He was an elf.
Blond hair, deep green eyes. A monocle over his right eye.
Being an elf, he was naturally handsome. A fine-featured pretty boy at that.
His outfit was a white jacket over black trousers. It had a polished air about it, but otherwise looked ordinary.
He wasn't armed. The thin, cord-like belt had a pouch on it.
"Araya, sir, please help me! These guys attacked me out of nowhere!"
"You're the one who attacked!"
Bid glared at Araya, still irritated, despite the large man's desperate last-stand attitude.
When he was asked for help, the young elf called Araya replied with a sigh.
"What seems to be the trouble?"
"There's no 'seems to be' about it. What's wrong with these guys?"
Bid glared at Araya, visibly annoyed.
"They're from the Gouro Subjugation Force."
"I've heard that much."
"But you're saying they're definitely members?"
"That's correct."
So it wasn't a lie.
I asked, exasperated.
"The Gouro Subjugation Force—are they a bandit gang?"
"No. It's a subjugators' clan."
"That's strange. He offered me money, equipment, and women—"
"That's a lie!! I never said any such—"
The big man fell silent. Bid had pressed a blade to his neck.
Blood dripped down from his neck.
"Keep it down, would you…"
"Guh—"
"May I continue?"
"Sure, go ahead."
Even though his companion was in mortal danger, Araya didn't even try to protest.
"He told me to hand over money, equipment, women, and a house. This is what happened when I refused."
"…A house?"
"My uncle's house."
"Hmm."
Araya tilted the monocle up with a quick flick.
Bid said coldly.
"So the Gouro Subjugation Force plans to take on the witch?"
"The witch? That witch? I know she's here."
I had actually considered that possibility.
So they really were aware of it after all.
"Yes, I'm the witch's apprentice."
"Hmm. Then you're Wof?"
"That's right."
"...Proof?"
A light of suspicion flickered in Araya's eyes. He probably thinks I'm about two meters tall or something.
I spoke up boldly.
"Could you tell me where your base is? Tomorrow I can come by with the witch to pay our respects."
"...Ah, no, that's quite all right. I have no intention of picking a fight with the Zenzera family. Naturally. Nor do I have any intention of opposing the witch."
Zenzera? One of the Three Great Houses?
What was going on here?
"So what are you going to do?"
"Right. [Cut]."
Without warning, a deep slash opened across the large man's body.
A Relic? Bidd-san jumped clear. The man died instantly.
"...Evidence disposal, huh."
I stayed on guard. Was he the type that used the same gaze as Alverd? Annoying.
Could I reflect it with the "Cage of the Blue Saint"? Araya gave a small shake of his head.
"No. This whole affair was the doing of Zagoo's squad alone. I told you — I have no intention of opposing either Zenzera or the witch. I did think their movements were strange, though. These guys were originally assigned to the subjugation support mission in the Heizen Great Forest. There's no reason for them to be here."
"From the sound of it, this wasn't just a coincidence that you happened to pass through."
So they had been marked, after all.
"My apologies."
Araya bowed his head.
That unexpected gesture caught Bid and me off guard.
"What's this all about?"
"Even if they were the lowest of the low, they were still from our clan and caused you trouble. This isn't exactly an apology, but take their equipment and money."
So that was how they settled things. Well, I didn't mind.
Equipment, huh. I tried using the Wheel of Fortune. No response.
Oh right, I still can't use it. How inconvenient.
Bid asked me.
"What'll you do?"
"I think just the money is fine."
I already had a full set of knives, so I'd pass on those this time.
"Yeah, you're right. Then we'll just take the money."
"Then just wait a moment—"
Araya snapped his fingers.
Several figures in black emerged from the surroundings, appearing one after another.
"......!?"
"What the—!?"
The figures in black silently began clearing away the corpses, working with brisk efficiency.
Stuffing them into bags.
Their outfits reminded me of the shinobi from my past life memories.
Probably used for the same purpose, too.
One of the black-clad figures gathered their money and handed it over to me.
"Th-thanks."
"..."
Once they were done, the black-clad figures dispersed.
"It's an important time for us too. We'd rather not cause any commotion."
"I agree."
"I'd appreciate it if you could keep a tighter leash on even the lowest of the low."
"Sorry about that. We'll make sure nothing like this happens again."
And with that, Araya left.
We kept glaring at his back until he disappeared, maintaining our guard.
Once he was gone, I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't feel like heading to the eastern market anymore.
I was oddly exhausted and hungry, so I decided to head to Belk's dining hall.
On the way there, Bid spent the entire time fuming and grumbling.
I listened in silence and thought.
The witch's old acquaintance — could that be referring to the Zenzera family?
If so, maybe I could deliver this letter from the uncle.
We arrived at Belk's dining hall.
I opened the door and a bell rang.
"Welcome!"
Rel's sister. Samarniya called out cheerfully.
The customers were sparse. A few more than before, maybe. I'd sit at a table.
We sat across from each other at a table and placed our orders.
Bid went for the grilled herb meat platter. I got the five-variety sandwich set.
"You don't eat much, huh, Wof?"
"Looks like you're the one eating plenty, Bid."
"Anger eating, that's what this is."
He must be really ticked off.
To calm his anger even a little, I offered to treat him here.
"Huh, Wof?"
My name was called suddenly, and I turned around.
At the table right next to us sat a black-haired boy with wolf ears and a tail.
"Nabel?"
I say boy, but he's sixteen — older than me.
"It really is. Wof."
"Hey there!"
Coran, the green-haired young man, reacted, and Plancy, the elf woman, greeted me.
No doubt about it. It was Kerberostan.
"It's been a while."
"It's been a while."
Nabel-san and I bowed our heads at almost the same time.
Kerberostan is a Rank IV delver party of three.
Nabel-san serves as the leader.
My connection with them was a strange coincidence.
They'd asked me to help at Hydrangea's dungeon and to do something about the rumors about me.
But that didn't go well. I failed, and the rumors about me only grew.
And in the end, I ended up attracting Herfutu—a monster that devours rumors.
Defeating that thing was a real struggle.
"—Kerberostan, huh?"
"H-hello. Bid."
"Oh, it's Bid."
"With Wof...?"
Oh, so they knew Bid too.
Maybe because they were the same Rank IV.
"What brings all three of you here?"
"We came to make some money!"
Coran said with vigor.
Nabel-san gave a wry smile at that.
"We came to test our strength a little."
"Oh yeah, the Forest Wave, huh."
"And we wanted to experience the Full Moon Bazaar too. Are you two here for the same thing?"
Plancy asked, sounding full of curiosity.
"Pretty much, yeah."
"So you two already knew each other?"
"Well, we've been through a lot together."
"It's not just us — the witch, Mineha, and Hoss are all here too."
"Hoss — as in, from Thunder Fang?"
"Mineha's mother is supposedly a first-class fairial, right? She's really something."
"The witch!? That witch is in Heisen!?"
They seem kind of surprised.
Come to think of it, Thunder Fang was ranked fourth-class too, wasn't it?
Mineha is third-class and stands out at that, so... yeah.
The witch is... well, yeah. Hmm.