My name is Bron. I was a man of the beastman race who had recently begun to feel that demanding performances at banquets was a rather poor cultural habit. I would play along to some extent, of course, but it had its limits.
By the time I finally slipped away from the "Fishermans" review meeting—which was really just a banquet by another name—it was already the middle of the night. I started walking toward the inn I had booked in advance.
If I used the teleportation gate installed in Shashato City, I could have easily returned to the Royal Capital or gone to Village Five. However, considering my assignment was to welcome an incoming guest, I judged it best to remain in Shashato City. I didn't think I was wrong.
And yet, I soon found myself regretting that decision.
Actually, no. I didn’t regret it. It was simply the result of letting myself be swept along by the flow of events. I had accepted it. I didn't regret it; I was merely reflecting on my choices.
As I neared my inn, I spotted a group of people moving about busily despite the late hour. They looked suspicious, but they were dressed in proper butler and maid uniforms. They appeared to be searching for something.
The first thought that came to mind was that something had happened to their master. Had he collapsed? Were they looking for a healer? But the way they were searching—or rather, the locations they were checking—was bizarre. You aren't going to find a practitioner of healing magic by peering into trash cans. Perhaps they had accidentally thrown away something important?
While I was puzzling over this, the man in the butler’s uniform caught sight of me. He stared intently.
"Lord Bron!"
Ah, it seemed he knew me. I racked my brain, but I couldn't remember where we might have met.
"We are servants of the House of Count Pugyal," he explained.
The House of Count Pugyal? That was the family home of Enderi, one of Gol’s wives. If that were the case, it wasn't strange at all that our paths might have crossed.
"Pardon me, but have you seen our master?"
"Their master... You mean Count Pugyal?"
I hadn't seen him, but the question caught me off guard. Had Count Pugyal gone missing?
"Yes. He was supposed to be in his room alone, but he vanished into thin air. We are terribly sorry to impose, but could you please help us with the search?"
"I... I understand. Have you contacted the city’s Magistrate yet?"
"Yes. We are receiving assistance, but because there was a festival event today, the large-scale search won't begin until tomorrow. For now, we are doing what we can."
That made sense. However, I suspected Miyo and her team were probably already on the move. I had heard the Magistrate of this city was quite capable, so I was sure they were doing their best within their current limitations.
"What’s the status of the search so far? Is there any chance he used the teleportation gate?" I asked.
"It appears the gate was not used. However, if we consider the possibility of a kidnapping, it’s difficult to conclude for certain that he didn't pass through it."
I see. If he were stuffed into a box or something similar, there would be no way to tell if he had been taken through the gate. That was a significant flaw in the system. I made a mental note to report that to Uncle Demon King later.
"But kidnapping is the worst-case scenario, isn't it? Is there a chance he moved on his own?"
"It’s very likely. Our master prefers to act alone, especially when it comes to business."
"And what was his purpose for coming to Shashato City?"
"He heard reports of a large explosion that occurred nearby and came to investigate."
That was strange. I had heard that Uncle Demon King had already investigated and settled everything regarding that explosion.
"Just between us," the butler whispered, "there are rumors that a book was taken from the site of that explosion. Our master became very interested in that book."
"A book? I haven't heard anything about that."
"The source is nothing but uncertain rumors, so we don't know the truth of it, but..."
I hummed thoughtfully. Whether the rumor was true or not didn't really matter. What I needed to know was if it could have caused the Count's disappearance. Thinking it over, it seemed unlikely that Count Pugyal would have headed to the explosion site alone. It was more plausible that, while he was by himself, he had obtained information regarding the book's whereabouts and gone off to secure it.
For a man of his status, I would have expected him to contact someone before moving, even if he insisted on going alone. Regardless, I decided to search on the assumption that he was looking for a book.
Of course, since it was the middle of the night, most bookstores were closed. I didn't have any leads on places that dealt in underground book trading either. Still, if the servants had already contacted the Magistrate, it probably wouldn't matter if this turned into a bit of a major incident. It would be far more problematic if something happened to the Count because we were too slow to act.
"Are you sure it’s alright if this becomes a big deal?" I asked to confirm.
"It’s fine. We apologize for the trouble, but we are counting on you."
"Understood."
I immediately wrote a letter to Yoko in Village Five asking for help. I kept it brief since time was of the essence. I explained that Count Pugyal was missing, that we needed more people for the search, and that I wanted information on any suspicious usage of the teleportation gate.
I knew Yoko would understand the gravity of the situation and send reinforcements immediately.
"By the way, Mr. Butler," I said, turning back to him. "I need to ask for the sake of the search... Does Count Pugyal actually hide inside trash cans?"
"In the House of Pugyal, fleeing is not considered a shame. Our family motto is: 'Run Away with All Your Might.'"
"I see... So if he’s desperate, he might actually dive into a garbage bin?"
"The master has never actually done it himself, but several of the young ladies have."
I certainly hoped he wasn't referring to Enderi.
In my haste, I had forgotten one crucial detail. While Yoko was indeed the acting Village Head of Village Five, she returned to the Village of the Great Tree at night. And currently, it was the middle of the night.
My letter was sent through the teleportation gate to Village Five, and from there, it was forwarded straight to the Village of the Great Tree.
As a result, the Village Head himself appeared.
"I’m not exactly an expert at finding people, but in a situation like this, numbers are everything. Let’s give it our best!"
Then the Dragon King, Dos, appeared.
"I have to show my grandchildren and great-grandchildren my reliable side, after all."
And the Gate Guardian Dragon, Draim, appeared as well.
"I’ll have to make sure he gets to taste the Daikon I harvested."
I stared at them blankly. Why were these three here? The High Elf women and the Lizardmen standing behind them would have been more than enough help.
Then I noticed Gucci was there too. He was holding his head in his hands, looking utterly distressed. He caught my eye and gestured for me to come over.
"Lord Bron, the situation is at its absolute worst," Gucci whispered frantically. "However, please rest assured. I will protect the Village Head. No matter what happens, I will keep him safe."
"Uh... What about Draim or Dos?"
"Those guys won't die even if you leave them to their own devices. But Lord Bron, I have a request for you."
"A request?"
"The people here are only the First Group. The Second Wave will be arriving shortly."
"The Second Wave?"
"The Village Head's Wives," Gucci said, his voice trembling. "Given how late it is, their bloodlust is at an all-time high."
Ah. I understood then. The night was their precious time to spend with the Village Head. Having that time stolen from them was bound to make them furious.
"Wait, you aren't asking me to calm them down, are you?"
"No. I just want you to vouch for me if, for some reason, the responsibility for this mess gets pinned on me after things settle down."
"Is this commotion actually your fault, Gucci?"
"It’s not me! It’s related to those Ancient Devils! You must not get that part wrong, understood?"
"Right, right. Of course."
So, an Ancient Devil—namely Gucci—had appeared. And he seemed to be focused entirely on his own survival.