Bodyguards

He went to the counter and pulled out a bag with several fingers inside. It was proof he had defeated those monsters. It was even easier for the slimes; each carried a gem in the center of its body; it was what gave life to the slime.

One of the two elves behind the counter covered her mouth as if she were about to vomit. The coachman, who still saw them as children, made a look of contempt directed at Issei.

Then the knight showed the bodyguard quest. The elves' eyes widened; they were happy that someone wanted to save them from the strange disappearances.

The two knights, now just adventurers, returned to the inn. Their armor was gathering dust on the floor; the heat was making itself felt in the south.

Asia had slowly managed to do her shopping; little Josuke was helping her. The four chatted together, waiting for the evening.

<Do you think we'll meet a dragon?>

Josuke asked, always eager to talk about dragons.

<I hope not.>

Just thinking about them meeting one made Asia shiver. Issei felt the same way; a dragon at that moment would be a hindrance to their mission to save the kingdom.

<Ugh, I'm bored. I miss the castle.>

That sentence took everyone's breath away.

<Aren't you worried about this whole situation?>

Sweet Asia asked. She was very worried; she had no family in the kingdom, but she was worried about the person who had given her life.

That royal knight was the most important person to her. Asia didn't know what love or family was. She didn't even know where she was born or who her real parents were.

<Elves disappear at night.>

Shirou brought up a very sensitive topic with brutality. Issei scratched his head, realizing that Asia and Josuke would be alone at the inn.

<I'll protect the wolf woman!>

The prince stepped forward as Asia's protector. Issei sighed.

<Sorry we kept this from you. We didn't mean to worry you.>

Asia didn't know what to say; her life was in danger, and the people she trusted had lied to her and then abandoned her.

<We're trying to figure out who or what is causing the elves to disappear.>

As much as Shirou tried to reassure Asia, the damage had already been done.

Silence fell in the room, Issei searching for the words to resolve the matter, but Asia had already headed for the stove, feeling betrayed.

After dinner, Issei and Shirou said goodbye to the wolf woman and the prince, wishing them well.

The two headed to the village chief's house, which was in the tallest tree of all.

With a long sigh, they began to climb. The strong wind made the climb difficult, but they finally reached the top. The sun was setting.

<Village chief, we are his bodyguards!>

The old man scratched his beard and, saying something softly, invited them inside. It seemed as if time stood still in that house, yet everything was strangely clean.

His dwelling consisted of a single large room, complete with a kitchen, a dining room, and a bed. The bathroom was a few floors below.

The old man rubbed his eyes and threw himself onto the bed.

<You stay inside, I'll stay outside.>

Issei ordered Shirou. Minutes passed, then hours. Every now and then they switched, both because the wind outside was quite strong and to check that they were both awake.

The hours passed, and fatigue was starting to take its toll.

<If we stay here on guard, the culprit probably won't show up.>

<At least the village chief will be safe, and we'll get our reward.>

Issei was thinking that this way they'd never find the elf kidnapper, but Shirou just wanted the reward.

At a certain point, Issei noticed the bed was different. He moved the blankets embroidered with the village's embroidery. Under them, only the outline of where the old elf slept remained.

<Shirou! The village chief! He's gone!>

The coachman immediately returned inside. Indeed, the village chief had disappeared.

<What do we do?!>

Shirou asked worriedly.

<The guild is closed at this hour, we can't do anything. The mission has failed.>

Their efforts were in vain: not only did they fail to protect the village chief, they couldn't even find out who had done it.

The coachman, filled with rage, slammed the door and began climbing down the tree. Issei calmly joined him.
They searched in vain for the village chief, for any sign, but nothing.

When the sun began to peek over the hills, the two adventurers gave up.

<Let's go back to the inn and get what little sleep we can.>

The coachman was right, it was better to rest before the painful awakening.
Unfortunately, Issei couldn't sleep; he kept thinking about the village chief.

What will I tell him at the guild? Will they take me to court again? Will they give me the death penalty straight away?

He was about to find himself in the same situation as when he was in the kingdom of Wohlstand.

When they awoke, many elves gathered at the inn door.

<You are the elf kidnappers!>

<You are monsters!>

<Get out of here!>

They were all angry with Issei and Shirou. The two adventurer knew they were not guilty, but there was no way to make the angry townspeople understand that.

The elves were already disappearing before their arrival, but the fury of the people was impossible to quell.

Trapped inside the inn, Issei and the coachman decided to escape through the window. Using tools found inside the house, they climbed down.

When they reached the ground, they found themselves surrounded. They ran as fast as they could toward the edge of the village.

An unusual mission had forced them to flee the village. And they were labeled murderers.

If they didn't resolve the situation quickly, news would reach the capital. And if that happened, their plan to reach the demon king's castle would fail miserably.

The two hid behind a hill outside the village.
Issei's breathing continued to increase.

<Issei, calm down!>

The knight looked at Shirou, worried. Issei's thoughts were racing from one side of his mind to the other.

Asia and Josuke are with us, so will they take our place?! Will the same thing happen as when I was at war?! I don't want to hurt anyone else! It's all my fault!

Tears rolled down the knight's eyes.
The coachman slapped him.

<Get a grip! Don't get depressed, don't give up yet!>

Issei returned to reality. He was still unsure of what would happen. He wiped away his tears and they thought of a plan together.