Chapter 9

★ Lev Magic Empire Tent Street ★

"What the hell is going on, damn it!"

"Try not to raise your voice. People will come here soon, but it makes a big difference whether it's in five minutes or one minute, doesn't it?"

Dantes, Mimon, and Non, members of "Silver Scales," rushed into Aba's tent. After the meeting, Dantes and the others had entered the empire through the checkpoint. They had accompanied the members of the 4th Labyrinth Conquest Division for three days, carrying the spoils of war, and when they returned—Aba had suddenly captured them and brought them to the tent. They had heard the basic situation on the way: the Heroic Armament had been stolen; Muge, who had been working hard on the research, was injured but safe; Lulsha, despite being a victim, was arrested for "falsely claiming the existence of a non-existent Heroic Armament and causing confusion in the empire"; and the soldiers were searching for Dantes and the others because they suspected that "Silver Scales" had "incited" Lulsha.

"We definitely had the Heroic Armament! What a load of crap!"

"Your anger is justified, but it would be better for you to hide for now."

"What are you so calm about, even though Lulsha has been arrested!"

Dantes, speaking out of anger, realized that Aba's hand was clenched, and his fist was trembling.

"…If I don't keep telling myself to stay calm, I might lose control. If it seems like I'm calm to you, that's good."

"You…."

Dantes realized for the first time that Aba was a much more passionate man than he had thought.

"…Sorry. I lost it for a moment."

"No, it's fine."

"Let's think about what to do next."

When Non said this, Aba replied,

"Even though Lulsha has been arrested, she has a record of her achievements. The wise Emperor will review the records of the Heroic Armament being brought back, and I believe she will be released eventually."

"Should we hide in the meantime?"

"Yes. Since you are not citizens of the empire, we might not be able to protect you."

"——Hey. Wouldn't it be faster to look for the Heroic Armament?"

Dantes said this, clapping his hands, but Aba shook his head. The search in Tent Street was already over.

"Then where did it go?"

"That's the problem. We don't know."

"——Oh, by the way."

At that moment, Mimon, who had been silent, spoke up.

"When we returned from the 'Labyrinth of Wrath,' we took a bit of a dangerous route through the center of the city, right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, that's right. Monsters fall from the Red Gate, but cutting through the city is a shortcut."

"Did you see anything, Dantes?"

"Huh, what?"

"Adventurers."

Mimon and the others were adventurers, and they rarely mistook other adventurers. On the other hand, they often mistook imperial soldiers because they couldn't tell who was who.

Mimon said that there were about five adventurers moving stealthily from one shadow to another. If there were any human adventurers, they would stand out in this area, so she remembered them.

"What's the point? Maybe they were hired by someone."

"Sure, that's probably it. I think they have an employer."

"Wait, what are you trying to say?"

"Adventurers wandering around the empire alone or with their employer is suspicious."

"Sure… but—"

"Here's the thing about the Heroic Armament."

Mimon held up her index finger.

"We couldn't find the Heroic Armament anywhere in the tent."

She held up her middle finger.

"There are no records of it being transported out of the country."

She held up her ring finger.

"So—there is no Heroic Armament, right? But there is one more place where it could be hidden."

"!"

Not only Dantes, but Aba and Non also seemed to understand.

"Could it be that they passed through the checkpoint and hid it in the city, which is a combat zone?"

"That's it."

"No way. Even just hiding it is too dangerous."

"But there are benefits."

Aba interjected.

"In the city, there are research facilities that we don't have here. They can conduct research openly!"

Just then, he clenched his fists.

"——Deputy Director Aba, is anyone inside the tent right now?"

There were multiple presences outside. The silhouettes in the sunlight were those of soldiers.

"No, just me."

Aba lied hastily and instructed Dantes and the others,

(Cut through the opposite side of the tent and escape. Hurry.)

(Got it.)

"——We are currently pursuing the adventurer group 'Silver Scales,' who are suspected of being criminals. May we check inside?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm changing clothes. I'll come out soon, so please wait."

While Aba bought time, Dantes went to the back of the tent to find an easy way out—

(That's right, I need to check on Rage before we leave.)

Mimon, alone, checked the magic item and was speechless. The silver metal, shaped like a plate, was split in two.

(What is this? What happened to Rage!?)

Then her arm was grabbed.

(Hurry up, Mimon!)

(But, Dantes, Rage—)

(We have to escape now!)

Pulled along, Mimon went through the curtain that Non had already opened and stepped outside.

Thus, the adventurer party "Silver Scales," who had contributed greatly to the conquest of the "Nine Emotions Labyrinth" in the Lev Magic Empire, was forced to flee.