Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 417: Pursuit
After capturing the criminals, Tauro and his companions treated the wounded, loaded them onto the carriage, and decided to return to the territorial capital.
Garde’s request still took priority, so they intended to resume the delivery route as soon as the prisoners had been handed over to the territorial soldiers.
“I don’t mind if we’re delayed by a day or two. Thanks to you, we’re already several days ahead of schedule.”
Garde was now afraid of inconveniencing Tauro.
Although Garde was technically the party’s employer, Tauro was also a territorial inspector—a position close to that of the lord’s personal aide.
Garde no longer knew how he was supposed to treat him.
Feeling responsible for the awkwardness, Tauro decided to make the proposal he had originally intended to present after the quest.
He offered to rent Garde a bag enchanted with [Magic Storage] (Medium).
It was one of several items Tauro had purchased together from a magic-tool shop while he was based in the Royal Capital.
He had previously lent small [Magic Storage] pouches to mountain villages he visited while operating from Dansas, but he had never found a suitable use for the medium-sized bag bought at the same time.
Lending it to Garde would solve the merchant’s dependence on adventurers with storage skills.
“What?! A magic tool with [Magic Storage] costs a fortune! I know a shop in the territorial capital that has one [Magic Storage] (Medium) bag for sale, but they want seven platinum coins for it!”
Garde gasped at the valuable bag Tauro held out.
Tauro had negotiated his own down to five platinum coins in the Royal Capital. The local shop was clearly charging an outrageous premium.
Still, Tauro and the other members of Black-Gold Wings were D-plus adventurers, so hiring the entire team was hardly inexpensive.
With the bag, Garde could travel on a single horse instead of using a carriage and would no longer need to hire adventurers solely for their storage capacity. It would save both time and money.
“You’d really lend me something so valuable and useful?”
Ordinarily, an offer that favorable would have made Garde deeply suspicious. Coming from an official territorial inspector, however, it seemed unquestionably trustworthy.
“Yes. How would this monthly rental fee sound?”
Tauro named a price.
“…At that rate, it’d take you ages to recover what you paid. Are you sure? I’d still rent it even if you charged more.”
Garde gave his honest opinion.
“Hahaha! Then let’s sign a multi-year contract. That will give both of us stable income and predictable costs over the long term. Our interests align, so everyone benefits.”
“A multi-year contract… I understand! That works for me!”
Garde accepted the proposal and rented the [Magic Storage] (Medium) bag, greatly simplifying the future transportation of the village’s produce.
When they reached the territorial capital, Garde immediately placed his belongings in the borrowed bag and went to meet one of his customers.
Tauro and the others brought Grado and the five mercenaries to the castle gate and asked the guards to transfer them to the territorial soldiers.
One gate guard recognized Grado and initially refused to believe Black-Gold Wings’ account.
Tauro therefore presented his territorial-inspector certificate.
The gate guards were stunned.
They escorted the party to the guardhouse to hear the full story and placed the captured mercenaries in a holding cell. One guard still couldn’t believe Grado was guilty, however, and untied him to conduct a private interview in another room.
The guard seemed convinced there had to be some mistake.
Grado exploited that carelessness. Claiming that he needed to use the lavatory, he escaped.
“H-He ran away!”
The guard rushed after him, but Grado had already vanished into the crowd.
Tauro reacted immediately.
“This may work in our favor!”
If they followed Grado instead of recapturing him at once, he might lead them to his associates.
Tauro rushed from the guardhouse and pursued him with [Presence Detection].
“Ragune, all of you stay here, finish explaining the situation, and watch the other prisoners! I’ll find out where Grado goes!”
With that, Tauro disappeared into the crowd.
“…Leader, they’re least likely to believe the explanation after the territorial inspector runs away.”
Ankh sighed, then addressed the guards.
“Send for the captain of the castle guard. Tell him Ankh asked for him, and he’ll provide someone who can verify our story.”
The guards exchanged uncertain looks, then sent their fastest runner toward the castle.
The territorial capital was too crowded for [Presence Detection] to isolate one man reliably, so Tauro switched to [True Eye] and followed Grado’s trail.
Aware that he might be pursued, Grado slipped through the crowd into a back alley and moved with surprising speed.
Once they were away from the main street, Tauro used his improvised invisibility magic before continuing the pursuit.
He also activated [Presence Concealment] so Grado wouldn’t notice him.
Grado repeatedly checked behind himself as he moved through the alleys, then turned a corner.
Tauro hurried after him, only to find that the man had vanished.
The alley ended in a solid wall. There should have been nowhere for him to go.
When Tauro examined the area with [True Eye], however, he could faintly perceive Grado descending beyond the wall.
“So that means…”
Tauro examined the wall with [Anti-Inhibition].
A small indentation hidden by perception-inhibiting magic became visible.
“There it is.”
Tauro pressed the indentation. Something clicked, and the outline of a door appeared in the wall before swinging open.
“This is remarkably elaborate…”
Impressed despite himself, Tauro opened the concealed door and found a staircase descending into the basement.