Chapter 11
The Ludwig estate in the West was as vast as the mansion itself.
Because it bordered the western port, trade and tourism flourished, earning it the nickname "The Empire’s Transit Point."
Though the place was always bustling with people, there was one spot that was particularly crowded.
"Soluna."
It was a famous establishment popular with both tourists and the local residents.
A restaurant and cafeteria by day, a pub by night.
It was packed with people around the clock.
Tonight, too, the shop was overflowing with a sea of people.
"Hey, Tom!"
"Gale!"
The man who had exchanged a cheerful greeting with Tom, the employee, looked around.
"Crowded as always, isn't it?"
"It’s always like this, you know. Ah, would you like to play a quick game today as well?"
"In that case, shall I try to win some free drinks again today?"
At Soluna, one could also play light games. They were legal games, usually just for the price of drinks.
Since this was one of Soluna’s perks, people often enjoyed playing them.
"There are some gentlemen from the East over there. What do you think?"
At Tom’s question, Gale bared his teeth in a wide grin.
"Lead me to them right away. Hahaha!"
***
Unlike the bustling ground floor, the basement of Soluna was deathly quiet.
Occasionally, the noise from above would drift down, but that was all.
In the space where only the intermittent sound of turning pages could be heard, the creak of a door opening echoed.
The person who had been burying his face in documents looked up to identify the visitor.
"Vice Guild Master? What brings you here in the middle of the night without any notice?"
To Hobbs’s question, Kendrick replied with a shrug.
"Since when have I ever been good at keeping in touch?"
"Now that you mention it, that’s a fair point."
The basement of Soluna, the base of Ilinia.
Having stepped into a place that had become more comfortable than his own home, Kendrick habitually sought out the sofa and threw himself onto it.
"So, what did you really come here for?"
"Can’t I just come here to rest without any particular business?"
"Hmm? Why come all the way here to rest instead of doing it at home?"
"……."
At Hobbs’s question, Kendrick fell silent. He quietly recalled the incident with Owen.
"If you keep loitering by the window like that, what will you do if you arouse that woman’s suspicion?"
"This curtain doesn't cast a shadow."
"Yes, yes, I’m sure it doesn't. Regardless, it’s distracting, so go to your room and read a book or go to the basement and practice your swordsmanship. Stop peeking at the neighbor’s house like a creep."
A creep?
Me?
Am I a creep?
Kendrick was dumbfounded, then... he lost the words to defend himself.
He had been pressed right up against the curtain, looking out toward Julietta’s annex.
The sight of him peeking and spying on the house next door for no reason—to an outsider, there was no other way to describe it than "creepy."
However.
'What am I supposed to do when I’m worried?'
The woman who had made a deal with him was in that house next door.
If that was the case, then naturally—.
How was she getting along with Julietta? Was she perhaps being bullied too much? Was she failing to adapt to the Ludwig household, which was like the belly of a giant beast?
Isn't it basic courtesy as a party to the deal to have such concerns?
However, feeling as though he were just making excuses, he had simply left the house.
If he were holed up somewhere else, he wouldn't be looking out from behind the curtains "like a creep."
"Still, you’ve come at a good time."
"Why, is something the matter?"
"The Guild Master sent word."
"The Guild Master?"
"Yes."
Hobbs, who had said this, stood up and furrowed his brow.
He glanced down at his right ankle, which had touched the floor, rotated it lightly, and then took a step.
"……Is it acting up again?"
"It’s just a dull ache now and then."
Hobbs replied calmly and added,
"My ankle was shattered, but it’s healed now. I have to expect at least this much of a lingering effect."
"Now that you mention it, I suppose so."
Kendrick let out a dry laugh, rose from where he had been sprawled out, and received the letter.
The small cane symbol drawn on the envelope signified that the sender was the Guild Master.
"You’ve already read it?"
"Roughly."
"What does it say?"
"Well, it’s the usual content."
The usual content, huh...
In that case, it wouldn't be good news.
As expected, his thoughts were correct.
The letter, written in the code used within Ilinia, had only a single short sentence left on it.
「Could not find the treasure.」
'It seems there were no significant results again.'
Kendrick, chin resting on his hand on the sofa, recalled the Guild Master’s face. He had first met him when he participated in the Ashulade War.
"To think a child like this would come to the battlefield. It’s the end of the world, truly the end."
Those were the first words the Guild Master had uttered upon meeting the young Kendrick.
At first, he felt bad because it seemed like he was being looked down upon, but gradually, he opened his heart to him.
The Guild Master treated the young Kendrick like his own child, or perhaps a younger brother, and protected him.
He was one of the few people to whom he could entrust his back, and he had even thought that he wouldn't mind facing death for his sake.
'In fact, I almost took a blade for him a couple of times.'
The experience of risking their lives had solidified the trust between the two.
To the point where they could pour out all the stories hidden deep inside.
One of the great secrets the Guild Master had confessed was none other than <Ilinia>.
"I am looking for something very important. Something more precious than my own life. Ilinia is a guild I created to find it."
"Are you allowed to tell me something like that?"
"Of course! Who else would I tell if not you, you little brat! Hahaha! So, that reminds me, if you have nothing to do after returning home, come here and work. Considering you saved my life, I’ll make you the Vice Guild Master!"
"……It’s fine. I won’t be doing anything."
"Eh? Are you serious?"
"I am serious. Once I return home safely, I will do nothing and just live while holding my breath."
"……Hmm. Is that your way of protecting what is precious to you?"
"That’s right. That is my way."
"Well, look at this cheeky little thing!"
The Guild Master, having said that, gave Kendrick a flick to the forehead. Then he advised, "You fool! If you have no strength, you can’t protect anything! Don't you know the saying that the best defense is a good offense?"
As if to prove those words, that night.
The defensive line set up by the Imperial Army was ambushed, and many allies lost their lives.
Kendrick was only able to survive after endlessly cutting down the throats of the enemy.
Killing people was horrific. But to avoid dying, he had to cut them down.
……Because the best defense is a good offense.
"See? Hiding doesn't protect anything, you foolish thing."
The Guild Master, while leaving the exhausted Kendrick to lie down, tended to the bodies of the fallen comrades.
Among them were the older men with whom he had shared a meal just the night before.
'The sky…….'
The night sky was far too clear.
Why is it that on days when something is lost, the weather is always terribly clear?
As if this tragedy meant nothing to the gods.
Watching the stars that seemed ready to pour out of the night sky, Kendrick said he would join <Ilinia>.
He would grow the strength to protect what was precious to him while the Guild Master searched for his treasure.
"Run away, Ken! Run, quickly!"
"N-no, Rion!"
"I’ll survive. I’ll definitely survive and come to you. Let’s meet over the hill later!"
……Because I’m so sick and tired of losing what’s precious.
Having briefly recalled the horrific memory, Kendrick pressed his stinging eyes and regained his composure.
"Are you alright, Vice Guild Master? You don't look well."
"I’m fine. More importantly, did you resolve the request Janet made?"
"Of course. Here, this is the money Gale recovered."
"What is that gambler doing?"
"Probably picking the pockets of the customers upstairs."
Gale’s main job was to gather information by frequenting gambling dens and the like. With his exceptional sleight of hand, he possessed the talent to freely manipulate the outcome of games.
"As Janet requested, let’s keep it in the Ilinia vault for now."
"Yes. Understood. And about the gift you mentioned."
"Right. Why hasn't that been sent yet?"
It had been ages since he ordered them to send jewelry, dresses, and accessories to Janet.
At Kendrick’s words, Hobbs clicked his tongue.
"Because there were so many things you asked to send, it took quite a while to acquire them all."
"You’re too slow. See that you move more swiftly."
……This is why superiors are the way they are!
Muttering about the sorrows of a subordinate, Hobbs nodded irritably.
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