Chapter 432: Reuniting with an ally

　After Tauro and his party returned to the capital, there were many secret discussions with his father, Count Graunewald, about how to handle the day of the party.

　Of course, Tauro was the only one who went in and out of the castle hall because of his “invisibility magic,” so the other members of the party were either waiting at the inn or were free to spend their time in the capital.

　Three days before the actual party, Tauro was on his way back to the inn, using magic to secretly leave the castle.

　However, someone was following him, even though he was supposedly invincible.

　Tauro was late in noticing this with his “presence detection.”

　There are many people in the capital.

　It’s extremely difficult to find someone following you in a crowd like this.

Moreover, the person following him had absolutely no ill will towards Tauro.

　　Tauro was surprised when his tailor suddenly came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, when he was supposed to be hiding.

“I knew it was you, Tauro-dono!”

　The tail, who tapped Tauro on the shoulder, calls out to him.

　Tauro, startled to the point that his heart nearly jumped out of his chest, turned around.

　Standing there was the red-haired, golden-eyed Malak, one of the trio of dragon people who had often accompanied him in the past.

“Malak-san?! It’s been a while! But why are you here, Malak-san?”

　Tauro questioned the familiar face as he released his “invisibility spell.”

“Ah, I happened to come here in the middle of hunting down the remnants of the assassination guild.”

　Malak replied with a smile.

“Eh? There are still remnants of the assassin’s guild here?!”

　Tauro was surprised to discover something he had forgotten.

“Yes. According to the information, the vice-leader of the assassination guild, who had been away on business in the north and was absent from the headquarters, had returned here and was rallying the few remaining members, so we came after him.”

“So you are telling me that the vice leader is here in the capital?”

　Tauro was left scratching his head, as the remnants of the assassination guild appearing during this busy moment were beyond his calculations.

“That seems to be the case. We are currently hunting down the remaining members of the guild, and we thought we found a suspicious person using ‘invisibility magic,’ but it turned out to be Tauro-dono. Ha ha ha!”

　Malak laughed nervously and lightly tapped Tauro on the shoulder.

“…… I see. By the way, what about the rest of your team?”

“Oh, Zumei, Reeva, and a few others are in the middle of a separate hunt.”

“Are there that many others here?”

　Tauro was surprised again, as he had not noticed them at all.

　As expected of the Dragon People, they were able to move freely around the capital without even being noticed by Tauro, who had the ability “anti-inhibition”.

“I’m sure we’ll be able to hunt down the vice leader within the next few days, so please don’t worry.”

　Malak replied with a smile, and then Zumei, a short, blond-haired, golden-eyes, pretty-boy type, appeared, having spotted Tauro and Malak.

“Tauro-dono? I thought Malak was slacking off, but it’s you!”

　Zumei called out to Tauro in a boyish, lighthearted manner.

“It’s been a while.”

　Tauro greets Zumei.

“As you may have heard from Malak, please do be careful Tauro-dono.”

　Zumei guessed from Tauro’s behavior that he had heard what was going on and gave him a quick warning.

“Yes. By the way, how many remnants do you think are left?”

“If you subtract the ones Reeva just hunted in the underground facility, I’d say there are maybe three of them left, including the second-in-command.”

“Oh? I guess Riva is on par with us.”

　Malak responded to Zemei’s reply.

　Apparently, they are all competing with each other.

　The remnants of the assassination guild being pursued by the dragon people as if it were a game, it must be nothing but terrifying…

　Tauro felt a bit sorry for them, just imagining it.

“What are you doing now, Tauro-dono? And what about the rest of your friends?”

　Zumei asked, since Tauro was the only one there.

“I’m currently――”

　Tauro explained the plot that would take place at the party in a few days.

“─ ─ Such a thing ……. Then we’ll help you, too. It looks like we’re almost done here, too.”

　Malak offered to help.

“I would really appreciate it. I’m very grateful to have an ally I can trust, to be honest I’ve been having a hard time picking out friend from foe.”

　Tauro was extremely encouraged by the unexpected appearance of the strongest group of helpers.

“And so, Malak-san and about ten other dragon-people will be helping out behind the scenes on the day. Yes, this is a sure success!”

　Returning to the inn, Tauro announced to ragune, Ankh, and Zion as they returned  and pumped his fist in celebration.

“So all the dragon people came this way. But how come they noticed Tauro and called out to him, but didn’t notice me?”

　It seems that Ragune had not encountered any other dragon people during the day, so he sfelt left out and puffed out her cheeks a little, sulking.

“It seems that everyone else was here on a mission, so they were only checking out suspicious people.  I was moving around in hiding, using my invisibility magic, so I think that’s how they found me. it’s understandable they didn’t notice you, ragune.”

　Tauro explained the situation to Ragune in an encouraging manner.

“Still, isn’t it strange that the remnants of the assassination guild have entered the capital at this time, Leader?”

　Ankh pointed out, suspicious of the timing.

“That’s right. Apparently, the second-in-command had entered the capital for some kind of mission.”

　Tauro also seemed to think that it might be possible.

“…… maybe this whole thing is connected.”

　Ragune listened to what the two had to say and said what had been on all their minds.

“The chief of the hidden village always used the expression, ‘we,’ does that mean that the second-in-command is one of those ‘we’?”

　Zion made an unusually sharp point.

“…That may be so. If the Graunewald territory, which was adjacent to the Viscount Bowmen territory, had been taken into its hands, it would have been quite convenient for the Assassination Guild. Perhaps they planned to make this area their new headquarters since they lost their home base when the Bormen territory was taken away. …….”

“The village chief didn’t sound like that, you know?”

　Ankh makes a valid point.

“Maybe the village chief is just dancing in the palm of his hand. …… The village chief will skillfully incite those who want the previous Count’s son to become head of the family, and make the still young Haku head of this territory. All the second-in-command needs to do is manipulate them.”

“Then the dragon tribe came after the rest of the remnants of the second-in-command and decided to join up with us?”

“Ha ha ……. How fortunate we are to have connected all the dots.”

　Ragune chuckled at their incredible run of luck.

“Ah, isn’t this the result of Master Tauro’s gift of “great luck?””

　Zion pointed out, as if she had just thought of something.

　If that is true, then great luck is truly impressive!

　Tauro was once again puzzled by his own ability, which was truly a luck factor.

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