Just as I was slaughtering bandits outside.
A stifling atmosphere filled the stone fortress. For some reason, everyone's fear had been inexplicably magnified.
Roxy said to Rudy,
"Rudy, Big Brother Dolin will be all right, won't he? What if he runs into danger? I think we should go out and help him."
"Roxy, I've thought it through. Big Brother Dolin has flight magic, so he shouldn't be in danger. Even if he can't win, he can still run away!"
"Ah, but what if he runs away? What are we supposed to do then? Wait here to die?"
Elinalise was slightly displeased to hear Roxy say something so discouraging.
"Roxy, at times like this, we need to have faith in him. Once Dolin says he'll do something, there's nothing he can't accomplish. Even if Dolin does have to retreat, he'll find reinforcements to save us.
If the Earth Fortress is breached, I'll stay behind and cover your retreat. You and Rudy must hurry to the labyrinth city of Rapan and find Paul and the others to rescue me.
Don't worry. I know how to deal with these bandits. My life won't be in danger."
Roxy didn't know how to respond. She had traveled with Elinalise for a long time and understood what she meant. Perhaps a bandit hideout wasn't all that frightening to her.
Meanwhile, over by the caravan, Yani the blockhead was also shouting that she wanted to go out and help Dolin. Her eldest sister, Darcy Romero, and second sister, Eunice Morgan, held her down together. Only the caravan leader, Helen Robert, remained silent.
At that moment, Ben Robert stepped before their leader and whispered,
"President, are these bandits the same ones from when my brother-in-law died? I think I saw that scar-faced man among them—the one who shot