"Um... then let's wait a while!" The caravan stewards were still somewhat uneasy. After all, even Crocodile Men had appeared, yet Nalant claimed that giant crocodile was his captive.
But Baron Nalant himself was still here in the town and had not fled. So long as Baron Nalant was not insane, he surely would not joke with his own life.
Thus, the caravans finally stopped and waited.
However, their carriages remained where they were, and even the drivers did not dismount, clearly prepared to flee at the first sign of trouble.
Nalant saw the caravans' behavior but paid it no mind.
Soon afterward, Mario and Thomas also arrived. Villagers had already gone to report the earlier commotion.
They were exceedingly surprised to find Nalant here.
Nalant did not explain much. He had the two bring over chairs, then sat down comfortably to wait.
In the blink of an eye, more than an hour and a half had passed.
For Nalant, the wait was not difficult, since he had tables, chairs, tea, and refreshments.
But the caravan members were wound tight with anxiety, making every moment feel like a year.
"Ah, they're here, they're here! Those are beastfolk!"
A moment later, a sharp-eyed caravan member suddenly cried out.
The crowd immediately stirred.
Just as at the forest on Storm Territory's border, Nalant had too few subordinates. From afar, the first thing people saw was naturally a cluster of green dots with distinctly different skin.
As they cried out, everyone glanced again at Nalant. If he had not remained so unhurriedly sipping tea from an exquisite silver cup, they would probably have turned and run at once.
Second by second, the distant procession drew closer.
"Ah, I see them! Those are Storm Territory's Magic Beast Knights!"
As the procession approached, the sight