3 bar menu

Chapter 69 – part 1

Guildmaster’s Room.

 

I, Lilith, Liz… and our pet Orthros were relaxing while being served tea and sweets.

 

「For now, take it easy, Lute-san.」

 

「Hmm?」

 

「I’ve got the report regarding the request you took.」

 

「…Old man?」

 

「Yes? What’s the matter?」

 

「Your way of speaking has returned to your old tone…?」

 

「Ah, about that. Originally, I was a B-rank adventurer. Thanks to you, Lute-san, I became an A-rank adventurer and eventually settled as the Guildmaster of this small town.」

 

「Hmm?」

 

「The old way of speaking adds a certain dignity befitting a Guildmaster. A tone like a bottom-rung thief isn’t suitable.」

 

「Well, I guess that makes sense.」

 

「So, in that sense, when there’s no one else around, I plan to use this tone.」

 

「I see…」

 

Anyway, back to the topic.

 

Honestly, since returning to town with Lilith and Liz, we’ve been oddly targeted by thugs.

Several times a day.

 

Well, that alone wouldn’t be so bad, but it seems like we’re being watched by someone who looks like an assassin, day and night.

 

The thugs are swiftly dealt with, of course. 

They clearly have some kind of contract to harass us, but they pretend to pick a fight, so we can’t force them to spill the beans by doing something reckless.

 

The assassin-like figure seems to be observing our strength but doesn’t directly pose a threat.

Naturally, we can’t resort to extreme measures to force them to talk.

 

「So, what’s the report like? Were you able to investigate properly?」

 

「Yes, I’ve got it covered.」

 

The Guildmaster, with a smile, laughed heartily.

 

「Surprisingly, the job was done quickly, thanks to the somewhat abusive use of Guildmaster authority. Because of that, I’ve been receiving criticism from both within and outside…」

 

「Hey, hey, is it okay to do such things?」

 

With a big smile, the old man raised his thumb.

 

「For Lute-san’s sake! I’ll do anything, whether it’s in the fire or in the water…!」

 

He almost seemed to be overexcited, wearing a creepy smile.

An unending smile, or whatever it is… Honestly, it’s scary.

 

「So… what are the results of the report?」

 

「Well…」 

 

The old man picked up a stack of documents and continued speaking.

 

「It’s the Nularis Trading Company in the western country, Vestaha. They’re quite an extremist militant group. They use money to crush business rivals with violence that leaves no evidence… Naturally, their reputation among fellow merchants is the worst.」

 

「I see… And?」

 

「So, the truth this time is that the Nularis Trading Company was instigating the roughnecks through back channels to target you, Lute-san.」

 

「But… why would those guys have a reason to bear a grudge against us?」

 

「Do you know that McKinley, the southern beastman country, has abundant diamond mines?」

 

「Diamonds…? Certainly, I’ve heard that there’s an absurdly huge amount that could devastate the current diamond market. What does that have to do with it?」

 

「It’s related to Miss Liz over there. She seems to have a rather complicated lineage.」

 

At that moment, I gasped.

Indeed, Liz is the child of an elf and a beastman, known for their strained relationship.

 

Moreover, she was in a worse condition than a stray dog, collapsing in the slums after being subjected to a curse ritual.

There’s no doubt that the girl has a complex background.

 

「So… beastmen, as a rule, don’t usually engage with humans, including trade. That’s why the diamond market hasn’t collapsed.」

 

「So, Liz was targeted under the orders from the beastman country, using diamond trade as bait?」

 

I nodded in understanding.

 

「For the Nularis Trading Company, securing a lucrative market is crucial.」

 

Now, as I pondered what to do, Lilith interjected.

 

「…We should crush the trading company.」

 

「Hey, hey, Miss Lilith? Suddenly saying that is a bit reckless, isn’t it? We only have circumstantial evidence for now, you know?」

 

The old man, who still changes his tone blatantly depending on the person, commented.

 

「…That’s enough. If we torment anyone who comes at us one by one, evidence of the company’s involvement will emerge.」

 

「No, no, Miss Lilith? It’s not that simple, you know? Things won’t necessarily go well.」

 

「…We are troubled. Why do we have to be bothered by thugs several times a day? Besides, it doesn’t have to go well. In the worst case, Lute can silence everything with violence.」

 

The means of resorting to violent force for a forced breakthrough… hmm.

Certainly, if the opponent is in the wrong, causing them pain might reveal the truth.

 

But still, this is a bit too aggressive.

 

「Lilith… you…」

 

「Lute-san, please say more. Lute-san, you didn’t want to stand out in the first place, right?」

 

So, I looked up at the ceiling, pondering various things.

 

「Well… in this case, we might have to resort to the use of force if things take a turn for the worse.」

 

I directed a gentle smile at Liz and Orto, who was curled up on Liz’s lap.

 

「There are things to protect… for now. Unlike Lilith, Liz isn’t that tough. So, if needed, I might have to take some risks.」

 

Upon hearing those words, Lilith nodded emphatically.

 

「Well, for now, let’s just observe the situation.」

 

—

 

Side: Cordelia Allston

 

Same day. Same time.

Artena Magic Academy Reception Room.

 

I… Cordelia Allston, was gazing at the carpet with a gloomy feeling.

Sitting on the sofa opposite me was a plump, middle-aged pig (orc).

 

No, an orc seemed somewhat more charming.

 

— According to my father, he’s a disgrace to the Allston family.

 

By the way, my father is currently living by cultivating the fields that remained from the original house, which was originally a farm.

Well, my father himself has quite a personality, but he declared that much about my uncle sitting in front of me.

 

In reality, I share the same sentiment about the uncle sitting in front of me.

 

My original home was reasonably affluent. 

Looking back now, that was the root of all evil. 

 

The divine oracle was bestowed upon me as a hero, and my parents were paid a significant amount as a dowry just for that.

With that as capital, my father bought up fields and actively collected serfs.

 

Well, even though they were called serfs, they were treated somewhat better than usual, thanks to me constantly persuading my father.

And, thanks to that, I was revered by the serfs like a goddess…

 

Anyway, back to the topic.

 

The man in front of me right now is my father’s younger brother.

A notorious rogue in the village, he lived a dubious life in the city from his mid-teens.

 

And then, right after I received the divine oracle, this man returned to the village.

Well, not just this man… but ever since I received the divine oracle, my family has strangely gained more relatives.

 

Certainly, there might be a blood connection, but I’ve never seen these distant relatives, who suddenly appeared bearing gifts for my father.

Naturally, the Allston family mansion ended up hosting numerous relatives.

 

Among them, this guy falls into the category of the worst.

Given that he is my father’s brother, he was entrusted with a considerable portion of the vast fields along with a significant number of serfs…