Chapter 139
“But you guys are surprisingly strong with alcohol, aren’t you? Maybe not as much as Melt-chan, but you drank quite a bit of that wine, didn’t you? Even I got reasonably drunk from it.” (Rue)
“That’s the weird thing…lately I just don’t get drunk at all.” (Kash)
“Same here. I’m pretty sure I used to be weak to alcohol.” (Rikka)
“But it feels pleasant and tastes good, so it’s not exactly a problem. I just don’t understand why, which is the strange part.” (Grant)
On the way back, while escorting two of the three to the residential district, I start a conversation with the trio, who still have perfectly steady steps. Hm… I don’t think alcohol tolerance suddenly shoots up like that though…
“Ah, my inn is here. It’s close to the residential area, so it’s cheap and really helps.” (Grant)
“Oh, I didn’t know there was an inn here.” (Rue)
“I’m planning to save up some money and eventually buy a detached house deeper in the residential area.” (Grant)
“I want that too, but…having my family home in town is too convenient, so it’s hard to move out.” (Kash)
“My parents would probably be against it. As long as my work base is in Lindblum, living alone seems hard.” (Rikka) “Well, that’s what you call parental concern. Once you become fully independent, maybe their thinking will change.” (Rue)
The residential district. At this hour, when the night has only just begun, you can hear the sounds of daily life from the surrounding houses and apartments. But I sense nothing suspicious among them. As expected…no one would try to attack in a place with this many eyes around.
I part ways with Grant-kun at his inn, and then with the remaining two inside the residential area. Most likely no one has followed us inside…but once they leave, we might be tracked.
As expected, once I leave the residential area and reach the mid layer, I begin to sense someone probing us from afar. I can’t let them find out where our home is. I’ll shake them off around here.
“Melt-chan, hold on tight-ja zo.” (Rue)
“Nn… yeah…” (Melt)
Her arms tighten with surprising strength even half-asleep. I dash forward at full speed, and the moment I turn a corner, I leap straight upward, landing on the roof of the nearest house.
This time, I move toward the upper layer by rooftop. I doubt anyone can chase me rooftop-to-rooftop into a district you’re normally supposed to reach by climbing slopes.
“…Or so I thought.” (Rue)
I sense one person, jumping from roof to roof, following me. A rather exceptional physical ability… Troublesome.
It would be a problem if they follow me all the way home. So I head to the upper layer, to a place likely cleared of people…the site where Shizuma once fought, the Alheus Estate.
“…No one’s around here. Show yourself.” (Rue)
Just as expected, I landed in the courtyard of the Alheus Estate, which must have been sealed off. Even though no one lives here, light fixtures resembling street lamps still illuminate the empty courtyard.
“…Who are you? Release that girl at once.”
But the one who appeared…even with her face hidden by a mask…was clearly a woman… No, I could tell exactly who she was.
“Hyoh!? So you were with the guild! If I recall…you’re the one who helped Shilent… uh… right! Lemia-san!” (Rue)
“…You know Shilent-sama…? Who are you?” (Lemia)
“Mm, Shilent is my subordinate. Could I ask you to look after this girl, Melt-chan, for a bit?” (Rue)
Yes, Lemia. A woman belonging to the guild’s Black Ops, and likely harboring some feelings toward Shilent. Truly enviable-ja.
“…You’re an acquaintance of hers? I followed the suspicious figure moving across the rooftops but… No, more importantly… subordinate? Are you…the leader of the Brigade!?” (Lemia)
“Correct. I was asked by Seimu, you see… No, first things first…could you look after Melt-chan? If possible, take her home. She should have the key-ja.” (Rue)
“I don’t understand the situation, but…judging from everything…you’re being followed, aren’t you?” (Lemia)
“Mm. So I plan to settle things. Once you take Melt-chan home, could you stay with her? As you can see, she’s pretty drunk… I’d feel better if someone stayed nearby.” (Rue)
“…Understood. Please tell me everything later.” (Lemia)
Lucky. No…inevitable. Most likely, the country and the guild were already wary of the faction causing trouble. In that case, it isn’t surprising that Lemia-jou would be in this role.
“Now then…if my memory is correct, this estate should have a passage leading to the Underside-ja.” (Rue)
“Could it be…the ones pursuing you are from the Underside?” (Lemia)
“Just a hunch. But given the situation, there’s only one factor that could cause such a sudden shift in Lindblum’s balance of power. The Adventurers’ Den was probably someone’s territory, wasn’t it? A force capable of encroaching on that would be fairly limited, wouldn’t it?” (Rue)
If the country starts interfering with the underground world, then naturally those shady individuals living underground would flee aboveground.
And in such a world, it’s impossible that there isn’t a group acting as organizer or enforcer. There’s very likely someone who rules the shadows of the Underside.
“Hmm… my guess is that Killcrawler keeps ‘those guys’ suppressed.” (Rue)
“…! You’re that familiar with Lindblum’s power structure?” (Lemia)
“Hm? Not at all-ja yo. I just assumed that both the surface and the underground each have a force that governs the legitimate and illegitimate sides-ja. The surface front is Glory Knights, who take care of Seimu. The surface shadow is Curseface Company. The underground front is Killcrawler. And the ones rampaging now are the underground shadow. How’s that? I’m right, aren’t I?” (Rue)
The balance was precisely why neither the country nor the guild interfered until now. But with part of the underground collapsing, refugees flowing up, and Killcrawler members injured…the only faction that would act now is them.
“…It’s no wonder you’re Shilent-sama’s superior. Once, he said, ‘Our boss is a person with high moral character.’ …I believe his words.” (Lemia)
“Hoho, is that so. The underground entrance is this way, correct?” (Rue)
“Yes. Debris removal is complete. Your enemies are likely the group known as Abyss Fang…a former mercenary group. They’ve absorbed criminals and thugs, and now have enough soldiers to rival some mercenary guild clans. We’ve been hesitant to act too rashly though…” (Lemia)
“Use me. I’m an outsider with no official involvement from you or the country. Lucky for us, many people saw me being hassled by thugs. In other words…” (Rue)
The justification is already in place.
“…Rest easy. Those fools who disturb the peace of my precious granddaughter and defile her place of memories will, as of today, say farewell to this world-ja yo.” (Rue)
If no one is watching…if my beloved granddaughter, and the young ones I cherish, are not here, then perhaps it’s fine to go all out…just a little.
“!!!”
“Well then, I’m off.” (Rue)
“Y-…Yes……” (Lemia)
And so I head toward the Underside, entering from the dungeon beneath the estate.
—————–
“……hah……hah……”
Holding Melt, Lemia finally remembers how to breathe. Even though it’s the dead of winter, sweat pours down her forehead.
“That…is the Brigade’s… leader…” (Lemia)
Different class entirely. The terror she once felt toward Shilent seemed lukewarm in comparison… That’s the level of overwhelming presence the old man had. Only now, at a distance, does she realize she had been facing a monstrous existence.
“It’s like…a natural disaster… I almost fainted…” (Lemia)
“Nnn… mm…”
Melt’s small, cute groan in her arms finally allows Lemia’s frozen body to relax. At the same time, she feels the need to protect her. This girl, the one the Brigade leader called his granddaughter and cherished. If the being who exuded such inhuman presence cares deeply for her, then if anything happened to this girl…would the country survive? She feels a certainty disturbingly close to conviction.
—————–
In the underground layer, the Underside.
Because of the past explosion accident and the country’s reconstruction efforts, ventilation has improved, and nearly all humans have left this area.
But one faction, calling themselves Abyss Fang, opposed the nation letting “outsiders” into a territory they considered theirs.
More powerful than a mere band of criminals, they negotiated with the nation while acting arrogantly, using the land rights as leverage, and had begun expanding their influence aboveground.
Four forces held the balance. If that balance broke, a second war was not impossible. Normally, the surface and underground frontside groups kept those contained. But with the underground backside faction expanding, a clash with the surface backside was inevitable, everyone predicted.
Thus, the nation prepared to act.
But…on this night, into the underground world descended one old man…no, one Ashura.
“…I see. Truly, almost no one remains.”
Rue, thanks to his abnormal sensory abilities, can grasp roughly how many intelligent beings -humans- remain in this sealed-like space. The faint vibrations, the traces people left behind, the smell of life lingering subtly…
All five senses pick up information ordinary people would unconsciously ignore, and he reads every detail, manifesting a power akin to [Divine Eye] or [Divine Guidance] or [Appraisal Eye].
He walks silently. His steps produce no sound despite the underground echoing easily. He even passes patrolling knights…but for some reason, they fail to perceive him, walking right past without calling out.
“…No issues with regular humans, I see.” (Rue)
It’s not just footwork. It’s the combination of reading human blind spots, predicting gaze movements…techniques akin to secret arts. And with them alone, he displays effects that didn’t exist even in the game.
Thus, Rue heads deeper, toward the area with the highest concentration of remaining humans.
…Eventually, he arrives. Arrives at the Abyss Fang base, constructed atop the largest and strongest foundation built during Lindblum’s early construction.
“…I see, they’ve turned it into a fortress.” (Rue)
The tunnels once used during construction, the space that once held work sheds, all modified into what could be called a building that supports the town.
Before it, Rue distorts his usual gentle smile into something ugly…not laughing, but sneering.
“Kukaka… I will no longer say sorry… Give up.” (Rue)
The Ashura charges.
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