Guild Deals and Dawn Escapes
Was it this alley?
Or that one over there?
I knew I'd been here before, so why was I getting confused?
As I kept wandering around the area, Rai let out a heavy sigh and nudged the back of my head with his forehead.
[This way.]
“Oh, right?”
The alley I finally found was right next to the one where Lox had been beaten earlier.
At the very end, a single beggar was crouched down. The body hidden beneath scraps of cloth looked unnaturally clean.
“Spare a coin, please.”
When I stopped in front of him, the beggar bowed obsequiously and held out a chipped bowl. Everything about him felt off.
His hands were far too pale, and the bowl was marked with the rat swarm symbol of the Information Guild.
“Good work.”
I tossed a gold coin into the bowl. The beggar lifted his head, eyes peeking out from beneath the rags.
The plump cheeks and bright, alert gaze proved the beggar disguise was nothing more than a front.
“Thank you. Was the service to your satisfaction?”
“They didn’t even know who I was. I’m the one who hired them.”
What I wanted was a rescue operation, not an escort mission! If they took the money, they should do the job properly.
Grumbling, I planted my hands on my hips and stood with one leg cocked. The beggar rose, still bowing.
“Ah, my apologies, dear customer.”
“What kind of work is this?”
“I see the issue. It’s standard procedure to keep the client’s identity hidden, so… perhaps the message wasn’t passed down clearly. I only instructed my subordinates to scare the man you pointed out…”
“Even so! I said to hit him lightly, but they beat him so savagely his leg’s twisted and he’s limping! His glasses are broken too! What are you going to do about it? Now I feel guilty for no reason!”
I was the one who set up the act in the first place!
“A light touch wouldn’t have sold the performance. We’ve done this sort of thing more than once or twice. Please understand—true naturalism requires a certain degree of contact. Still, you got the dramatic effect you wanted, didn’t you?”
“…I suppose that’s true.”
I dropped another gold coin into the bowl as promised and rubbed my chin.
If Lox ever found out about this, he’d try to kill me—but he wouldn’t succeed.
“Thank you for your patronage. Whenever you need anything, anything at all, simply say the word… and we will carry it out splendidly.”
“As long as the pay is fair?”
“Of course. We are the Information Guild built on trust and reliability. As a side service, we also collect debts. Ah, and if you ever need to line up overnight for a limited-edition item, we can do that too.”
“What? That sounds so lame.”
“It means we’ll do anything.”
Every city had an Information Guild that sold secrets for coin, but they were also perfect for handling small odd jobs. Their “money talks” policy made them incredibly convenient for someone like me.
I’d probably use them plenty more in the future. I flicked another coin his way.
“What about the thing I asked you to look into?”
“That will take a little time. The Blood Wing boss’s sister is infamous for being elusive. Who knows where she’s stealing from now… I did mention she’s a notorious thief, yes?”
“Tch.”
“If you give me a bit more time, I’ll find her whereabouts no matter what.”
I pulled out another gold coin and dangled it in front of the disguised guild member. My pockets felt bottomless.
“I just thought of someone else who might help.”
“Additional requests are always welcome.”
“His name is Kenta. About ten years ago he was a shock trooper in the Shabel Mercenary Company. Mid-to-late thirties. His hometown was something like Nechatolu… I think that was it.”
“An easy request. I can find that quickly.”
“Where he lives now, what he’s doing, whether he’s married. Be as detailed as possible.”
“I have a feeling you’ll become one of our regular clients, miss.”
Obviously.
I shrugged and smiled like I was in an excellent mood.
“You should treat me like a VIP.”
“A big spender like you deserves nothing less.”
“Oh, and one more thing…”
“Another request?”
“It’s nothing major, but if I catch any of your people tailing me, I’ll kill them. So don’t send anyone. Is that how your guild operates? You should stop trying to verify my identity. If you don’t want to waste manpower, that is. I warned you, right? If I see anyone following me… I’ll kill them. All of them. Without exception.”
They’d better not take me for a pushover. I might be a Spirit Master of water, but still.
When my lips curved but my eyes stayed cold, the beggar trembled and slowly sank to the ground like a dying plant.
I was a nice person—as long as no one annoyed me.
“The one who followed me in the square is dumped outside the city walls. Go fetch him before he dies. Well then, goodbye!”
Was there anything else I’d meant to say?
After a quick mental check, I turned away, feeling refreshed.
Now I should head into town and buy tea leaves for my master, plus perfume for Mia and Iruse.
Once the gift shopping was done, I’d pick up medicine for the bedridden Lox too.
Call it giving someone an illness and then the cure.
***
Early morning. I sat up in the now-familiar inn bed.
Rubbing my eyes, I glanced around to shake off the last traces of sleep.
One side of my bed was against the window wall; the other was separated by a cloth partition from Rai’s bed, making the space feel cramped.
Somehow, even that view had become familiar.
In the chilly air, I changed out of my sleepwear and stepped past the partition. Lox and Chad were still asleep, and Ash’s bed was empty. Only after confirming everyone’s state did I quietly leave the room.
The inn corridor was deathly still.
At this hour, only Ash and I were awake. He was always the diligent one who rose before me.
Outside, I took a deep breath of the dawn air, stretched, and looked up at the still-dark sky tinged with deep blue.
It was dim, without visible stars, so sunrise couldn’t be far off.
Before more time passed, I headed toward the small clearing near the inn where Ash was likely to be.
[Master!]
Rai had followed me like a shadow from the moment I left the bed.
On the way to the clearing, I passed a well. I scooped up water so cold it stung my teeth, drank a mouthful, and washed my face. My hair got slightly damp, but it was little enough that Undine could handle it easily.
Besides, the droplets clinging to my cheeks felt pleasantly cool in the morning breeze, so my steps stayed light.
Far ahead, I spotted Ash. The tip of his swinging sword carved through the entire clearing and sliced into my line of sight.
Ash’s swordsmanship was that of a knight, pure and simple.
Textbook posture, perfect center of gravity and balance, brimming with silent power.
The sword tip was neither heavy nor light, yet it stopped exactly where he willed it with exquisite precision.
Honestly, it lacked Robenin’s ferocity.
To my eyes, Ash’s blade was filled not with the desire to win or kill, but with strength meant to avoid harming anyone.
It was a strange sight. How could someone think the exact opposite of me while wielding a weapon?
Rai had mentioned something like that recently.
One reason my spirit magic was so strong, he said, was because my thoughts were simple and direct. The killing intent and aggression made it easy for spirits to read my commands and unleash their power.
Like a strong attack signal. But could that signal ever be weak?
Arms folded, I walked until I suddenly called out to him.
“Ash.”
The voice came out too soft. Worried he wouldn’t hear, I opened my mouth again—only for Ash to freeze mid-motion as if on cue and turn straight toward me.
He lowered his sword, eyes meeting mine.
The peaceful gaze was hard to believe had belonged to someone swinging a blade moments ago.
“Jeanie.”
After days of scolding, he’d finally stopped adding “miss” after my name.
He still used half-formal speech, though.
“You’re diligent, training at this hour.”
“I don’t need much sleep.”
“When do you usually finish?”
“Normally another hour or two.”
“Skip it today and come somewhere with me!”
I made the offer abruptly. Without explaining where, I looked up at his sweat-dampened face and grinned.
Even though my smile was usually called sinister, Ash simply nodded.
“……Very well.”
“Not going to ask where?”
I liked that calm expression of his. Would his face stay just as steady if the necklace came off?
Suddenly wanting to touch his cheek, my fingers itched.
Ah, he even wore the necklace while training. That was cheating. He kept it on while sleeping too.
“I’ll find out when we get there.”
“It’s a nice place.”
“I see. I’d like to wash up first, though.”
“There’s a well over there.”
I led Ash to the same well I’d used earlier. The dawn streets still belonged to just the two of us.
***
Though the sun had yet to rise, I guided Ash across the city.
We headed toward the section of the wall bordering the eastern outskirts where the fields lay.
It wasn’t the direction monsters attacked from, nor did it have a gate, so it was a remote spot without any watch posts.
When we reached the barren stretch of wall, Ash glanced around the desolate surroundings and asked uneasily,
“Surely… you don’t intend to duel me here?”
“A duel?”
“If not, I can’t imagine why else you’d bring me to a place like this at this hour…”
“Of course not! Do I look like Robenin Pedri to you?”
Thinking I was some battle-crazed maniac!
I was shocked by Ash’s ridiculous guess, but objectively speaking, it did make a certain amount of sense.
The only reasons to come all the way to this forgotten corner of the city would be a duel or a secret rendezvous.
“Then why are we at the wall?”
“Well, yesterday I was looking for a quiet place to practice mana and wandered around a bit. With the festival going on, there aren’t many peaceful spots left.”
“True.”
“While I was at it, I happened to find somewhere amazing.”
“And?”
“I wanted to show it to you!”
Somewhere amazing… Ash looked from the barren ground with not a single blade of grass to the scattered pebbles, then back at me with an expression that clearly said my tastes were peculiar.
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud and only watched me with pity.
“Not here! Well… actually, yes, but more precisely, it’s up there!”
Even when I pointed at the top of the wall, Ash’s face remained blank.