CH 146

Episode 146 – Evil Smile

TL Note: Planning on releasing another two sponsored chapters after this one. Thanks for the support!

Seeing the man crumpled on the floor with blood streaming out of his mouth and nose, Leila headed back into the Adventurer’s Guild with a satisfied smirk on her face. I reflexively called out to Leila, who was about to disappear into the entrance.

“Umm! Do you have a minute?” (Lewin)

When Leila turned around, she had an unpleasant look on her face. I wasn’t exactly sure what she was feeling, but she looked really annoyed.

She was a former member of Ahmed’s party. And since she was the cause for Ahmed leaving Grezesta, I thought she might have some information so I called out to her. But… seeing this look on her face, I immediately regretted it.

“……Who the hell are you?” Leila spat angrily after I shrank back, unable to spit out what I wanted to say next.

You don’t need to be so irritated… I thought to myself before briefly introducing myself and stating my business.

“My name is Lewin. To tell you the truth, I have something I want to ask you, Leila-san. If that’s alright with you, it won’t take up too much of your time,.” (Lewin)

“Haah? So, who are you after all? I’m a busy person. I don’t have time for chitchat with a nobody like you,” Leila said bluntly in a tone that sounded vaguely similar to Ahmed, before she turned heel and walked away towards the Adventurer’s Guild. I did my best to act politely to try to not piss her off any further, but it was apparently no use. As I watched her huffily walk away, feeling somewhat relieved, she suddenly stopped just before the entrance to the Guild. Then, she suddenly turned around and started walking back towards me with great vigor.

“Hey! Just now… did you say ‘Lewin’?” (Leila)

She grabbed me by my neck and lifted me into the air. I was trying to nod my head to the best of my ability, but I found it rather difficult due to her grip on my neck. I clawed at her grip with both of my hands to try to get her to let go, but her arms wouldn’t budge.

“Former Healer’s Guild employee, Ahmed’s acquaintance. Is that right?” (Leila)

“First… let…go…” (Lewin)

“Just answer the question.” (Leila)

It was incredibly difficult to nod my head, but I somehow managed. And then, Leila finally released her grip.

Damn it… I really shouldn’t have talked to her…

“So it was you. I was wondering since that time last year when I brought your bag back, and now I finally got to see your face.” (Leila)

Leila turned such an evil smile towards me that it made me feel like even that unpleasant expression that she had had at the start felt better to look at. I got the impression that Ahmed was the way she was because she was pure and genuine at heart, but I got the complete opposite impression from Leila, which was terrifying. I understood at that moment that although Leila and Ahmed seemed similar, they were totally not the same at all.

“So what’d you wanna talk about? I feel like talking with you a little bit, so I’ll hear you out,” Leila said with a vicious grin on her face. Even though I wished in my heart that she would go away right now, I couldn’t say that to her, so I decided to just ask the question. It was really scary to be asking her a question related to Ahmed in this context, but there was nothing I wanted to hear from Leila except for information about Ahmed.

“About Ahmed-san as you mentioned earlier, I was wondering if you knew her current whereabouts and if you would be willing to tell me… That’s why I called out to you.” (Lewin)

“Ahmed’s whereabouts, huh…? ―Ahahaha! I’ll tell you, so just follow me.” (Leila)

After pausing suspensefully as she spoke, she laughed loudly and turned to walk back to the Adventurer’s Guild. I definitely did not want to follow her, but after persuading myself that I would be getting some information out of this, I followed her into the Adventurer’s Guild.

The inside of the Adventurer’s Guild was always noisy, but today it was strangely quiet. Moreover, I usually had to avoid the self-important adventurers who walked wherever they wanted as I tried to proceed forward, but today the way was being cleared on its own. All of this… was probably due to the influence of Leila, who was walking in front of me.

The moment Leila stepped into the Adventurer’s Guild, even I, who was walking behind her, could see that the atmosphere had changed completely. An A-rank adventurer who you only needed to talk to for a second to know that they were dangerous. If someone like that came in, it would make sense for the atmosphere to change completely.

….Wait, where is she trying to take me?

I usually only went to the reception desks in the Adventurer’s Guild, but Leila already passed by the reception desks and was headed towards what looked like a bar in the back of the Guild. When we reached the bar, Leila said a few words to the bartender behind the counter, and then we were ushered into some kind of backyard behind the bar. I followed nervously and stepped into the backyard.

“….There was a place like this in the Adventurer’s Guild…?” (Lewin)

“It’s a place only for employees, so the public wouldn’t know about it.” (Leila)

Continuing on through the unlit backyard, Leila stopped in front of a room.

…This is the destination, huh?

I gulped at the sight of the suspicious-looking room.

“We’re arrived. Let’s take our time and have a nice talk here,” Leila said, turning around for a moment to flash me an evil smile before opening the door. I continued onwards into the room… revealing a relaxing space with three men lounging inside.