Having learned that the individuals who attacked Ecethesus and Nakt had retreated into House Marstchel’s residence, Elena and the others prepared to make their next move.
...But before they did, Elena stepped out of the cottage where the elderly information broker lived and led Vihera a short distance away to speak in private.
"What is it? I’m not exactly fond of the odors around here," Vihera stated, her voice laced with dissatisfaction.
Elena glanced at her briefly before speaking.
"You should already know. You enjoy combat too much for me to believe you didn't notice the hatred that broker was nursing."
"I suppose you're right. Well, for Seracanth—ah, that's the information broker's name—House Marstchel is a family with quite a lot of history."
"History? Does it have something to do with why he called Byune 'Young Lady'?"
Elena had seen the deep affection in the man's eyes when he first addressed Byune. She had already surmised there was a connection. She understood that, normally, when their group arrived anywhere, she, Vihera, or Seto would be the first to draw attention.
And then there was that hatred. Even as Seracanth tried to conceal it when House Marstchel was mentioned, he hadn't been able to hide it entirely.
Vihera gave a small nod at Elena's words.
"Exactly. Seracanth originally served House Flaut. But as you know, while Byune is still here, House Flaut has been effectively dismantled. Seracanth ended up leaving the family once they could no longer pay his wages... Though, from what I hear, he wanted to stay by Byune's side regardless of the money. Byune was the one who flatly refused."
"...I see. I understand the old man’s affection for the girl. But what about that hatred? Why go to such lengths against House Marstchel? It felt far beyond what a single old man should be capable of feeling."
Vihera turned her gaze toward Byune, who was waiting for them a short distance away. The girl remained expressionless while petting Seto and Iero; to a casual observer, it was a perfectly heartwarming scene.
However, the road Byune had traveled was a path of thorns. It was a life that had forced a naturally expressive girl to bury her emotions deep inside.
"He has many grievances against House Marstchel. That’s all I can tell you."
For a fleeting second, Vihera recalled a conversation she'd had with Seracanth several months ago. He had told her that House Marstchel was the reason House Flaut had fallen into such ruin that they were forced to sell their family home.
Ever since he’d learned the truth, Seracanth had been investigating House Marstchel. That was likely why he had been able to uncover the connection between the noble house and the assailants so quickly.
"Grievances, you say. I only hope this doesn't become a burden for Byune."
Elena worried that seeing someone who once served her family twisted by such malice would weigh heavily on the girl. But the response she received was an unexpected smile.
"Fufu. It seems you only see Byune’s surface as well."
Vihera spoke as if she were the only one who truly understood her. And in a way, she was right. She was the only one who could grasp Byune’s intent from a single, clipped word.
"Do you really think I’d form a party for this long with just some ordinary 'good girl'? Byune rarely changes her expression, but deep down, she possesses a powerful resolve. Whether those feelings are positive or negative is another matter entirely. That’s exactly why I stay with her."
"That is..."
To Elena, Byune didn't appear to be harboring such intense emotions. She faltered, but looking at a woman like Vihera, she had to admit that 'liking children' was an insufficient explanation for why she would keep a child as a partner.
"Well, I’m sure you’ll understand eventually. More importantly, let’s get moving. Look, Ecethesus is staring this way with eyes that say he can’t take any more waiting."
Elena followed Vihera’s gaze and saw Ecethesus watching them, his eyes brimming with suppressed irritation and anxiety. He looked as though he were merely frustrated by the sweltering heat, but Elena knew the truth. She couldn't justify wasting any more time.
"...Very well. But mark my words. If Byune’s emotions ever cause her to run wild, I will be the one to stop her."
"Is that so? Well, do as you like."
Elena had spoken with iron determination, but Vihera’s reply was curt and disinterested. Elena opened her mouth to argue, but ultimately thought better of it and returned to Rei’s side.
"So it really was around here."
As they neared the location Seracanth had specified, Ecethesus muttered the words with a grimace. They were currently near the slum district—the very place where Ecethesus and his companion had been ambushed.
As the slums loomed ahead, Rei turned to Nakt.
"Do you know the exact spot where you were attacked?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Of course. Why?"
"Nothing serious. I don't think Seracanth's information is wrong, and I don't think he’d sell us out, but I’d like to double-check, just in case."
"Nn!"
Byune let out a small noise of protest. Her expression remained unchanged, but Rei could hear the indignation in her tone. To her, Rei’s words were practically an accusation that a loyal servant of her family had given them false info or betrayed them. It was only natural for her to be upset.
"Don't be like that. It's just a precaution. Besides, the situation might have changed since Seracanth gathered his intel, right?"
"...So, what's the plan?"
Nakt spoke to Rei as he soothed Byune. Seto let out a purr, sensing it was time for his contribution.
"Well, as you can see, Seto is a Gryphon. Its five senses are far more acute than any human's. That includes its sense of smell."
"I see," Elena said, nodding along.
She understood what Rei was thinking. He intended to use the Sense of Smell Enhancement skill he had acquired by absorbing a magic stone. Unlike flashy magic like Fire Breath, a skill like Sense of Smell Enhancement was subtle and unlikely to draw unwanted attention.
"Wait, why are you surprised, Elena? You're always with Rei," Nakt noted.
"It's nothing. Rei, you should get started. We're running out of time."
"Right. Seto, once we reach the attack site, it's up to you."
"Guruuu!"
At Rei’s command, Seto let out a short cry of affirmation.
After ten minutes of walking, they arrived at a spot where several bloodstains marred the ground. In the slums, violence was commonplace, so blood on the pavement was hardly a rare sight. Fortunately, these stains remained largely undisturbed. They were completely dried under the scorching sun, but Seto’s nose would have no trouble tracking the culprits.
"Gurululuuu!"
Seto activated his Sense of Smell Enhancement skill.
To everyone except Rei, Elena, and Iero—who was still perched on Elena's left shoulder—it looked as though Seto had simply let out a cry to psych himself up. But with his senses heightened, Seto began to sift through the various scents lingering in the air.
The scent of blood was the strongest. It was the blood of the men Ecethesus had skewered with his spear and Nakt had slashed with his daggers. They might have healed their wounds with potions, but the blood they’d already shed couldn't be erased.
"How is it? Do you know where they went?"
"Guruuu!"
With an affirmative cry, Seto kicked off the ground and began to run, leading the way into the heart of the slums.
"Hurry up, or you'll lose him. Don't you want to save your friend?"
"A-Ah, right!"
Ecethesus followed Rei’s prompt and stepped into the slum district. Nakt followed close behind, with Rei and the others bringing up the rear.
(I doubt they'd be stupid enough to attack us now, but it's better to be safe.)
The assailants had already been soundly beaten by Vihera and Byune. Now they had to contend with Rei, Elena, and Seto as well. No sane person would pick a fight when their numbers were already depleted.
(Personally, I’d welcome an attack. It’d make getting information a whole lot easier.)
Rei scanned his surroundings as they ran. Despite the heat—or perhaps because of it—there were people lying on the ground like unmotivated corpses. Others were more active; groups of children ran through the alleys, and a few drunks were nursing bottles of whatever alcohol they’d scavenged.
Groups huddled together in the shadows, casting insolent glances at the outsiders boldly entering their territory. They likely entertained thoughts of mugging the newcomers or capturing them to sell to a slave trader after they’d had their fun.
...But this time, they had chosen the wrong prey.
The slum residents might not have known the names of most monsters, but they could instinctively sense the power radiating from Seto as he led the group. Some of them had even been adventurers before falling into poverty.
One by one, the residents vanished into the shadows, judging that these were people they should not touch, involve themselves with, or even allow themselves to be seen by. In the main streets of Gilm, Seto was a mascot; here, he was a symbol of terror.
"Guruuu..."
Seto likely sensed the fear directed at him, letting out a sad cry. Still, he didn't stop tracking the scent, focused on the task at hand.
After ten minutes of navigating the slums, Seto suddenly stopped. He fixed a sharp gaze on a house about 300m away. On a main street, the building would have been considered shabby, but it was quite respectable for the slums.
"...They’re inside."
Even from this distance, Rei could see several men watching the area from the windows. Their vigilance suggested they were wary after the failure of the ambush on Ecethesus.
"—!?"
"Wait."
Nakt grabbed Ecethesus by the collar, dragging him back before he could reflexively charge the building.
"What are you doing? We have to get Tibia!"
"Calm down. You really need to do something about that impulsiveness of yours. That might be the hideout, but if we charge in without a plan, they’ll just escape."
Ecethesus started to argue, but Nakt cut him off.
"Don't forget, every one of those guys was at least as strong as us, if not stronger."
"But they were injured in the last fight! So—!"
"Did you forget about that guy Ogul? He had a high-grade potion. Most of them are probably fully healed by now."
"Then what do you want me to do!?"
Ecethesus was about to roar at Nakt for shooting down every one of his points, but in the next instant, a fist slammed down onto the top of his head. It wasn't a bare fist, either; it was the metal-shod fist of Vihera’s gauntlets.
The dull thud was so heavy that even Nakt winced in sympathy.
"Gah... gaga..."
Ecethesus could only crouch on the ground, clutching his head in agony.
"Listen to Nakt and stay calm. If we just charge the front, they'll just slip out the back," Vihera said.
"She's right," Rei added. "And if they take the people they kidnapped, like Tibia, out with them, this whole trip was for nothing. ...Seto and I will circle around to the back. Even if there isn't a back door, we'll find a way in. The rest of you, wait for the signal and hit them from the front. Be fast. If they start taking hostages, things will get messy."
With that, Rei spent the next few minutes helping the group finalize their plan to storm the building.