Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 45: Searching for the Bandits
The next day, the members of Tauro’s search team were selected, and they met in the guild lobby.
Their leader was Kuzoth, a veteran D-rank adventurer with thief skills. His [Search] ability could cover a wider area than Tauro’s [Presence Detection].
He was somewhat short and had strikingly sharp eyes, but he didn’t give off a bad impression.
Kuzoth was a local adventurer who normally worked alone.
The other member was Cheek, an E-rank adventurer famous among adventurers for being eccentric. He reportedly possessed merchant skills, was quick-witted, and excelled at negotiation.
Together with Tauro, that made three.
“Satou, you have [Presence Detection], correct?”
Kuzoth, their leader, asked for confirmation.
“Yes.”
Tauro didn’t remember telling many people. Perhaps Kuzoth possessed [Character Appraisal] and had appraised him before, or perhaps someone had passed along the information. Either way, Tauro had no intention of denying it.
“Our basic plan is to visit villages in the region where the bandits have reportedly been sighted, gather information, and locate their base. Cheek’s negotiation skills and Satou’s [Presence Detection] should be useful. Once we narrow the location down, we’ll use my [Search] to comb the area.”
“Understood. Leave the negotiations to me.”
Cheek replied lightly.
“Yes. Understood.”
Tauro nodded as well.
“Then prepare your gear. We leave tomorrow morning.”
Tauro had worried that they might dislike having a ten-year-old teammate, but neither man objected.
Perhaps the guild had been considerate when forming the team.
This was Tauro’s first time working in a party, and he looked forward to it.
Three days after their departure, the group was steadily visiting villages off the highway.
Their inquiries produced an unexpected result: hardly any villages had actually been targeted. People had heard rumors, but no one they spoke to had seen the bandits.
“How did it feel, Tauro?”
Kuzoth asked.
“I didn’t sense that anyone was lying. Everyone was very cooperative.”
Tauro replied.
“Same here. I didn’t get a bad feeling from any of the village chiefs I spoke with. More importantly… isn’t this rain getting a little severe?”
Cheek had a point.
It had poured since morning with no sign of stopping.
They had all donned the raincoats they brought, but their spirits remained heavy.
“…Let’s make the next village our last stop today.”
The other two nodded silently.
The village lay deep in the countryside, far from any other settlement.
As the three approached its entrance through the rain, the gatekeeper on duty reacted with clear suspicion and refused them entry.
“Who are you, coming here in weather like this?”
“I’m sorry. We chased a monster this far, but the rain has become terrible. Could we shelter here until it eases?”
Sensing the man’s hostility, Cheek began negotiating with a lie before Kuzoth could speak.
“This village is highly suspicious of outsiders. I can’t allow that.”
“Naturally, we aren’t asking for shelter free of charge. If you let us wait beneath an eave, we’ll pay you properly.”
Cheek produced a leather purse full of money and showed it to him.
“…Don’t enter the village. You may use the eaves of my watch hut.”
The gatekeeper pointed to a shabby hut beside the village entrance.
“We appreciate it.”
Before the man could change his mind, Cheek hurried the other two toward the watch hut.
A man emerged from the house nearest the hut.
He had apparently noticed several silhouettes at the village entrance through the downpour.
“Hey, Byrne! Who are those people?”
Tauro thought he recognized the voice.
“I’m letting them use the eaves because of the rain!”
“You can’t make that decision on your own!”
“Shut up! Don’t get smart with me, you drunken fool, Soak!”
Tauro had already begun to suspect the truth when he heard the voice. Once the gatekeeper said the name Soak, he became certain.
It was that man.