After choosing to leave, they regretted it.

Adventurers, including Anna, and the children in the village all said so.

At first, Aize thought that it was the children's own filters that caused them to overestimate Alicia's strength.

But now it seems that this is not the case.

No matter where those crazy tentacles came from, this guy's combat power is at least at the level of a top adventurer.

Maybe even higher, rivaling the brave.

At least he is definitely stronger than a half-baked hero like me.

But how could Aize know nothing about the information he has on an adventurer of this strength?

While thinking, Alicia asked first:

"Um, you are...Mr. Ain, right?"

It's not enough to trust him on our first meeting, so there's no need to tell him your true identity.

Aize nodded.

"Well, just call me Ain."

"You're a man? Then why did you become... like this?"

"...Please don't ask. Just know it's a disguise."

Aize curled his lips as his sore spot was touched.

If someone mistakenly thought that this was my hobby or interest... I feel like dying just thinking about it.

"Anyway, now that the clues are broken, we have to think of a new way."

As he said that, Aize jumped down from the prison van, looked at the ground around him, picked up a branch, dipped it in some blood, and began to draw on the open space.

Alicia leaned over curiously:

"what is this?"

"As for the map of the surrounding area, at this point, we can only determine the location by the process of elimination based on the available information."

In preparation for the battle on Anlin Plain, Aize memorized the general terrain of the surrounding area.

I just didn't expect it to come in handy at a time like this.

After the map was drawn, Aize's brain began to work rapidly, filtering various information.

"First of all, these guys aren't stationed near the village. Instead, they return to their lair every day. The journey shouldn't take more than half a day."

"Secondly, based on our current position and the direction they are heading, we can determine their approximate location."

"Then, the trade routes, major villages, mines, and other places near Tafia are regularly patrolled by the lord's guards. These areas can be eliminated."

"And then... why do they go back every night? If it were me, I would have surrounded the village directly. Why don't they do that... because they're afraid of being discovered by the guards? Then the route from the village to their lair, at least to some extent, overlaps with the patrol area."

Watching Aize muttering to himself rapidly like chanting a mantra, Alicia was stunned:

"You know all of this?"

"Hmm? Just ordinary intelligence processing."

Aize answered perfunctorily and continued working.

"The enemy has a lot of people. We can rule out areas with dangerous terrain or unsuitable passages. We can also rule out areas where ferocious monsters are present..."

Thinking about it, he shook his head again.

"No, if they are strong enough, they might be able to eliminate the monsters, but they still have to stay away from water sources, and..."

Aize raised his head, looked at the stunned Alicia, handed her the branch and said:

"Haven't you been searching all day? What areas have you searched? Eliminate them."

It is so shocking and awkward to see Aize, who looks like a child, doing these things.

Alicia didn't react for a moment. After Aize called her several times, she finally came to her senses and made a mark on the simple map.

Aize nodded:

"That leaves only two possible locations. We'll have to search them one by one."

As he said that, Aize dusted himself off and stood up, but Alicia still stood there in a daze.

"Who...are you?"

Not to mention the analytical ability to extract information from various details, just the ability to completely engrave the topographical details of such a large area into the brain is something that not everyone can do.

In response to this, Aize just shook his head:

"Is this issue important now? The real thing is to quickly deal with those guys and rescue the people."

"……makes sense."

Alicia slapped her cheek vigorously and said:

"What are you going to do next? I'll follow your instructions!"

If this is true, the success rate of the next plan will be greatly increased.

But I still have to say something ugly upfront.

Aize folded his arms and looked at the other person:

"Is this okay? We don't even know each other, and you have no reason to trust me. Besides, what happens next might be very dangerous, okay?"

The pink-haired girl shook her head firmly:

"As long as I can save my compatriots, I am not afraid of danger!"

"Compatriots..."

Aize tapped his forehead with his fingers, looked at the messy environment around him again, and came up with an idea in his mind.

"I heard from the children in the village that you can transform into other people. Is that true?"

"Yes!"

"Then, just find a relatively intact corpse among the ones here and transform into his appearance."

Originally, it would be best to become the opponent's commander.

Unfortunately, the unlucky guy received special attention from the tentacle play, and not only was his face intact, but even the larger fragments could not be found.

However, Alicia shook her head:

"No need to bother. I can transform everyone here."

"……real?"

Aize was stunned for a moment, and tentatively pointed to a pile of debris on the ground - according to his memory, that should be the remains of the enemy commander.

"That...that person is the other side's commander. Can he change?"

"certainly!"

The girl smiled confidently and then closed her eyes.

The outline began to blur, and the cute shape turned into a black, amorphous mass almost instantly.

"Varied--"

Aize didn't even have time to be surprised. The indefinite object was reshaped and dyed again like plasticine in a child's hands.

In less than two seconds, the deserter commander appeared where Alicia had just stood.

"The transformation is complete, how is it?"

The other party asked this question, and even the voice became exactly the same.

There are few things that can truly surprise Aize.

I met him today.

"...How did you do that?"

Alicia lowered her head and took in her new look.

"This? Hmm... well, anyone I come into contact with can transform. So, what should I do next?"

Aize was silent.

The previous speculation was completely overturned - this girl, Alicia, was definitely not a half-blood faceless person.

But something more dangerous.

Chapter 80 Dilemma

"Uh—I'm so sleepy."

Walking on the streets of Tafia, Heidi yawned loudly.

After meeting with Duke Brian's butler in the afternoon, Heidi, who was extremely tired, did not rush to find Aize, but went back to the hotel to take a nap first.

Although forcing the emperor to abdicate is important, it is not that urgent and there is still room for improvement.

But then again, Heidi is a particularly durable tank-type hero, but after just a few days of hard work, she was exhausted both physically and mentally.

As a half-baked hero, Aize has been able to withstand a faster pace of life for several years without falling down.

This is beyond the tolerance of a normal person, it must be the effect of protection.

Is that guy's Divine Protection really a defective one as Leah said?

Heidi shook her head.

How can that kind of thing be okay?

The real thing is to call Aize back as soon as possible.

In the afternoon, the butler Rufus asked about Aize's whereabouts and expressed his willingness to help, but was rejected by Heidi.

It’s not that I don’t trust each other.

Her fiancé ran away, unable to stop her, and now she needs help to find him. What? Doesn't Heidi, a brave princess, heir to the throne, have any dignity?

Besides, Aize has become hesitant about coming back.

As long as I go over there and help him a little, won’t he be able to stabilize himself again?

Why let others take the credit?

With this idea in mind, Heidi came to Noble Street with full confidence.

Then--

“What…what’s going on?!”

The noble street, which was usually accessible at will, was now filled with patrolling guards.

There are checkpoints at the entrance, patrols on the streets, and even if you look inside, there are guards standing at the gates of the mansions of important people.

It looked like martial law was in place.

The guard on duty saw Heidi and immediately came over to ask:

"Stop! What are you doing?"

"I……"

Before Heidi could answer, the guard was hit hard on the helmet by another guard coming from behind:

"Don't be rude! This is Her Royal Highness Princess Heidi Yalter!"

It seemed like I had seen her at a previous banquet, so I knew her.

The new guard pushed aside the previous guard, bowed respectfully, and asked:

"Your Highness, may I have your instructions?"

Heidi put away her shocked expression, cleared her throat, put on a dignified look, and asked:

"What are you doing? Why are you blocking off Noble Street?"

The guard quickly replied: