Chapter 87

With the heavy armor knight's sword technique, the feet of the White Faces using the Ox style were far slower than Rio and the others, making it easy to pull away from them.

Using the winding alleys to cut off the White Faces' line of sight, Rio and the others hid in a back alley.

While catching his breath, Rio strained his ears.

"The direction of the guild has become unusually quiet."

"Has it become safe?"

"Only around the guild. If we go there, it will be dangerous again."

The repeated attacks had been targeting Rio and Shiraha. Wherever Rio and the others were, that place became a battlefield.

"There are too many things to think about, but to conclude, there's no choice but not to return to the guild."

Normally, the guild would be the only ally in this town, but Rio excluded it first.

Shiraha nodded in agreement with Rio's judgment.

"The deputy branch manager is in league with the White Faces. Even if she isn't, she's too busy dealing with the Night Stalkers to have the time to protect us."

"That's right. We can't seek help from the guards because we don't have clear evidence of whether Muzé is an enemy or an ally. The deputy branch manager, Muzé, has more credibility than us outsiders."

Rio looked up at the roof.

"Was it the tracker Shiraha mentioned who helped us escape?"

"Yes. It doesn't seem to be around now?"

"It's a question."

"It's a strange presence. Not human-like?"

Shiraha kept tilting her head, searching for words.

The mysterious tracker was concerning, but if it wasn't here now, it was better to assume there would be no further assistance.

Rio continued to think while looking up at the roof.

The sun had already set, and the night had descended. It was the active time for the Night Stalkers.

Since the White Faces had taken control of the gate, they had no intention of letting Rio and the others escape. They were probably still searching.

If the battle sounds around the guild had stopped, it meant the adventurers had driven back the White Faces. Considering that Muzé had helped Rio and the others escape through the underground passage, most of the adventurers in the guild were likely opposing the White Faces. However, given the talk of spies, it was impossible to trust them fully, but there was a possibility of cooperation.

"Muzé's influence is troublesome. Even if we say she's a spy for the White Faces, no one will believe us, and we might end up being the villains."

Rio wanted something to surpass Muzé's influence—physical evidence or a result that no one could complain about, or a powerful backing.

However, none of these were obtainable. The next best option was—

"Prepare and forcefully break through the gate. Escape to the town of Sphan. Explain the situation to the master of the Miruto dojo and Yebus, and request an audit of Muzé."

"That's a straightforward approach, but breaking through the gate is difficult."

"Exactly."

The White Faces lying in wait had used the Ox style, a school of martial arts that excelled in base defense.

For just two people to break through a gate guarded by what seemed to be regular knights using the Ox style was nothing short of reckless.

"Is there no other way?"

"I have a good plan."

Surprisingly confident, Shiraha made Rio's eyes widen.

Shiraha seemed to feel better from Rio's reaction and puffed out her chest.

"Cooperate with the Horned Dragon Familia."

"…Are you serious?"

When Rio asked in surprise, Shiraha nodded calmly.

"The Horned Dragon Familia's executive told Rio to stay at the guild. That means they have no interest in us."

"Ah, I see. And they are definitely opposing the White Faces. Plus, their relationship with the guild is almost non-interfering, so even if we are targeted by the guild, it won't become a big problem. But they are a criminal organization that does illegal things. I think we'll end up being used as bait to lure out the White Faces."

"But they can provide the combat power to break through the gate. The possibility that the deputy branch manager is connected to the White Faces can also be used as a bargaining chip."

"…Troublingly, it makes sense."

If the goal was to solve the immediate problem, Shiraha's proposal was correct.

However, the Horned Dragon Familia was a criminal organization. They were not the kind of people to negotiate with normally, and Rio did not want to get involved with them. Emotionally, he couldn't accept it.

Rio lacked the skill to mix good and bad elements.

Shiraha placed her hand on top of Rio's.

"Our lives are at stake."

Staring at her, Rio reluctantly nodded.

"Alright…."

If it was just him, he might have taken a reckless action, but he couldn't involve Shiraha in something dangerous.

Looking up at the stars, Rio asked Shiraha.

"Use the lost item finding magic to pinpoint the location of the divine sword Obhufus."

If the divine sword Obhufus was there, its wielder, the evil person Conrart, would also be there. He was a dangerous individual, but it would be easier to talk to someone he knew.

Shiraha immediately started to pinpoint the location.

"---The brush of memory runs on a blank sheet. The trail of a staff that set out without a destination. Where do the sun and moon briefly meet?"

Listening to Shiraha's bell-like incantation, Rio remembered the bell sound that helped them escape from the White Faces using the Ox style.

Was that sound some kind of magic, or perhaps a divine artifact?

With Obhufus and Gazara Flan, how many divine or evil artifacts were in this town?

"Found it. It's heading towards the gate."

"Maybe it sensed something unusual. That's convenient."

If it could drive away the White Faces controlling the gate without needing to negotiate, that would be great.

Rio started running through the alley, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

Shiraha, following behind, occasionally recited the lost item finding magic to check the situation.

"Still heading towards the gate. ... Wait, it stopped."

"Stopped?"

"Observing the gate. It's on that tower."

Shiraha pointed to a stone tower. It was unclear why it was built, but it was quite dilapidated. From the top of the tower, one could see the gate, its surroundings, and beyond the defensive walls. A figure illuminated by the moonlight was on top of the tower.

It would be hard to spot without focusing. In the first place, one wouldn't look up at the tower unless they had used the lost item finding magic to pinpoint the location.

Rio hid in the shadows of the alley.

If it clashed with the White Faces, that would be better. Since he didn't want to get involved, he wanted to observe the situation.

Shiraha stood next to Rio, covering his blind spots without letting her guard down.

"Rio, we're surrounded."

"It seems so. And they're moving very flexibly. It reminds me of the mock battles with the knight order in the village's back mountain."

It was unclear how they had tracked Rio and the others, but they were not friendly.

While on guard, Rio glanced at the tower, and the figure had disappeared.

Confused by Conrart's movements, a figure appeared at the entrance of the alley.

"---I hope you see this as a gesture of good faith. Come, let's talk."

"Muzé..."

Rio, who had expected it, called out the figure's name and pointed his sword at it.