Volume 4 Chapter 84 Lead Cup
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
During our dungeon run, an urgent message came from Lifia.
She said Tifi was attacked while being guarded.
Where did it happen? Who did it? Were they both safe?
Holding back the worry, we finished exploring and rushed to the Love Hotel room.
When we burst into the lobby, Tifi and Lifia were already there.
Had they escaped before us? They didn’t have any serious injuries.
”Are you okay!? Did anyone hurt you? Tifi, is there any pain anywhere?” I asked quickly, moving close and checking their bodies.
Tifi was pregnant, so I couldn’t risk anything happening to her.
”Oh, Mr. Taro. I’m really fine,” Tifi said with a soft giggle, blushing as she gently stopped my hand.
Lifia, the short blonde half-elf with a maid outfit and a mini skirt, puffed out her chest proudly. “Don’t worry. Neither Tifi nor I were touched by those scoundrels!”
Tifi looked calm too. Since Lifia wasn’t saying anything else, they probably weren’t mentally shaken.
Lifia worked as the Adventurers Guild receptionist, dealing with rough adventurers daily. Despite her fragile look, she was tougher than most.
If they hadn’t been harmed, I could finally breathe a little easier.
Once the shock settled, I asked them for details.
The attack happened at the Adventurers Guild that afternoon.
”The guild master asked me to deliver this document to the town hall,” Tifi explained. “The guild was crowded, and no one else was free.”
”I said yes without hesitation. The town hall is close, so I didn’t think it would be a problem.”
She left the guild building with Lifia guarding her.
Right after that, three carriages rushed through the town streets at high speed.
They stopped near the guild, surrounding the two.
Rough men jumped out from the carriages and shadows, blocking their escape.
Their stained armor and flashy jackets looked like they came from hard jobs. Their sharp eyes and messy beards told stories of many fights.
”Little ladies, come with us. We need to talk,” one said, reaching out for Tifi.
Before he could touch her, Lifia raised her hand and shouted, “Move, Cyclone!”
A sudden tornado formed from her Spirit Magic.
”W-What!?” The men froze in shock and were swept away by the wind.
Even the carriage rolled over.
But Lifia held back her power so no buildings or people nearby got hurt.
The men stood up to fight back, but then—
”Go, little sardine!” Tifi called, and a silver-scaled demon sardine jumped out from under her skirt.
The small fish flew like arrows, piercing the enemies.
The men were blasted by the wind and pierced by the sardine. They were completely defeated.
The streets fell into chaos. People screamed and ran away. The whole town was thrown into confusion.
Using that chance, Tifi and Lifia escaped into the Love Hotel.
That was what happened.
”A kidnapping attempt… They’ve gone too far,” I said, clenching my fists.
The attackers were probably from the ‘Lead Cup’ clan, one of the city’s many gangs.
They had been trying to recruit us for a long time with many tricks, and recently their methods had grown aggressive.
But attacking in broad daylight, right in the middle of town? That was beyond expectation.
I couldn’t stand by.
I had to act against the Lead Cup clan.
I gently touched Tifi’s belly. No matter what, I would protect the life inside her.
And I wouldn’t let anyone in my group get hurt either.
My anger burned quietly but grew stronger.
Still, one thing bothered me.
Lifia hadn’t sensed the attackers until the last moment.
Her Spirit Magic could read emotions and detect hostility well. If they planned to attack, she should have noticed before leaving the guild.
”There were almost no hostile feelings until they surrounded us,” Lifia said, looking troubled and lowering her shoulders. “Only one person acted as a lookout.”
”Maybe someone without bad intentions was used as a lookout, so the attackers’ plan stayed hidden until the last second,” Rozmiaque said from the side. “If we don’t know their purpose, even Lifia’s magic can be tricked.”
I nodded slowly. The enemy had studied Spirit Magic’s limits.
Without clear hostility, Lifia’s magic wouldn’t react. They had planned well.
”I should have been more careful,” Lifia said quietly, her shoulders sagging.
I gently patted her blonde hair.
”It’s okay. The important thing is that you’re both safe.”
Tifi smiled softly, holding Lifia’s hand gently.
Seeing that, my chest felt warm.
Still, trying to kidnap a guild employee in broad daylight, right outside the Adventurers Guild, was reckless.
It would ruin the guild’s honor, which even uses violence sometimes.
In a kingdom, other adventurer parties would crush the guild for that.
But in free city Latipak, the Adventurers Guild was weak, controlled by the clans.
That must be why the Lead Cup clan dared to do this.
I doubted every clan had that kind of power.
If this kept happening, it would only get worse.
I needed to settle this properly.
* * *
That night, Lifia and I stepped into the tavern called “Lead Cup.”
It was the clan’s base, where members gathered—a hideout for those tied to the attack earlier today.
A thick fog drifted along the narrow street, and the loud noise of drunken voices spilled into the alley.
The tavern’s walls were stained black with soot, and the signs hung crooked, coated with vomit from last night’s drunks.
The door was dented and scratched by twisted blades, with deep marks where someone had kicked it roughly.
As soon as I pushed the door open, a choking wave of air hit my nose.
The heavy smell of cheap booze mixed with the sharp smoke of burning tobacco, sweat, blood, and iron.
My senses warned me this was no classy bar.
In the low light, rough men sat packed shoulder to shoulder at the counter, swallowing down murky liquor.
Our arrival changed the mood instantly.
Even though the music didn’t stop, the chaos quieted down just a bit.
Everyone turned their eyes to us, full of suspicion, hostility, and curiosity.
Lifia looked completely out of place here.
A pretty girl in a mini-skirt wasn’t something you’d expect in this rough crowd.
But she stood firm by my side, alert and ready for whatever might come.
We came for one reason: to confront them about today’s attack.
I never expected this to end with simple words.
Depending on what they do next, this could turn into a full fight or even a declaration of war.
We were ready either way.
Kéa and the others waited nearby, ready to jump in at a moment’s notice.
”Hey, isn’t that Taro?”
A voice called from the back of the room.
It was Bunark—the man who once tried to recruit me, a member of Lead Cup.
His scruffy beard, open shirt, dark blue jacket embroidered with gold, and scarred leather armor made him look perfectly at home here.
”Well, well, on a date with the little lady?” Bunark sneered, “With that outfit, you look more like a working girl.”
Loud, leering laughter echoed around the table.
”I came to talk,” I said, stepping forward.
He shrugged casually. “Our young guys handled you well. Didn’t expect a girl with a fish to beat us up. Pathetic.”
My eyebrows twitched with anger at his bold insult.
He didn’t bother hiding his challenge—his arrogance was clear.
”Don’t make that face,” Bunark said with a smirk. “Drink up.”
He poured a drink and slid the glass toward me.
The dull silver cup caught the dim light.
I ignored the offer and asked, “Why did you cause a kidnapping scene right in front of the Guild in broad daylight?”
Bunark shrugged again. “Kidnapping? That’s just a fancy word. We wanted to talk peacefully.”
He drank deeply, then shook his head with a fake laugh, showing no guilt at all.
They had clearly planned to kidnap Tifi and the others.
Lifia’s eyes had shown the malice, and that’s why she raised her Spirit Magic right away.
But Bunark stayed calm, acting like nothing was wrong.
”You don’t have proof of kidnapping, do you? Don’t let your imagination run wild, little lady. Here, it’s all about money and power—not words.”
The Lead Cup members grinned, staring at us with nasty smiles.
”Our backers are the Piyonbo Merchant Guild,” Bunark said, his voice dripping with pride. “You know them, right? They want a seat in the next council election, to replace the fading Shell family.”
His smile grew wider and more mocking.
”Maybe you should bow down now. Kiss their feet a little, and you might get some favors.”
His face showed absolute confidence in the power behind him.
In Latipak, a free city where politics, business, and violence mixed, justice was just another tool for the strong.
Bunark believed it was normal for power to rule everything—as if right and wrong were just products you could buy.
Piyonbo Merchant Guild.
Their constant pressure on me, the attack on Tifi and Lifia—it all traced back to them.
They wanted to control us, using their power to win seats and grow their influence.
I clenched my fist, anger quietly burning inside.
It was clear from the moment they touched Tifi and the others.
Now, after talking with Bunark, I was sure.
”Don’t cause trouble,” Bunark warned with a careless shrug. “Everyone knows your strength. If you act, the blame falls on you, and everyone will see who started this.”
The merchant guild and the clans were fighting for power.
If they had proof, even the law would be on their side.
”Even that elf guy,” he added, naming Rozmiaque.
They knew about us and Rozmiaque.
They were warning us not to use him as a weapon.
It was decided then—we would crush them all.
We’d bring down their merchant backers, too.
They needed to understand this:
We acted to show that no one could control us—not by law, not by power, only by our own strength.
Notes:
• Lead Cup – The base of the Lead Cup clan, located in a night street of Latipak. The building is soot-stained, with a stifling atmosphere filled with murky alcohol fumes, smoke, and the smell of sweat and blood. It serves as a hideout for clan members and a gathering place for drunken revelers.
• Rozmiaque – High-ranking elf investigating large-scale Spirit Magic usage. Condescending, believes a High Elf is involved. Uses 6-letter Spirit Magic to trap targets. Displays contempt for half-elves and humans. Aggressive interrogator, possibly capable of sensing hidden information.
• Latipak – A small independent state centered around its port town. Located in a strategic trade hub, it maintains neutrality despite being surrounded by large nations and Demon Race territories. It is a bustling city where humans, elves, dwarfs, and Demon Race people coexist. Known for its vibrant streets, diverse languages, and lively atmosphere.
• Bunark – Male. A middle-aged adventurer with a shady demeanor. He wears flashy clothes and overly decorated rings. He invites the main character to join his clan ‘Lead Cup’, offering decent treatment and information. His relationship with the main character is adversarial, as the offer is refused.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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