CH 264

Author’s Note: This chapter is written from the POV of Tobias, the reporter from the Laudungeon Company.

After seeing that serpent in the Western Forest, I rushed back to Landaust. I looked around for Juno to try and regroup with her, still making an effort to stop myself from trembling.

She had said that she would stay in the city and go around to various places, so I had no idea where she would be at this moment. But I don’t think Juno has that many connections, so perhaps she’d be taking a shot at convincing the bigger newspaper companies or the people in positions of power?

If that were the case, the most likely places would be at each of the Guilds, at one of the large newspaper companies, or at an informant’s place. We had already been turned away by the mayor, who had the most influence, so she was probably at one of these places. Judging by Juno’s character, she would probably be reluctant to go to another newspaper company… so I guess I’ll start with the Guilds.

After trying to deduce Juno’s whereabouts, I’d ended up at the closest Guild to where I’d begun my search, the Mages Guild. The building itself wasn’t that big, so they had a tight arrangement of guards. I guess I’ll ask the guards and see.

”Excuse me. There’s something I want to ask you real quick. Did a strange woman come by here earlier?” (Tobias)

“Huh? …Yeah, a little while ago, a woman who called herself a reporter came by.” (Guard)

“R-Really? Where is she now?” (Tobias)

“Well, we shooed her away. She walked off in that direction while clicking her tongue. Is she someone that you know?” (Guard)

“Mm, well, she’s someone that I know a little bit. Thanks for the info, I owe you one.” (Tobias)

Well, I’ve managed to easily sniff out her trail, but it would be nice if she didn’t go around causing troublesome situations like just now. I went off in the direction that the guard had pointed out earlier, which had been towards the direction of Main Street.

Judging by what the guard had said just now, the Merchant’s Guild was the most likely location given the distance. I left the Mages Guild and broke into a half-run, hurrying towards the Merchant’s Guild.

Hmm… At a glance, Juno was nowhere to be found.

If I don’t find her here, it might be faster to just move independently and go around spreading the information.

While ruminating to myself, I decided to do as I had done before and approach a guard standing in front of the Merchant’s Guild.

As expected from the characteristically rich merchants, there were four young guards with good physiques standing at attention, unlike the Mages Guild who mostly had old guards.

”Excuse me. There’s something I’d like to ask you real quick. Did a strange woman come by here earlier?” (Tobias)

After asking the well-built guard the same question I’d asked earlier, he clapped his hands together as if he had remembered something.

“Ahh. Weird or not, I don’t know, but just a while ago a woman who proclaimed herself as a reporter went inside. We tried to stop her at first, but apparently she was an acquaintance of the Vice Guild Chief or something, so she was let in right away.” (Guard)

“Huh? An acquaintance of the Vice Guild Chief?” (Tobias)

That’s strange. I didn’t think she had those kinds of connections. However, from this timing, this woman who called herself a reporter couldn’t be anyone other than Juno.

“We rarely let unknown people in, so I think that must be the case. So… are you also an acquaintance of the Vice Guild Chief?” (Guard)

“No, I’m not an acquaintance of the Vice Guild Chief, but I was searching for that woman. She’s an acquaintance of mine. Sorry, but would it be possible for me to go in real quick to check?” (Tobias)

“I don’t know if it’s possible to get in contact with them right now, but if you talk to the receptionist inside then they might be able to convey the message for you.” (Guard)

“I see, thanks for the info. I’ll try to ask the receptionist then.” (Tobias)

After conveying my gratitude to the guard, I also went inside of the Merchant’s Guild. When I pushed the door open and walked in, my eyes were met with the sight of the bright, overly extravagant interior.

It was my first time in the Merchant’s Guild, but it was already an extremely unfitting place for me to the point that I wanted to just turn around and leave. There’s obviously no way Juno could have a connection with the Vice Guild Chief of the Merchant’s Guild.

While harboring strong doubts in my mind, I went towards the reception desk as that good-natured guard had suggested earlier.

“Excuse me. Did a woman come to visit the Vice Guild Chief earlier?” (Tobias)

“Yes. She was let in just a while ago… She left a message with me earlier. May I please have your name?” (Receptionist)

“Me? My name is Tobias.”

“Tobias-sama… Yes, I’ve gotten confirmation. I will guide you to the parlor.” (Receptionist)

I only came here to ask if a woman had visited this place, but I was shown in right away. I had huge doubts about what was going on, but, with this, it seemed that Juno really was an acquaintance of the Vice Guild Chief.

While feeling a bit frustrated and envious of Juno’s unexpectedly wide connections, I followed after the receptionist woman.

“Excuse me. I’ve brought Tobias-sama.” (Receptionist)

I was led up to the lavish reception room on the 2nd floor of the Merchant’s Guild, which couldn’t even be compared with the Laudungeon Company’s reception room. When I entered the beautiful, spacious reception room, I saw Juno, who looked just as unsuited to this place as I was, and a man with a round figure, who was wearing truly expensive-looking clothes.

“Ooh! I appreciate it. You can go back downstairs now.” (Paul)

“Ara, you came sooner than I’d thought you would.” (Juno)

“With how conspicuous your movements were, finding you was simple.” (Tobias)

“….So did you find out anything?” (Juno)

“Yeah. I saw something terrible with my own eyes, so I hurried back. Anyway… what’s the situation?” (Tobias)

“Dunno. I have no clue myself.” (Juno)

“What?” (Tobias)

I had no idea what she meant. I thought that Juno might have made an appointment given how well we were being treated, but, judging from her reaction, maybe not? Even so, this was by no means the kind of treatment someone who simply barged in would receive.

“I only got here just a bit ago. I didn’t even have an appointment. I just came here because I thought I’d give it a shot, but they even welcomed me into their reception room… I thought you were involved with this, but I guess not.” (Juno)

“……Yeah, I don’t know anything.” (Tobias)

As we exchanged a light glance, wry smiles formed on both of our faces. I didn’t have that great of a feeling about this, but it seemed that I would have to hear from the Vice Guild Chief himself about why he had directly let me through without having even talked to me first.