Chapter 85

In front of the guild, adventurers had gathered.

When Rio arrived, Shiraha ran up to him.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. What's this gathering for?"

"You issued a rescue request, saying Rio was in danger. I've been tracking the location with a lost item search spell."

"So this is a formation to intercept them."

The adventurers gathered were led by practitioners of the Miruto and Oks styles at the front, with many mages positioned at the back. Defensive spells were also cast, forming a complete intercepting formation. The deputy branch manager, Muse, who seemed to be in charge, came forward with a relieved expression.

"It seems you were attacked by the villain Conrartz, but are you hurt?"

"I was quite worried, but they backed off."

"I see. I want to hear the details, so please come inside. Everyone, the reception will distribute the cooperation funds. Please have four people stay and come inside."

As Muse called out, the adventurers shuffled inside. One adventurer walked towards Rio, going against the flow. It was the Miruto-style swordsman who had tried to intercept Rio and his group at the guild entrance when they were chased by the White Faces yesterday.

"I didn't think you could escape from a villain. You're pretty fast."

"I almost got caught, but managed to escape."

"Normally, you'd be caught and cut down. You had the divine sword Obous, right?"

"I did. It was scary to see it coming through walls."

This time, he knew they were coming, so he could escape. But if the divine sword, which could ignore obstacles, had been used for a surprise attack, there would have been no way to defend against it.

The adventurer nodded deeply in agreement.

"If the Hornedra Familia hadn't brought the branch manager's body, you would have been the prime suspect."

"Is that villain part of the Hornedra Familia?"

"He's an executive."

With a straightforward answer, Rio sighed.

The villain Conrartz had asked Rio about his connection to the White Faces. He thought the suspicion had been cleared, but if he had given the wrong answer to Conrartz's questions, he might have been targeted by the Hornedra Familia as well.

It was a good thing he didn't ignore the questions given the lack of time.

The adventurer pointed in the direction of the inn.

"You probably don't want to stay in town anymore, right? I'll go get your luggage from the inn."

After thinking for a moment about whether there was anything incriminating in the luggage left at the inn, Rio decided to entrust it to the adventurer.

"Thank you. I also caused trouble for the innkeeper."

"Considering a dead body was lying in front of the shop, no one in this town would care. If they did, there would be no shops left to shop at."

"…Are you joking?"

"It's better to leave town while you still have a normal sense of things."

With a carefree laugh, the adventurer made Rio smile wryly.

After giving the room number at the inn, Rio saw the adventurer off and entered the guild with Shiraha.

Muse was beckoning from inside. Running over, Rio was led to a guest room at the back of the guild.

Surprised, as he had expected to be taken to an interrogation room like last time, Rio followed.

Muse pointed to a sofa, indicating they should sit, and took a seat on the opposite sofa.

"First of all, I'm glad you managed to escape. Given the current situation where we need to cooperate with the Hornedra Familia regarding the Night Stalker, if an adventurer had been killed, the town would have been in a state of dysfunction. I'm really relieved."

"I think I managed to escape because they weren't serious."

"Of course. Conrartz is a top-class warrior. I wouldn't want to face such a dangerous person myself."

Muse smiled wryly and looked back and forth between Rio and Shiraha.

"Now, there are a few suspicious points."

"Suspicious points?"

"Why did the White Faces attack the inn where you were staying a second time? The timing of Conrartz's involvement is also too good. Moreover, it doesn't make sense for Conrartz to chase after you."

"Maybe to silence witnesses?"

Muse smiled pleasantly but cast a piercing gaze at Rio and Shiraha, as if observing every move and not letting any lies or deceptions slip by.

"Thinking about it now, the first attack itself doesn't make sense. You had already fled to the guild, and we had sent staff and adventurers to the murder scene. The White Faces should have known the information was already in the guild. That's why I arranged for you to stay at the inn, thinking they wouldn't try to eliminate witnesses now."

It made sense. The White Faces should have known it was too late, yet they still attacked the inn.

"It's possible there was a miscommunication among the White Faces. However, the second attack is strange. Moreover, it seems unlikely that Conrartz was there by coincidence."

"Does that mean the White Faces have another reason to target us?"

"And that the Hornedra Familia also knew this reason and was staking out your inn. That's another possibility..."

Muse placed his dominant hand on his thigh, a seemingly natural gesture that appeared relaxed.

However, the position of his legs, the slight forward lean of his upper body, and the placement of his other hand on the sofa seat all formed the stance of the Iden Enro style of iaido.

The Iden Enro style, created by its founder to be prepared for any attack, is one of the few styles with an iaido stance.

Rio looked at Muse's sword. Given the intercepting formation against Conrartz, Muse also had a sword.

It was a common scabbard, hanging from his waist, which normally wouldn't allow for iaido.

However, the Iden Enro style has a technique where the scabbard is filled with padding and a short sword is placed inside, allowing for a reverse draw and a seated attack. By pressing the hanging scabbard against the seat while drawing the sword, the movement is stabilized, and the attack is made in a sliding position.

Noticing Rio's gaze, Muse moved his hand on his thigh closer to the hilt of his sword.

"Could it be that you and the White Faces staged a performance to spread information to the Hornedra Familia's spy in the guild, luring out Conrartz?"

"We don't have any information to spread."

"The first attack on the inn itself could have spread the information. You were the only ones who saw the Night Stalker. Adventurers and guards went on high alert, and their movements brought information to the Hornedra Familia."

Muse, now openly suspicious, made Shiraha look uncomfortable.

However, Rio found it strangely convincing.

"Conrartz asked me if I had any connection to the White Faces. When I said no, he backed off."

"It's strange that he would back off so easily."

"Well, he did back off."

"There are no witnesses, but I don't think Conrartz would give up so easily. Given the current situation, it seems more plausible that he was working with the Hornedra Familia rather than the White Faces."

"Your theory is far-fetched. What do you think we are, anyway?"

"The problem is that I can't determine which faction you belong to. That's why I need to ask you various questions. Where are you from, and which towns have you visited?"

Muse seemed intent on probing deeply, and Rio was cautious.

He had no intention of hiding his origin now, but if it was traced back, it could reveal his connection to the Rosiz family, which would be problematic if shared among guilds.

He would need to send a letter later to coordinate a cover story.

Avoiding topics about magic orbs and magic cutting, he answered Muse's questions.

Starting with his origin, where he learned swordsmanship, and the towns he had visited and the duration of his stays, he answered as honestly as possible.

As expected, Muse was particularly interested in Shiraha's origin.

"A mysterious girl you met in the mountains... This is a difficult judgment to make."

Muse narrowed his eyes and observed Shiraha.

Rio raised his hand to block Muse's gaze.

"Shiraha has been living with me in a village for almost a year. During that time, she never saw any White Faces."

"You say that, but there's no way to prove it. I can't definitively say there's no connection. Hmm, based on what you've said, it seems more likely you're not involved. I think it would be best for both of us if you leave town soon."

"I still have some unfinished business, but I was planning to return after the town calms down."

"Then it's settled. For today, stay at the guild. If you leave early in the morning, you won't encounter the Night Stalker."

Just as Muse stood up, signaling the end of the conversation, a sudden explosion echoed.

Muse, who had momentarily stopped, sighed deeply.

"You seem to be quite a concern. Quite persistent, aren't they?"

Muse opened the door to the reception room. A staff member, who had just run to call them, stopped abruptly in front of the door.

"It's a White Faces attack!"

"Figures. What's the situation?"

"It seems the enemy has the owner of the evil weapon Gazara Flanu, and we are at a disadvantage."

"…They've brought out something terrible."

Muse, momentarily stunned with his mouth half-open, turned to Rio and his group.

"Are you so desperate that you would fully oppose the adventurer guild? You two, use the underground passage to escape. Your speed, which allowed you to escape from Conrartz, should be enough to lose the White Faces. I'll buy you some time, but I'll inform the White Faces that you've escaped. Given the situation with the Night Stalker, I can't risk adventurer casualties just to protect you. I hope you understand."

If their presence was causing trouble, they couldn't stay.

Rio stood up, pulling Shiraha's hand.

Muse called out to the staff member.

"Please guide these two to the entrance of the underground passage. I'll take charge of the interception."

"Understood. Please, this way."

As they were guided by the staff member down a corridor and towards a staircase, Rio frowned, feeling an indescribable discomfort.

The situation seemed too fluid, and while it was a force he couldn't resist, it felt as if it was being orchestrated.