Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 344: The Witness Appears
　The dispute continued in the reception hall of the Caxart Adventurers’ Guild.
　Hagen and Gray Vultures had accused Black-Gold Wings of murdering their baggage carrier. The guild tags contained no record supporting the allegation, and the newly appointed branch manager had returned unexpectedly just as Tauro began questioning the deputy branch manager’s conduct.
“Deputy Branch Manager, is what this boy says true?”
　The muscular, shaved-headed branch manager remained seated in the center of the lobby, but his presence was sufficiently intimidating to silence most of the room.
“Of course not! Hagen leads the strongest team registered at this branch. He has years of achievements and has earned our trust. These children are outsiders. It’s obvious whose word deserves greater weight.”
“By that reasoning, I’m also unworthy of trust,” the branch manager replied. “I only recently assumed this post and have spent most of my term in the territorial capital. I’ve barely shown my face in Caxart.”
　He turned to Tauro.
“Boy, do you have proof that Hagen threatened you?”
“The only people present were Gray Vultures and Black-Gold Wings. At present, the evidence consists of the testimony of those who were there.”
“Hah! We remember no such thing,” Hagen declared. “These brats are trying to frame us for a crime we didn’t commit.”
“You’re the ones trying to frame us,” Tauro replied. “You colluded with the deputy branch manager and accused us of murder based on nothing more than a story you invented.”
“Invented? Zion’s footprints led directly to your inn! That’s proof.”
“Proof that he reached our inn, perhaps. He could have followed us willingly.”
“Impossible! Our baggage carrier was bound to obey our mage. He could only follow our orders. Slave magic can’t be removed by anyone except the caster, so if the spell’s response disappeared, he must have been killed!”
　Hagen smiled triumphantly before realizing what he had admitted.
“Slave magic is forbidden, isn’t it?” someone whispered.
“So the rumors about Gray Vultures were true…”
“That explains why the baggage carrier never spoke or resisted them.”
　The adventurers throughout the lobby began murmuring among themselves.
“Y-You idiot!” the female mage shouted at Hagen. “I can’t use slave magic. The important point is that our baggage carrier disappeared after entering their inn. Theft, kidnapping, and murder are still possible.”
“If you mean the equipment Zion was carrying, I have it here.”
　Tauro opened [Magic Storage] and produced Gray Vultures’ large pack.
“There!” the mage cried. “That proves they took him. The corpse may even be hidden inside that child’s storage!”
　Her desperation only strengthened the suspicion that she had been responsible for the forbidden spell.
“What’s your explanation?” the branch manager asked Tauro. “You have admitted contact with the missing boy and possession of his team’s equipment. You must account for his whereabouts.”
“Then I’d like to call a witness who can answer every question. Ragune, please come with me.”
　Tauro and Ragune entered the deputy branch manager’s office.
“They’re running away!” Hagen shouted.
“Don’t make a fool of yourself,” Ankh replied. “I’m still standing here. Leader has no reason to flee.”
　A short time later, Tauro returned with a hooded, blue-haired child.
“This is Zion, the baggage carrier whose disappearance caused this commotion—and our witness.”
“Why are you alive!?” Hagen shouted. “What happened to the slave spell?”
　Once again, surprise made him confess more than he intended.
“Hagen and the others placed slave magic on me and forced me to serve as their baggage carrier,” Zion said. “Tauro broke the spell and gave me somewhere safe to stay.”
　Zion faced Hagen without looking away.
“Deputy Branch Manager! You hid our baggage carrier in your office!” Hagen accused, misunderstanding where Zion had come from.
“Idiot! Why would I hide him? What possible benefit would that give me?”
　The deputy branch manager’s panicked response only made the divisions among the accused more obvious.
“Zion witnessed the crimes committed by Hagen, Gray Vultures, and the deputy branch manager at close range,” Tauro told the branch manager. “They discussed their secrets freely because the slave spell prevented any testimony against them. Now that the spell has been broken, Zion can testify about everything that happened.”