Shuna Meets the Blazing Magical General
　I really want someone to explain this situation to me.
　Right now, this country’s strongest military force, the Blazing Magical General, is chasing us. It’s definitely not my fault.

"Curse you! Stop running away!"

With one swing from the Blazing Magical General’s halberd, several trees were effortlessly cut down.
　Uwa-, what an unbelievable power.
　Just how much strength does that person have?

"Hey, what are you going to do? That woman is really angry right now!"

　Aisha-chan asks me while I’m carrying her by my side.
　That’s exactly what I wanted to say. I wonder what I should do.
　Oh, by the way, that Blazing Magical General is a woman.
She’s completely encased in full jet-black plate armor, but underneath that she’s surprisingly a beauty.

"You know! With Shuna-chan’s sword, you should just defeat her with it."

"N-no way! If I did, it will become really messy"

　It was an unfortunate situation, - Yup, it really was just a coincidence.
　Everything started because of one tragic mistake.


　　　* * * * *

(Just a while ago)

　Because Aisha-chan needed to use the toilet, I carried her some distance away from the camp and set her down by some nearby bushes.

"Shuna-chan, are you there?"

"I’m here~."

"Don’t let go of my hand, okay!"

"I'm properly holding it~."

　The light from the nearby camp fire was still able to reach here, so Aisha-chan was able to calm down somewhat.
While still holding hands, I faced the direction we will be heading to tomorrow.

"Don’t you dare listen!

"I won’t, I won’t."

　That said, it would be impossible to not to hear with my <Enhanced Senses>.
　Since the girl’s pride was at stake, I also had to be tactful and pretend not to hear anything.

　Then, a voice spoke in the back of my head.

[Notification from <Search>. Three armed targets have been detected and are approaching your current location.]

"Eh?"

"W-what’s wrong!?"

　The true identity of a voice is another ability of the bronze sword, <Parellel Intelligence>.
　It manages all my abilities, or lets me know if a threat is detected by the <Search> ability, just like right now.
　It’s not like I can use all the abilities I’ve acquired, you know.
　I think it will take a while before I’m familiar with them.

"Aisha-chan, lower your voice. It looks like something is coming closer."

"Is it g-ghosts!? P-please stop that, you can’t sca-......"

"No, it’s not a ghost, it’s ... ...."

　It was very quiet, but I could faintly hear the sounds of leaves being crushed.
　Thanks to the bronze sword I was able to hear it, but for them to be able to erase their presence to such a degree, it might be the work of a pro.

"... ... Aisha-chan, are you done?"

"Y-yes."

　Aisha-chan confirms it.
　After hearing that, I faced towards the direction of intruders that I couldn’t see and called out to them.

"Don’t move! I know your location and I can use magic. If we fought now, you’ll be the ones at a disadvantage. If you have something to say, thrown down your weapons and show yourself! "

　I uttered a command word and made a small flame appear at the end of my sword.
　With this, maybe I can frighten them a little.
　I wonder if they’ll obediently come out.

　For a while, the presence showed no signs of the movement, but soon we heard a “tsk” sound, someone had clicked their tongue. One of the nearby bushes started swaying.

"Shit, just ….when did they notice us ... ..."

　When the voice spoke, Aisha-chan jumped out the bushes with a tremendous spurt.

"Abyaaaaaaa! I-it’s a ghoooooost!"

"Ah, Aisha-chan! Underwear, you’re underwear!"

"Hey, stop right there!"

　From three different bushes, we all rushed out.

　But Aisha-chan!
　It might be fine since the skirt prevented everything from being exposed, but it’s still dangerous.
　I pick up the trousers (a common type of underwear that wraps both the waist and thighs with a string) and ran towards the campfire.

　While I stood in front to protect the cowering Aisha-chan, the encroaching group revealed themselves in front of the camp fire.
From the looks of it they were bandits, and one particular villainous looking one stood at the front of the group.

"Ou~ Ou~, Nothing personal, jou-chan. Just hand over that little brat so we can collect our reward from the client. It’s a shame, but we’re gonna capture you too. But don’t ya worry, jou-chan, we’ll introduce you to a new job. A job where you’ll be pleasing men."

　Uwaa-, what a shameless scumbag.
　When I raised my sword, the bandits laughed loudly.

"Gahahahaha! Pointing such a cheap-ass looking sword at us, don’t tell me you’re planning to fight us with that?

"Haw, Haw, Haw! It’s three against one, jou-chan. Didn’t think that through, did ya? It’s not like we want to hurt you, we won’t be able to sell you at a high price if we do."

"Well, she has thin body, but her face isn’t bad. Don’t worry, the slave dealers meet all sorts of clients with strange tastes, I’m sure he’ll find someone to buy you, jou-chan.”

　Yeeeep~
　Their motives were so transparent, I was dumbfounded.

　I don’t have to listen to these bastard’s remarks any longer right?
　Thanks to the bronze sword, I’m aware there is no one else nearby.
　Let's just end this with the <Memory Manipulation> quickly.

　It’ll take me some time to think of a new setting for their memories though.
　...... While I was thinking, <Parallel Intelligence> interrupted and warned me about something.

[Notification from <Search>. One new armed target has been discovered and is approaching your current location.]

　What’s going on?
　Reinforcements?

"Hey, you lot. There are only three of you guys, right? You don’t have another friend hiding somewhere or something like that?”

"Haah? We are members of the Chichut bandit group. Out of the 30 members that were caught, only the three of us are left. ... ...."

　Somehow, a slightly depressing mood settled in.

"Uuu~! Boss, I’m so sorry."

"Uoooo~! ... I…., I couldn’t…!"

"Damnit, don’t cry! Let’s just capture these guys, get the reward money, and we can rebuild the bandit group with it!

　Yup.
　Somehow, I felt their stupidity being transmitted to me.
　But, if the remnants of the bandit group are here, then who is coming?

[Warning. The third party has begun to accelerate at a tremendous rate and is approaching at a rapid pace.]

"Mira, which direction are they coming from?"

　By the way, Mira is the nickname for <Parallel Intelligence> that I came up with.
　In the ancient language, it’s supposed to mean "mirror".

　Mira replied.

[Calculating. From above.]

"Above!?"

　Something came down from above our heads.
　In an instant, a black shaped thing came crashing down from the sky!

"Uryaaaa!"

"Kyaa!"

"Ugyaaaa!"

　With a deafening sound, the ground erupted.
　It was a halberd.
　What I thought was a mass of steel, turned out to be a knight clad in full plate.

"Everything is alright now, young man. I’m here now!"

　From the voice alone, it was probably a woman.
　But to be honest, that was a crazy entrance she made.

　…..wait, young man?
　Well, I know I lost weight and my hair is short after all, but still.
　...... Should…..I grow my hair out?

"Hey! You damn bandits! The Guardian of the Kingdom, Blazing Magical General Valencia is here to arrest you!"

　The woman named Valencia-san, pointed her halberd towards the bandits and rushed at them.

"Warning. <Search> and <Appraisal> has determined the woman named Valencia possesses equipment with the ability, <Righteousness (?)(不惑)>, which renders <Memory Manipulation> ineffective.”

　Mira announced in an emotionless voice.
　In the end, I lost the chance to use <Memory Manipulation> on everyone once they ran away.
　Aaa~, the number of troublesome people just increased again. ....