"Miss Guild Receptionist, you should return that to its rightful owner. I cannot stand by and watch such an atrocity unfold before my eyes."
What is this guy's deal?
This is practically a semi-official rule of the Guild, you know?
Not that it would be forgivable even without that.
"Ugh, here he comes — the 'Noble Prince of Justice.'"
A random adventurer muttered.
What the hell is up with that cringe-inducing epithet?
If someone pinned a title like that on me, I'd admit defeat and leave this country.
"I'm terribly sorry, Lord Kirche Wallenstein. I'll return it right away."
Oh, and there it is — the receptionist girl's magnificent about-face.
She was just saying, "Hmm, seems a little light..."
She could've at least fired back with, "Will you cover the difference?"
The lovely receptionist handed the money pouch back to the grimy old man.
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What, some noble kid playing justice protagonist?
Probably just adults humoring some sheltered young master's little pretend game.
Take it somewhere else.
But mercilessly, the princely young man turned back toward me and spoke again.
"You must be Alan, the Orichalcum-rank adventurer? I cannot overlook atrocities committed under the banner of the Raising Ducal House. I'll have you relinquish your Orichalcum rank."
I've gotten tangled up with an idiot...
"Who are you?"
"Ah, my sincerest apologies — I was remiss in the courtesies befitting a noble of justice. I am Kirche Wallenstein, the 'Noble Prince of Justice,' second son of the Wallenstein Marquisate."
"Oh, okay. I'm Alan."
"Now that introductions are out of the way, let's return to the matter at hand. Relinquish your Orichalcum rank and start over from the bottom. As a fellow Orichalcum-rank adventurer, I cannot turn a blind eye to such barbarism. That rank was earned by currying favor with the Raising Ducal House, was it not?"
How does that even follow?
If anything, I'm the one helping noble ladies and trimming down political enemies to earn goodwill, aren't I?
Oh right, I did ask him to look after Nathan at one point.
Either way, being talked to like I got my rank as a handout from the ducal house is getting on my nerves.
"I have no memory of sucking up to Lord Gys. You of all people have no right to lecture me."
"You are freely allowed in and out of the ducal house, yet your accomplishments at the Guild are hardly impressive in number. Can you blame anyone for suspecting you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, and this is all my own ability. Why don't you just ask Lord Gys or the Adventurer's Guild directly?"
"Of course I have asked. But His Grace says he knows nothing of the sort, and the Guild told me it was the result of proper procedures."
Obviously.
Even if His Grace had put in a word, there's no way he'd leave evidence.
Besides, if it's something done by Gys — the second most powerful man in this country — then whether there's evidence or not, that's what passes for justice in this isekai, isn't it?
"Then there's no problem at all. Goodbye."
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Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Gentleman Thief] [Dark Magic] [Rock-Iron Magic] [Holy Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Scorching Heat Magic] [Freezing Ice Magic] [Magic Hand] [Temptation] [Pain Numbing] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Protection of the Fire Spirit] [Phantom Demon] [Gale and Thunder] [Protection of the Dark Spirit] [Supernatural Strength] [Thunder God Sword] [Lucky Break] [Clear Storm Magic] [Humility] [Heaven's Gate] [Ninja Master] [Eloquence] [Inquirer of Truth] [Whispers of the Abyss] [Super Intuition]
Rank: Orichalcum