"Why did you attack us?"
The guard Captain stammered, unwilling to answer.
Maria drew the dagger strapped to her thigh and tossed it lightly from hand to hand, letting the threat speak for itself.
The guard Captain had no choice but to tell the truth: ordinarily, they were common citizens of the Rikaner Kingdom, but whenever travelers with no backing passed through, they turned bandit, robbing and killing them.
"We were just following the Town chief's orders..."
"Where is he?"
"In Town!"
Lemon released the Captain, and Annan told him to go bring the town chief out.
"Don't try anything."
"I won't, I won't—"
Freed from the water sphere, the Captain fled into town without looking back, heedless of the cold.
"He's definitely going to try something," Maria said, as if she could already see what would happen next.
"Unless they've got a Demigod or Saint hidden in Town, even a Mage Tower won't save them."
Annan wasn't worried. His confidence came from the three talismans he carried, given to him by the Skeleton King, Mr. Swaro, and Dean Breichim.
Gurgle, gurgle—
Lemon came over on her own, making an unnatural gurgling sound. Through the faint link of the Eternal Contract, Annan sensed that she wanted Happy Water.
That was a good sign!
Annan took a bottle from his Magic Ring, which held just about everything, and watched Lemon pour the Happy Water into its body.
A mass of bubbles rose inside Lemon, and a steady stream of delight flowed through the Contract.
Annan remembered that Greater Water Elementals didn't have much awareness... Was Lemon about to advance?
Clatter, clatter—
A jumble of footsteps sounded. In the next instant, an Arcane Missile shot toward them.
Illymoyas didn't move. The Magic Shield on her Mage Robe activated on its own and