Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 359: Could It Be…?
For the next three days, Tauro and his companions spent daylight hours wandering the forests and mountains around Bomen’s territorial capital.
They needed to appear as though they were diligently gathering the requested materials.
“Even though we’re doing nothing wrong, pretending to work like this makes me feel guilty as an adventurer…” Ragune admitted.
They passed the time collecting unrelated plants and subjugating monsters that weren’t part of the request.
“Come on. You heard the leader’s explanation,” Ankh said. “This is necessary if we want to avoid suspicion.”
“Indeed,” Zumei agreed, folding his hands behind his head. “Had Lord Tauro not understood the list, another party might already be gathering ingredients for a poison capable of killing us. The thought is chilling.”
“We still can’t relax,” Tauro warned. “The Assassins’ Guild may be searching for the ingredients through other channels. Even a small batch could be dangerous, so remain vigilant.”
“Of course. Still, because you noticed the threat in advance, we can prepare for it,” Malak said. “You may have saved the dragonfolk yet again. Thank you, Lord Tauro.”
“The Assassins’ Guild still exists. Save your thanks until the operation succeeds. For now, we should concentrate on being ready.”
Tauro modestly dismissed the praise.
“Even so, the outskirts of Bomen territory are practically a garden of poisonous plants,” Reeva observed with an exasperated sigh. “Even I recognize many of them.”
“To the Assassins’ Guild, this region must be a treasure house,” Ankh replied.
“Viscount Bomen’s ancestors defected from the Northern Empire, did they not?” Zumei asked suddenly.
“The Empire…” Malak said. “The dragonfolk have a history with that nation, so I understand why Zumei finds the connection troubling.”
Tauro and Ankh looked puzzled. Neither had heard of any direct relationship between the dragonfolk and the Empire.
“The Northern Empire has repeatedly attempted to invade the southern kingdoms,” Malak explained. “On several occasions, the dragonfolk living in these mountains stopped its advance. A bloodline descended from dragonfolk also exists in the north, and our people have sometimes fought them to preserve the balance.”
“I had no idea such a history existed,” Tauro said.
He knew from books that the Empire had long pursued expansion toward the south, but this was the first he had heard of dragonfolk standing in its path.
“A family that defected from the Empire became lord of this territory,” Zumei continued. “That family is now closely tied to the Assassins’ Guild—and may even have founded it. It’s difficult to believe those facts are unrelated.”
“That’s a very large theory,” Ankh said, though his expression remained serious. “The Empire has tried many methods of southern expansion. Viscount Bomen could be one of its pieces.”
“My own guess is slightly different,” Tauro said. “The first Viscount Bomen may have defected sincerely. Because his family was distrusted here, they made themselves useful by supplying information about the Empire. Perhaps the Assassins’ Guild began as another means of proving their value.”
“Then why would they turn against this kingdom?” Malak asked.
“Several generations may have passed while the family continued to be treated as outsiders. At some point, resentment could have driven them back toward the Empire. They may then have brought northern people with dragonfolk blood into the organization, creating the Assassins’ Guild as it exists now.”
“That would explain why we never noticed the connection,” Malak said slowly. “If northern dragonfolk descendants had been involved from the guild’s founding, our people would probably have discovered them much earlier.”
“Which would mean they joined more recently,” Ankh added. His years as a mercenary made him sensitive to the scent of approaching war. “If so, the Empire may be preparing another invasion of the south.”
“If northern dragonfolk bloodlines are involved, this affair may concern our entire people,” Malak said.
A disturbing thought suddenly occurred to Tauro.
“Was the disease that swept through the Dragonfolk Village truly a natural epidemic?”
“No… It couldn’t be…”
Reeva was the first to understand, and her face stiffened.
“Suppose the epidemic was part of a northern plan to invade the south,” Tauro continued. “It struck the very people most capable of stopping such an invasion. The timing would have been perfect.”
“If that’s true, the disease would have crippled us and the invasion might already have begun,” Malak said, visibly shaken. “Then, without ever knowing it, you may have saved not only the dragonfolk but this kingdom as well, Lord Tauro.”