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Airi's POV
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Standing up from our table, we start heading towards the man, his vest standing out to me.

A dark blue vest, the symbol of a Viscount. I don't think he has much power in this town, but I also don't think that it's his true title. Something about the clothing seemed... Off.

Doubt seems to cloud my mind as we approach the man, the guards surrounding him subtly putting their hands on their concealed weapons, both for intimidation and preparation.

"Hey there." (Ryu)

Putting his hand in the table, Ryu calls out to him casually.

"A child? A child calls out to me, in that tone?" (Viscount)

"I just didn't think the dark blue suited you, that's all." (Ryu)

"You... Impudence, a child like you should learn some manners." (Viscount)

I could see the irritation growing on the noble's face as Ryu matches his gaze.

"N-now now, come on Ryu, show some respect, he is a noble." (Airi)

Intervening, I try to cut off the disdain gradually growing between the two.

"Hah, as one would expect from a knight, a level of respect worthy of me." (Viscount)

His ego seemed to drown me as I fight back my own irritation.

"Well now, Viscount, we both know you're playing us here." (Ryu)

"Hoh? What do you mean by that, child?" (Viscount)

"Well, you aren't a Viscount, are you?" (Ryu)

Maintaining a poker face, the noble watches Ryu closely, as if appraising a sword.

"How could you get that idea? Don't you see my clothing? I swear, these commoners..." (Viscount)

"Your clothing was what gave you away." (Ryu)

With his previous composure gone, the noble scans his clothes in a panic, as if trying to fix something.

"I see nothing wrong with my clothing." (Viscount)

"I do." (Ryu)

Lifting his hand, Ryu points towards the chest pocket on the noble's chest.

"What about it?" (Viscount)

"Noble's don't have a habit of carrying around weapons." (Ryu)

A cold sweat seems to run down the man's face, but his expressions remained still.

"Weapons? Surely you jest. Why would I need weapons when I have my guards?" (Viscount)

"That's what I'd like to know. But if you're so adamant that there's no weapons in that pocket, explain the bump I see." (Ryu)

Confused by his words, I take a closer look at the vest of the Viscount. As if scanning the chest pocket, my eyes run over it several times before I'm able to see the bump.

It's tiny. Almost unnoticeable. And yet, Ryu spotted it in one look.

It definitely looks like a concealed weapon though. Makes me wonder how deep the pocket is, or how small the weapon is.

The only guess I can make as to the weapon is a miniature knife. They're mainly used for assassinations, but they can be used as self defence weapons, considering how portable they are.

"Are you ready to explain?" (Ryu)

"I see no need to." (Viscount)

"Is that so, R?" (Ryu)

In an instant, the guards surrounding R unsheathe their swords and point them towards Ryu, gathering all the attention in the bar.

"Haah. I suppose this disguise is done for. God, noble's are so stifling. All these formalities." (R)

Reaching into his chest pocket, R pulls out a miniature knife, confirming my suspicions.

"Now, I would ask you where you heard that name, but I think I already know." (R)

"So you knew you weren't going to get slaves?" (Airi)

"Hmm, I knew I wasn't going to get the person I requested." (R)

"I see. Can I confirm something, R?" (Ryu)

"Go ahead." (R)

"You were going to kill the slaves you got, weren't you?" (Ryu)

His voice runs ice cold as he spits out his sentence.

"Ah, so you knew. I suppose that means that you were the one who killed my pawn then?" (R)

"The trader? I didn't kill him, he killed himself." (Ryu)

"So you forced him there." (R)

While speaking, R stands up from his seat and starts walking around the table towards Ryu.

"I suppose you'll have to die now, I can't let you know of my plans after all." (R)

Wielding the knife, R pushes the blade against Ryu's throat, drawing blood.

"Your plans? They aren't yours. Don't fool yourself into freedom with that group." (Ryu)

Silence passes through us as Ryu mutters his sentence, only cut off by laughter from R as he steps away from him.

"So you even know about them? You pest." (R)

As if in cue, the guards start rushing towards Ryu, swords drawn and ready to attack.

Jumping up, Ryu unsheathes his sword and clashes with one of the guards.

I don't have much time to watch though, as I see one of the guards running towards me, their sword above their head.

Unsheathing my sword, I hold it in both hands in front of me, prepared for any attack.

He brings his sword down on my head, but I stop it with my word and push it upwards, knocking him off balance.

Taking the opportunity, I charge towards the guard and knock him over, kicking him in the face to knock him out.

I look over to Ryu and see one guard slumped against the wall, and Ryu in the middle of a fight with another one, unable to see the one coming up behind him.

"Ryu, behind you!" (Airi)

Hearing my warning, Ryu kicks the guard in front of him and tries to dodge the attack from behind, but it grazes his side, causing him to lose his momentum.

Taking the chance, I vault over the table and bring my sword down on the head of the guard who was kicked, leaving the other to Ryu.

"He's gone!" (Ryu)

Having knocked the other guard out in seconds, Ryu points out the missing person, R, and makes a break for the door of the bar.

I follow behind, bursting through the doors, taking a look at our surroundings.

"There! At the end of the street, to our right!" (Airi)

Going into a sprint, we try to catch up to R to no avail - the distance between us staying evenly matched.

Turning a corner, a dead-end appears at the end of the street and I see R staring back at us, standing still.

Increasing my speed for a straight run, Ryu's calls of warning are blown past my ears.

"Knight! Above you!" (Ryu)

I can't react in time as something falls from the roof and hits me on the head, causing me to lose consciousness.

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Author Notes
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It's another chapter that has descended into more combat.

I don't know why it always ends up like this. I don't know whether it's the way that I've written the characters, or just the way I write.

I'm trying not to have senseless fights where it's unnecessary, but it just seems to happen, but I haven't read this story as a reader from beginning to end, so I can't fully say whether this is enjoyable to read, and if these fights are meaningless.