Kays Translations

Chapter 29

I collapsed onto the floor.

Of course, I was only pretending to be unconscious—playing dead.

That thunderous explosion earlier was likely meant to incapacitate us. In other words, they weren’t planning to kill the guild staff along with the man we had captured.

If that’s the case, then their goal must be to rescue that man. Which means… they’ll definitely come here.

“……”

Glancing at the staff member lying beside me, I noticed that although blood was trickling from his ears, he was still breathing. In other words, he was alive.

Were they trying to minimize casualties? Or… could it be they feared harming the guild?

If it’s the latter… then the attacker could be an insider.

But since I was assigned to this post, I doubt it’s someone like Remiya or the supervisor Burke—someone who knows me.

…No, more likely this is an outsider. Someone who doesn’t want to go to war with the guild directly, but has enough motivation to interfere.

———————–

“Ah, crap—it’s made of iron. That guy’s definitely still alive.”

It was then I heard footsteps descending the stairs, along with a voice.

What appeared was a young woman, dressed in something that vaguely resembled a formal recruit suit.

And judging by her tone… my entire assumption was wrong.

She did intend to kill the hostage. Then why use something as half-baked as a sound-based explosive?

“That noise didn’t have nearly enough destructive power… Lame. Are tools from the outside world always this underwhelming?”

She muttered as she walked closer.

It was dangerous to keep observing her—I risked giving away my awareness.

But something she just said caught my attention.

What did she mean by “tools from the outside world”?

“Guess I’ll just keep it simple… Bye-bye.”

Suddenly, a spear materialized in her hand, which she then thrust toward the unconscious guild staff member. I immediately moved to stop her.

“Never let your guard down.”

I grabbed the incoming spear mid-swing, yanked it from her grip, and tried to strike her in the stomach with the handle—but she narrowly dodged.

She was fast. She reacted to my movements.

“Ugh, pretending to be knocked out? Wow, that’s pretty dirty, old man.”

“I just don’t waste time playing fair.”

In that instant, I activated my Icefall Formation, sealing off the only exit of the underground cell in ice.

This was now a deathmatch—no way out.

“Huh!?”

“You’re not going anywhere. Not until one of us is down.”

“Wait, seriously!? Why is there such a pro guarding this place—?!”

I rushed in, slashing down with my greatsword, shattering the stone floor with the force of the blow.

Cracks spread everywhere—worse damage than the initial explosion.

So what? I’ll defeat her here and get the information I need.

She’s clearly strong. If she can keep up with someone like me, she’s far beyond your average fighter.

“What the hell!? I don’t even know you! What is going on!?”

“I’m a secret weapon. Sorry, but—”

I activated all my support-type active skills.

Not just passive boosts—full-on self-enhancement.

“Time to sleep.”

As she tried to escape again, I barely managed to grab her ankle.

This isn’t a game. People with broken, game-like stats are fighting in a real world.

Which means I can do anything. I’m someone from a world where people swing around giant chunks of iron like they weigh nothing. Of course I wouldn’t let go of her foot.

—I swung her. Slammed her. The floor, the wall, the ceiling—all stained with red-black smears.

I showed no mercy. I didn’t care that she was a woman—she was the enemy.

“Gah…gyah…tas…”

I kept going until she was silent. Until she stopped breathing. I used all the brutality I could muster.

She was the enemy. I felt not even a flicker of guilt.

“…Secured. Hey, open your mouth.”

She was already unconscious, her mouth slightly open.

I shoved in a paralysis drug and a potion to keep her alive but completely immobilized.

After that, I smashed the ice blocking the stairs and made my way back to the surface.

“Mission complete. This is the assassin. Honestly, she gave me a hard time. She’s not someone to be taken lightly.”

Once outside, I found a large number of staff had gathered.

And then… I was struck speechless by the scene before me.

Guild personnel were everywhere. But far more of them were lying motionless on the ground than standing.

Could it be… the initial explosion caused this much damage above ground?

If anything, I’m amazed the underground chamber withstood it. But there’s no doubt—this woman is extremely dangerous.

“Silent-sama! Is that the assassin!?”

“No mistake. She came to check on the hostage. Looks like she wanted to kill him along with everyone underground in the initial blast. But the underground was sturdier than she expected, and her plan fell apart. She didn’t seem familiar with the layout either. She’s not an insider.”

“Yes… I agree. And—this woman is a known target. She’s already been flagged.”

Remiya, having rushed over, looked at the woman and nodded.

“Her name is Fulerika. She used to be a royal knight, but after causing an incident, she fled and committed numerous acts of sabotage. She’s extremely dangerous. I can’t believe you managed to capture her.”

“Honestly, I didn’t expect her to be this strong. She dodged several of my attacks. And it looked like she summoned her weapon from nowhere.”

“No way… A magic weapon imbued with storage magic? This is seriously troubling. It suggests a powerful force behind her.”

New intel. Apparently, this world does have something like an item box.

And from Remiya’s reaction, I can deduce—it’s extremely rare.

“I gave her a paralysis drug. Once you inspect her, do whatever it takes—potions, magic, whatever—to get information out of her. Knights from the capital will probably arrive soon, but hand over only the man. Keep the woman hidden within the guild.”

“Understood. I’ll enforce an immediate gag order.”

“There’s definitely a puppet master in this country. But I’m done here. That’s enough, right?”

“Yes… You’ve done more than enough. Silent-sama, we’ll arrange accommodations for you tonight.”

“Appreciate it. I’ve been up for more than a full day.”

“We’re truly grateful… Right this way, please.”

And thus, my far-too-long day finally came to an end.

That assassin had said something strange, though. Honestly, I’d like to interrogate her myself, but I’ve had enough for now.

The name Silent had spread through the guild faster than I imagined. It’s probably a good time to return to Same and see how this intense period has affected my personality.

Also… I can’t stop worrying about Melt.

And so, I let myself sink into the comfort of a luxurious bed in a high-class inn, ending the longest day I’ve had in a while.

————————————–

“…How long was I asleep?”

I didn’t dream at all. And the light coming through the window—no matter how you look at it, that’s not dawn. It’s sunset.

Did I seriously sleep from midnight all the way to evening…?

“My body’s stiff… I really overdid it.”

When I stretch, my spine cracks loudly.

Enjoying the pleasant sensation of my muscles loosening, I roll my neck and look around again.

“No signs that anyone came in while I was sleeping. This really is a good inn—even has a shower room.”

I promptly hop into the shower.

I hadn’t paid much attention yesterday, but now I wash away the filth from my body.

Blood, dirt, soot, and grease—all rinsed clean.

Well, yeah… I did wander through mountains, slay a ton of monsters, and walk into a burning building.

Kind of amazing I managed to sleep at all, honestly.

“…My original goal was to become an adventurer… Now that my name’s gotten out, I guess I’ve completed that role.”

It’s about time the Pigeon Company contacts me. I also want to drop by the auction, if only to observe.

Though honestly, the biggest reason is Melt. She’s probably feeling uneasy.

Yesterday, she was apparently with some younger adventurers, but still…

“Silent-sama, are you awake?”

While I’m drying myself with a towel, someone calls from outside the room.

That’s Remiya’s voice.

“Yeah, I just woke up.”

“May I come in?”

Crap, I need to at least put something on down there.

“Go ahead.”

“Excuse me.”

Bottom half: fully equipped. Top half: just a shirt! Okay, that’s acceptable!

“Were you in the middle of changing?”

“I just got out of the shower. So, what’s up?”

“Yes. Your efforts in capturing last night’s assailant have been officially recognized, not just by the Adventurers’ Guild, but all guilds with a local presence. I came to inform you that you have been formally granted the Sapphire stone rank.”

“…That was fast.”

“Yes, exceptionally so. Honestly, multiple guilds had been pursuing this matter, not just the Adventurers’ Guild. There are many who find it suspicious that someone like you suddenly brought such progress to the case. However, from what I saw, you didn’t strike me as suspicious. Burke-sama agrees with me.”

“Sounds like I’m getting more credit than I deserve. But yeah, even I think this is happening way too fast. I originally became an adventurer just to gain some official status. Yet here I am, already near the top rank in just a few days. It’s… thrown off my plans.”

The truth is, I was planning to build my reputation slowly—draw attention, outshine Same, and use that as cover for my actions on the other side.

This “Silent” persona of mine is a fugitive from the Kingdom of Golda.

If I make a name for myself here… then I thought I could become the spark that ignites a war between Lindblum and Golda.

If war breaks out, I gain a justification.

A justification to kill that rotten bitch with my own hands.

“Your plans…?”

“Ah… sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

Before I knew it, Remiya, standing in front of me, had gone pale.

I must have let my emotions slip.

“I was just thinking about someone I hate. But that’s secondary. Originally, I was going to take my time building my name. But since that’s happened faster than expected, I’ll be reporting back to ‘my boss’ soon.”

“You… someone like you has a superior?”

I make something up. Just a way to leave town.

“You’ve rated me pretty highly, but any good qualities I have come from my boss. Don’t worry, they’re a softie. Definitely not the kind of person who’d harm others. If they were, I’d have killed them myself.”

“…I believe you.”

“Good, go ahead and report it that way. But if anyone needs to reach me, they should post notices at the guilds in this or any nearby town. Either I or my proxy will come to hear them out.”

“…So you belong to some kind of organization?”

“Well, yeah. More like a family than an organization, though.”

A bit of foreshadowing, to give myself some freedom to move.

With this, I think my groundwork in Silent is complete.

“Are you leaving town already?”

“Not going too far. Thanks for everything, Remiya. I’ll stop by the guild reception on my way out. Now that I’m officially an adventurer, I need to report whenever I leave the city, right?”

“Yes, even if it’s not a permanent transfer, if you’re leaving your base town, it needs to be reported.”

Back in Same, that guild lady from Golda probably pulled some strings for me.

She even managed to get me on a bodyguard request just so I could leave the country.

…Maybe she had a special position, like Remiya does?

“Anyway, I’m heading out to report now. Let the head of the General Guild know I’ll be ‘leaving town for a bit.’”

“So suddenly. But we don’t have the right to stop you. Nor the power.”

“Correct. You’ve learned, Remiya.”

“…If I resist, I’ll be killed, right? I value my life, after all.”

“Heh, is that so.”

We both know this exchange is half-joking.

It feels nice—having this kind of casual rapport.

Is that Silent’s sentiment, or my own? I wonder.

I get dressed and, as promised, head to the guild.

After yesterday’s events, the atmosphere is still somewhat restless, but not in full chaos.

But the moment I step inside, the room goes silent.

Uncomfortable, but I head to the reception desk to complete my task.

“Got a moment?”

“Y-Yes…”

Ah, it’s the receptionist I’ve spoken with a few times before.

…She still looks like it’s the end of the world… even though I’m officially an adventurer now…

“Don’t make that face. I’m an adventurer now, remember?”

“I-I’m terribly sorry!”

“No need to apologize. I’m just here to report—I’ll be out of town for a while.”

“U-Understood…”

“That’s all. Sorry to bother you.”

Leaving the whispers and murmurs behind me, I departed from the guild.

Which direction should I go? This city has gates in all four directions. The northern gate leads to a road that heads toward the Kingdom of Golda—it’s the gate we originally passed through. The eastern gate, which I’ve used several times, opens up to mountains and rivers; it’s convenient and familiar.

The southern gate is mainly used for travel to the royal castle and isn’t a route that ordinary people typically use. Occasionally, when monsters appear in the forest between the castle and Lindblum, there are subjugation quests.

Finally, the western gate. I’ve never used it before, but I’ve heard it leads to a coastal road. Apparently, even by carriage, it takes over ten days to reach the port town.

“…Well, I guess west it is.”

This time, I’ve already set a teleportation bell in that cave in advance. I plan to travel down the western road and teleport to the riverside cave at a good spot, then switch back to my Same identity.

However, since there was an incident near that cave recently, there might be investigators nearby. To be safe, it’s probably better to wait until late at night to move.

“…So, what’s the deal with you amateurs tailing me without even trying to hide it?”

Just outside the city, I noticed a group following me—making no effort to conceal their presence—so I called out to them.

I thought at first they might be guild members keeping an eye on me, like Remiya. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

When I turned around, I saw a group of men dressed similarly to how I look now in Silent—more mercenary than adventurer. They looked like thugs, just one step away from being outright criminals.

“We heard a little rumor. Apparently, a newbie adventurer got promoted to Sapphire Rank at an unbelievable speed.”

“So we were wondering if you could share the secret with us. Come on, let us in on it too, won’t you?”

“There are high-paying jobs available just by having that rank. Wouldn’t it be better to share a bit of the pie than die here?”

…Are you kidding me? Is this really one of those cliché events? Are these guys even adventurers? Or maybe from another guild?

“I refuse. If you choose to become hostile, I won’t kill you, but you’ll be forced to retire. Are you sure about this?”

Still, one thing is clear—these guys aren’t amateurs.

Thanks to my time as Silent, I can tell just by looking now. Their footwork, how they shift their center of gravity—they’re in positions where they could draw weapons and attack at any moment.

“I see. Then I suppose we’ll just have to convince you until you feel like cooperating.”

“I’d recommend surrendering early. We’re not as kind as adventurers.”

“The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Whatever your tricks or reasons, you moved too fast.”

Combat begins.

…

Combat ends.

That was fast! Seriously, what was that? Like, five seconds!?

“Just spare my life! Please!”

“My leg! My leg is gone!”

“I beg you! Let me go! Gyaaah!”

You guys are completely normal! I thought maybe they were skilled like the attacker from yesterday, but they went down instantly!

“You lost half your face, one leg, and an arm. Should I go ahead and take the other half too?”

“We got cocky! We thought it was just a scam!”

“There’s no way someone could be Sapphire Rank! That’s a hero’s rank!”

“Please! Help us, I beg you!”

Do I kill them or let them go?

If I let them go, will they come after me again? Try to get revenge?

Or will they report me to the guild, and I’ll end up being punished?

…No, there’s no need for me to worry.

“Hey! If you were tailing me too, why didn’t you show yourself earlier?!”

Ignoring the three broken men on the ground, I called out toward the nearby forest—

“…What a shame. I had planned to keep following you a bit longer.”

“You’d have lost me anyway. So, can I leave this trash to you?”

“Yes. I had a feeling this would happen. Though, what I didn’t expect was that Silent-sama would spare their lives.”

“I would’ve killed them, but it seemed easier not to. Remiya, I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”

From the moment I was approached by those men, I had sensed someone watching from the forest. It was Remiya—she must have been following me to gather information.

Not that she could have kept up once I started moving at full speed.

“This really is goodbye this time. See you around.”

“It’s sad to see you go, but I do have to deal with this mess. I wish you a safe journey, Silent-sama.”

Right up to the very end, it was chaos… for Silent.

But like that man said—“the nail that sticks out gets hammered down”—seems that phrase exists in this world too. It’s only natural that drawing too much attention leads to trouble.

Even if you possess overwhelming strength—

“…Mission complete. Good work. Here is your promised Elixir Potion.”

“…Appreciated. …Whoa… that’s incredible. My eyesight is already restored.”

“My arm bone’s reconnected too. All that from a single sip… As promised, we’re allowed to keep the rest, right?”

“Whew… It’s not my first time seeing it, but it’s still a disturbing sight. My leg just grew back like a lizard’s tail. Well then, I’ll gratefully accept the rest of the potion, Sister Remiya.”

After Silent departed, Remiya handed potions to the fallen men, healing what should have been lifelong injuries with an unimaginable level of recovery.

“But seriously, that guy’s strength is monstrous. I don’t want to take on any more missions like this.”

“Agreed. Who in their right mind wants to act like some third-rate thug?”

“Even so, assignments like this that practically throw our lives away—those I’d rather avoid. As mercenaries, we can’t exactly say no to a Special Order from the General Guild.”

“Fufu, I apologize. But it was a necessary test… to determine whether that man truly leans toward good. So… based on your impressions, what do you think? In a time of crisis, would it be possible to stop Silent-sama?”

Yes—this whole attack, carried out by what appeared to be thuggish ruffians, had actually been orchestrated by Remiya and the upper echelon of the General Guild.

All to protect Lindblum. To see whether this man with unfathomable power could truly be trusted.

“…Among the Mercenary Guild, we’re slightly above mid-level. Not top-tier, but we hold our own.”

“And yet, we were handled like infants. It wasn’t even close. He’s on a whole other level.”

“To stop that guy… even our boss might not be able to pull it off. And hey, don’t tell him I said that, alright?”

“…So even one of the Thirteen Knights couldn’t stop him?”

They assessed his combat potential.

Their conclusion: he must be approached with extreme caution and vigilance.

“If all thirteen of the Knights joined forces, we could probably stop or defeat him. But that man isn’t our enemy—at least not yet. If possible, I’d prefer he stay in Lindblum as a protector.”

“…Yes. Truly, I hope so.”

Remiya, too, from the bottom of her heart, wished that Silent would remain an ally.

The man who had overpowered her, who was rough but also kind in his own awkward way—a man who clearly possessed both strength and intellect. She wanted that man on their side.

“……”

“Sister Remiya?”

“It’s nothing. Well then, if you’re able to move, let’s head back.”

And thus, with that, the Lindblum faction truly withdrew their hand from Silent.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter