Volume 4 Chapter 14 Chase
Al watched as a the pale and glowing man ran away. He wondered how to catch him. Eric's Detect Invisible spell only worked within 50 meters (≈164 feet), but the man was farther than that. Al's 'Magic Missile' couldn't reach either. Bringing Eric closer would help, but from their earlier fight, Al knew Eric couldn't run fast enough to catch up.
"Where did he disappear?"
Captain Jonas and Placida stood next to Al, looking in the same direction.
"About that tree with 3 branches... It's around 200 meters (≈ 656 feet) from here."
Captain Jonas frowned at Al's words. Eric shook his head.
"That's outside the detection range."
At this rate, they would let him escape... While watching Eric, Al suddenly had an idea. Mr. Eric wasn't as strong as Iris, but he wasn't as weak as Orson either. His gear looked light. Maybe...?
"Mr. Eric, please sit in this chair."
'Carrier'
Al pulled over a floating, white glowing chair in front of him. It was a transformed disk he had used to play with Iris before.
"What is this?"
"This is a chair made from the 'Carrier' spell's disk. It has armrests, so please hold on to them."
Pushed by Al's enthusiasm, Eric sat down in the chair. The Carrier spell's chair floated gently without touching the ground.
"Mr. Eric. Can you use the 'Detect Invisible' spell or the 'Telepathy' spell while sitting in that chair? If so, I will carry you with this."
Al was desperate. Even while talking, the enemy was getting further away. Eric, who was forced to sit in the chair, held onto the armrests with a confused expression.
'Detect Invisible'
After looking around with a slightly nervous expression, he nodded lightly.
"Yeah, it seems okay. I can sense the wooden box."
Al nodded seriously. Eric was staring at Al's face, looking unsure of what to do next.
"Sir Jonas. For now, I will chase after them. Even if I run randomly, if we can catch them within a 50-meter (≈ 164 feet) range, we should be able to capture them. Then I can use Telepathy from Mr. Eric to Sir Jonas."
"Got it, we will chase after you. Run!"
Captain Jonas finally seemed convinced and shouted that.
"Yes!"
'Physical Boost'──Enhanced Speed
Al dashed down the earthen ramp that was about 5 meters (≈16.4 feet) high. Naturally, the floating chair that Eric was sitting in followed him down with great speed.
"Whoaaaaa?!"
Eric desperately clung to the armrest of the chair. Al was a magician, but his skills as a scout were not that low either; in terms of movement, he was just as good as the guards. He had further enhanced himself with the Physical Boost spell. His running speed was like that of a horse sprinting at full speed.
"Are you okay? Let me know if you spot him."
The 200 meters (≈ 656 feet) passed in no time. Al stopped for a moment where the man had disappeared. Eric was breathing heavily behind him. If they got too close, they could suddenly be attacked by a 'Paralysis' spell or a 'Magic Missile' spell from the shadows. Al looked around while shielding Eric behind a tree.
"Uh, um, can you explain what we're going to do beforehand..."
The path stretched further north. However, in Al's view, he could see the figure of a man glowing pale blue in the wide field where the wheat had been harvested to the east.
"I don't think a bandit would run straight away. Right or left... let's go right."
Finding a reason, Al decided to chase after the pale blue glowing man.
"There he is, a little to the right."
After a while, Eric finally spoke up. His voice was still a bit shaky. It seemed there was a reaction to the 'Detect Invisible' spell. Al glanced down to see Captain Jonas finally climbing down the embankment with a rope.
"We're still a bit far, but as soon as I can reach him, I'll send a 'Telepathy' to Sir Jonas. Just keep going straight..."
Eric frantically gave instructions to Al. Al could see the glowing figure, but he pretended not to and shouted, "Where are you? Are you there?" as he moved closer. The enemy, unsure if they had been spotted, ran quickly through the wheat field. Soon, Captain Jonas and the team caught up. Al used this moment to get closer to the magician, Bashel. When they were about 30 meters (≈ 98 feet) away, Eric cast a dispel magic spell.
Bashel's figure appeared. As soon as Captain Jonas and Placida spotted him, they rushed in. Bashel tried to cast a spell, but before he could, he was knocked away by their charge and fell to the ground, unable to do anything.
"Oh, impressive. I'm glad."
Eric, sitting on a floating chair, let out a voice that sounded relieved.
* * *
Al, Eric, Captain Jonas, and Placida brought the magician Bashel, tied up, to the northwest corner of the square. There, they saw Kane in a tense standoff with three guards. Two bandit-looking men were lying on the ground. Behind Kane, a woman in her thirties, who seemed like a healer, was hiding.
"Captain Jonas, it seems there was a battle. What happened? Assistant Minister Kane hasn't told me anything."
Three guards spoke to Captain Jonas. He lightly waved his hands side to side.
"It's a crime investigation. We're trying to keep it small because there might be more people involved. If we need you, we'll ask for help. For now, just go back quietly."
Captain Jonas said this, and the three guards sighed, nodded, and headed back to their post. Kane sat down, relieved.
"I wanted to finish this quickly, but it got complicated. Lord Eric, can you remove the magic on the chest? Only Kane, Al, and I will check it since it relates to the crime. I'll take responsibility."
Eric nodded and went to the carriage. Kane followed, and Al went in after fixing the tent he knocked over. Placida stayed by the front carriage, gagging the magician to stop any spells and tied up the two bandits on the ground. A woman healer stayed nearby.
"Dispel Magic."
The magic vanished, revealing a wooden chest. Eric smiled, said goodbye, and left. Captain Jonas watched him go before breaking the lock with his dagger's handle. He opened the chest. Inside was Ruella, just as Al had seen from the bell tower. Her body was folded up, her face pale but peaceful like she was only sleeping. Captain Jonas quickly checked her pulse on her neck.
"She's pretty weak, but she's still breathing. Al and Kane, I'm leaving her to you. However, she will need to answer some questions later. Ask the woman waiting where we should take her."
Al and Kane nodded, wrapping Ruella in a blanket so she wouldn't be seen, then lifted her up. The slight warmth reminded them that she was still alive.
"I'll be investigating and cleaning up with Placida. Kane, have you contacted Lester about her yet?"
Captain Jonas should know her name, but he didn't say it, only mentioning Lester. Maybe it was because Placida and the healer were there. Al thought it might be better not to ask about the healer's name.
"Yes, the first messenger has already been sent. We plan to send the second messenger after confirming her safety."
Kane replied with a slight nod.
"Got it. Then we should be ready before our departure the day after tomorrow. Make sure to tell the second messenger to report to Baron Bancroft as well."
Baron Bancroft is the person in charge of the entire guard team that protects the border city of Lester and its surrounding area. Kane's face tightened a bit, but he slowly nodded. Seeing this, Captain Jonas took off the tent and sent the two of them outside.
"Placida. Once you tie up the 3 of them, help us with the investigation!"
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