Chapter 39: The Tin Knight and the Hanged Sinner (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 39: The Tin Knight and the Hanged Sinner (2)
Fortunately, the vampire hadn't lost consciousness.
Though it was so weak it couldn't even support its own body.
[The 'Tin Knight' suggests giving it some blood!]
“Nonsense.”
Dorothea shot down the Tin Knight’s idea.
She refused so quickly that the word ‘Nonsense’ was out of her mouth before the system message had even finished.
“We don't need him healthy to get information. As long as he can move his eyes, he can answer yes or no. Hurry up and ask. Tell him if he doesn't answer, you'll drive a stake through his heart.”
Her words were utterly heartless.
Adelaide, listening from the side, was so horrified she could only let out a gasp.
The Tin Knight, who had been feigning sobs, suddenly straightened up as if he'd thought of something.
[The 'Tin Knight' advises the vampire to get up and fight if it doesn't want a stake driven through its heart!]
“Hey!!”
Clang!
Dorothea's staff struck the Tin Knight's head.
“Sir Knight, even for you, that's a bit much…”
Even Adelaide shot the Tin Knight a cold look at his pathetic struggle.
The vampire, the actual target of the death threat, merely blinked its eyes.
It was unclear whether it hadn't understood the words or simply considered them a joke.
The Tin Knight, having finally given up on his antics, began the interrogation in earnest.
Although, the very situation of having to entrust the negotiation to this madman was a comedy in itself.
[The 'Tin Knight' requests that you nod for yes and shake your head for no to the questions he is about to ask!]
[The 'Tin Knight' requests that you nod if you understand!]
The vampire, who seemed to have just enough strength to move its head, nodded.
[The 'Tin Knight' asks if you know about the kingdom's secret treasure!]
Nod, nod.
[The 'Tin Knight' asks if you know its precise location!]
Nod, nod.
[The 'Tin Knight' asks if the kingdom's secret treasure is hidden somewhere in this room!]
Shake, shake.
[The 'Tin Knight' asks if there is a deeper place beyond this room!]
Shake, shake.
Dorothea, who had been watching quietly, interjected.
“Wait a minute. The Animal Compass's goat was clearly heading this way before it was taken out. But if it's not in this room, and there's no deeper place, then where the hell is it? Are you sure you even know the real location?”
[The 'Tin Knight' asks if you can point to the specific location!]
The vampire's arm trembled for a moment, then went limp again.
[The 'Tin Knight' suggests just giving it some blood!]
“No, it's suspicious. It could just be acting to regain its strength.”
[The 'Tin Knight' insists that just one drop should be fine!]
“You don't even have blood! You're just saying that because it's not yours to give, aren't you?”
A pathetic squabble broke out between the one trying to feed it and the one trying to stop it.
Adelaide timidly raised her hand.
“Um, excuse me. May I say something?”
The Tin Knight's and Dorothea's gazes turned to Adelaide.
When they both nodded, Adelaide spoke.
“It's not hidden in this place, and there isn't another place. But it knows the exact location… Could it be that he has it?”
At Adelaide's words, the party's eyes all turned to the vampire.
[The 'Tin Knight' asks if you are carrying the treasure!]
The vampire nodded.
Dorothea wore a dubious expression.
“Even if it has it, where? Its clothes are nothing but rags, there's nowhere to hide anything.”
[The 'Tin Knight' claims that absorbing a treasure with mysterious powers to power up is a classic trope!]
“Absorbed? You mean it ate it or something? That's ridiculous—”
Nod, nod.
As the vampire nodded, Dorothea's mouth gaped open.
[The 'Tin Knight' claims it might pop out if we slice him into 17 pieces!]
The Tin Knight spouted his usual brand of madness.
Just as Dorothea was about to seriously consider the suggestion, Adelaide spoke.
“Miss Witch. You're not on the same level as the Knight, are you…?”
“……”
About five minutes later.
The party's list of belongings (and I do not mean to say 'companion') now included the vampire as they retrieved their thankfully intact cart and headed back up.
*
The morning sun rose, casting its warm rays over the campsite near the labyrinth.
Just as a green sprout that has endured the cold night receives nourishment from the sun and soil, a person cannot gain the energy to move without filling their hungry stomach.
Lorentz Halder smacked his lips, taking in the aroma of the food spread across the table.
Toast, fried eggs, grilled sausage, and pickled cabbage.
It was a rather humble meal for a great merchant renowned in the southeastern part of the Empire, but Lorentz had no complaints.
To Lorentz, who in his youth had survived by rationing hard black bread over several days or filling his belly with salty soup where you'd be lucky to find a single solid piece after ten spoonfuls, the luxurious diet of the Imperial nobility never quite suited him.
He had the magnanimity to spare no expense for important receptions, but when he didn't need to worry about others' eyes, Lorentz preferred simple meals like this.
Besides, it was simple, not tasteless.
“They haven't returned yet, have they.”
Micks Halder, sitting across from him, said in a worried tone.
Lorentz immediately knew who his son meant by 'they'.
“It's only been a day. It's common to eat and sleep inside the labyrinth during an exploration, so there's no need to worry.”
“Do you think Lady Adelaide can handle sleeping outdoors?”
Well, son. I imagine she can handle it better than you.
Lorentz didn't bother to voice the thought that came to his mind.
He didn't fully believe all the rumors about the Lion Duke's bloodline—that they never get sick, or that their stamina recovers as quickly as a child's even after becoming an adult—but just seeing her stamina from running alongside the carriage for hours on end, he figured a little roughing it would be no problem for her.
“The guard captain said the knight with them is an incredible warrior. And that young lady, Dorothea, seemed quite accustomed to travel, seeing how she picked out exactly what she needed for the labyrinth. With people like that, Lady Adelaide will be safe.”
“I see.”
With a slightly brightened expression, Micks bit into his toast.
Lorentz, too, dipped his sausage into the runny yolk of his fried egg and popped it into his mouth.
The savory, rich flavor that instantly spread through his mouth was truly exquisite.
He finished his meal and was about halfway through his post-meal coffee when it happened.
“Master Lorentz.”
“Hm?”
At the news brought by his subordinate, Lorentz set down his coffee cup.
The news was that the party he had just been discussing with his son had returned and was looking for him.
And what's more, of the three, only Adelaide had returned, and she was in tatters.
“I understand. I'll be right there.”
With a grimly set face, Lorentz made his way over.
The moment he saw Adelaide in the drawing-room, Lorentz let out an involuntary sigh.
…Did the exploration fail?
Adelaide's condition was truly serious.
Her body was covered in scratches and cuts, parts of her armor were torn, and her beautiful golden hair was matted with dirt.
He was almost glad that his son, Micks, had left for a moment to observe the staff organizing the warehouse.
Lorentz spoke in a calm tone, trying his best not to agitate her.
“I was told you were looking for me, Lady Adelaide.”
Adelaide, who had been slumped over in exhaustion, lifted her head.
“Ah, Master Lorentz. I'm sorry for barging in so suddenly without an appointment…”
“No, not at all. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Oh? How did you know?”
Just as I thought, Lorentz confirmed his suspicions.
Three went in, but only one returned. And that one is in tatters.
Perhaps the other two… are already…
“If you need to request a rescue, I will take care of it.”
It wasn't an offer born of pure goodwill.
It was partly to put the noble girl before him in his debt, and also a calculation that if he could save Dorothea, he could demand knowledge other than the herbs for strengthening the horses as payment.
Though his human compassion and consideration for his son were just as strong.
Lorentz resolved to willingly extend a hand here, even if it meant a slight financial loss.
“Huh? A rescue request?”
The girl tilted her head, her expression asking what on earth he was talking about.
“…Um, aren't you here alone to ask for help because your companions are in danger?”
“Ah, no. That's not it. The Knight and the Witch are fine.”
Those two are fine, but why do you look like that?
Lorentz said nothing, but his question must have been clear in his eyes.
Adelaide blushed shyly and said with an embarrassed look,
“W-well, this is, um… from fighting the monsters inside the labyrinth.”
“I see. It must have been quite a fierce battle.”
“Yes. I didn't realize it when I was just watching while pulling the cart. There's so much to pay attention to when you're fighting alone.”
Cart? Fighting alone?
The more the conversation continued, the more question marks popped up in Lorentz's head.
It was a rather rude thought, but he began to suspect the girl before him might have suffered a great mental shock and was spouting nonsense.
“Ahem. I see. So, what specifically would you like to request of me?”
“Oh, right. The thing is, we brought back a lot of stuff from inside. But the Witch said the staff guarding the entrance would definitely try to pick a fight, so we needed someone with a strong voice nearby.”
“Hoh.”
It was the most plausible thing he had heard so far.
Since they had already run into trouble with the staff on their way in, it was a reasonable assumption that something similar might happen again.
However.
…Heh, the young lady worries too much. As long as those Guild folks have any sense of face, they won't dare find fault with an explorer certified by our company.
Of course, if the amount of treasure was enormous, they might throw face to the wind and make trouble, but the party had only been in the labyrinth for a single day.
Even if they did bring back treasure in that time, how much could it possibly be?
“Very well. I shall go myself.”
Even as he thought this, Lorentz readily nodded.
As the head of a company, he was by no means free, but turning away someone who had come to him like this was not something he could do.
His calculation was that he would show his face the first few times, which would give him grounds to refuse later.
And a short while later.
Lorentz's jaw dropped.
There was a sword with a handle decorated in gold. There was a necklace embedded with a large jewel.
There were books that felt ancient yet unweathered, and various magic tools of indeterminable purpose were scattered about.
The Guild staff, who had been sneering at the cart the Tin Knight brought out and the cloth covering it, asking if they'd brought back a monster corpse, were now also speechless with astonishment.
The witch in black approached Lorentz and spoke.
“As per our contract, I'll leave the disposal of the treasures we brought from inside to you.”
“W-wait! Wait just a moment!”
A Guild staff member, belatedly coming to his senses, hurriedly interjected.
“Th-this requires a detailed investigation! To acquire this many relics after only a day inside, you must have used some cowardly trick!”
“Cowardly?”
The witch scoffed.
“What exactly constitutes a cowardly trick? Is there some rule limiting the amount of treasure you can bring out in one go? I don't recall being told about one.”
The Guild staff member's face turned red.
“Th-that's, uh, right! Perhaps you ambushed other adventurers and stole their treasure? If that's the case—”
“Try to make some sense.”
After a blatant snort, the witch's gaze turned to Lorentz.
As his eyes met her blue ones, a lightning-like shock struck Lorentz's mind.
The contract, what was our commission? Thirty percent. Yes, thirty percent. Thirty percent of the sales from that cart full of gold and jewels belongs to our company?
It was a cart large enough to carry a person if needed.
The value would be immense even if it were filled with nothing but gold nuggets, but in reality, it also contained numerous jewels, various artifacts, and magic tools worth even more than gold.
And beyond the simple monetary value, what about the intangible assets gained by selling these goods to influential figures across the regions?
Lorentz's back straightened, his steps filled with vigor, and a glint shone from his eyes.
No, it wasn't just Lorentz; every member of his company standing behind him was the same.
“I cannot let that remark slide. Are you suggesting that an explorer from our company committed robbery inside the labyrinth? Is that the official position of the Adventurers Guild? If so, then we at the Halder Company will have to reconsider our future relationship with the Guild.”
“Uh, uh.”
The Guild staff member began to break out in a cold sweat.
Watching Lorentz steamroll the Guild staff, the Tin Knight's party exchanged triumphant glances.
Using the dazzling glitter of the treasure as a shield, they had managed to sneak out a person—no, a piece of human-shaped cargo—unnoticed by anyone.