Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 128: Catching the Tail
　Tauro and his companions took the shortest route from the guard station to the distant slum district.
　Several backstreets along the way looked dangerous, but [Presence Detection] allowed Tauro to avoid suspicious groups. With Shin and Rumeya beside them as well, the team reached the edge of the slums without incident.
　Few people entered or left the district, so the four kept their distance and established a watch.
　Tauro, Shin, Aeris, and Rumeya divided into pairs and took turns observing the entrance.
　During Tauro’s watch, two armed men hurried into the slums. Several minutes later, Ruhi emerged with them and quickly headed elsewhere.
　Tauro asked Aeris and Rumeya to remain behind and continue watching while he and Shin followed Ruhi’s group.
　Tauro activated [Presence Concealment] and instructed Shin to trail him from a considerable distance.
　Even if Ruhi possessed [Enemy Detection] and noticed Shin, Shin would appear to be an ordinary passerby rather than a pursuer. The person actually tracking Ruhi—Tauro—would remain concealed, while Shin needed only to keep Tauro in sight.
　Ruhi and his men repeatedly checked their surroundings, but never noticed Tauro following them.
　Upon reaching a corner of the commercial district, they entered the rear of a trading company’s building.
“…Is this the employer’s property?”
　The building was large, and its dignified front suggested a long history. The rear, however, was shabby and poorly maintained.
　Tauro told Shin to wait at a distance, then approached the back wall and listened carefully.
　Faint voices occasionally carried through the building.
“The guards are onto us!”
“Two of my men were captured…”
“This is bad. Put them aboard a ship tonight and sell them to—”
“I… understand.”
　Tauro couldn’t hear the entire conversation, but what reached him was enough to confirm that this trading company was connected to the kidnappings.
　The remaining task was to locate and rescue the children.
　Tauro withdrew quickly, rejoined Shin, and returned to Aeris and Rumeya.
　When they arrived, four unfamiliar men were standing with the other two.
“Who are they?”
　Tauro asked. They didn’t look like city guards.
“They’re Naniwards, a C-plus-rank team from the O’Circus branch of the Adventurers’ Guild,”
　Rumeya explained.
　While Tauro and Shin were away, Rumeya had gone to the guild to request reinforcements. He learned that Ruhi carried a bounty and that Naniwards had already been pursuing him under a special quest.
“Thanks for finding him, young friends. So Ruhi has become a kidnapper now? We’ll capture that disgrace to our city and hand him over to the guards,”
　the leader of Naniwards declared.
　As they spoke, Aeris alerted everyone that Ruhi had returned.
　He was hurrying through the slum entrance with two of his men.
　The leader of Naniwards signaled to his companions. One member who appeared to serve as the team’s scout slipped after Ruhi, and Tauro followed farther behind.
　Ruhi and his men entered a large building inside the slums. Having reached what they considered a safe location, they no longer watched their surroundings as carefully.
　A carriage stood outside the building beside a lone lookout, but neither the driver nor the guard appeared tense.
“There are sixteen people inside,”
　Tauro whispered when he caught up with the Naniwards scout.
“Half of them are children. And you’re remarkably good at concealing your presence. Even with my [Search] skill, I could barely sense you.”
“It’s one of my stronger abilities.”
“Clearly. I can’t sense you with my other detection abilities either. It’s rather unsettling to speak with someone who feels as though he isn’t there.”
“I understand what you mean. I’ll return and report to the others.”
“Good. I’ll report as well.”
　Tauro nodded and returned to the waiting teams.
　After hearing the scouts’ findings, the eight adventurers discussed their options.
　Someone proposed sending for the guards, but there appeared to be only eight adult criminals inside. Dispatching one of their own fighters would cost the adventurers their numerical advantage and might give the kidnappers time to move the children.
　Ruhi was the only opponent considered especially dangerous. If they kept him occupied, the others should be manageable.
　The kidnappers’ lookout was still relaxed, giving the adventurers an opportunity to attack before their targets realized they had been found.
　They therefore decided to raid the building immediately.
　Naniwards moved into position at the front entrance, while Black-Gold Wings prepared to attack from the rear.