Chapter 452 Second Day of the ‘Grand Market’ (Part IX)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Dorothy’s POV)
”Everyone is safe!”
As the sun set and darkness began to envelop the area, I arrived at the ‘Blacksmith Freeberry Raetia Branch’ and saw Mr. Toldo and the others closing the shop.
Seeing this, Ms. Martina rushed over and hugged Ms. Aluda in relief.
”Huh? What’s going on?”
”What happened, Marti?”
”Meluda and the others… have been working here the whole time…”
Ms. Aluda, suddenly hugged, was flustered, while Ms. Eluda and Ms. Meluda looked at Ms. Martina in confusion.
”Was there something at the Clan house?”
Ms. Gargantua, who seemed to have been with Mr. Toldo and the others, directed a sharp gaze at me.
”Ms. Sasha and Ms. Romy were kidnapped. Ms. Shinobu fought the assailants… and was quite seriously injured.”
”A skilled user like Lady Shinobu…!?”
”…We should hurry back. Well, as long as Gargantua is here, we should be fine unless something truly dangerous appears.”
Mr. Toldo, carrying what was likely Mr. Hernando and Mr. Esperanza’s katana, boarded the carriage prepared in front of the shop.
”Right. …I’ll hear the details inside the carriage.”
Ms. Aluda pried Ms. Martina off and climbed up to the driver’s seat.
I also boarded the carriage, and we all set off for home.
”I came to pick up the gear that Master Toldo sharpened after registering as an adventurer at the guild.”
”I was talking about the great labyrinth Raetia and the situation of adventurers here.”
While swaying in the carriage, I explained the recent events and then listened to Ms. Gargantua and Ms. Eluda.
”Bolt Sontag… he’s an executive of the Hazel family, right?”
Mr. Toldo, who has lived in the Royal Capital for a long time, seems to know about it.
”They run taverns and brōtḥels… the so-called ‘night establishments’ are managed by an ‘underworld organization.’ They demand ‘protection money’ from legitimate businesses. Their territory is probably the largest in the Royal Capital. ── urely, a powerful noble must be backing them.”
”Eluda… doesn’t know anything about them…”
”Could it be that we were also targeted?”
Aluda, holding the reins at the driver’s seat, asked Mr. Toldo while looking ahead.
”They certainly didn’t come to our place.”
Moving to the back of the covered carriage, Mr. Toldo lit his pipe while poking his face out of the opening.
”The fact that such people kidnapped Lady Sasha means…”
”Yes. They probably intend to establish their influence here in Raetia. ──As evidence, they requested ‘operating permission for a brōtḥel’ from the lord, and when that was denied, it seems they even kidnapped the owner of ‘Chick Gathering Inn,’ Ms. Della.”
”Hmm…”
When I replied that to Ms. Gargantua, she crossed her arms and wore a difficult expression.
”I’m concerned that Lady Shinobu was defeated… It means there must be quite a skilled person on their side.”
”I heard there’s an S-rank party. Apparently, some Marquis hired them, according to Big Brother Hiroya’s father.”
In response to Ms. Gargantua’s question, Ms. Martina answered this time.
”Marquis Bausnerun… Elberhardt and Shinji… especially the noble that Bone particularly despised.”
”Yeah! That’s the one!”
Mr. Toldo muttered softly while puffing on his pipe.
Ms. Martina nodded vigorously at the name of the noble that came from his mouth.
”That party belongs to a person named Giacomo Rultz, the lord said.”
”They’re a troublesome bunch. ──Essentially a gathering of scoundrels, but… astonishingly skilled.”
Mr. Toldo mutters with a sigh at my explanation.
”I’ve heard of Giacomo when he was on the Demon King’s side. Apparently, he was among those considered as candidates for the hero, but was expelled due to bad behavior.”
”Ah… this means they possess enough skill to be considered candidates. It was a highly active party… but I think there were 4 main members…”
The more I listen to Ms. Gargantua and Mr. Toldo, the clearer it becomes that they are a troublesome opponent.
”But… the fact that Lady Shinobu was defeated means… even if they’re rotten, they’re still Rank S. ──The only ones who can stand against them in Famière are Hiroya and Rena.”
”Would it be impossible for me, Ms. Simona, or Ms. Asuka?”
I mentioned names of those closest to Rank S in close combat to Ms. Gargantua, but she shook her head while closing her eyes.
”Including you, they are those who could reach Rank S with just a single opportunity…”
”I’m frustrated that I can’t be a match for them… but Big Brother Hiroya’s father is around, and someone named Rain came to the Clan house too!”
Just as Ms. Martina said, we are lacking in power, but we do have the strength to counter a Rank S party like Giacomo’s.
(Moreover…)
Surely, Ms. Gargantua also…
* * *
(Gargantua’s POV)
(Raincrist… I never fought directly, but…)
Hearing the name from Martina brought back some nostalgic memories to my mind.
* * *
Raincrist Preonhart.
One of the heroes in the Elberhardt party.
I heard he’s an all-rounder skilled in magic, swordsmanship, and thieving techniques.
And he’s of royal blood as well.
”His departure from the party was indeed fortunate for us.”
That’s what Three-Face said.
It felt like a rare moment when emotion surfaced in his tone.
Hearing such a thing, I felt disappointed back then… I must have been young.
(Now that I’ve become Four Dark Heavens, I want to fight a strong opponent.)
That’s how I was thinking.
Well, that desire was fulfilled when I fought Elberhardt and Shinji.
* * *
Remembering such things, I found myself naturally smiling.
”Ms. Gargantua…?”
Dorothy looked at me with a puzzled expression.
”No… I’m sorry. It was inappropriate to laugh.”
”What’s this… do you know Rain?”
Toldo, putting his pipe in his chest pocket, turned around.
”No… before facing me, he left the party. ── He was someone I wanted to fight, though.”
”Everyone! We’re almost there!”
Aluda, from the driver’s seat, called out to everyone in the carriage.
”Though my power is limited, I will also lend my assistance. Not only to rescue Lady Sasha and the others, but to Annihilate the rats that have infiltrated this Raetia.”
I looked at the blade of my great naginata, removing the sheath covering it.
Polished by Toldo, it radiated a beauty I had never seen before.
(I will make those who laid hands on my ‘friends’ regret it in hell…)
I engraved such a sinister resolve in my heart.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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