Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: I Have Been Imprisoned Again!
Gokigenyou. I am Violia Nico Fortesia. Today marks one month since I became an adventurer. In other words, it has been a month and a half since I broke out of prison.
And as for me, I am already the Guild's top earner!
The number of requests I have completed in this one month is over 50. In short, I am finishing more than one request a day. Naturally, this is an astonishing speed.
After all, to complete a request, one cannot just stay in town. I go out of town, and if it is far, I travel up to two days by horse. Including that travel time, I have 'completed over 50 requests in a month.' See? It is astonishing.
By the way, all the requests I completed were monster subjugations. I am more suited to attacking than defending. In short, I cannot be bothered with things like guarding nobles.
...If there were any sightings of dragons, I would have headed for subjugation immediately, but unfortunately, there are not many big catches like dragons. However, instead, I have slain quite a few decent-sized ones like Ogres, Giants, and Liches.
As long as I submit proof of killing the monsters to the Adventurer Guild, the Guild will pay out money. And materials can be sold at the black market for a much higher price. It is a good business!
...And I have also helped people.
If I found a party in a desperate situation after taking on a monster beyond their means, I would gallantly rush in and kill the monster instead. If there was a dispute in the Guild, I would mediate. If there was an injured adventurer who could not move, I would put them on my horse and bring them back. Furthermore, if there was an adventurer making stupid complaints to the Guild staff, I would punch them and throw them out of the Guild. Yes.
...I am no saint, but I am also not a fool who picks fights with everyone.
Besides, kindness is returned with kindness. Just as malice is returned with malice.
'Sow the seeds you can while you have the time.' It is a Fortesia family motto.
Even if you have no plans to harvest them, you should diligently sow seeds of kindness. After all, it is too late to grow them once you decide you need them.
...And so, the mysterious adventurer in a full-face helmet who comes in almost every day and completes multiple Rank 1 and 2 requests at once, I, Violia Nico Fortesia, now known as Ayle Kanone!
I have become quite a popular figure in the Guild!
And at the same time... there was one request form that disappeared from the Guild.
It was the subjugation request for 'Violia Nico Fortesia.'
...Whether it was a Guild staff member or an adventurer, someone must have realized my true identity. But they must have decided to bury it quietly in the darkness.
After all, it is definitely more profitable to keep me in the Guild! Ohohohoho!
"The head of an Orc King... I-I have indeed confirmed it. This is the reward for this time."
The Guild's Pin-Hane Girl has also become quite quiet. She has started to pay the full reward obediently. Ohohohoho.
"Yes, thank you. By the way, are there any new requests? Of course, Rank 2 or higher?"
"T-Then, these are the ones."
There are several new requests posted on the board. I take a few suitable ones from among them.
With a [Spatial Bag], it is fine to take multiple requests at once. I can bring back as many monster heads and materials as I want, so I cannot help but enjoy myself!
"Oh, Ayle Kanone-dono! You were here!"
While I was looking for requests, someone called out to me.
"Ah, Guild Master. I hope you are well."
"Yes, yes. You seem unchanged as well. I heard you slew a Lich in a single day this time?"
"The most recent one is an Orc King. I just submitted it."
"What! You completed that request that had been stuck for a month! Wonderful!"
I smile brightly and puff out my chest. I do not engage in useless humility. As long as I make them think I am 'useful,' I can get away with a bit of oversight. Rather, I will actively boast to the extent that it does not become offensive.
"Since you became a member of our Guild, our Guild's performance has skyrocketed! The security around Elsemarin has also improved! Truly, truly, thank you very much!"
"You are welcome. This is also the duty of those with power."
While saying such things, I quickly decided on the next requests. Tomorrow will be a luxurious triple serving of a Wyvern, a Roadrunner, and a [Dark Purple Slime]! And I shall have a dinner of Wyvern meat! Wyvern meat is much blander than proper dragon meat, but well, it is like a rich-tasting chicken. It is not bad. I am looking forward to it.
"Then, Guild Master, Gokigenyou. I shall return with the report of the request completion the day after tomorrow."
"Oh, how reliable! Please continue to do your best! If you keep being active like this, our Guild's performance might even surpass the Guild in the Capital! Wah-hah-hah!"
The Guild Master is all smiles, thinking of this Guild's performance, the resulting evaluation of himself, and the salary that comes with it. Well, I am glad he is happy. At this rate, it seems I can be quite firmly sheltered by this Guild. If I can keep earning stably like this, it will become much easier to operate.
I set out that same day, and by the next day, I had already hunted the Wyvern.
As usual, a single shot with a bow and arrow. Hmm, projectile weapons are wonderful.
Then, I slew the Roadrunner—a huge bird or lizard-like monster that runs on the ground—before the sun went down, and while camping in the middle of a field after sunset, I butchered the Wyvern and slew a [Dark Purple Slime] that came crawling toward the smell of blood.
And so, my dinner became a luxurious 'Roasted Wyvern and Roadrunner with [Dark Purple Slime] Jelly.'
...If I were to give my impressions of the taste, the [Dark Purple Slime] was unnecessary. Well, I ate it, though...
And so, having successfully completed three requests, I was to return to the Guild the next morning.
I have the skin, claws, fangs, and even bones from the Wyvern, so I could go to the back alley first, but well, there is no need to go to a dim back alley on such a refreshing morning.
Thinking so, I opened the Guild doors, carrying the heads of the Wyvern and Roadrunner, and the core of the [Dark Purple Slime] as proof of subjugation.
...There, I felt a slightly strange atmosphere. A tense, prickly atmosphere, different from the usual Guild.
When I immediately looked around...
"...Geh."
An unrefined sound escaped me. But it could not be helped.
After all, there were soldiers from the castle in the lobby.
My sixth sense is telling me this is bad. I immediately tried to turn on my heel and leave the Guild...
"I won't let you escape."
There were soldiers there too!
It was no use! I am surrounded! It seems the bastards had also been secretly lying in wait outside the Guild!
Surrounded by soldiers inside the Guild, I am in a desperate situation.
...I would like to find a breakthrough somehow... but... there are a few too many of them.
My ideal way of fighting is 'the target is a living creature. Only one. And I am the one to initiate.' In that situation, I can surely kill the opponent.
...However, when there are multiple opponents, it becomes a bit difficult. I would want to create a chaotic state like when I broke out of prison and escape through it.
And if the opponent is non-living... for example, a golem controlled by a mage, or an alchemical creature, that would be the worst. Honestly, depending on the opponent's strength, I absolutely do not want to fight them.
And so.
The current situation is not very good for me.
The opponents are living creatures, but there are many of them. And they are clearly surrounding me with me as the target. This is almost 'checkmate.'
...But why are there suddenly soldiers?
It has been nearly two months since I broke out of the Capital's dungeon. It is far too late for them to come looking for me here now, is it not?
I thought so, but my doubt was immediately resolved.
"Is that person the 'Ayle Kanone' from the report?"
"Yes. That's right-uu."
Coming out from the back of the Guild were a soldier and the Guild's Pin-Hane Girl!
"Take off the helmet."
The soldier came before me and said so high-handedly. Honestly, I would like to kick him in the groin right here, but I am not confident I wouldn't be killed afterward if I did.
"Very well."
Since it cannot be helped, I shall take off the helmet. Consequently, it will be revealed that I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
"As I thought, it was the Fortesia girl!"
The soldier is grinning happily. Well, he must be expecting quite an evaluation if he captures me. I understand.
"You've certainly led us on a chase for a long time!"
And the soldier had the nerve to punch me.
I understand he is happy, but being punched here is unacceptable.
I let him hit me once, but I shall surely dodge the second! By the third, other soldiers finally came to restrain him. Honestly, this soldier is...!
"Eh? Was this person really that bad?"
"Yes. She is a major criminal who attempted to assassinate the Prince. Furthermore, she insulted the King, the Prince, and other nobles. Prison break and aiding prison breaks. Identity fraud. She has all those other crimes as well."
I won't tell him there are a few crimes he's missed. Yes.
"Is that so-uu. I just thought this person was cheating to complete requests and reported the violation-uu..."
"It is well known that the members of House Fortesia have a barbaric nature that loves fighting. When I heard there was someone behaving vulgarly and without class, I came to investigate just in case, and it was a bullseye."
The soldier certainly says whatever he wants. ...I would forgive an insult to me alone with just a punch, but I will not forgive an insult to House Fortesia.
"Thank you for the report. I appreciate your cooperation."
The Pin-Hane Girl is also glancing at me and smirking. She probably thinks 'it became a bigger deal than expected, but it serves her right!'
Does she understand!? If she hands me over to the soldiers! She might get a reward! But her workplace will undoubtedly be turned upside down!
Keeping me in the Guild would bring in massive profits! Does she not understand how many Rank 1 and 2 requests I finished in an instant!?
...Well! Because she doesn't understand! That is why she is handing me over to the soldiers!
To throw away a path to earn easily and stably for a long time! To jump at the money before her eyes! As expected of someone who skims, her way of doing things is different! Unforgivable!
"Then we shall take her. Is that clear?"
The soldier calls out to the whole Guild, but no one defends me.
The adventurers I helped, the Guild staff I spoke with amicably, and the Guild Master who had high expectations of me. They all just look away and hang their heads.
...Well, I do not mind. I do not hold a grudge. There is no way there would be a fool who would defend me here just because I helped them a little.
Besides, if I had truly intended to have them defend me, I would have given them more bribes. Since I did not, it is the result of my own choices that I am not defended here.
...For the Guild, losing me will be a great loss, but they would suffer an even greater loss if they defended a criminal.
Even if the Guild wanted to keep me forever, since the Pin-Hane Girl went and did this on her own, they have no choice but to see me off with tears in their eyes.
"Kyahaha! Serves you right-uu!"
The Pin-Hane Girl brought a great loss to the Guild for her own small satisfaction, so she will likely be on pins and needles from now on, but she doesn't seem to realize it yet. She probably thinks she 'did the right thing.'
But the world is not that sweet. Even people who preach justice are unexpectedly tolerant of evil that brings them profit.
She should realize her sin as she is exposed to the cold stares of her workplace. Or rather, I shall personally make her realize her sin one day. Be prepared!
"Violia Nico Fortesia! You barbaric pig! You should be grateful. Your sins will be atoned for with your blood and your head! First, like the lowly pig you are, get into the cell!"
It is incredibly irritating how the soldier is laughing so happily while roughly shoving me. It really is irritating. It's very irritating.
"Hah. I decline that. ...Is what I would like to say."
...Well, it's not that I don't have thoughts, but fighting here is too dangerous. In that case, I have only one choice.
"I am in a good mood today! I do not mind going into a cell quietly!"
I am in a terrible mood, though!
It seems I have no choice but to be captured quietly!
It's very irritating! It's very irritating! Mukii!