kscans

Chapter 272 - Another Guard Duty

"Well, there’s no point in thinking about what we don’t know. Let’s just be glad we were able to seal it away. What are you going to do with the books?"

"I think we should dispose of them. What do you think, Arc? You decide."

Lydia-chan deferred to her husband, the next king, Arc.

"I think we should dispose of them too. We don’t need books like that, and it would be a problem if they leaked. Let’s burn them."

"Then so be it… I will burn them somewhere appropriate."

"Please do."

Arc and Lydia-chan nodded in agreement.

"It’s okay for me to keep this, right?"

I took out the stone and showed it to them.

"That belongs to you, Master. It is not for us to say anything about it."

"What’s that? A rock? Did you pick it up in the cave?" Arc asked, looking exasperated.

"There was a desk in that room. This stone was hidden inside it. This is the Crystal of Life."

"The Crystal of Life!? That one!? Amazing! I’ve never seen it before… Wait, it’s not a crystal."

Well, that’s true.

"Claire found this, and it was a pain to buy her out."

"I bet. That old lady is a money-grubber, but in a different way from Yoshino."

She really is.

"It was tough. Eleanor-san drew her sword and was about to kill Claire-san, and Claire-san for her part was absolutely refusing to back down, so it was a really tense situation… Hah."

Nanapon sighed in an exasperated way.

"You people have some real character flaws… So you were able to buy her out?"

"I had no choice but to trade a Cure Potion for it. She was happy to make the exchange, so she’s probably preparing to put it up for that underground auction right now."

"Underground auction… That sounds shady."

I think so too.

"She’s black in her own way. Well, she’ll manage."

"I hope so… By the way, what are you going to do with that? You can make the Water of Life with it, right? Are you going to make it and sell it?"

What should I do?

"I’ll think about it. I’ve retired as an adventurer, so it’s not like I have a pressing need for it."

And I can’t use it in this world.

"Well, you just laze around at home all day anyway."

"That’s right. Anyway, with this, the job is over. It wasn’t much of a payout, but it was a good way to kill time."

The Sand Dragon hunt was especially good. I think my two disciples’ respect for me went up.

"Good work. Hey, are you free now?"

"If you ask me if I’m free or not, I can’t say that I’m not free."

"You’re saying it in a roundabout way, but you’re free, right?"

"Yes."

I have nothing to do.

"Then, could you help me with something?"

"What? A job? I’m telling you now, I can’t do any office work."

"I know. I wouldn’t ask you to do something like that. I want to ask you to be a bodyguard."

Well, that’s the kind of thing he’d ask me for.

"What? Are you doing some dangerous work? You’re the next king, so leave that to your subordinates. Have you forgotten that someone tried to kill you just the other day?"

"I know. I’m going to the house of the person who tried to have me killed to question them."

"You found the culprit? The one Yoshino-san was talking about?"

"That’s right. We have evidence, too."

Huh…

"You’re going to question them yourself? Isn’t that dangerous?"

"Of course, I’m bringing guards with me. And by going myself, I’m showing my courage."

Courage, huh.

"Even though you’re taking me with you?"

"Actual courage doesn’t matter. I just want to project that image."

Hmm…

"I don’t mind going with you, but can I cut them down? They might resist."

"You can. They’re getting the death penalty anyway, and we have the evidence."

Well, that makes it easy.

"Alright. When are we going?"

"Tomorrow."

That’s soon. It’s fine with me, though.

"Then I’ll go with you tomorrow. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my disciple."

"Hey, am I really your disciple? Is there no getting out of it?"

"No. Respect me."

"I don’t think I know anyone less worthy of respect than you…"

That’s the spirit. Polish that provocation. Aim for the top. Become Provocation King Arc.

"Is it okay if I go alone? What about Nanaka-san and Yoshino-san?"

"We’re just going to capture them, so you alone are fine."

"Got it. Tomorrow, then. Kaede-chan won’t be here tomorrow anyway, so it’s perfect."

With Kaede-chan gone, my plan for tomorrow was just to watch the shorties play games.

"Then I’m counting on you. We’re leaving in the morning."

"Yes, yes. Waking up early three days in a row… It has to be me, right?"

"Well, you’re already recognized, so we might as well use that. I think it’s better than having Hajime go. They might just give up without a fight when they see you."

I wonder about that. They’re facing the death penalty either way, so they might resist no matter what.

"Alright. I’ll go. If it gets dangerous, you run. I’ll kill them all in the meantime."

"This witch is scary…"

"After seeing the massacre of the Sand Dragons earlier, that doesn’t sound like a joke."

"How reassuring."

It’s not a joke.

"…Oh well. Mia, it’s fine to wash my black robe, but make sure it’s ready to wear by tomorrow."

"As you wish. Please take care of Arc-sama."

Mia bowed respectfully. Come to think of it, Mia was originally supposed to be his guard as well as his handmaiden. I hear she’s pretty strong, but well, Mia is our maid and has work to do, so it’s better if I do it.

"Alright, to get us fired up, let’s have yakiniku tonight."

"Yay!"

"Hooray!"

Arc and Nanapon cheered.

"Yakiniku and beer in the summer, right?"

Right.

"Mia, I’d like some harami, so please see to it…"

"As you wish. I will go buy some."

The gourmet Lydia-chan gave her order, and Mia nodded. Man, summer is great.