Chapter 3 - Two Noblemen?
We defeated Gardon, the head of the Blood Shadow bandit group. We also wiped out all the bandits in this room.
"Alec, no problem. The bandits are all dead."
I said to Alec, who was waiting for me downstairs. Then, a strange man looked at me and panicked.
"W-what did you say?"
There was a black carriage parked on the street, and a fat man in silk clothes seemed to be talking to Alec. He looks like a nobleman, but――.
"Who? That man."
"Baron Riot, the bandit's employer and Play's friend."
Alec says.
"Eehhh!?"
He's also a member of the bandits?
"W-what do you mean? Mumurghh, isn't that Gardon lying there! Damn, you guys must be the bounty hunters! Get the carriage! Right now!"
The flustered baron seems to be trying to escape. Not good――.
"Serina! Take care of the guard!"
"O-okay."
I cut down the coachman as instructed by Alec. The coachman was trying to run his horse, but I managed to catch him in time. In the meantime, Alec was slashing at the Baron.
"Gyaaa! Y-you bastard, if a commoner injures a nobleman, it's a crime of death! Do you understand that!"
"Yeah, I know, that's why I'm keeping your mouth shut like this."
"Wha! S-stop it! I'll give you all the money you want, kkuhh!"
The fat nobleman suddenly stopped moving. The white rose ring on the little finger of his right hand was stained red by the flowing blood.
Two people had died. And one of them is a nobleman.
"What are we going to do about this?"
I'm at a loss and look at Alec.
"We took down the bandits who attacked the baron. We took care of them, but unfortunately it was too late. So that's the story."
"No, you should be honest. ......"
"No, no, no. My skills tell me it's dangerous. Besides, the other party is a nobleman. It doesn't matter how heroes we say we are, we might not get through. Even if this guy is guilty."
I'm not familiar with the punishments in this world, but if Alec is right, it might not be a serious crime for a noble to rape a commoner.
"Ehhh? I see. ...... It's an aristocracy, isn't it ......"
I'm sure the punishment will vary depending on the status difference, and if that's the case, the only way for us to survive was to shut the baron's mouth.
"Serina, do you have a silver coin?"
"Hmm? Yes, I have it."
"Then give me one."
Alec took the silver coin from me and put it in the hand of the old man who was staring blankly at me.
"It's hush money. Do you understand?"
The old man grinned and even gave me a thumbs up. He's so clever, pretending to be dumb.
Looking at him, I had a feeling that I could handle it.
At the adventurer's guild, we received the 1,400 gold bounty that had been placed on Gardon and the others, and divided it among the five of us, including Fritz.
Two hundred and eighty gold wasn't worth it, but it was better than not getting the reward.
The Baroness Riot offered to thank him for avenging the Baron's death, but Alec refused, feigning reserve. I hope they don't find out. ......
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
The next day, after a sumptuous dinner at a tavern that was a bit over the top, we were heading back to the inn. At that time, Alec bumped into a small girl at the beginning of our encounter.
"Kyaaa!"
"Murgh"
The girl fell down with a flourish.
She was wearing a robe over her head, so I couldn't see her face clearly.
"Are you okay?"
Alec tried to lend a hand, but the girl quickly got up on her own.
"Y-yes, I'm fine, I'm so sorry!"
As soon as she apologized, the girl ran off, probably in a hurry.
"I wonder what she's in such a hurry for."
"That's right: ......"
I'm a little concerned.
When I returned to the inn, Alec shouted loudly.
"Damn it! She's got me!"
He said he had been robbed of his wallet sachet. I see. ...... That's why the kid ran away in such a hurry.
"Can you follow her, Meena?"
"I can follow her up, Master."
Meena nodded vigorously in response to Alec's question. Tracking by scent, that's what the dog-eared people do best.
"She hasn't had a bath in a week, so she smells pretty bad. It looks like she went through some rotting garbage today."
"I-is that so. That's a bit pitiful, too. ......"
I felt sorry for her terrible life.
Relying on the lights of the city, we followed the girl through the alleys at night.
As we passed the bustle of the tavern and entered a back alley, the residents were already asleep, and the only sound in the area was our armor.
"She's close."
Meena turns around and whispers to me.
"Okay, let's be careful from here."
"Yeah. There's only one enemy."
I grasped it with the [Enemy Counter].
If that girl is the only one, we'll be able to catch her easily.
In front of me, there was a single abandoned house with a collapsed roof, standing alone and isolated.
It must have been a magnificent house in the past, but it seemed to have fallen into disrepair. We crept in quietly from the backyard of the house and hid our breath behind the wall.
"Ahhh, easy peasy! I didn't think he had a jewel, that dull old man is quite good. I wasn't paying attention at all, and having valuables in my hip pocket is just plain dumb, dumb, Ahahah."
The girl in the house was laughing at him, but I think Alec is going to give her a hard time for this.
Alec signaled me with his eyes, so I took his meaning and went to hold the front entrance.
"Can I buy a bed now? No, I have to deal with the leak first. Also, I want to take a bath. ......"
I'm sure you're right. I can understand how she feels. Here, it seems that only the upper class takes a bath, and I want to take a bath with a shower and a bathtub!
"Who's there!?"
The girl seemed to have noticed our presence, but it was too late.
She tried to break through with a knife, but Meena easily knocked her down with a foot strike, held her from the back and took away the knife as well. It was all over easily.
"Okay, good job, Meena. Serina, you're good to go."
"Yeah. That was a piece of cake."
I felt good that no one got hurt. I hope Ione's injuries from Gardon's attack heal quickly.
"Now, give me back what you stole from me."
Alec said, flipping up the kid's hood. Her hair, illuminated by the candlelight, was a rare cherry color. There are people with blue hair in this world, but I've never seen this color before.
"What are you talking about? Guh!?"
Alec suddenly punched the girl in the face, and I was startled and blamed him.
"Hey, Alec! You're dealing with a girl."
"So what? It's an gender-equality punch."
Alec says without a trace of regret.
"Ehh? Are you really a hero ......?"
"It's not what I wanted. It's just the way it is."
"Geez. But you shouldn't steal things that belong to others either. Give it back."
I gasp and tell the girl that Alec is not going to harm her any more.
"Hmph, what's wrong with stealing for a living?"
The girl said in a huff.
"Ehh? What's wrong with ......"
"No, you're not allowed. You're still able to move, and if you gather herbs outside the city, you should be able to make a living."
Alec admonishes.
"That's for people with adventurer cards. I don't have one."
"Why?"
I ask, wondering. I'm sure anyone can go to the Adventurer's Guild and get a card made easily.
"That's ......"
"Most likely, you've committed a crime in the past or failed a request. You got what you deserved."
"Kkuhh!"
Alec said, and the girl bit her lip in frustration. Looks like he got hit the jackpot.
"Now get it out. I'll let you off with your virginity and a spanking."
I got angry when Alec started talking about taking her virginity.
"Hey!"
"M-Master. ......"
Meena looked a bit taken aback. Of course.
"Anyway, I'll forgive you if you give it back. Come on, take it out."
"Hmm. It's gone."
"Ahh? Tsk. Meena, take off her robe."
"Yes, sir."
Meena stripped off her robe, but she didn't resist. I can't believe she's not even wearing underwear. ......
"Well, If you want to check it out, feel free to do so. I can't give it back, though, because I've already used it."
It seems that she consumed the treasure she took as an item. We can't sell it anymore, though it does increase your basic ability value. I didn't know it, but I heard from Alec that the jewels can be sold at auction for a high price.
After a moment of intense anger, Alec sighed and asked,
"What is your name?"
"Lilliana-von-Valencia. It's too long, so you can just call me Lily."
"Hmm? Are you a noble?"
"I don't know. At least not anymore."
She says so in a self-mocking tone, she used to be an noble. Pickpocketing has fallen a long way from that. ......
"Sigh. Meena, go back and get the innkeeper to prepare a bath for her."
"Yes! Master!"
Meena nodded happily and ran off, probably because she knew that Alec was going to take care of Lily. Yeah, I'm sure it's better that way.
"Lily, here's the deal. If you follow me quietly, I'll guarantee you a hot bath and food tomorrow."
At Alec's words, Lily listened back warily.
"...... What are you going to make me do? I'm not going to kill anyone."
"It's nothing. I'm just going to take you on a rabbit hunt. I'll teach you how to make money. So you can work your 40,000 gold back to me."
"I can't afford forty thousand. ......"
Lily gave him a dark look, but that would be true if she didn't know that a single jewel could be sold for 40,000 gold.
"It's not that hard. Anyway, I don't accept veto. Serina, bring her to inn."
"Okay. Come on, let's go. You should run some hot water on yourself, you're a girl after all."
"Uuhhh ......"
When I gently called out to her, she must have been fed up with her current life. Lily's eyes moistened, and she obediently followed me.
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