Chapter 618: The Old Switcharoo
I stretched my arms above my head as I left the colosseum-like building that was the location of the slave exhibition.
Mother said that she still had some things to do so I would be returning to the manor house on my own with the girls first.
"What a day huh?" I asked the girls behind me.
Odeta grinned, "Wahahaha! We had some good fights I would say!"
Yeah, our Amrap was definitely enjoying herself during the fight… And I was definitely enjoying the fact that she enjoyed the fight too.
I fully intend to get her to let me fondle those abs of hers later~
Right now, despite it being late at night, the streets were still relatively crowded with people enjoying the night life of the city. Various bars and what seemed to be night clubs had opened up along the street and most of them had a slave or two trying to draw in customers at the front.
As we moved along the street in the direction of the manor, a number of the slaves tried to get our attention as we passed them.
"The pretty lady over there! We are running a special in our bar for pretty ladies! You get your second drink for free! Why not come and have a drink?"
"Over here, girls! We have some strapping hot studs bartending in our establishment! I guarantee you wouldn't be disappointed!"
"Hey there ladies! We're having a two for one special where you can get your pussy licked while enjoying some nice drinks at the same time! Why don't you come on over?"
"We have some free use slaves over here! Free use slaves at the club right here!"
Thankfully, the girls were quick to block the touters from trying to get to me so we managed to walk by them mostly unmolested.
Lisa did turn to look at me when she heard the free use slaves part but I gave her a stern look and she did not say anything.
Things got a little more problematic as we reached the more crowded part of the street and we had to slow ourselves down to squeeze through the crowd.
I was spared from being squashed once again because of the girls forming a protective ring around me and pushing back against the crowd, most of the people stepping aside when they saw Odeta leading the way.
I was just about to suggest that we try another route to get out of the crowd when I felt the hair at the back of my neck stand.
Before I could turn around, Katsuki had already moved and her daggers were unsheathed, my Inugami maid slashing out her weapons in an arc and blocking a projectile that had been thrown at me.
The other girls reacted immediately by pushing their backs against me, blocking me in and using their own bodies as shields to protect me while their eyes scanned the crowd.
Err… As much as the gesture made my heart throb, I don't want any of you using your bodies as shields to protect me ok? Except Eins of course.
Katsuki was looking in the direction of where the projectile was thrown and her eyes narrowed.
"Did you see the person?" I asked.
"I apologise Mistress… But they are hiding themselves quite well."
I looked down on the ground where the projectile now lay, realising that it was a kunai.
"It's Crystal's family," I informed them, the weapon itself a rather dead giveaway since they were the ninja wannabes.
Lisa picked up the weapon on the floor and frowned, "They're actually trying to kill you now? I guess Mary was wrong about the kidnapping."
Katsuki shook her head, "That was not aimed to kill. I believe they were aiming to injure Mistress so that we have to seek shelter somewhere else instead of returning to the manor where they would not be able to reach us."
Odeta scoffed, "Bloody cowards. Don't they dare to come out and fight?"
"Mmm… But I can heal myself though?" I pointed out.
Lisa brought the kunai up to her nose and sniffed it, "Hmm… There's some poison coated on it… I'm guessing it's some kind of paralytic poison."
She suddenly threw it at a drunkard trying to harass a slave girl and the kunai embedded itself into his thigh.
The poor guy let out a cry of pain before he suddenly seized up and fell onto the floor, his body as stiff as a board.
The slave girl looked a little shocked by his sudden state but quickly escaped while he was still down.
"Yep, definitely a paralytic poison," Lisa nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Was that really necessary?" I asked.
"It's the fastest way to confirm it~"
I just shrugged.
"Mistress, I recommend that we return to the manor post haste," Katsuki suggested.
I was about to agree when I had an idea.
"Actually… Returning back to the manor doesn't exactly solve the problem, does it? They're most likely going to just try again the next day and I'd rather not keep looking over my shoulder constantly throughout the day."
Eins spoke up, "You do not have to, Master. We shall do it for you."
… Touche…
Delmare showed me her sketchbook enthusiastically, 'I will do my best for you, Aster!'
Nggghh!! Why are you so cute?! Now I have to pat your head!
Just look at her looking all flustered and cute as I pat her head! This is the best!
Katsuki then spoke up, "Does Mistress have a plan to deal with them?"
I sobered up, "Oh yes! Follow me~ Before that… Umm… [Shadow Wall]."
I got Eins to also cast the same spell until all of us were wrapped in darkness and I proceeded to guide them towards a nearby alley and out of sight.
As we moved, I was constantly switching positions with everyone and choosing the route that would hide us from anyone spying on us so that they wouldn't tell which one was me.
Just in case, I had also taken off the dress I was wearing and switched out for my own maid uniform to join them.
I also cast an additional spell after that and got Eins to do the same before rejoining the crowd without the [Shadow Wall] spell.
Lisa raised an eyebrow, "Umm… How does this help? I'm pretty sure they already know us so they can still single you out, As… Ahem… Mistress."
Katsuki looked at me, then at Eins, then back at me again before nodding her head.
"I understand, Mistress. Shall we proceed?"
Yeah… I'm not surprised to see that Katsuki instantly realised that Eins and I had switched positions and we had used our Somatomancy magic to impersonate each other.
Eins gave me a look and I gave her a nod in response.
She turned and started walking in the direction of the manor albeit at a slower pace than before, trying to position all of us to walk through the most crowded areas which slowed us down quite a bit.
When nothing else happened, we figured that they may have either withdrawn or were hesitant about attacking us again while there were more people around so we then moved back into the alleys.
This time, we switched up our speed and looked more like we were trying to get away from there as fast as possible which must have made Crystal's family panic slightly because I caught sight of a figure dashing along the rooftops before it disappeared.
The fact that I managed to spot them meant that they slipped up there and they must be preparing to do something.
I acted like I did not see anything and continued to move alongside the rest, Eins still remaining in the centre of our formation.
Just as we were about to reach the end of the street, several knives were thrown this time and all of them were directed towards Eins.
Katsuki reacted and parried almost all the knives, only to let one slip past her by 'accident' and the knife embedded itself in Eins's shoulder.
I made her clutch at her arm before she fell over to the ground, acting as though the poison was affecting her.
All of us then crowded around her and Odeta, Lisa and Delmare looked ashen at the fact that Eins was hit, probably because they still thought that was me.
There was a low whistle from one of the rooftops and several figures appeared dressed in black cloth from head to toe, completely hiding their features.
I did a quick count and realised there were about twenty of them surrounding us. Crystal has a big family huh?
"Grab the girl, knockout the rest," One of them commanded, prompting everyone to leap down towards us.
They weren't even trying to demand us to hand Eins over but merely charged towards us with their swords drawn intending to take her by force.
Well, big mistake guys~
"Come forth!" I shouted, prompting my legion of Shadow Guards to burst out from my shadow and instantly surrounding the ninjas.
Wahahaha! I think this is the time one of you should say "It's a trap"!
But guess what? Too late!