Volume 5 - CH 1

Chapter 1 – Investigation Report

When Eto and his party went to report the completion of the caravan escort request that they took to the guild, they saw the members of 『Shrine of Aragami』, who fought together with them in the Goblin Stampede incident, eating in the guild’s bar. The party greeted them and sat at the same table. Apparently, they also just finished an escort quest.

Aram, the leader of 『Shrine of Aragami』, asked Eto about the movement of the goblins that survived the stampede.

“We didn’t see any Goblin during our quest. Recently, we haven’t even encountered any Goblin along the road. How about you guys?”

“We are the same. Thanks to the Kingdom Army continuing the Goblin extermination operation, the damage around the royal capital is also reduced.”

“Aa. But come to think of it, a few Goblins appeared in our village.”

“Are the people okay? If I’m not wrong, it’s close to the royal capital, right?”

“Aa. But, in the end, they’re just Goblins. As long as the numbers aren’t high, the village guards are enough. I’ve also told them to retreat and inform the Guild if a Hobgoblin or a Goblin Mage appeared.”

“That’s probably for the best.”

Since the Stampede, the Royal Army has deployed large troops to wipe out Goblins. Besides them, the Adventurer’s Guild also encouraged their adventurers to take the Goblin subjugation requests. Thanks to that, some areas around the royal capital have returned to their original state before the Stampede.

Eto had heard that the hometown of Aram and his party, located in the west of the royal capital, was safe when Eto met them before. That was mainly because the damage caused by the Stampede was actually concentrated on the eastern side of the royal capital, and it seemed it would take more time for the reconstruction of that area.

“Eto-san, may I have your time for a bit? The Guild Master is calling you.”

Suddenly, Sally, the receptionist, approached and said.

“Just me? Or should my whole party go?”

“The Guild Master has something to talk to everyone about.”

“Understood. Aram-san, I’m sorry, but we’ll go first.”

After apologizing to Aram, Eto and his party headed to the Guild’s meeting room guided by Sally.

“I wonder why we were called? If it’s about Sorano’s matter. Isn’t it too fast?”

Kohaku said and drank the tea Sally brought for them. Actually, two months have passed since Eto requested Tamara and Sidrake to re-investigate Sorano’s case. And it takes two months to reach the Margrave Erven by horse-drawn carriage from the royal capital. Even if they rent a horse-drawn carriage and head there in a hurry, it should still take more than half a month. Thus, Eto’s party thought that the results of the re-investigation wouldn’t be available so soon.

“It’s only been two months since then. I think they’ve just arrived and are about to start their investigation. But, I can’t think of any other matter that will cause us to be called by the Guild Master, though.”

“Maybe it’s about an urgent subjugation request?”

Sorano said.

“Don’t tell me there is another Stampede? I have enough of that! You have no idea how I didn’t even want to see Goblins for a while after that!”

Kohaku frowned, showing her dislike towards the Stampede.

While the party was talking, Sidrake and Tamara entered the meeting room. The two lightly greeted Eto’s party and told them that they already got the first report from the investigators.

It seems they sent the reports using the fast horse that regularly runs between cities for emergencies. According to Tamara, the usage fee is quite high. And when Eto nervously thought they would be charged for the terrifying expenses later, still with a serious face, Sidrake told him that since this matter might lead to an incident that the kingdom cannot overlook. All expenses are on the guild.

Sidrake then explained that the confirmation of the facts and evidence in the report was not that detailed due to the short investigation period. Even so, the investigator decided to send only the first report of the urgent report as they deemed the urgency of this information. The content of the report was suspicion that the Acting Lord of the Margrave was collaborating with slave traders to do illegal slave trading.

“The slave trader that the investigation mentioned is a man named Kabs, who also enslaved Sorano-san. They have been conducting slave trading through the slave firm affiliated with the royal capital from Veil, which is the center of that Margrave territory. And the Tulle Slave Firm where I bought Sorano-san is also one of their partners.”

Apparently, Tamara was also an acquaintance with Kabs.

“Is it a legitimate business?”

“There are particularly no bad rumors about Tulle, the owner of the firm. He also happened to be the first of his family that expanded the firm as a capable slave trader.”

“I see… Allow me to ask Tamara-san straightforwardly, but do you think Sorano was enslaved by that illegal slave trading deal?”

“At this point, there is nothing I can say. As I said to Eto-sama before, Sorano-san’s slave certificate is official. Unless there is evidence of any illegal business, I can’t heedlessly make a judgement. However…”

Tamara wanted to say something, but stopped. Instead, he looked towards Sidrake.

“Ee. As Tamara-san said, her slave certificate seems to be an official one. However, the report from our investigators raises the suspicion that the certificate itself might be issued by illegal means.”

“The certificate might be issued by illegal means? What does that mean?”

Eto leaned forward, as he thought it seemed to have something to do with Sorano getting enslaved.

“It is possible that the person who issued the certificate was also deeply involved in the crime. If that’s really the case, they would be able to issue a slave certificate at their own convenience.”

“What? Such a horrible thing…”

Eto stared at Sidrake, unable to believe the thing that Sidrake said.