CH 68

At the town where Kitsune and the other were currently at, akin to the castle at Grandile Kingdom, there was a large guild-like building standing there.

Inside it, the top brass; who was supposed to deal with citizens’ opinions and dissatisfaction, as well as the one in charge of the tax; was overbearingly sitting there.

When he picked up several documents before him, he laughed scornfully and tore them apart. The documents that were just torn apart were opinions from the citizens, however he tore them regardless.

The woman who was standing behind him, she took the torn up sheets with slight pity.

“Lord Orba… will this be alright?”

And then, she asked his opinion regarding the matter. Ignoring the citizens’ opinions and putting up convenient policies, that was by no means allowed.

However, the man answered her along with a snort.

“It’s fine, I’m not that free to be bothered by those riffraff who couldn’t afford to pay tax. Moreover, this town is under Grandile Kingdom patronage… for being protected by those strength, it’s a matter of course that they ought to pay some compensation in exchange, right?”

“…please forgive me for my rudeness.”

“Good grief… I’ve been doing this job for several years already, you can just ignore those who bawl out simply because the tax is slightly higher. Those who couldn’t pay are to be punished, that’s a matter of course, isn’t it? So stop troubling me with such trifling matter anymore.”

Saying so, he picked up the glass next to him, and gulped down all the sake in one go. However, in doing so, he showed a dissatisfied face and let out a sigh.

“Terrible, after dealing with those complaints day after day, even a precious alcohol will taste terrible… should I consider disposing of those who plead their dissatisfaction, I wonder?”

He mumbled so with half-serious tone.

“Then, how’s the situation with the brat from that fallen noble?”

“…at present, it’s still under investigation.”

“What? Just how long will it take? It’s just capturing a single brat so just finish it swiftly, how useless.”

Toward the matter that was asked by the man named Orba, the seemingly to be secretary woman answered so. And then, the man snorted at the woman. It was clear that he was displeased by her answer. Even his tone became cruder.

However, without any slight sign of fear, the woman kept standing there in business like form.

“However, it appears that we have apprehended ex-earl higurd.”

“Oh, then, what did he say? Of course you’ve done some interrogation to him, haven’t you?”

“…not yet, currently he’s imprisoned in the jail. We thought about seeking for Lord Orba’s order first for further conduct.”

Having captured one of his target, the man’s mood recovered a bit. However, contrary to his expectation, hearing that nothing had been done to that person, he squinted his eyes and snorted once again.

While briskly scratching his own head, he let out a large sigh as if to let out his dissatisfaction. And then, the man stood up and grabbed the woman by the collar. He roughly pulled her and violently said so.

“Just go fvking torture him or whatever to make him spills where that damn brat is! It doesn’t matter even if that man die, as long as we can get that brat, everything is fine!!”

The woman who was told so along with some soaring spits, she slightly gasped for a moment and shortly replied ‘certainly’ to him.

When the man released his hand from the woman’s collar, the woman coughed once.

“Well then, please excuse me….”

The woman bowed her head and left the room.

The left alone man, seemingly couldn’t handle the irritation, he kicked the chair next to him, his breathing was rough, and his shoulders were violently shaking up and down.

“Aaargh!! They are all so useless… just catch than damn brat already!”

The man took a deep breath. While thinking that the stress might end up putting hole on his stomach, he took the alcohol bottle on the table, and directly gulped down the alcohol within. After gulping down everything inside the bottle, while letting out reeks-of-alcohol breath, he violently put down the bottle back on the table.

“Really… damn it all…!!”

Without hiding his irritation, he shouted so.

◇　◇　◇

After that, we began to move.

First is information gathering. I and Niko-chan, Rishe-chan and Leila-chan, having separated the group as such, we began gathering information on our own way. Leila-chan was grumbling a bit, but we somehow managed to convince her. The scene where she was being dragged by Rishe-chan, it was actually pretty funny.

For me and Niko-chan, our information gathering method is by asking the citizens’ impression about the policy that is imposed at this town. We have to make sure what kind of person the one who’s responsible of this town first. Well, if he is a good person then it will be easy in its own way, and if he’s a bad prson then we can act mercilessly as well, so I think his personality doesn’t really matter though.

The person who’s in charge of tax collection here, if by any chance his conduct is intolerably excessive, then I want to get back Niko-chan’s father.

Prowess-wise, there shouldn’t be any trouble here, but there’s a possibility that Leila-chan’s identity may be discovered, if by any chance that happens, it’ll become a great obstacle on my journey from now on. That isn’t a very likable scenario, after all.

“Where are we going to?”

“Somewhere with a lot of people.”

I’m holding Niko-chan’s hand, who is walking next to me. If I don’t do it, I have a feeling that she will run away, I haven’t asked how old she is, but most likely she’s still at child age, so even if she does run away, there’s nothing good from it. If that’s the case then I’d better take a good watch at her, right? We’re looking for his father is also for her sake after all.

“We don’t know a thing about what’s happening to your father after all, so to understanding that, we have to gather information regarding it first.”

“…I don’t understand.”

“I see… well, you can just take it as a step to meet your father.”

“…okay.”

While chatting like that, we keep walking. The place we arrived at is a road with numerous store standing in a row, numerous people come and go, a boisterous yet comfortable place.

Here, who is the one who know the most about this town, I wonder? The uncle from weapon shop? The shop assistant from the diner? The visitors who are visiting those stores? Adventurers? Or perhaps knights? Well, speaking of people who know well about the policy at this town, then it’s most likely the knights. What kind of person the top brass here, I’m sure they pretty much know.

But, knights are no-go. I’m together with Niko-chan, so it’s better to avoid them as much as possible. It’s still uncertain whether her father is still alive or not, and if by any chance they discover Niko-chan and turn her as their investigation target, at worst case scenery I have a feeling that they’ll put an eye on me as well. Let’s avoid that from happening.

“What should I do, I wonder?”

“….”

Niko-chan doesn’t say a word. Well, expecting something from a child is a waste of time, after all.

“First is searching randomly, huh.”

“Hey, the man with black clothes over there.”

“Huh? Are you calling me?”

And then, there’s someone calling from behind. What should I do if it isn’t meant for me, I wonder? Now that I realize it, I’m kinda scared to turn back. But well, there’s no turning back here. Either way, I replied just now after all.

Thinking so, I turn back. In doing so, I can see a man with somewhat burly body standing there. He’s taller than me so it feels as if he’s looking down on me.

“Do you need something?”

“That child, is she your family?”

“Do you need something with my cute little sister?”

Seems like he’s after Niko-chan. Niko-chan sure is cute, she’s obedient and also tend to tell lies, but for such gori-like man to after her, I do think that’s a crime, you know? I think it’s better to stop him so I involuntarily lie by saying that she’s my little sister but, seems like he’s doubting me.

“I’m not lying, right?”

“…yeah.”

As expected of the liar girl, she can splendidly lie like nothing. It’s just, if you call me by ‘onii-chan’, then that’d be perfect, though. Will she call me as such, I wonder? I hope she will. Let’s ask her sometime later.

“…what’s her name?”

“Rodriguez Minmin.”

“Dogriguez Minmin.”

“Even if you want to lie, can’t you put out a slightly more proper name?”

Ah, as I thought that’s not good enough, huh. As expected, it’s easy to tell that such name is a lie, he looks like a muscle-head so I thought I’d work, but as expected that’s still not good enough, huh.

However, let’s just stick with it for a bit more.

“How rude, that’s her real name, you know? That’s a precious name from our parents, don’t you dare to make fun of it!”

When I say so, the man makes a slightly apologetic face and says so.

“…I, I’m sorry… umm, then, you’re Rodriguez Minmin, right?”

“Who’s that?”

“See! It’s a lie afterall!”

“Ah, my bad, it’s actually Makaridom Peropero, yup.”

“That’s not even a name!”

Huh? Gigibraro Nikoniko, was it? Well, whatever, he’s already discovered the lie, so there’s no meaning to keep sticking with it.

But, if Niko-chan is marked then it’ll surely be troublesome… what should I do, I wonder?

Well, for now let’s ask what his goal is first. If I can play it properly then I may be able to get some information from him.

“Then, do you need something?”

“…I’m looking for a certain child. A child with blond hair… and, it just happens that she’s around her age.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

That means it isn’t a legal matter, huh. Illegal, that means this matter shouldn’t be let known to others. Most likely, this man is a knight, or perhaps the subordinate from the one who’s managing the policy of this town. Perhaps… ‘Noble’, huh.

“Who are you?”

“…I’m someone from Grace house.”

“Oh….”

Never heard of it. What’s with that house, can you stop showing ‘you know it, don’t you?’-face, please? Perhaps it’s a somewhat influential house around here, but I don’t even know who they are, so there’s no way I’d understand how amazing they are. Niko-chan is still a child, so I’m sure she doesn’t understand it as well and is tilting her head.

What’s it? Am I at fault here? Perhaps it’s because how light our response is, the man shows a somewhat doubtful expression, did I perhaps do something bad, I wonder?

“But well, that has nothing to do with us. This child is my little sister, after all.”

“…well, fine, if you ever find someone similar to her then please report it to me.”

“Go it.”

The man unexpectedly withdraw there quite easily.

No, perhaps it’s exactly because he thinks that Niko-chan is the ‘right’ one, he withdraw there. Perhaps he realized it the moment he noticed Niko-chan, that’s why he called out to me, it wasn’t meant to ascertain whether Niko-chan is actually Niko-chan, but to ascertain what kind of person ‘I’ am, or so I think.

When they come to take Niko-chan, if by any chance I’m a though opponent then they could make some preparations first after all, they might even investigate what kind of relation I have with Niko-chan and her father.

From the conversation just now, they information he got should be that, firstly, ‘I’ covered her by claiming to be her brother, I don’t have intention to obediently hand over Niko-chan, the possibility of trust from the fact that Niko-chan matched up to my lie, and then what extent of prowess I have, something like that, I think.

Either way, that man will surely report it to his superior soon, and eventually it will reach the top bass’ ear, huh.

Well, whether that person is actually the top brass or not is still uncertain though, there’s a possibility that he’s someone from hostile organization or house, but in the end some influential person is surely doing something in the dark.

“If that’s the case… then it’s like that huh, for me who don’t have any lead whatsoever here, them coming my way theirselves sure is a big help.”

“?”

“Ah, don’t mind it. You can say that we’ve found our lead here after all.”

“…I see.”

Finding a lead, well that isn’t exactly the case, but it’s quite a bountiful harvest we got ourselves here. I haven’t gotten any information regarding the policy and whatsoever, but that man and also the mastermind are aware of us. It’s surely thread-like thin, but it’s definitely connected to something. That’s more than enough.

However, Niko-chan, who quietly responds to my word, her expression is somewhat gloomy.