Chapter 15: Riven and a Grudge〇

After parting with that woman, I headed back to the inn I was renting.

In the end, the potion holder she forced me to buy proved useful. I’d doubted whether it would be of any help as support, but at the very least, it looked like it would serve its purpose.

On my way back from the dungeon today, I filled one of the empty potion bottles with paralysis poison and slotted it into the holder. I plan to use it to test how much I can still move under its effects.

"Even if I get hit by paralysis poison, as long as I can move, it doesn’t matter."

That was the thought I had after diving into that dungeon. The reason we keep stumbling at the third floor is because that woman, Trishel, takes the lead in combat. If I can move even inside the poison miasma, we could advance much faster.

Drinking poison and building resistance is something I’ve done since long ago. It shouldn’t be a problem.

When I returned to my room, the usual face was in the usual spot. That flimsy grin plastered across his face was one I’d long grown tired of seeing. We’ve known each other for over a decade now. Time really does fly.

"Oh, you’re back early today."

"We disbanded quickly."

"So, what’s next? Gonna gather some intel?"

"No. To prepare for dungeon expeditions, I’ll be training to build resistance."

When I showed him the bottle filled with yellow liquid, that frivolous smile twisted into a sour expression.

"You’re really gonna drink that?"

"Yeah."

"Isn’t that gross?"

"It’s necessary."

He stuck out his tongue with an exaggerated grimace, which was enough to make me feel unpleasant as well. Not like he was the one drinking it, so what did it matter?

"By the way, I dug up some info about that girl. Want to hear it?"

"Go on."

I took a small sip of the paralysis poison. Sure enough, a numbness spread through my body. No ringing in the ears though. The fact it worked so quickly meant it could be abused in all kinds of ways. I’ll be sure to bring some back with me next time.

"Her name is Charlotte. Her age is unknown, but she’s probably mid-teens. Female, as you can tell. Before coming to this town, she seems to have been wandering from place to place."

"I see. She looked like she wasn’t good at getting by, but maybe that wasn’t the case after all."

A careless, unguarded woman.

Her image rose in my mind. That forced smile of hers, like a child trying to hide some prank. With that kind of act, she won’t fool anyone. Somehow, she throws me off balance. Just another foolish girl in a foolish town—or so it should have been.

But she forces me to remember things I’d rather not. That’s why I don’t intend to get too involved.

"…Unusual of you to be interested in a woman. Should I take that as a sign?"

"Shut it. Do you want me to make sure you never open that mouth again?"

He stuck out his tongue again, trying to play off his slip-up. Looks like he’s also getting warped by this town’s air. Maybe I should smack him back to his senses—though that might break him even further.

"Anyway, she’s got a decent dungeon history. She used to be in a mid-tier party called 【Crimson Sword】, but nowadays she just drifts in and out of beginner parties."

"…So the rumors were true."

"At the very least, it doesn’t look like she’s working any schemes. Doesn’t seem like her siblings are pulling strings either."

Even in the cramped room, I swung my arm lightly to get a feel for sword movements. My body was paralyzed, but not to the point I couldn’t move. I’d maintain this state all day today. By tomorrow, my body should be somewhat used to it.

"You don’t look any slower than usual. Are you really paralyzed?"

"Want a taste?"

"…Maybe just a little."

Since he held out his hand, I let a single drop of the poison fall onto his fingertip. Just contact with it could be dangerous, but one drop should be fine. Without hesitation, he put it in his mouth. Immediately, his body stiffened, his movements turning jerky. I couldn’t help but smirk.

"Blegh! What is this crap? And you’re really moving around after drinking it?"

"I am. Here—drink this. Antidote potion."

I tossed him a potion, and he downed it in one gulp. Always so dramatic.

"Ah, that feels better."

"Good for you. So, what else?"

"Other stuff, huh? Honestly, it smells a little fishy."

"Oh?"

Fishy, huh. In this town, it’d be harder to find something that isn’t.

"That inn she’s staying at, the Stray Cat’s Inn, it’s a bit suspicious."
"Really now?"

I stopped practicing and turned my focus to his words. Was there really something off about that place? At first glance, it looked like a normal tavern.

"The customers are mostly adventurers. But the staff are all adventurers or ex-adventurers."

"And the problem with that is?"

"It means the hiring standards are based on combat ability. They’re clearly prioritizing strength."

"Hm."

Now that he mentioned it, the tavern master did seem quite capable. I could beat him if it came down to it, but not without effort. If there were two of that caliber, things would get rough. So they prioritize martial strength, do they? Then what about her? She claimed she could use healing magic, but I haven’t actually seen her use it. How skilled is she really?

Still, if she keeps bouncing between beginner parties, she can’t be much. Even Reynard didn’t seem to expect much from her as a healer.

"If you’re going to get involved with that place, better tread carefully—even you, Lio—uh, Riven."

I shot him a glare, and he hurriedly corrected himself. Since he fixed it quickly, I let it slide.

"Fine. Any other info? Even about the dungeon’s treasures would do."

"No real progress on that. Honestly, just bringing it up makes people give me the stink-eye. It’ll take time."

Just as I’d heard before. Nothing for it but to keep chipping away.

"Understood. Take your time, but make sure it’s solid."

"Aye aye."

A lazy reply came back, but he was a man who got the job done. That much, at least, I trusted.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

A visitor? Who would come here? I could count on one hand the number of people who might actually have business with me.

"Neil, get the door."

"Yeah, yeah."

I had Neil open it and handle the greeting while I readied myself to refocus on sword forms.

"Hello—what’s your business?"

"Um, is the dark-haired man… is he here?"

"…Seems it’s you, Riven."

I let out a sigh and lowered my stance. No helping it—I’d have to take over.

Standing at the door was a young girl. Clearly frightened, dressed in ragged clothes that made me wonder how she even got into this inn. A bruise on her cheek. She’d been beaten. And the moment she saw me, she flinched in fear. Troublesome.

Women are always like this. They either cower or they fawn. Only two kinds. …Though lately, there’ve been exceptions.

"What is it you want?"

"N-no. I was told… to give you this."

"What?"

She held out a folded slip of paper.

A curse? No, didn’t feel like that. For now, I took it.

"Who’s it from?"

"I-I’m sorry!"

"Why apologize? I asked who sent it."

The more I pressed, the harder she cried. This is why I hate women. Can’t even hold a conversation.

"It’s not that, it’s not that! Please, save my sister!"

"What?"

I shifted my gaze to the paper in my hand and opened it, looking for some clue.

"…Neil. Watch over this girl."

"Got it. What about you, Riven?"

"I’m going to crush some fools."

After a quick read, I crumpled the paper in my hand.

Utter nonsense. Pathetic. What pissed me off wasn’t the content itself—it was the arrogance of thinking they could move me with something this trivial.

Unable to suppress my irritation, I hurled the crushed paper to the floor, then stormed out, shutting the door behind me.

I cut through the town’s back alleys, heading for the spot written on the note.

A few shady types gave me curious looks as I passed, but they all turned tail with a glare. Nothing but petty scum.

There are three things I cannot abide.

"Hey, with a prize like this, don’t we deserve to have a little fun first?"

First: shallow women who judge only by looks. Nothing filthier.

"Calm down. We’ll take our time with her after the job’s done…"

Second: fools who don’t know their place. No greater waste of time exists.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway—hey, he’s here."

And lastly: idiots who simply refuse to listen.

"Want me to tell you which of the three you belong to?"

At the spot written in the note, I found them—the ones who’d sent me that pathetic message. The same pair of thugs I’d met in that dungeon where I picked her up.

"Just the two of you? Bold of you to underestimate me like that."

At the sight of me, they flinched slightly. If they’re going to be scared, they should’ve lived quietly in the first place, not gone out of their way to pick a fight. I don’t go around kicking at every stone in the road—unless one decides to trip me.

"S-stop right there!"

"You don’t care what happens to her, do you?!"

What they shoved forward was that woman—Charlotte.

Unconscious, limp in their hands.

Really, what a troublesome woman. It wasn’t enough to get herself snatched in the dungeon, now she’s gone and been kidnapped outside of it too.

"…And what of it?"

"S-she’s in your party, isn’t she?!"

"No. She’s nothing more than a tool I make use of."

…So that’s it. Now I understood.

They wanted to make a show of getting at me, but lacked the courage to face me head-on. So they grabbed a hostage instead.

No wonder she’s nicknamed the Goddess of Fortune. To me, it’s irony—she only ever seems to run into misfortune.

"Is that all you had to say? Then you can die now."

"W-wait! You don’t care if she gets hurt?!"

"I don’t."

It’s only been a day or two since we met. And she’s a healer. A scratch or two, she can patch up herself. She’d whine about it, sure, but at this point, who cares.

『Nooo! Help me, please, it’s a contract, right?!』

Suddenly, her cry echoed in my memory.

I stopped in my tracks. The thugs stiffened in fear, wondering what I was thinking—but that didn’t matter. What mattered was the calculation.

If I left her to die, then what? Reynard and the others would sour toward me. Trishel especially would cause a scene. Even the Guild seemed to be paying special attention to her.

That could interfere with my current work. And right now, she was a shortcut to my goal.

The more I thought about it, the heavier the sigh that left me.

Everything about this was a hassle.

"…What is it you want?"

"W-we spent a fortune fixing the arm you busted! Couldn’t just let that go!"

"So, money then."

Pathetic. I pulled a pouch from my coat and tossed it to the ground at their feet.

"Take it. If you’re satisfied, get lost."

The two exchanged wary looks, baffled I’d handed it over so easily.

If they didn’t pick it up, I’d just cut through them. I let my sword ring as I shifted my grip.

"W-wait!"

The one with his hands free reached toward the pouch, checked inside—

And in that instant, I moved.

"Gah!"

I drove my boot into his face, knocking him back.

The other tried to react, but too slow.

"Get blown away."

I seized his shoulder and hurled him into his partner.

"Ugh!"

The two collapsed in a heap, and the girl was flung aside in the scuffle—exactly as I’d intended.

I drew my blade and leveled the tip at the groaning pair.

"Get lost. And don’t ever show me your faces again."

"Hi-hiiiii!"

They screamed and scrambled away, pitiful.

What a waste of time.

As for the girl, tossed on the ground—was she injured? Probably not badly. Even if she whines over a scratch, I won’t hear complaints over something that minor.

"Aw, and they ran away."

A voice, disappointed, came from behind me.

I immediately leapt back and swung my sword toward the source. No presence at all.

It had been a long time since anyone got behind me unnoticed. Just that alone told me—this one was skilled.

"Too bad. That was a surprise. I thought for sure you’d charge them head-on."

"…You are…"

"Hi there! It’s Trishel-chan!"

There she stood—the blue-haired woman, Trishel.