Chapter 0103 Ryo's kindness
-x-X-x-
The third day after leaving Slanzewi.
If all goes well, they should be able to reach the city of Halwill before the evening.
The surrendered Sharfi was located in the center of the caravan where Ryo and Ra were.
Sharfi had an ice film around his heart to protect him from the cursed tattoo.
It was due to Gecko's consideration that it would be better if Ryo, the creator of the ice film, was nearby.
Of course, that 『consideration』 didn't work in the right direction for Sharfi.
Sharfi was now, of course, walking on his own feet.
However, he was covered with ice from around the waist to the neck, and when viewed from a distance, it looked as if he had been pierced by a pillar of ice.
That was mainly a measure Ryo took 『without any other choice』 to deprive both his hands of their freedom and prevent him from doing anything bad.
"Hey … Ryo-san. Can't you do something about this ice restraint? Leaving aside how it looks, walking in a state where my arms are attached to the body makes it difficult to balance and I'm about to fall."
"Haa … how many times do you want to say that? There's no telling what an assassin can do with their hands free. It's dangerous, isn't it? I only restrained you that way as a last resort. Actually, I wanted to cover your legs, face, and even your mouth with ice. The entire body of an assassin is a weapon. And I don't know where you would hide hidden weapons."
"Agreed. And we have to walk beside such a dangerous person … it's hard being an adventurer."
Sharfi complained, Ryo grumbled in retaliation, and Ra followed suit.
"No, you guys stripped all the weapons I had … And, like this, when my head is itchy or I want to scratch my nose, it's pretty rough because I can't use my hands."
"Jeez..."
Ryo groaned and used Water-Attribute Magic to create an ice mask that covered Sharfi's entire head and connected it to an ice straitjacket that extended up to his neck.
And he did some more detailed work.
"Now, there you go. With this, you can scratch the top of your head by moving your right index finger a little. You can also scratch your nose by moving your left index finger a little. Even with your arms fixed, you can scratch with just a little movement of your fingertips. Isn't that great? Thank me."
"Wow … it looks like crap, but it's still crazy detailed …"
Ra, who was looking sideways, was surprised at the sight.
Sharfi, whose mouth was blocked by the ice mask, couldn't say thanks or protest …
In the evening, the party arrived at the gate of the city of Halwill.
Ryo, as expected, thought that it would not be too good to enter the city in that getup, so he removed Sharfi's ice mask.
"Even if your head or nose is itchy, it's only for a short time, so please be patient."
Ryo gently told him.
"No, that's not the point! I don't want such an ice mask!"
However, Sharfi was angry for some reason.
It was an ice mask that he was confident about, but it seemed that Sharfi didn't like it.
"Even though I worked so hard on it … I wonder if the design needs a little more contemporary artistic features …. Perhaps it suffers from a low evaluation from an artistic point of view because it looks like a 『mask』, but that can't be helped."
"Yeah, Ryo, I don't think that's the case."
Ra calmly retorted as Ryo was depressed and reflected to make the most out of this mistake for the future.
"Stop bullshitting me, Ryo. I will remember you."
Sharfi, who was angry, sweared at Ryo.
"Yeah, it seems that you didn't like the mask, maybe you want to spend the entire time we're in the city in the ice coffin. I think we should apply to bring you into the city as an ice object."
"… No, Ryo-san, I'm sorry. That was my bad. Please forgive me."
Sharfi had seen his three ice-encased subordinates.
He really wanted to avoid being in that situation.
Moreover, in the city.
Therefore, he quickly admitted his fault.
Partly due to Gecko's intervention, Sharfi was able to enter the city as a member of a caravan, with even his ice straitjacket removed.
He took on the status as one of the five escorts who were killed by the time the caravan reached the city of Rune.
Max showed a slightly complicated expression at that, but he followed Gecko's instructions without saying anything.
Max knew in his head that was the best way to do it.
Even at the Gecko Caravan's usual residence in the city of Halwill, Sharfi was able to spend time without any restrictions on his movements.
However, he was put into a triple room, which was the same room as Ryo and Ra.
They stayed overnight at Halwill, but nothing happened and the group was able to leave the next morning.
"Sharfi, I have a good idea. You don't have to worry about falling, we can rest assured, and you won't get tired at all."
"It sounds very good as far as you described it but …"
When Ra heard Ryo's suggestion, he muttered a little hesitantly.
And then, Ryo used Water-Attribute Magic.
What appeared was …
Sharfi, encased in an ice straitjacket from neck to toes, on Ryo's magic
"…"
The
For the people of 『Phi』, it was a special ice object that runs independently … but it was somewhat strange to ferry humans?
In fact, everyone who passed by on the highway stared at Sharfi without exception.
As an assassin, Sharfi, who had lived in the shadows for a long time, couldn't stand such shameful exhibition.
"Ryo-san, I'm sorry. I'll walk by myself without complaining. No, I want to walk. No, please let me walk, please!"
Ryo looked at Sharfi, who desperately wanted to walk on his own, with a curious look.
He didn't have to worry about falling and didn't have to walk on his own, so he won't get tired.
He made a perfect solution for the conditions.
But it seemed that the word 『shame』 had slipped from Ryo's mind.
"The guy's saying so himself, so why don't you let him walk?"
Ra intervened as Sharfi desperately begged to walk with his own feet.
"Well, if Ra-san says so."
With that said, the
After that, Sharfi continued walking without complaining, as he declared.
The middle of the journey.
There was a common sight in the second half of several breaks.
Gecko's subordinates, who were not escorts or adventurers, were doing something like magic practice.
"Hey, what are they doing?"
Sharfi, sitting down and watching the scene, asked Ra, who was sitting next to him, the question.
"Oh, they are children who can use Water Magic, so it seems that they are training to build an ice wall like Ryo."
"Ice wall …"
Sharfi became speechless.
That incredibly hard ice wall.
At first he thought it was a
It deflected the spear Sharfi threw and he had to charge in … and eventually fall into the plight of surrendering.
Will those children be able to cast that ice wall?
"No, that's impossible, right?"
Sharfi shook his head and muttered with his own desires.
"At first, I thought so too. But in just a few days, some kids managed to form the shape. When many merchants can create such an ice wall, the assassination business would be doomed."
Ra laughed loudly.
Upon hearing that, Sharfi gave a small, dry laugh.
"I'm glad I retired from being an assassin …"
He muttered.
-x-X-x-
Gecko approached the two of them.
"Merchants need to protect themselves first, and it would be even better if they could protect the lives of their subordinates, don't you think? Ryo's ice wall makes that possible. It might be impossible now, but I would want to have it around."
Gecko tenderly said so while watching the children practice.
"Hey, Gecko-san. What are the conditions for an excellent merchant?"
Sharfi suddenly posed a question to Gecko while he was looking at his subordinates.
"What's with the question out of the blue?"
"No, you see, if I were to be hired by this company as an escort, I would have to travel with a caravan like this? I want to know a little about merchants, businesses, and so on …"
Sharfi looked at Gecko and said.
"It's very nice to be motivated. But … the conditions for an excellent merchant … is a very difficult question. There are many different types of merchants. Each has their own specialty and the things they are suited for. The only thing I can say we have in common is that we are serious about our business dealings."
"Serious about business … that's too vague."
Sharfi commented as he tilted his head.
Gecko, on the other hand, laughed.
"Well, that's true. Maybe it's about always thinking about your business, your customers, and your subordinates? To see if you're always thinking, ask yourself a question. If it's something you've thought about before, you would be able to answer it immediately, right? For example … Sharfi, what do you think is the basis of business?"
Gecko suddenly asked Sharfi a question.
"Well, the basis of business … I wonder, isn't it to be profitable after all?"
Sharfi answered while thinking.
"I see. That's one answer. And maybe that is what you have seen and felt from the merchants and businesses you have encountered."
"Yeah, maybe …"
Sharfi repeatedly ruminated in his head what Gecko said.
Ryo returned at that time.
Gecko asked Ryo the same question.
"Ryo-san. What do you think is the basis of business?"
"Securing repeaters."
He answered Gecko's question immediately.
"Re-repeat …?"
Gecko didn't understand the meaning of repeater.
"Oh, I'm sorry … Um, securing regular customers."
"I see. Why?"
Gecko looked obviously more interested than Sharfi's answer.
"If you secure regular customers, you can predict how much you will sell the next year and the year after that. It will be easier to make a budget based on that. That is the bare minimum needed to have a forecast of operations. Moreover, customers who recognize that it is a good product and a good service would also advertise it to their family and friends. It wouldn't cost any advertising budget and it would be highly credible when recommended by a close person or a close friend. That is why a company needs to keep making good products to keep securing and increasing regular customers."
Ryo took a breather at that point, and Sharfi and Ra looked stunned.
"I see. Ryo-san once ran a business seriously, didn't you?"
Gecko nodded happily many times as he said that.
"Ryo-san, why don't you stop being an adventurer and work with me?"
"No, that's a little …"
On the evening of the third day after leaving Halwill, Gecko's caravan finally arrived at Red Post, a city on the eastern border of the Kingdom.
It was the twelfth day after leaving the city of Rune.
The Red Post was about the same size as the second-largest city in the east, Slanzewi.
It borders the Inbury Duchy in the southeast and had developed to a size that can be called a city due to the expansion of trade over the last decade due to the good relations between the two nations.
Incidentally, it also borders the Handal Union on the northeast side.
The Red Post was a 『border city』 for both the Duchy and the Union.
Gecko's caravan entered their usual lodgings and completed the registration.
"Oh, there's Ryo!"
From behind them, Ryo heard a voice that he was accustomed to hearing.
When Ryo looked back, as expected, there was Rin, the Wind-Attribute Magician of 『Crimson Sword』, and Warren, the Shield user, behind her.
"Huh? Rin and Warren? Why are you here?"
"Of course it's for work?"
Rin answered while tilting her head.
"I see, I guess that would be the case … Oh, rather, does that mean Rihya is in this city too if the two of you are here?"
Ryo thought about something and asked if Rihya was with them.
"Asking for Rihya instead of Abel … even if it's Ryo, I don't think Rihya will fall for you. A battle between Abel and Ryo over Rihya … I really don't want to see that."
Rin shook her head, and behind her Warren shook his head silently as well.
"Yeah, I have no intention of doing that at all. Isn't Rihya a high-ranking priest?"
"Yeah? Did someone suffer serious injuries or lose a limb? There is a time limit of 24 hours after losing a limb, you know? Other than that, Rihya can usually do something about it?"
When he heard Rin's answer, Ryo nodded, as if he was intending to request for it.
Then, he turned to Gecko, who was listening to the conversation between them.
"Gecko-san, this is Rin and Warren from the adventurer party 『Crimson Sword』 in the city of Rune. Rin, Warren, this is, Gecko-san, a merchant of the Inbury Duchy. Ra and I were hired by Gecko as escorts to the Inbury Duchy."
Ryo introduced them to each other.
"Of course, I know about the B-rank party『Crimson Sword』. I often do business with Master McGrath in the city of Rune, so if you have anything you need in the future, please look for me."
Rin and Warren briefly introduced themselves after Gecko's self-introduction.
Of course, Warren's part was also done by Rin.
"Ryo-san introduced the two of them to me, is it to utilize Priestess Rihya-san's healing magic to resolve our problem?"
"Yes. However, if Gecko-san has another idea and wants to handle the case after reaching the capital, I don't think it is necessary to do it in this city …"
Ryo replied Gecko's question while feeling around for his thoughts.
But when he heard that, Gecko laughed.
"No no, I don't have such plans. I think it's better if it can be solved quickly. If we can request the cooperation of the 『Crimson Sword』, I would definitely like to go ahead with the plan. Of course, I will prepare the formal rewards."
Then Gecko bowed to Rin and Warren.
"I won't be able to make the decision … the two of them will be back in a little while, so please ask them directly."
Rin glanced at Warren, saw Warren nodding, and then replied that she couldn't give an answer.
After a while, Abel and Rihya returned to the inn.
At a cafe in the inn … In modern Japan, it would be the hotel lounge.
They had their discussion there.
The four from 『Crimson Sword』, Ryo, Gecko, Max, and Sharfi.
Greetings and explanations of the situation were given to them.
"In simple terms, you plan to strip off the cursed tattoo on Sharfi's chest and have Rihya heal the wound."
After Abel understood the task, he asked again in his own words.
That process was important.
To make sure there were no discrepancies in case they misunderstood each other.
"Yes, that's right. Of course, I'm willing to pay the same amount as alms to a high-ranking priest."
Gecko nodded once and replied.
Abel turned towards Rihya and asked for her opinion with facial expressions.
"I don't mind. Our party has completed our request and was planning to return home tomorrow. However, you showed it earlier but, that tattoo … can it be removed?"
"Yes, in the past I asked an alchemist I knew, but while a normal tattoo only has ink on the skin and can be completely removed by peeling the skin, I was told this tattoo is underneath the skin … In other words, I have to strip off the flesh below the tattoo, but I didn't want to hurt my heart so …"
Sharfi answered Rihya's question, remembering what he was told in the past.
Many of the people there imagined the scene of actually carving out the flesh in their heads.
Most of them were adventurers.
It may be related to the fact that magic stones were extracted from the heart of monsters on a daily basis.
"It looks like it's going to be difficult. Hey, Ryo, don't you have some kind of thin water? Can't you use that?"
Abel turned to Ryo and asked.
He was probably referring to a water jet.
"Huh? Have I ever used a water jet in front of Abel?"
"I had an idea after I saw you cut off the necks of those three in the dungeon. Although I couldn't tell the moment I saw it. By the way, the first time I saw it was with the golem."
Ryo didn't remember showing Abel him slashing something with a water jet …
But it seemed that Abel remembered his act of cutting the golem with an Abrasive jet and taking out the magic stone.
Also, on the 40th floor of the dungeon, he recalled seeing Ryo cutting off the necks of three strong devils in an instant.
"That is a special secret magic, so it is forbidden to talk about it."
Ryo said that and brought the index finger of his right hand in front of his lips.
"What special secret magic …"
Abel was exasperated.
However, the people around him were looking at Ryo with the eyes of what would happen.
It looked like he needed to answer.
"Oh … well, unfortunately that magic isn't possible. At first glance, the flesh can be cut quickly, but in reality, water would get into the area around the sliced parts and damage the surrounding tissue. After that, I'm not sure if it can be repaired with healing magic."
Water jet injuries also existed on modern Earth.
It seemed that the injured part and its surroundings would be damaged uniquely, and the manufacturer of the water jet machines had taken the trouble to provide information to medical personnel.
Well, Ryo felt that Rihya's healing magic was amazing, so it was quite possible … she could even attach lost limbs after all.
(I wonder if I can use it for surgery if I become more proficient … There was a scalpel that uses water jet … Well, as of now, it just increases the risk …)
The risk should be lowered as much as possible.
He was thinking of adopting it as a last resort.
"How about expanding the area of the ice film in front of the heart to cover the heart and the important blood vessels around it? Then it would be fine even if the knife gets in too deep while extracting the tattoo."
"Yes, I think that's a good plan."
Max was the first to agree with Ryo's proposal.
Perhaps because Max felt that he was likely the person to insert the knife and strip the tattoo off.
Max was the only one who has previously stripped a tattoo, albeit from a corpse.
"Hey, Ryo-san, I have one question …"
Sharfi raised one hand and had difficulty asking a question.
"Yes?"
"My heart is covered with a film of ice? Shouldn't it be cold?"
"Oh ~"
Rin nodded to Sharfi's doubts.
Rin seemed to have the same question.
"If it's cold, Sharfi's heart would have stopped, right?"
"O-oh, yes … I know that. It's definitely not stopped. It's beating. That's why it's strange …. It is in my body, and I'd be happy if you could tell me."
Sharfi responded to Ryo's plausible answer with an indescribable face.
"In the first place, ice takes away the heat of the surroundings when it becomes water. Therefore, it feels cold when you hold it in your hand. However, the ice generated in Sharfi's body is magically created. It remains as ice forever. It does not take away heat from the surroundings because it does not become water. That is one reason. The other reason is that I forbade it from snatching heat from its surroundings when forming the ice film, so there won't be a temperature change."
"You can forbid the transfer of heat!?"
It was Rin, a Wind-Attribute Magician, who reacted.
"Well, because it's related to water, I can do it as a Water-Attribute Magician."
The truth was, he had to touch on molecular vibrations.
He kept the molecular vibration of the ice film itself, which had smaller molecular vibration at low temperature, constant, and prevented the vibrations from the place around the ice film where the molecular vibration was larger at high temperature from being transmitted to it.
However, Ryo didn't have a chemistry background strong enough to explain it there.
If he was posed a detailed question, it would be impossible for him to answer it.
So, he casually explained it as 'Forbidding the transfer of heat'.
"Well, if it's wind-related, will I be able to do it … I wonder if I'll be able to survive a cold windy day …"
The words that Rin whispered did not reach Ryo.
-x-X-x-
To move with haste when there were no doubts, or in the spirit of trying for the time being, the group rented a meeting room at the inn and decided to start treatment immediately.
"Hey, shouldn't we consider it a little more carefully …"
Sharfi tried to broach the subject, but even Gecko,
"It's never too early."
Said and urged the decision to conduct it tonight.
Sharfi was already in a dream-like state after taking the general anesthetic for pain relief that was available at the inn.
And after a long chant, Rihya was ready to activate her magic the moment she said the trigger word.
Also, although there was no clear use for it yet, hot water was prepared.
It was due to Ryo's doubtful medical knowledge that hot water was needed for surgery, and of course, Ryo, the Water-Attribute Magician, prepared it.
All that was left was for Max to prepare to peel the tattoo off.
The knife to use was decided.
A knife used to extract magic stones … Well, even though it was from a corpse, it was the same knife used last time to strip off that curse tattoo.
Max was chosen as the one to conduct the test.
Basically, Gecko, Abel, Rin, and Warren, who were not involved in this 『treatment』, were watching the laid-down Sharfi from a distance.
Warren held his shield up, and Rin was peeking her head out from behind it.
(Well, if it becomes a situation where a shield is needed, we probably won't be safe …)
Ryo saw that scene and grumbled in his heart.
Max was taking note by pulling on Sharfi's skin and pressing on his muscles.
Next to him, Ryo began to spread the ice film around Sharfi's heart.
Including the heart and the blood vessels around it.
In comics and anime, there would be large blood vessels connected to the heart when it is taken out.
Vena cava that runs up and down, aorta that wraps around the left and right pulmonary arteries, three carotid arteries that exit from the aorta, and finally four left and right pulmonary veins.
If he covers that area for a short time, he won't die instantly.
Apart from instant death, Rihya was there …
Ryo thought to himself and enclosed the heart.
"Ice film, ready."
Ryo informed Max.
"Okay. Gecko-san, I'll start."
"Yes, please."
Gecko granted permission.
After a breath, Max's knife pierced Sharfi's chest. Then, without hesitation, he cut through the skin and flesh.
However, when he cut about a quarter of what he had planned, the tattoo changed.
The design of the tattoo was a sword that pierced a double-headed eagle, and the sword shined.
Then, a stone spear formed.
It looked like the stone spear would pierce Sharfi's chest.
"Ryo!"
"It's okay. I will protect Sharfi's heart."
Ryo calmly answered Max's call.
The tattoo had a mechanism to kill the host if they attempted to remove it.
However, the 『Ice film』 was there for that reason.
Max's knife cut through about half as planned.
Meanwhile, the tattooed stone spear formed at Sharfi's heart and collided with Ryo's ice film.
Kiri Kiri Kiri
It was supposed to be a collision of ice and stone, but the sound of scraping metal echoed in the conference room.
(The ribs have been crushed quite a bit, but it can't be helped … I hope Rihya will be able to do something about it.)
The heart was protected, but the ribs outside it were the victims of the stone spear.
However, at that time, more problems emerged.
(What? People are coming here in a straight line at a considerable speed?)
Ryo responded to the
"Somebody is coming from the window!"
Ryo gave a loud warning so that Gecko and Abel who were looking from a distance away could hear.
"Protect Gecko, Abel. It may be someone who is aiming for Gecko's life."
"Leave it to me!"
Abel had some doubts, but he understood that he was not in the situation to ask such a question.
"
Ryo surrounded Sharfi as well as Max, Rihya, and himself who were all standing around Sharfi.
At that moment, people jumped in through the three open windows.
"Black from head to toe …"
Rihya murmured when she saw the three people who jumped in.
Two of the three ran toward Gecko while the remaining one aimed for Sharfi.
"Gecko-san!"
Max shouted with a knife in Sharfi's chest.
"Gecko-san, it's okay to leave it to Abel and his party. Let's concentrate on stripping the tattoo."
"O-okay."
Then Max turned to Sharfi and started moving his knife again.
The three thieves were separated, but the actions they took were the same.
They took out a fist-sized item from their bosom and threw it on the floor.
But that was something the people from Gecko's caravan had seen a while back.
"Smokescreen!"
Yes, it was the smoke grenade that Sharfi used when he attacked the caravan.
"Wind, swirl in my palm.
Rin cast Wind Magic.
The smoke that had spread in the room was collected by Rin's spell and exhausted to the outside through a broken window.
(As expected, Rin's judgment is quick.)
Ryo was honestly impressed.
Ryo knocked the smoke down to the ground with
Correct and quick judgment and action. That determines life and death.
(But the smokescreen attack was also done by Sharfi. I wonder if it is a classic assassin's ploy?)
Ryo smiled in his heart.
It was certainly effective, but if someone like Ryo or Rin were around, it would be easily nullified …
Of course, they probably prepared for Plan B …
However, the 『Crimson Sword』 was not so naive as to allow them to execute Plan B.
The moment the smoke was collected in the Tornado, Abel had already kicked the floor and was slashing at one of the assailants.
The slashed assailant managed to defend against the blow with a dagger he held in his opposite hand, but with a flowing second slash, his arm was cut off, and with a third diagonal slash from the shoulder, he was struck and died …
And the attack of the other assailant was completely prevented by the Shield-bearer Warren.
As he bought time that way, Abel, who had cut down the first one and approached from behind, beheaded the assailant with one slash.
If they succeeded in setting up a smokescreen, and if it was a battle in the limited space of that small conference room, the assassins might have been able to exert considerable power.
However, their opponent was the B-rank party 『Crimson Sword』.
The two assassins were easily disposed of, indicating that they were not a threat at all.
Incidentally, the assailant who headed for Sharfi alone was trapped in an ice coffin without even a chance to touch the ice wall …
"A little more. Endure it Sharfi."
Max sliced through his chest with a knife as he called out.
If anyone who didn't know the situation saw it, it would have been a strange sight.
Moreover, there were the bodies of two assailants and a man in black who were encased in ice.
But Max couldn't afford to think about that.
The stone spear hadn't given up on aiming for the heart while the assailants were attacking.
It was a competition between the stone spear and Max.
And finally …
"Okay, I cut it out."
"
At the same time Max removed it, Ryo enclosed the tattooed flesh with a stone spear in an Ice coffin.
"
After confirming that, Rihya activated an Extra Heal on Sharfi's chest, which was heavily gorged out that even the heart was visible.
That was one of the strongest Healing magic that was said to repair even lost limbs.
Only a few priests in the country could use it.
Ryo didn't know why Rihya could.
He didn't know, but he thought it was great that she could.
Then, with outstanding effect, the muscles and blood vessels regenerated, and finally, skin formed over the former wound.
The newly formed skin had no tattoos.
Rihya took Sharfi's pulse and informed Gecko that there were no complications.
Upon receiving the report, Gecko looked visibly relieved.
"Ryo, these guys in black …?"
"Yes. They belong to the 『Cult』 that Sharfi belonged to."
Ryo nodded and answered Abel's question.
"A cult whose livelihood is assassination …"
"The Order of Assassins!"
Rin acknowledged Rihya's mutter.
"Yes, the 『Order of Assassins』 … it's more like a legend than a rumor …"
Rihya commented as she thought to herself.
(So it's in this world too … the Order of Assassins)
Ryo was a little excited.
When speaking of assassins on Earth, Hassan-i Sabbah comes to mind.
The founder of the Order of Assassins, also known as the Old Man of the Mountain.
Of course, he was a real person, colored by many anecdotes and legends.
There were records of his death at Alamut Castle in the Midwestern part of Iran on May 23, 1124.
One of his anecdotes describes his relationship with Nizam al-Mulk.
It was written by Hamdallah Mustawfi Qazvini, a Persian historian of the Ilkhanate era.
He described him in the 『Excerpt History』.
When Hassan-i Sabbah was serving the Seljuk empire's second monarch, Alp Arslan, the Chancellor then was Nizam al-Mulk.
The Seljuk Empire, created by the first monarch Tughril Beg, reached its largest territory during the time of the second monarch Alp Arslan and the Chancellor Nizam al-Muruk, and reached its peak in the third generation.
There was no doubt that Alp Arslan and Nizam al-Mulk were excellent.
Now, at one point Hassan Sabbah was ordered by Alp Arslan to compile spending reports across the Empire.
But it was a very difficult task to do in 40 days as Chancellor Nizam al-Mulk requested, as it would typically take a year.
But Hassan Sabbah did it.
The vexed Chancellor Nizam al-Mulk messed up the contents of the report the morning of Hassan-i Sabbah's report to Alp Arslan.
Because of that, Hassan-i Sabbah failed to answer Alp Arslan's questions, and his honor was lost.
Of course, Chancellor Nizam al-Mulk added further blows to the situation.
As a result, Hassan Sabbah was ousted from the court.
After that, Hassan Sabbah organized the Order of Assassins.
Chancellor Nizam al-Mulk was a celebrity that appeared in high school world history textbooks, and his 『Nezamiyeh Academy』 was a frequent phrase that always appeared in regular tests.
A famous individual as that, Chancellor Nizam al-Mulk, ended up assassinated in 1092.
Who on earth assassinated him …
(Eh? Wasn't the national emblem of the Seljuk empire a double-headed eagle …? Sharfi's tattoo is a sword that pierces a double-headed eagle … is this a coincidence?)
There were many royal families and countries in history that had the 『Double-headed eagle』 as their coat of arms or national emblem.
Whether it was the Holy Roman Empire or the House of Romanov in Russia, it was a design that had been common since ancient times.
Ryo's knowledge was, of course, knowledge from Earth, but of course, he thought that there might be some royal families and countries that used the design of 『Double-headed Eagle』 on 『Phi』.
It might be a coincidence …
But if it wasn't a coincidence … that was a big deal.
Because that meant that reincarnated people were involved.
(Well, there's nothing I can do about it thinking about it now. Let's ask Sharfi after he wakes up.)
After all, Ryo had already confirmed the existence of other reincarnated people due to the curry, cafes, and crepes.
The only question was, 'Are they still alive?' and to be honest, it didn't matter to him if they were.
Ryo considered most matters half-mindedly.
Sharfi, who was asleep, was taken to Ryo and Ra's room for the time being.
Ra, who was guarding the caravan and the others, seemed to have been waiting with excitement.
Because Gecko ordered him to 'Never leave here and protect them', he couldn't move even if there was a scuffle.
However, Ra trusted Abel more than anyone else.
When he heard that Abel and his colleagues had defeated the assassins, Ryo saw him praising them happily as if it was himself.
Abel and his party were thanked by Gecko and he promised to transfer the rewards to their guild account, along with the rewards for their protection.
Ryo didn't know the market price, but Max murmured that it would be a considerable amount of money for a B-rank adventurer party and a high-ranking priest class.
Whereas the assailant trapped in the Ice Coffin remained trapped until the next morning.
-x-X-x-
The next morning after extracting the tattoo from Sharfi's chest.
Max and his group extracted information from the assailant who was trapped in the
Even though the assassins so far wouldn't break their silence no matter what, perhaps the overnight ice treatment was effective as this assassin honestly answered whatever he was asked.
However, they didn't obtain much information.
In summary …
They were a unit based at Red Post.
The main purpose of their invasion last night was to confirm that the person was killed by the tattoo after receiving notice that the tattoo had been activated.
However, because Gecko, who was currently the highest priority target, was there, they carried out an attack on him at the same time.
The reason for Gecko's assassination was unknown.
As part of the plans for the Eastern part of the Kingdom, the assassination of Gecko had become a top priority after the collapse of the Rho Bridge and the attack on Slanzewi.
Only three of them were currently at Red Post.
He didn't know where and how many people were in other cities.
The end.
That was all.
As they were attacked in the city, after extracting the information, he was handed over to the garrison that managed security.
"It is pretty much as we suspected."
"Gecko's life is the highest priority …"
"The tattoos have various mechanisms built-in."
Gecko's thoughts, Max's determination, and Ryo's impression of the tattoos … and alchemy.
For the time being, the three of them stared at Sharfi, who was having a large breakfast as though nothing had happened.
Gecko's caravan ate breakfast at the inn and left the border town of Red Post.
Red Post was the easternmost city of the Kingdom of Knightley, with a border with the Inbury Duchy to the southeast.
From the time they left Red Post, there was a slight change in the formation.
Ryo and Sharfi had been relocated to the side of the leading wagon.
Gecko was seated at the coachman's stand on the first wagon and Max was escorting it on foot.
In short, they were relocated so that Gecko could get information from Sharfi after he saved his life as promised.
Ryo was there to keep watch on Sharfi.
"Ryo … as the watcher … is somewhat …"
Sharfi grumbled while looking at Ryo walk beside him.
"Sharfi seems to have something to complain about."
Ryo walked without any worries.
"My heart probably still has an ice film around it, right? So if Ryo … -san wants to, you can crush my heart right away, right?"
"Who knows? I don't know because I haven't tried it. Would you like to give it a try?"
"No, please spare me from that."
Sharfi asked as confirmation and Ryo also suggested giving it a try … but the negotiations did not go well.
"Sharfi, more than 60% of the human body is water. That water permeates every corner of the body. Therefore, as a Water-Attribute Magician, I don't need to go through the trouble of crushing your heart. I can just freeze your tendons and easily stop your movements?"
"M-my finger can't move …"
The moment Ryo said that, Sharfi felt that he couldn't move his finger.
"This way, if Sharfi suddenly returns to being an assassin, it's possible to control you before you can harm others."
Ryo nodded many times as if he was satisfied.
Sharfi looked Ryo as if he was looking at something inhuman.
Gecko, who was listening from the coachman seat, threw out a rescue boat.
"If Sharfi doesn't do anything bad, Ryo won't do anything. Right, Ryo?"
"Of course."
Ryo nodded.
"Aren't you glad, Sharfi."
"Remember to thank Gecko, Sharfi."
Gecko's smile and Ryo's smile.
Both smiles looked eerie to Sharfi.
While traveling, they were constantly questioning Sharfi, or rather it was an information-sharing session.
Of course, Sharfi was also actively cooperating in sharing information as the reward for removing his tattoo and saving his life.
He didn't appear to be a bad guy in that aspect.
Despite being a former assassin.
In the first place, the main purpose given to Sharfi by the Cult headquarters was the sabotage of Slanzewi, the second-largest city in the eastern part of the Kingdom.
Therefore, it was his first time attacking Gecko's caravan in Slanzewi and he had not heard that there was a unit that attacked before that.
"I think there is a connection between the sabotage of Slanzewi and the collapse of Rho Bridge, but I wonder what the purpose is?"
"Oh, even I don't know the details … No, Ryo-san, wait, I really don't know. That, squeezing of your hand, is literally bad for my heart, so please stop it … But including those two incidents, there will be an increase in terrorist activities in the eastern part of the Kingdom."
Sharfi answered Gecko's questions obediently.
"Is that a request from somewhere?"
"Yeah, of course. Well, as you can see from the content, it is a fairly large request and the amount paid was huge. There are not so many organizations that can do that, right?"
"The Union or the Empire …"
"Debuhi Empire!"
Gecko gave possible realistic candidates for Sharfi's explanation.
And Ryo reacted excessively to certain words.
"There is also a Cult base in the Inbury Duchy, right?"
Sharfi looked reluctant to answer that question from Gecko.
"Yeah..."
Even though it wasn't quite the same as selling out his friends, he still felt ashamed doing that.
He was driving those who were his allies just days before to danger with his own hands.
"Is it hard to answer?"
"No! No problem."
Gecko gently asked, but Sharfi's reaction to it was decisive.
He accepted that he was in a position to be called a traitor by his former colleagues.
"There are bases in every city in the Duchy. Usually, there are three people stationed in each base. However, the Capital Aberdeen is reasonably large so there should be two units, about 20 people, stationed. Regarding the location, I will say it after we arrive at the capital."
Hearing that answer, Gecko nodded deeply.
One of the pieces of information he wanted the most by pulling Sharfi to his side was the hideout locations in the capital.
"By the way, where is the headquarters of the Cult?"
"The headquarters is in the Kingdom of Knightley."
Sharfi replied to Gecko's question as if it was nothing important.
However, that answer was also an answer that Ryo, who lived in the Kingdom, could not let by.
"Where in the kingdom!?"
"Hey, I'll answer, Ryo-san, so stop clenching that hand …"
Sharfi was in tears with Ryo's intense questioning and the actions that accompany them.
"It's a small village in the eastern part of the Kingdom. It's a day's walk north of Wingston, the largest city in the east. It's on a mountain and is called the village of Avan. All the people in that village belong to the cult."
"Eastern part of the Kingdom … I never thought it was so close …"
Ryo was stunned by Sharfi's answer.
The eastern part of the Kingdom was the place he has been moving around to this day.
The Order of Assassins fought against Niels, Etho, and Amon of Room 10 in Whitnash and attacked them many times during this escort.
Shouldn't he hit them before they attack again?
"If I wasn't in the middle of a request, I'd go and crush them now! You're in luck, Order of Assassins!"
Seeing Ryo's look of frustration, Sharfi muttered.
"It's scary because he looks like he is actually planning to do it."
Then, Sharfi suddenly recalled and said to Ryo.
"Ryo-san, your Water-Attribute Magic is certainly ridiculous, but the leader of the Cult is also extraordinary. Be careful if you face each other."
"Sharfi, I'd like to confirm something. You mentioned that the tattoo carved on your chest was by alchemy, didn't you?"
"Yeah."
"Is that alchemist, the leader of the Cult?"
"That's right. He excels in alchemy and Earth-Attribute Magic."
"Those are both affinities that I want!"
Of course, he couldn't get the skills just by defeating him.
There was no such setting on 『Phi』.
Although he couldn't get it even if he defeat him, there would still be the materials related to alchemy … At the very least, the alchemy used for that tattoo didn't exist in Ryo's library search.
By the way, the extracted tattoo was encased in an Ice Coffin and stored in his usual shoulder bag.
Ryo requested Gecko for it as research material.
It was a special reward for the 『surgery』.
Sharfi muttered again, looking sideways at Ryo, who was grinning as his imaginations ran wild.
"Even if you defeat him … you can't acquire his magic, right? Ryo-san, isn't an exception to that, right?"
One former assassin fell into a spiral of suspicion …
Gecko's Caravan completed immigration procedures for the Inbury Duchy without any problems.
Gecko himself was the most famous merchant in the Duchy and was even unofficially referred to as the Duke's trade adviser.
They almost had a free pass because it was his caravan.
"Former assassin getting a free pass …"
"It's 『former』, 『former』. Now I'm a legitimate caravan escort."
Sharfi argued violently against Ryo's monologue that was too loud to be called a monologue.
Gecko watched with a smile from the coachman seat while Max, the captain of the escort, kept walking while shaking his head with a grimace.
"Oh yeah, I had something I wanted to ask Sharfi … Gecko-san, can I ask now?"
"It's okay. I've received answers for what I wanted to ask for the time being."
Ryo understood that Gecko's questions were still the highest priority.
The employer's wishes were still the most important.
"I only feel fear toward questions coming from Ryo-san …"
Ryo showed an exaggerated look of shock after hearing such words from Sharfi.
"Even though I've been doing my best for Sharfi until now … what a thing to say. I guess it's better to crush your heart once …"
"Hey, that's the thing! That's what's scary! In the first place, why do you still have an ice film around my heart after we have already extracted my tattoo?"
"So that I can respond immediately when you betray us."
"Oh, yes … I knew you didn't have faith in me but … it is clear as day to me that Ryo-san does not trust me at all."
Sharfi drooped his head.
"So, about my question?"
"Oh, yes, yes, I'm feeling dejected but you don't need to mind me, ask your question!"
Ryo asked and Sharfi answered half-given in to despair.
"Why did the Order of Assassins attempt such an assassination in Whitnash?"
"Huh?"
In response to Ryo's question, Sharfi's facial expression crumbled and he was clearly not acting.
The change was amazing for both Max and Gecko.
"R-Ryo-san … Why do you know that Whitnash's incident was done by the Cult?"
"Huh? Did I ask something strange?"
"Even in the Cult, apart from those who were involved, only executives like us knew about it. Why does Ryo-san know that?"
Sharfi's expression changed to a mixture of fear and anger.
Fear was because he knew what he shouldn't know.
Anger was because someone leaked it … was it anger toward the person who leaked it?
"The reason I know is because I was at the scene. They were aiming for the princess of the Empire. Thanks to that, my roommates got involved … Well, the assassin was defeated in the end."
Ryo revealed the answer without feeling it was anything special.
"You even know that they aimed for the princess? But I'm sorry, I don't know the details. That was a strategy centered on the close aide 『Black』 … it was quite a large scale but even we weren't informed how successful it was …"
Sharfi replied apologetically. He didn't appear to be lying …
(Sabotage in the eastern part of the Kingdom, attacks on the dignitaries, including the princess of the Empire, in Whitnash … it just looks like they're making wanton destruction …)
After the next ten days, the party arrived at Aberdeen, the capital of Inbury Duchy.
Strangely, they were not attacked since they entered the Inbury Duchy.
It was as if another goal had a higher priority.
However, for Ryo and Ra, the 22-day escort request was about to end.
In front of the main building of Gecko's firm, in the Capital Aberdeen.
"We were able to arrive safely. Thank you very much, Ryo-san and everyone from 『Switchback』."
Gecko politely bowed his head.
If the employer bowed so much, Ryo and Ra were a little troubled too.
"We will now deliver the parcel to the castle. Therefore, we can't show much hospitality, but I have asked the firm to prepare a little something, so please receive it."
Then, Gecko led Max and Sharfi, who somehow managed to become his subordinate, to the castle.
By the way, it should be noted here that the ice film around Sharfi's heart was properly erased.
It went without saying that Sharfi was pleased when it was erased.
Ryo and the members of 『Switchback』 were enthusiastic with the tip from Gecko's firm, that is, they received a small extra reward and had happy faces.
"I'm glad, Ra. Even though you're the leader, you were about to leave the country without withdrawing money from the guild account. That was dangerous. Because if you did, we would have had to travel all the way back to the Kingdom relying on just this gratuity tip. That's absolutely impossible."
"My bad. I totally forgot … that you can only withdraw money from the guild account while in your respective country."
The voices of Sue and Ra entered Ryo's ears, and when Ryo understood the contents, he turned his head mechanically to look at them.
His eyes were wide open.
"Ryo … no way, that expression … Did you forget to withdraw?"
"N-N-O. I-T-S-N-O-T-H-I-N-G."
Ryo's face was expressionless …
"Ryo, how much money do you have?"
"One gold coin and two large bronze coins …"
"10,020 Florin … You can't cross the border."
Ra asked, Ryo answered, and Sue concluded.
However, Ra remembered and asked.
"Huh? Ryo, didn't you say that Gecko-san gave you a special reward after praising you 『well done』?"
Ra recalled the time where Ryo first captured the assassin in an Ice Coffin, and Max extracted the tattoo on his chest.
"Yes … one big gold coin …"
"Oh, 100,000 Florin! So that …?"
Ryo answered and Sue was impressed and asked further.
"… I immediately deposited it into my account in the next city."
"Ah..."
Ryo's shoulders slumped as he answered.
The Switchback members unanimously responded with words of comfort.
It would be too scary to escort while holding a large sum of 100,000 Florin!
Ryo's feelings could be understood by all adventurers …
So no one blamed him.
"L-lend me a little …"
"No! That's no good! Lending and borrowing money is a poison that breaks good relationships!"
"O-oh …"
Ryo stopped trying to lend from Ra.
Ra also backed down after seeing his intensity.
"Well, the most realistic way to cross the border without borrowing is to get an escort request to the Kingdom."
"That's it!"
Sue gave Ryo the answer he was looking for.
"The Duchy has a good relationship with the Kingdom, and the two countries have a lot of trade, so I think there will be requests for escort. However, the destination …"
"Don't tell me it's the Debuhi Empire?"
"There's no way that will be the case. I've been thinking, Ryo really hates the Empire. Well, the destination is probably Wingston, the largest city in the eastern part of the Kingdom. It's a little further north from the Eastern Highway that we took to get here. So returning to the city of Rune to the south from there would also be a bit tricky …"
"Certain sacrifices are needed when in a pinch. There's no problem as long as I'm in the Kingdom!"
Sue looked a little apologetic, but a slight geographical distance was not an issue for Ryo.
Since he could settle anything that crops up with money as long as he enters the Kingdom!
"But there is one major problem."
"What is it?"
"Would they accept D-rank adventurers for cross-border escort requests?"
Ryo was at a complete loss at Sue's words.
"We, in the city of Rune, know Ryo's ability … well, I don't know exactly, but I know that you are above C-rank, so your word is good in various ways. Like this time. But I don't think that's the case in the Inbury Duchy, an entirely different country."
Sue frowned.
Sue didn't want to say that.
But facts were facts.
"Thanks Sue-san. Well, I'll go to the guild for the time being. To look for a cross-border escort request that can be accepted at D-rank."
Ryo said and tried to start walking … but … he couldn't start walking.
"… Right, I don't know the location of the guild."
"We don't know either."
Yes, no one there knew the location of the Adventurer's Guild in the Capital Aberdeen.
After that, Ryo and the members of 『Switchback』 went to Gecko's firm to ask for the location of the guild before they set off.
-x-X-x-
The 『Crimson Sword』, led by Abel, went separate ways with the Gecko Caravan at Red Post, a town on the eastern border of the Kingdom, and then headed northwest.
In that direction was the Crystal Palace, the royal capital of the Knightley Kingdom.
"Hey, isn't it strange? Why was the letter sent to Red Post instead of the city of Rune? Because of that letter, we're forced to travel to the Royal Capital from Red Post."
Of the four, Rin, who self-admits that she had the least confidence in her stamina, started grumbling for the umpteenth time since leaving Red Post.
"I don't know. That's why, please ask Ilarion that when we reach the Royal Capital."
The priest Rihya, next in line after Rin as the weakest physically, gave a perfunctory answer.
"Haa, there's a possibility that inside information has been leaked! There must be a traitor among us …"
"Rin, you're starting to sound like Ryo lately."
"Why!?"
Abel retorted at Rin's silly antics.
When the four Crimson Swords were about to depart from Red Post, they received a letter via the Adventurer's Guild and their destination changed from Rune to the Royal Capital.
The sender of the letter was 『Ilarion』 as usual.
Ilarion learned from his Adventurer's Guild connections that the Crimson Sword was in Red Post, but he did not tell them how he knew they were there.
"It's normal to receive Ilarion-sama's letter but this time it has some unusual content."
Rihya commented to Abel who was walking beside her.
"Yeah. A meeting with my brother …"
Abel's expression was not very bright.
It wasn't a matter of his relationship with his 『brother』, but because he was suspicious of the request that came out of the blue.
He shook his head a few times and decided to forget about it.
"I wonder if Ryo and his group have already arrived in the capital by now."
Perhaps she sensed that as Rihya changed the topic.
"Beats me."
"I wish they could get there safely."
"At the very least, Ryo will get there. I'm more curious if the Order of Assassins would be annihilated because they interfered with him …"
"Now that you mention it, in the meeting room of the inn, the assassin who was heading for me was frozen."
Rihya was reminded of the assassins who attacked during Sharfi's surgery.
"He was frozen in ice before I knew it."
Abel answered.
"Yeah, that's the thing! I've heard at the Magic Academy before that living people can't be frozen with Water-Attribute Magic. But Ryo was able to do it. I wonder why …"
Rin interrupted the conversation between the two.
"Hmm? It can't be done?"
"Of course. If you can do that, just specializing in that magic would be enough to make you the strongest in one-on-one fights."
Rin answered Abel's question immediately.
"Humans have a characteristic that does not allow the invasion of magic from others up to about 10 cm from the surface of the body.
"Speaking of which, I learned that in the temple too. Even for healing using Light-Attribute, the best way is to touch the target's body."
During Rin's explanation, Rihya joined in and said that she had heard of it too.
"Does that apply to people like me who can't use magic?"
Abel wondered if it would be the same for a Swordsman like him who couldn't use magic.
"Yeah. It seems to be the case even for people who can't use magic."
Rin replied with a big nod.
"But Ryo could freeze them … and they were still alive."
"It's scary when you think about it …"
Abel murmured and Rin shook her head as she answered.
"Before, he tried to freeze the princess of the Empire …"
"Yeah, Abel, if there is a war between the Kingdom and the Empire, Ryo would probably be the cause."
Rin nodded heavily and said terrifying words in response to Abel's mutter.
"Please spare me from that …"
-x-X-x-
Capital Aberdeen. Adventurer's Guild.
"Welcome. How may I assist you?"
Ryo showed up at a vacant reception booth.
"Excuse me, I'm an adventurer from the Kingdom of Knightley …"
While saying that, Ryo passed his guild card to the receptionist.
"Good day, Ryo, D-rank adventurer from the Kingdom of Knightley. How may I assist you?"
"Actually, I'm looking for an escort request from a caravan heading to the Kingdom."
"I see. Certainly, there are some … but all of them require C-rank or higher … I'm sorry."
"I knew it …"
The receptionist, with an apologetic look, said she couldn't fulfill his request.
And that was as Ryo expected.
To be exact, it was as Sue expected.
Ryo was depressed.
(Is there no choice but to borrow money from Ra-san … I was careless … there's no other way …)
It was against his belief, but Ryo thought that it would be better than inconveniencing other people, so he should just put up with it.
Then, a person called out from behind.
"A D-rank at that young age, you should be quite skillful? Would you like to accept an escort request to the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Knightley?"
Ryo was surprised. He turned around and there was a man in his mid-thirties who looked the definition of an adventurer.
"Cohn-san?"
The receptionist showed an inquisitive look. The man's name was Cohn.
"Yeah, it's that request. His stature is almost perfect. To be honest, I thought it wouldn't be possible anymore, but this must be a god's guidance or something like that."
"Hmm …?"
Ryo was completely lost.
It sounded like a strange request or a suspicious employer?
When he thought so, the receptionist told him in a small voice.
"This request itself is formally through the Adventurer's Guild. Moreover, both the Duke and the Guildmaster have notified the receptionists to cooperate as much as possible. Cohn-san here is assigned to assemble the adventurers to be hired as escorts."
After Ryo heard her explanation, he looked toward Cohn.
Cohn probably heard what she explained.
Yeah, yeah, he nodded many times.
And he added further.
"However, although it is an escort request, it is a request 『to be escorted』."
"... Huh?"
In the end, Ryo still couldn't understand the request.
He told Ryo that he would tell him the details while on the move so they were now in a carriage.
The Switchback party bade him farewell from there …
He thought Ryo was perfect, but it wasn't definite until the client approved.
Therefore, he wanted Ryo to meet the client immediately.
After all, the departure was tomorrow morning, so today was the only time to do so.
As such, Ryo was traveling in a carriage with Cohn.
"In other words, you want me to travel to the Royal Capital together as the body double of a VIP."
"Well, that's right. It comes with meals and you just have to stay in a carriage and not walk. When we get to the Royal Capital, you'll get 500,000 Florin as a reward. How is it, isn't it a great request?"
It was certainly a wonderful request … but he was sure many other people would like to accept such a tantalizing request …
"First of all, you would have to be indistinguishable from the VIP, at least from a distance. And all the so-called adventurers are all well-built and brawny …"
"Oh, true, I'm pretty slim as an adventurer."
"That's right. Oh, no, I'm not trying to be insulting. You appear to be a Magician? Magicians often look like that and appearance and ability are completely different matters."
When Ryo nodded, he hurriedly denied it so Cohn didn't seem to be a bad person.
During such a conversation, the carriage arrived in front of a particularly large gate.
"Here?"
"It's the Castle. The client is staying here. So? Isn't it a decent request?"
The Castle was the residence of the Duke who governed the Inbury Duchy.
A person staying there would be related to some royal family or a high-ranking aristocrat.
The carriage entered the castle without being inspected much.
After passing through several gates, they got off the carriage in a corner next to the Duke's official residence and guest houses.
"The client is on the second floor of that guesthouse."
Then Cohn took the lead and started walking.
Ryo followed after him.
But before entering the building, Ryo encountered a surprising person.
"Eh, Ryo-san?"
"Ah, hello Gecko-san."
He met Gecko who he had just completed a request form and parted ways.
"Why is Ryo-san here?"
"On a request to return to the Kingdom …"
"You're going home already? You could enjoy the Duchy a little more."
"I'm sorry, I have various circumstances as well."
(Mainly financial issues.)
Ryo cried in his heart as he talked to Gecko.
Ryo, who parted with Gecko, entered the guesthouse with Cohn.
"Ryo knows Gecko-dono?"
Cohn asked about what happened just now with interest.
"Yes. I just arrived at this city from the city of Rune, the Kingdom, under Gecko's caravan escort request."
When Ryo said so, Cohn nodded many times.
My eyes weren't wrong … that was how he looked like.
The two went upstairs and arrived in front of the innermost room.
"It's Cohn."
Cohn knocked on the door.
"Please enter."
A voice was heard from inside and the two entered the room.
It was a suite with two rooms, and the first room had a table for hosting.
On modern Earth, it was like a suite in a luxury hotel.
There were two men, a boy about 16 years old sitting in a chair and a man well over 60 years old, who was sitting diagonally behind the boy and had the feeling of an 『elderly butler』.
The boy about 16 years old was probably who Cohn referred to as the VIP.
True, although he was not delicate, he was slim and had a similar atmosphere to Ryo.
Gentle, soft facial features, chestnut hair, and dark gray eyes that were very close to black.
He would definitely arouse the desire of many older women to protect him.
"Your Highness Willy, Rodrigo-dono, I've found the perfect man for your request. This is Ryo, a D-rank adventurer from the Kingdom of Knightley. He was just looking for a request in the guild to travel to the Kingdom. Furthermore, it was a passing conversation, but he knows the major merchant of this country, Gecko-dono, through being his escort. In that sense, he is a reliable person. Also, I gave a brief explanation about the request."
"I'm Ryo."
Ryo bowed.
"Hm."
With just one word, the 『elderly butler』, probably Rodrigo-dono, looked at Ryo from top to bottom and nodded.
"He's perfect. To be honest, I had given up halfway because we were leaving tomorrow. Ryo, this is His Royal Highness Willy, the prince of the Kingdom of Ju. This time, he will be studying abroad in the Kingdom of Knightley and is heading to the Royal Capital for that purpose. Our request is to hire you as one of the escorts. Do you accept?"
"Oka ..."
"Wait, Rodrigo."
After receiving Rodrigo's explanation, when Ryo tried to accept the request, His Royal Highness Willy interjected.
"That explanation is insufficient. You should explain the dangers of this request properly."
"But Your Highness …"
Rodrigo frowned and looked at Cohn.
Cohn was also frowning. There seemed to be something wrong.
"If they don't wish to explain, I'll do it. Ryo-dono. This request is, frankly, extremely dangerous. In fact, Ryo is not the first to be hired as my body double. When I left the country, the Adventurer's Guild recruited an adventurer who looked like me, but we were attacked by bandits and the adventurer was abducted … and found dead a few days later …"
His Highness Willy appeared truly regretfully.
He felt that he caused the death of one person because they acted as his body double.
"At his sacrifice, we managed to get some distance and reach the Capital Aberdeen … but there is no guarantee that we won't be attacked again, so this request is dangerous."
"I see..."
Ryo nodded when he heard His Highness Willy's explanation.
Neither Cohn nor Rodrigo lied in their explanation.
But they just didn't tell him the most difficult part.
They thought that if they told him that, Ryo, the right person they finally found, wouldn't accept the request.
It was a terrible story, but it was also a common story.
That was why they wanted to get the prince's body double in front of them no matter what.
"I have one question …"
Ryo decided to ask a question.
"Yes, ask me anything."
His Highness Willy nodded and urged Ryo to ask his question.
"Your Highness said that you are heading to the Royal Capital to study abroad … If it is such a dangerous journey, why not abandon the idea of studying abroad?"
Upon hearing Ryo's question, His Highness Willy's face had a pessimistic look for a moment.
"I can't do that. On paper, I'm studying abroad, but I'm actually going to the Kingdom of Knightley as a hostage. If I don't go, it's going to be a very difficult situation for my country … I can't abandon my journey just because it's dangerous."
Abducting the person sent as a hostage along the way.
(It's like Ieyasu Tokugawa.)
That was the first thing Ryo thought when he heard the story.
Chiyo Takechi (later Ieyasu Tokugawa) was sent to the Imagawa clan as a hostage, but was abducted on the way and sent to the Oda clan in Owari. That was the story.
However, history worked in mysterious ways because he made friends with Oda Nobunaga in the Oda clan, who was still young, and that would later move the world.
At present, the purpose of those who were attacking His Highness Willy was unknown, so it was natural to think that he may be attacked again.
But …
"Thank you for your explanation, Your Highness. I have to return to the Kingdom of Knightley by any means. It is a fact that there are not many cross-country escort requests for D-rank. I had the good fortune of encountering this request. I understand that it is dangerous, but I will accept this request."
"Oh!"
When Ryo announced that he would accept the request, Rodrigo and Cohn cheered at the same time.
"I see. Then, Ryo, I will be in your care."
His Highness Willy shook Ryo's hand and smiled.
After returning to the guild, Ryo reported to Ra and his friends that he found a request.
However, it seemed that he would take a long time returning to the city of Rune from the Royal Capital, so he wanted them to tell that to Rune's Adventurer's Guild and send a letter to Sera in the Lord's mansion.
Ra was surprised, but Sue received the letter beside him and promised to deliver the letter personally.
At that time, it was impressive that Sue was nodding seriously.
Ryo didn't know the reason, but … perhaps they might have misunderstood something.
Thus, the request to escort His Highness Willy to the Royal Capital began.
-x-X-x-
Last night, Ryo stayed in the room next to His Royal Highness Willy in the castle guest house.
"Please wear this outfit. The tailoring is similar to that of His Royal Highness's clothing. Also, whenever you exit the carriage, I would like you to hide your face with a hooded robe ..."
"Oh, then I can hide it with this robe I always wear."
At Rodrigo's suggestion, Ryo showed his usual robe he received from Dullahan.
"That's good, hide your face with that. While you're on the move, you will basically be in a carriage. In the camp, you'll have a tent, so you'll be spending time with His Highness Willy."
"Understood."
Two carriages, two wagons, four escorts from the Kingdom of Ju, six adventurers from the Inbury Duchy, Ryo, His Highness Willy, and Rodrigo.
That was the whole lineup.
(I feel that the guard is a bit little for the prince of a country … well, it's not like I know much about that.)
"Isn't it pitiful?"
Ryo was surprised because he was suddenly called from behind and told what he was thinking.
"N-no..."
"It's okay. In fact, it is too few for escorting royalty. But my country is neither a wealthy nor a strong country, and I am the eighth son."
"Eighth …"
His Highness Willy commented with a bitter smile.
And Ryo couldn't say anything in return.
"It's indeed better to have a lot of children to secure the bloodline of the royal family but … as expected, when it comes to the eighth prince, after becoming an adult, you either have to join the Knights or the Magic Corps to work. I have territories, but I am mainly only in charge of managing the royal villas … I have to leave the villa management to a few subordinates and earn my keep …"
"It's a difficult world, isn't it?"
His Highness Willy smiled bitterly and Ryo lamented the misery of the world.
Even though he was a prince, he had to earn his own money … he had it tough in many ways.
"Ah, but up to the border of the Inbury Duchy, two platoons of twenty Knights of the Duchy are supposed to escort us."
The possibility of an attack in the Duchy seemed extremely low.
In the carriage that started moving, His Highness Willy and Ryo had a lot of talk about.
Apart from them, there was only Rodrigo in the carriage and he fundamentally didn't speak when it was not necessary.
Sure enough, His Royal Highness Willy had quite a lot of spare time.
Meanwhile, His Highness Willy started addressing Ryo from 'Ryo-dono' to 'Ryo-san'.
They were going to be together in the same carriage for some time.
It was normal to throw away some reserve.
His Highness Willy was now fifteen years old and would be studying abroad at the Royal High School of the Kingdom of Knightley.
It was a school for royalty and aristocrats, and it seemed that royalty from other countries were studying abroad there in addition to His Highness Willy.
(I'm similar in appearance to His Highness even though he is 15 years old … I guess Asians look younger after all?)
Ryo thought to himself.
In fact, Ryo looked slender, but his muscles were firm to the touch.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to swing his sword, so that was natural.
On the other hand, His Highness Willy was not very good with swords.
"I can use magic a little but … I don't think I have much aptitude. In the first place, the Kingdom of Ju is a developing country, especially when it comes to magic …"
His Highness Willy said, looking down.
"But if you can use it even a little, practicing every day will increase the magical power you can use and improve your magic control."
"Is that true!"
His Highness Willy replied to Ryo's advice with his eyes shining.
"Yes. I couldn't do much at first, but I practiced every day."
Ryo remembered his time in the Rondo Forest era with nostalgia and looked to the distance.
Although it has only been about half a year since he left the forest.
"Is it okay for me to believe that even though I don't have much talent?"
"Your Highness … it doesn't matter what your talent is. It's all about your efforts. A long time ago, there was a player called Gunso who said that. He continued putting in effort and became a player who could win multiple titles."
"It sounds kind of amazing …"
His Highness Willy didn't know the title he was talking about, but he understood that he managed to grasp something amazing with his efforts.
(But I think you're within the talented category just because you can use magic …)
Ryo thought that in his heart.
"By the way, what is your Highness's attribute?"
"It's water …"
To Ryo's question, His Highness Willy looked down once again.
It was because he thought that he could not contribute to the country. After all, he had the image that it was difficult to use in battle.
But …
"Oh! I'm also a Water-Attribute Magician! Water attribute is great if you train it!"
"Really!?"
Willy replied with a delighted smile.
Rodrigo, who saw it, looked happy.
"Actually, I was a little shocked when I was told that it was a water attribute. I thought it was inferior to the flashy fire attribute, the wind attribute that seemed convenient, or the earth attribute that seemed useful in battle."
While listening to Ryo's story, His Royal Highness Willy nodded.
"But that wasn't the case. Yeah, it isn't inferior to the other attributes. I had to train a lot, but to be honest, there's no other attribute that is as useful. I can confidently claim that Water-Attribute Magicians are amazing!"
"Oh!"
Ryo fanned his interest.
"Once the tent is set up in the camp, we can try various things there."
"Yes!"
That night, His Highness Willy was practicing in the tent in the center of the camp.
Currently, the only Water Magic that His Highness Willy could use was
"Water, the source of life, come out
Then, water sprang up from Willie's right hand and fell into a pail on the floor.
(The chanting is different … I feel …)
"His Highness, what is that chant …?"
"It seems to be unique to my country."
"So that's why..."
It sounded different from the 『Duchy's chant』 of the children who were in the Gecko's caravan.
"If you can teach me the Kingdom's chant, I will practice as hard as I can!"
His Highness Willy's face was full of determination.
But …
"Your Highness, something like chanting … you don't need such a thing."
"Huh..."
The expression on his face, which was full of determination, froze.
(
When Ryo chanted in his heart, water was generated from his right hand and fell into the pail.
"Water came out even though you didn't chant …"
"Yes. I once asked the being who taught me the origin of magic. He replied 'The crux of magic lies in the image. Draw a clear image. And gain experience'."
"Image..."
"Yes, image. How clear can you draw in your heart? If you're able to do that, even if you keep silent, magic will happen."
Ryo said so solemnly.
Since it sounded cooler that way.
"I'll try!"
His Highness Willy extended his right hand forward, closed his eyes, and seemed to be thinking about something in his heart.
But nothing happened.
"Your Highness, open your eyes and look at your hands. It's an image of water falling from your palm."
When Ryo said that, His Highness Willy opened his eyes obediently and looked at his right hand.
Then, with his eyes open, he stuck his right hand forward.
After a while … water came out from the tip of his hand.
"It came out!"
"Yeah, well done!"
Compliment if you can. That was the crux of education.
After that, His Highness Willy generated water from his hand over and over again … until he was out of magic and collapsed.
Eight days after leaving the Capital Aberdeen, the group stayed at an inn in Red Null, a border town in the Inbury Duchy.
Ryo was in the same room as His Highness Willy because of his duties as a body double.
Fortunately, His Highness Willy was relentlessly practicing magic tonight as well.
However, it had only been eight days since he started working on the Ryo-style magic practice method (provisional).
There wasn't much progress.
After water production, Ryo taught him the wall of ice,
Even though he was the eighth son, he was a prince and spends some time in other countries, so it would be better to be able to protect himself.
Moreover, it seemed that his swordsmanship was not that praiseworthy.
Even though he was 'not very good', he could more or less still use a sword.
Of course, if he encountered a knight from a castle, he would be defeated in a few swings, but he would likely win against thieves and the like.
Ryo came to that conclusion when he saw the swordsmanship he was shown.
In any case, Ryo was rigorously instructing him as a Water-Attribute Magician disciple.
"Your Highness, it's time to take call it a day …"
"A little more! I think I'll be able to grasp something again soon."
"But you said the same thing last night and you collapsed due to lack of magical power …"
"A little more … Ah."
Willy collapsed to his knees.
"Your Highness … didn't I warn you."
The Water-Attribute Magician disciple was so motivated that the master had to stop him …
There was no need to bother to give strict guidance …
Willy laid down on the bed and Ryo moved to the living room next door.
Cohn was there with an unfolded map with Rodrigo.
"Ryo, His Highness?"
"Yes, he slept because of lack of magic."
"Is that so."
Rodrigo smiled and left to brew Ryo's tea.
Rodrigo did not get angry at the body double that caused the master he served to collapse due to a lack of magical power.
"It's been a while since I've seen His Highness driven so hard … I'm glad."
This was what Rodrigo said when Ryo apologized for causing Willy's collapse due to magical power depletion.
In the castle, he had many reasons to be gloomy as the eighth son.
Moreover, because he was too kind, he didn't want to bother the others around him, so he tried to keep silent about it.
Considering such a past, this study abroad may have been a good thing.
It may be a good turning point.
Rodrigo told Ryo that he was able to think that way.
Cohn, who was looking at the map, looked at Ryo and started talking.
"Ryo, we will cross the border tomorrow noon. That will be the extent to where the Knights of the Inbury Duchy will escort us to."
"In other words, tomorrow will be the real start for this trip."
Ryo also nodded.
The condition where he used up all his magical power and collapse before bed would not be allowed from tomorrow.
As long as there was a chance of an attack, they had to retain some strength for emergencies.
Misfortune always happens when you are at your weakest.
"We will still be staying in a city tomorrow night, right?"
"You know, tomorrow night, and the nights after that, we'll definitely stay in the city at night?"
"Eh, is that so?"
Ryo was surprised.
Ryo arbitrarily imagined that most trips involved camping.
In fact, camping outdoors was overwhelmingly more common in his escort requests so far.
"Once we cross the border, we would continue on the Knightley Kingdom's 『Second Highway』 to the Royal Capital. That is the most commonly used trade route in the eastern part of the Kingdom, surpassing the 『East Highway』. It's dotted with cities and large villages. Putting it this way makes me realize how different it is from the Duchy. The Kingdom is one of the three major powers after all."
Cohn explained and named the cities they were planning to stay at, but Ryo didn't know any of them.
It was normal that he didn't know.
Aside from the East Highway that Gecko's Caravan used to travel, the only city he knew along the Second Highway was Red Post, the border town connected to both the Second Highway and the East Highway.
They would pass by Red Post early tomorrow morning.
"If we stay in the city, we're probably less likely to be attacked."
Ryo thanked Rodrigo for brewing the tea and said to himself.
"Well, it's a lot lower than camping out, but we can still be attacked during the day. Even though it's a commonly used highway, it's not always full of people. In fact, it would be more troublesome if they act as travelers and attack us as we pass by."
Cohn glared at the map and replied.
Yes, it was an advantageous situation for the attackers to attack as they pass each other in the guise of a normal caravan, like when Sharfi planned to attack Gecko's caravan.
With Sharfi's case, Ryo noticed from a distance because some of the assailants had something like a transmitter, but that would usually not be the case.
In the first place, as long as they didn't know who the assailant might be, they must always be on their guard.
Even though it was a job, escorting was hard.
"I once told my father that I wanted to be an adventurer."
"...Huh."
The next day, after safely crossing the border and entering the Kingdom of Knightley, His Highness Willy said to Ryo.
"I could live freely … Adventurers hold such an image. That's why I said that, but my father had a very sad and apologetic expression. Those who were born into the royal family have a responsibility to carry just for being born. I couldn't throw it away, so I wasn't allowed to be an adventurer. At the moment I was told that, I honestly didn't understand. However, I couldn't throw a tantrum when my father had such an expression on …"
"Responsibility that you have to carry just because you were born there …"
In Ryo's case, he chose his responsibilities, but he felt that he could understand, albeit just a little.
"Subordinates, their families, or all the people who live in the country and even the families of people in other countries who were related to those people … each of your actions are responsible for the lives of many."
His Highness Willy was surprised to see Ryo mutter that softly.
"Yes, that's right! Ryo-san, you're an adventurer, right? I'm sorry, I was a little surprised. Previously, another adventurer said, 'If you don't like it, just throw that status away.' I had no choice but to laugh bitterly, but … Ryo-san is something different."
When he was in Japan, Ryo couldn't abandon his responsibilities either … so he just felt that he could understand him a little.