At the Capital’s General Guild’s main office, I was supposed to receive the reward for subjugating Garo’s labyrinth. Once in the reception room I’d be brought to meet Siegfried, the Guild Master of the General Guild, Duke Verdaline, and the Magrave of Dragrange, Ophelia Dragrange. From them, I heard about a thief that came for the King’s Festival…
“Phantom Thief..?”
“Yes, the Phantom Thief ‘Nekoyanagi, a.k.a Rose-Gold Pussy Willow’. A group not as big as a bandit group, just rumored to be three people.”
Nekoyanagi… The shrub that grows naturally on the riverside. It is characterized by having flower ears that resemble a white bushy cat. According to Siegfied’s explanation, Nekoyanagi was a group that had stolen widely throughout Kurtemerga and the neighboring countries. And they had become a wanted group throughout the continent of Orlando.
They’d stolen various things such as magic stones, jewels, fine arts, antiques, magic technology, grimoires, magical weapons, and magic tools. All the items had been, so far, of the highest quality. However, Nekoyanagi had not killed anyone during these crimes. And the next thing they were aiming for was what Malta-san and I were to exhibit at the auction, the labyrinth core. Well, I had nothing to say besides that it was a really confident action. The King’s Festival was an auction hosted by the Royal Family of the Kurtmerga Kingdom. Their security would, of course, be of the highest level.
“I followed Nekoyanagi from the Margrave of Dragrange to the Royal Capital. They often appeared in the Margrave. It seems that they’re using it as a gateway into the kingdom. Such a disgrace is unforgivable. They must be arrested and atone for their sins.”
I see, so Ophelia came to the General Guild to strike a cooperative alliance?
“That’s why, Shaft, I knew immediately that the seller of the large mana stone was Marida Company, but their source was still unclear. That’s why I wanted to confirm it.”
“Therefore, I have a proposal for Shaft-san.”
“Proposal?”
“That’s right. Originally, it would have been extremely rude to make such an offer to the seller, but considering the strength of the individual, it was inefficient to waste Shaft-san, one of the prominent powers of the Kingdom.”
“In another word?”
“We would like you to cooperate in capturing the group Nekoyanagi.”
“How far do you expect me to cooperate?”
“It’s simple, if something happens inside Hirashia on the third day, you can deal with it as you wish. In short, you can protect your exhibit yourself, in the case when they escape, we will track them.”
“The basic guard for the festival will be carried out by the Central 4th Order Knights. Even though there will be a notice for the thieves, it is not possible to dispatch armed personnel from the guild. Even if it was possible, the knights cannot give up the honor of escorting the Royal Family.”
“All we are looking for is someone strong who knows the circumstances that will be participating in the festival. And to help capture them. Please, we can only ask you for this.”
After I listened to their explanations, they wondered if I would receive their request, which could not be considered a request. However, you don’t have to worry about my answer. I was just told someone was aiming for my labyrinth core. As a response, let’s take appropriate measures. Let’s work together after all.
“Understood, let’s cooperate to capture them.”
After that, I took my reward for subjugating Garo’s Labyrinth and heard all the information they had on Nekoyanagi. Then, got up to head to the library.
“Oh yes, Siegfried. Did you read the letter I sent in Veneer?”
“Hmm? Ah, that. We’re still investigating the matter. The behavior of the trio disguised were just eating then left. We only know this much, moreover, the Veneer staff are too busy with other work to go chasing food thieves, so no progress so far.”
Ophelia raised her voice after she waited for Siegfried to finish.
“Shaft, can I ask where you are staying in the capital?”
“My lodging? I haven’t taken any yet.”
“I see, then it’s good. In the first district of the capital, there is a luxury inn called Pavilion of Tranquility. If you tell them that you’re using my introduction, you will get a room right away. If people know that the Black Mask Shaft is staying at a second, or third rate inn, you’ll soon be surrounded.”
While saying that, Ophelia’s expression loosened. From the time she’d entered this room and until now, she’d always talked with a serious expression. There was something like a feeling of impatience. Maybe it loosened because I agreed to cooperate with this capture.
“Thanks, that’s helpful. I was planning to search for an inn in the evening. At worst, I’d probably wouldn’t get an inn at all.”
“I see, this might bring a lot of convenience.”
“Then please excuse me.”
With that said, when I tried to leave the room, the positions of the blips on my map were strange… The light near the door leading from the reception lobby of the main people to the corridor leading to this room… The light spot seemed to harden, like a wall of light. This… It seems that it was revealed that I was here.
“Siegfried, can I get out of this room from the backdoor rather than going through the lobby?”
“Oh, you can leave from there. I see, so you noticed the people in the lobby?”
“Then, I will guide you. Siegfried should stay with the Guild Master and Ophelia.”
I was guided by Valvara-san and headed away from the lobby. I could still hear the conversation of the remaining three in the room as we moved away.
“I feel relieved with this, there won’t be any mistakes if it’s him.”
“If possible, I’d like them alive and arrested, but he is the man who is called ‘The Headhunting Shaft’ behind the scenes after all. Even so, Ophelia, haven’t you given up on looking for a husband yet?”
“What do you say, Duke Verdaline. For the future of Dragrange, for the sake of peace, I will welcome any man to be my husband. However, if that man is stronger than me…”
“If so, that’s settled then! It is said that no matter ‘Sword Princess Ophelia’ did, she would not win against a man who walks through the labyrinth himself.”
“It would need to be —”
What the hell are they talking about….
At the Capital’s General Guild’s main office, I was supposed to receive the reward for subjugating Garo’s labyrinth. Once in the reception room I’d be brought to meet Siegfried, the Guild Master of the General Guild, Duke Verdaline, and the Magrave of Dragrange, Ophelia Dragrange. From them, I heard about a thief that came for the King’s Festival…
“Phantom Thief..?”
“Yes, the Phantom Thief ‘Nekoyanagi, a.k.a Rose-Gold Pussy Willow’. A group not as big as a bandit group, just rumored to be three people.”
Nekoyanagi… The shrub that grows naturally on the riverside. It is characterized by having flower ears that resemble a white bushy cat. According to Siegfied’s explanation, Nekoyanagi was a group that had stolen widely throughout Kurtemerga and the neighboring countries. And they had become a wanted group throughout the continent of Orlando.
They’d stolen various things such as magic stones, jewels, fine arts, antiques, magic technology, grimoires, magical weapons, and magic tools. All the items had been, so far, of the highest quality. However, Nekoyanagi had not killed anyone during these crimes. And the next thing they were aiming for was what Malta-san and I were to exhibit at the auction, the labyrinth core. Well, I had nothing to say besides that it was a really confident action. The King’s Festival was an auction hosted by the Royal Family of the Kurtmerga Kingdom. Their security would, of course, be of the highest level.
“I followed Nekoyanagi from the Margrave of Dragrange to the Royal Capital. They often appeared in the Margrave. It seems that they’re using it as a gateway into the kingdom. Such a disgrace is unforgivable. They must be arrested and atone for their sins.”
I see, so Ophelia came to the General Guild to strike a cooperative alliance?
“That’s why, Shaft, I knew immediately that the seller of the large mana stone was Marida Company, but their source was still unclear. That’s why I wanted to confirm it.”
“Therefore, I have a proposal for Shaft-san.”
“Proposal?”
“That’s right. Originally, it would have been extremely rude to make such an offer to the seller, but considering the strength of the individual, it was inefficient to waste Shaft-san, one of the prominent powers of the Kingdom.”
“In another word?”
“We would like you to cooperate in capturing the group Nekoyanagi.”
“How far do you expect me to cooperate?”
“It’s simple, if something happens inside Hirashia on the third day, you can deal with it as you wish. In short, you can protect your exhibit yourself, in the case when they escape, we will track them.”
“The basic guard for the festival will be carried out by the Central 4th Order Knights. Even though there will be a notice for the thieves, it is not possible to dispatch armed personnel from the guild. Even if it was possible, the knights cannot give up the honor of escorting the Royal Family.”
“All we are looking for is someone strong who knows the circumstances that will be participating in the festival. And to help capture them. Please, we can only ask you for this.”
After I listened to their explanations, they wondered if I would receive their request, which could not be considered a request. However, you don’t have to worry about my answer. I was just told someone was aiming for my labyrinth core. As a response, let’s take appropriate measures. Let’s work together after all.
“Understood, let’s cooperate to capture them.”
After that, I took my reward for subjugating Garo’s Labyrinth and heard all the information they had on Nekoyanagi. Then, got up to head to the library.
“Oh yes, Siegfried. Did you read the letter I sent in Veneer?”
“Hmm? Ah, that. We’re still investigating the matter. The behavior of the trio disguised were just eating then left. We only know this much, moreover, the Veneer staff are too busy with other work to go chasing food thieves, so no progress so far.”
Ophelia raised her voice after she waited for Siegfried to finish.
“Shaft, can I ask where you are staying in the capital?”
“My lodging? I haven’t taken any yet.”
“I see, then it’s good. In the first district of the capital, there is a luxury inn called Pavilion of Tranquility. If you tell them that you’re using my introduction, you will get a room right away. If people know that the Black Mask Shaft is staying at a second, or third rate inn, you’ll soon be surrounded.”
While saying that, Ophelia’s expression loosened. From the time she’d entered this room and until now, she’d always talked with a serious expression. There was something like a feeling of impatience. Maybe it loosened because I agreed to cooperate with this capture.
“Thanks, that’s helpful. I was planning to search for an inn in the evening. At worst, I’d probably wouldn’t get an inn at all.”
“I see, this might bring a lot of convenience.”
“Then please excuse me.”
With that said, when I tried to leave the room, the positions of the blips on my map were strange… The light near the door leading from the reception lobby of the main people to the corridor leading to this room… The light spot seemed to harden, like a wall of light. This… It seems that it was revealed that I was here.
“Siegfried, can I get out of this room from the backdoor rather than going through the lobby?”
“Oh, you can leave from there. I see, so you noticed the people in the lobby?”
“Then, I will guide you. Siegfried should stay with the Guild Master and Ophelia.”
I was guided by Valvara-san and headed away from the lobby. I could still hear the conversation of the remaining three in the room as we moved away.
“I feel relieved with this, there won’t be any mistakes if it’s him.”
“If possible, I’d like them alive and arrested, but he is the man who is called ‘The Headhunting Shaft’ behind the scenes after all. Even so, Ophelia, haven’t you given up on looking for a husband yet?”
“What do you say, Duke Verdaline. For the future of Dragrange, for the sake of peace, I will welcome any man to be my husband. However, if that man is stronger than me…”
“If so, that’s settled then! It is said that no matter ‘Sword Princess Ophelia’ did, she would not win against a man who walks through the labyrinth himself.”
“It would need to be —”
What the hell are they talking about….
