Chapter 46

The guild dormitory still had a couple of vacant rooms, but it wasn't possible to immediately arrange bedding and other necessities, so I suggested that Zekt and Mizuha stay over.

“I will officially leave the Blue Archer Inn tomorrow. I have some belongings in the room I’m renting, so I want to sort them out. There’s not much important stuff to carry out, though.”

“In that case, I’ll help you. I also have a few things in that room.”

“You don’t have much, so I’ll pack everything together. I’ll stay here tonight… so, please take care of me.”

Zekt, leaving Mizuha in our care, was about to leave.

“Zekt, did you take down the people from the Blue Archer Inn? Did you leave them at the inn where the beastmen were imprisoned?”

“Yes. I knocked them out from behind, so they probably don’t know we defeated them. However, if we report the Blue Archer Inn, they will end up on the streets….”

“They were complicit in wrongdoing, so that’s unavoidable. However, the Blue Archer Inn, which gave them work, is also responsible. Depending on the situation, they might be able to find jobs with other guilds. There are ten guilds in the capital besides the Blue Archer Inn and our guild.”

The Galamdoor Trading Company, which claimed to be an animal merchant, had been imprisoning beastmen and engaging in human trafficking. This is a serious crime in the capital, and the company could have its business license revoked or be dissolved. The guild master of the Blue Archer Inn might also be dismissed.

The judgment will be made by the royal court’s judicial officers, who are authorized to use force if necessary to enforce the law. Some guilds might have the power to resist by force, but the judicial officers can also request assistance from the royal knights, so it can be said that there is no organization in the country that can openly defy the judicial officers.

While we, like the White Goat Inn, could defy the law if we had powerful adventurers, it’s not desirable to unnecessarily disrupt the country, and I don’t have any particular complaints about the current laws.

“The guild master of the Blue Archer Inn should be seen as having known about and accepted what Galamdoor was doing. Considering this, it will likely result in a temporary suspension of the guild’s activities or the dismissal of the guild master.”

“Master, wasn’t the previous guild master of this guild house dismissed due to poor performance? If so, it’s not that unusual for a guild master to be replaced.”

“However, in the five years since I took office, no one has been forced to resign, even though some have retired voluntarily. It will become a topic of conversation throughout the capital… but I think it will be a passing issue.”

With that, there is one thing that worries me.

The Blue Archer Inn is a subordinate guild of the White Goat Inn. If the White Goat Inn’s interference led to the exposure of the Blue Archer Inn’s wrongdoing and its suspension, we need to carefully consider how they will view us.

When I first formed my guild, all other guilds were under the White Goat Inn. I gradually broke away from them, and now three guilds have left their control.

The Purple Scorpion Inn, where the adventurers hired by Vinsbruck’s subordinates belong, is also under the White Goat Inn. Considering this, it’s necessary to investigate what guidelines the guild master of the White Goat Inn is following—there’s a possibility they were aware of the Blue Archer Inn’s activities.

If the White Goat Inn, which oversees eight guilds, is responsible for the capital’s darkness, such a thought occasionally crosses my mind, but I don’t want to jump to conspiracy theories.

“Guild Master, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, no. Leave the reporting of the Blue Archer Inn and the Galamdoor Trading Company to me. The evidence is already gathered by the intelligence department; all that’s left is to submit it to the judicial officers.”

However, I don’t think it will end with just exposing the crimes of the two organizations.

The guild master of the White Goat Inn or someone affiliated with them—there’s a shadow of someone pulling the strings behind the scenes in the beastmen trafficking case.

To investigate the inner workings of a guild with significant influence in the capital, I need to proceed cautiously. I should gather all the members of the intelligence department and have a discussion.

◆◇◆

It’s not that I don’t know anyone in the White Goat Inn’s subordinate guilds. I’ve met the guild master of the Red Twin Inn to negotiate when our work overlapped.

I haven’t seen her recently, but she might be the right person to ask about the White Goat Inn. Additionally, I know the male guild master of the independent Black Lion Inn, who is in opposition to the White Goat Inn, and might be able to get his cooperation.

However, if the White Goat Inn harbors more darkness than I imagine, it could lead to chaos throughout the capital. I spent about an hour in the second-floor office of the guild house, considering whether it’s worth investigating with such a resolve.

“Master, what’s wrong? You look troubled.”

“The Blue Archer Inn is under the White Goat Inn. In other words, we might end up in conflict.”

“…I see. If that happens, it could put our guild members and those close to us in danger. I hope they’re not that malicious, but if there’s someone pulling the strings in the beastmen trafficking case, that person would be a deadly poison to the capital. I understand why you’re cautious, Master.”

It’s a relief to have someone understand to this extent.

I’m not afraid of the White Goat Inn. However, I don’t want to challenge them just to assert my power and control the capital as I please.

“…But if I don’t take the initiative, there’s a possibility that victims like Mizuha and the imprisoned beastmen will appear. If that ‘deadly poison’ actually exists…”

“Then, investigate. Use the intelligence department as you’ve done before. In the capital, there’s a limit to how much can be hidden. If Dick Silver of the Silver Water Bottle Inn gets serious, he can expose everything.”

Originally, I created the intelligence network to find unique quests for our guild.

Even if I learn about the inner workings of other guilds, it’s usually as a side effect of other information, and I’ve never ordered a full investigation of a guild.

Each of the twelve guilds has its own purpose and role. I’ve always considered it taboo to interfere with other guilds, just as I don’t want external interference in my guild.

However, this time, I ended up interfering with another guild’s activities, and I now think it’s necessary to understand the reality of all the guilds, not just the Blue Archer Inn.

Manipulating from the shadows and steering things in a favorable direction for me—while I don’t want to control everything, I’m starting to think it’s necessary.

To change the situation where beastmen are persecuted, responding to individual cases won’t be enough. I’ve realized this.

“…As your maid, this might be an overstatement, but I hope you’ll forgive me. As a former Demon King, I’ll speak frankly. Master, you should be the leader of all the guilds in this capital.”

“…W-Why would that be? Being the twelfth guild master is just right for me. I’m not arrogant enough to meddle with other guilds.”

“Being capable and taking a leadership role isn’t arrogance. People call those who have the qualities to lead and are asked to do so, kings… Master, you should be the king of all the guilds. It doesn’t matter if you’re officially the twelfth, but you should hold the real power. I feel that’s necessary to achieve your ideals.”

As a former Demon King, it was a bold suggestion.

—But it’s not something I haven’t considered, which is frustrating.

I want to stay behind the scenes and gain the greatest benefit.

I want to live a peaceful and carefree life, taking interesting jobs and drinking as I please.

My guild is almost where I initially envisioned it to be.

So, I didn’t think I needed influence over other guilds. But the situation has changed.

I’ve found a purpose, a noble goal, to eliminate the animosity between beastmen and humans, which is uncharacteristic of me.

“…I don’t want to dominate other guilds. Having influence is enough.”

“Hmm… Even so, it’s a significant step forward. I always believed you could control this capital. You’ve already created a system to collect more information than anyone else. If you want, you can have influence even from a distance. With the number of teleportation arrays, you can expand the guild’s bases.”

Are you telling me to take over the country? To be the de facto ruler—officially ruled by the king, but with me as the shadow king.

I laughed at the thought. Isn’t that what people call a ‘Demon King’?

“Mm, you look amused. What’s wrong? Do you think what I said is too exaggerated?”

“No, not really. I do think you were a Demon King for a reason. Of course, in a good way.”

“…Despite my grand words, I’m not fit to be a Demon King now. Living in a human man’s house, expecting something and serving every day… I’m no different from a runaway girl with delusions.”

She says this self-deprecatingly, but she must affirm herself to smile like that.

“…For now, I’ll continue as usual, but I’ll take action if necessary. I hope the White Goat Inn isn’t corrupt.”

“If it is, that will be the justification for you to control all the guilds in the capital from the shadows. I think that’s better.”

Velleine’s evaluation of me is unwavering. I wonder if she, who has such high abilities, is wasting her life as my subordinate.

Her amethyst-like eyes, which seem to have a deeper purple hue, suddenly look at me.

She said she enjoys talking to me. To deepen understanding, more conversations are needed.

I think she’s right. Why does she try so hard to dispel my doubts with her words?

Velleine says she expects something. If I don’t give it to her, will she eventually return to the Demon Kingdom?

“…Don’t stare at me like that. I… I’m fine with taking the initiative, but I’m not good with being pursued.”

“Is that why we lost to the five of us that time?”

I know that’s not what she meant, but the joke slipped out. Velleine chuckles, but her eyes remain fixed on me.

I can’t look away. If either of us moves, it will change everything we’ve built.

I don’t doubt that it will be for the better, perhaps because I’m just a man.

Just as I think this, the door behind me opens. I might be at the mercy of fate, to be able to predict such timing.

“Mm… Lord Miralca? What’s wrong? Weren’t you resting in the living room?”

Miralca, Yuma, and Aileen are staying at my place. They were supposed to be sleeping on the sofas in the living room, but Miralca looks groggy.

“…I need to use the bathroom. Where is it? Ah, my head hurts… Should I destroy it…?”

“Wait, Miralca. I’ll heal your headache with magic. Sorry, I forgot to use a hangover cure.”

“I was feeling good, but… Dick, why didn’t you do anything weird while I was sleeping?”

“Wh-What are you talking about? You’re still half-asleep. I’ll let that slide.”

“Master, I’ll take Lord Miralca downstairs. It’s better for women to go together.”

Velleine tidied herself up and helped Miralca down to the first floor, where the only bathroom is.

I noticed a faint trace of lipstick on the teacup she left behind.

I recalled the intense atmosphere from earlier and wondered what would have happened if Miralca hadn’t come.

◆◇◆

I was planning to take a bath, but it ended up being this late.

I entered the bathroom and poured lukewarm water over myself. Mizuha had heated the water, but I should have reheated it for the night.

“…Hm?”

I hadn’t paid much attention, but bubbles were floating up from the surface of the water.

—Someone is hiding in the water. Probably not an assassin, but one of the guests. The only one small enough to hide in the tub is Yuma, I thought.

“…Splash! It was me!”

The person who stood up in the bath, as if waiting for the right moment, made me grateful that Miralca and Velleine had gone downstairs.