Chapter 44: Bond between parent and child

Amidst the astonishment of everyone present, Rudy grabbed Alfred’s hair as he squatted down, pulled out a short sword from his waist, and pressed it against his neck.

“If you want this idiot to remain alive, step aside.”

A soldier who regained his senses drew his sword. However, upon seeing the sword pressed against Alfred’s neck, he could do nothing but step back.

“Rudy-kun…”

Carl had an expression that seemed to say, “You’ve done it now.”

“We don’t have much time, we have to push through!”

To anyone’s eyes, Nina’s life was hanging by a thread, and time was of the essence.

What am I hesitating for? If it saves Nina’s life, I’ll become a wanted criminal or anything!

Carl also looked down at Nina in his arms and made up his mind.

“If you don’t want to become wanted criminals, sever ties with me.”

When Carl addressed his two sons, they looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.

Then, suddenly, Dominic swiftly struck one of the soldiers, causing him to faint, and while the remaining soldiers were still surprised, Shawn quickly chanted a spell, causing the soldiers to stagger and fall to the ground.

The two sons who defeated the soldiers turned to Carl.

“You’re kidding, right? I can’t imagine our family being separated.”

“If it saves Mom’s life, we’ll become wanted criminals too.”

In response to Dominic and Shawn’s replies, Carl laughed out loud.

“Hahaha. That’s my boys, I’m proud of you. Rudy-kun, let’s go!”

“Roger that!”

As Rudy started walking, Alfred, who was still being held by the hair, shouted loudly.

“Ow, damn it, let go! You guys won’t get away with this!”

“You’re really annoying.”

Rudy said so and slammed Alfred’s face against the wall, still holding his hair.

“…Ugh! You…ugh! Let go…ugh!”

He repeatedly slammed Alfred’s face against the wall, causing blood to flow from his nose and mouth, until he passed out.

“Aren’t you going too far?”

“This idiot picked a fight. Be grateful that you’re still alive.”

When Carl spoke to Rudy, Rudy replied with heavy breathing.

“Father, who is this boy?”

When Dominic asked about Rudy’s true identity, Carl shook his head.

“I can’t explain it now. But, well…figure it out.”

“I see, I understand.”

Dominic thought that there were circumstances that couldn’t be explained in the village, where someone might be listening. He decided not to ask any further for now.

“Let’s go.”

Prompted by Rudy, everyone dashed out of the inn and headed towards the forest.

The sun disappeared below the horizon, and the sky transformed into a starry night. In the darkened forest, Shawn illuminated the path with his magic while the footsteps of the four could be heard treading on the grass amidst the chirping of insects.

In Carl’s arms, Nina had a pained expression as she slept, and Carl occasionally checked on her, relieved that she was still alive.

“So, Father, where are we heading?”

“We’re almost there.”

Without answering Shawn’s question, Carl followed Rudy, who was running ahead.

As Rudy walked ahead, he contacted Hal through his cybernetic brain interface.

“It’s an emergency. The patient’s condition is worse than expected.”

“Assuming an arrival time of one hour, I will begin preparations in the medical room.”

“Prepare it in 50 minutes.”

“Running an aero bike in the forest at night is dangerous.”

“I know that even without being told. Also, I know you’re monitoring from above. Track Carl’s two sons and bring Solaris to them.”

“…Are you sure?”

“If it weren’t for that idiot getting involved, I would have left them in the village. Damn it!”

As Rudy ended the communication with Hal, they arrived at their destination, and Rudy moved the aero bike from the bushes.

“Carl, to prevent Nina from falling, tie her with your robe!”

Upon Rudy’s command, Carl nodded and began to tie his own body and Nina together, tearing the sheet that was wrapping her.

“Your names are Dominic and Shawn, right?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah.”

While Carl was working, Rudy talked to Dominic and Shawn.

“It’s dangerous to go back to the village. Hide in the forest until a lifeless woman comes to pick you up, then run away with her.”

“Wait! Even if you say she’ll pick us up, how will you know our location?”

“Through Shisho’s magic, somehow.”

It was actually monitoring through thermal sensing from Nike, but Rudy pretended that it was Noemi’s magic that could do anything.

“The magic of the Witch of the Abyss… Well, that seems fine.”

“Rudy, was it? I trust you since my father and mother are in your hands.”

Shawn nodded, and Dominic helped Carl while they both got onto the back seat of the aero bike.

“Rudy-kun, we’re ready. Let’s hurry!”

Once Carl seated Nina between Rudy and himself, ensuring that she wouldn’t fall under any circumstances, he called out to Rudy.

“A temporary farewell, Salad Bar.”

Rudy said, and the aero bike rushed into the darkness of the forest.

“They went that way, search for them!”

“I heard a noise. It’s over there!”

After Rudy’s aero bike had gone, voices could be heard from a distance.

“It seems like they have no time to be surprised. Let’s run away.”

“It’s already a chaotic situation, but right now, we have no choice but to trust that Rudy.”

Dominic and Shawn looked at each other, nodded, and ran into the depths of the forest to evade the pursuers.

“Noemi, I’m going out, so please have ready-to-eat meals for dinner.”

In the living room of their house, Noemi and Franz were engaged in a conversation about magic when Solaris placed two cups of ramen and hot water on the table.

“Going out now?”

“Yes, precisely.”

Noemi looked out the window, where darkness had enveloped the night, making it a dangerous time to venture into the forest.

“Hmm. Where are you going at this hour?” Noemi asked Solaris.

“It’s for the retrieval of Franz-sama’s brothers.”

“You mean my brothers, Dominic and Shawn?”

Franz was surprised and asked Solaris.

“That’s what I’ve heard. The estimated return is in two days.”

“Wait a minute. What the heck is going on? I don’t understand the situation.”

“Please rest assured. I am also struggling to understand. Well then, as I am in a hurry, I shall take my leave.”

Saying so, Solaris swiftly left the house.

“Naraku-sama, what in the world…”

“Don’t ask me. But right now, the most pressing issue is this.”

Saying that, Noemi directed her gaze to the cup ramen placed on the table.

“How are we supposed to eat this?”

“I don’t know either.”

Noemi and Franz looked at each other and tilted their heads in unison.

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T/N: Cup ramen – only the greatest invention for mankind and for all the gamers who didn’t die due to hunger because of it.