Where the Hell is Tanas?
The trial ended spectacularly with Viscount Gondor's social suicide. Viscount Gondor the Animal Lover—such a fitting epithet. It worked out well for everyone involved, didn't it?
The trial verdict came quickly. All of Viscount Gondor's territories were confiscated by the royal family, and within a year, a proxy appointed by the king would take temporary control of the region. But as reward for uncovering the plot—his decisive contribution—and compensation for the damages inflicted by the viscount, half ownership of Gondor Territory was jointly granted to me and Frisia Springfield.
The territory transfer document presented by the kingdom's inspector clearly listed half the shares under my name. Sipping coffee at a nearby restaurant, I signed it over to Frisia without a moment's hesitation.
"Sir knight...? What are you doing-nya?"
Frisia, watching from the side, had her eyes widen in shock. I tossed the annoying paperwork into her arms.
"No time to manage land. You handle all this."
"B-but this is half of Gondor Territory-nya! Far more fertile land than Artem, with mines included...!"
"It's fine."
"Sir knight, are you really entrusting it all to me-nya?"
"Yeah. I'm leaving it to you."
I moved with ruthless efficiency. Even if I took the territory now, it'd just be temporary—the locals wouldn't accept it, and getting through the messy administrative processes and neighboring nobles' approvals? Who knows how long that'd take. Selling it off would be a hassle too. Way too annoying.
But if Frisia managed it, I could dip in whenever I needed cash or resources. Perfect.
I averted my gaze from her piercing stare.
How could he...? Frisia thought.
The taxes and resources from such vast lands would be beyond imagination. And that's not all—with control over food supplies to the front lines and trade routes for merchants, building connections would be a breeze. Especially since Viscount Gondor had hoarded only the prime cuts; next year's taxes alone would rival those of central nobles.
He had to know that.
Sir knight...
To hand it over without a second thought. No ordinary person could make that choice. And it wasn't just entrusting it to the Springfields—it was to her, Frisia herself.
It had to be because he trusted her. Had anyone ever placed this much faith in her? Not even her parents.
Frisia looked up at me with eyes glistening like morning dew on grass blades. Her hands trembled faintly.
"......"
What? Did she see through my scheme? It was doomed anyway—once the eastern front collapsed and the demon king's army rolled in, it'd all be ashes. A shining plum that's just a pit inside.
I hurriedly added, "You'll do great."
"...Because you believe in me-nya?"
Her voice grew misty. Her slender hands shook as she clutched the documents tight.
"Uh... yeah, I trust you."
"Sir knight!! This grace—no, this heart... I'll never forget it-nya! You could even take me right now...!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, Frisia rubbed her face against me. I recoiled in horror, grabbing her waist and prying her off.
"Don't cling."
Phew, she hadn't caught on. Unlike my old party members, her pure gratitude felt a bit awkward. From my perspective, it was just offloading useless junk.
"Hee hee heung! No need to be shy... I won't let you down, sir knight—I'll rule that territory perfectly-nya!"
"......"
Now her eyes held something beyond faith—a fierce, burning intensity flickering to life.
Whatever. As long as she gets the job done.
"I'll prepare a grand feast, so please visit-nya!"
As we stepped outside, the knights who'd pointed swords at me days ago lined up on either side, bowing their heads. The moment I took a step, they dropped to their knees in unison, slamming their foreheads to the ground.
"Lord Tanas! We apologize for our past rudeness. Our lowly judgment nearly insulted our benefactor—I'm ashamed of myself!"
"Thank you for saving the Springfield family!"
The title's effect was stronger than expected. The citizens were the same.
"Tanas! Tanas!"
"Whoa! The real savior's here!"
Entering Artem Square, crowds gathered, chanting my name. Of course, Viscount Gondor's infamy played a big role.
"They say Viscount Gondor planned to grind up villagers for horse feed and keep just a couple as slaves."
"How horrifying and gruesome!"
"Now we can finally sleep easy, right? Right?"
They showered me with deep trust.
"Horses that great, huh?"
"What the hell are you...?"
Artem's citizens would debate the viscount's tastes for a while. Self-inflicted wound. Should've confessed sooner.
In less than a week, I'd become the territory's celebrity.
Good opening move.
I walked briskly through the throng. Frisia still clutched the papers to her chest, gazing at me with moist eyes.
Viscount Gondor, the obstacle, was gone without a scratch on me. Relations with Frisia were solid. Now, before the demon king's army arrived, all that remained was polishing this raw gem into the ultimate vanguard.
What I needed most? Fame.
"Time to get started."
I headed to the adventurers' guild, leaving the commotion behind. Artem's main force of adventurers had just returned from a monster extermination expedition, filling the guild with renewed energy.
"Oh! Tanas!"
Milen greeted me first as I entered. Countless adventurers' eyes turned my way. Some wary, but most friendly—after all, thanks to my mercenary dealings, every hostage came back unharmed.
"Whoa, is this the guy who's the talk of Artem right now?"
"Watch your mouth. Without him, your little sister might've been sold off somewhere."
"R-right, my bad. I don't know manners."
"It's fine."
"Name's Gran. Swordsman, as you can see." He tapped the sword at his hip.
"Hey, no cutting in line. I'm Jack. Heard you saved my wife from the mercenaries while I was gone? Thanks from the heart, even if late."
"Um, I'm..."
"My name is..."
I exchanged greetings with the main adventurers for a bit. We'd cross paths often.
A short while later, on the second floor of the adventurers' guild.
"Tanas, was it?"
The guild master skimmed the papers the receptionist brought, asking in a low voice.
"Yes."
"Common name."
Hardly surprising—orphan names were drawn from the Twelve Gods. Tanas from Thanatos, god of death; Seria from goddess Asheria. In these orphan-flooded times, duplicates were everywhere.
"Doesn't matter. Adventurers just need skill."
"True enough."
"Heard you cut a deal with Milen for rank-free quests... that right?"
"Yes. Problem?"
He sipped the tea the receptionist brought, nodding thanks. She smiled faintly and left.
"No issue. I'll approve it now. Actually, I owe you one. F-rank quests would bore you. Let's make it D—no, C-rank. My eye for talent's spot-on, so no worries."
Of course, the guild master was favorably inclined.
"Tanas, you saved our Artem guild's face. Without you, we'd have been street-bound the moment we got back from expedition. Got a special bonus for you—take it! Want gear instead? Say the word; central HQ can handle it anytime."
"Ah, sure. It was just on the way. Don't worry about it. Others helped too."
"Hahaha! Humble too... Milen told me everything—no need to downplay."
He laughed reassuringly.
"I'll vouch for you. Do as you please from now on."
He handed me his seal.
Even this?
Solid trust. Like a gym badge from those old games—valid across Artem, the kingdom, even the empire. Guild master guarantees weren't handed out lightly.
Down on the first floor, I told the receptionist, "A-rank quest."
"Pardon? That's not permitted..."
I tossed the guild master's seal. "A-rank."
"Eek! A-alright, but..."
"A-rank."
Time to put it to use.
*************
A month later.
"Haa..."
Seria irritably set down her teacup. Ever since the connection linking her and Tanas vanished, an unfillable void gnawed at her.
Where the hell is Tanas?
Denying reality, she snatched the kingdom newspaper from the table.
The front page, as always, covered demon king army movements and royal news. Pages two onward: magic stone quality, hero party exploits.
What caught Seria's eye was the back page—a backwater corner for gossip and petty crimes.
"What is this...?"
The article was bizarre. It detailed how eastern noble Viscount Gondor kidnapped his own subjects for forbidden experiments tied to unspeakable animal fetishes. Testimonies even dragged in the church's name—he'd face heresy trials soon.
"Lord Thanatos must be slacking—not hauling off scum like this..."
As Seria coldly crumpled the paper, the final line hooked her.
<...This incident concluded thanks to adventurer 'Tanas', who aided the Springfield family in exposing the plot. Viscount Gondor confessed all crimes on-site and...>
"Huh?"
Seria's hand froze.
Tanas?
A name so familiar it squeezed her heart. But she shook her head.
"No way. Common name, right? And when would Tanas go all the way east?"
Yet her heart pounded.
She'd scoured the capital and nearby cities like a rat hunt for a month—no trace. What if he wasn't hiding centrally, but in the boonies?
"......"
Knock knock. A servant entered. "Lady Seria, service is soon. The others await..."
"Ah, coming right away."
"I'll prepare ahead."
"Wait."
"More orders?"
"Send someone. Got something to check."
Even a stone bridge deserves a tap.