episode_0018

Inside a rocking carriage.

Karen finished her explanation in a quiet voice.

“···When the work is done, I will be able to help you in many ways.”

The man who is after Karen’s place is Blen.

He invited Karen to dinner.

Even though we aren’t close enough to normally invite each other.

There was a part where I could clearly feel the intention.

“But···Can I go with you?”

The one who was invited was Karen.

If I interfere there, I might arouse suspicion.

“The first thing that came up was Glut.”

“My story came up?”

“It’s not a good topic to talk about, but if you’re that interested, why don’t you invite me over for a meal and listen to my story?”

“But···”

We have already met and talked.

That is, it means walking into a trap on purpose.

“Yes. I’m going in to strike first.”

“···”

“Of course, there will be no guard against Glut. He will think of it as just a useful excuse.”

“It has no effect at all. That’s what you think.”

A rough impression is drawn.

Perhaps he made a remark that was dismissive of me.

Then, I thought I should use it in reverse.

“It’s not strange to invite someone, and there’s no particular caution. It’s the perfect situation to exploit an opportunity.”

“This is assuming that I am active.”

“Of course I believe in Glut’s performance.”

This is a confirmation and a test.

Are they capable and trustworthy?

It would be difficult if things went wrong as much as I trusted.

“···But if it’s just a simple invitation to a meal, wouldn’t it be difficult to do something?”

“If it’s just a simple invitation to a meal, then yes.”

The moment Karen smiled brightly.

The carriage stopped moving.

“Arrived!”

The carriage arrived at a magnificent mansion.

The expression ‘luxurious’ just came out naturally.

It is so out of place that it doesn’t fit in with the village.

“···Even if he isn’t a branch manager, he must have a lot of money.”

“Probably doing this and that.”

“I don’t think that’s a very good thing.”

“I can only guess. He’s a capable man at hiding things like that.”

“So you came into the enemy camp instead.”

The moment you step into the entrance.

A grand welcome was extended.

““Welcome, Karen!””

People are lined up on both sides.

There are people who look like maids and soldiers.

This is by no means an ordinary greeting.

If necessary, we will use force.

It could have been seen as meaning that way.

“You might have a feeling that you’ve come to the wrong place.”

“Don’t worry.”

Karen was greeted calmly.

Fortunately, everyone’s eyes were on her.

As if I were just a bystander.

“Oh! The branch manager is here! The meal is still being prepared, so come up here!”

A man who is openly expressive of his joy.

Standing on the second floor railing, he seemed to be the owner of this luxurious mansion.

“I brought him over as I said. It’ll be a pretty enjoyable meal if we talk and drink.”

“Okay! First, both of you come up”

Blen’s gaze turns to me.

But that’s only for a moment.

His attention was on Karen, not me.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“ ···Enjoy it comfortably.”

It was an implicit expression.

Having experienced it several times, I know what it means.

It means don’t get too carried away.

“Come here!”

“Excuse me… Can I go to the bathroom for a moment?”

“Tsk···”

I guess he doesn’t really have any intention of hiding it.

The arrogance was evident in the way he openly clicked his tongue.

“Be careful not to be late for meals.”

That was the extent of Blen’s interest in me.

Karen also fit in there.

I went up to the second floor where the guy was so as not to let anyone’s attention get away.

“Let’s talk about the guild for a moment before the main character arrives.”

“That would be good. I have a lot to say, by the way.”

The two figures disappear beyond the second floor.

Then the soldiers who had been welcoming them also began to move.

“···”

A subtle air flowing in a solemn atmosphere.

They are sending signals to each other.

As evidence, everyone was heading to the second floor in silence.

As expected, my existence seems to be out of bounds for them too.

“I guess there’s no one who can tell me where the bathroom is.”

The maid also disappeared without a trace.

I was left alone at the entrance.

“You don’t care about me unless I go up to the second floor?”

You could say that it turned out well.

Because I have time to move freely.

I even felt like punching him in the face for his arrogant attitude.

“If you ignore it so thoroughly, it’ll be hard to just let it go.”

*****

In front of a restaurant preparing a meal.

There were soldiers stationed there.

They were all trusted by Blen, and were no less worthy than the knights of other nobles.

It was a far cry from ordinary meal preparation.

It looked as if he was protecting something.

“Haam··· Senior, are we supposed to just sit still like this?”

One of the soldiers said, as if he was bored.

“You have to do as you’re told. They’ll pay you a lot of money, right?”

They are all adventurers.

They were hired by Blen for money.

It was unreasonable to expect strict discipline like that of a military officer.

“I think the fun will be all upstairs···”

“If the operation goes well from the beginning, there won’t be any time for that.”

“Well··· I guess so.”

The subordinate smiled faintly.

It’s a face that doesn’t show any tension at all.

Thud- thud-

While we were chatting leisurely.

They heard someone walking towards them from the opposite direction.

But no one was on guard.

This is inside the mansion, and the target we need to guard is on the second floor.

“···?”

What appeared was Glut.

He was loitering around like a wandering guest.

“That’s···”

“I guess that’s the guest the target brought. I have to kick him out.”

The senior adventurer stopped the approaching Glut.

“No entry allowed. Guests.”

“Why are there so many soldiers here?”

“ ···I don’t think I need to tell you that.”

Glut glanced at the surrounding soldiers.

Anyone can see that this is a suspicious situation.

The soldiers exchanged signals with each other at that sight.

‘Should I take care of it?’

‘The meal hasn’t been prepared yet. It would be bad if I touch it and something goes wrong.’

‘Then let’s just kick them out. Anyway… they seem like weak adventurers.’

One of the soldiers stepped forward.

I was thinking of scaring them a little and then chasing them away.

“Go back.”

He stubbornly held Glut’s arm.

It’s not just a simple restraint.

I intentionally used force to show the difference in strength.

‘I think this should be enough. Judging from your behavior, you seem like a common adventurer. If you were a great adventurer, you would have told me in advance.’

But it wasn’t the reaction he was expecting.

Glut looked at him with a calm face.

“They are rudely kicking out guests here?”

“···?!”

It definitely doesn’t mean the power is weak.

Rather, an ordinary man would feel more than just pain.

Still, Glutton showed a faint smile.

As if I had found something.

“If you continue like this, I will use force.”

The soldier’s pride was hurt.

Although he is now a hired soldier, he used to be an adventurer who performed well.

It was difficult to accept that he was giving away his power so lightly.

He put more and more strength into his hands.

To throw away the glut.

But it wasn’t Glutton’s feet that left the ground.

Wheeek―

“What···?!”

““···?!””

The soldiers who were watching could not contain their shock.

This is because soldiers of similar skill level to him took a turn.

He was instantly pinned to the floor.

“What, what···!”

The soldier who had been picking a fight got up in a hurry.

His face turned pale at the thought of being treated so unfairly.

“If you come off like that, we won’t tolerate it either!”

“Wait···”

Even his colleagues who tried to stop him were of no use.

He spoke politely, but swung his fists violently.

But faster than that, Glut’s fist struck his face.

Phew!

“Kwiik···!”

A short groan, similar to the terminal moan of a pig.

I couldn’t even respond to the sudden counterattack.

“···”

The one who was lying on the floor was not Glut, but his comrade.

The soldiers who had been watching blankly quickly figured out the situation.

“Everyone, prepare to rush in.”

The senior adventurer noticed.

He had skills that were different from his appearance.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for my colleague to suffer.

“Seeing everyone here guarding this place together, it seems like there’s something important here.”

“ ···I can’t tell the guests.”

“Weren’t you the one who attacked the guest first?”

“Because you tried to approach by force.”

“Ah··· Then I guess we can say that this is just a minor quarrel.”

It is not a word directed at oneself.

Glut was deciding what to do when things went wrong.

Of course, the process did not include Glut’s defeat.

“I guess it’s because the Tristan guys have higher standards··· This is actually easy, so that’s good.”

“···I don’t know what you’re talking about, but please leave this place right now.”

“This smell… I guess this is the kitchen. It looks like they’re making some kind of suspicious dish in the kitchen.”

Their operation has already been discovered.

In the end, there was no choice but to hold him back, even by force.

“Handle it!”

Five adventurers rushed in at the same time.

“It seems to tell you that it is more correct.”

The man who started was the one who was at the forefront.

Glut’s fist collided with his jaw.

The collapsing body was an obstacle to cooperation.

“Don’t let your guard down!”

At least they are adventurers with enough skill to not starve wherever they go.

Even if I become a soldier, that doesn’t change.

But now they were realizing the difference in power.

He is unrivaled in strength and agility.

In particular, the flying hand was unpredictable.

It looked like he was going to hit, but he snatched it away or, on the contrary, slammed his fist into it.

“Oh my god···!!”

“Kkuek···!”

It wasn’t as noisy as I thought.

Everyone fell down in confusion, as if they had been taken by surprise.

In an instant, they were all asleep on the floor.

“Since I invited you to dinner on purpose··· it wouldn’t be strange if something got on the food.”