Chapter 195: No Way
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195: No Way
“Yoo Eon…. You’re back….”
“You look exhausted, Sera. Why are you up so early?”
“It’s already two o’clock…. I guess I stayed up too late last night….”
“You should have slept a bit more.”
When I returned to the inn, a half-asleep Sera greeted me. Since we had been up until almost six this morning, it was understandable.
“Ah, it’s Aven. Where have you been?”
“To meet an acquaintance. There were a few issues.”
“Issues? What kind of issues?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
Theodora, who had just finished her bath, joined us in the first-floor dining area. I thought she might find the bed uncomfortable since it wasn't a luxury item, but she seemed to have slept well—perhaps because she was so tired yesterday. Now that Theodora was out, Sera was waddling toward the bath, dragging her sleepy body along.
“Where are Ravi and Tresha?”
“I think they’re both still sleeping.”
Apparently, some friends Tresha had sent away earlier visited her on the second day of the festival. I’d wondered where she’d disappeared to, and it turned out she’d been out having fun with friends from her hometown. I heard they were sleeping on the second floor, but it seemed they hadn't woken up yet.
“Oh, right. My mom contacted me yesterday. She said a monster transport job came in. Is that okay with you?”
“What’s the schedule?”
“Nothing detailed yet. If you say you’ll do it, we’ll have to match your schedule. You’re the most important part, after all.”
“I see. Tell her I’ll do it. I don’t have any particular plans, so I’ll try to accommodate her as much as possible.”
“Great. What are you planning to do today?”
First, I had visited Iris this morning. I’d heard more about her abilities and gathered some information about her background. I also received a bit of help regarding the woman named Siv.
In the end, I managed to dig up information related to the Antonio Brotherhood and the Page of Arcana.
“I think I need to head over to the Northeast District for a bit. Some things have come up.”
“What is it? What happened?”
“I’m not sure if I should tell you.”
“It’s fine, just say it. Is it a big problem?”
“It seems the Antonio Brotherhood is targeting me.”
“What…?”
The towel Theodora was using to dry her wet hair dropped straight to the floor. She was so shocked that her jaw hung open, unable to close.
“W-what does that mean?! Explain it in detail!”
“Well, they aren't exactly targeting me specifically. It seems they were originally trying to do something to the Mayerbridge Union, but I got caught in the middle and messed up their plans.”
“Huh…?”
“The Page of Arcana seems to be involved, but it’s too big of a matter for me to handle alone right now. I’m going to seek some advice from the Mayerbridge Union.”
“U-uh… wait a second… this is so sudden and huge that my brain isn't working….”
Theodora picked up the fallen towel, draped it over the back of her chair, and sat down, her legs beginning to fidget. I was heading to the Mayerbridge Union right now, so she didn't really need to worry about it.
I gave her a rough explanation of everything that had happened, including the assassination attempt in the Labyrinth during the match.
“Sigh, hold on. Let’s go together.”
“Where? To the Mayerbridge Union?”
“Yeah. If it involves the Antonio Brotherhood, the Lymain family can’t just sit back and watch.”
“Why? What’s the connection…. Ah, is it because of the trade?”
Come to think of it, I remembered seeing the person who was supposedly the head of the Antonio Brotherhood at the Lymain Treatment Center. Wasn't it that short, slender pink-haired girl?
“Who did you hear this from? Is the information reliable?”
“There was someone who claimed to be part of the Page of Arcana. I heard it through a peaceful interrogation.”
“And they said the Antonio Brotherhood is trying to kill you?”
“That’s what I heard. But wasn't the Page of Arcana supposed to be a good organization?”
What about that technological advancement in Roanmarie? I thought they were good people who made the lives of commoners more convenient.
“..You only think that because you don’t know the truth. Those people will do anything if it benefits them.”
“So they’re the same as the rest.”
“Their public reputation is much better, sure. But that just means there’s no one to keep an eye on the Page of Arcana, and they’re much more rotten on the inside.”
“More than the Antonio Brotherhood?”
“I don’t know, probably. No matter how big the Lymain family is or how far the Golden Glove Syndicate spreads its reach, we’re ultimately no match for the Page of Arcana.”
In the end, it meant the Page of Arcana wasn't as clean an organization as I had thought. Had Siv said her master was a member of that group? When she tried to say the name, a Taboo magic triggered, nearly killing her.
They must be maintaining incredibly strict security. The Cobalt-grade explorer I captured on the 35th floor also died because of Taboo magic. If so, the biggest question was just how deep the connection between the Antonio Brotherhood and the Page of Arcana truly went.
Naturally, if their relationship was deep, opposing the Antonio Brotherhood would mean becoming enemies with the Page of Arcana. If the entire Golden Glove Syndicate couldn't handle them, the idea of me facing them alone was far-fetched.
If the relationship wasn't that deep, I could deal with the Antonio Brotherhood somehow. I had the record of their attempt to assassinate Soles Getia, the head of the Mayerbridge Union, and I had a witness.
I needed to go to the Mayerbridge Union and secure some form of cooperation.
“Is the Lymain family… unable to function without the Antonio Brotherhood?”
“Well… it’s not exactly like that. But when the Lymain family first settled in Calax, the Antonio Brotherhood was the one that helped us the most. After all, the Southeast was where most people with Beastkin or Monsterkin skills were located.”
“So you’re saying they provided the manpower.”
“Of course, that was a long time ago. Now, there are plenty of people in Calax working for the Lymain family. But that doesn't mean we can just cut ties instantly like flipping a switch.”
“Is there no other way?”
Theodora pondered for a moment, then nodded as if a good idea had struck her.
“You said you had evidence, right? What is it?”
“I have someone captured.”
“..That won’t be enough. In the end, the least effective evidence in a legal battle is human testimony. I know it’s not true, but what if they claim you kidnapped an innocent person and forced them to testify just to take down the Antonio Brotherhood?”
“That’s true. Hmm… there was Taboo magic placed on them. Could that serve as evidence?”
“How would we know who cast the Taboo magic? Currently, any ‘magic that restricts movement’ without mutual consent is illegal. It’s nearly impossible to trace the source through a Taboo magic placed on a specific individual. Do you think they wouldn't have considered that?”
“This isn't easy.”
Ultimately, according to Dora, I had no way to prove the criminal acts of the Antonio Brotherhood and the Page of Arcana. Even the fact that Cobalt-grade explorers attacked me—while logically absurd—could be framed as a motive for revenge for a previous incident.
“However, who do you think I am?”
“A pretty lady.”
“W-what are you saying all of a sudden?! I’m a daughter of the Lymain family! The manager of the Calax branch!”
“Oh, impressive.”
Theodora suddenly started boasting.
“I heard their original target was the Mayerbridge Union, right?”
“Yeah, it seems so. Come to think of it, is there a reason to kill me? Would they really come after me just because of those criminals back then?”
“Probably not. I don’t think there’s any reason for the Antonio Brotherhood to do anything to you, either. If anything… you’re someone they should avoid.”
“Am I really?”
“Think about it. On the 35th floor… you k-killed twelve actual Cobalt Grades at once, didn't you…?”
“If I hadn't, I would have been the one to die.”
“E-exactly! That’s it! The Antonio Brotherhood suffered a slight loss because of you, but their resources aren't infinite. They don’t need to make an enemy out of you for no reason.”
To summarize Dora’s words… if I went all the way to the Mayerbridge Union, who were already their enemies, and brought up the Antonio Brotherhood, things would escalate tremendously. I wasn't part of the Mayerbridge Union, and although the Antonio Brotherhood had wronged me, I was still alive.
“So what do you suggest?”
“We apply pressure in the name of the Lymain family. We tell them, ‘Don’t touch him!’”
“Is that possible?”
“I told you, right? They’ll eventually be forced to back down if they have too many enemies. You’re the son-in-law of the Lymain family’s youngest daughter, and an incredibly strong explorer to boot. What do they have to gain by making you an enemy?”
“I suppose so.”
“Of course. They might act out a little, but in the end, they tuck their tails before the Mayerbridge Union. That’s why they’re only exploiting the Southeast.”
In short, it was pressure applied in the name of the Golden Glove Syndicate. They wouldn't care about the bickering and clashes with the Northeast within Calax, but they were to leave me alone.
“If they had known you were the Lymain family’s son-in-law, they wouldn't have dared to touch you.”
“That does make sense.”
* * *
Sera finished her bath and came out to the dining area, and the three of us were having a simple breakfast. It was now around two-thirty, and light footsteps were approaching from the hallway.
“Young man! Look at this!”
“What is this?”
“It’s a mana-linked thingamajig! I went to the Northwest yesterday and bought it.”
My pint-sized father-in-law appeared with something unsightly attached to his waist. It was a belt with a rod shaped like a male organ protruding forward. Why on earth was he showing this to me?
“Father-in-law, there are other people here. This isn't right.”
“Wahaha! It’s not real anyway, so what does it matter! The little ones are sleeping, and there are only grown ladies here!”
I looked back to see Sera and Theodora pretending not to see him. Sera’s ears were bright red, and for some reason, Theodora seemed to be holding back laughter.
Don’t tell me she has this kind of sense of humor….
Even if they were grown women, showing this off so freely was a bit much. I’d thought this before, but my father-in-law’s mind was certainly… uncomplicated.
“Good grief, please go back inside, take it off, and come back out.”
I tried to push him back toward his room, the man who had finally obtained the ‘thingamajig’ he’d wanted so badly.
“Ouch! W-wait! It bumped!”
“Where? Did you stub your toe?”
“My thingamajig hit the wall….”
“Pfft—!”
Theodora, who had been listening from behind, finally couldn't hold it in and spat out the food in her mouth. Sera’s ears were as red as a furnace. Did ‘linked’ mean that even the sensations were connected?
“Sigh… Father-in-law, I’m ripping this off.”
“N-no!! Spare me!!”
—Snap!
“Aaargh!!”
“It doesn't even hurt.”
“Oh, you’re right.”
“Go put it in your room quickly. We’re trying to eat, so wash your hands before you come back.”
“Tch, fine!”
I forcibly ripped off my father-in-law’s mana-linked thingamajig. Of course, he didn't actually feel pain. It was just like a belt buckle snapping open.
“What is this?”
But a mysterious liquid remained on the hand that had ripped the magic tool away.
“Surely not.”
No way.