Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 399: Another One? Really?

Chapter 399: Another One? Really?

Lyan leaned back against the cushioned seat of the grand carriage, letting out a deep sigh, his gaze shifting toward the ceiling. He spoke aloud, though mostly to himself, his voice dripping with mild frustration. "How did it end up like this?"

His words hung in the air for a moment, then he pushed himself forward, lifting the curtain slightly to peek out of the carriage window. The sight that greeted him was a sprawling chaos of bandits, far more than what he’d encountered earlier—their numbers close to 120 now. The men were armed, most of them bearing crude swords or rusty axes, their eyes filled with greed as they eyed the elegant carriage.

Lyan frowned, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "What are the royal knights or feudal lords even doing, leaving such a massive group of bandits unchecked?" he muttered, his voice edged with annoyance. He let the curtain fall back in place, rubbing his temples for a moment.

Outside, a larger, more imposing figure stepped forward, the leader of this ragtag gang. He stood taller than the rest, his broad shoulders clad in mismatched armor that looked like it had been pieced together from several unfortunate victims. His face bore a jagged scar running from his left ear down to his jaw, giving him an intimidating appearance. He puffed out his chest, glaring at the carriage with a twisted grin.

"Alright, listen up!" the bandit leader bellowed, his voice loud enough to echo through the forest path they occupied. "You lot in that fancy carriage—you want to leave here alive, you do as I say! All your valuables, every coin, every piece of jewelry, even the fancy upholstery of that carriage—it all belongs to us now! Surrender, and maybe we let you keep your lives."

The bandits cheered at their leader’s words, their crude weapons waving in the air as they jeered and taunted. Some even began to move closer, emboldened by their superior numbers, already imagining the wealth that awaited them.

Lyan let out another sigh, this one carrying a hint of amusement as he heard the bandits outside. He settled back in his seat, casting a sideways glance at the group of women sharing the carriage with him. The expressions on their faces ranged from mild interest to downright excitement—they certainly weren’t worried about the threat waiting outside.

Belle, lounging comfortably across from Lyan, caught his eye and grinned, pulling out the familiar bag of stones that had already seen use earlier in the journey. "Well, looks like we have another chance for a bit of fun," she said, her voice teasing as she shook the bag, the stones clinking inside. "Who’s up for another lottery?"

Wilhelmina’s eyes lit up, a confident smile spreading across her lips. She held out her hand without hesitation. "I’m in," she said, her tone filled with eagerness.

Surena leaned forward, her sharp eyes glinting with excitement. "I’ve been itching for a bit more action," she said, her lips curling into a smirk. "Count me in."

Clarisse and Emilia exchanged a quick glance before nodding in agreement. Clarisse adjusted her gloves, her fingers already sparking with lightning. "Might as well teach these bandits a proper lesson," she said, her voice steady.

Emilia, her hands already glowing with a faint warmth, grinned, her eyes glinting with a playful fire. "This will be a good warm-up," she added, her voice filled with anticipation.

Belle held out the bag, shaking it slightly. "Alright, let’s see who gets lucky this time." One by one, the women drew their stones, their eyes gleaming with excitement. When the stones were revealed, it was Surena, Wilhelmina, Clarisse, and Emilia who held the winning stones, their faces lighting up with eager smiles.

"Looks like it’s our turn," Surena said, standing up and stretching her arms. She glanced at Lyan, her eyes twinkling. "Don’t worry, we’ll make it quick."

Lyan gave them an amused nod, his eyes shifting between each of them. "Just don’t go overboard," he said, his tone teasing. "We still have a journey to complete, and I’d rather not get delayed too much."

Wilhelmina gave him a reassuring smile, her hand resting on the hilt of her longsword. "Don’t worry, Lyan. We’ll handle it." She exchanged a glance with the other three women, their expressions filled with determination as they stepped out of the carriage.

The bandits, still confident in their overwhelming numbers, jeered as the four women stepped into view. The bandit leader’s eyes widened for a moment as he took in their appearance, then he let out a bark of laughter, his expression turning into one of mocking disbelief.

"More pretty faces, eh? You think you can take on all of us?" he scoffed, his eyes glinting with amusement. He raised his hand, gesturing to his men. "Alright, boys! Show these ladies what happens when you cross us!"

The bandits surged forward, their weapons raised, their voices filled with confidence. The leader stood back, watching with a sneer as he waited for his men to overpower the four women.

Surena stepped forward first, drawing her sword with a fluid motion. Her eyes narrowed, her expression calm as she channeled her wind magic. A breeze picked up around her, lifting her hair as if she were part of the wind itself. She moved with a grace that was almost ethereal, her blade cutting through the air as she advanced on the bandits.

Wilhelmina followed closely behind, her longsword glowing with holy magic. She radiated an aura of calm confidence, her eyes locked on the approaching enemies. She held her blade with practiced ease, her posture unwavering as she met the bandits head-on. The glow of her sword seemed to grow brighter as she swung it, each strike filled with divine energy that cut through the chaos around her.

Clarisse, her rapier crackling with lightning, moved with agility and precision. Sparks danced at her fingertips, her eyes focused and intense as she advanced. Her rapier was like a flash of light, each strike accompanied by a burst of electricity that sent her enemies reeling. She moved swiftly, her lightning magic flowing through her like a current, her attacks both graceful and devastating.

Emilia, her hands aglow with flames, grinned as she faced the advancing bandits. She thrust her hands forward, a wave of fire erupting from her palms and rushing towards her enemies. The flames licked at the ground, creating a barrier that separated her from the bandits for a moment before she stepped through it, her body surrounded by an aura of heat. Her eyes glinted with excitement, her fiery magic burning brightly as she advanced.

The bandit leader’s mocking laughter faltered as he watched the four women move. The confidence that had filled his voice earlier began to waver, replaced by confusion and fear. The women were not just holding their ground—they were advancing, and the bandits were falling back, their weapons clattering to the ground as they struggled to keep up with the onslaught.

Surena moved with the speed of the wind, her sword a blur as she cut through the bandits’ ranks. Her magic enhanced her movements, each strike landing with precision, each swing of her blade accompanied by a gust of wind that sent her enemies stumbling. She moved like a storm, her expression fierce and focused as she pushed forward.

Wilhelmina’s holy magic shone brightly, her longsword slicing through the bandits’ defenses with ease. Each swing of her blade left a trail of light, her magic searing through the darkness that surrounded them. Her eyes were calm, her movements measured and deliberate. She fought with a grace that was almost serene, her holy magic guiding her strikes.

Clarisse’s rapier flashed with lightning, her magic crackling around her like a storm. She moved with a dancer’s grace, her strikes quick and precise. The electricity flowed through her, her blade striking with the force of a thunderbolt. Her eyes were focused, her expression determined as she advanced, her magic lighting up the battlefield.

Emilia’s flames roared around her, her fiery magic consuming everything in its path. She moved with a confidence that bordered on recklessness, her hands ablaze as she sent wave after wave of fire towards the bandits. Her eyes glinted with excitement, her laughter echoing through the battlefield as she fought. She was a force of nature, her magic burning brightly as she advanced.

The bandits, once confident in their superior numbers, began to falter. Their leader’s expression shifted from one of amusement to one of fear as he watched his men fall, their weapons clattering to the ground as they were overwhelmed by the four women. He took a step back, his eyes wide as he realized the mistake he had made.

"W-wait!" the bandit leader stammered, his voice trembling as he raised his hands in surrender. "W-we didn’t mean—"

Surena’s eyes narrowed, her blade still at the ready as she advanced on him. "Didn’t mean what? To attack us? To threaten our lives?" Her voice was cold, her gaze unyielding.

Wilhelmina stepped up beside her, her holy magic still glowing around her sword. "You made your choice when you decided to ambush us," she said, her tone calm but firm.

Clarisse and Emilia flanked them, their magic still crackling in the air around them, their expressions filled with determination. The bandit leader took another step back, his eyes darting between the four women, fear etched across his face.

Lyan watched from the carriage, a small smile tugging at his lips as he observed the scene. The bandits had clearly underestimated them, and now they were paying the price. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as he watched the women handle the situation with such confidence and skill.

(They never learn, do they?)

Lilith’s voice echoed in his mind, her tone filled with amusement.

(They think they can just intimidate anyone they see on the road. Fools.)

Griselda added, her voice carrying a hint of disdain.

Lyan chuckled, shaking his head slightly. He leaned back, his eyes still on the scene outside. "Well, they certainly picked the wrong group to mess with," he muttered, his voice filled with amusement.