kscans

Chapter 69 - Investigating the Incident

The next morning.
After eating bread and pumpkin soup at the inn, we left. Our goal here was to obtain information on the Empire. With that in mind, we headed to the Guild.
It was about the size of a gymnasium. Inside was a lobby, a reception desk, tables and chairs, and a request board. The layout and interior were the same in every country. We would talk to the adventurers here and casually ask for information about the Empire.
First, to act like adventurers looking for work, we headed to the request board. It was important to act in a way that wouldn't arouse suspicion. I went to the board and looked at its contents. There were various requests: gathering medicinal herbs, monster subjugation, ruin investigation, and so on. Just then, a powerfully built man emerged from the back of the Guild.
An adventurer who saw him muttered, "The Guild Master's out here. Did something happen?"
The Guild Master looked to be in his late forties, but his well-honed physique was that of a bodybuilder, making him seem younger than his age.
The Guild Master announced, "Alright, everyone, listen up! ...I'm sure you all know about the Undead that appeared in the city yesterday. ...Well, we've received a direct request from His Majesty the King regarding that matter. The job is to investigate the surrounding area. I want you to check if there are any more Undead. If you find any, subjugate them immediately. ...The duration is seven days. ...Also, whether you find Undead or not, the reward will not change. ...Those who wish to participate should gather at the gate at one in the afternoon. We'll be investigating some distant areas, so feel free to use horses if you want. ...Oh, and the reward is three gold coins. Your rank doesn't matter. That is all."
With that, he returned to the back.
The adventurers who heard this let out motivated cheers. ...Three gold coins just for an investigation was an exceptional price. Those who were participating left the Guild to prepare.
After a moment's thought, I said, "...Should we participate too? ...It would be suspicious not to, given the circumstances."
Tina nodded in agreement.
There were no adventurers left in the Guild. With no way to gather information, there was no point in staying. We went outside.
Just then, Tina asked, "...Well, what should we do now? ...Given the extraordinary reward, there's no doubt something unpleasant is afoot. ...For now, shall we look around somewhere?"
I agreed with her proposal.
We decided to walk around the city to procure some tools. ...After a while, we found a tool shop. It sold all sorts of things: potions, antidotes, tents, and other items necessary for travel.
However, there was nothing I wanted to buy, so we headed to the next shop.
The place we went to was an herb shop that sold a variety of ingredients: pumpkins, mushrooms, carrots, lettuce, flour, salt. Among the wide assortment of goods, I found something. Dried kelp.
I asked the shopkeeper about it. "Hm? ...Oh, that. It's an item that's been sold in the Kingdom's port town recently. You don't eat it by itself, but the broth you get from soaking it in hot water is exquisite. It's been selling quite well."
That's what he explained.
This was unexpected for me. ...To think that something I made just because I liked it was selling so well. I looked at the dried kelp, then around the inside of the shop. ...And a certain dish came to mind.
I bought up all the necessary ingredients.

*

On the princess's side.
They headed to the port with tickets to the Kingdom.
They thought they could board the anchored ship, but a crewman told them, "I'm sorry, but we can't set sail for a while."
One of the adventurer-style knights guarding them asked, "What do you mean? Did something happen?"
The crewman replied, "...Actually, a messenger bird arrived last night. The port town in the Kingdom was attacked. A monster appeared yesterday evening, and the town is said to be half-destroyed. ...We can't set sail until safety is confirmed."
That's what he explained.
Hearing this, Alphonse exclaimed, "What?! The port town was attacked? Then we must head there at once! ...Can't you give us permission to set sail?!"
To this, the crewman replied, "I can't. This is an Imperial Command from the royal family. No one is allowed to set sail, no matter who they are."
Alphonse was about to say something but stopped himself. The reason was that he had come to the Republic incognito. If he revealed he was royalty now, they would understand the situation, but in exchange, he would have to explain why he was in this country. If it were official business, fine, but coming to bring his sister back was a shameful reason for a royal. He had no choice but to remain silent. Alphonse and his group moved away from the area.
One of the guards asked, "...What shall we do? ...Perhaps you should just tell them you are royalty."
Alphonse replied, "No. ...The reason we're here is too embarrassing. ...Is there any other way..."
The prince and his retinue were deep in thought.
Olivia, too, was pondering. The Undead in the Republic. ...The destruction of the port town in the Kingdom. The timing was too perfect. ...Something organized was happening, she thought.
A female knight approached their party.
"...Excuse me. I am Bradamante, captain of the Republic's knights. ...You seem to be in some trouble?"
One of the guards replied to her question, "Ah, no. ...We want to go to the Kingdom, but it seems the port town has been attacked. ...My family is there, and I'm worried. ...I want to return immediately, but I'm troubled because the ship won't depart."
To this, Bradamante said, "...I see. ...In that case, the Republic is currently hiring adventurers to search for the Undead from last night. ...If you would cooperate, I could speak with Prince Lustolfo and arrange for a ship to depart... what do you say?"
At this proposal, Alphonse exclaimed, "Really?! Then we'll cooperate at once!"
He agreed with a very flustered expression.
At that moment, Olivia felt a sense of suspicion. Why would she ask for cooperation from complete strangers like us? ...If they've put in a request at the Guild, they could just leave it to those people. ...But she didn't say it out loud. Because they would arrange a ship for her. Olivia couldn't abandon her homeland's town now that it had been damaged.
As they left the port to prepare for the search, Olivia said, "Brother. I have a proposal. ...For this search, I would like to go with just Sakura, Glad, and myself. These three."
Alphonse responded, "No! ...It's a search for Undead, it's too dangerous. ...We'll leave this to the knights and wait at the inn."
To this, Olivia said, "Brother, don't you find this request... strange?"
Her words made Alphonse's face turn serious. "...What do you mean?"
Olivia continued, "First, the captain of this country's knights went out of her way to approach us. Since they've already put in a request at the Guild, there was no need to talk to us. And yet, she asked for our cooperation. ...Don't you think there's something else going on?"
Alphonse thought for a moment. "...That's true. ...But that's no reason for you to go, is it? You should stay with me in a safe place."
He said the most reasonable thing.
However, Olivia countered, "...Even if that 'something else' is a plot to harm us, the royal family?"
At this bombshell, Alphonse whispered, "Olivia, don't say such reckless things."
But Olivia continued fearlessly, "No, Brother. Let me say it. For you and I, both royalty, to be together here is convenient for the enemy. It makes us easy to dispose of. ...In that case, if the targets are in separate locations, even if one dies, the other can survive."
She said it with determination in her eyes. Alphonse saw no hesitation in his sister's gaze. A silence fell between them.
Alphonse was the first to speak. "...Fine. But there's no need for you to go. I can go. ...I have some knowledge of martial arts. I'm better suited for the search."
Olivia replied, "...I know you are strong, Brother. If anyone is going on the search, it should be you. ...But the enemy must think so too. The assassins they send on the search will likely be skilled. And the assassins sent for me, remaining in the city, will likely not be as strong. ...In that case, we should do the opposite. If you remain in the city, you won't lose to the weaker assassins sent after you. The probability of survival will be higher."
"What?! Wait a minute. That would put you in more danger, wouldn't it?! I can't possibly do that!" Alphonse shouted.
His anger was justified. There was no way he would do something that amounted to abandoning the sister he had come to retrieve.
Facing the angry Alphonse, a calm Olivia said, "Brother. ...The important thing is to protect the royal bloodline. Have you forgotten?"
At these words, Alphonse was at a loss for words. That was because, for the royal family, the most important thing was not to let the bloodline die out. It was what he, more than anyone, had to do. And yet, his sister had a stronger sense of royal duty than he did.
Feeling a sense of shame, Alphonse said, "...Fine. I will prepare for any eventuality here. ...Glad, Sakura. I'm counting on you to look after my sister."
At his command, the two silently saluted.
The three of them headed for the gate. Alphonse and his knight guards decided to walk around the city and think about what to do next. Meanwhile, the princess's party walked in silence toward the meeting place.
As they walked, Sakura said, "...Lady Olivia. Please don't stray too far. ...We don't know when an assassin might appear."
Glad was also on high alert at these words.
Olivia replied, "...There's no need to worry. Most of what I told my brother was a lie."
She said it nonchalantly. The two of them were stunned.
Glad was the first to recover. "...What do you mean?! A lie?! I don't understand what's what!"
He was so flustered his question was incoherent. Sakura felt the same way.
Olivia calmly explained, "It's true that this request for cooperation is strange. ...The timing of her approaching us when we were in trouble was too good, so I think there's something to it. ...Also, if they really intended to send assassins, there would be no need for the knight captain to make contact. They could have just acted silently. ...The fact that she spoke to us means we can assume they have no intention of harming us."
At this explanation, Sakura asked, "...But, Your Highness. Then why did you lie to Prince Alphonse?"
Olivia replied, "...It's obvious. Because there's a chance Shinsuke and Tina will also participate in this matter. ...This is a perfect opportunity to see their exploits with my own eyes. ...There's no reason to miss it."
She answered with a radiant smile.
At these words, a gloomy air settled over Glad and Sakura. So she told that lie, which might as well have been true, just for that? ...They wanted to say it out loud, but their opponent was royalty—a being to whom they must never say anything rash. Especially if she was the master they served. The two renewed their resolve to go along with the princess's selfish whim. However, Sakura felt a sense of relief inside. ...At least Lady Olivia would not be in any danger. But Sakura had forgotten one thing.
The place they were heading to was a dangerous one.
Bradamante, who had watched the three of them, was convinced that she had accomplished the request from Prince Lustolfo from the previous night.
Last night, the prince had said, "...Tomorrow, there will be some royalty from the Kingdom stranded at the port. Could you guide them to participate in this Undead search? ...Of course, I'll make sure to fulfill the conditions you mentioned at that time, no matter what."
To this request, Bradamante had replied, "...I don't mind, but why would you do such a thing?"
The prince had answered, "...The more fighting power, the better."
He said nothing more.