Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 343: Villains Following in Our Footsteps
　Hagen, leader of the adventuring team Gray Vultures, was a C-plus bandit adventurer. Tracking and detecting enemies were his specialties, and he was confident that those abilities could rival even those of a B-rank adventurer.
　He didn’t care what happened to the team’s baggage carrier as a person. In Hagen’s eyes, however, Zion and the equipment being carried were Gray Vultures’ property, and he had no intention of forgiving anyone who touched either.
　The disappearance of the slave spell’s response normally meant that the person bound by it had died. Convinced that Zion had been killed, Hagen set out to follow Zion’s footprints despite the alcohol still lingering in his body from the previous night.
　The trail led through a busy street, turned into a back alley, and stopped for a moment.
“Was the baggage carrier attacked here…?”
　Hagen frowned. An assault in such a visible place should have caused a disturbance and left witnesses. The slave spell compelled Zion to obey Gray Vultures’ orders, making voluntary cooperation with an attacker impossible. Yet there were no signs of resistance.
　When Hagen examined the ground more carefully, he realized that the footprints didn’t truly end there. They continued to the end of the alley, returned to the main street, and eventually led to an inn.
“This is where Black-Gold Wings is staying…”
　He followed the prints inside, but they vanished on the first floor.
“What the hell happened? Slave magic should have made it impossible for him to disobey us. Did that monstrous child kill him? But if Black-Gold Wings murdered an adventurer, the crime should be recorded on their guild tags… Fine. I’ll have the guild deal with them.”
　Hagen smiled and headed toward the Adventurers’ Guild.
　Tauro had concealed himself nearby and watched the entire investigation.
“I didn’t expect him to track Zion this far. Rotten or not, he really is a C-plus adventurer. I wanted Gray Vultures to attack us directly, but it looks as though they’ve changed their approach.”
　Ankh and Ragune emerged from the back of the inn and joined him.
“What do you think, Leader? Are they finally going to attack us?” Ankh asked eagerly.
“Not yet. Hagen followed Zion’s footprints here and probably concluded that we disposed of him. Instead of confronting us himself, he intends to use the Adventurers’ Guild to corner us.”
“Oh. Ankh and I were ready,” Ragune said, sounding disappointed.
“They’ll come after us directly eventually. For now, we should continue working normally and see what they do.”
　Later that day, after completing another Flaming Crab subjugation, Black-Gold Wings returned to the Caxart branch to report the quest’s completion.
　Gray Vultures occupied part of the reception hall, waiting impatiently. Tauro ignored them and approached Armine’s counter with Ragune and Ankh.
　Before Armine could finish the completion procedure, the deputy branch manager emerged from the back room.
“You’re the members of the D-plus team Black-Gold Wings, correct? This branch has received an accusation that you murdered an adventurer belonging to another team. Do you admit your guilt?”
　A murmur ran through the lobby.
“What are you talking about?” Tauro asked.
“Don’t pretend ignorance. Submit your guild tags immediately.”
“I don’t mind, but what will you do if the accusation is false? You’re making a serious and extremely rude claim without presenting any evidence.”
“Stop arguing and hand them over!” Hagen shouted. “We know you murdered our baggage carrier!”
　Since they’d have submitted their tags to complete the quest anyway, Tauro nodded to his companions. All three handed their tags to Armine.
　The deputy branch manager snatched them from her and checked their records with a magical device.
“That can’t be… There’s no record. Unless you somehow erased it…”
　He stopped before revealing more than he intended.
“Check properly!” Hagen demanded. “Find the evidence and expose them!”
“Hagen… none of the crimes you described appear on their records,” the deputy branch manager admitted.
“So you accepted Hagen’s accusation without proof,” Tauro said. “He threatened us and ordered us to leave Caxart only a few days ago. Your willingness to believe him so readily is troubling.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
　The deputy branch manager faltered.
“That’s an interesting story.”
　A broad, powerfully built man with a shaved head entered the guild. He wasn’t Hagen, and Tauro had never seen him before.
“B-Branch Manager!? You were summoned to the territorial capital. Why are you back already?”
　The deputy branch manager looked as though the person he least wanted to see had appeared.
“The lord arrived earlier than expected, so my meeting ended ahead of schedule. I returned just in time to hear a very interesting accusation.”
　The newly appointed branch manager pulled a chair into the center of the lobby and sat down.
“Now then, let us hear the entire story.”