Ep.104 Isekai Black Company Smith "Head Bonk...?"
The shoulder of the woman standing behind the suited woman trembles subtly. I don't miss it. That woman. She's definitely the one I know.
"Perhaps... you're acquainted with the leader of the Vincent Merchant Group?"
I nod at the suited woman's question.
"Yes. Not just acquainted—we've even exchanged names."
"I see..."
The suited woman lets out a short sigh. From the head-bonk girl's reaction, she must think we're not on good terms. But honestly, it's not about good or bad—there's no real reason for her to sigh.
That's when Siron, standing beside me, pokes my side and whispers.
"You know that bitch?"
"Siron, remember how you took that request and got kidnapped by heretics on the way here?"
"......"
No sooner do my words end than Siron's head snaps toward the head-bonk girl like a rusty machine—clack clack clack!
Gulp! The head-bonk girl's body jolts slightly. Siron must have left a strong impression on her. Well, yeah—getting your face smashed into the ground like a decal with one punch would stick in anyone's mind. Even I'd flinch if that opponent showed up again.
"What a memorable face."
They say perpetrators don't remember victims well, but watching Siron sometimes makes me think that's not entirely wrong. She glares at the head-bonk girl with a scowl, and naturally, everyone's mouths snap shut. No one dares break the tension first—we're the guests here, so the suited woman and her soldiers hesitate, and Giena only speaks up about things involving me.
In other words, I'm the only one who can save the head-bonk girl right now. Her face is paling by the second, and just as I reach out to calm Siron down...
"Ah!!"
Siron points at her accusingly and yells.
"You fucking bitch who stiffed me on the money!!"
"Eek—!!"
The head-bonk girl collapses right there. Siron looks ready to charge, but surprisingly stays put beside me. Stiffed on money? Everyone's eyes turn back to her.
The suited woman, who had unintentionally shielded her, steps aside and asks.
"Vincent Merchant Leader. Don't just sit there—explain the situation first. If you really stiffed her on payment, this isn't something we can overlook. No, we should move somewhere else. I'd appreciate your help."
The suited woman asks the soldiers' permission, and one grabs the head-bonk girl's arm with her, hauling her up.
"Sorry for showing you such an embarrassing sight. We'll guide you to the reception room."
It's a bit harsh to say, but yeah, it was pretty ridiculous. The suited woman and soldier drag the head-bonk girl between them like luggage. We follow her down a modestly decorated corridor and up the stairs.
I quietly ask Siron walking beside me.
"Siron, what do you mean she stiffed you?"
"That bitch risked her life for me, but took her stuff and bailed without paying up. Thinking about it pisses me off all over again."
"I see."
More impressive than the head-bonk girl stiffing her is how Siron forgot the face of the one who did it. I have no idea what criteria she uses to remember faces. Whatever—as long as she remembers mine, it's fine.
"This way."
We enter a room on the third floor. It's classically styled, not overly flashy. The suited woman seats the head-bonk girl first, and the soldier moves behind us.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable."
We sit opposite her.
"We should offer refreshments, but first..."
The suited woman turns to the head-bonk girl. Luckily, she's calmed down a bit during the trip—color's returning to her face.
"Vincent Merchant Leader. Did you really stiff her on the money?"
"Th-that time, there were circumstances..."
She starts shouting at the suited woman but glances at Siron and switches to polite speech.
"We're listening to those circumstances, so spit it out."
"Well, after escaping the heretics, I was taken to the temple. They held me for a week to check for brainwashing before releasing me."
The head-bonk girl inquired at the temple about her stolen luggage right after release. The temple said they'd sent everything except items suspected to be heretic property to Molingta's guards.
"So I went to the guards to get my stuff, but... there was a commotion in the streets..."
She glances at Siron and clams up. That "commotion" was probably Siron and Kernax wrecking the north street.
"The street riot delayed retrieving my luggage, and after two days of delays, I finally got it. But during those two days, I heard some things...?"
That the main culprits were adventurers Siron and guard captain Kernax, now locked in the underground prison.
"C-common sense—who'd think criminals who wrecked a quarter of the city streets would walk free unscathed? Even charitably, they'd be slaves for life..."
"So you thought sweet, jackpot and shut your mouth, then bailed?"
"S-sorry..."
Her head drops so low at Siron's sharp question, I'm worried it'll snap off. But thinking about it, her actions make sense. Who'd imagine destroyers of a city quarter getting off scot-free? And yet, I made it happen. Damn, I'm pretty amazing now that I think about it. Siron, you jerk—won't even call this great guy 'oppa'.
"Haa... Vincent Merchant Leader."
The suited woman, who stood listening, sighs and continues.
"I understand the delay made you anxious. But you know better than I that you should've checked Molingta's news after arriving in Bazelan and taken proper action."
"That's..."
"No excuses. The Golden Reed Group is part of our Merchant Association. Your blunder tarnishes our reputation. For whatever reason, if the receptionist had reported it, it could've escalated to the Association betraying adventurers' trust—dragging us all down."
Her words make me flinch. Not for other reasons, but because the receptionist handling Siron and that girl's request was me. Amelia unnie stopped me midway, but still. I shut my mouth tight.
"If that happened, we'd have expelled the Golden Reed Group immediately."
The suited woman looks at us and bows at a perfect right angle.
"We knew of your ordeal, Vincent Leader. But the Association shares blame for not investigating beyond your word."
She straightens.
"We'll settle this properly with compensation. Vincent Leader."
"O-of course. I'm truly sorry..."
Marcolin Vincent finally stands and bows to us in apology. Siron's angry face softens a bit.
I inwardly admire the two up front. Even if you're set to get mad, if the other side over-apologizes first, you feel awkward. The suited woman knew that and scolded her loudly in front of us on purpose.
"We'll process compensation quickly and send it to the castle—or directly to Molingta's Adventurer's Guild branch, if you prefer."
"Then straight to Molingta."
"Understood."
With the suited woman's nod in place of the head-bonk girl, Siron's money issue resolves amicably.
"Now, may we hear the purpose of your visit to the Association?"
"Heard you're relaying the territory war in a few days from here. Came to check the performance."
"Projection orb testing, then. Of course. It won't take long—join us, or wait here and I'll prepare."
"No need to linger. Let's check quick and go."
"Yeah."
I nod to Siron. I planned to ask about stamina-boosting meds they sell or source, but I can inquire before leaving.
"This way, then."
The suited woman turns, and we stand. I glance at the head-bonk girl walking beside her, thinking: If you're just gonna use her as a screen, why bring her? Maybe she planned to drop her off and leave, but stuck around as guide since our bad blood surfaced.
"As you see, the projection rivals seeing it live."
"Whoa..."
I marvel at my image on the white wall. No joke—it's crystal clear, like a medieval projector. This'll let us watch everything from here without going.
"Satisfactory?"
"Perfect. How much for one?"
"Similar performance: 120 gold coins each."
"Eek."
A fist-sized orb for 120 gold? Three could buy a whole Molingta street.
"We'll prepare a spot for the territory war viewing."
"Thanks."
The suited woman smiles faintly.
"Then..."
Grrr—! Grrr—!
Our eyes, including hers, turn to the door. Something scratches furiously outside the shut door.
Her eyes narrow slightly.
"Pardon me..."
As she strides to open it...
Slither.
A black cat slips its head through the gap and enters, a small letter in its mouth.
The woman sighs, glances at us, and snatches the letter. She opens the envelope and reads while the glossy black cat sits primly, grooming its face with plump pink paw pads.
Adorably.
"Haa..."
She sighs after reading.
"Sorry. I'll remove it immediately."
"No? It's fine."
She pauses mid-reach for the seated cat, straightens slowly. The cat's odd eyes—blue and green—blink at me from watching her.
Come to think of it, four years here and I've never seen a dog or cat. This one's proof they exist, but rarer than on Earth.
I meet the cat's bright, sparkling gaze.
"Mind if I pet it?"
"...Y-you're sure?"
She glances at Siron and Giena beside me.
"What can ya do if he wants to?"
"Lord Smith is special."
"...He is, isn't he."
She nods, flustered. The cat rises, tail swishing, and approaches. I kneel slightly, extend a hand.
Grrr, grrr...
Just reaching, it purrs and rubs its head furiously against my palm. I prefer dogs, but this tugs at me. I stroke its head and back with both hands, then slide toward its butt.
They say cats lose it for butt pats. Let's try.
I smack! its rear lightly.
Hiii-yaaah~!!!
A lewd feminine moan leaks through the half-open door—loudly.
Clack clack clack!!
The suited woman rushes forward in deafening heels, snatches the cat by the scruff.
Dangling from her hand, it's like a catnip-high mess—eyes rolled, tongue out, limp. Belly moves; alive.
Backing away slowly, she says.
"This building has occasional eerie phenomena. That sound was one. Vincent Leader, I have urgent business—please see our guests out. Excuse me."
She flees cat-in-hand, remembering to shut the door.
Awkward silence falls. No one buys her lie—we all know. Just not our business, so mouths stay shut.
Then.
"E-eerie phenomena...? I-I never heard about that...!!"
The lone head-bonk girl trembles, face ashen. Watching her, I think: Maybe Siron's brutal head bonk messed up her head a bit back then.
...Or something.