CH 194.1

Chapter 194.1. Seeking Profit But In Moderation!

Inside the trunk case that Nimue possesses, it stored my essential items.

And poor Karen, driven by Miu’s simmering sense of justice, is scheduled to be rescued.

After all, [Magic Stealth] is the magic Miu desperately desired, and she would do anything for it.

She wanted a method to conceal the mana of her game-specification weapon.

Therefore, with her simmering sense of justice and overflowing compassion, kind-hearted Miu will save Karen. It’s true. I’m not lying.

“Karen-neesan… You look hurt. I’ll cast a healing spell on you!”

“Ah…ah…”

Karen, the bespectacled girl, tries to raise her voice in joy, which comes out hoarse. Don’t worry. I’ll heal you this time.

Opening Nimue’s trunk case and taking out one item, I threw it toward Karen.

“Eh… Huh!”

It seems the healing magic took effect. Her voice, which was strained, returned to normal. Let’s do it one more time.

“Fly away, pain, fly away~.”

Just like that, poof.

Karen stared intently at the object placed in front of her as if devouring it with her eyes.

“Good. Your wounds are healed, right?”

“W-What… What is this…? What kind of effect does it have?”

“It’s a recovery magic tool. When you keep it close, it enhances your recovery power even more!”

“R-Really?”

“Yes. Try putting it in! Karen-neesan! I’ll release your restraints now!”

I cut the rope that bound her hands, tightly tied to the chair.

“Um, hehe, thank you very much.”

Karen quickly put the object in front of her into her pocket and blushed with delight.

“So, tell me why you were there! Start talking!”

When I placed the recovery magic tool on the table once again, Karen, while still wary of me, opened her mouth.

“Will I become a criminal if I answer your question?”

“If you answer the question and serve Takano County, it’ll be fine.”

Once again, I placed it on the table.

“U-Understood. But it’s not that important of information, you know?”

Since I cast the healing magic on her, Karen, with a sense of gratitude, betrayed her employer.

“It may not be important, but if you answer it. It could be considered a serious crime. But don’t worry. If you give me the information, we’ll forgive your sins!”

It seemed like that kind of conversation. I’m gazing at Captain Gotou with sparkling ice-blue eyes. He reluctantly nodded with a frown.

Karen observed his reaction and, seemingly relieved, adjusted her round glasses and provided the information.

“Um… it’s a coincidence, but on the way to the Ranch Dungeon, the idiot sons of the impoverished Baron are planning to hunt monsters. Startled, numerous monsters appear on the road. Hehehe…”

Karen, who appears to be a quiet young girl, looks up with a weak smile.

“The idiot brothers don’t know that we will pass by!”

“Y-Yes. I only told them to use magic ostentatiously when given a signal.”

“I see. In that case, Yamiyo-chan and the others will be in danger. I have to protect them!”

As a gesture of gratitude for the provided information, I placed another recovery magic tool on the table.

“It’s not necessary, Countess Takano. We, the Royal Guards, are invincible. We possess the strongest strength, and we’re equipped with the exclusive magic armor, Benkei. Feeble monsters that are merely surprised by magic won’t stand a chance against us.”

Captain Gotou’s statement, filled with pride as high as Mount Everest, crossed his arms and confidently declared.

He’s raising so many flags. He’s setting the flags.

However, the purpose shouldn’t be to attack using monsters. If that were the case, it would be a simpler matter.

“I see. The Royal Guards are strong, aren’t they? Does that make Mii-chan and the others feel safe?”

I tilted my head slightly, and Karen shook her head.

“No, we expect them to get repelled. However, Count Outomo and his party happened to pass by, and they will come to our rescue. That’s, um, you know?”

Karen showed a look that said, “You understand, right?” I understand, I understand. It’s a well-calculated strategy.

“Count Outomo and the others have been under scrutiny recently, not only from His Majesty the Emperor but also from other nobles. They want to redeem themselves here!”

Miu beamed with a shining face as if she had completely understood.

“Even if we repel them, His Majesty the Emperor will have no choice but to praise the Count and the others who came to our rescue… It’s a way to clear their tarnished reputation. It’s a well-devised plan.”

After hearing the plan’s details, Captain Gotou spoke with a bitter expression.

Indeed, those nobles intend to be on the side of rescue rather than attack.

It’s an extremely malicious scheme that is difficult to prevent. Not praising those who came to rescue would affect the Emperor’s reputation.

“Moreover, it also serves as harassment against Takano County. The road to the Ranch Dungeon was dangerous even though the Holy Flower exists. Does the Holy Flower have any effect? And can Takano County, which can’t manage the road to the Ranch Dungeon, be trusted? There’s a hidden agenda, you know.”

Being mischievous, I lightly poked Karen’s cheek with my index finger.

Looking at Miu’s face, Karen became startled, sweating profusely and turning pale.

What’s wrong? Miu showed such a mischievous smile, but was there something frightening?

“Y-Yes. Th-That’s right. Yes!”

Stuttering, Karen vigorously shook her head.

I’m not surprised.

I already knew about the attack and Count Outomo’s cheap scheme. That viscount boasted about the perfection of his plan while drinking in the suite room.

Miu had intended to get attacked. With Captain Goto leading the Royal Guards, the plan was to quickly intercept the attackers and showcase their strength to protect their friends. Miu wanted to impress them by demonstrating her prowess.

If Count Outomo came to our rescue, she planned to thank him with sparkling eyes and become friends. Miu also hoped that he would introduce the mastermind behind the scenes. She believed that he would tell her, as she thought Outomo was a good person.

She could restore the reputation of the Holy Flower one way or another. Miu wanted to know the mastermind behind the scenes, even if Frig’s information network couldn’t provide the answer.

“What concerns me is the attack using monsters… Could ‘Solomon’ be involved?”

As Captain Gotou approached Karen, he exuded a terrifying aura that was capable of killing. Karen, who was naturally timid, trembled in fear.

“S-Solomon? What is Solomon? That infamous group of monster tamers, right? I-I don’t know. I don’t know!”

Even if they were hiding in illusions, it would be over if they got discovered. Karen desperately denied any knowledge.

Solomon? Why is Solomon being mentioned here?

“Why is Solomon coming up, Captain Goto?”

“They seem to have landed in Japan and are conducting experiments involving controlling numerous monsters. We’re investigating it.”

He sent a sharp gaze as if trying to gauge Miu’s reaction.

“Oh, I see.”

That’s confidential information. Captain Gotou revealed important confidential information to Miu. That must be the Emperor’s instruction. Since Sena was also investigating, that must be why she joined this trip.

And despite being important confidential information, they haven’t grasped any clues.

That’s why they revealed it—to obtain more clues.

Furthermore, the Emperor trusts Miu enough to share this important confidential information. He’s indirectly conveying that message.

Is this killing two birds with one stone? The Emperor is too cunning.

But this information is valuable. It fills in some missing pieces.

“If there’s such a dangerous group, it’s dangerous. Maybe we should all go back?”

Miu is scared. It’s time to change the plan.