Chapter 29: Charlotte and the Escort Request

One more week. That’s all the time left until the group of assassins arrives.

Riven and the others seem to be busy preparing, and for the past few days they’ve been on edge. Or rather, ever since he found that sword in the catalog a week ago, the atmosphere has changed. It feels like it’s gone back to the mood from when we first met, back in that catacomb dungeon.

Is he panicking about something? Don’t tell me he’s planning to raid the auction house or something?

"I mean, he hardly talks to me anymore…"

Yeah, the biggest problem is that Riven’s been leaving me out of things entirely. Thanks to that, I haven’t been able to do anything these past few days.

Well, I say that’s fine… but no, it’s not fine.

What I mean is—it’s lonely!

I finally found people I could be close to without worrying about appearances. Up until now, it was always people I had to tiptoe around, whether it was relationships or romance or whatever. Was I the only one who thought we were actually starting to get along?

"Just when I thought we’d become friends, too…"

I didn’t expect him to suddenly put so much distance between us. Honestly, he’s a real piece of work. It’s not like I don’t understand why, so I’m not going to say it out loud, though.

Anyway, this is just me complaining. I’ll do what I can on my own. In a week, the assassins will come. Riven will probably drag me into helping, but judging from the mood, I’ll have to take care of my own safety too. Which means—I need to find someone to protect me.

But here’s the problem: almost none of the people I know are free right now! Reynard, as part of the Crimson Bell, will obviously be participating in the auction, and there’s no way he’d have the leeway to guard me. (Not to mention, if I asked him, I’d probably get killed by all sorts of people.) Other adventurers and acquaintances tied to different clans are probably busier than ever, since the top brass are all obsessed with the auction. I can’t imagine anyone sparing the time for me.

So then—who should I ask?

I need someone who isn’t putting effort into the auction or dungeon expeditions at a time like this. Someone I know personally, who might actually accept if I asked them to guard me. Only one person comes to mind.

So I made my way alone to the Crimson Bell’s clan house, to meet them.

"…Excuse me, may I?"

"Hm? …What’s this, some shabby-looking kid?"

The moment I opened the clan house door, all eyes turned toward me. Right now, I was dressed in a ragged cloak, hood pulled down to hide my face. To them, I probably looked like some back-alley orphan wandering in.

"What’s this about? This is the Crimson Bell’s clan house, you know—"

The one who stepped forward was a large man. His massive frame was intimidating to look up at, but he didn’t seem hostile. He probably thought I was just some kid messing around. I’d heard that some kids did that kind of thing as a test of courage. The fact he wasn’t being rough with me was probably thanks to Reynard’s orders. He’s always soft on kids.

"Sorry, I came to see someone."

I carefully pulled back my hood and revealed my face. This was only my second time visiting the clan house, but I figured they’d recognize me here. …Or maybe that was just my ego talking?

"Lady Charlotte!? What’s with that outfit?"

Good, so it wasn’t just ego after all.

"I’m just going out on my own for a bit, so… a precaution."

"Fair enough. Someone like you could get attacked walking alone. So, here to see the leader?"

I shook my head. Not that I didn’t want to see Reynard, but he wasn’t the one I was here for today.

"Is Trishell here?"

At my request, the man gave me a rather puzzled look.

Trishell’s room, he told me, was on the second floor at the back. He even escorted me there. I hadn’t expected him to go that far, but he said if I wanted to repay the favor, I should pass along his regards to the clan master—Reynard. I just gave him a vague smile and parted ways in front of the door.

…Well then.

"Maybe I should just go home…"

"Why would you leave already?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. The door was slightly ajar, and a pair of sky-blue eyes peeked out at me. Ah—she smiled.

"Come on now, you came because you wanted something from me, right? Want to come in? Or would you rather talk outside?"

Saying that, Trishell opened the door wider, inviting me inside. The glimpse I got of the room was surprisingly tidy, but still…

"I-I don’t want to go inside…"

"Then outside? I don’t mind."

"That’s… not great either…"

I didn’t want to risk being overheard outside. What I was about to ask was far too convenient for me, and anyone normal who overheard would probably be appalled. It could even cause trouble for my future adventuring career.

Ugh. I hate this. I really don’t want to be alone in a room with her. Honestly, just showing my face here feels embarrassing. But I don’t have a choice! She’s the only one who comes to mind!

Trishell is famous for being lazy despite her strength. Since she covers her own living expenses, no one can really complain. I don’t know where her money comes from, but since the patrols don’t hassle her, it can’t be anything too shady.

In other words, she’s strong, I know her, and she usually has free time. She’s got no interest in the auction either. She’s basically the perfect person to ask for protection. Basically… but still…

She sighed. “Ah, come on. You don’t have to pull away like that. Here — come in, come in.”

“Don’t touch weird places, please.”

“I won’t! Geez, you came all this way to see me, I wouldn’t do something like that…”

It felt suspicious. Suspicious as hell, but when she gave my back a gentle shove I obediently stepped into the room.

I needed to talk, and at this pace Trishell probably wouldn’t actually grope me. That was just a hunch.

The room itself was very plain. Not exactly empty, but there was nothing beyond the bare necessities.

It gave the impression that only what was necessary for living had been left there.

Strange. Not what I imagined. I’d expected a mess of stuff scattered everywhere, but it was neat.

“If you stare so much it’s embarrassing — kya.”

“Kya” indeed. Her mouth said one thing, but her behavior didn’t match it at all.

She wasn’t just setting out a table and chair mechanically — she’d actually prepared for a guest.

“All right then, here you go. What tea do you want? Oh — if you’re worried about it being spiked I can taste-test it for you…”

“No, you don’t have to go that far! You’ll never get to the point if you keep this up!”

What the heck is with her. Is she the kind of girl who brings a boy to her room for the first time and acts like this?

This looped-around suspicious behavior made me uneasy, so I told myself to stop overthinking.

We sat opposite each other at the small round table. I drank the tea she served. Ah — it’s good.

Once she saw me take a sip, Trishell drank as well.

“So, you wanted to talk to me?”

“Well, where should I start explaining…”

Tell her: assassins are heading for town, I might be a target, please protect me?

That would sound insane. Way too sudden.

So how to explain it…?

“Well, I kind of already have an idea, you know?”

“Huh?”

“Basically, we just kill everyone who dares harm Charlotte-chan, right?”

For a moment I felt Trishell’s eyes flash.

Oh. This is bad.

“Start with that hateful swordsman—”

“Waaah! Waaah! Wait, wait, I’ll explain properly!”

Yep, she’s the kind of person you have to keep on a short rein.

Seeing me panic, Trishell laughed like a prank that had worked on a kid.

“Just kidding.”

“...Right. Fine. Anyway, my request is—”

I decided to explain in order.

That dangerous people connected to Riven were coming to town. That because they were related to him, I might also be targeted. That they’d come in a week, during the auction. And that we had a strong reason to absolutely attend the auction ourselves.

While I spoke, Trishell didn’t interrupt once. She just listened.

Her gaze toward me looked oddly amused, almost like someone watching something painful with interest.

“…I see. So that’s why you came to me.”

When I finished, she let out a big breath.

Was she exasperated? Well, I could hardly blame her — I was shameless for still coming to ask after what happened last time. If she’d thrown me out the moment she saw my face, I wouldn’t have had much right to complain.

“If you don’t want to, you can refuse—”

“Fine. Let’s do it.”

“—Huh?”

She said it as if it were nothing.

What did she just say?

“I’ll do it. I’ll protect you.”

“Well, um—”

“Oh, are you worried about pay? If that’s it, don’t worry, I won’t ask for much.”

She stretched once, then looked at me with a refreshed expression.

“I want Charlotte-chan to dislike me, but I don’t want to do things that actually make Charlotte-chan hate me.”

She said that and then took another sip of tea.

What the hell is she saying?

I still don’t understand her after the previous incident. She wants to be disliked by me but doesn’t want to do unpleasant things? Then why did she do those semi-sexual things before?

I could ask a lot, but somehow I didn’t expect a straightforward answer.

Even though she was acting like she’d answer anything I asked.

“So, just one thing to confirm.”

“Yes?”

Confirm what, exactly?

I tensed up. I was prepared to accept most answers, but when she said that, Trishell smiled with genuine amusement.

“Charlotte-chan — do you think people you hate deserve to die?”

As she asked that with a smile, I felt a different kind of chill than the one I’d felt facing a man named Neil.

His was the sick feeling of a snake licking its lips. This felt like—

“I think they should die.”

It was like finding a loaded gun tucked away in a drawer — the sensation of seeing something you never wanted to see.