Chapter 29
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After leaving the dungeon, Iris and I headed to the dismantling area to assess and cash in our loot.
It felt like it was around 1 PM to 2 PM.
Since we returned early, there were fewer adventurers in the square, and we went around to the back of the Adventurer’s Guild across the way.
Now, I had one thought in mind.
I didn’t know the details yet, but there was Frederica Vermillion, the daughter of a powerful person in this city, who for some reason was working at the reception in the dismantling area.
Since I was disguised, she probably wouldn’t recognize me, so it would be fine to get assessed as “Mose” by another receptionist.
However, if she could look into the people who attacked Iris through her connections… if she found out they weren’t looking for Iris, then I wouldn’t need to stay in disguise and waste my magic power.
On the other hand, if they were looking for Iris, I could just keep being cautious.
There was also a possibility that Frederica or her family was connected to the “Gem Snake,” but as “Mose,” it wouldn’t matter if they knew I was Iris’s ally.
Even though I could use the camouflage mode of my Magic Armor to disguise my face, I couldn’t change my voice, so Iris would have to speak for me.
That brings up the question… would she even help me?
This time, the loot was just magic stones, but since she didn’t seem very dedicated to her job, she might not like this amount.
If I showed my face, she might help me… I guess I’ll have to see how things go.
Still, big companies probably earn way more than this, so I wonder what they do in that case?
While being mindful of the surroundings… we entered the dismantling area and headed to Frederica’s reception.
”…What?”
Frederica’s attitude towards me, as “Mose” with Iris, was as cold as when we first met.
Iris stepped up to Frederica.
”Um, I’d like to get an appraisal…”
”There are other places open. Go there.”
Just as this woman said, all the reception areas were empty, probably because of the time of day.
However, we wanted to hear about the “Gem Snake,” and it would be a problem if we couldn’t get information from someone like her who might have connections.
So, Iris pressed on.
”No, I mean… I want you.”
”…I have no ‘interest’ in that.”
Frederica said this with a disgusted look, and Iris quickly realized she had been misunderstood.
”N-No! That’s not it! I don’t have that ‘interest’ either. I mean, I have him!”
Saying that, Iris grabbed my arm tightly.
That could lead to more misunderstandings… well, we’ve done what we’ve done, and since I’m recognized as a different person by outsiders right now, it should be fine.
Frederica then asked her.
”Then why do you want me to help you? You could just get an appraisal somewhere else and go back to your inn to cuddle.”
With a half-exasperated expression, Frederica said this, and Iris glanced at me before telling her the real reason.
”Because… I have something I want to ask you.”
”Something you want to ask? What is it?”
”Information about the ‘Gem Snake.’.”
When Iris said that, Frederica looked back with sharp eyes.
”Why are you asking me that?”
”From your attitude here… if you have a position or background that allows it, then I thought you might have various information.”
Since she’s aware of her own attitude, Frederica didn’t seem particularly offended.
”Well, I get that, but… I could be a powerful person behind the ‘Gem Snake’ or someone related to them, right?”
”Is that so?”
Iris asked this in response to her statement, but the answer she got back was somewhat reassuring.
”…No, that’s not true. I have no intention of teaming up with those guys.”
”Thank goodness…”
Iris looked relieved, just like I felt inside, but of course, there’s still a chance she could be lying, so I planned to take it with a grain of salt.
If it turned out to be misinformation, it would mean Frederica was connected to the ‘Gem Snake,’ but at least it was clear she wasn’t alone, which would make it a bit harder for them to act, so it wasn’t a problem.
”So, what do you want to know?”
She still seemed annoyed, but for some reason, she was willing to listen, so for now, Iris asked if there had been any unusual movements from the ‘Gem Snake’ yesterday.
I don’t know if she personally knew or found out through her job, but it seemed Frederica had heard about such things.
”Ah… there was a bit of a commotion yesterday about 20 or 30 people going missing.”
”And what was the ‘Gem Snake’s’ response?”
”Response? Well, I heard that only a few teams went in, and there’s information that the missing people were former thieves who joined recently, so it’s likely they got too cocky and ran into trouble inside. So the company isn’t doing anything special…”
Hmm, it seems that the group waiting for Iris split into several teams to enter the dungeon.
If that’s the case, then it should be fine to walk around normally, right? Just as I thought that, Frederica brought up more information.
”Ah, I heard they’re worried about not messing with other big companies. If the missing people were moving together in the dungeon, they might have gotten involved with ‘something.’.”
I see.
There are other big companies out there, so it makes sense that there are other powerful backers too.
That means they don’t want to get into trouble with them.
Hearing that, Iris asked, trying to hide that it was about her.
”‘Something’… there was a woman who got involved at the city entrance the day before. Is she related to this?”
Since the news reached other companies, it should have reached the main “Gem Snake” group too.
That means it’s possible they think that woman is connected to the missing people.
It’s unlikely that no one saw Iris entering the dungeon with those 3.
They were also part of “Gem Snake,” but hasn’t that information been shared?
If it had, there should be some info about her too… After hearing that, Frederica answered as if she remembered something.
”Ah… I think there was something like that. But is that woman really involved?”
”If they haven’t given up on her and have been chasing her inside the dungeon…”
”!”
I grimaced secretly inside my Magic Armor at Iris’s words.
If she’s talking about a woman in the dungeon, that means this woman is an adventurer, and it’s rare to see a female adventurer right in front of me… they might be found out that this woman is Iris.
My guess was right, and Frederica smirked.
”I see, so you’re talking about that girl who got involved with those guys. And since you’re asking about the ones who went missing… you know what happened to them, don’t you?”
”Uh, no, um…”
Iris realized her slip of the tongue and became flustered.
She probably got ahead of herself wanting to feel safe and get some reassurance.
Even as a middle-aged guy, I sometimes get anxious and rush to answer, so I can understand why a teenager like her would feel that way.
It might be hard for Iris to cover up her words right now, so… I decided to step in.
”Hey.”
”!?… W-What is it?”
As I leaned over the counter in my full armor, Frederica seemed a bit intimidated.
To her, I took off my helmet to show my face.
”It’s me.”
”You… what’s going on?”
Since she was already speaking quietly, Frederica kept her surprised voice low.
I explained the situation to her, adding a bit of ‘detail’.
”I saw this girl getting harassed when entering the city. At that time, someone helped her, so I didn’t have to step in… But yesterday, I saw her being followed by 3 guys in a shop, and I got worried and followed her, and she went straight into the dungeon.”
”…And then?”
Not caring that I was speaking casually this time, I continued as she urged me to go on.
”After entering the 2nd District for a while, those guys started attacking this girl, but then a group of monsters showed up by chance. While they were dealing with the monsters, the girl dropped her torch and ran away, and I protected her and got us out of the dungeon. That was yesterday’s story.”
”Hmm? Since that came up from the story so far… does that mean they were the ‘Gem Snake’?”
”I don’t know. But the fact that this girl got tangled up with the ‘Gem Snake’ the day before has spread to other companies, and because of that, she was rejected from joining. If they could attack her the next day…”
”You mean they might be their allies? But does that have anything to do with the fact that several dozen of them disappeared? There were only 3, right?”
”I can’t say for sure, but… there’s a possibility that the ‘Gem Snake’ might suspect this girl, right?”
When I asked that, Frederica crossed her arms and put her hand on her chin.
I couldn’t help but notice her chest, which was quite impressive.
Thinking about my home situation, I had no intention of getting involved.
As I was thinking that, she opened her mouth.
”Hmm… well, they would probably want to hear her side of the story, including the ‘possibility’ that she might be the culprit. In various ways.”
”!”
Iris let out a small gasp, looking uncomfortable, as if she had an idea of what those ways might be.
I then explained, including the difficulty of denying it, that she was just a victim.
”According to a shopkeeper I saw, they said they were the ones who helped her the day before and lured her into the dungeon. She just believed them and went along with them. The reason she ran away was because of them, and it’s harsh to suspect her when she can only deny it without any evidence, right?”
”Well, I wanted to know how ‘Gem Snake’ is moving regarding the case of the dozens of people who went missing.”
Frederica said this with a satisfied expression, and Iris looked at her seriously to confirm.
”So… is ‘Gem Snake’ really not moving?”
The response was a bit vague, but there was some reassurance.
”Not for now. But I can’t say for sure. I’m not an information dealer or anything… Just, if there’s any movement, I’ll let you know.”
”Really!? Thank you!”
Iris was genuinely happy about the temporary reassurance and the offer of information, but… next to her, I felt complicated emotions.
This woman had suspicions about my background and seemed to be planning to use me for something.
If someone like her is willing to help, it makes me worried about what comes next… well, let’s see what happens.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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