Chapter 33: Charlotte and the Intruder That Cannot Be Found

"Wow, that was fun, wasn’t it!"

The first day of the auction ended without any incidents.

Hearing the amounts climb in the bidding was genuinely enjoyable, and seeing sums I could never dream of spending flying around was so surreal it was fascinating.

This is insane. Even just watching is fun. I might get addicted to this.

By the way, no one approached us directly. Reynard had glanced our way a few times from afar, but he was too popular to make the effort to come over.

I watched from a distance a little, but I thought, I don’t want to be like that. Being surrounded by all those important people must be a huge mental burden.

Famous people have it tough, huh.

"...Did you actually enjoy that?"

"Huh? Y-Yeah, it was fun!"

"...I see."

He seemed like he was about to say something impressive but stopped midway!

Wait, what were you trying to say?

He clearly didn’t enjoy it at all. Well, that makes sense—he was probably thinking about how to fight even before it started.

Stuff like that is meant to be enjoyed with an empty head, just soaking in the atmosphere.

"You can’t enjoy it if you’re always thinking about combat. You need a purer mindset—"

"During the auction, eyes were on us from all directions. You seemed too absorbed in the stage to notice."

"…Yes."

Apparently, I was wrong about what he expected.

People were watching that closely? Maybe I got a bit too into it.

"Those were adventurers?"

"They weren’t trying to hide it at all. Most likely, they’re upper-level residents."

Hmm, I see. That makes sense.

Most of the adventurers I know. They wouldn’t stare at us like that in a place like this.

"Is this because of that incident in the corridor?"

"It probably had some effect. If anyone tries anything, we’ll just knock them down."

"Hey, hey!"

"What is it?"

No, it’s not just “what is it.” Getting into trouble in the upper levels is unthinkable. Defying the powers that be never ends well.

Go with the flow. Staying safe and peaceful is what matters most.

And that shallow-looking guy? Thinking back, it gives me chills. Back then, confusion took over, but now it’s pure disgust. I never want to see his face again.

What’s with that “won’t become my concubine” nonsense? That’s insane. Not something you say to someone you just met.

Ugh, gross. Really gross.

"Oh? The auction just ended?"

As I shivered, another equally annoying person approached from the front—Trishel.

"...It’s you."

"Hey there~ Charlotte-chan and your little sidekick."

Ah. Riven seemed quietly irritated.

These two really don’t get along. Trishel is the one who’s hostile, though.

"Why are you here? This is the upper level, you know."

"Come on, Charlotte-chan. Did you forget? I’m part of the Crimson Bell too. I have a few friends among the upper-level residents."

Ah—so she can enter regardless of the auction.

As for why we’re here… well, the auction explains it. It’s just the way back. If you know where the Stray Cat Inn is, it’s easy to guess.

"So, what’s your business here?"

"Do I need a reason to talk to you? How sad… especially since Charlotte-chan and I are friends."

"I’ll knock you out, you banned lady."

Even though we’re supposed to be hiring her as a bodyguard… still! I’m allowed to feel irritated, right?

This person is incomprehensible. I want someone to tell me what’s going on in her head.

No, forget it. I can’t understand this.

"Well, well. Let’s stop the joking around. About the main topic: the dangerous people you mentioned, Charlotte-chan—I’ve temporarily taken care of them so they can’t move for a few days."

"...What?"

"Hehe, you can praise me if you want, you know?"

"Huh?"

What did she just say?

She took care of enemies yesterday and today? I thought they were a group of highly skilled assassins.

Assassins and mages don’t seem like they’d mix well. Did she really defeat them?

After hearing that, Riven stepped forward.

Trishel seemed slightly displeased because my form was hidden. I felt it.

"Don’t lie. Hyden’s group isn’t something you can handle casually."

"Hmm? But I’m not lying. If that’s what you call ‘highly skilled,’ then sure. A pretty low-level story, though. Someone’s country, you know."

"...Oh?"

Hm? Another fight about to start? Should I intervene?

Can I safely intervene? No, this is scary.

Silence fell. The tense aura pierced our skin. Naturally, the people around us avoided us and hurried away.

Neither side showed any sign of backing down.

If this continues, the patrol will notice us. I decided to step in—and just then, the tension relaxed.

"Well, let’s leave it at that. The specifics are corporate secrets."

Trishel said it cheerfully, showing none of the previous hostility. Back to her usual joking self.

"At least it’s true that I hurt those guys. I don’t lie about such an important, important job."

"...Really?"

"Really, really! You don’t trust me, huh?"

Do you know? Trust is built day by day.

"Let’s assume that story is true."

"Yeah?"

"Then, what about the mages?"

"Mages?"

Huh, I thought the assassins were just a group of killers… were there mages too?

I didn’t know that.

Trishel tilted her head in confusion as well.

"I had them all tracked from the moment they entered town, but there were no mages."

"That can’t be! …If that’s the case, then the ones you defeated were only a part of them. Some must have gotten away."

Unusually, Riven raised his voice.

Perhaps because his work was openly denied, Trishel also seemed a bit irritated. Her usually carefree demeanor changed slightly.

"What’s that supposed to mean? You’re saying our investigation was sloppy?"

"I said it’s unreliable. Thinking you’ve done enough after eliminating only a fraction of them—"

"Hey, hey!"

Riven was unusually aggressive for once.

What’s going on? You’ve been acting strange lately.

Before, even if you said something like this, you’d maintain a composed attitude. Now it’s like… lashing out in frustration.

"Hmm. The cowardly lot that didn’t want to do anything until they entered town sure do talk a lot."

"Compared to the ones who can only fight properly inside the town, maybe?"

"Both of you, wait a moment!"

I hurried to step between them. Even so, their anger didn’t subside.

"We had tracked their location, including the ones in hiding. When they came together as a group, we struck immediately. There’s no way we missed anyone."

"But they had a mage with them. If you missed that, then clearly there was a gap."

"Are you sure that’s not your misunderstanding? I get it—you’re upset your glory was stolen—but making baseless complaints is lame."

"Baseless complaints? Hah. Not even realizing your own incompetence, yet overflowing with overconfidence. Ignorance is a sin. Totally hopeless."

No good. They won’t stop. Neither of them even notices me.

"Are you okay with being so paranoid? You’re completely scared."

"What did you say?"

"Are you that scared? Big sis?"

Riven grabbed Trishel by the collar. Her body lifted slightly. She barely managed to keep her toes on the ground.

"...What do you know?"

"I know. You’re completely terrified, anxious beyond reason. Right?"

"What do you—"

"Enough!"

I forcibly ripped Riven’s hands off Trishel.

It took all my strength, both hands and weight. What a force this person has.

Because of the momentum, I fell backward onto my butt.

I dusted off the sand sticking to me and stood up.

Riven stepped back a few paces, and Trishel coughed lightly, probably because her breathing was a bit strained.

Seeing that they both calmed down for now, I spoke again.

"You’ve been acting strange. Normally, you’re not like this, right?"

"...Yeah."

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"Back to the inn. Don’t follow."

With that, Riven walked off in a different direction than we were headed.

What the heck. He’d been acting odd the whole time, but during the auction he was quiet.

He kept thinking about combat, sure, but he didn’t voice it.

What the hell. What’s going on?

"This makes no sense at all."

The words slipped out of my mouth.

Scared of big sis? I had heard she was overprotective, but… that much?

Yet, it feels different from just being “scary.” It’s like prey cowering before a predator…

No way. He’s so strong. How could someone like him be scared? What kind of monstrous human would be like that?

…

"Sigh. Can’t be helped."

It’s troublesome, but… maybe some care is needed.

Fine. I’ll consider it part of the pair work and get to it.