Chapter 48: Scarce and Expensive Goods
“Ah~, I went to all the trouble of looking like a dandy, and now I’m a mess.”
“Ono dewa, ganaran’zu gorozu.”
“You’ve got a bit of an accent, and I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
Ignoring his broken arm, I tie his hands behind his back, and after firmly tying his feet as well, I pick up the dropped short sword.
“Shinya, what happened?”
“That was some incredible Fire Magic! Are you okay?”
“Keep an eye on him. He’s a wanted man, but don’t hand him over to the Guards or the Adventurers Guild.”
Smoke is billowing from the window I jumped out of.
Worried about the old woman, I take a light running start, dash up the wall, and plunge into the smoke.
It seems she just fainted from my killing intent, but I don’t think I can put out the fire alone, so I carry her out of the room in a princess carry.
To the maid peeking fearfully from the stairs, I yell, “There’s a fire! Call for help!” and head straight to the entrance hall, put the old woman down, and throw the doors wide open.
“Fire! Help put it out!”
At my shout, someone yells, “Linna-san’s house is on fire! Go call everyone!”
I ask Belga and the others to bring that guy over, and leave the firefighting to the townspeople.
They carry Owen over and I roll him down next to Linna-baasan. I sprinkle the cheapest Potion on his shoulder wound, just enough to stop the bleeding.
“Gono babajazu masanehzo.”
“That’s right. I won’t hand you over to the Adventurers Guild or the town Guards. You’ll be handed over to the lord of Zandra for interrogation.”
“Ah, um… Is Linna-sama alright?”
Amidst the chaos of the townspeople fighting the fire, the maid asks worriedly.
“She’s fine. She just fainted for a bit; it’s not like she was hit by a magic attack. The Moran Trading Company President and Milene-okusama are at a hotel in Zandra.”
Hearing that, the maid seemed relieved and burst into tears.
“Shinya, who is this guy?”
“Hmm, Owen the Hellfire. Former Guild Master of the Zandra Adventurers Guild.”
“No way! I thought he’d fled far away by now.”
“But he looks completely different.”
“Whoa, he’s got fancy town clothes and his shoes are sparkling clean.”
“And his beard is neatly trimmed. He looks like some fine gentleman.”
“But the evil glint in his eyes is pure Guild Master, though.”
“Though he’s all grimy now.”
“How did you even recognize him?”
“Nah, I didn’t recognize him by his looks. He was dressed stylishly, his hair was slicked back, and his beard was trimmed. Even if his appearance changed, his voice didn’t, so I realized it was him.”
“Owen the Hellfire, huh? Then we’d better gag him.”
As I’m gagging him and kicking him down, things get noisy outside, and Guards come barging in.
“What’s the situation with the fire?”
“I heard a magic user shot a Fireball!”
“And who are you lot?”
The man who spots us sharply and calls out seems to be in charge.
《Bee-chans, can you come?》
《Yeees!》
《Coming, coming!》
《Master, what is it this time?》
《But don’t sting, just fly above their heads, okay?》
《We can’t again~?》
“Thank you for your hard work. This man, tied up here, is the one who shot the Fire Magic.”
“Hmm, good work.”
He nods magnanimously and orders his subordinates to take him away, so I stop him.
“I apologize, but we cannot hand this man over to the Guard unit.”
“Why not! Are you lot trying to protect a criminal?!”
“This house belongs to the former wife of the Moran Trading Company President from Holm, Territory of Elzart. The criminal was hiding in this house and threatening the occupants. Upon learning this, President Moran and his daughters came all the way to Zandra and should be consulting with the person governing Zandra. Furthermore, this man is wanted as the ringleader of slave hunts, kidnapping for ransom, and illegal slave trading. It’s suspected that his accomplices include Adventurers, town ruffians, and even Guards. For that reason, President Moran has ordered me to hand him over directly to the person governing Zandra.”
“Hey! It’s Killer Bees!”
“It’s a huge swarm, run!”
“Quiet! Don’t try to drive them away! Lower your heads and leave the house quietly!”
Oh, seems like there’s someone who can give proper instructions.
“So, if you insist on taking him by force, we will resist with force. And if you still insist, you too might be suspected of being this man’s accomplice and subjected to a harsh interrogation.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?!”
“Send an express messenger to the Moran Trading Company President, who is staying at the Horado Hotel on Orandal Street in Zandra. Tell him that the criminal has been captured and to come and collect him with the Lord’s forces.”
“Ugh, f-fine… But is this true?”
“Linna-sama was actually hit by Fire Magic and suffered damages, and we’ve captured the criminal. Hurry up and send that express messenger!”
“A-Alright!”
Watching the man hurry out, Belga and the others look at me with peculiar expressions.
“Linna-sama, are you unharmed? We have apprehended the criminal, and the Guards are sending an express messenger to your daughters in Zandra.”
“Then, what was written in that letter was true?”
“It’s slightly different, but mostly true. I was requested by Milene-sama to rescue Linna-sama and came here.”
I take her hand to help her stand and ask the maid to give her some strong liquor to revive her.
I told the Guards she fainted from my killing intent, swapping it with the Fire Magic, but they probably won’t figure it out.
“Do we have to wait until the escort from Zandra arrives?”
“Sorry, Belga. I’ll ask the owner of this house to lend us a room. Could you watch this guy until the escort comes? I’ll pay an additional fee of one Gold Coin per person.”
“You’re quite generous for someone so young.”
“I don’t mind. It’s an easy job, just like Shinya said.”
“No doubt. By the time we rush over when something happens, it’s already an easy job that’s all wrapped up.”
After letting Bee-chan and the others out, I ask the maid for an audience with Linna-sama.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
“That letter?”
“I had Milene-sama write it so I could enter this house without arousing suspicion. While doubting the letter that informed her of Linna-sama’s worsening condition, Mina was also heading this way, so I had them stop in Zandra. A short while ago, I asked the Guards to send an express messenger to inform them, so they should arrive in a few days.”
Once the criminal’s body was carried out and the cleanup after the fire was finished, I was formally permitted to borrow a room with my companions until Owen’s handover.
In return, since it was unsafe, I decided to take on the security of the mansion.
After stabbing Owen’s unharmed limbs with a knife, I stop the bleeding with the lowest-rank Potion, then tie him up and leave him rolled up.
Owen, who was initially composed, has looked pale ever since he learned he wouldn’t be handed over to the Guards or the Adventurers Guild, but to the new magistrate of Zandra.
He’s the kind of guy who changed his appearance to be unrecognizable from his Guild Master days and was hiding out two days’ journey from Zandra. There’s no way I’m letting him escape.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
President Moran and Milene-sama arrived three days later, accompanied by numerous knights.
While they joyfully chatted for a while, celebrating each other’s safety, I stayed quiet in the corner of the room.
“Shinya-san, thank you. You’ve saved us twice now, haven’t you?”
“The house was damaged a little, but it worked out somehow. Besides, the criminal was the ringleader of the ones who kidnapped Mina-jou, so it should be a bit safer now.”
“Okusama, the handover of the criminal.”
The commander of the knights demands Owen’s handover while scrutinizing me.
I guide them to the room I’m borrowing, hand over the rolled-up Owen and the Magic Bag, and my duty should have been over, but Mina is holding the now larger Mii-chan and won’t let go.
Well, Mii-chan is too big for a 7-year-old, making her stagger, and its tail has practically turned into a broom.
To Belga and the rest of the Blood Splatter Swords, I give the remaining balance of the request fee, plus an extra 5 Gold Coins each, totaling 35 Gold Coins for the seven of them, and bid them farewell.
“Is this much really okay?”
“We hadn’t decided on the rescue fee, but Okusama is generous, and the bounty on that guy is 100 Gold Coins. This also includes hush money for Hoo-chan and the others.”
“You’ve helped us out and let us earn a lot. Don’t worry.”
“That’s right. Besides, if word got out about the Guild Master’s capture and he had any accomplices left, it’d be troublesome, so we won’t say anything.”
“Yeah, don’t worry. Besides, not many people would believe you if you said you’re taming three beasts of two different kinds.”
After seeing Belga and his group off, I’m invited into the family circle and served tea.
Chairman Moran, sitting opposite me, had such a sullen face it was making my tea taste bad.
Or rather, since I dislike sugar, when I took out some Honey and put it in my tea, everyone except Mina stared with wide eyes.
“Is it that rare?”
“Yes. Besides being expensive, it’s been in short supply lately.”
Milk bottle-shaped containers make it hard to get Honey out, so I keep mine in a pot about twice the size of a jam jar. She informed me of this, her eyes fixed on my Honey.
“More importantly, let’s talk about the reward. Would 500 Gold Coins be acceptable?”
“Yes. That’s more than enough.”
“Milene, that’s really…”
“Otou-sama, you trying to settle things for a mere 100 Gold Coins in Mina’s case is what’s ridiculous. Both Mina and Mother are precious treasures to me. If, by some chance, something were to happen to you, Otou-sama, I’d settle that for 100 Gold Coins.”
The damn old man fell silent, his face contorted as if he’d bitten into a bitter bug.
Just as I thought, this Okusama is quite the magnanimous heroine.
Since she didn’t have that much on hand, she promised to transfer the sum to my Commerce Guild account once I returned to Holm.
“While we’re on the topic of the reward, I actually have a favor to ask.”
“I’m not up for anything dangerous, you know.”
“It’s about that. If you’re using it in your tea, you surely have more, don’t you? I was wondering if you might be willing to part with some. I will, of course, pay you the current market price.”
Market price… That means it’d be 20% more than selling it to the Adventurers Guild, huh.
Besides, if it’s a private sale, we can keep it a secret, and I’ll be able to ascertain its actual value. Maybe I should sell her some.