Chapter 45 - Episode 16: The Grand Farce Begins
Gokigenyou! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
I am currently busy gathering the necessary personnel for the 'play.'
Spatial Bags are quite convenient at times like this. For now, I have harvested all the bandits in the vicinity.
Now then. By the time I finished gathering the bandits and returned, it was already past noon.
...That means tomorrow is the day of the Guild's black gold coin handover.
"Violia. They're here."
"Yes... I know."
That must be why. There was a line of soldiers walking along the highway. They likely intend to arrive in Elsemarin today, spend the night, and collect the black gold coin tomorrow.
"It'll be trouble if we're spotted. Want to get in the bag?"
"I suppose... but it would be a waste to leave the horses here."
...Ah.
"Then, I shall enter the bag. And could you take out one of the bandits? We can just leave the horses to him!"
Furthermore, even if Chesta is seen, it will just mean 'a mysterious man no one has seen before was with them,' which will only serve to confuse their information!
Yes. And so, I am currently inside the bag.
Furthermore, I am surrounded by bandits.
"Hey, hey, little lady. What the hell is this? What have you done to us? Eh?"
"Get us out of here right now. Or else—"
"Be quiet. Shut your mouths."
I immediately twisted the arm of the bandit who approached me and threw him aside. It is not that difficult to twist the arm of a mere bandit who hasn't even had combat training.
I swiped a dagger from a bandit's belt along the way. When I showed them the blade gleaming in the light of the Sun Stone fragments, the bandits took one, then two steps back.
"Yes. Since we have the chance, I shall explain everything to you properly once more before we arrive. After that, you can decide whether or not to cooperate with me."
"...And if we say we won't cooperate?"
"I shall return you to the mountains. If you wish, I can even return you to the soil there."
When I said that kindly, the bandits fell completely silent. Yes, I do not dislike people who are quick to understand!
"Now, I shall tell you. Your job consists mainly of two things. One is to run wild in Elsemarin. The other is to charge into the soldiers' procession and seize the black gold coins."
...And so, I explained it to them thoroughly.
"Do you understand? From now on, you will stop being bandits and become thugs of the Elsemarin back alleys! If you behave yourselves, I shall give you a good life!"
By the way, I twisted two more bandits who wouldn't listen while I was explaining. Honestly, one should listen quietly when someone is speaking!
"What do you think?"
"What do we think... you mean we don't have a choice, right?"
"You do. In that case, I shall simply return you to the mountains. That is all."
"Submission or death... we've been caught by a terrifying one..."
How rude of them. I may have been a bit hasty, but it shouldn't be a bad deal! They have no right to complain!
"W-Well, fine. We already know the Boss's character. We'll follow. Yeah, no complaints."
"Boss! I want to eat meat!"
"I want a fresh woman! I wouldn't mind the Boss!"
"If you lay a hand on me, your jewels will rot and fall off."
...It seems the bandits I originally led are quite eager to follow. They know from experience that following me leads to a good life! It is only natural!
"What will the rest of you scoundrels do? Do as you please. ...However, I would be happy if you would cooperate. Of course, in that case, I shall welcome you as comrades. I wouldn't even mind giving each of you a mansion!"
Now then. The remaining bandits looked at each other with troubled faces... but in the end, it came to this!
"...We'll be in your care, Boss."
"Excellent!"
With this, the actors are assembled! It seems I won't have to go back to the mountains to bury any corpses, which is a relief! Ohohohohoho!
In the meantime, it seems Chesta successfully made it into Elsemarin. Once he tied the horses outside the town, the bandit who had been driving them also returned to the bag.
And when we returned to the hideout, Chesta took me out of the bag, so we reported together.
"How was it on your end? I heard you went to secure personnel."
"Yes. Naturally, I succeeded. There are about thirty people inside the bag."
When I reported to Doran, who had also returned, he looked at the bag and smirked.
"I secured twenty on my end. Personnel through the Guild. They're reasonably reliable."
"These are just a motley crew of bandits. But they're dim-witted, so once you give them a reward, they'll follow obediently."
Fifty people in total. Well, it's a decent number to move around.
"What about the setup?"
"We just need to have them follow the Guild's lead. After that, money can solve anything."
The bandits' lack of intellect will be supplemented by leaders and bait!
"Doran. I saw the soldiers earlier. They're already entering Elsemarin."
"I see. Then, communicating with the Guild will have to be left to Keeb."
When Doran said that to Keeb, who had also returned, Keeb made a most annoyed face.
"Ah, I'm the only one whose face isn't known, right? ...Couldn't Giovan do it? It's not like this is a big deal."
"You have better looks. He looks too suspicious."
I wouldn't say Giovan's features are bad, but even so, there's too much of a difference between a cute, beautiful boy and a scrawny man. Having an appearance that doesn't arouse suspicion is important! A beautiful boy with a girl's face is a factor worthy of trust in itself!
"Well, I'll do it. ...So, when will the counterfeit money be ready?"
"The word was that it would be ready by tomorrow. It should be tonight or thereabouts."
"So I pick it up during the night and leave it at the Guild?"
"Giovan will bring it back. You're the one who will take it to the Guild. Can you do it?"
"It's not a problem."
Keeb is on the smaller side for a man, so he's suited for moving through the night. He was an assassin originally, after all. He's perfect for this kind of role.
"Then we're just waiting for Giovan? Can I have a turn? Can I get a fix? I'm starting to feel it..."
"Stick to alcohol."
Chesta is a junkie as always... it's impressive that he has moments of sanity.
"I'm using the shower, alright?"
"Go ahead."
While Chesta uncorked a wine bottle, Keeb seemed to be heading for the shower. ...If only Keeb were a girl, I would have gone in with him! How frustrating!
Doran and I also joined in on the wine Chesta had opened, and as we watched Chesta pass out earlier than anyone else, it ended up being just Doran and me enjoying the drinks...
...I suppose it's a good time. Ever since I asked Chesta yesterday... no, even before that, I had been curious. It's just that I hadn't had the chance to ask until now.
In that case, this is the opportunity.
"Say, Doran. May I ask you one thing?"
"What is it?"
As always, he doesn't look like someone who's been drinking at all. I wish he'd get a bit more drunk; it would make this easier.
...Well, it's not something to hesitate over.
"When I first met you, why were you in that dungeon?"
When I asked, Doran stopped moving for a moment.
...But he immediately began to tilt his glass again as if nothing had happened.
"With your skills, wouldn't you have been able to leave without being caught? Or even after being caught, couldn't you have just punched through a wall or kicked the soldiers aside and left whenever you wanted?"
"Maybe. But it was uncertain. Dealing with dozens of soldiers alone is a bit much, even for me."
"Then you should have just avoided making such a blunder as to get caught, shouldn't you? There must have been a reason why you couldn't do that, right?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Well. If I had to say, it's curiosity. Isn't it natural to want to know when there's something you don't know?"
When I answered like that, Doran made a face that was... not anger, but just confusion, or perhaps as if he'd been caught off guard.
"If you say you don't want to talk about it for the sake of mere curiosity, then that's fine. I just thought I'd ask. You have no obligation to answer, do you?"
Of course, I don't intend to be that impolite. If he doesn't want to say, that's the end of it. Doran must know that without me having to say it.
...But it seems he decided to speak.
"I heard a comrade... a kinsman, had been captured. I let myself be caught on the condition of their release. That's all there was to it."
"...And that comrade?"
"Dead."
Doran said that and laughed cynically, starting to say something... but instead, he downed his drink in one go and emptied the glass.
"The claim that they were alive was a lie. Well, I suppose so. The Royal Family has no reason to keep a werewolf alive. ...I only found that out after I was put in the cell and fitted with a magic-sealing collar."
A magic-sealing collar... Ah, come to think of it, was he wearing some kind of shackle?
That means among the keys I gave him, there was one to remove it.
"They apparently kept me alive to make me spit out the location of my kin. But they decided I wouldn't talk. They planned to have a public execution on a suitable night of the full moon. ...They chose a time when my werewolf traits would be strongest, so I was kept alive in that cell without being killed."
"Ah, so that is how you came to meet me."
"That's how it happened."
Saying that with a small sigh, Doran uncorked another bottle of wine. Since it's open, it can't be helped. I shall have another glass as well.
"...Is your curiosity satisfied?"
Doran said that and laughed a little as he poured wine into my glass. It wasn't a cynical laugh, but a way of laughing that was a bit resigned, a bit amused.
"Yes. Very much so."
The newly poured wine was fragrant, yet bitter and dry.
...Tonight, this kind of wine tastes deeply delicious.
"I'm back. It's done... wait, what's with Chesta? Is he passed out again?"
"It's alcohol. Not drugs."
"Obviously. If he were on drugs, I'd punch you for failing to supervise him."
Now then. After a while, Giovan returned. By the way, I am currently drying the hair of Keeb, who just came out of the shower. It is so silky! So silky! This is truly silky! Silky! This is fun!
"So, Keeb. Take care of this."
"Got it."
Keeb took the small box Giovan handed him and checked the contents.
...Inside the small box was... another small box!
"Ah, I know this! It's a form of harassment!"
"Exactly. You think you've opened one lock, only to find another!"
When the box within the box was opened, the black gold coin finally appeared. Inside the box lined with silk, the black gold coin shone brilliantly. Hmm, it looks genuine no matter how you look at it. The counterfeiter seems to have good skills!
"Now, here's the key to the box. Don't lose it yet."
"I know, I know."
Keeb tucked the box and the key into his clothes, pulled on a hooded robe, and left the hideout.
...Now then.
From here on, it finally begins. The grand farce!