Kays Translations

Chapter 55: Harassment before the Hunt Part 2

Triston Trading Company. It’s a trader based in another country, dealing mainly in furnishings and folk art. It is a middle-class trading company in Sandelica.

"It's just down the road. Get some souvenirs from the merchants' market there."

"...... Just to make sure I understand, do you have a reason for choosing that trading association?"

"If you didn't, I wouldn't specify it. I won't explain the details, but for the time being, consider it an important facility."

The Trading Company is, after all, a front for the agents of the Republic state to hide out. In other words, it is a nest of prey.

They enter there with their identities concealed, and directly inspect the business premises from the standpoint of a guest. In addition, they are deliberately trying to provoke their prey, the secret agents.

"Just don't worry about it. There's nothing in particular for you to do. Just keep the conversation inside to a minimum and shop freely for the amount of money I'm about to give you. Are you still worried?"

"Ugh, isn't it obvious...Because the fact that it's working like this means it's a pretty serious case, right? I've never done anything like that before, you know?"

Natra's honest impression was that, as an ordinary person who had only recently become proficient in magic, she was not comfortable with being assigned an important role, one that might require acting.

It is not a matter of being uncomfortable or any other emotion, but simply put, I am not confident that I will not look suspicious.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine as long as you act normal. I'll give you an air of independence."

"It's going to be a lot more painful to be told to be normal in this situation...!"

"I guess so."

In response to Natra's appeal, which had become somewhat suspicious due to anxiety and tension, Lute replied with a flat tone.

If you are told not to panic in an emergency situation, most people will be in a hurry to do the opposite. The same is true when we are told to act normally.

So this reaction was to be expected; in fact, it was intended to happen.

So Lute does not appease Natra by telling her to calm down, nor does he reprimand her for her haste.

"Natra. We'll be arriving soon, but be careful about this. I keep a grumpy expression on my face, but don't try to ask me how I'm feeling, okay? Don't talk to me. Only reply when I talk to you."

I dared to keep her nervous, and only conveyed the precautions.

"Yes sir. Understood."

“Yes, that's right. That's it. Minimal language. Yes, no, and then sorry."

"I understand"

"All right. Let's get dressed up for shopping."

After giving the necessary instructions, Lute and Natra finally set foot on the street where the business was located.

At the same time, Lute's mood changed. The original bad mood of a twisted person had been exuding from him, but now Lute had added a mood of grumpiness and prickliness.

"..."

It is charming that Natra's movements also stiffened after being caught in the moment. Lut's atmosphere, which was very similar to the threat he had made the other day, must have made her sense of dislike, which she had managed to fool around with, come to the forefront.

Common sense tells us that Natra's reaction was a blunder. At any rate, it was clearly suspicious. It was as if she was acting as if she had something to hide.

However, it was convenient for Lute. The stiffer Natra moves, the better. It would be even better if fear was added to it.

After all, the prepared cover story is more credible.

“──Welcome. What kind of item would you like to buy today?”

When I entered the store, one of the employees called out to me. The quality of the customer service was not bad, as the store is a medium-sized one, dealing with high unit price items such as furnishings.

The only thing that bothered me was that just before he called out to her, he glanced for a moment at the sword hanging at Lute's waist, the private army equipment with the Duchesse de Gascoigne family crest on it.

It is unclear whether that was a habit of his as an intelligence officer or whether he was just trying to assess the various aspects of his customers as a merchant....

For the time being, I lightly push Natra's back, thinking that there are likely to be a certain number of people who are keenly aware of the situation.

"Hey, hey!"

"It seems that this person wants to give a gift to her benefactor, a couple who run a bar. See if you can find something for them."

"Yes, sir. If you have any requests, please let me know and I will be happy to make a selection for you.　If you have any questions, please let me know who you are looking for and I will be happy to make a list.”

"Uh, let's see…"

"Hey. Don't take too long. Get it done quickly."

"I understand!"

He puts pressure on Natra with an intimidating way of speaking.

In this way, Natra's suspicious behavior can be misunderstood as being due to the tension and fear of Lute.

We do not believe that they can be fooled for sure, but we decided that it would be far better to give them a good reason than to have amateurs perform badly.

But fortunately, Natra is seriously uncomfortable with Lute. The color of fear in her voice seems to be painting over her nervousness about her role.

I feel sorry for Natra, but I wanted her to continue to be tormented by her trauma in the store.

“──If the couple owns a restaurant, how about something from this area? Also, as is standard for gifts, we have alcoholic beverages. We mainly deal in furnishings, but we also carry a small selection of rare local sake from the trade.”

"Eh, um... Let me think about it!"

“Of course. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you."

Then the employee left Natra and moved to Lute, who was waiting behind.

“Is there anything you would like to bring with you?”

"I'm sorry, but I'm working."

"Is that so?  It looks like a personal shopping trip, and I thought you two were out together."

"It's a funny joke. Does it look like we're that close?"

Out of his mind, Lute replies to the employee. As grumpily as possible, he tries to make it seem as if Natra has every right to be frightened.

For those who don't know anything about it, it would sound like the unmistakable truth.

Lute's acting skills are hardcore, after all. In his homeland, he has always played the part of an incompetent, and once even fooled the empire, a skill that is difficult for the average person to spot.

If there was someone who felt uncomfortable, it would be someone who was always on guard.

"Maybe you tend to give people the cold shoulder when you're in public. Some people are like that."

“That's a bratty thing to do. I don't deny I'm young, but I don't mean to be that young, do I?"

"I beg your pardon, sir."

The conversation breaks off. He must have sensed that Lutë did not intend to continue the conversation too much.

"──I've decided! Oh, um, give me this!"

At the same time, Natra's voice echoed in the store.

Lute laughed inwardly at the nice timing. The employees were caught by the voice now and moved away.

Even though I am confident in my acting skills, it is still troublesome to talk with a potential espionage agent.

If it can be done with the bare minimum, so much the better. Because Lute's goal is not to investigate.

"If you're done, let's go."

"Yes! Ah, thank you very much, shopkeeper."

"No no. Please come to our company again. Your companion is also welcome."

"If I get the chance."

And so Lute and Natra left the trading house.

After advancing a little, Lute glanced behind him, but...

"...... no particular movement. Oh well, no surprise."

There is no way that a professional intelligence officer would make an immediate move at this point in time.

Either way, the seeds have been planted. The escort hung a sword with the duke's family crest on it, and the girl, a couple who owned a tavern, was her benefactor.

With this much information, it's obvious what kind of person Natra is.

Now it is up to the agents lurking in the Trading company to come up with a plan.

"Listen to this Natra. We will continue our attitude in the Trading company while you are out, in view of the possibility of surveillance. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Let's head for the Uminekotei."

──Trap hunting using exceedingly vicious decoys has begun.

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