Chapter 7

At the meeting place by the city gate, Walter and his party of bearded men were all present. There were also fast horses borrowed from the livery stable. Everything was ready.

"…Noel, can you fight Lloyd and the others?"

Walter, who had a serious look on his face, asked me this after I rejoined them after finishing my business.

Even at this point, are you still hesitating?

Well, I can understand his feelings to some extent. After all, we, the Azure Outliers, had shared our joys and sorrows for a whole year, albeit a short one.

But what does that matter? A traitor is a traitor.

If we can't get our money back by fighting, we'll have no choice but to accept our loss. And we'll be bound by the hatred of betrayal for a long time.

If so, we should properly punish them, even if they were once our comrades. We should punish them, resolve the issue, and take a new step forward.

"I can fight. I won't show any mercy."

"…Even if it means killing them?"

"Of course. If it comes to a fight to the death, I'll crush them without mercy."

This isn't just empty words. If necessary, I can kill anyone.

After all, explorers are a profession that involves taking the lives of others. I've taken many lives, from demons to bounty hunters.

I won't hesitate now just because they were once my comrades. I shed all such convenient and sentimental thoughts along with the tears I cried for my grandfather's death.

"Do you have no feelings at all?"

Walter asked a misplaced question, and I laughed.

"Walter, I've always been prepared for the possibility of being betrayed by my comrades. People can easily go astray. Especially in a profession as rough as being an explorer. That's why I wasn't surprised at all when I found out about Lloyd and Tania's betrayal. I just thought, 'So, it's come to this.'"

"They're your comrades! Are you saying you didn't trust them!?"

"Trust isn't about blind faith. It's also about being able to doubt. The key is whether we can still stand by each other despite that, right?"

And those two betrayed us. That's all there is to it.

Walter seemed to have more to say, but he didn't seem to want to continue. I turned my gaze and mounted the fast horse borrowed from the livery stable.

"If you can't fight them, you can stay here. I'll get your money back for you."

A warrior who can't fight is just a hindrance. Without Walter, our fighting strength would drop significantly, but I'm sure we can manage. We have plenty of strategies.

"…Don't mock me. I'm not that weak."

Walter mounted his horse and left the city gate first. The party of bearded men followed from a distance.

"You're too soft. Too soft."

I muttered without thinking.

"If you keep being half-hearted, it'll only make things worse."

†

†

Three hours into the pursuit of Lloyd and Tania.

The place where we found them was the village of Carnot, a peaceful farming village about half a day's walk from the capital, as the bearded man had said. We confirmed that the two had come out of a restaurant and immediately launched our capture operation.

But we didn't do anything special. We could tell from a distance that they were completely off guard.

"Hey, having a date in a farming village? Quite the romantic taste, huh?"

I called out from behind, and the two turned around as if they had been startled.

"N-Noel!"

Lloyd's face contorted in shock, and as expected, he reached for the sword at his waist.

But it was too late.

"Freeze!!"

Talk Skill: Wolf's Roar.

As the two were immobilized, the bearded man, who had been hiding, pounced on Tania and pinned her to the ground. Taking advantage of Tania's scream, which distracted Lloyd, the others, including Walter, who had also been hiding, surrounded the two.

The two were immobilized for only about two seconds, but in that time, they were completely overpowered. I could see the look of despair spread across their faces.

If it had been just the party of bearded men, there would have been plenty of ways to turn the situation around.

For example, Lloyd could have thrown a throwing knife hidden in his sleeve at the bearded man's forehead, and the freed Tania could have used a flash skill to blind the enemies. Then, in that instant, Lloyd could have cut down all the enemies. It would have been a tactical battle that required quick thinking, but with their abilities, it was entirely possible.

But with me and Walter added to the mix, there was no such opportunity.

Lloyd seemed to have gauged the difference in strength and realized there was no way out. He dropped his sword and surrendered quietly.

Thus, the two were captured and were now hanging their heads at my feet.

I had considered various scenarios for the capture, but I didn't expect it to be this easy. They probably didn't think we would come after them. Even if we did, they didn't expect us to rely on other explorers. Their complacency led to this situation.

"Lloyd!!"

Walter, who had reached his limit, grabbed Lloyd by the collar.

"Why!? Why did you betray us!?"

"…I'm sorry."

"Don't give me that 'I'm sorry'!!"

I pushed back Walter's hand, which looked like it was about to strike.

"Lloyd, I read your letter and understand what happened. But what about the reward for the low-level vampire two days ago? What happened to the money we entrusted to you for the party?"

"…I'm sorry, I used that too."

"Another investment?"

"…No, to pay off a debt."

So, he had the decency to repay his debts even after betraying his comrades. What a strange situation. This leaves only one answer.

"You didn't fail in an investment, did you? It was gambling, wasn't it? Cards? Dice? Roulette? The arena? It doesn't matter. You lost at gambling and borrowed money from dangerous people, so you took the party's money, right?"

After all, if he had been investing, he would have known that the materials for low-level vampires were in high demand. But from my memory, he showed no such signs.

Investing is like gambling, but with the right knowledge, it's possible to make a profit. That's why there are many wealthy people who have succeeded as investors.

On the other hand, gambling is designed so that the house always wins in the end. In other words, the gamblers are just pawns. Pouring money into it is the same as throwing it away.

"Answer me, Lloyd. Did you lose the money I entrusted to you in gambling?"

"…I'm sorry."

"Don't kid around, you big fool!!"

Walter roared and lifted Lloyd up.

"That money was earned by risking our lives!! How could you use it for gambling!!"

"Damn it, you don't understand the pressure of being a leader!!"

This was a surprise. The cornered Lloyd seemed to be lashing out and giving up.

"I didn't want to touch the party's money! I didn't realize my debts were piling up, and then I didn't know what to do… If you want to blame me, go ahead. But do you really have the right? You pushed the responsibility of being a leader onto me, and then you only assert your rights when it's convenient for you… gah!"

I kicked Lloyd in the solar plexus, and he rolled on the ground, writhing in pain. I kicked him in the side again.

"Ugh!"

"Do you think you have the right? Of course you do. Besides, you were the one who said you wanted to be the leader, right?"

I aimed the third kick at the area around his kidneys.

"Ugh!"

Ignoring Lloyd's screams, I kicked him repeatedly.

"Pressure of being a leader? Do you think that gives you the right to do anything? Don't be so naive. You only ended up in debt from gambling because you're a useless scumbag, right?"

"Gah! Cough, ugh…."

It seemed to be a good kick, and Lloyd vomited blood.

"…I'm sorry, please… stop…"

Lloyd's face, covered in dirt, tears, snot, and vomit, was a terrible sight. If his fans saw him now, they would faint from the disgusting sight.

"Please… I can't take… any more… gah!"

Oops, I kicked his face. He had the nerve to lash out and ask for mercy, so my foot moved on its own.

But this level of punishment is no problem. I'm a talker with almost no physical enhancements. On the other hand, Lloyd is a swordsman with the best frontline capabilities, on par with a warrior.

He won't die from my kicks. So it's fine.

"Don't pretend to be weak, you scumbag. If you really want forgiveness, try enduring a thousand more. Then I'll listen to your apology."

"Ah, ahhh!!"

As I was about to kick the cowering Lloyd again, Walter grabbed my shoulder.

"Enough, let it go…"

"Why?"

"Why…?"

"Please, stop! Forgive Lloyd!"

Tania, seizing the opportunity, butted in. It's nice of her to protect him, but does she understand her own position? No, she probably doesn't.

"Then, will you take the kicks in his place? I'm an equal opportunity kicker. I won't show any favoritism just because you're a woman."

"Eh? …Wait, that's not what I meant!"

"Since you don't understand your position, let me make it clear. Tania, you're just as guilty. You were gambling with the party's money with Lloyd, right? Otherwise, there would be no need to run away together."

"It's not true! I thought it was wrong to leave Lloyd alone…"

She's still trying to act innocent. What an idiot.

"Let me ask you again. Were you gambling with him? Spill everything."

"I was. But it's Lloyd's fault. If he had lent me more money, we would have won for sure. He always tried to make the bets, which is why this happened."

Tania confessed in one breath and then turned red with anger.

"Noel! You used a skill on me!"

"I did. So what?"

Talk Skill: Truth Extraction.

A skill that makes the target confess the truth. However, skills that control the human mind, including Truth Extraction, are strictly regulated because they can cause social chaos. Using them for personal gain can land you in prison.

"Do you realize what you've done!? This is absolutely unforgivable!"

"Normally, yes. But you're a criminal who embezzled the party's funds. According to the empire's laws, it's allowed to use mind control skills to make criminals confess. So, I won't be held responsible for anything."

"Th-that's…."

The blood drained from Tania's face. It seems she hadn't realized she was a criminal.

"Embezzlement is punishable by ten years of forced labor. Congratulations, you two are now respectable criminals. I'm proud of you as former comrades."

I clapped sarcastically, and the two turned pale and fell silent.

They must have understood the gravity of embezzlement, but they didn't realize they were in that position until it was pointed out.

People commit crimes when they are foolish. And fools are blind to their own foolishness.

"It seems the discussion is over."

The bearded man, who had been watching, snorted in a mocking way.

"That was quite a show. Thank you. I'm satisfied now. So, pay up the reward. Don't forget the promised one million fil."

"I'll pay. But wait there quietly."

"No, I won't wait. We're busy. Just give it to us now."

There's no way a busy person would be as down and out as you.

"I'm not saying to wait until tomorrow. I just need a little more time. The money will be here soon."

"What are you talking about? If you don't have the money, hand over that magic gun!"

The bearded man's hand quickly reached for my magic gun.

A magic gun is a very expensive item. A used one costs about three million fil. That's why, having predicted the bearded man's intentions and movements, I grabbed his hand as he tried to snatch the gun and twisted it.

"Don't touch my silver with your stinky hands."

"You… You tricked me…"

"Don't say such ridiculous things. I said I'll pay. —Oops, don't move. Do you want to lose your important scout?"

I pressed a knife from my thigh holster to the bearded man's neck, warning his comrades who were trying to help. I showed my intention to kill if they made any suspicious moves.

"Do you think you can steal from a rear guard? I may be inferior in overall combat ability, but my hand-to-hand combat skills are better than Walter's and Lloyd's."

"Ugh…"

The bearded man, who had been looking for a way to escape, realized the difference in strength and relaxed.

It was troublesome, but I had to maintain this situation for a while. Walter, who didn't understand the situation, was also tense, holding his axe at the bearded man's party.

Then— the sound of a horse neighing was heard.

"They're here."

I kicked the bearded man I was restraining.

What approached at high speed was a luxurious carriage in a gaudy purple color. The carriage stopped in front of us, and a tall man stepped out gracefully.

The man was in his early thirties, wearing elaborate clothes like a nobleman—justaucorps and culottes in the same tasteless purple as the carriage. His hair was a center-parted gray, and he had an incredibly handsome face, but it was heavily made up.

The man held a purple lace handkerchief to his mouth and grimaced.

"Oh no! The countryside is so dusty! And it smells like horse manure!"

His comedic tone and gestures were the epitome of a typical drag queen.

But the air around him was frozen with fear of this drag queen.

Someone whispered his name in a trembling voice.

"Slave trader…Finochino Balzini…"