Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 426: Village of Secrets
The hidden village’s treatment of Black-Gold Wings changed after Cross recovered.
Chief Gaze had originally intended to hire the party as Haku’s bodyguards and as combat instructors for the villagers. With Haku’s adoptive father once again capable of fighting, that arrangement no longer seemed necessary.
Tauro still didn’t understand the chief’s true intentions.
What kind of village is this?
And who’s Haku?
Why did Gaze entrust him to Cross thirteen years ago?
One possibility was that Haku belonged to a noble bloodline. Tauro briefly considered whether he could be an illegitimate child of the previous Count Graunewald. The former count had died fourteen years earlier, however, and members of the family were known for purple hair and blue eyes. Haku’s black hair and black eyes made that theory unlikely.
He might belong to some other noble family, with the village secretly protecting him, but that possibility was far too broad to be useful.
It was also strange that the villagers had left Haku’s protection almost entirely to Cross. Perhaps Cross’s serious injury had frightened Gaze into seeking martial training for the entire settlement and additional guards for the boy.
Tauro felt that one essential piece was still missing. With the information available, he could draw no reliable conclusion.
For the moment, Cross’s recovery allowed the existing arrangement to continue, and Haku appeared to be safe.
The unidentified threat remained troubling.
Someone had either pursued Haku or tried to silence the village. Cross was a former royal knight and a highly trained fighter, yet the intruder had wounded him severely. That suggested an individual—or an organization—with considerable ability.
Tauro might have been able to help if he knew the details, but Gaze refused to disclose them. Cross had apparently never been told the full truth either.
While Tauro considered these questions, Black-Gold Wings was summoned to the chief’s house.
“Now that Cross has recovered, the work I asked you to perform is no longer necessary.”
Gaze delivered the cancellation awkwardly.
“That can’t be helped. More importantly, we’re glad Cross-san recovered.”
Tauro answered with an easy smile.
“I would, however, like to offer you another job.”
“Another one?”
Tauro was almost impressed by how quickly the chief produced new requests.
He certainly seems determined to make use of us.
“Yes. Put simply, it’d involve surveillance—or perhaps reconnaissance.”
Gaze hesitated over the words.
“Submit the request through the Adventurers’ Guild. Once we know the details, we’ll consider it and give you an answer.”
Tauro chose his response carefully. He had no intention of accepting an unknown assignment.
“If possible, I’d prefer to hire you directly without involving the guild. The reward would be much greater.”
Gaze formed a circle with his fingers to indicate money and smiled.
“Village Chief, we’re adventurers. You understand that accepting work outside the guild can lead to disciplinary action. More importantly, we can’t accept any job before hearing what it requires.”
Tauro’s suspicion deepened. He decided to draw out as much information as possible.
“Can your party keep a secret? It’d cause serious problems if this conversation spread beyond the village.”
Gaze remained cautious, despite claiming that he considered them trustworthy.
“If the matter is confidential, we won’t repeat it. Whether we accept is a separate question. Depending on the work, we might also be able to recommend another reliable party.”
“No. Involving more people would increase the risk of a leak. I want only your party to know.”
“Then what exactly do you want us to investigate?”
“A certain gathering will be held in the territorial capital in a few weeks. I want you to learn its details and security arrangements.”
A gathering in the capital in a few weeks… It can’t be—
“Where will it be held?”
“In the great hall of the lord’s castle.”
That’s my unveiling ceremony.
“Why do you need information about that gathering?”
As the central guest, Tauro could easily obtain almost any detail Gaze requested. What he couldn’t understand was why the chief wanted information about an event held to introduce him as Count Graunewald’s adopted son.
“I can’t reveal the reason. But if you obtain the information, I’ll pay three—no, five times the reward such a request would normally offer through the guild. I’m making this proposal because I recognize your abilities. Will you accept?”
Gaze’s eyes were serious, but the request itself was deeply alarming.
Investigating the security arrangements suggested that someone intended to interfere with the event.
Tauro had never knowingly offended anyone in the village. If they held a personal grudge against him, they should have recognized him already and acted while he stood before them.
Was their hostility directed at Count Graunewald instead?
“I understand. Allow us time to discuss it. I’ll give you an answer by the end of the day.”
Tauro deliberately left open the possibility of acceptance.
The party departed from the chief’s house.
“Leader, that was extremely suspicious. And Grau—”
Ankh nearly mentioned Tauro’s relationship to Count Graunewald, but Tauro immediately stopped him.
Somewhere in the village were people skilled at eavesdropping.
Tauro raised a finger to his lips, then pointed toward his ear.
Ankh understood at once. Ragune noticed the signal and nodded silently.
Zion didn’t immediately grasp its meaning, but the serious expressions around her told her that she should remain silent.
“We should return to the lodging and think it over.”
Tauro offered the harmless statement for anyone listening, and the four headed back to the remote house.