CH 88

“………………Hey, I mentioned I had some business, right? Why are you following me?”

I ask Fuuka, who has been tailing me.

“Because. Don’t mind me.”

No, obviously I’m going to mind you…….

“………………Hey, I mentioned I had some business, right? Why are you following me?”

I ask Fuuka, who has been tailing me.

“Because. Don’t mind me.”

No, obviously I’m going to mind you…….

But I feel like no matter what I say, she’s fully intent on following me, and it’s going to take quite some effort to chase her away. 

Also, I can’t read what’s going to develop from here on, and if I can make use of Fuuka’s Talent, I feel like I might as well take advantage of it. 

…….Though I don’t know if she’ll use it for me.

“Haah…….. Got it. But what you see and hear from here on out, you can’t say to anyone. If you can swear to that, then it’s okay if you come along with me.”

“Mm, okay. I swear.”

“Swear on what?”

“What……? ……Then, on my sword.”

While saying that, she makes a curved sword in a scabbard appear. 

Fuuka’s sword is known as a “katana”, used by many in the east, a sword specialised for cutting.

The katana that Fuuka carries has enough of a distinctive air to it that you don’t even need to see the blade to know that it’s a good sword. 

Many swordsmen consider their swords to be as valuable as their lives, and I’ve heard that Kyokuto people have the custom of particularly valuing their things. 

I don’t know if Fuuka follows that, but I guess it’s alright for me to trust this oath.

Why am I going to such lengths to make sure what is about to happen is kept secret?

Because what I’m going to be doing is something that would be generally described as wrong.

If talk about me doing such a thing spreads, it might cause trouble for “Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit”.

But if Fuuka keeps quiet, it’s unlikely that any word will spread.

◇ ◇

The one with the [Marking] applied is not the snatcher from earlier.

That theft was actually committed in order to steal the attention of those around him from their main target.

The snatcher had been looking around before committing the crime, and he had been watching some places in particular.

And the female victim was also looking in the same direction as the snatcher just before the crime.

Where the both of them were looking, at the same time the snatching was taking place, another bunch were kidnapping a child.

I had activated my [Marking] on those kidnappers.

Heading to the area where [Marking] was responding, as I’d thought, it was the main store of the Flockhart Trading Company.

“I wish my memory was mistaken…… Having come here, sure enough…..”

“Business with Flockhart Trading Company?”

“Well.”

The Flockhart Company is one of the five largest firms in the kingdom of Noctant with their head branch in the kingdom.

And their market share in Tutril in particular is undoubtedly the largest.

Also, it’s the family home of Luna, a member of the Hero Party.

Following the same route as the kidnappers, we arrive at the back door of the store.

Well, you can’t just walk right in from the front with a sack containing a child.

I twist the doorknob of the back door and try pulling it, but it seems to be unlocked so the door gives way easily.

(In a hurry? What a stupid thing to do while committing a massive crime like kidnapping…..)

”From here, make as little noise as possible.”

I inform Fuuka as I close the door. 

After confirming Fuuka has understood with a nod, I open the door again and enter the building.

(This is the first time I’ve entered this building through the back door.)

Once inside, there’s immediately a staircase leading to a basement.

The kidnappers have probably gone straight down to this basement.

As we descend the stairs, I hear a man speaking.

‘–at any rate, well done. As usual, I will request the Marquis to release anyone who has been arrested.”

“Ah, thanks. Still, aren’t there a lot of requests to kidnap kids these days? We’re not complaining though, since we’re getting a special fee.”

“An order from the Marquis. I don’t know the details either.”

“‘Don’t know’, you say……. Come on, you’ve got to at least know the reason.”

Listening in on their conversation, I just couldn’t help but interject.

No seriously, you’re lending a hand to all these kinds of crimes, but you don’t even know the reason you’re doing it, that’s just off putting. 

There are five men in the room. And one girl who looks like the kidnappee. 

One of them is someone I know very well, Pascal Flockhart.

President of this company and Luna’s step-father. 

The remaining four are all in their 20s, but of varying ages.

And they don’t exactly look honest.

It’s almost certain that they’re involved with the underworld.

The girl seems to have been put to sleep and is lying on a bed.

And her wrists have been cuffed to a nearby pillar, most likely to somehow prevent her from escaping.

“Who are you!?”

“It’s been a long time. Mr. Pascal.”

As if I had just bumped into an acquaintance on the street, I call out to Pascal in a lighthearted tone.

“…..Orn, huh. What do you want?”

“There was a kidnapping right in front of my eyes, so I thought I’d better figure out what’s going on, and that’s how I ended up here.”

“I see. Since you’ve come to know about this, I can’t let you leave alive. Jeffrey, I have an additional request. Kill the kid in front of you.”

(Instant decision, seriously…… Well, seeing me in a place like this, that might just be the natural decision.)

It’s not the wrong decision, but I don’t think it’s like Pascal to make such a decision.

At least, the Pascal I know isn’t the kind of person who could make this kind of judgement right away.

“Alright. Sorry man. I haven’t got any grudge against you in particular, but the client’s got a request, so.”

The four men adopt a battle stance.

“Mr. Pascal, you misunderstand. We have no intention to fight.”

I raise my hands to show that I have no hostile intent.

“Who would believe such a statement? Even if you do have no intention to fight, you’ll probably threaten us with this matter. We can’t trouble the Marquis. Stay here and die.”

I really didn’t intend to fight, but I guess I have no choice.

“……Fuuka, do you know what those guys are going to do next?”

Along with the purpose of verifying the effectiveness of [Future Sight], I ask Fuuka.

That’s because no matter how much I know about Fuuka’s Talent, it’s not enough.

It’s a good opportunity for me to gather information.

“Split into two, to attack both me and you.” 

Answering like it’s nothing. 

Really, this advantage is incredible.

“Then is it okay if I leave the two heading to you? I’ll take care of two as well.”

“Mm, got it.”

“You need buffs?”

“Nope. It’s okay.”

As we were speaking, two of the four attacked me, just as Fuuka said.

Since this place isn’t wide enough to swing a sword, I activate the [Triple] [Status Up] and at the same time, I also activate [Aero Shock] near their faces.

The two men who are about to strike are confused by the sudden burst of air in front of them.

I approach these two men and slam my fist into one guy’s solar plexus.

The other guy tries to kick me, so I swipe his standing leg and knock him off his feet. 

Then I grab him by the face and slam him to the ground.

That’s one.

The man who was hit in the solar plexus is holding his stomach and bent slightly forward, making it easier to kick him.

So I do that and kick the man in the chin to cause a concussion.

With this, the two men who came at me are out of commission.

And Fuuka has already defeated the two men who were attacking her.

(Fuuka also didn’t take too long either. Well, at least I got to see even a little bit of Fuuka fighting.)

“W, why…… How come you, got kicked out of the party for being weak, can beat these guys!”

Pascal, who saw us beat the four of them in no time at all, is slightly panicking.

……This person should be someone whose emotions don’t change drastically, what’s with this….. strange feeling…..

“……It’s true that I was kicked out of the party because of my own lack of ability, but you’re mistaken about me being weak, alright? Even if I do say so myself, if you look at explorers in general, my ability ranks among the top.”

“Even if you turn me in here, I have the Marquis Forgas behind me! I’m certain he’ll erase this in no time! Even if you detain me it’s useless!”

……What do you call this kind of person again?

Ah, right. A fox borrowing the strength of a tiger.

Still, that’s a pathetic line. Do I feel that way because I’ve left the Hero Party and am seeing this with a little distance?

“Haa……. I told you it was a misunderstanding. I have no intention of reporting this matter….. alright.”

Of course, child abduction is a crime.

And depending on the case, it’s enough of a serious crime where you wouldn’t fine it strange to be sentenced to death. 

But as I said, I have no intention of reporting this.

There are several reasons for this, but the main reason is that if this matter becomes public, I can anticipate that there will be so much chaos caused that it’ll be difficult to recover.

To begin with, this trading company, and by extension, Marquis Forgas, is rife with dark rumours.

In fact, I think it’s certain that his hands are dipped in wrongdoing. 

However, until now, there has been no proof.

But if this matter comes to light, there’s a possibility that all sorts of things will become public.

If this were to happen, the lords and merchants who support this town could disappear at the same time.

There is a Great Labyrinth in this city.

Although I’m not that familiar with the management of a territory, I can easily imagine that it would be more difficult to manage a land like this compared to other lands where a  Grand Labyrinth doesn’t exist.

It would not be going too far to say that Marquis Forgas’ sense of balance for this is on the level of an innate genius.

There’s no doubt that his skills have contributed to the development of this city.

If he were to disappear without a successor, in the worst case scenario, this city might cease to function immediately.

At this point, it’s unlikely that anyone will be able to govern this city at the same level as him.

For those who are suffering because of them or worse, I feel pity, but there is something known as a necessary evil.

Now that it’s almost certain Marquis Forgas has ties to the underworld as well, I for one think that the ensuing turmoil will be more of an issue.

Most people will probably say this is wrong, but what happens to complete strangers has nothing to do with me. 

I’m not a saint or a hero, much less a saviour.

I do my best to protect the ones within my reach.

Unless they are trying to spread their malice around me and my surroundings, but as it stands, that is currently not the case.

For these reasons, I will not publicise this matter.

If I do, Marquis Forgas will cover it up.

I think that’s fine. 

“What? Then why did you come here?”

Pascal has a quizzical look when he hears my statement.

“As I said before, I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on. Nothing more, nothing less–“

“Orn, someone’s coming. Looks like a soldier.”

While I’m talking to Pascal, Fuuka interjects.

“A soldier, you said?’

As Fuuka says, I hear multiple footsteps.

“And, also the Lord.”

“….What?”

(The Lord — Marquis Forgas is here with soldiers? Why at this moment?)

“……the territorial army?”

“No. Central Army.”

Fuka denies my question along with a shake of her head. 

(With the Central Army led by the Kingdom, not with the Marquis’ own military? Doesn’t make any sense. What exactly is going on?)

In the midst of my confusion, Marquis Forgas appears with five soldiers wearing the armour of the Central Army.