Ch. 124 Artoria's Growth.

Kay, holding the Anglo-Saxon down firmly, let out a roar. He pressed one knee into the man’s spine, disarmed him with one hand, and jammed a scabbard into the Anglo-Saxon’s mouth with the other.

The Anglo-Saxon’s helmet flew off into the distance. Under the pressure, his legs kicked wildly as he struggled desperately, but Kay on his back was like a massive stone mountain, controlling the bandit beneath him with absolute strength.

Artoria quickly pulled the ropes used for tying cargo from the carriage, and together they bound the Anglo-Saxon up like a zongzi.

“Mmph—mmph—”

The bandit rolled on the ground; the hunter had now become helpless prey, the rope in his mouth allowing him to emit only muffled sounds.

Artoria looked solemnly at the bandit squirming on the ground like a maggot.

Anglo-Saxons never appeared alone.

Their presence was like locusts—they always appeared in swarms, destroying everything belonging to the Britons.

They were pests, plain and simple.

Wherever the Anglo-Saxons passed, nothing was left unlooted; men were slaughtered, women and children were enslaved, and wheat fields and houses were put to the torch.

The village where Artoria grew up had never been sacked by Anglo-Saxons.

But growing up hearing of their infamy, harboring no goodwill toward them was something etched into her instincts.

“Such foul language…” Mia pursed her lips, looking unhappily at the squirming Raider on the ground.

Even with a rope stuffed in his mouth, the muffled curses were incredibly grating.

Though he looked quite pitiful.

But sorry, Mia was the type who responded to kindness but not to force.

If this guy had given up resistance the moment he was caught and cried out for mercy…

Mia, who had not yet used a blade on a living, ordinary human, might have felt some compassion.

But given the current situation…

It was better to just execute him quickly, like a villainous NPC.

“Can Miss Mia understand the Anglo-Saxon tongue?”

Hearing Mia’s comment, Artoria turned back in confusion.

“Huh? What?”

Compared to Artoria, Mia was even more puzzled: “Was he speaking a different language?”

“Yes, he was speaking the Anglo-Saxon tongue…”

Then, both of their CPUs entered a ‘not responding’ state simultaneously.

To Mia’s ears, whether it was Artoria, the Anglo-Saxon, or even Melina and Wilden, everyone was speaking a language she could understand.

But thinking carefully…

People from The Lands Between should be speaking English?

Anglo-Saxons spoke Old English.

Britons spoke Brythonic.

Theoretically, these languages were almost unrelated.

Yet not only Mia, but even Melina and Wilden could communicate normally with the Britons.

Right, why was that?

After trying to think logically, Mia gave up.

Let’s just call it the Grace of the Erdtree, she decided.

“Um… why don’t you try talking to him?”

Kay suggested.

“Okay…” Mia nodded. After considering for a few seconds, she spoke to the Anglo-Saxon: “Where do you come from?”

The Raider was clearly stunned for a moment, then: “Mmph mmph mmph—”

With the rope in his mouth, he couldn’t form complete words.

Mia looked to Artoria and Kay for their opinion.

“It should be fine just to untie the rope on his mouth,” Kay said, pulling out a knife.

The Raider stared intently at Kay holding the knife, craning his neck to let him cut the rope in his mouth.

As soon as Kay retracted the knife, Mia asked.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m telling you, my brothers are nearby!”

The Raider spat as he shouted arrogantly, “You’re all going to die, all of you!”

Kay asked, “What did he say?”

“He said his brothers are in the vicinity.”

Mia faithfully translated these words.

As for the subsequent arrogant clamor, even without translation, everyone could understand his emotions.

“You bastard…”

Kay strode forward and kicked the Raider hard in the face.

He had to make him understand his current position.

The rough sole of the shoe kicked the Anglo-Saxon’s face hard, knocking out several of his teeth on the spot; the Raider laughed loudly in the intervals of the beating.

Blood overflowed from the Anglo-Saxon’s mouth, and his crazed smile was like a demon from hell, incredibly chilling.

“Brother Kay!”

Artoria shouted, grabbing Kay’s arm.

“Hmm?” Kay turned back in confusion: “What’s wrong?”

“Please do not do such things that do not conform to the chivalry!”

“Huh?”

Kay looked at Artoria in disbelief, as if what she had just said was something ridiculous.

“Pfft—haha, hahahaha—”

The Anglo-Saxon looked at them, laughing arrogantly on the ground.

“Shut up!” Kay cursed, and as he spoke, he raised his foot again.

“Enough!”

At that moment, Artoria shouted loudly and suddenly exerted force, pulling Kay away from the Raider.

The girl stared at her foster brother angrily.

Artoria’s sudden anger caused everyone present to fall into a strange silence.

From the short time Mia had spent with Artoria, it was hard for her to imagine that the now so green Artoria would also have such emotional moments.

But she did indeed stop Kay, loudly halting his torture of the Raider.

Everyone’s attention was on her; Artoria recoiled slightly, sensing her sudden impulse, but she took a breath and finally decided to stick to her stance.

“He has already lost the ability to resist; you cannot do this. This is not in accordance with the chivalry.”

Kay looked at his foster sister, whom he had lived with for ten years, as if for the first time, and Artoria also looked at Kay in disbelief.