Slayers in Viscusia: Who’s That Wizard in the Woods? [Episode 187154]

The hooded figure walked briskly along the forest path.  From times to times, he glanced around quickly left and right, as if fearing being observed or followed.

This suspicious attitude proved not to be the result of mere paranoia, though, as a small group of individuals were indeed spying on him from the cover of the bushes.

“I’m pretty sure it’s him...” a red-haired sorceress whispered to her companions.

“Who?” the blond fighter next to her asked, clueless... which earned him a bop on top of the head.

“How many times do I have to tell you, jellyfish-brain?  HIM!” Lina Inverse growled low, pulling a scroll of paper from her top.  Unrolling it and showing it to her bodyguard, it happened to be a “WANTED” poster, with a crude drawing of a man’s face and a caption promising lots of gold as recompense for his capture.

“Ah, yes...” Gourry Gabriev started, but he was silenced by his three companions making frantic shooing gestures.  “But how can you be sure it’s him?” he continued in a lower voice.  “Those drawings aren’t very recognizable...”

“Still, he fits the description, he’s acting all suspicious, and the information broker we paid at the tavern confirmed that there were sightings of a man looking like him and traveling in this direction.  I bet we hit the jackpot.” Lina explained impatiently.

“Maybe...” an elfin being with stone-like skin and silvery metallic hair commented, “but honestly, doesn’t we have better things to do that just chasing around any rogue wizard that cross our path?”

“You’re joking, right?” Lina answered back.  “Did you see how big the bounty on this guy is?  This will pay for our traveling expenses during several weeks!  Even if we go exclusively to expensive restaurants... slurp...”

Zelgadis Greyword shook his head and rolled his eyes as the sorceress looked lost in a daydream of gastronomic bliss, licking her lips and drooling.

“Besides,” the fourth member of the party, a smaller girl with black hair, interjected, “this man is a dangerous, felon wizard wanted for his crimes.  He must be brought before JUSTICE!”

“Shhh!!  Amelia, don’t speak so loud!” Lina hissed, clamping her hands on the mouth of the Saillune princess before she could start a long tirade about chasing criminals and punishing them in the name of justice.

But it was too late.  The alarmed figure on the road looked around one last time, before starting to run and flee in the forest.

“Oh great!  Now he heard us!” Lina spat.

“Sorry...” Amelia said, contrite.

“So... are we running after this... hu... what was his name, already?” Gourry asked, scratching his head.

“‘MacGuffin the Wizard’...” Zelgadis answered helpfully.

“You bet we do!  Come on, LET’S MOVE!!” Lina shouted, her tone suggesting that she wouldn’t tolerate any argument.