Chapter 344: The Witness Appears

　The Adventurers’ Guild, Caxart City Branch…

　Hagen and his friends, who suspected Tauro and his team of killing the baggage handler of their team “Gray Vultures,” were about to pursue the matter with the deputy branch chief of the Adventurers’ Guild, but there was no trace of evidence on their tag. In fact, when Tauro pursued the matter, the branch manager, who was not supposed to be there (apparently, he had just become the new branch manager), came back unexpectedly and asked about it.

“Deputy Branch Chief,Is it true what the boy says?”

　The new branch chief, a skinhead, well-built, intimidating man, pursued the case from his chair in the lobby.

“Oh, no way! — Branch Chief, Hagen is the leader of this branch’s strongest team, right? He has trust and a proven track record. In comparison, these brats are outsiders. It’s obvious who deserves to be trusted!”

“If you use that logic, it means that even I, who just took office as the head of this branch, am not worthy of trust either. I have been in the capital since the beginning of my term of office, and I have hardly been able to show my face here at all.”

　The branch manager turned to Tauro and continued.

 “Boy. Do you have any proof of this threat you speak of?”

　The branch manager confirmed Tauro’s corroboration of his statement.

“The people who were at the scene were members of the ‘Gray Vultures’ there and us, the ‘Black Golden Wings,’ so when I say evidence, I mean the testimony of the people there.”

“Huh! We have no recollection of this! I’m sure those brats are planning on frame us for a crime we didn’t commit anyway, but that’s not going to happen, is it?”

　Hagen retorts.

“You are the one trying to frame me for a crime I didn’t commit, aren’t you? You’re the one colluding with the deputy branch Chief and pursuing him on the horseshit information that We murdered a baggage handler.”

　Tauro brushes off Hagen’s rebuttal.

“You are the ones who are lying! There were traces of my luggage carrier being taken to your inn. That’s the best proof!”

　Hagen continued his pursuit.

“Did we take Him? Maybe he just followed us?”

　Tauro now countered.

“How is that possible? Our baggage handler are under the servitude of our wizard and can only follow our orders. That’s why it’s impossible for him to follow you unless he was forced to! And that servitude magic can only be undone by the user. In other words, the moment any trace of the slavery magic disappears, our baggage handler has been murdered!”

　Hagen thought he had seen through Tauro’s rebuttal, was proud of his victory and thought he had kicked him out of the game.

“…… Slavery magic is taboo, isn’t it?”

“…… the rumors were true?”

“No wonder the baggage handler was so silent and complacent. ……”

　The adventurers in the lobby confirmed the truth of Hagen’s dark rumors.

“Ba, you idiot! How can that be?! I can’t use slavery magic! It’s true that the baggage handler disappeared in the lobby of the kids’ inn! My baggage and baggage handler, the possibility of theft, kidnapping, and possible murder have not disappeared.”

　In an attempt to undo Hagen’s gaffe, the wizard woman tried to turn the issue back to Tauro and the others.

“If it’s your luggage, I’ve got it. You mean this?”

　Tauro showed him the luggage of the team “Gray Vultures,” which was entrusted to him by the luggage bearer, Zion, from the magic storage.

“Look! I knew it! This is the proof! What do you call it if not proof, you brought it out yourself! I bet there’s even a dead baggage handler in that kid’s magic storage!”

　The female wizard was so determined that she started to speak in a loud voice.

   She is desperately trying to clear the suspicion of her own slave magic.

“…What about it, boy? You haven’t produced any evidence for a while, but if the luggage you just took out belonged to them, then you’ve admitted that you had contact with the person carrying the luggage. That would also raise questions about their whereabouts and their alleged murder, wouldn’t it?”

　The branch chief pursued Tauro with a serious look on his face.

“Then I would like to call a witness to prove them and to clear the series of suspicions. Ragune.”

　Tauro called out to Ragune, who tried to move to the deputy branch chief’s office.

“Hey, you’re running away!”

　Hagen suspected Tauro and the others were trying to escape.

“Don’t make a fuss. I’m still here, so there’s no way the leader will run away.”

　Ankh retorted to Hagen boldly.

　Meanwhile, Tauro and Ragune went into the deputy chiefs office and disappeared from sight.

　Then, shortly after, Tauro returned with someone else.

“This is Zion, the person who’s causing this commotion, the witness’ baggage handler.”

　Tauro introduced him and put him in front of everyone.

“Nah! Why the hell are you alive!? What about the slavery magic?”

　Hagen was so surprised by Zion’s appearance that he did not realize his own gaffe.

“I was under a slavery spell by Hagen and the others and was forced to be a baggage handler. I had Tauro-kun break the slavery spell, and was sheltered.”

　Zion spoke up without fear of Hagen.

“Deputy Branch Chief!  You’ve been hiding our baggage handler in your room!”

　Hagen thought Zion had come out of the Deputy  branch chief’s office, so he misunderstood and became angry.

“Idiot! How is that possible? What good would it do for me to hide him ……!”

　The deputy branch manager hurriedly said back to Hagen.

“Zion-kun, carrying the baggage, is a witness who has firsthand seen the many evil deeds of the deputy branch chief, Hagen-san, and the rest of the “Gray Vulture” up close. He was forced to obey them with slave magic, so they probably didn’t think that he would turn against Them, but now that the slave magic has been broken, all of Their misdeeds can be proven by Zion-kun.”

　Tauro looked straight at the branch chief and told him so.

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