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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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Clink. Clink.
With the sound of tableware against porcelain, a teacup was placed on the saucer before me.
It was a fine piece, obviously expensive.
A common adventurer would probably have to work a month to afford it.
“It’s been a while, Iyerpol. How have you been?”
A large man with sharp features and a furrowed brow that seemed to press down on anyone he spoke to.
I had only met him a handful of times.
Briefly, in the past, when I’d accompanied Wagner, and most recently, at the commendation ceremony after the cave search mission.
Clerk Yordo, if I remembered correctly.
I hadn’t noticed from afar, but up close, he had a rather intimidating presence.
“Thanks to the Feiler family’s grace, Tillasden has been peaceful. I’ve been living comfortably.”
“Well, Guinness deserves most of the credit for maintaining order.”
Indeed, you speak the truth, Clerk Yordo.
Any troublemakers in Tillasden who dared to disrupt the peace quickly found themselves on the wrong end of Guinness’s temper, and subsequently, in the hospital.
That was why the Feiler family backed her so strongly.
“We’re both busy people, so shall we get straight to the point?”
“Yes, Clerk Yordo.”
“As you may have guessed, this concerns the Royal summons from Kalak.”
As expected.
I had suspected this ever since the soldiers showed up at my door.
Guinness had already told me about it before she left, and it was common knowledge amongst the Tillasden Adventurer’s Guild.
Several adventurers had already been called up, so everyone had an inkling of what was happening.
I quietly lifted the teacup and took a sip.
…This is incredibly bitter.
“Have you heard of ‘Begalo Vegas’?”
“Yes.”
“There have been rumors of strange occurrences there recently. It’s a small city, with limited adventurers, yet these bizarre phenomena persist.”
Begalo Vegas.
Wasn’t that the city Wagner had mentioned recently, the one where the villagers had mysteriously disappeared?
“We want you to go there. Investigate these strange occurrences in Begalo Vegas.”
“Begalo Vegas…”
“Don’t worry too much. You’re essentially an investigator with specialized skills. Your objective is investigation, not combat. It shouldn’t be too dangerous.”
Clerk Yordo, I seem to recall hearing those same words before the cave search mission.
…However, that time, there were only five of us, including myself.
This time, the territorial army would be accompanying us, so I likely wouldn’t have to fight.
“This summons is beneficial for you as well. As a Royal summons, the compensation is substantial. I trust someone as astute as yourself recognizes the advantages of this situation.”
“…”
-sip-
Another sip of tea.
As Clerk Yordo had pointed out, as a summoned individual, it was in my best interest to comply.
Even a summons from Tillasden guaranteed a generous reward. A Royal summons from Kalak would undoubtedly offer a far greater compensation.
If I had to comply, it was only logical to steer the situation to my advantage.
As I pondered, images of the two girls flashed through my mind.
This is it.
“…As a citizen of Kalak, it would be remiss of me to refuse a Royal summons. I’ll gladly assist.”
“Wise decision.”
“However, there are a few accommodations I’d like to request. May I discuss those with you later?”
“As long as they’re not excessive, we’ll do our best to accommodate you.”
“Thank you, Clerk Yordo.”
Sensing the meeting drawing to a close, I stood up.
“Oh, by the way, Iyerpol.”
Clerk Yordo called out as I was about to leave, guided by a maid.
“Have you been on any goblin hunts recently?”
“Goblins?”
A memory flashed through my mind.
A few months ago, I had cleared out a goblin settlement near a village on the outskirts of Tillasden.
…Had they found out about that?
It wasn’t an official guild request, and clearing out an entire settlement was technically illegal. How had they discovered it?
As I struggled to maintain a neutral expression, I replied with a smile.
“I haven’t been on any goblin hunts in the past year.”
“…Is that so? Very well. You may go.”
Fortunately, he didn’t seem suspicious.
It would have been embarrassing and troublesome if he had pressed the issue.
Perhaps he was just testing the waters.
Either way, I was relieved to have avoided the topic.
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After the dark-haired young man left the reception room, the door opened again, and a knight in full regalia entered.
Tall, with a stoic expression and neatly tied-back hair that reflected her disciplined nature.
This was Nikolai Tobias.
The one who had been tracking Iyerpol and reported her findings to Clerk Yordo.
With a slight bow, Nikolai asked,
“How did it go, Clerk Yordo?”
“He accepted readily enough, though he did mention some conditions.”
The knight’s eyes sharpened.
“And the goblin matter…?”
“He denied it. He’s definitely lying.”
Clerk Yordo rose from his seat and walked towards the window.
He opened it, letting in a cool breeze.
The bright sunlight streaming through the window made him squint.
He recalled the image of Iyerpol, shaking his head with a smile.
He had pretended nonchalance, but Clerk Yordo’s keen eyes had seen through the facade. He knew Iyerpol was lying.
“…Nikolai.”
“Yes!”
“Let’s say you were the one who defeated the Goblin King and cleared out the settlement. What would be your first thought?”
“…I would probably focus on the honor of defeating the Goblin King.”
To slay a creature born to be king, even a Goblin King, carried considerable prestige. Someone like Nikolai, a model knight, would naturally prioritize the honor.
But what about an adventurer?
“Adventurers value both profit and prestige. The reward and recognition for defeating a Goblin King are not easily dismissed. Especially since he saved an entire village, and for free, at that.”
“…”
“So why would he lie about it, even to me? Why would he give up the profit and the recognition?”
Clerk Yordo lifted his teacup and took a sip.
The tea, which had been warm a moment ago, was now lukewarm.
He saw his reflection in the surface of the tea and recalled a distant memory.
Gazing at his reflection, Clerk Yordo spoke,
“Even a good person will lie to protect someone.”
“To protect someone…?”
Nikolai tilted her head, then suddenly looked up, as if a thought had struck her.
“Do you mean he lied to protect the squatter village?”
The squatters, driven from another territory by high taxes, had fled to the Feiler family’s land without permission.
Their existence was unknown to Tillasden, and their actions constituted illegal immigration and tax evasion.
If discovered by the Feiler family, they would face severe consequences.
If Iyerpol had revealed his role in defeating the Goblin King, the existence of the squatter village would have come to light.
“Could someone be that altruistic?”
“This is Iyerpol we’re talking about. Consider his usual conduct.”
Iyerpol had left the most successful extermination party in Tillasden, abandoning his title as the best scout, to take on unpopular requests for the citizens of Tillasden.
Mostly unprofitable tasks that only wasted his time.
He had consistently taken on these requests, extending a helping hand to those who couldn’t afford to hire adventurers. For a year and a half.
The rumors surrounding him had been dispelled after the cave search mission. The temporary party members, including Wolf and Kundt, had praised his abilities.
Furthermore, according to Wagner, Iyerpol had been the first to attempt to resolve the cave incident.
His character was beyond reproach.
“…Nikolai.”
“Yes!”
“I’ll add you to the Begalo Vegas relief force. Go and observe Iyerpol.”
Nikolai’s eyes lit up at Clerk Yordo’s words.
“Your orders are my command.”
“Observe him, and determine if he’s someone worthy of the Feiler family.”
“What do you mean?”
Clerk Yordo’s narrowed eyes looked out the window.
But his gaze was fixed on something beyond the immediate scenery.
“The Lord will soon need someone with expertise in monster extermination. ‘They’ have begun to appear.”
“…Understood.”
“This Begalo Vegas incident may also be related to ‘them.’ Observe Iyerpol, but don’t neglect your investigation.”
“Yes!”
Nikolai bowed deeply.
As he watched her, Clerk Yordo turned back to his tea and took another sip.
The tea, which had been lukewarm, was now cold.
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“Belle! Zeta!”
I called out to the two girls as soon as I returned home, seating them side-by-side on the sofa. I pulled up a chair opposite them.
They had seemed startled when the knights and soldiers had arrived, and their faces were filled with curiosity as they waited for me to speak.
“Wh-what is it, Senior?”
“What is it, indeed. The time has finally come.”
“The time…?”
Belle tilted her head, confused, while Zeta remained silent, sipping her tea.
I grinned at the two young girls.
“It seems your debut has been decided.”
And what a debut it would be.
A Royal summons.
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[WERE GOING TO VEGAS BABYYYYYYYYYYYYY]
