Information Gathering ①
“Now then, where should we start our investigation?”
“Ah, let me think…”
I called over Fon, who had just finished washing up in the garden, and had him change into clothes suitable for walking around the city. As we made our way to the plaza, Fon asked me this question. After pondering for a moment, I decided it might be better not to pinpoint a specific location for our inquiries.
“If we were to go to a specific place to ask questions, we could just head to the Knights Order or the Adventurers’ Guild… but the information we get there would likely be censored.”
“Hmm, and then?”
“We’ll stroll around while sampling food. Without giving off the vibe that we’re investigating, we should act as if we’re just casually exploring the area and engage in light conversation.”
“From there, we can gather information?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t try to extract information directly. Instead, engage in casual chit-chat and then move on. Remember everything you hear, regardless of its relevance, and sort it out in your mind afterward.”
“Hmm?”
Even if we were simply going around asking questions, if we focused too much on where and what to ask, it might create an atmosphere of investigation that would hinder us from hearing genuine conversations. It would be better to engage in casual talk and move on repeatedly, gathering a large amount of information. Even if rumors and lies mix in, if we collect enough, we can sift through to find the truth, which would be more reliable than the censored information we might receive elsewhere.
“Is that difficult?”
“Organizing everything in my head is challenging. I can summarize a single story, but sorting through various pieces of information is another matter.”
“I see… then shall we first go buy some memo paper and a pen?”
“…Is that alright?”
“There’s no problem. Neither of us is primarily responsible for intelligence gathering. If you can do it, great, but if not, it can’t be helped.”
“Thank you, Leader.”
“Don’t mention it. Rather, I apologize for inadvertently putting that burden on you.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m the one who feels sorry for being inexperienced.”
“It’s nothing to worry about.”
Being inexperienced simply means there’s room for improvement. Denying that would be akin to denying growth. If one recognizes their inexperience, then they should train now for the future.
“Alright, let’s hurry a bit.”
“Huh? Why’s that?”
“The place that sells memo paper is a bit away from the plaza. We should move quickly to make effective use of our time.”
“Oh, I see. Do you remember the way? You mentioned you haven’t used the castle town much.”
“I have the map in my head.”
“…Impressive.”
“I’m just fulfilling the minimum responsibilities expected of someone in charge.”
There’s nothing praiseworthy about that.
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“With this, we’re all set. Should we hide the memo and pen?”
“No, there’s no need to hide them. In fact, it would be better to write openly and frequently.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Since Fon is a Beast-folk.”
“Huh? Ah, I see. That makes sense.”
In this country, Beast-folk are not commonly seen, meaning there are few people who know much about them. Therefore, writing notes openly to avoid forgetting what we’ve heard, and documenting our light conversations, would likely not raise any suspicion.
“Then, should we split up and wander around from here?”
“Not at all.”
“Huh? But wouldn’t that be more efficient?”
“If we had separated before arriving here, that would have been fine, but since we came together, it would feel odd to split up now. Even if the number of people observing us is not that high, there are still some.”
“I see, then it’s better to stick together.”
“Exactly.”
Even if others aren’t paying close attention to us, it’s best to eliminate any potential feelings of distrust or awkwardness that might prevent us from hearing genuine conversations. Plus, it would be more efficient to act together rather than splitting up, gathering information, and then regrouping.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Where are we headed?”
“Before we arrived here, I noticed some street stalls near the plaza. We’ll take a light stroll around there and buy anything that catches our interest. Keep an eye out for anyone who seems troubled or might provide a good opportunity to strike up a conversation.”
“Leave it to me. How should I signal you?”
“Just tug on my clothes or pull my arm.”
“Understood.”
I led Fon down the path. Rather than seeking information directly, I intended to focus on sampling food from the street stalls and browsing for hidden treasures. I wasn’t skilled enough to juggle acting while extracting information, so I figured it would be best to treat our outward purpose as our true goal, while considering the actual information gathering as a secondary objective. That way, it would be easier.
“Excuse me, is it a good time?”
“Huh? No problem, but is something the matter?”
“No, I just caught a whiff of something delicious. I skipped breakfast, and my stomach can’t take it anymore. I thought I could buy something.”
“Oh, I see! We were planning to open a bit later, but I can grill something special for you!”
“Really? Thank you! I’ll pay a little extra.”
“Don’t worry about it! How many do you want?”
“Four, including one for him.”
“Sure! Just wait a moment.”
“Here you go! One is 250, so four will be 1000!”
“Thank you. Please hold onto this… that should be just right.”
“Great! Thanks! By the way, what happened to the Beast-folk behind you?”
“Huh? Oh, he seems to have lost his home. He has nowhere to go, so I’m showing him around the city.”
“I see. That kind of thing has been happening a lot lately.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. With the recent change in Heroes, the activities of the Demon Race have intensified, causing many to be unable to stay in their hometowns. There should be a reception area for people in such situations at the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“I understand.”
“Yeah. You should take the Beast-folk with you.”
“Ah, I will do just that.”
The skewer shop owner I first approached was a lucky find. I suspected there would be significant repercussions, but I hadn’t realized the extent of the damage… It might be time to consider a purge of the Demon Race. The new Hero doesn’t seem to be acting as a deterrent.
“…Leader.”
“Hmm? Ah, I understand.”
“Excuse me, is there something troubling you?”
“Huh? Who are you two?”
“No, we just thought you looked like you were in a bind. We were wondering if there was a problem.”
“Oh, I see. Sorry, I just found out my partner can’t make it for a request we were about to head out on, and I’m trying to figure out what to do.”
“Oh? What happened?”
“It’s nothing major. My partner went drinking yesterday and ended up at a brothel, where they got crushed by a bad pick. Now their back hurts, and they can’t move.”
“Ah, that’s unfortunate.”
“Sorry for worrying you. You two look like you’re here for sightseeing or something?”
“Ah, well, something like that.”
“Then let me recommend something.”
“Oh? Please, I’d love to hear it.”
“Ah, but what should I do now?”
“Is it that urgent?”
“No, it’s not that. There’s still plenty of time for the request; I just want to finish it quickly for personal reasons.”
“What’s going on?”
“Well, the request I was supposed to go on today is in the area where my hometown used to be. The Demon Race that plagued it was taken care of by the new Hero, but now monsters have moved in.”
“I see… is this a common occurrence?”
“Is it like what happened to me? Yeah, it happens often.”
“…I see.”
“That said, the change in Heroes doesn’t really matter. There are always plenty of Demon Race members hiding and fleeing. Towns and villages that can’t eliminate such Demons often end up being overrun by monsters.”
“I understand… good luck.”
“Thanks. Talking about it has calmed me down… until my partner returns, I guess I’ll just find some odd jobs to make ends meet.”
The second person, an Adventurer, was also a fortunate encounter. However, it was just a typical story—one from someone who was nearby but couldn’t save those in need. Well, that’s to be expected. It’s a fantasy to think one can save everyone; it’s simply impossible to wish for the unattainable.
“Leader, I’m going to step away for a bit.”
“Huh? Ah, go ahead.”
“…How did it go?”
“I think I lost my house key, so I went to look for it. While I was at it, I gathered some information, but none of it seems relevant. I took notes, so please check them.”
“Hmm… indeed, it seems that way. By the way, what kind of person did you talk to?”
“Just an ordinary lady. I don’t think there was anything special about her.”
“I see, then that wraps things up. Next, let’s head to that stall over there.”
“Understood… may I ask why?”
“I spotted a few cloaked figures approaching an Adventurer, whispering something before they slipped away. If I head straight there, I might raise suspicion, so I’ll weave through some other Street Stalls on my way,” Fon explained.
“Understood.”
As I waited for Fon, who had stepped away to gather information, I scanned the surroundings and soon noticed a particularly suspicious Street Stall—one that undoubtedly seemed to harbor some intriguing tidbits of information. I decided to make it my destination, carefully plotting a route that appeared natural to avoid drawing attention. Meanwhile, I skimmed through the information Fon had brought back. The contents were rather mundane, resembling the kind of trivial gossip one might overhear at a neighborhood gathering.
Well, it was within the realm of expectation. It was fortunate to have drawn two lucky finds in a row; considering the odds, it was entirely plausible that I would encounter more misses than hits.
For now, I should resume my movement.
“Let’s go. If you spot any Street Stalls that pique your interest, just let me know,” I said.
“Understood.”