Vol. 1 - Ch. 103 - Hot Spring (3)

"It's quite a long bath, huh, boss? I was just about to check on you...... Back to the topic, Sis Shuri has arrived from the Royal Capital."

Ousa, the attendant of Gin, said while opening the door to the room where a chestnut-haired girl was waiting.

"It's been a while, Shuri. Let me guess, something happened?"

"Yes. There are rumors that the group that left the umbrella of our Crane-Dragon Union has now taken shelter under the Rose Family but...... You're in an awfully good mood, did something happen?"

Shuri was about to report the situation when she saw a huge grin over Gin's face and couldn't help but ask in curiosity.

"Fufu, did my face give me away?...... Anyway, since they wanted to leave, so be it. The world is already changing after all.

It's in human nature to constantly strive for an advantageous position, and if they've found a place they think they can use freely and strike it rich, then anything else is useless. Especially when we're talking about those sly foxes with sharp noses. Did you dig something up about the Rose Family?"

"The Rose Firm was a normal general contact based firm in the past that operated on the western front of the Royal Capital. However, now the same company is the patron of many organizations, and we have no clue as to how it managed to reach that phase in the mere span of ten years.

The affiliated corporations and mutual aid societies are using quite reckless ways to amass money, but otherwise they're living their lives in luxury. What's strange is that they're not trying to pool up the money, yet it doesn't seem like they're going to run out of funds anytime soon either."

Gin squinted his eyes.

"There's no smoke without fire...... Remind me again, I believe it was also around ten years ago when the president of the Divine Silver organization, who had been managing the western part of the capital, died in an accident, right?"

"It's as you say, Boss. We even ran a search to dig up the past graves, but they've done quite a clean work, making it harder to proceed.

Nevertheless, this just points out that the attack on the Boss and the top echelon of another organization --- the ruler of the Royal Capital's underworld --- was truly due to their instigation......"

Shuri muttered her guess with a look of disgust on her face.

"The last thing that should be coming out of one's mouth in this line of work is a guess, Shuri, especially from a person of your caliber. Know that even the walls have ears.

You can't perform a clean execution when your heart is burdened with something and that gap is fatal when the tables are turned on you."

Shuri pursued her lips with a vexed expression and lowered her head.

"Is the knight order not going to make a move...?"

The young man Ousa, who had been quietly listening to the discussion, interjected.

"Because it's not worth it. We're mere outcasts, after all. At the very least, they're not going to make a move openly in this battle of dominion over the underworld. They hardly even had any free hands with the stuff they need to handle.

And most of all, the day you, a human who makes a living in the shadows, develops a reliance on their hammer of justice means it's over for you. Cultivate that heart of yours starting today."

Seeing that Gin had seen through his intention, Ousa felt tongue tied and in the end bowed his head.

"Anyway, even the shadows need the sun to survive. My wounds have healed to a certain extent, so I'm more or less ready to return to the capital."

Shuri's eyes sparkled when she heard Gin's words.

"For real? This is surely going to excite everyone! None of them looked calm enough ever since you came here, Boss."

Gin had a bitter smile when he heard Shuri's words and then, as if recalling something, he asked.

The two guards put their hands on the hilt of their swords.

Red, however, wore that shit-eating grin again and kicked that goat-bearded fella this time.

"Oh heavens, so you're the 'Mad Hound' of Apple? My, that was really uncalled-for then. I often move around in the Royal Capital, so I have heard of your exploits.

It's just that when I heard that an unknown brat accepted their almost volunteer-like request, I really couldn't help but find it suspicious. I even kept a lookout outside Tsukiya from last night but didn't see anything suspicious......

I just wanted to see if there's something more hidden. Man, I would have already come to greet you if I knew it was the acclaimed Mad Hound... Seriously, such good-for-nothing fellas are an embarrassment. It's no surprise you're a talent. I'm also traveling to Kirika, so I would be relying on your good graces."

......Wow, I truly dodged that bullet of 'Greetings, Aniki' setting, huh? No, it was really great that you have such dumb people under you, cherish them more...

"Well, if you get it then that solves the hassle. But let me be clear first. I only accepted the request to guard those two. I hope you understand that their safety would take precedence in case of an emergency."

Red showed a slightly disappointed expression when I said that but swiftly readjusted.

"Absolutely. The reward is already paltry, so I already expected asking for anything more is impossible. Besides, it's their safety that is important to me."

"One more thing. I use detection magic to search for signs of a monster attack, so my ears are quite sharp, you see. Either be careful of what you say or keep a magical tool to prevent me from hearing you guys.

As I said earlier, I don't give a shit about what you do, but I would be forced to take action if it meant jeopardizing my peace."

I warned them in a crystal clear tone. Red, who heard that, finally broke that annoying expression and showed a cheerful smile.

"Hahaha. No wonder you're a professional. I was really worried for a moment there to be honest after hearing rumors like you being short-tempered or getting into your nerves meant a beating and so on... Now I can truly be worry-free... You're interesting, Mad Hound."

Red said and placed his hand over my shoulder in an over familiar manner. I swear he was just a bit short of making those villain-like licking lips gestures.

◆◆◆

After the initial hiccup, we departed for Kirika.

On the way, Red often asked me to enter the carriage for a talk, but I turned them all down in light of any monster attack. Though I didn't see any noteworthy monsters, at least for me, crossing our path.

It was around the morning of the next day that we arrived at Kirika safely.

When it was time to split up, Red handed me a business card of sorts where the name of a bar, located in the slum area of the western area of the capital, was written while saying 'Come visit me when you have free time in the capital. Say it's an introduction from 'Red' of the Rose Family'.

I immediately crumpled the card and tossed it away once they were out of sight. It was clear that they were doing anything but white business.

I took that day to do some sightseeing around Kirika city and then boarded the train to the capital the next day.

Apparently, the city of Kirika was famous for its masks which were sold in heaps at the street-level stalls. So I purchased plenty of masks from peculiar ones to plain ones. They were just right in case I needed a disguise and some also didn't have holes where the eyes should be, so I could also train my mind's eye (acute vision) using them.

Well, now that vacation was over, I also need to visit the knight station first thing tomorrow...

There was no obligation to notify the knight order that I would be taking my leave beforehand, but that said, it probably fell into the irresponsible category to not even say a word before quietly slipping out of the Royal Capital.

In fact, I could already envision the Master gritting his teeth in rage......

E/N - You know, I find it ironic that the MC joined Apple for the Yakuza-lile feel, but now the MC is avoiding Yakuza-like templates that he so eagerly did to the members of Apple before.