Three of them, I think.
The discussion about slimes had run quite late. As I walked down the dark, deserted road, I realized I was being followed.
In a place with no foot traffic at this hour, separate individuals were keeping a fixed distance from one another while matching my pace perfectly. It was painfully obvious. However, they didn’t seem like total amateurs.
If I considered the three pursuers as a team, their coordination was solid. There was no escape route to the rear without taking one of them down. The path ahead looked clear, but they were likely waiting in ambush somewhere further up.
If I kept going, I’d eventually reach the North Gate. Since the Guard Force was stationed there, if they were going to target me, they would have to make their move before I arrived. I decided to test them before that happened.
I turned right at the next corner, then quickly took another right. Immediately after ducking out of sight, I heard voices.
"Did he spot us?"
"I didn't see any sign of it, but..."
"He's around that corner!"
"Whoa..."
One of the men shouted, and the sound of heavy footsteps drew near.
I hurried away, but they were persistent. Even when I tried to lose them in the narrow alleys—situations where they normally should have lost sight of me—they seemed to know exactly where I was.
There was no one else around except my pursuers. There were no tall buildings nearby that would give them a high vantage point. In that case... I decided to lead them somewhere else.
"Hey, where’s the brat?"
"He’s just been running. He’s hiding now, but he’s definitely nearby..."
"He’s realized we're following him for sure."
"Otherwise we would've caught him ages ago. To think he'd run into a place like this..."
"Damn it! What a pain."
We were in the northeastern part of Gimul. This area, close to the slums, couldn't be called clean by any stretch of the imagination. Obstacles cluttered the streets, and cloths were stretched over the roads like makeshift sunshades.
In the darkness of the night, and with the benefit of my small stature, they were struggling to pin down my exact position. It seemed the ones who had been lying in ambush had joined up with the rest. It was about time.
"Fortunately, there are no witnesses. We have the numbers, so let’s flush him—!?"
"Gwah!?"
"Get down! Arrows!"
"Teleport."
"Tch! Over there—ugh!?"
"What, he’s over here too!?"
"Does he have help!?"
"Teleport."
I moved through the obstacles using short-range teleportation while firing arrows coated in fast-acting Medicine Slime paralytic poison. Subduing them was a simple job that was over in no time.
"Ugh..."
"Damn it... poison arrows?"
"You won't be able to move properly for a while. That poison is quite potent."
"Guh...! You little brat!"
"How dare you do this to us!"
"You're the ones who followed me. What were you planning to do? What’s your objective?"
I approached the immobilized men and pointed my spear at one of them.
"Heh... Don't think you'll get away with this... But if you hand over the Rimul Birds and all the money you've made, I'll forgive—Hot! It’s hot! Stop it!"
"Why are you acting so high and mighty?"
I fired a Fireball from my spear just for show. I didn't hit him, but the heat of the flames pushing through the cool night air was enough to make an impression.
"Ah."
I reflexively batted down an object flying toward me.
"Kiiii!?"
"So it was this, huh? I see."
It was a dark-colored, owl-like monster—a Regret Owl. Their talons possess a poison that causes hypersensitivity in the nerves. When they strike, the combination of their sharp claws sinking into flesh and the poison results in excruciating pain. Since they are nocturnal, they specialize in silently hunting prey by blending into the darkness.
I recognized it because its legs and claws are prized as medicinal ingredients. However, they don't inhabit this region, which meant it was almost certainly a Tamed Monster. They were making a ruckus just to set up a surprise attack using this bird.
"What!? How did you—"
"I just knocked it down. I was keeping an eye on the sky."
The man shouted as he looked at his familiar rolling on the ground; its wing appeared to have been broken by my blow. He seemed shocked, but the moment I realized they were tracking me without sight, I had already suspected they were using a monster. I hadn't known exactly what kind it was, though. If it had been flying high in the sky with those dark feathers, I truly wouldn't have been able to see it.
"Ah, they're here."
"Pirorororo!"
"Is it here!?"
"You people there! Don't move!"
"The Guard Force!?"
"Why now!?"
"Hey, Ryoma! Are you safe!?"
"Guild Master? Why are you here?"
I understood why the Guard Force had arrived—I had sent a Rimul Bird when I saw an opening while I was running. But I didn't expect Wogan-san to be with them.
"I figured you'd be fine... but I happened to see these guys from the Guard Force chasing a Rimul Bird while I was on my way home."
So he realized it was me and followed them.
"I apologize for making you worry."
"To be honest, I wasn't that worried..."
"Excuse me, I would like an explanation of what’s going on here."
After that, I was taken to the Guard Force station for questioning.
The Next Morning
"Thank you for everything."
"Don't come back soon, kid."
I thanked the guard—a man who was hard to read, as he seemed stiff but was surprisingly good-natured—and headed toward the shop.
The night before had been late enough as it was, and with the attack and the questioning on top of it, the guards had insisted it was too dangerous to let me return to the abandoned mine alone. I ended up staying the night at the station.
Fortunately, the room wasn't a cell but a proper guest room. It was apparently used to hold people who hadn't committed a crime but couldn't be safely released immediately. They even provided a decent bed.
"Good morning!"
"Good morning, Boss. You're very early today, ne."
"Good morning, Manager. Did something happen?"
When I arrived, I found Carla-san and Li Ling-san in the breakroom.
As soon as I began explaining what had happened last night, Carla-san’s expression sharpened at the mention of the attack.
"Manager, I believe this information needs to be shared with the entire staff immediately. I will gather everyone; please wait a moment."
She left the room, and within minutes, every employee had gathered in the breakroom.
"Um, what’s this meeting about~?"
"I’m not getting fired, am I...?"
"Everyone, please don't worry about anything like that. Manager, the floor is yours."
I explained the events of the previous night, and a different kind of tension filled the room.
"And that’s the situation. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine without a single scratch, but I want you all to be careful. If you go out, do it while it’s light, and stick to busy roads. Also, Fei-san and Li Ling-san, I might need to ask for more security work from the two of you."
I saw them both nod in understanding and then continued.
"Regarding our future plans, I'm looking into increasing our security personnel. As I mentioned, the Guild Master of the Adventurer Guild was at the scene. Apparently, there’s a regular meeting of Guild Masters at the Commerce Guild today, and he’s offered to let me consult with them.
I'll be going to the Commerce Guild around noon. I’d like either Carla-san or Caulm-san to accompany me."
"Then I shall go. Caulm, please handle the shop while we're away."
"Understood."
"And finally, Shelma-san."
"Is there something you need from me?"
"When I asked the Guild Master about a gift to bring, he requested something for lunch, so I’d like to use the kitchen."
"If that’s the case, I’ll help. We can make lunch for the shop at the same time."
"That’s all from me. I’ll let you know the results of my talk with the Guild Master later. If any of you notice anything unusual, no matter how small, please report it immediately. ...It looks like things are going to get busy again, but I'm counting on you all!"
"Yes, Manager!"
Once the meeting was over, the shop began its busy preparations for opening. I started cooking with Shelma-san.
"Come in."
"Excuse me."
When I visited the Commerce Guild at noon, I was made to wait in a separate room for a change, then guided to a different office than the one I usually used.
Inside was a single, long conference table. My familiar Guild Masters were seated at the head and sides, and they urged Carla-san and me to take the seats in front of them.
"Well, I’m sure you know why you're here... but more importantly, let’s eat!"
"Wogan, you never change..."
"What’s the problem? The meeting is over; this is a private lunch now. Besides, we can talk while we chew."
I took the prepared dishes out of my Item Box and served them.
"Guild Master."
"Call me by name here. Having three 'Guild Masters' in one room is confusing as hell."
"In that case, Wogan-san. Here is the sausage soup and bread."
"Oh! This looks great!"
"Our cook put a lot of heart into it. And Grisiela-san, yours is here, and Taylor-san, yours is here."
"My, mine is a hamburger? This feels like a festival. It looks remarkably soft, though..."
"And for me, bread with raisins and a flaky pastry... They look like they’d pair perfectly with tea."
Grisiela-san has weak teeth, so I prepared something soft. Branch Master Taylor has a small appetite, so I gave him something light. I’d received these suggestions from Wogan-san, and it seemed they were the right call.
"Mmm... this bread doesn't smell like Seed."
"Mine doesn't either."
"I tried making today's bread with natural yeast."
The "Seed" they mentioned is a plant seed used in bread making that works like yeast; it’s sold everywhere as "Bread Seed." You just crack the seed and add the contents to the dough. It’s the standard method here because it’s easy to use and store.
By contrast, I had used natural yeast. Well, technically commercial yeast is just cultured natural fungi, and the Seed is a natural plant, but terminology aside, I had made this by letting wheat and raisins ferment in water.
"I’ve finally found some leeway with my time and money. Unlike when I lived in the forest, I can actually buy or order specific ingredients now. I’m finally able to do things I couldn't before."
Making yeast takes about a week and requires daily attention. In my previous life, with my irregular hours and the constant threat of not being able to go home for days, it was a hobby I couldn't touch. Just like making charcoal, it was something I’d longed to do since my time on Earth.
Now that I was in the city, tools and materials were easy to find. After paying my employees and setting aside savings for the shop, I still had plenty of money left over from the profits. My schedule allowed me to go home every day. There was no reason not to start.
I was also changing other things, like buying materials to make reagents for studying medicine.
My life wasn't just a loop of home and office anymore!
"Look at that happy face. You're a carefree one, even after being attacked last night."
"That is a separate matter entirely."
"Good grief..."
"Well, if you're in that kind of spirits, there shouldn't be any problems."
Wait, what problems?
"We were talking about how you’d feel after being jumped on a dark road with no help. I told them there was no need to worry."
"That’s just hindsight, Wogan. We didn't see Ryoma ourselves."
"No matter how much help we plan to provide, it would be a waste of breath if the boy intended to quit."
"Yeah, yeah. ...Basically, these two were worried you’d be so spooked by last night that you’d want to close the shop."
"That’s the gist of it. We wanted to know where your head was at after facing direct danger."
"I didn't expect you to not give it a second thought, though."
"I’ve made it this far with everyone’s help. It would be incredibly selfish of me to say, 'I was attacked, so I’m done!' I have employees to think about; I can't just leave them out on the street. Besides, I came here today specifically to talk about my future plans."
"I see, I see."
Grisiela-san laughed, looking exasperated but relieved.
"Then let’s stop beating around the bush. Ryoma, just endure and keep your guard up for a little while longer. We’re going to settle this."
"Which means...?"
"We're saying the people coming after you will be gone soon."
"Ever since those rumors about us started, we’ve been conducting our own investigation. We managed to identify the group spreading the rumors and inciting these crimes. That was the good news. Unfortunately, they vanished yesterday. We immediately launched a search, but the first news we got was that you’d been attacked."
"As for the guys who jumped you, they only arrived in town two days ago. Someone told them you were just a brat with a lot of money and Rimul Birds. And wouldn't you know it, the description of that 'someone' matches the person we were watching."
Which meant...
"Are you sure it’s the same person?"
"The chances are high. Based on the rumors they spread before, they clearly know about our relationship. They probably figured that if you were targeted, we’d have to divert men to protect you instead of using them for the search."
"Personal feelings aside, if a Ducal House asks us to 'look after' someone, we can't just ignore it. If anything happened to you, it would be a major scandal."
"So they had me attacked to make it easier for them to escape."
"That’s how we see it. But the fact that they used such a cheap trick as soon as they were suspected suggests they aren't coming back. If they planned to return, they would have tried to feign innocence. Or maybe they just didn't have the time... regardless, we don't plan on letting them get away."
"I don't mean this in a bad way, kid, but you aren't an ordinary brat. I know you have the strength to protect yourself. That’s why I want you to focus entirely on defending your shop and yourself. We’ll handle the culprit with everything we’ve got."
So, assuming the person who fled expects me to be a burden, we’ll prove them wrong.
"We’ve already formed a search team consisting of Welanna’s party, Miya, Jeff, and Raypin—who can use Space Magic. They're tracking him as we speak."
"There’s no guarantee we’ll catch them, as they seem to be professionals in their own right. ...But Ryoma, you've been listening quietly. Are you going to be all right?"
Grisiela-san looked at me expectantly. I took a moment to consider.
"First, I want to make the shop’s security airtight."
"Don't worry about that. I'm not saying I won't help at all. I’ve already spoken to Gordon and Cher. They aren't suited for tracking, but they're skilled fighters, and they're locals with good reputations. They’d be perfect as guards for the shop. Also, Jeff recommended another reliable guy. He isn't registered with the guild, so I can't vouch for him officially, but Jeff trusts him."
In addition to Fei-san and Li Ling-san, those two would be a big help. I didn't know the person Jeff-san recommended, but he wasn't the type to suggest someone incompetent. I’d have to keep that one in reserve for now, but the shop's security was looking solid.
"Carla-san, considering our coordination with the Guard Force, what do you think?"
"The scale of the opposition remains an unknown factor, but for a shop of our size, that is a substantial force. However, Manager, perhaps we should consider a personal bodyguard for you as well?"
I shook my head. "That won't be necessary. In fact, it might be a disadvantage."
If I ran into someone I couldn't beat, my only option would be to escape. Having a bodyguard would limit my mobility. I couldn't take them with me via Space Magic, and I couldn't just leave them behind. If I was going to be forced into that situation, I’d rather be alone from the start.
"Besides, the opponents are human, right?"
"They might use monsters, but yes, they’re primarily human."
"Then I’m better off alone."
There were no monsters on Earth. The martial arts I mastered were designed specifically for human opponents. Anti-personnel combat was where I was most comfortable.
"In the past, I only ever trained with my grandfather. Humans and humanoid monsters are the easiest for me to fight."
"...Well, you certainly have the results to back that up."
"I've seen his skill myself; he’ll be fine."
The conversation moved on to specific defensive measures and how to handle things if another attack occurred. Finally, Branch Master Taylor handed me two documents.
"Certification of skill in handling Slimes and Rimul Birds... what are these?"
"The first is my official recognition that you are capable of managing your monsters. The second is a memorandum stating that while your shop uses monsters, your business remains under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Guild."
Since my Guild Card usually served as proof, Taylor explained that these were rare documents. However, since they carried his official signature and seal, they might help protect me from any future harassment or bureaucratic trouble.
Branch Master Taylor... I suspect he’s still worried that he’s the reason I got caught up in all this.