Chapter 63

Feeling flustered, I had completely forgotten about it.

(The right to receive help from the Five Great Merchants...)

There couldn't be a better time to use it.

"What do you mean by 'it might work,' Allen!? Explain in detail!"

"Yes! Actually—"

Then I told the story of the incident at the Great Commercial Festival three months ago.

How, as a magic swordsman, I had accepted a mission to escort from Orest to Drestia.

At the festival, the Five Great Merchants were holding a meeting at the Great Commercial Hall.

The Black Organization, taking advantage of this opportunity, bombed the Great Commercial Hall and attacked the Five Great Merchants.

By chance, we were there and repelled the Black Organization, and as a token of gratitude, Rize gave us the right to receive help "at any time, once."

"I see... So that's what it is..."

Reia-sensei, who had been listening quietly, muttered softly.

"Yes, I think Rize will definitely help us!"

But then, the teacher fell silent with a troubled look on her face.

"I don't know what Allen saw... But Rize is a heartless, corrupt person..."

"Is that so?"

The last time I met her in Drestia, she didn't seem like that at all...

"She built the 'Fox Finance' in just one generation. She always wears a smile and is easy to get along with, so at first glance, she seems like a good person."

As the teacher said, Rize usually had a smile on her face.

"However, behind that smile, she has used methods that skirt the law—sometimes completely illegal—to crush competitors and opposition forces one after another. By monopolizing the financial market, Rize has now connected with various 'shadows.' This is probably to protect herself from retaliation and government regulations. Now, no one knows which organizations are connected to Fox Finance—it has become a completely untouchable darkness. Honestly, I can't trust her at all."

After concluding her story, Reia-sensei added one more thing.

"But, I've never heard of her breaking a promise, not even once."

"If that's the case...!"

"Yeah, we don't have time or options left... Allen, can I use that valuable right?"

"Yes, of course!"

And so, a glimmer of hope finally appeared.

"Wait a moment!"

Rose, with a bandage on her forehead, entered the principal's office.

"Rose!? You're safe!"

"Oh, you're conscious!"

As we rushed to her,

"Thank you, I'm fine. I want to go with you."

Rose looked straight at us and said clearly.

"Rose... I'm glad, but your body..."

Her limbs were wrapped in bloodstained bandages.

"My body is fine. In battle, the power of <Crimson Cold Cherry> will allow me to move as much as I need!"

"But even so..."

That power has a duration, and Rose herself hasn't fully mastered it yet. It was obvious to anyone that she should rest her body here.

However,

"Alright, it's fine."

Reia-sensei readily agreed to Rose's request.

"Sensei!?"

"Given the current situation where Number 18, who was assigned to border security, is unavailable, more manpower is better. Besides, Rose has a power-enhancing soul armor, so minor injuries shouldn't be a problem."

Since the teacher, who knows more about soul armors than I do, said this, I had no choice but to agree.

"...Rose, please don't overdo it, okay?"

"Thank you, Allen."

With that, we came to an agreement.

"Then, we will depart for Drestia now! I'll have the fast horses prepared, so wait for me in the schoolyard!"

The teacher quickly left the principal's office.

"Yes, sir!"

■

After that, we were pulled by the principal's special fast horses to Drestia.

It's not that far from the city of Orest to the merchant city of Drestia.

After a while, as we were being jolted in the carriage, we realized we had already arrived at our destination.

"...It's been three months since I was last in Drestia."

Stepping onto 'God Street' in the center of Drestia, I looked around.

Stalls lined both sides of the street, and even though it was almost ten o'clock at night, the pedestrian traffic was as lively as during the day.

"Well, Rize's mansion is this way."

Following the teacher, who was walking quickly, we turned right and left through the streets of Drestia, and a huge mansion came into view.

"Still, it's such a showy and unpleasant house..."

The mansion, reminiscent of a white palace, was surprisingly large.

Six stories, maybe even seven...

A large pool and a beautiful fountain were in the spacious garden, and a stone-built, beautifully landscaped garden could be seen from a distance.

The impressive mansion, which combined various cultures, was surrounded by elaborately designed iron fences.

(That's... amazing...)

As I was captivated by the overwhelming residence, a flashlight beam shone on us.

"Who are you! Why are you peering at Lady Rize's mansion at this hour!? Depending on the circumstances...!"

The private guards, who seemed to be Rize's, said,

"Y-You're the 'Black Fist,' aren't you!?"

"What! You've come again, haven't you!?"

"...What do you want?"

They quickly surrounded us.

It seems the teacher has been heavily targeted in the past.

"Wait, wait, guys! It's not like that today. We just came to talk!"

"Hmph, too bad! Lady Rize is already asleep!"

"If you have business, come back tomorrow!"

Then,

"...No, wait. Boy, are you 'Allen Roadel'?"

One of the guards fixed a sharp gaze on me.

"Y-Yes... That's me."

"Hmm, I thought so... For some reason, I was told to let you through if you came. Go on in, Lady Rize should be relaxing in the parlor on the second floor."

Saying this, he opened the gate a little.

"Wait, wait, guys! Didn't you just say Rize was sleeping!?"

"Idiot, it's obviously a lie!"

"Black Fist, we can't let a dangerous person like you through!"

"...Why don't you wait here quietly?"

It seemed the guards here completely viewed the teacher as an enemy.

"...Teacher, Rose. I'll be right back."

"Be careful, Allen..."

"Be careful, Allen... You're dealing with the Blood Fox. If anything happens, shout immediately, okay?"

"A, ahaha... Rize wouldn't do anything strange."

With that, I parted ways with Rose and Reia-sensei and entered the mansion alone.

I slowly opened the luxurious door and walked on the crimson carpet, and a white staircase appeared before me.

"I remember, it's the parlor on the second floor..."

Recalling the guard's words, I slowly climbed the stairs, and there was Rize, sipping tea from a silver teacup.

She was wearing a beautiful kimono with a red and white theme, her long red and white hair tied on the side, and a hairpin shaped like a flame stood out. Her skin was healthy, lustrous, and firm, and her eyes were sharp and fox-like.

"Rize, I'm sorry to bother you so late at night."

"Oh, it's Allen. What brings you here so late?"

She smiled warmly and asked in a gentle manner.

"I'm sorry, but I'll get straight to the point. My dear friend, Reia Vestaria, has been kidnapped by the Black Organization. They are hiding in a 'research facility' somewhere in this country. Rize, do you have any idea where their hideout might be?"

"Of course, I know."

She said this without any pretense or hesitation.

"R-Really!?"

"I hate lying, you know."

Saying this, Rize took a sip of her tea.

"About that... Can you tell me the location of their research facility using the right you gave me, 'to lend me your power once, at any time'...!?"

"Sure, of course."

Rize readily agreed and then,

"But, are you sure? Is this really the best use for it?"

She tilted her head and asked.

"To be honest... Even if it's just once, it's a rare opportunity to ask Rize Dohraheim for a favor. Why not use it for something more personal?"

She stood up with grace and slowly circled around me.

"Really, you can ask for anything. Gold, silver, treasures, famous swords, power—anything. It's such a powerful right, and you're using it just to find the location of a dirty research facility. Doesn't that seem a bit foolish?"

Still... Rize is a kind person.

She's considering my situation and offering various possibilities.

It's very kind of her, but... the answer was already decided long ago.

"Thank you. But I want to know where Reia is."

It's not that I don't want money.

To give my mother a comfortable life—money will be necessary in the future.

(But, money obtained by abandoning a friend... Mother would surely not be happy...)

Then,

"I see... Hehe, I guess I'm more of an Allen fan than a Shido fan..."

Rize whispered something and took out a rolled-up map from the sleeve of her kimono.

"Here, take it. I actually prepared it in advance, thinking you'd come soon."

"Thank you...!"

When I expressed my gratitude, Rize smiled warmly.

"There's a red X mark on the map. That's where their research facility is."

I unfolded the rolled-up map, and sure enough, there was a red X mark.

"Well, I have work to do. I'll take my leave now."

"Thank you, Rize!"

When I thanked her,

"It's nothing, just returning a favor. See you around, and please continue to support Fox Finance."

Rize said this and went up to the third floor of the mansion.

"Thank you so much, Rize..."

I said one last thank you and rushed out of Rize's mansion.

"Still, Allen is a good person... I wonder what kind of 'color' he will show in the future... Hehe, I really look forward to seeing what he becomes..."

Rize whispered to herself and smiled.