Chapter 6

"Noel, get your gear ready. I'll prepare too."

I give Walter my instructions. Walter, who had rushed over, is wearing casual clothes. As it is, he wouldn't be able to fight effectively if it came to a battle.

"Got it. But, what do you plan to do?"

"I have a plan. Just go get your weapons and armor."

When I urge him again, Walter leaves the room with a disgruntled look on his face.

I also need to get ready for battle. I quickly put on my jacket and equip the holster that holds Silver. I haven't had time to reload the bullets, but it should be useful for bluffing.

Next, I set a knife, throwing items, and a medical pouch into the holsters on my waist and thighs. Once I put on my coat over them, my basic combat setup is complete.

With my gear ready, I head downstairs.

The Star Drop Inn has guest rooms on the second floor and a restaurant on the first. At the tables on the first floor, a fair number of guests are enjoying their meals from early morning.

"Boss, I'll have five thick-cut steak sandwiches. Add the cost to the room charge as usual."

At my order, Gaston, the bald and stern-looking owner and Marie's father, shows a surprised face from behind the counter.

"It's still early for lunch. That's quite a feast for a snack."

"I have a long journey ahead. I need to stock up."

"Do you want a packed lunch?"

"No, it's not that kind of trip."

"Got it, I'll make them right away. By the way, have you seen my daughter?"

"She had one of her usual fits."

"Again!?"

Gaston bangs his bald head and sighs.

"Even on a busy morning, that stupid girl!"

"You've spoiled her too much, raising her on your own."

"Shut up! She's my only cute daughter, what can I do!"

The Star Drop Inn is run mainly by Gaston and Marie, his daughter. They've been doing this ever since his wife passed away from illness about two years ago.

There are employees, but they are only hired during the busy lunch and dinner hours.

Sitting at a counter seat to wait, the five steak sandwiches I ordered arrive. On a large plate, the steak sandwiches are cut and served with French fries on the side.

Taking a bite, the juice rich with meat flavor spills out.

The steak is cooked medium-rare, and the toasted bread is spread with a special mustard sauce. The careful preparation is evident in the delicious taste.

Moreover, the meals prepared by Gaston, who has the chef skill, have a stat-boosting effect. While there's no dramatic change, I can feel the energy building up as I eat.

The Star Drop Inn is a good place to stay. Thanks to the boss's hard work, the food is delicious and the service is excellent. That's why I chose it as my boarding house. It's a bit expensive, but for an adventurer whose body is their capital, a hygienic and healthy lifestyle is important. If you get sick, it's all over.

After eating about three of the steak sandwiches, Walter returns with his gear. He's wearing heavy armor and carrying a large battle axe that could cut off a horse's head. It's damaged from the last battle, but it should be usable for today.

"You, you rush me, but you're calmly eating...?"

"I didn't tell you to hurry. Besides, considering what comes next, it's better to eat now. Here, you should eat too."

I offer the plate, and Walter, looking confused, eats the steak sandwich.

"...It's delicious."

"Right!?"

Gaston shows a friendly smile from behind the counter. Walter, who must have been hungry, finishes the remaining steak sandwiches and French fries.

"Alright, I'm done! What's next? Are we going to the examiner's office?"

It's just before eleven. The timing is perfect.

"No, we're heading to the Boar Demon's Clubhouse now."

†

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We walk through the city, heading for the Boar Demon's Clubhouse.

The city center is bustling and noisy, as always full of activity. People of various races, with different hair and skin colors, walk together.

Elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, and beastfolk, who usually form their own communities, are not uncommon in the imperial capital, a major metropolis.

The streets are filled with a chaotic scene of diverse people and heavily loaded carriages moving busily along the paved roads.

"What do you mean, a tavern...? I don't get it..."

Walter, following behind, grumbles.

Explaining the reason is simple, but I deliberately don't. I don't want to waste time on the argument that would surely arise.

But, I should add a few words to make him comply.

"Walter."

I turn and look at Walter.

"You're an idiot, but you're not incompetent. You're an excellent warrior."

"...What are you talking about?"

"You have your role, and I have mine. In other words, leave the thinking to me. I've been the party's tactician for a year now. Have I ever made a wrong judgment? Show a little trust."

"......Damn, I get it!"

Walter, who was forced to agree, grinds his teeth and quickens his pace. This time, I have to catch up to him.

Soon, the familiar sign of the Boar Demon's Clubhouse comes into view across the street.

†

†

The adventurer's tavern is open in the morning to welcome adventurers returning from expeditions by stagecoach. It's open from around ten in the morning to one in the afternoon, and then from seven in the evening to midnight.

By mid-morning, the tavern is already filled with many adventurers. Those who have just returned from expeditions are enjoying their post-work drinks.

"...So, what are we going to do?"

Walter asks in a low voice. I ignore him and raise my voice.

"I want to put out a request to everyone here! Two members of our party, Lloyd and Tania, have embezzled the party's funds and fled! I want you to find and capture them alive! The reward is two million fil!"

The tavern falls silent for a moment, then erupts into chaos.

Some are discussing the situation with their party members, while others are laughing at the situation.

Gradually, more and more voices mocking us can be heard, but I don't care. It was bound to come out eventually. The only difference is whether I'm mocked here or later. I might as well take it in stride.

But Walter is visibly flustered.

"Noel! What do you mean by telling everyone!?"

As expected, he reacts this way. Walter, who values pride and appearance, can't bear the current situation. Veins bulge on his forehead as he rages.

"I'm doing exactly what I said. I'm putting out a request to catch Lloyd and Tania. We can't do it alone."

"But you don't have to make it so public!"

"If we don't make it public, no one will know who's looking for them."

"What do you mean!? Explain properly!"

"I'll explain later, just be quiet."

I turn back to the other adventurers and raise my voice again.

"Anyone willing to take the request?"

A swordsman raises his hand.

He's a young man with a handsome face and brown hair. He wears a combination of leather and metal armor, and a shoulder mantle made of a Fang Wolf's fur. Two swords are sheathed on his back, indicating he's a dual-wielder.

Wolf, the leader of the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang.

The C-rank band has the most members and the highest turnover, so there's little value in remembering names even if you're in the same tavern. However, the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang, led by Wolf, is, like our Azure Outliers, a promising rookie group that has gained a reputation.

"Really two million for capturing Lloyd and Tania alive?"

"I promise to pay on the spot."

"In that case, we'll take it. They're excellent, but without Noel, it should be easy. Do you have any idea where they might be?"

"No, I don't. But they left just before the city gates closed."

"That means they're probably traveling on foot... Got it, we'll leave right away."

Wolf stands up, and his party members follow. They probably have the same idea and will go to the city examiner's office to ask about last night's events.

"Is there anyone else willing to take the request? It's first come, first served!"

This time, two hands go up.

"I'll take it," "We'll take it too."

Two more parties leave the tavern. More parties, three in total, rush out the door.

The number of adventurers, who were so numerous before, is now halved. No one else raises their hand among those who remained.

All the parties that took the request are young and promising, just like us. But the one I was looking for isn't among them.

Just as I thought I might have missed, a scout approaches.

"...Hey, I have a request to discuss."

The scout is a thin, bearded man in his mid-thirties. I don't remember his name. He has a sullen smile and speaks in a low, mumbled voice.

There's no sense of energy or charisma from the bearded man. He looks like the type who thinks it's easier to drag others down than to work hard himself, a washed-up adventurer.

Under normal circumstances, he would be the type of adventurer I despise the most, but today is different. This washed-up uncle is probably the one I'm looking for.

"Can't talk about it here?"

"Hehe, yeah. Can you come to the back of the tavern? I won't let you down."

I signal for the irritated Walter to follow and move to the back of the tavern with the bearded man. I was on guard against a possible ambush, but it turned out to be unnecessary.

The bearded man looks smug as he enters the back of the tavern.

"I know where Lloyd and Tania are. I saw travelers who looked a lot like them on my way back from work. I was sure after hearing Noel's story. It's them, no doubt."

"Really!? Where!? Tell me now!"

Walter, eyes wide, approaches the bearded man.

Sure enough, this bearded man was the one I was looking for.

The city gates are open for many adventurers to enter and exit. Some are about to go on an expedition, while others are returning. Among the returnees, there are likely those who have encountered the two who fled in the night, as I had predicted.

Once we know their location, the rest is easy. Lloyd and Tania are like fish on a cutting board. They have nowhere to run.

"Don't rush, don't rush. I can't just tell you for free."

The bearded man nimbly puts distance between himself and Walter.

"The reward is two million for a successful capture, right?"

"That's right. If your information is correct, you and your party can go immediately. I promised to pay the reward, remember?"

I point out in a firm tone, and the bearded man shrugs.

"Come on, don't be so cold. I'd go myself if I could. But there are reasons I can't..."

"Let me guess. Your party can't handle Lloyd and Tania, right? You know where they are, but you can't win, so you need our help, right?"

The bearded man is momentarily flustered but quickly regains his smug smile.

"That's right. They're strong."

"What's your party's composition?"

"One swordsman, one mage, one healer, and me, the scout. We're not part of a clan, so these four are all the members."

I observe the bearded man again, assessing his strength from his demeanor.

He's older and one of the weaker adventurers in the Boar Demon's Clubhouse. Indeed, at this level, even four of them together wouldn't be able to beat Lloyd and Tania.

But with us two added, the odds are more than favorable.

"Are the other three at the same level as you?"

"Yeah, that's right. So, what do you say? Will you help us? Of course, we'll reduce the reward to compensate. How about 1.6 million fil—"

"1 million. If you need our help, the reward is 1 million, not 2 million."

"1 million!? Come on, that's too low!"

The bearded man protests, but I'm not willing to budge.

"1 million."

"1.5 million!"

"1 million."

"1.4 million!"

"1 million."

"Hey, don't be ridiculous! We need your help!"

I laugh at the bearded man, who is turning red with anger.

"We need you, but it's not essential. The other parties that took the request are all excellent. If we wait, someone will capture them eventually."

"But, they stole the money, right? You should want to catch them quickly! Even the best can take time without any information!"

"True, but so what? I won't budge on the price. That's all there is to it. If you don't like it, we can forget this whole thing. What do you say? If you refuse, we'll leave. Is that okay?"

The bearded man grinds his teeth in frustration but eventually shakes his head.

"...Alright. 1 million is fine."

The negotiation is settled. I knew from the start that a perennially broke, washed-up adventurer would fold if I didn't budge.

In this kind of negotiation, the side paying the money has a significant advantage over the side seeking it. The negotiation technique is about how to get your conditions accepted, but I have no obligation to teach this man.

"Where are the two of them?"

"South of the South Gate, on the Barley Road. Considering the time since we passed them, they should be in Carno Village or Ouren Village."

"Understood. Gather your party and wait for us at the South Gate. Walter, you go with them. I have something to do, so I'll be a bit late."

"What do you have to do?"

I give a forced, cheerful smile to Walter, who tilts his head in confusion.

"I'll tell you later."