Ch.42Chapter 42 – A Familiar Information Broker (1)

After being beaten and dragged from the blacksmith’s shop, I found myself on flat ground.

“Where is this?”

“Where else? It’s the plain in front of the capital’s gate.”

Ludger answered as he released me.

“Come on, let’s spar. Spar.”

“What do you mean?”

“You lost to me, so you have to do as I say, right?”

He said this while lightly raising his sword.

To keep a promise I never actually made, I drew my sword as well.

Soon, Ludger and I began clashing with each other.

‘Is he going easy on me?’

Ludger wasn’t moving as quickly as he had shown in the blacksmith’s shop.

And unlike earlier when I was practically ambushed, this time we were fighting face to face.

‘This is manageable.’

I charged at him, thinking I could avenge my recent humiliation.

To cut to the conclusion, I was utterly defeated.

I pressed forward, then suddenly took a hit; I endured, then took another hit.

Rubbing my bruised back and waist, I looked at Ludger, who said with a smile:

“From now on, I’ll call you ‘scrub.'”

“…Fuck.”

My pride couldn’t take it, so I charged at him again.

And again, I ended up rolling on the ground.

Finally deciding to give up, I just lay sprawled on the ground.

Looking at me, Ludger laughed and said:

“We’ve wasted enough time today, so shall we call it a day?”

At his words, I got up and sat down.

“You’re strong.”

“Well, I’ve been fighting for a long time.”

Ludger spoke as if it were nothing special.

“By the way, Aria was also letting you hit her on purpose. In fact, she’s stronger than you.”

“Ha….”

That didn’t seem wrong.

At least none of my attacks had landed on that woman.

While I was thinking about this, I heard Ludger’s voice.

“You know, your movements get a little better with each fight.”

Ludger said this as he switched his staff for a sword and sheathed it.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Subtly, but still.”

Ludger smiled as he stretched his body.

“If I keep beating you up, you’ll improve even more.”

“…What did I do wrong?”

I blurted this out, wondering what grudge he was holding against me.

But Ludger just kept grinning.

A little later, after finishing a quick meal with bread that Ludger had brought from somewhere, I began learning archery.

-Swoosh!

The arrow missed the target, and seeing this, Ludger sighed and said:

“Ah, that’s not how you shoot it.”

“You can’t just replicate the motion in your head. Make it your own!”

“If you really can’t get it, just keep practicing until it becomes one with your body.”

Though slightly tired of the criticism that came without fail every time I missed, I kept shooting anyway.

-Swoosh! Thwack!

“Yes, that’s the feeling!”

When I somehow hit the target, Ludger was delighted as if it were his own achievement and enthusiastically continued his instruction.

‘I wonder…’

Why is he so passionate about teaching me?

I looked at Ludger curiously, but he wouldn’t tell me that one thing.

“If you join the Order, you’ll know right away.”

“I decline religious solicitation.”

When I reflexively answered, Ludger looked dejected.

“Well, if I keep teaching you archery like today and keep beating you up, you’ll improve even more.”

“Honestly, I wonder what use this is. And do you really have to go that far?”

I grumbled, not enjoying the pain.

Ludger smiled and drew his sword.

“Unfortunately, you seem to learn better the more you get beaten up. Shall we spar?”

In other words, he was going to beat me up.

When I showed signs of surrender, Ludger put his sword back and smiled.

“Just trust me and follow along.”

“Sigh…”

“If we just keep sparring like this until the Great Purge, you’ll definitely improve.”

“I’m not so sure about that.”

Ludger just laughed off my complaints.

Seeing that, I decided not to mention it anymore, thinking it would be pointless.

I shot a few more arrows as Ludger suggested, then looked at the darkening sky.

‘It seems I’ll have to keep doing this until the Great Purge.’

Since Ludger is so passionate, it would be difficult to back out midway.

At the very least, I wanted to reduce the beatings.

“I don’t like getting beaten up so much. Any chance you could be gentler?”

“Don’t say such disgusting things, my friend.”

Ludger looked at me as if I were pathetic.

+

The next evening, after spending almost the entire day sparring with Ludger and practicing archery, I went out at night after receiving word that a request I had made to the guild following Eve’s warning had been fulfilled.

Before heading to my destination, as I was about to go toward the inn’s door, I saw Sera alone, looking troubled as if she had a lot on her mind.

‘Maybe she’s having trouble with the request Eve gave her.’

I approached her, thinking I’d just ask how she was doing.

“Is something not working out?”

“No. It’s not that.”

Sera said with a smile.

Leaving her behind, I headed for the inn’s door.

“Well, I’m going out for a bit.”

At my words, Sera’s expression turned worried.

But she was the type who wouldn’t express it verbally.

“Be careful.”

I nodded at Sera’s farewell.

Then I left the inn and moved slowly and carefully under the cover of night toward my destination.

Near the church of the Emiris Order.

I had known its location for a while but had deliberately avoided it until now.

‘I wonder if there’s any movement.’

I carefully observed the people coming and going from the building.

If I could spot those test subjects…

If those test subjects moved separately, I planned to try picking them off one by one.

Of course, there was no guarantee it would go as planned, but it seemed worth trying.

After waiting for a few minutes, I heard a voice from behind.

“Oh, are you the one who was looking for me?”

I nodded at the voice.

It was worth finding an information broker through the guild.

Of course, I didn’t use my own name. For precaution, I asked Haven to lend me his name.

The information broker was wearing a hooded robe, so I couldn’t tell what kind of person they were.

Judging by their build and voice, I suspected it might be a woman.

“Hmm, so you want to buy information about the church, Mr. Proxy?”

I just nodded at the information broker’s words.

“What kind of information do you want?”

I handed her a note in response.

As a precaution, I wasn’t speaking.

Despite the dark sky, the contents of the note seemed visible enough thanks to the nearby streetlights.

“Haha, I was wondering why the meeting place was here.”

The information broker chuckled and said:

“So you want me to investigate people coming and going from that church.”

I nodded at the information broker’s words.

I had deliberately written the request vaguely in case I was being tracked.

I had also asked Christina to investigate, but this was a backup in case they moved secretly.

“Do you have money?”

Silently, I tossed a money pouch.

It contained silver coins, not many but enough.

The information broker looked at it, thought for a moment, then spoke:

“Well, I’ll investigate as much as this covers. But, do you want to pay more?”

At those words, I handed over another note I had written.

The information broker read it and laughed.

“‘Will pay more if you do well,’ huh?”

The information broker said with a smile.

“Investigating people coming and going isn’t terribly difficult, but are you tracking someone specific? You’re being quite vague with your request.”

Good intuition.

I remained silent at those words.

“Well, not my business. So I just come here at this time for the next few days? And if you don’t show up, I leave a note at the inn written here?”

I nodded.

Then I saw the information broker put my note in their pocket.

“Good, I had some business anyway. This will help me pay off some debts too. Two birds with one stone.”

Though I couldn’t see because of the hood, the information broker extended their hand.

Carefully, I took it and shook it.

Soon the information broker left, and I watched the church.

‘That voice sounds familiar somehow.’

I pondered the strange feeling that I might have heard the information broker’s voice before, while continuing to observe the church.

‘Looks like I’ll be working late for a while.’

As I watched people coming and going from the church, I wished I had taken some of that energy potion from before.

+

Some time after Kay began monitoring the Emiris Order…

“Since I’m in the capital after so long, I should meet up with friends.”

A woman with pink hair in casual attire, Aria, said this as she entered a shop.

It was a shabby-looking tavern.

However, to those who knew the true nature of this place, “shabby” would not be an appropriate description.

“Yo, Asam.”

“Aria, it’s been a while.”

A woman with dark circles under her eyes and large, round glasses greeted Aria.

“Huh? Where’s that guy? I thought he’d be happy to come.”

“He said he had some business to take care of.”

“Really? One drink, please.”

Soon the tavern owner brought out a drink.

“Is it okay for a clergy member to drink that?”

“Clergy members have mouths and stomachs too, you know.”

“That’s true. So when are you getting married?”

“I don’t know!”

The two soon began drinking and talking.

“I can’t go beyond this tavern, right?”

“Just knowing this is a Tower contact point is already telling you a lot.”

“That’s true. Witch Asam.”

“Yes, yes. Have a drink, Saint Aria.”

This tavern was actually one of the secret meeting points of the Magic Tower.

Because they were friends, Aria was allowed access to this place.

One was a witch from the Magic Tower.

The other was a saint from the Order.

The two began casually drinking and catching up.

“…So that man used me to break a window and as a cushion.”

“You survived because it was you.”

“Exactly. If it weren’t for the holy relic, my skin would have been ruined.”

Asam just laughed as she listened to Aria’s story.

“By the way, Asam, did you buy new clothes?”

“Ah, I sold a useless workshop. Made a profit and bought some clothes.”

“…It’s surprising he didn’t cling to you.”

“I bought them quickly before he could ask me to pay off his tab.”

Aria laughed at Asam’s words.

“But that merchant was impressive too. I quoted a bit high, and she just mentioned it was above market price but paid anyway.”

It was quite an interesting remark.

“Don’t merchants usually try hard to haggle?”

“But that woman just bought it.”

“Hmm…”

That caught Aria’s interest.

She took a sip of her drink.

“But he likes drinking, yet he’s late.”

“Can’t help it if he has business.”

“He’s surprisingly diligent. Whatever it is.”

Asam sighed.

“Well, I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”

Soon they changed the subject and continued talking.

“Anyway, that old man was giggling about finding a good successor candidate and went to seduce that man.”

“Huh, that sounds weird. Don’t tell me…?”

“I’m an apostle of love who pursues normal love. How dare you question me? Want to face an inquisition for heresy?”

“I’ll pass, Inquisitor.”

They spent time chatting amicably and eating snacks.

-Ding

The bell hanging on the door rang as it opened.

The owner looked at the door and said:

“Oh, a customer?”

Aria turned her head.

A black-haired woman was entering the shop.

“Hey, it would be weird if you didn’t show up.”

“Welcome.”

Asam and Aria each said a word, and the woman sat between them.

“Friends, were you sad without me?”

Soon Aria and Asam answered with bright smiles:

“I need to collect the money you borrowed, you brat.”

“Pay your overdue rent, you brat.”

The woman sank instantly.

A drink was brought for the woman, and the three made a big toast.

“So, what kept you busy?”

“Sorry, it’s hard to explain.”

“It’s not dangerous, is it?”

“Would I be in danger?”

The woman moved her hand.

A cracking sound came from her hand.

“Well, even your fist would hurt me.”

“If it hurts Aria, there’s no hope.”

The black-haired woman grinned and brought the drink to her lips.

“As always, alcohol is the best for you, right?”

“When I drink, I forget everything~”

The black-haired woman said with a smile.

Soon she took something out of her pocket.

“Asam, want one?”

“Sure. Roll it for me.”

As the two women put cigarettes in their mouths, Aria exclaimed in horror:

“Hey, if you’re going to smoke, do it outside!”

“You don’t smoke?”

“I told you I quit, didn’t I? Do you know who I am? I’m a saint, you brats. People will criticize me if I smoke.”

“Wow, this chain-smoker got a high position and quit smoking.”

Aria kept urging them to smoke outside, and eventually, the two put their cigarettes back in their pockets.

“So, what have you been up to?”

“Well, went to a mine to make some money…”

“Did you meet anyone nice there?”

“Some guy in a helmet took care of me.”

Asam’s expression turned strange at those words.

“Did he stick to you because of your drinking habits?”

The black-haired woman turned her head with a smile.

“No, don’t tell people you’re my friend, okay? This brat attaches herself here and there…”

“Oh, that sounds a bit strange?”

“No, I mean, your drinking habits…”

Soon the witch called Asam sighed and spoke again.

“So, what else?”

“I’ve been living as usual.”

The woman said calmly.

“As usual, huh.”

Then the woman took out a note from her pocket.

It was the request note asking to investigate the people coming and going from the church.

“Aria, I have something to ask if that’s okay?”

“About the church?”

The woman nodded at Aria’s words.

“Yes. I think something interesting might happen.”

The black-haired woman smiled lightly.