184 Return home at dusk
Randolph seemed to have regained consciousness as they tied up the remaining soldiers and rolled them into the courtyard.
After looking at me with hostile eyes, a subtle expression appeared. Apparently she realized that her magic was sealed away.
"T-me..."
Randolph glared at me as if he were cursing me to death.
"Let me confirm one thing. It's about Sheila's parents. I'm sure what you said earlier is correct. Are there any other perpetrators?"
"So that's why you kept me alive? You're such a sweet girl."
Randolph smiles slightly. As long as his underlings were captured alive, he would be able to reveal as many things as he wanted about slave traders and drugs. However, I have no choice but to ask this guy about anything related to the Thieves Guild, especially about the previous guild leader.
It would be difficult for the Magical Inquisition to pursue that matter due to Sheila's position within the thieves guild.
"Ah, there are other people who were complicit at that time. If you find out about them, you can't hand me over, right?"
It seems that Randolph has calculated this, but he has foreseen a method of prolonging his life with this kind of trick. Do you really think I'll do such a dirty life prolongation?
"Fortok. What do you think?"
"...That's a lie."
The carbuncle Fortok, who was hiding in my pocket, stirred and then answered in a low voice. He offered to cooperate when we set out.
"That's right. You'll never hear from me again."
"teeth?"
Randolph made a stupid expression, but in the next moment, Sheila hit Randolph in the neck with the hilt of her pearl sword, knocking him unconscious again.
"...He's someone I can't resist anymore. From now on, I'm sure it'll be the same no matter who I leave it to, but... Theodore has his position, so I'll leave it to him."
When we made eye contact, Sheila said.
No matter who you leave it to. Even if he is handed over to the country, he will be judged, and even if he is handed over to the thieves' guild, he will be punished.
"...Understood. Let's hurry up and clean up the rest."
"yeah"
Although the underground has been conquered, there is still work to dispose of Skugslow's tail.
The people who were imprisoned in the basement are quiet in the courtyard in hopes of escaping. Although they looked a little uneasy because they were surrounded by stone walls, there were many people holding hands and looking relieved. Elves and dwarves. Also, there were monsters.
"Is that-- medicine?"
Grace asks.
"Looks like it. You wouldn't know this at first glance."
There's a transparent green lump of tree sap in my hand.
The texture is exactly like amber turned bright green. Judging from the underground experimental equipment, it appears that this is where it will be processed and turned into powder before use.
But...in this state, at least it doesn't look like a raw material for medicine. It would be easy to slip through surveillance. If they were brought to the site in this state and turned into powder at a place where they are sold and processed, wouldn't it be difficult to identify them as the same product?
A single plant of Sukuguslow in the basement was secured to be delivered as evidence.
“What about the rest?”
"Turn everything to stone"
Cast petrification magic on Skugslow's tail. You need to keep it from becoming useless. You could burn it down, but the smoke seems dangerous.
“What are you going to do after this?”
"We did it on such a large scale. The soldiers are supposed to come rushing in."
Then, the people who were imprisoned were found and captured. As for cleaning up after Skugslow's tail -- will it be like handing the baton to King Melvin?
Dexter...it doesn't seem like he's here, but he'll probably be chased by both the authorities and the thieves' guild from now on.
They removed the stone wall and waited for the soldiers to rush in before retreating...but their reunion with Dexter was surprisingly quick.
I dropped her off at Miriam's store, but Sheila said she heard voices talking in the alley behind the store, so when I peeked behind the store...I saw Dexter and his friends there, as well as Isabella and his friends. .
Um. It looks like people who appear to be Isabella's friends are arresting Dexter and his friends...
"...Who is it? Come out."
Isabella seemed to have sensed my presence as well, and called out to me. When she appears, she looks a little confused.
"M-Miriam! Oh, and the ambassador!? Please tell me it's a misunderstanding! These guys have a bit of a misunderstanding! I'm just... y-yeah. I just came to say hello to make up... …!”
That's what Dexter said when he recognized us. He looks at Miriam. What is it?
"...What kind of situation is this?"
"No, you know. Even we didn't expect to see you here..."
, Isabella shrugged her shoulders. Dexter's expression turned to despair, as if he understood that I and Isabella were acquainted.
Isabella wasn't wearing the dress she wore when I met her in Nishi Ward, but she was wearing leather equipment that seemed easy to move around in. It might be Isabella's Thieves Guild-specific equipment.
“I came across something in your conversation that bothered me, so I did a little research and found out that Dexter had gathered together his old friends and was making a move.It seemed like he had prepared weapons and was trying to get into this house... ...I took the trouble to drag him out and ask him about various things.''
...Were they trying to ambush Miriam at her store? And from the questions I asked, Isabella seemed to have figured something out as well, and was looking for Dexter to talk to him.
It's true... Isabella may be in a situation that's convenient for her to threaten him and get her information, but I think Dexter himself was mistaken for the one who attacked me...
"Sister. This guy has something like this."
"Ah! That's it!"
"Huh?"
When Isabella checked the contents of the bag, she frowned.
"Maybe you know what it is?"
A leather bag is thrown over. When I received it and opened it, it was a plant seed.
...It's the seed of Skugslow's tail. Did this guy bring it out?
"It's evidence. Can I keep this here?"
“It’s fine, though.”
Dexter yells as the exchange takes place above him.
"Hey, you guys! Don't think you can imitate me like this and get away with it for free! I wonder what Mr. Randolph would say...!"
“Ah, I just crushed that one.”
"--teeth?"
Dexter has a goofy look on his face. This guy has been doing a lot of things here, so he doesn't seem to know about the commotion in the West Ward. He doesn't seem to understand even if he listens.
Anyway, what on earth were you trying to do with the seeds?
From the looks of it, Randolph was very careful about disguising himself...there was no way he would allow him to bring it up carelessly. If he were to ambush Miriam with the seeds and also know my identity...
"...You weren't trying to kidnap Miriam and escape from the Term Wills, right? That's why you can easily mention Randolph's name."
When I told Dexter, his blood became visibly colder. Both Isabella and Miriam looked stunned.
I'll check it later, but I probably don't need to ask Fortok if it's true or not.
If you look into Miriam's movements, you'll be able to trace my background and purchases at the store. In other words, we can surmise that he is trying to open a shop with the ambassador from another world.
If I were to back them up, even if the Thieves Guild was behind them, they wouldn't be able to intervene in the future. Even if I did a lot of things there, if I fled the country, it wouldn't matter what my background was.
Even so, it's difficult to do, or rather, what should I say? He betrays Randolph, who was looking out for him, and takes only the money and seeds and starts over in a new world. The reason why it's strangely easy to handle may be because the plan was already in this guy's mind to escape from the country and become independent.
Well then. The problem is... what to do with this guy...
“…You crushed Randolph.”
Isabella asks.
"It's true. There's been a lot of commotion in Nishi Ward."
"I see... In that case, I'll hand over Dexter to you."
"Are you okay?"
I wonder if there is something like a drop-off. Well, if you say so, Randolph too.
"However, we have already incurred a huge debt. We have to pay back some of what we owe. We are good-hearted citizens who captured the thief and handed him over."
Isabella scratches her hair and shakes her head.
“Honestly, if you’re saying that Randolph has gone bankrupt, it’s because there’s so much to do that you can’t pay attention to small items.”
"Understood. I'll keep these guys here."
Although she is not Sheila's direct enemy, she is an indirect cause. She looked at Sheila, but she shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
I see. If so, let's finish it quickly. Contact Mercedia using the communication device. This guy is also a member of Randolph's gang, so there shouldn't be any problems.
"...You said you should take advantage of the situation, but I still owe you a debt. I might go and say thank you again."
"Understood"
Isabella probably doesn't know that Randolph is the enemy of the previous guild leader...but she might get some information in the future. I have to draw the line because of my position, but I don't mind if the discussion comes from outside the guild's position. Besides, that story also has something to do with Sheila.
Isabella and the others quickly tied up Dexter and the others with ropes and headed home.
“Then, after handing over these guys, shall I go home?”
Sheila nods sheepishly.
"...Oh no. There were a lot of things going on, but I'll do my best to open the store as soon as possible."
"That's right. Let's make it a good store."
Make a promise to meet Miriam again.
After handing over Dexter and the others to the knights who rushed in, we finally headed back home.
It was already dusk. The sky is red.
"...I'm tired. I want to take a bath."
Sheila looks up at the sunset and narrows her eyes. Maybe she needs some time alone.
That's right. After taking this time to organize your mind, let's all relax and spend some time together.
Irmhild takes Sheila's hand.
"Go home, Sheila-chan."
"...Hmm. Irmhild. I want to hear Irmhild's lute again."
"Yeah. Anytime."
Just like that, the two smile at each other.
"Everyone...thank you for helping me."
Then, Sheila bows to us. Everyone and I smiled quietly and nodded.
Comments
Post a Comment