dawnheart?" I stumbled and fell backward in surprise as she suddenly materialized seemingly out of thin air. What was that? The sudden appearance was incredibly unnerving! This woman held a leadership position within the dedicated corps of my king known as 'Artemis.' I now temporarily joined with this corps to aid in the search for Isabelle, striking a deal to exchange my services for information about the brothels in the city to find any activities involving children.

"Let me tell you that your head was nearly separated from your body if you had continued," she remarked with a sly smile. "We deliberately used this spot as bait, you see." Once again, I marveled at the sheer luck that had carried me through life until now.

"...and this operation can be deemed a success, thanks in no small part to your recklessness. When I first heard about your plan yesterday, I was astounded at why we hadn't thought of it sooner. But it has yielded results, the king will be pleased."