Vol 3 Chapter 22: The Town Where Shadows Stir

Once we decided to leave our base of operations, everything progressed smoothly.

We spent the next few days preparing for the journey—restocking supplies, repairing and upgrading weapons and armor, and arranging for a carriage. Finally, the day of departure arrived.

“Shin-san… and everyone else, please take care of yourselves,” said the receptionist.

“Indeed. Return here anytime,” the guild master added.

We were being seen off by the receptionist and the guild master.

“Yes. I won’t forget the kindness everyone here has shown me.”

These were the people who took me in and supported me after I was expelled from my party. If it weren’t for them, I might not even be here today.

“I’ll come back—no matter what, I’ll definitely return to this town!”

Even for an S-rank adventurer, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Death can come suddenly, or one could suffer injuries that end their career. This could very well be our last farewell. Even so, I vowed strongly to return.

“──We’re off!”

Hiding the reluctance in my heart, we left the guild and headed outside the town, boarding the carriage.

Our destination was Requille, the town where Alice’s enemy might be.

…Though we were determined at first…

“I’m bored!”

After just a few days in the carriage, with occasional stops to camp, Nina was already complaining about the monotony.

Even with the best timing, it would take half a month to reach our destination. Depending on our pace, it might take as long as a month. It wasn’t hard to understand why she felt restless—I felt the same.

But I had anticipated this and purchased a few books in advance.

Magic tomes, popular novels, history books, and more.

I spent an amount that could have bought us some extravagant meals, but these books became a source of solace during the journey.

“…Hey, Nina. Want to read this?”

“Huh? What’s this… uh, ‘A Forbidden Love with the Hero’? Did you seriously buy a romance novel?”

“Yeah, it was being sold dirt cheap, and I thought it might be good for killing time.”

“Huh.”

Nina flipped through the pages in the jostling carriage, initially looking unimpressed. But gradually, her expression turned serious.

“Ni-Nina? Is it interesting?”

Lena, surprised by Nina’s uncharacteristic silence, asked her hesitantly. But Nina didn’t respond, and only the soft sound of turning pages filled the carriage.

“…”

Lena and I exchanged glances, astonished by this unexpected side of her. We chuckled quietly and decided to leave her alone.

After a while, Nina finally spoke.

“Phew… well, I guess it wasn’t bad for killing time.”

Her words were dismissive, but her slightly teary eyes betrayed her stirred emotions.

“Is that so, is that so?”

“Yep, makes sense.”

Lena and I teased her gently, earning a blush that turned Nina’s face red as a tomato.

For the rest of the journey, she reread that book over and over, seemingly never tiring of it.

One calm afternoon, after several uneventful days on the road, Kaguya called out to us from the coachman’s seat.

“Everyone, we’re almost there.”

At her words, everyone in the carriage leaned out of the windows to look in the direction she indicated.

The town ahead was the largest I had seen so far. Protected by towering stone walls several times the height of a person, the town’s skyline featured a few tall buildings poking out above the walls.

It was close to the royal capital, and its size reflected that.

“Thank goodness we made it without any trouble,” Fana-san said with a relieved sigh.

“I was bored to death,” Nina grumbled, still flipping through the pages of her well-worn book.

“I thought the peaceful journey was nice. Plus, I got to spend all this time with Shin,” Lena murmured dreamily, her final words making my heart skip a beat.

Not everyone felt the same way, however.

“…She’s there… That woman…”

Alice, who had been doing her best to stay cheerful throughout the journey, muttered quietly, as if renewing her resolve.

Yes, this was where the real challenge began.

Our mission was to uncover the enemy that might be threatening this town of Requille.

Feeling a subtle tension, I found myself clenching my fists without realizing it.

With everyone holding their own emotions close, the carriage advanced toward the town and arrived at the massive gate guarded by several soldiers.

“Identification and baggage inspection required!”

“Understood. I’ll go first.”

A sturdy, older guard stepped forward and began inspecting our adventurer cards one by one.

However, something about his demeanor seemed a little off.

“O-okay… all clear, it seems…”

At first, he stood straight with a serious expression, but as he looked around at us, his gaze softened, and his eyes darted back and forth in surprise.

It seemed he was bewildered by the sight of so many beautiful women—each with a voluptuous and captivating presence—and the fact that among them was a lone man.

Even so, the guard diligently checked the carriage for anything suspicious, proving his dedication to his duties.

Once the inspection was over, Fana-san spoke up.

“Thank you for your hard work, dear gatekeeper♡.”

“Y-yes…”

Her voice was sultry, a mix of elegance and seduction. The man nodded awkwardly, trying to maintain composure, but he couldn’t hide the goofy smile creeping across his face.

“We’re just travelers, but could you tell us about this town…?”

Fana-san’s narrowed eyes fixed on him as she began her signature information-gathering.

“This town is bustling with trade, the food is excellent, and you can find all sorts of goods. It’s a great place for business.”

“Oh, is that so? But…”

In a natural, almost casual gesture, Fana-san pressed her arms together, emphasizing her chest as she continued.

“I heard a rumor that taxes have increased recently. Is that true?”

The guard, now staring downward, opened and closed his mouth like a puppet before replying.

“Y-yes… but I’ve heard it’s only temporary. So there shouldn’t be any real problems.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief. Thank you, gatekeeper♡.”

With a playful wink, she closed one eye and sent him off.

“Y-yes, of course…”

Completely ensnared, the gatekeeper walked off, looking dazed and elated.

I no longer felt uneasy about Fana-san’s negotiation methods, thanks to something Nina had once told me.

“I’m not really one to talk, but… you really are suited to being an adventurer.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Nina? A jab, perhaps?”

“Who knows? Hehe.”

Watching from the sidelines, Nina teased, but Fana-san, far from offended, responded with amusement.

“…Everyone, we’re entering the town now.”

At Kaguya’s cue, the carriage began moving again.

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“Lord Ruflas, I have a report.”

“Enter.”

“Excuse me!”

A man stepped into the room.

The space was simple yet refined, exuding an air of dignity.

The desk was practical, not ostentatious, while the sofa, though unadorned, gave an impression of quality. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with texts on history and territorial management.

Sitting at the desk, resting his elbows on the surface, was Ruflas, the lord of Requille.

“Speak.”

His commanding tone made it clear he was a man of firm authority.

The man delivering the report, slightly tense, stood before him and began to speak.

“Yes, my lord! First, regarding tax collection, some merchants are still resisting. We’ve only managed to collect about half of our target.”

The tax increase Ruflas had implemented over the past few months had met with significant opposition.

While some influential figures had been convinced through discussions, the general populace remained dissatisfied, continuing to protest.

“It doesn’t matter. Use the private militia if necessary.”

“M-my lord!? Surely that would─”

“Do you have something to say?”

The man tried to voice his concerns, but Ruflas’s sharp glare and commanding voice silenced him immediately.

“…Understood.”