Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Carriage Escort (2)
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Beth finished with her instruction to follow her and walked off into the dark night road.
The place we arrived at by following her was in front of a small carriage.
As we approached the carriage, the coachman bowed his head in greeting.
Beth gave a light nod and climbed onto the carriage.
Then she looked at me.
"......"
The coachman simply stared at me without a word.
"Ah, he can't speak. Don't mind it, get on."
It seemed the coachman was mute.
I gave a light bow of my head and boarded the carriage.
Confirming we were both aboard, the coachman began driving the carriage.
"You're not going to explain?"
"Explain? Ah."
Beth opened her mouth as if she'd only just remembered.
"The kingdom is pressuring the Rockhart Merchant Company."
"...What's the reason?"
"Who knows. Ask that man. I'm not interested. Anyway, one of the kingdom branches got wiped out, and the branch manager got captured. So we're retrieving him before it's too late."
It must be about the items the Rockhart Merchant Company planned to auction on the black market through Beth's guild.
Since the kingdom was mentioned, it seemed this wasn't just tangled up with the underworld riffraff.
From the atmosphere, there was a high chance of friction with the kingdom.
"If you want to get off, now's the time."
Beth subtly pointed outside the carriage.
The carriage hadn't gone far past the city yet.
Getting off now would mean they'd turn a blind eye.
Her guild, the Shadow Association, might look harmless, but they were still back-alley folk.
Even if it was just a verbal promise, I'd said I'd help them.
I pondered briefly.
I'd already heard quite a bit, and hearing more might make it impossible to back out.
But getting off now... I'd regret missing out on 200 imperial gold coins.
Besides, Beth's guild would eventually clean up the entire underworld.
I could lose all the goodwill I'd built up so far in one go.
After my brief deliberation, I opened my mouth.
"I'll do it."
There are certain people in the kingdom to avoid.
Like the Second Prince who killed the First Prince and took the throne.
Or if the royal guard is involved, I shouldn't get mixed up.
But Beth, and the Rockhart Merchant Company for that matter, would know that down to their bones.
So it probably wasn't anything I needed to avoid outright.
"Alright."
Beth gave a slight smile at my answer.
Then the carriage raced through the dark midnight, arriving at the Shadow Union's mansion near the magic tower.
As Beth approached the mansion door, a mid-level evil spirit called a specter stared at her briefly before vanishing.
I followed her up to the third floor of the mansion.
As we opened the door.
"You're here, mage."
A white-haired old man greeted us.
Diren. Guild master of the Shadow Union and one of the Rockhart Merchant Company's branch managers.
We sat on the sofas at his guidance.
Diren poured a cup of clear tea and placed it before me.
"Have you heard the explanation?"
"I heard a bit about the kingdom."
I briefly summarized what Beth had told me.
"I see. Then I'll continue from there."
Diren sat in the head seat and began his explanation.
"The kingdom's movements have been strange lately. The bottom-feeders they never cared about are starting to show their faces one by one."
Diren showed me a paper labeled Count Hamut.
"Mage. You're from the kingdom too, right? Do you know Count Hamut here?"
"Isn't he the southern rogue mage?"
Count Hamut.
A typical greed-driven noble, just as I'd roughly guessed.
But unlike his high rank, he was a small-minded, timid sort.
So... there must be more behind this?
"He's a rogue, but he's also a count. One word from him has put the Rockhart Merchant Company in a real bind."
Diren set the paper down.
"He must have overheard the Rockhart Merchant Company's dealings. As you might guess, the origin of the items up for auction this time isn't exactly clean."
Items of unclear origin.
What could be more tempting to a greedy noble?
In fact, the Rockhart Merchant Company regularly raided the back alleys, so most items came from there.
Meaning the real owners would never come forward.
With no owner, such items tend to go to whoever has the loudest voice.
And in medieval times, rank was that voice.
"From that day on, he's been demanding the Rockhart Merchant Company hand over 'his' items. So we're pulling them out before the count catches on more."
Diren handed me a medal.
"It's a medal proving affiliation with the Rockhart Merchant Company. Beth will be going with you, but I'll give you one too."
I took the medal and stored it carefully in my inventory.
"We leave at dawn. Plenty of people will be after it, even excluding the count. But absolutely no fighting inside the kingdom. Outside... handle it as you see fit."
I nodded lightly to show I understood.
Well, for example, it meant Beth and I would escort the carriage together.
If it was just Count Hamut, it wouldn't be too dangerous.
"Good. If the carriage's contents all arrive here safely, you'll get 200 imperial gold coins."
With that, Diren finished speaking.
He said I could use any empty room... but something felt off.
For a job like this, the reward was subtly generous.
Even considering the goodwill I'd built up, it felt out of place.
There seemed to be more to it...
"Is that the end of the story?"
"Still curious about something?"
"I'm curious about the items in the carriage."
Diren pondered for a moment before speaking.
"You think I'll tell you?"
"Then, just one question."
"...What?"
"Is there a black mage's item in the carriage?"
Diren's expression hardened for a moment, then the corner of his mouth twitched up.
...So there really is.
"How did you know? A hunch?"
"...The reward seemed too high. Even if Count Hamut is after it, you could slip away quietly. But you seemed convinced there would be combat."
Diren nodded as if he understood.
"You're right. There will definitely be fighting on this escort. The black mages will stake their lives on it, so it'll be fairly dangerous."
Diren stood and retrieved a small safe.
He slowly placed it before me.
"It's the advance payment."
He gestured for me to open it, so I did.
It was filled with imperial gold coins.
"50 imperial gold coins upfront. If all the items arrive here safely, another 200 as promised. What's your answer?"
Originally 200 as payment, plus 50 advance.
They sure were generous.
"I'll do it."
---
The next day.
At dawn, Beth and I boarded the carriage.
The destination was the Rockhart Merchant Company's branch inside the kingdom.
We'd switch carriages there and transport everything back here safely. Simple enough.
Of course... if black mages showed up, it wouldn't be that easy.
"Have you ever killed anyone?"
Beth tossed out the question casually while tending to her dagger.
I hadn't, but if they attacked, I had no choice.
If someone died swept up in my magic, so be it—I couldn't hold back and get done in instead.
"No worries."
"Yeah? Don't hesitate later and get yourself killed."
Beth grinned as she said it.
The carriage ran on for a while longer.
"This is Baron Berin's territory. State your business."
We arrived at the Rockhart Merchant Company's branch in the kingdom.
The knight guarding the barony's entrance ran a brief check and let us inside.
The carriage then stopped in front of the massive company building within the barony.
"You've arrived, Miss Beth. We've been waiting."
Someone who had noticed our arrival slowly walked out from inside the building.
The slender man adjusted his monocle on one side and continued.
"Ah, we've heard about you, Mage. I'm Flack, the branch manager here."
"I'm Rain."
I lightly shook the hand he offered.
After following him and hearing a brief explanation...
"Right this way."
We were led to the main objective: the carriages.
Two large carriages came into view.
"These are the carriages we'll entrust to you. Precious cargo, so please handle with care."
At Branch Manager Flack's gesture, the waiting coachman from behind climbed aboard.
The carriages were packed full of items, so we'd have to walk alongside.
"Alright, then."
At Flack's signal, the carriages began moving.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
---
"Count Hamut. Can you take responsibility for those words?"
Inside a massive mansion. A man gripping a sword dripping blood asked.
Standing opposite him was the pot-bellied old mage, Count Hamut.
He quickly worked his trembling lips to reply.
"Y-yes, truly...! It's definitely in that carriage—!"
"Is that so? No lies now."
The man shook his sword once grandly, splattering blood on the floor.
Then he raised his left hand and clenched the air hard.
"Kuh, guh, ack!"
Count Hamut's massive body slowly floated into the air.
He was gasping for breath, coughing repeatedly.
"Why, ack... I've told you everything!"
"Hamut. Didn't you insult our god?"
"You dog of a black mage... guaaack!"
Crunch—
As the man's left hand clenched tighter, Count Hamut's agonized screams grew louder, until finally.
"......"
Thud.
Hamut's limp body crashed to the floor.
The man watching calmly sheathed his ominous, blood-flecked sword carefully.
"Baron Berin's territory, huh."
With that, he left the mansion.